Monday, December 25, 2017

Christmas Menu and Recipes

24 Dec Christmas Eve Dinner

Menu :-
1) Spaghetti Bolognese (for Asean sweet and sour tastebud) (Tray 1& 2)
2) Roast Chicken Wings
3) Roast Turkey
4) Stuffing -
5) Pumpkin Soup
6) Roast Lamb (Tray 3)
7) Pork Spring Rolls  (Tenom Ready-Made) Plate
8) Green Salad
9) Mashed Potatoes
10) Pasta Salad - made early morning
11) Pork Dumplings - Andrew
12) Salad - Lee Lee
13) Chicken Salad - Aisha
14) Potatoes Gratis - Amelia

8) Zucchini Slices  Plate
9) Mexican Salsa (Cilantro leaves) coriander seeds
12) Mac n Cheese n Bacons

Display

Display Island :-
1) Roast Turkey
2) Stuffing -
3) Pumpkin Soup
4) Potatoes Gratin
5) Mashed Potatoes

1) Spaghetti Bolognese (for Asean sweet and sour tastebud) (Tray 1& 2)
2) Roast Chicken Wings
3) Roast Lamb (Tray 3) 
4) Pork Spring Rolls  (Tenom Ready-Made) Plate
5) Green Salad
6) Pasta Salad - made early morning
7) Pork Dumplings - Andrew
8) Salad - Lee Lee
9) Chicken Salad - Aisha

Take Spring Rolls Out
Take out Turkey Bones
Check out Freezer - for Bacons

10:30 am -
Preparation for Turkey
Make Stuffing

11:30 am -
Start Roasting Turkey
Making Mulled Wine
Zucchini Slices
Mac n Cheese
Mexican Salsa ?
Ice for Chilling Beer
Tables Setup (decision), check on plates
Check Plates enough for 50 ?
Find out Christmas Table Clothes !!
Make Candied Peanuts

Appertizers :-
1) Tuna Pastries ?
2) Fried Seafood Platter by Susan

Desserts :-
1) Minced Pies - make on 23 Dec
2) Prune Cake
3) Fruit Cake
4) Cookies

Drinks :-
1) Mulled Wine
2) Iced Lemon Tea
3) Roselle Kifer
4) Beer

Turkey Porridge for Supper

Guests List :-
1) Heng-Tai Family - 20
2) Worship Team - 12
3) Susan Bong - 5
4) Katherine, Gem - 2
5) Amelia - 5
6) Annie - 5

Total :- 50

25 Dec Christmas Day Lunch

Stress-free version !

Menu :-
1) Spaghetti Bolognese
2) Roast Chicken Wings (if has left over)
3) Roast Turkey
4) Roast Lamb (Tray 3) 
5) Zucchini Slices  Plate
6) Mexican Salsa (Cilantro leaves) coriander seeds
7) Green Salad
8) Mashed Potatoes or Roast Potatoes and Vegetables
9) Mac n Cheese n Bacons
10) Pasta Salad
11) Pizzas

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Roast Char Siew Sauce


Char Siew Roast Pork or Chicken is definitely one of the best loved meat of my family. BBQ-charred on the outside, honey sweet and juicy from inside, this is one of the best meals one can have with hot rice or noodles.

There are many versions of the marinating sauce from 3-ingredients to very complicated combination, all are said to be mouth-watering recipes. I have tried them all. True, you could cook the meat to tender with 3 ingredients of soy sauce, sugar and garlic but it will be a simple taste. If you like a lingering flavour in your mouth, a bit like melt in your mouth sensation, the sauce is good withe rice, then you just have to have more ingredients.

Here are some recipes that I have read and tried, copied from cooking classes, book and internet :-

Char Siew Roast Pork

Recipe 1

1 Kg Pork
120 gm Sugar
100 ml Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
5 Tbsp Rice Wine
1/2 tsp Five Spice Powder
1 Tbsp Garlic Chopped
1 Tbsp Fermented Bean Curd
1/4 tsp Salt
2 Tbsp Maltose Sugar
1 Tbsp Water

Marinate for overnight in fridge
Roast 220 C for 15 mins, turn 5 mins
Brush Maltose liquid 230 C 5 mins - Repeat 2-3 times until slightly charred.

Comment :- A bit more work

Recipe 2

1 Kg of Pork
2 pcs Fermented Bean Curd
1 Tbsp Honey
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
1 tsp Dark Soy Sauce
1 tsp Five Spice Powder
1/4 tsp White Pepper
100 gm Sugar
5 Tbsp Rice Wine

1) Mix or marinate overnight or warm up sauce & marinate
200 C 15 mins and turn a few tines.

