Ayam Mas Berwangi

Siaopo was thrilled when she came across this recipe and decided to give it a whirl.

The wonderful smell of this Ayam Mas Berwangi arouses the appetite of both Siaopo and hubby.

However, hubby commented the taste was no longer pleasant when served on packed lunch the next day. This dish is best eaten the same day if possible.

Ingredients
1lb chicken (cut small)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce

(A)
1/2 tbsp garlic (chopped)
5 curry leaves
1/2tbsp coriander powder
1 tbsp curry powder

(B)
3 tbsp Char Siu sauce
1 tbsp plum sauce
2 tbsp water
1/2 tsp cornflour

Method

1. Mix sugar and soy sauce in chicken.
2. Heat up oil in wok and deep fry chicken till golden brown.
3. Heat oil in wok. Stir fry (A) until fragrant. Add in chicken.
4. Continue frying and add in (B).
5. Stir evenly and serve hot.

Surprise Fan !

Upon returning from work one evening last week, Siaopo could hardly believe her eyes seeing an upright fan in the house.

Of all the things in the world, fan is the most unbelievable item to exist in Siaopo's house. Evidently it does exist for her this time.

Remembering the response from hubby one summer past requesting for a fan; she thought not to ask for it ever again.

"I have been in England for 12 years and I have never ever needed a fan", he rasped.

To this end Siaopo is wondering has hubby won the lottery or did he get the fan for FREE ?

There was a sense of disbelief when Siaopo found out hubby actually paid cash for the fan !!!

Siaopo's tips on 3 great ways to enjoy summer at home.

1. GET A FAN !
2. GET A FAN !
3. GET A FAN !

Bento Box

For home-packed lunches, Bento Box seems to be very popular. Bento Box is fast becoming a trend.

So, what is this BENTO? Bento boxes have internal dividers for different kinds of food to sit in their own little compartments.

Siaopo thought about buying one until she discovered the price of Bento Box would actually burn a big hole in her pocket.

Encouraged to be cautious by her miserly and penny-pinching hubby, she has implemented her creative skills and made a version of Bento Box without spending a single penny ! Yipee..

Sandwiches - SPAM meat with mayo, two little fruit baskets with grapes and Waver bar chocolate.

Little Note to hubby from Siaopo ....

Cheap version of Bento Box ...

Char Siu Chow-Mein

Siaopo made Char Siu Chow-Mein with leftover char siu from Seremban Siu Pau.

Ingredients
1 packet of Sharwood medium Egg Noodle (cooked)
1 tbsp garlic (chopped)
2 cups Char Siu ( diced)
1 cup beansprouts
2 stalks spring onions (chopped)
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp oil

Sauces
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
Dash of pepper

Method

1. Heat oil in wok.Fry garlic till fragrant.
2. Add in diced char siu. Continue frying.
3. Add in cooked egg noodle and beansprouts.
4. Stir-fry for 1 minute before adding sauces.
5. Add in spring onions and sesame oil.
6. Remove from heat and serve hot.

Seremban Siu Pau

Lufbra Boy's post has inspired Siaopo to bake this Seremban Siu Pau for the first time.

Adapted the recipe search from petitchef recommended by Lufbra Girl. Hubby commented the filling tasted extremely well but the pastry still require loads of improvement.

Ingredient
Oil Dough
240g flour
120g lard
Water Dough
240g flour
60g icing sugar
60g lard
120ml water

1 egg
Dash of sesame seed

Filling
Similar recipe as Char Siu Pau filling

Method

1. Mix all ingedients of oil dough and water dough and knead till soft.
2. Set aside for 30 minutes.
3. Divide each dough into 20 pieces.
4. Wrap oil dough into water dough and flatten it.
5. Roll the dough into long flat piece and roll up like swiss roll.
6. Press dough and roll into circle.
7. Place filling in center. Wrap into pau shape.
8. Brush with egg and sprinkle sesame seed.
9. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Green beans with Fu-Yee Pork Mince

One of Siaopo and hubby's favorite vegetable dish. Easy to cook and taste perfectly special !

Ingredients
1 packet green fine beans
250g pork mince
1 tbsp garlic (chopped)
2 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbso cooking oil

Marinate
2 tbsp fermented bean curd
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp cornflour
2 tbsp sesame oil
Dash pepper

Method

1. Marinate pork mince amd set aside for 10 minutes.
2. Heat wok with oil. Stir fry garlic till fragrant.
3. Add in pork mince. Break up the pork mince with ladle.
4. When pork mince is almost cook, add in fine beans.
5. Reduce heat to medium and keep frying.
6. Remove wok from heat. Add in sesame oil.
7. Serve warm with rice.

Spicy Grilled Chicken

Siaopo visited Aldi last weekend and walked away with an excellent bargain on chicken drumsticks. One big box of 13 pieces chicken drumsticks for £1.99 only!

This spicy grilled chicken dish had made hubby went "WOW" and stayed in good mood for the rest of the night. So, ladies out there, give it a go!

Ingredients
6 drumsticks
1 tbsp garlic (chopped)
1 tbsp chilli powder
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp vinegar
3 tbsp demerara sugar
Dash of salt

Method

1. Clean and dry chicken drumsticks with kitchen towel.
2. Put all ingredients onto a mixing bowl.
3. Marinate chicken for at least 3 hours.
4. Grill covered drumstick for 30 minutes on medium heat.

