Category: Asian Dishes

Asian Dishes, Soups

Toddler Food

7shasha7

I remember someone asking me to post about baby food. Erm, that was a year ago. How time flies. A few days ago, I decided to finally make my 18 month old boy lunch. I seldom make for him food. In fact, for this whole year, like never. Ever since we had a domestic helper, I’ve left practically all the cooking of baby food to her.

My boy has molars. Two of them. What that means is that he has long weaned from eating soft mushy food and I must say with some pride, is a man’s man. Man, can that boy eat. ;p

I made healthy rice in the cooker and then in a saucepan, I fried one garlic clove, added water. Then, I added two teaspoons of ground toasted ikan bilis. And then vegetables – carrots, potatoes, broccoli and finally soft tofu. He didn’t want me to feed him but he ate with relish the entire bowl when The Girl fed him. Sigh. This is what happens when Mommies go out to work.

Asian Dishes, Salads and Vegetables, Sides

Pacheri Nenas (Pineapple Relish)

7shasha7

I invited my colleagues for the first time to my house for Raya. I cooked, for the first time in my life, Pilav Rice, following loosely a recipe I found in my mother’s Indian Cookbook and the Internet.

Pacheri Nenas can be found at almost every Malay wedding. I love this to bits because it really cuts the richness of the other Malay dishes i.e. the rice, the sambal chicken, the sambal goreng.

Traditionally, one would use fresh pineapples. However, one can also use tinned pineapples. Of course, I used the latter.

In a pan, fry in a little bit of oil, cardamoms, cinnamon sticks, cloves. Add sliced onions. Add a bit of turmeric and chilli powder and then pineapples. Mix well and then add a little bit of sugar and cut red/green chillies. I used chilli padi instead.

Interestingly, the pacheri nenas was a hit with my colleague’s sons. 😀 They ate it with such aplomb that I feel like making again as a gift for the sons during the holidays.

 

Asian Dishes, Chinese, Seafood

Fish Soup

7shasha7

Ah, it’s finally time to update my blog. And soon, finally, I’ll have the time to cook all I want. 😀

There’s this place that The Hubby and I love to frequent for its fish soup. They’re found in a Muslim kopitiam called Mr Teh Tarik. Ha ha. For those of you who know this place, you might be raising your eyebrows somewhat. Mr Teh Tarik and fish soup? But yes, they serve lovely fish soup and the best outlet is the one at Geylang, though the most generous one is at Bedok North.

Anyway, one day while I was at the in-laws, brother-in-law made a rather shocking statement, for me that is. He said that the fish in the fish soup are Toman fish. I had no idea, seriously! He was surprised that I didn’t even know what fish I was eating. Well, Toman fish is cheap and so easy to get at NTUC! So one weekend, I decided that instead of spending $10 on fish soup, why don’t I make my own pot instead. And what do you know? It turned out great!

<u>Here’s what I used for my Fish Soup<\u>

1. Bottled Ikan Bilis Stock (Maggi)

2. Slices of Toman fish

3. Tofu

4. Cai Xin (Green Leafy Vegetables)

5. Ikan Bilis (Achovies, Dried and Fried)

6. Tomato

7. Ginger slices (for the stock)

I even made a sambal of chilli padi slices and soya sauce. It’s a nice, economical dish and the good things was that The Little Girl ate a bowl of it. Try it on a rainy day. 🙂

Asian Dishes, Chinese

Steamed Tofu

7shasha7

I bought two silken tofus and one night, I steamed both of them in my trusty plastic microwavable steamer. When the tofus were done, I mixed a tablespoon of oyster sauce and a tablespoon of soya sauce. I poured the sauce over the beancurds and then topped them with minced chicken that I had earlier sauteed with just garlic, salt and a bit of soya sauce. Then, I sprinkled loads of spring onions and slices of fresh red chillies. It made a lovely supper. When The Hubby came back, I forced him to eat my lovely meal but then, I had forgotten that he doesn’t eat onions. So, I had to scrape off all the scallions and happily devoured them together with my tofu.  Now, this is what I call a healthy choice meal. 🙂

Asian Dishes, Meat

Stir-fried Beef

7shasha7

I love making stir-fried beef because it’s really fast to cook yet oh so tasty. The problem is I am extremely fussy when it comes to what cut of meat I would use for this dish. For example, I would ONLY, and I can be very anal about this, ONLY use beef that had been sliced by a certain butcher from a certain market in Serangoon. Ha ha. Enough clues? Anyway, one day lucky me went to said market with The Hubby and so I ran to the stall and got some of my very thin slices of beef. Mmmm…

This is how I make my stir-fry. I would first marinade my beef with Worcestershire sauce and black pepper. And then in a pan, add garlic to hot oil and then quickly add in the beef. And then cherry tomatoes and sometimes cut capsicums or spring onions/slices of onions if The Hubby is not around. I’d add some more black pepper and Worcestershire sauce, a bit of soya sauce for seasoning.And oh, I love to eat this with plenty of coriander leaves.