Personally, I like Recipe 2, somehow after the soft boiling of the sauce, the fragrance is well mixed and stronger, marinating them in strong zip lock bags and put in the fridge. It can be stored for a few times and the taste is even better. The wine makes the meat a lot nicer.

I have made 3 portions of Recipe 2 and soak them with 2 Kg of pork and found that I could add more meat and the good thing, the sauce can be used for a second batch as they are thick and store in the fridge.


Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Christmas Songs for the soul






Christmas 2017 Parties Planning

The year was 2017, well, it was the peak of my hospitality "Career" as I would do with my maid, home-cooked menu for major festive events. The following menu listing were for a crowd of 40-50 pax. I am glad I penned these down and saved it for future reading. 

This year now is 2023, we just been through 3 years of pandemic of COVID-19, we do not like huge crowd of gathering, my current maid does not cook that much, and I am feeling overwhelmed by the idea of whole-day-cooking (sometimes for 2 days). But I still love large batch cooking because my basic family will be 18-20 pax. 

A note to my past-self :-
Doria, you are incredible because you dared to try out new dishes and you are bored with same dishes. But sometimes, no cooking is the new cooking, just empty the wallet and called in catering! 

~ written on 15 November 2023 (2 days before my 57th birthday and 3 days to my mother in law, Teresa Wah's 80th Birthday).

22 Dec Winter Festival Dinner

Pot Bless Menu :-
1) Hainanese Chicken
2) Vegetarian Glass Noodles
3) * Roast Char Siew - marinate 20 Dec
4) Pork Knuckle Eggs
5) * Pizzas ordered
6) * Green Salad
7) Stir Fried Vegetables
9) Taufu with minced meat
10) Steam Fish
7) Pork Spring Rolls
8) * Try Chickpea Dip with Raw Vegetables

1) Kifer Drinks
2) Lemon Tea
3) Tong Yuan in Gula Melaka (pre  made)

Guests List :-
1) Heng Family - 17 (minus 8)
2) Tai Family - 13
3) Uncle George Family - 3
Total : 36

24 Dec Christmas Eve Dinner

Menu :-
1) Spaghetti Bolognese (2 pots)
2) Roast Chicken Wings - 6 Kg
3) Roast Turkey
4) Stuffing -
5) Pumpkin Soup
6) Roast Lamb ?
7) Pork Spring Rolls  Roast Char Siew Platter
8) Roast Vegetables Salad (New) Roast on 23 Dec
9) Chickpea Dip and Raw Vegetables Platter
10) Mexican Salsa (Cilantro leaves) coriander seeds
11) Green Salad
12) Mashed Potatoes
13) Mac n Cheese n Bacons make cheese sauce on 23 Dec
14) Pasta Salad - made early morning
15) Quiches Zuchinni - Grate Cheese on 23 Dec

Make Candied Peanuts
Check Plates enough for 50 ?

Appertizers :-
1) Tuna Pastries
2) Fried Seafood Platter by Susan

Desserts :-
1) Minced Pies - make on 23 Dec
2) Prune Cake
3) Fruit Cake
4) Cookies
6) Tiramisu

Drinks :-
1) Mulled Wine
2) Iced Lemon Tea
3) Kifer
4) Beer

Turkey Porridge for Supper

Guests List :-
1) Heng-Tai Family - 20
2) Worship Team - 12
3) Susan Bong - 5
4) Katherine, Gem - 2
5) Amelia - 5
6) Annie - 5

Total :- 50

20 Dec Wed
- Buy all vegetables for the cooking to start cutting
- Buy Green Apples, herbs
- Roast Candied Peanuts
- Bake Prune & Date Cakes (frist round - 3 portions?)
- Soak Fruits for Minced Pie & Fruit Cakes
- Sort out recipes folders and things to do
- Make all the contacts and check on dates


21 Dec Thu
- Cutting and dicing vegetables (23 Dec)
- Marinate Char Siew for 22 Dec
- Bake Fruit Cakes & Date Cakes

22 Dec Fri
- Roast Char Siew
- Bake Fruits, Prune, Date Cakes
- Make Pastries for Minced Pies
- Make Tong Yuan & Gula Melaka Soup

