Our Little Bundle of Joy

Pardon me for not updating the blog for weeks.. You may already know what's going on if you are one of the frequent visitor :) I would like to introduce you our newly addition to the family - Elyse was decided to say hello to family 1 week early. She was born on April the 7th at 3:17AM.

Check the following link for more pictures.


If you think having a new born is not stressful enough, what about relocating to new city in the coming 3 months and quiting my current job become a stay home mom for at least months to come if not for long term? Yes, that's what's going on with my family right now.. Wish me luck.

Chocolate Loaf

The chocolate bun from chowtimes really caught my attention for some reasons. I really wanted to bake some bun but due to the time constraint, I don't think I am up to the challenge right now so I turn this into a chocolate loaf.

I reduced the sugar from the original recipe since this is loaf that I probably will eat it with some jam and kaya, I don't want the loaf to be too sweet. The loaf turn out very soft and fluffy. I was quite surprise with the results as I was not convince that regular bread flour can produce a soft and fluffy loaf. But this loaf does give me a whole new perspective on bread flour.

The only downside on this loaf I think is lack of chocolate flavor. I was expecting a richer chocolate taste. I was sure because the recipe to call for any salt or because the cocoa powder I used was not fresh? ( the powder has been sitting in my pantry for a year ) what do you think huh? Maybe adding some chocolate essence will do the trick huh? Anyway.. I am definitely up for experiment again next time with the same recipe and make it a chocolate bun some day.
my adapted version:


Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 egg
  
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups bread flour
• 1/4 cup sugar ( original recipe 1/2 cup)
  
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  
• 2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

Method:

• Put all ingredients into the bread machine according to your machine manual
• Select Sweet function, 2lb loaf with light crust
  
• Start the machine.
  

Stir-fry Asparagus with Cloud Ear Fungus

This is one of my family favorite stir-fry I would like to share with you. The original recipe from my cookbook collection uses white fungus, since I am out of the white, I replaced it with the cloud ear fungus.


Ingredients:

• 1 cup cloud ear fungus ( pre soaked and cleaned)
  
• 1/2 lb Pork
• 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tbsp cooking wine
• 1 tbsp corn starch
• 1/2 lb Asparagus
• 1 tbsp Ginger (julienne)

Sauce:

• 1/3 tsp salt
• 1/3 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp corn starch
• 3 tbsp water
  

Method:

• Marinate pork with soy sauce, wine and corn starch
• Cut Asparagus in about 1.5 inch long
• On a stir fry pan, heat about 1 tbsp oil, stir in ginger until fragrant.
• Add in asparagus and 2 tbsp water and stir for about 2-3 minutes until steamy. Removed and set aside.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil and stir fry pork until turn cooked.
• Add in fungus, asparagus and sauce. Stir to mix well.
  

Nutella Crescent Roll

Here's my shortcut way to satisfy my Italian style breakfast croissant with Nutella spread. Always stock up some crescent rolls in my freezer just in case I ran out of food to snack in between meal or breakfast.
To prepare this all you need it a can of crescent roll and some spread or jam. Add a layer of jam on the dough and roll it up. Bake in the over for 15-20 minutes.. voila.. you got a nice and warm breakfast. how easy is that ?
In case you are interested to know who is always with me while I am in the kitchen preparing meal. Here you go, mommy's little helper in his apron and cooking utensil. haa.. He is sure having fun in the kitchen banging all my pots and pans.

Spice Pork Soba with Dumpling 五香肉荞麦面条

After reading various way of eating Soba from teczcape - an escape to Food, I decided to come up one with my own. Prepare this over a weekday dinner and in less than 30 minutes... impress??

Recipe?? yes yes.. how can I miss that.

Ingredients:

• some blanched lettuce head
• Cook soba
• cook package dumpling
• A can of spice pork cube

Get everything heat up on your stove or microwave.. 30 minutes later tada.a.. Honey dinner is ready!

Char Siu Prata

Another simple breakfast I prepared during the weekend morning. Have been wanting to try this for long time but never get the chance, since I still have some left over char siu and Roti Prata in my freezer, guess it's the time to get the baby baked.

