Egg Kurma

I've never been a fan of  using kurma powder to make kurma and have always wanted to try making it from scratch. So, tried out this recipe...turned out really yummy and we loved it. Do give it a try ;)

Original recipe from :

http://www.naliniscooking.com/2014/02/egg-kurma-muttai-kurma.html


The changes I made :

1. I omitted the ginger since I didn't have any.
2. I replaced chilli powder with dry chilli flakes.
3. I used 3 eggs as there wasn't too much gravy.

Overall a delicious recipe that I will surely try again.

Mamak Style Mee Goreng using Peanut Butter

My New Year Resolution for next year started early, last week actually with my aim to cook dinner 6 days a week. I realize eating out is an easier option but finding quality food for a good price is difficult. This will also be a good reason to browse through my ever growing number of cookbooks and making good use of them.
So far I managed to achieve my aim last week and going strong this week....do hope the enthusiasm lasts through the coming months.... :)

I made this fried noodles yesterday and it was really tasty, enjoyed by my 2.5 years old too. The added Peanut Butter enhances the flavour, giving it a yummy nutty taste.

Serves : 3 persons

1 small pack of  Yellow wet noodles, washed and drained
1 onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced / pounded
chilli paste

Combine together:
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp bottled chilli sauce
3 tbsp bottled tomato sauce
some salt and white pepper powder to taste
1 tbsp creamy peanut butter

some sliced fishcakes / slightly fried beancurd
1 large tomato, sliced
a handful of mustard leaves (sawi), cut into 1 inch pieces
a handful of beansprouts

1 egg, beaten with a little salt

Method :

Heat oil in a wok, fry onion, garlic till fragrant. Add in chilli paste and cook till fragrant,
Add in fishcakes/ tofu, mix well. Add in the combined sauces and fry for a few seconds.
Add in tomato, noodles and mustard leaves, mix well to combine. Add in beansprouts.
Add a little water in needed. Cook covered for a few minutes.
Now move the noodles to a side, add some oil and pour in egg. After 30 seconds, combine egg with the noodles. Mix well. Add salt if needed.

Serve hot with some sliced red chilli, lime and mint leaves. YUMMM

Winning Her World Best Home Cook Contest 2015

 

It was one of those proud moments in life.. I came across this contest which was organized by HerWorld Malaysia few months ago whereby you cook/bake using one or more of the ingredients featured. There was Golden Churn Butter there and noticed that the deadline was near so I baked a quick cake (a fav recipe of mine), frosted it, took pics and sent it in.

Little did I know that I will be one of the 12 chosen finalists and was asked to join a cook-off session in Starhill Culinary Studio, Bukit Bintang. I knew that meant big but the shock came when I learnt I needed to recreate my cake from scratch in an hour!!! Wow, that to me sounded impossible and I had to bring all the needed items as I will only be given the butter, cake mixer and oven. The worse part was when I was told that I will be the only one making a cake...hmm..can things get any worse..

The day was one of the most stressful ones where the clock kept ticking and I was willing my hands n mind to move as fast as possible, also being careful not to forget any ingredients.
It took me 1 hr 15 mins to complete as the cake needed 15 mins to cool off a little before frosting. It was then whisked away to the judging room and I was hoping that it will stay in shape and not collapse.

At last I could sigh with relief and felt totally famished. Next came lunch break while the judges were tasting the dishes and choosing the winners. Soon the speeches started followed by the announcement of winners. I really thought that I did not win anything when they called out the second and first runner up and was shocked beyond words when my name was announced as the Grand Prize winner. Wow....that was unbelievable. My cake actually won the Grand Prize! It was a great moment to be cherished.

Starhill Culinary Studio

Baking at the event



My winning cake, after tasting session

With my prize

With thr other winners

Daphne Iking

https://www.facebook.com/reshwani/videos/10153304188018897/?l=3695705020230928943 

Gobi Manchurian

Here's a yummy recipe I tried for dinner yesterday. It turned out perfect, served with chapatti n dhall.

Serves : 3

Ingredients:

1 small cauliflower, cut into small florets, soaked in hot water with some salt
1 cup plain flour
1/4 cup corn flour
black pepper powder n salt to taste

3 tbsp tomato sauce
3 tbsp chilli sauce
1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tsp vinegar
1 big onion, sliced thinly
1 green chilli, cut small
4 garlic cloves, grated
1 tsp corn flour, mixer with some water
salt to taste
some spring onion for garnishing

Method :
Drain cauliflower. Set aside.
Mix plain flour, corn flour, salt, ground pepper with some water to make a medium thick batter.

Heat oil in a pan, deep cauliflower florets in batter and fry till light golder colour.
Keep aside.

Sauce :

Heat a non stick pan with some oil. Saute the onion till soft. Add in garlic and green chilli. Mix well.
Next add in all the sauces and season with salt. Mix well.

Add in vinegar. Mix to combine.

Add in cornflour mixture, mix well and add in the fried cauliflower florets. Coat well with sauce and cook about 5 mins and turn off heat.

Garnish with spring onion and serve hot.

Old Fashioned Banana Cake

This is one cake I have been saving to do for some time now...and ya, at last I tried it out and regretted waiting for so long. It is so soft and yummy, practically melts in the mouth. You just got to try this out to see. It is so easy to put together and the recipe's a keeper.

You need :

3 large ripe bananas, mashed
170 gm butter
160 gm castor sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp yogurt
227 gm cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Method :

Preheat oven to 170C. Grease and line a 8x8 inch square pan.

Beat butter and sugar till fluffy. Add one egg at a time and beat well between additions. Add in vanilla and yougurt. Beat.
In a bowl, combine flour, soda and baking powder.
Add in mashed bananas and flour mixture into the mixer and beat in slow speed.
Once combined, pour into prepare pan and bake for about 40-50 mins (depending on your oven). Check occasionally after 35 minutes to avoid over baking.

Chicken Mushroom Pasta in Creamy Tomato Sauce

I tried out this yummy recipe for our weekly pasta night and it turned out great, even my little one loved it. It's a tomato based sauce with added cream and parmigiano reggiano ;).

It's an easy meal to make and perfect for weeknight dinners. Do give it a try.

You need :

Olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1/2 chicken breast, boneless, skinless (cut into small pieces)
10 button mushrooms , sliced
1 big onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, grated (I love to grate garlic as it gives more flavour)
1 small can tomato basil pasta sauce
dried italian herbs, salt, black pepper powder, dried chilli flakes (use according to your flavour needs as I did not measure)
1/2 cup thickened / cooking cream
parmigiano reggiano ( about 1/4 cup)

spaghetti / pasta of choice (cooked al dente) - I used angel hair pasta - for 3 persons

Method :

Heat some olive oil in a pan and add butter. Once it melts, add in onion and grated garlic, saute.
When onion turns brown, add in chicken pieces and mushrooms.

Mix well. and let it cook. Once chicken is nearly cooked, add in the pasta sauce and let it come to a simmer. Add in herbs, chilli flakes, salt, black pepper powder, Mix well and close with a lid, cook for about 10 minutes on low heat. You may add in a little hot water if too thick. Turn off heat. Add in the cream and parmigiano reggiano and mix.

You can now add in the pasta, mix it all together and serve it hot,