23 Dec Sat
- Marinate Char Siew
- Make Minced Pies
- Prepare Stuffing
- Make Cheese Sauce


Resources :-








Sunday, October 29, 2017

My Water Kefir Recipes

I fell in love with fermenting Water Kefir and got so much kick out of making it that I am very much a brewer of kefir. My Kefir teacher said that I may have invented a new kefir grain when I soaked my kefir grains in Roselle drinks for 2 days! I started it more than 6 months ago with one table spoon of Kefir after taking a lesson on that. It took weeks for me to wake up that 1 tablespoon of kefir. There was no "activity" in the mixture after soaking for 3 days. I then threw away the water and tried again. After three trials, I decided to put my kefir into sleep mode in the fridge and I started to watch a few YouTube Videos about how to make Water Kefir. Finally, I reached out to my teacher and she told me instead of one day, I should let it ferment for 2-3 days as a way to wake them up.

In the beginning, I was soaking the kefir grains for 3 days in the first fermentation also 3 days in the second fermentation. I did try to do the 1 day for first and then 1 day for second fermentation but that gave me too much work to do that daily. There were times, I soaked them longer than 3 days, they were still good, more gassy and tipsy as we drank them.

I started brewing one litre at a time, it was slow as the family consumed it quite fast. Then I made 2 litres and soon, I was making 6 litres, limited by the glass jars that I have.


First Fermentation Station

The first fermentation formula is easy : 1 litre of room temperature clean water with 1/4 Cup of raw cane Sugar (can be brown or white). Here is what I usually do, melt 1/4 Cup Sugar (prefer brown) with hot water, then dilute with room temperature. Put in the Kefir, wait for a day or two. To wake them up, needs 3-4 days, may need to change water also.

Once in a while, use jaggery sugar with pitch of Soda Bicarbonate to ensure water kefir are in good health and able to multiple.



Second Fermentation Station

Here are my success stories and what I put in the second fermentation:-

1) Sparkling Grape Kefir - My family's top favourite, top of the top. They request me to make this only. My kids called it "Holy Communion's Drink".

1 Tbsp Brown Sugar into 1-litre bottle
50 ml of Grape Juice
700-800 ml of Kefir Water after first fermentation

Shake the bottle to dissolve the sugar. Wash off any spills on the bottles. Keep them in dark cool place for 1-2 days. They could turn gassy really fast like within 24 hours. So its best to check on them regularly.


2) Fruit Tea Kefir - Fruity taste and quite similar to Grape Kefir
Brew 30 -50 gm of Fruit tea (with fruits or flowers) in 300 ml hot water (do the night before). This is for 6 bottles.

1 Tbsp Brown Sugar into 1-litre bottle
50 ml of Fruit Tea
700-800 ml of Kefir Water after first fermentation

Shake the bottle to dissolve the sugar. Watch off any spills on the bottles. Keep them in dark cool place for 1-2 days. They could turn gassy really fast like within 24 hours. So its best to check on them regularly.

3) Pineapple Lemon Kefir (Shandy)

1 Tbsp Brown Sugar into 1-litre bottle
Pineapples and Lemon or Orange with grinds diced (squeeze in juice, about 50-80 gm)
OR
Lemon / Orange with ginger slices
800 ml of Kefir Water after first fermentation

Shake the bottle to dissolve the sugar. Watch off any spills on the bottles. Keep them in dark cool place for 2-3 days. The longer we keep them in fermentation, it becomes slightly more alcoholic.
The comments I got for this drinks is between Shandy and weak beer.

4) Roselle Kefir 

I have done three methods and all seem to work.

Method 1
Boil 400 gm Roselle petals (fresh or dry) with 3 litres of water, do not add any sugar, let it completely cool. Prefer to do the night before.
Use this Roselle Drink to do first fermentation for 1- 1 1/2 days. Be careful to check that kefir grains are doing ok, breathing well in the jar.

1 Tbsp Brown Sugar into 1-litre bottle
800 ml of Roselle Kefir Water after first fermentation
(Some would just do first fermentation and then chill after filter the grains)

They do turn gassy within a day or two. Colours are really bright red. 

Method 2
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar into 1-litre bottle
2-3 Roselle flowers, open up the petals and pour into water kefir drink
800 ml of normal Kefir Water after first fermentation
Colour not so bring red. Its pinkish.

Method 3
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar into 1-litre bottle
50-80 ml of Boiled Roselle Drinks
800 ml of normal Kefir Water after first fermentation

Method 1's kefir is the brightest red !