I want to have this as breakfast, so I prepared the char siu filling the night before and store in the fridge overnight. All I have to do in the morning is thaw the frozen Prata skin, add the filling to the skin and fold over to seal like making a kari puff. Brush lightly with beaten egg yolk to give it a shining look and baked in the preheated oven 395F for 15-25 minutes or until it looks puffy.

Voila... fresh from the oven Char Siu puff is ready for your family.. yum yum..

Char Siu Filling Ingredients

• 300g char siu
• 1 yellow onion chopped
  
• 1tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp dark soy sauce
  
• 1 tbsp corn starch
• 7 tbsp water
• 1 tbsp sugar
• pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp oil
  

Method:

• In a bowl, mix in oyster sauce, soy sauce, dark sauce, corn starch,water and sugar, then set aside
  
• Heat pan with oil and stir fry chopped onion until soft.
• Add char siu and fry for couple minutes
• Add the liquid mixture and cook until the sauce is thicken
• set aside the filling and let it cold before wrapping with the Prata skin

** the filling yield to prepare about 6-7 puffs.

Cranberries Cream Cheese Loaf

Have been reading a lots of positive feedback for this cream cheese bread and after seeing this attractive production from Pure Enjoyment, I told myself there is no way I want to skip this. Since I have not been able to stop by the Asian store to stock up the high gluten flour I have been using for all my bread, I bought a package a bread flour from the regular groceries store and want to confirm again what the different between the high gluten and regular bread flour we get in the state.

The results was quite good, even though hubby still think that the bread may taste better with high gluten flour because he prefer a softer and elastic texture of bread as oppose to denser, heavier loaf. One thing for sure, the loaf remain very soft even 2 days after. I think this is another keeper but I probably will 1.5 the recipe.
Trying to be a bit creative here, In stead of a white plan loaf, I added some cranberries to sweeten the flavor so that Aidan can eat it plain. He is serious eating too much sweet stuff from his day care, so want to cut back his sugar intake now haa..

This is my adapted version
Ingredients :(Click here to the original recipe)

• 160g fresh milk
• 50g cream cheese
• 15g sugar
• 3g salt
• 20g butter
• 250g bread flour
• 1/2 tsp dry yeast
• 1/2 tsp bread improver (optional)
• 1/3 of cranberries (optional)

Method:

• Put the ingredients according to your bread machine instruction
• Select 1lb size with basic white loaf function
  
• Slice and enjoy
• for my bread machine, I added the cranberries at the final kneading cycle
  

Low Fat Yogurt Cupcakes

Low fat yogurt cupcakes, does this sound healthy to you? It sure did for me.. looking for something not too sweet but yet sweet enough to satisfy my sweet tooth and I found this from fellow blogger. The cake uses yogurt with very little butter, so no worry about trans fat. Adding yogurt to increase the calcium content, it is just perfect for me, since my doctor advise me to take at least 16oz of milk a day just to make sure I have enough daily calcium intake.
The cake is very light and soft right from the oven. Not too sweet. Since I have about 1/4 cup of chocolate chip left from my previous baking ( not sure when, but must be long time ago), thought just mix it in to kick it up a notch. This recipe enough to prepare 9 cup cakes, instead of using mixture, I whisked everything with hand therefore I did not follow exactly the method used from the original recipe. Next time I would double the recipe for ease mixing the ingredients with electric mixture.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cake flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 whole egg
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter (approx 45 g)
• 1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt
  
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Handful of chocolate chips ( optional)
  

Method:

• Preheat oven to 355F.
  
• Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
  
• Whisk whole egg and set aside.
  
• Beat the butter until soften, gradually add sugar and beat until soften and mixed well.
  
• Dribble eggs in slowly and continue beating for a minute.
  
• Add yogurt and mix well then add the flour to the mixture. Continue beat for another 2 minutes.
• Add in choc chip and mix well.
  
• Scoop into lined muffin tins about 3/4 cup full.
  
• Bake for about 17-20 minutes and a tester inserted comes out clean.

** Bake about 9 cupcakes

I do notice the cake get a bit dense on the next day, wonder why? Keen to share any good cupcake recipes that will produce a light and airy cake that last for a couple days?

Ham Roll

Very simple but quite time consuming dish that I don't usually prepare. It's ham roll with asparagus. All you need are some asparagus and ham. This is quite a tasty dish where you get the saltiness taste from the ham blend with the natural sweetness from the asparagus. I enjoy it very much.
Here's how I prepared.