5) Coconut Kefir 

Pour fresh coconut juice into water kefir
Just need first fermentation, soak 8-10 hours, pour drinks into bottles and chill before drink.

6) Other Kefir ingredients that I have tried are :-

Dragonfruits, Lemon only, Orange with Ginger, dates, plumes, Grapes (slice them) but colour does not change much.
I have tried Jasmine Tea and it did not turn out well.
My friend has tried with Chinese Gogi, Dates and she said it was nice.

Taste is very personal and my entire family now thirst for kefir including the kids. I also check on my kefir often and would tap the jars and in return, the kefir bubbles will burst out before me, just like a fireworks in the sky, I would see a kefir water-works inside the jar of kefir water. It was mersmerising to watch and comforting to know that they are alive and doing well.

References

1) https://www.yemoos.com/pages/water-kefir-faq-introduction-basics
2) https://theconsciouslife.com/how-to-make-water-kefir-tibicos.htm
3) https://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2011/04/water-kefir-faqs/
4) https://www.farmdrop.com/blog/how-to-make-water-kefir/


Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Elliot learns to Cook 3 - Chicken Rice In a Pot

One Pot Cooking is a very important cooking skills for survial. In many circumstances, due to lack of resources or reduce washing or camping, we need to cook everything in a pot. This Chicken Rice recipe is supposed to be cooked using a Rice Cooker but Elliot does not have a Rice Cooker at his University house at Saujana Putra. I taught him using the Cooking pan and just be very careful of the fire not to burn the bottom of the rice.

To fry together :-
2 Tbsp Oil
1 medium Onion diced
3 cloves Garlic minced
1 tsp Ginger minced
1 medium Carrots diced
5 pieces Mushroom diced
2 Tbsp Sweet Soy Sauce (ABC Brand)
1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce

Note :- 
Mushroom can be fresh or canned Button Mushroom or if dry soak in hot water for 20 minutes.

To marinate meat :-
1 piece Chicken Breast (not skin and diced)
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce

3 Cups of Rice washed
3 Cusp of water (pour out and ready)

1) Heat up oil, fry onion, add in garlic and ginger, then add carrots. It too dry, add a bit of water.
2) Add in marinated meat, fry till almost cooked (if over-cooked, meat be very dry).
3) Add in mushrroms and the rice, continue to stir.
4) Lastly add in the water pre-measured and press for Rice Cooker. If cooking using a pot on gas stove, when it comes to boil, put on the lid, lower the fire. If the smoke is getting less or stop, then lift up to check if the rice is cooked. If the rice has translucent part that means its not fully cooked yet.
5) Off the fire, let it simmer inside.


Elliot learns to Cook 2 - Homemade Burgers

This is yummy, healthy burger recipe for students when you need comfort food. I just learnt this homemade burger recipe recently from my sister in law, Rebecca Poong.


Chicken Burgers - Homestyle

500 gm Chicken minced
1 Egg (a bit too much for 500 gram but it does give nice aroma when frying the si
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
1 tsp Paprika
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
2 Tbsp Yoghurt
1-2 pieces of Bread cubes
1 Tbsp Persley chopped or powder


Elliot learns to Cook 1 - Bolognese Sauce


It is long overdue that Elliot should learn cooking. Here is his first away-from-home cooking lesson at Saujana Putra home on 15 October 2017.

Bolognese Sauce - The Heng's Style

Vegetable :
3 Tbsp            Olive Oil
3 Large           Onions - diced
2 Medium       Carrots - diced
1 Large           Garlic - diced finely
1 Thumb Size Ginger - diced finely
2 Tbsp             Oregano Spice

Marinating Minced Meat :
500 gm            Chicken Minced
3-5 Tbsp          Corn Flour
1/4 Cup            Red Wine or Rice Vinegar
1 Tin               Tomato Puree (medium size)
1 Cup               Water (optional if too dry)

For Taste :
1 Tbsp             Sugar
1 tsp                Salt
1 tsp                Pepper

Addtional :
1 piece           Green Pepper diced
1 Tin              Mushroom (Chinese button mushrooms) diced finely
1 Tin              Kidney Beans

1) Heat up oil, fry Onions until fragrant. Add in garlic and ginger.
2) Continue to fry with Carrots in, add oil if too dry.
3) Add in Oregano Spice, fry to let fragrance out.
4) Mix Corn flour into Minced meat, add in Red Wine or Rice Vinegar. Mix well.
5) Put Minced Meat into sauce and add in Tomato Puree.
6) Add in Sugar, Salt, Pepper and adjust according to taste.
7) Put in mushrooms, green peppers, Kidney Beans and mix well and stop the fire. Cover with lid.

Best to cook this 6 hours prior to eating.

This is a very versatile dish. From this sauce, we could make :-


  • Homemade Pizza - may use thin wraps or bread with butter spread
  • Lasagne - use non-cooked type, possible to use bread but cut off sides and roll with pin.
  • Pasta & Sauce with cheese

Bel learns to bake 2 - Chewy Chocolate Cookies

Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Moist Chocolate Cakes, who do not fall into with these goodies?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vUtRRZG0xY

The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Servings: 12 

 INGREDIENTS ½ cup sugar ¾ cup brown sugar, packed 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup butter, melted 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1¼ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking soda 4 ounces milk or semi-sweet chocolate chunks 4 ounces dark chocolate chunks (or your preference) PREPARATION Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugars, salt, and butter until a paste has formed with no lumps. Whisk in the egg and vanilla, beating until light ribbons fall off the whisk. Sift in the flour and baking soda, then fold the mixture with a spatula, being careful not to overmix too much. This will cause the gluten in the flour to toughen which will result in cakier cookies. Fold in the chocolate chunks evenly, then chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. For a more intense toffee-like flavor and deeper color, chill the dough overnight. The longer the dough rests, the more complex its flavor will be. Scoop the dough with an ice-cream scoop onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, leaving at least 4 inches of space between cookies and 2 inches of space from the edges of the pan so that the cookies can spread evenly. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges have started to barely brown. Cool completely, and enjoy!

Here is a Chewy Chocolate Cookies recipe we tried.

Chewy Chocolate Cookies (makes 12 large cookies)

1/ 2 Cup      Sugar (1/4 Cup)
3/4 Cup       Brown Sugar (1/2 Cup)
1 tsp            Salt
1/2 Cup       Butter (melted)
1                  Egg
1 tsp            Vanilla Essence
1 1/4 Cup    All Purpose Flour sifted
1/2 tsp         Baking Soda
4 Oz            Milk Choc chopped or chips
4 Oz            Dark Choc chopped or chips


1) Pour sugars, salt and add in melted butter then egg and stir well.
2) Add in Vanilla and sifted Flour & Baking Soda and whisk.
3) Add in Chopped Chocolate or chips.
4) Chill in fridge 30 minutes to harden.
5) Scope using Ice Cream Scope and place 4 inches apart

Bake 180C 12-15 mins until sides slightly brown


Bel learns to bake 1 - Brownies

Bel is interested to bake Brownies, she wants the fudgy type. She gave me one YouTube link and I felt it was too much fat. So I googled another source. We gave it a few tries and here are the results.

Bel's original Video Link :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIb_741_dIw

Science of Fudgy and Cakey Brownies



Fudgy Brownies 

4 Oz (113 gram)   Butter (melted)
6 Oz                      Cooking Chocolate
1 1/2 Cup              Sugar (reduced to 3/4 Cup)
3                            Eggs
1/2 Cup + 2 Tbsp  All Purpose Flour
1/4 Cup                 Cocoa Powder
 Pinch                    Salt

180 C  30 minutes

Cakey Brownies 

2 Oz (56 gram)     Butter (melted)
4 Oz                      Cooking Chocolate
1 1/2 Cup              Sugar (reduced to 3/4 Cup)
3                            Eggs
1/2 Cup + 2 Tbsp  All Purpose Flour
1/4 Cup                 Cocoa Powder ?
Pinch                     Salt
1/4 tsp                   Baking Powder

180 C  35-40 minutes

Take # 1 (23 Oct 2017)
We tried the Cakey Brownies (by accident) on 23 October 2017 as we did not have enough Cocoa Powder and it was replaced by flour (too much).

The difference between Cakey and Fudgy are actually the Butter and Cooking Chocolate portion (more for fudgy Brownies). 





The Best Fudgy Brownies Servings: 9 INGREDIENTS 8 ounces good-quality chocolate ¾ cup butter, melted 1¼ cups sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla ¾ cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon salt PREPARATION Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Chop the chocolate into chunks. Melt half, then save the other half for later. Mix the butter and the sugar, then beat in the eggs and vanilla for 1-2 minutes until the mixture has become fluffy and light in color. Whisk in the reserved melted chocolate (make sure the chocolate is not too hot or else the eggs will cook), then sift in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, being careful not to overmix as this will cause the brownies to be more cake-like in texture. Fold in the chocolate chunks, then transfer the batter into a parchment paper-lined square baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes, depending on how fudgy you like your brownies, then cool completely. Slice, then serve with a nice cold glass of milk! Check us out on Facebook! - facebook.com/buzzfeedtasty Credits: https://www.buzzfeed.com/bfmp/videos/...


Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Chicken Burgers - Tai's Style


Chicken Burgers - Tai's Style

1 Kg Minced Meat
2 Tbsp Yoghurt
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp Parsley Chopped or powder
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
1 tsp Paprika 
1 Egg
2 pieces Bread Cubes
1-2 Tbsp Corn Starch
3 pieces Diced Mushrooms (round)

Optional :-
Few shoots Fried Shallots red onions, spring onions, 
3 Tbsp Black Fungus diced

Roast 180 C 20 mins (May need to cover with foil at the end)


Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Crystal Skin Mooncakes


Image result for mid-autumn festival
I have wanted to learn how to make mooncakes for a long time! Every year, I would find more recipes and yet could not find the courage or the time to make them. I was afraid of failure. Three years ago, Wendy taught in our GB meeting Crystal Skin Mooncakes, I was happy to test them and ate them up. I asked for the recipe and bought a pack of Koh Flour and I procrastinated and the Mid-Autumn Festival was gone and the flour unused.

Related image
Finally, three years later, I told her that I must make them this year but I did not buy the Koh Flour until I was ready. It turned out that she has discovered an improved recipe and she changed it based on her experiences too. Here is the recipe she taught me.

Crystal Skin

100 gm Koh Flour
 50 gm  Icing Sugar
 40 gm Shortening
120 ml Water

For flavour, pour that into the water before mixing in. On the first day, she showed me how to do it, I immediately added the following:-

Pandan Green for pandan flavour (Pandan Green Essence put into water)
Chocolate flavour (Put Chocolate into the mixture), possible to add Coffee Essence
Macha Green Tea flavour (Pour Macha powder into the mixture), the flavour is a bit weak.

1) Sieve Icing sugar and Koh flour
2) Add in shortening and pour in water (flavoured)
3) Mix well until becoming a dough.

Wrap in plastic bag and put aside for at least 20 minutes before use. Possible to keep in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

Filling (chocolate)

2 Tbsp Milk
1 Tbsp Irish Bailey
50 gm Icing Sugar
180-200 gm Cooking Chocolate

2 Egg Yolk
1 Tbsp Milk
1 Tbsp Custard Powder

1) Double boil Milk, Irish Bailey, Icing Sugar and then remove from fire, add in chopped Cooking Chocolates.
2) Whisk lightly Egg Yolk, Milk, Custard Powder and pour into the melted chocolate. Stir until thick Stir until thicken. Keep for 2 hours before use.
3) Possible to mix chocolate filling with red bean paste.
I would measure and roll dough and also use the ratio of 35 gm skin and 25 gm fillings.

Choice of Filling paste 
  1. Purple Sweet potatoes - best method is to add condensed milk into the potaotes mixture and stir to the right consistency.  
  2. Chocolate fillings. 
  • 2 Tbsp Milk
  • 1 Tbsp Irish Bailey
  • 50 gm Icing Sugar
  • 2 Egg Yolk
  • 1 Tbsp Milk
  • 1 Tbsp Custard powder


Measurement :-

For every 100 gm of Koh Flour, it can make 8 Mini small mooncakes. Each mooncake skin is 25 - 30 gm, the filling is 10 gm lesser than the skin. So I was using 35 gm for crystal skin and 25 gm for filling. For filling, I use 10 gm lesser, 25 gm of filling and roll them up.

Finally, success! And Success is Sweet! Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival ! 


Sunday, September 3, 2017

BBQ Party Prepartion







Here is a record of how I prepared for a BBQ Dinner party for about 40 pax. I always plan for more meat, any extra, we could put them aside for family meals. This happens to be Elliot's 21st Birthday on 3 September 2017, we have a few good recipes and have been tried out before.