• Cut asparagus into 3 pieces long
• Slice the ham and blanch the ham in boiling water to reduce the saltness
  
• Blanch asparagus in boiling water and oil
• Roll and seal the edge with corn flour
• Steam ham roll for about 8 -10 mins
• In a bowl mix in some soy sauce, salt, sugar, water and corn starch.
  
• Bring the mixture to boil and pour on the roll
• Ready to serve.
  

Braised Tofu in Vinegar

A simple tofu stir-fry I like to prepare for my family. The provided recipe is a rough estimate amount I used, if you interested to try please adjust the flavor according to your personal preference :)

Ingredients

• 1 cube of tofu
• 200gm minced meat
  
• 4 tbsp chopper scallion
  
• 2 tsp minced ginger
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tsp hot bean paste
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 3 tbsp dark( black) vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• corn starch and water as thickening agent
• 3 tbsp oil
  

Method:

• Heat pan with oil, and stir fry and break the meat into pieces for about 3 minutes.
• Add in ginger, garlic, scallion, hot bean paste and bean curd stir fry for another minute.
• Add in water, vinegar, sugar and sesame oil, cover the pan with lid and let it simmer for 3 mins.
  
• Add the corn starch mixture
• Garnish with some scallion and ready to serve.
  

Tagged:Before I was a Mom

Another MEME from LCOM. Here it goes.

The rule to the e-mail was that, once you have been hit, you have to hit 5 pretty Moms, including the one who thought of you today & sent it to you. The idea is that if you get hit again, You will know you are really pretty!

So I thought lets just turn this into a tag instead. But that “hit” part won’t work very well in a tag. So instead of giving a “hit” to the one who tag you, you add your name at the bottom of the tagged persons list, and without bumping the person at the top or bumping anyone off and let the list grow. Hit 5 pretty moms on your list to let them know they are pretty!


Before I was a mum;
I used have at least 8 hours or more sleep a day.

Before I was a mum;
I enjoyed watching TV shows like survivor, Apprentice,Amazing Race, FoodNetwork, HGTV. Now we don't even subscribe to any TV network

Before I was a mum;
Hubby and I traveled quite bit when we get the chance

Before I was a mum;
I used to shop for myself and never thought how much I am saving by getting the kids cloths few seasons ahead

Before I was a mum;
I didn't know Target has 75% clearance on toys twice a year! Now I stocked up toys for presents and for my kid whenever there are sales and clearance.

Before I was a mum;
Hubby and I eat at any place we want, when we return to malaysia we enjoyed hawker food by the street and now we always looks for kids friendly restaurant or places with air conditioned especially in Malaysia when eating out.


The first chain of tag:

1. Lovelymummy
2. Pek Imm
3. Momisodes
4. Ling that’s me
5. Janicepa
6. AnnieQ
7. Allthingspurple
8. Montessorimum
9. clumsy mommy
10. Sandra
11. KittyCat
12. VivianZ
13. Sweetpea
14. Sasha
15. Giddy Tiger
16. Wen
17. Jo-N
18. Janice Ng
19. ViEmwk
20. Little Corner of Mine
21. Masakan Istimewa

I would like to tag the following pretty moms :

• Happy Home Baking
• Stream in Hip Desert
• Home Sweet Home

Peace Award

I totally agree with her 'peace above love', but then again you have to love in order to find peace. If everyone can 'love thy neighbor as thyself' ( Leviticus 19:18) as the scripture says, there will not be wars in the world.

Got another award from LCOM . Thanks my friend!
Now I would like to pass it on to

• Stream in the Hip Desert
• Happy Home Baking
• Teczcape
• Home Sweet Home
  

Nam Yee Char Siu

It's char siu time again but this time I found a recipe to prepare char siu using Nam Yee, one of my favorite ingredient. The recipe does not call for any usual ingredient such as garlic, ginger or hoisin sauce, in stead it uses nam yee, ketchup and oyster sauce.

Since it was snowing out site, this time I decide to baked char siu it in my oven. It was a long process but the outcome was rather delicious. The char siu was juicy and the taste was wonderful.

Here's my adapted version.