Guest List :-

1) Our family - 7
2) Tai family - 12 + Grand-Aunt Cecilia
3) Heng family - 11
4) Annie family - 6
5) Aisha - 2
6) Elliot's friends - 6
7) Rekast friends - 6

Total :- 51 (about 7 kids)

Menu :-

1) Spaghetti Mee & Bolognaise Sauce
2) Tea Eggs
3) Chicken Wings -  6 Kg
4) Lamb Shoulders (Bone & Meatless) - 4 Kg
5) Hot Dogs - 8 packs
6) Sweet Potatoes
7) Mashed Potatoes
8) Macaroni Cheese
9) Coleslaw
10) Green Salad

Desserts :-

1) Tiramisu
2) Red Velvet Cake
3) Iced Lemon Tea
4) Beer

The night before, I ready :-

1) Tiramisu
2) Tea Egg Mixture
3) Cake


Wednesday, August 16, 2017

The Lord watches over us







Psalm 127:1(NIV) 
Unless the LORD builds the house, 
the builders labor in vain. 
Unless the LORD watches over the city, 
the guards stand watch in vain.

Numbers 6:24-26(NIV) 
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you   
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.

We give thanks to God, for His faithful protection to our house, over and over again and despite our carelessness in leaving the main gate open during numerous midnights till early morning and sometimes the main wooden door unlocked. But early this morning, the gate was closed, the doors all locked, the thief came inside the compound, the dogs were barking non-stop (as they would over strayed cats on the fence), he attacked 3 of our doors and destroyed 2 of our locks and damaged half of our main wooden door. He almost succeeded to get into the house. He hit with the iron rod 7 times. 

I have a habit to check the outside before I go up to sleep. Sometimes, I even open the door just to peek at outside.


Image result for The Lord protects the house

Image result for The Lord protects the house

Saturday, July 15, 2017

A little special weekend routine


A little special weekend routine 

One weekend in rainy July 2017

Few family members have been under the weather, coughing for more than two weeks. 













After a few hours of slow cooker, it is done. 

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Motivation Talks by Jim Rohn - Personal Development


Create Your Best Life Ever (Full Length)


BREAK YOUR BAD HABITS


Coming Back From Failure


Self Discipline


Best Motivational Speech Use Your Own Mind, Think, 
& Make Good Decisions!


Motivation Talks by Jim Rohn - How to get rich



Psychology of Wealth Thinking (Jim Rohn Pesonal Development)


Getting Rich is Easy


Bible Philosophy How to Get Whatever You Want




Millionaire advice from John 



10 Steps to Achieving Anything You Want (Jim Rohn Personal Development)


See Things That Don't Exist

One year memorial for Grandpa Justine Heng


The Food

The People



Saturday, July 8, 2017

Cough Remedy 2 - Orange with salt and rock sugar


Cough Remedy 2 - Orange with salt and rock sugar

I remember steaming Orange with rock sugar used to be a remedy for cough when I was growing up. But when I googled it, most said Steaming Orange with Salt (Himalaya).


Method

Presoak Oranges in salt water to ensure that the skins are clean.
Cut bottom and top of oranges, slice the knife across the oranges side and cut up a bit. 
Put 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of salt over the oranges. Cover them and steam them 30-45 minutes. 
Drink this for 3 days and prefer to drink just before sleep.

In this case, I used slow cooker, double-boil method of steaming and I boiled them for more then an hour. The oranges flesh should come off easily. I think the taste is a bit too salty. Adding rock sugar was my idea to balance the taste. 


Thursday, July 6, 2017

Cough Remedy 1 - 川贝炖雪梨加冰糖


Many years ago, I had a persistent cough and it lasted like a hundred days. Usually, with a mild cough and cold, I just have honey lemon drinks, some herbal tea and Vitamin C and after a week, I would get better. If I have a bad cough, I would add in 1 Tablespoon of Scott's Emulsion (Orange Syrup for me) three times a day, in no time, when I finish one bottle, I would get better. One time, I had two bottles of Scott's Emulsion Orange Syrup and my lung was back to healthy normal. 

So it was very rare for me to have a persistent cough that lasted more than 3 weeks. That one time, I had my lung X-rayed, and phlegm test and antibiotic medication and still the cough persisted. Then one night during Cell Group Meeting, I was coughing on and off again for the entire meeting, Alice told me about Fritillaria (川贝), a family of Lilies and she asked me to buy them in powder form and this remedy rescued me from that hundred-days cough. It really worked with that one time of consuming it - Pear cut with a hole with Fritillaria put inside, double boiled for 45 - 60 minutes. My cough went away!

And then my lungs have been strong for many years and totally forgotten about this remedy. Until lately, coughing and flu season started and my family members started to be unwell. Christabel coughed for almost a month, it was on and off. Michael was down with a bad flu and cough for more than a month. It was a persistent cough. I do believe in the beginning of the flu, you just have to let it get out of your system before stopping with medicine or remedy. Some dosage of Vitamin C should work.