Ingredients (click here link to the original recipe)

• 3lb country style BBQ Pork ribs

Marinade

• 4 tbsp oyster sauce
• 4 tbsp ketchup
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 piece red fermented beancurd
• 1 tbsp Chinese wine
• 1 tbsp five spice powder

Glaze :

• 1 tbsp honey
  
• 1 tbsp water
• Remaining Marinate
  

Method:

• Whisk together all the marinade ingredients in a bowl.
  
• Pierce the pork with a fork and place pork in the marinate in the fridge for overnight.
• Mix all the glaze ingredient together and cook over medium heat until it’s syrupy, about 2 – 4 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 300ºF. Line a tray with foil and set the wire rack over the tray.
  
• Place the pork on the wire rack. Pour hot water into ray until enough to cover the bottom of the tray and cover the tray tightly with foil. Roast on the middle rack for 20 minutes.
  
• Remove the foil and roast for another 40 to 45 minutes, until the edges of the meat start to brown.
  
• Turn on the broiler (keeping the rack on the middle rack), brush the pork with glaze and broil the pork for about 3 minutes. Flip the pork over then brush the pork with glaze and broil for another 3 minutes, until the pork is a dark brownish red and evenly caramelized.
  

5 Facts About Me...

I have been tagged by Happy Home Baking to do this MEME.

Here are the MeMe rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself.
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

Man.. this is the tough one.. need to come up with 5 facts about myself, this really got me thinking....

Fact #1: I only shop for clothing when they are on sales or clearance.

Fact #2: My hubby and I got married at Las Vegas. ( ok, not those drive thru kind of wedding)

Fact #3: We have a guinea pig as pet since hubby and I were out of college and move to KC to start out working life together

Fact #4: I love all type of desserts and sweets except American's Pie

Fact #5: I am summer person. I don't like cold weather therefore I don't really enjoy winter season. Winter make me feel depress.

Now here are my tags:

• mrshbt @ Stream in the Hip Desert
• tigerfish @ Teczcape - an escape to Food
• Joanne @ Home Sweet Home

Another Success?

8 more weeks to go before baby #2 arrive, I guess it's time for me reduce my cooking and baking but stay relax, eat more and get more sleep. I was suppose to gain 1lb each week in my 3rd trimester but I have been loosing weight due to my illness in the past 2 weeks. Not a good sign :( Before I quit I want give my egg tart one more try.
So what do you think of the outcome? A success? well.. Hubby thinks that I still need to work on the crust a little more. I agreed with him but I still call this a success for a second trial. Not bad at all. To be frank, I was so surprise how this turn out as you know my first egg tart was a disaster.
The custard filling was very soft and moist just like the store bought, don't you think? This recipe is certainly a keeper. I am thinking for my next trial, I might swap the water and fresh milk amount to get a creamier custard filling.

Amelia, Just want to Thank You for your wonderful recipe and instruction. You are me hero haa..

Pastry Ingredients:

• 360 g flour
• 188 g butter
  
• cold water 3 tbsp
• 1 1/2 egg yolk
• 6 tbsp icing sugar
• 2 tbsp custard powder

Method:

• Sieve the flour,custard powder, icing sugar together.
• Cut the butter into small cube and use your finger tips to mix till resemble bread crumbs.
• Beat the yolk lightly and mix into the flour mixture and add cold water.
• Knead lightly till the dough is from and pliable. Do not over knead the dough.
• Roll out the dough press lightly into the egg tart mold.
• Prick lightly with a fork and bake 320F for 8-10 minutes and remove from the oven.
  

Custard filling Ingredients :

• 4 eggs
• 16 tbsp water
• 8 tbsp fresh milk
• 150 g sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
• 3 tsp custard powder.

Method:

• Mix the water,milk, sugar and boil lightly till sugar melt.
• Beat the egg lightly with a fork, add custard powder and mix well.
• Pour 1/3 of the milk into the egg mixture and stir well to temper the egg.
• Then pour the entire milk mixture into the egg and mix well.
• Sieve the egg mixture to remove any lumps before used.
• Fill the pastry with custard and baked for 25 to 30 minutes at 320F until the custard is set. ( Adjust temp according to oven)

*** about 15 egg tarts

Black Sesame Filling 2 Ways

Have been looking for ways to finish my left over black sesame powder before it expire and finally found a recipe online. All I need are black sesame powder, icing sugar, some sesame oil and enough canola oil for smoothness. Mix everything in bowl until a smooth paste is form and chill it in the fridge before use.