I would recommend this remedy of Fritillaria Winter Pear with Rock Sugar Drink (川贝炖雪梨加冰糖). 

What is Fritillaria (川贝)?

Fritillaria is from the plant family of Lily.
Scientific nameFritillaria
FamilyLiliaceae
RankGenus



Double boil until winter pear or China Pear is soft, can be 45 minutes to 120 minutes depends on how hot is the slow cooker. 8 grams of Fritillaria is RM10, children portion is 4 grams but we could boil them in a pot and have a few people share the drinks. 

Have this portion few times in a day. I think its hard to drink down 4 bowls at one go so it works well to have it portioned and even share with others. I would double boil it in the evening, have it before sleep and then have it for breakfast.

Verdict about this remedy in 2017 :

Michael still coughed after drinking 3 times, partly because his portion supposed to be 8gram but shared with others, and he did not finish off everything in the bowl so his portion was insufficient. Thinking to double boil the pear with the Fritillaria (川贝) powder inside the little hole and get him to eat up the whole thing, then his portion be correct. 

The last time it worked on me was I had the entire pack of powder poured into the hole of the pear and then steam it till soft. It was not very tasty to eat it all but it worked. This method of slicing up the pear and double boil with rock sugar and water makes it very nice to drink but less dosage of Fritillaria (川贝).

Friday, May 12, 2017

Large Batch Baking - Charity Fund Raising

Prune Cake Large Batch Baking

I have not organised or done Charity fund raising for quite a few years. This year, after much thinking since we need to raise quite a lot and need more ideas, I decided to come out with Mother's Day Packages:-




What is 6 Butter Portions look like :-

Eggs 30 Large AA
Butter 6 X 250 gm 6 blocks)
Brown Sugar 30 Oz (1 lb 14 Oz) Brown Sugar
Prune soaked in Rum (for a month) - 650 gm
Hong Kong Flour - 40 Oz (3 lb

6 Butter Portions can yield :-

1.2 Kg X 3 = 3.6 Kg
0.5 Kg X 5 = 2.5 Kg
100 gm X 10 =  1 Kg
Total = 7.1 Kg Ingredient mix !

In the 2017 Mother's Day Fund Raising, we were selling

1/2 Kg cake, Apple Pie with flower - RM50
1 Kg cake, Apple Pie with flower and Rose Bag Hanger & Bookmark - RM100



Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Our Family Trip to Ranau 2017

Our family did a trip to Ranau 22-24 April 2017, it was more than just a trip, it was a trip to accomplish many things. We started off really late on Saturday 4:30pm, arriving Jabez Resorts (former BCCM Retreat Center) at 6:30 pm, we had two Deluxe rooms booked and everyone had a bed and rooms have attached shower room, it was cozy, clean and nice. We had the whole place to ourselves that night. But we left in a haste to attend a Charity dinner in Ranau Community Hall.  The dinner was mostly vegetables (Ranau's own produce) and we just had to top up with KFC takeaway for supper at Jabez. 
















Next morning, we rose up slowly and had our breakfast cooked by the aunty. Three of us, Elliot and mum and dad set off to Kg Narawang SIB church to attend their church service which supposedly starts at 9am but we got there almost 10am and found that they looked like still at the first part of the service. It ended quite late at noon and then there was a fellowship dinner as the FGB facilitators were with them. We had the "Babi hutan" for lunch.











Local Kadazan Dish

We then set off to meet with the farmer who looks after the Narawang land and met him at his house, he then asked us to go visit the land so that we know he trully works on the land, he said "Kasih senang hari kita semua." So off we went to the farm up on the hill and checked on the land, he asked for grass cutter and we discussed having a gen-set moved over.  

He said may be in June, the Dragon fruits be plentiful.





We went back to Jabez Resorts really late like 4 pm and the three kids left them were bored, they had their internet day until Wallace busted the data quota. That was how bored they were being left for 7 hours!

We moved to Masilou area (near Desa Farm) and had BBQ with Mary's friends and families. It was a night of meat, meat, meat and more meat.




Next morning, we had American breakfast cooked in the house followed by a ride to test English tea at H-Benjamin Residence, We had to visit our farm and made claim at the place by meeting up with the care taker of the land who said they have been waiting for us to come by for years! We ended up talking about plans for the land and brought back a big bag of cabbages! Sadly, we learnt from them that the former native chief of the area has passed away last year.






 It was a journey of many meeting ups with local people.







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