Now that I have the filling, what's next?
Green tea black sesame mochi. The mochi recipe and instruction can be found from LCOM. I really like this green tea version, very soft and refreshing especially if you eat it right away. Or you can chill in the fridge. I especially like the chilled version.

Black sesame steam bun. This is one of my favorite steam bun besides the egg custard bun. Not many dim sum place has it but you can certainly get the frozen from Asian Groceries store. I prepared the bun with the store bought pre-package pau flour. The sesame filling was rather dry not sure whether because I over steam the bun? Nevertheless, it still taste ok.

Tagged: 10 Things about Masakan Istimewa

First tagged from LCOM : 10 Things about Me.

1. Masakan Istimewa loves to: travel around the world

2. Masakan Istimewa hates to: go to work everyday, 5 days a week

3. Masakan Istimewa loves to: try all type of different cuisine

4. Masakan Istimewa hates to: clean especially bathroom

5. Masakan Istimewa loves to: bake and cook especially dessert

6. Masakan Istimewa hates to: prepare everyday meal

7. Masakan Istimewa loves to: cuddle with my little one

8. Masakan Istimewa hates to: take longs hours flight.

9. Masakan Istimewa loves to: watch comedy series or movie

10. Masakan Istimewa hates to: attend all day meetings

Whole Wheat Yogurt Bread

This is one of my favorite recipe I found from KC forum that I would like to share with you. The original recipe use bread flour to product a white yogurt bread, Since I have some whole wheat flour left just enough for this recipe, I decided to finish up the wheat flour with this Whole Wheat Yogurt Bread.
This recipe produce a very soft loaf of bread and the bread remain soft after 3 days without any bread improver. Due to the yogurt content, I must said that this bread is actually quite sweet compare to milk loaf, therefore it's actually taste pretty good eating it plain or with minimum spread.

This is my adapted version. I reduce the recipe into half due to my bread machine capacity. Instead of using vanilla sugar and plain yogurt, I replaces it vanilla yogurt.

Ingredients: ( click here to view original recipe in French language)

• 1 beaten egg ( room temperature)
• 62.5g vanilla yogurt
• 160ml the whole milk
• ~32.5g sugar
• 250g whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp yeast dry
• 2 tsp butter ( room temperature)
  

Method

• Put everything in the order listed above or according to your bread machine manual.
• Set to dough function for the first 20 minutes.
• Then set to auto program for whole wheat bread 1.5lb with light crust to finish the rest of the baking process.

A simple meal I prepare to pair with this wonderful bread. Ham sandwich with swiss cheese, lettuce tomatoes, mayonnaise and some slice avocados. Yum yum..What a healthy meal for the whole family.

Bacon Fried Rice

Do you have any special fried rice story to share? I remember in one of my team meeting, we were chatting about food. One of my American co-worker mentioned that his Chinese friend add hot dog in his fried rice then the rest of the team was laughing and think that funny. Maybe to American, this is something new or odd, who would have though of hot dog fried rice combination?? To be frank, I have been adding hot dog in my fried rice since I was in college.

Last week, we have some left over rice, no hot dog or any meat left in the fridge but some left over bacon. So this is my new creation as suggested from my hubby - Bacon Fried Rice with eggs and mix veggie.

Keen to share your unusual ingredients to prepare a simple fried rice?

Mung Bean Cookies

This is my second CNY creation - Mung Bean/ Green Bean Cookies. Another recipe copy from LCOM. The cookies melt in your mouth and have a very similar taste as the peanut cookie minus the peanut. I used mung bean powder instead of green bean flour. I always thought they are the same, can anyone confirm if they indeed mean the same thing? Because mine turn out to be green in color.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbsp. cornflour
• 3/4 cup mung bean powder
  
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 egg yolk, for glazing

Method:

• Cream butter, powdered sugar and salt until creamy.
• Mix in sifted flours and hand knead until a dough is formed.
• Scoop the dough with a teaspoon and roll into a ball.
  
• Brush the top of each cookie with the yolk glaze.
• Bake in preheated 300F oven for 20 minutes.