Note : Siaopo marinated for 10 hours and drumsticks tasted well. For working wife, marinate before work and grill when return.

Steamed Egg with Pork Mince

Hubby is on the road to recovery from headache, muscle pains and etc. Blame the golf !

This steamed egg with pork mince dish is ideal in aiding his recovery from the many many illness.

Ingredients
(A)
3 eggs
3/4 cup water
1/2 tbsp chicken stock
1/2 tbsp cooking wine
1/2 tbsp soy sauce

(B)
150g pork mince
1/2 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 tbsp cooking wine
Dash of pepper
1 tbsp spring onions (chopped)

(C)
1/2 carrots (chopped)

Method

1. Put A in a mixing bowl and stir egg with chopstick. Do not beat to avoid bubbles. Sieve egg mixture.
2. Mix (B) and leave for 10 minutes.
3. Heat oil in wok and fry the pork mince.
4. Put pork mince in a dish and pour egg mixture onto it.
5. Garnish top with chopped carrots.
6. Cover the dish with aluminium foil.
7. Steam on high heat for 15 minutes.
8. Serve warm with rice.

Herbal Chicken Mee Suah

Hubby was feeling abit under the weather and soup noodle sounds a perfect antidote.

Siaopo had made him a simple Herbal Chicken Mee Suah.

Ingredients
1 packet A1 herbal chicken soup spice
2 cloves garlics
2 tbsp kei chi
4 chicken drumstick
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1/2 packet of mee suah

Method

1. Boil mee suah for 5-8 min.
2. Put A1 spice, garlic, kei chi and chicken into a big pot.
3. Brint to boil. Simmer for 20-30 minutes.
4. Add in soy sauce and oyster sauce.
5. When ready, ladle the soup over the boiled mee sua.

Nyonya Kuih Lapis

Million thanks to the Kongs for inviting hubby and Siaopo to a smashing BBQ party!

It was an awesome party and thanks for the great hospitality.

Siaopo made Nyonya Kuih Lapis for the gathering.

Ingredients
(A)
180g tapioca flour
50g rice flour
400ml coconut milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla essence

(B)
210g sugar
150ml water
1/2 tsp pandan essence or 3 pandan leaves

Drops of red colouring
1/2 tsp of green pandan paste/colouring

Method

1. Mix (A) in a mixing bowl until well-mix.
2. Mix (B) and bring to boil.
3. Mix (A) and (B) and divide into 3 portions.
4. Add red colouring in one portion and green in second portion. Leave third portion white.
5. Further divide each portion to 2 small portions.
6. Heat up greaed steaming tray for 5 minutes.
7. Pour the mixture onto tray and steam for 5 minutes.
8. Pour another layer on top and steam for 5 minutes.
9. Repeat until 3 portions are finish.
10. Further steam for 10 minutes.
11. Cool down completely before cutting into small pieces

Made half-baked Bak Kua for the BBQ party too. Bak Kua is ideal for BBQ session. Similar ingredients as the old post. Only bake in the oven for 20 minutes on 185 degree and then transfer to grill in BBQ pit.

Sweet and Sour Fried Fish

Siaopo finally got back into the swing of cooking after the busy week. Apologies for the paucity of her posts recently.

Ingredients
(A)
1 red snapper fish
2 tbsp of corn starch
1 egg white
salt and pepper

1/2 red pepper (cut small size)
1/2 yellow pepper (cut small size)
1/2 cucumber (cut small size)
1 tbsp ginger (sliced)
1 onions (sliced)

Sauce
2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
2 tbsp tomato sauce
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tsp corn flour
1 cup of water
1 tbsp sugar
salt and pepper

Method

1. Mix (A) and deep-fry the fish.Pat dry with kitchen towel.
2. Heat oil in a wok. Fry ginger and onions till fragrant.
3. Add red and yellow pepper and cucumber and continue frying for 2 minutes.
4. Add in the sauce mixture and cook until thicken.
5. Pour onto fish and serve warm.

Russia Trip

Is Russia a place worth visiting? No is the definite answer from Siaopo.

Siaopo has to admit that she had an enjoyable time and good fun in Moscow with the family. Russia offers magnificent scenery and wonderful landscape.

The people - Russian is what causes the downfall of Siaopo's trip.

Russians are absolutely rude and disrespectful. Siaopo has never met a single russian during the trip that ever smiled at her or showed any compassion. Every single person starting right off at the airport and to the rest of Russian population look at foreigners with cold stares.

It is beyond Siaopo's understanding how a huge populations can be so vicious. Russian has no idea on customer service concepts or the meaning of polite and respect.

Siaopo begin to appreciate the well-manner and politeness attributed within British society.

Siaopo is absolutely amazed by little Sis's surviving skills for 7 years living in Moscow. The level of her patience required in interacting with all segments of this well-known barbarian population is simply incredible. Dr Lee, I salute you !

Siaopo will never return to Russia, or ever have any dealings with Russian.

Two words to describe Russian ...KURANG AJAR !

Lime and Chilli Marinated Tuna Steaks

There hasn't been much excitement in Siaopo's kitchen since her return from Moscow. This is due to her abnormally busy work schedule recently.

Siaopo stumbled upon this awesome recipe on Aldi leaflet and gave it a go !

Ingredients
Fish Steaks
4 tuna steaks
1/4 chilli powder
1limes
Handful of mint (chopped)

Salsa
Handful of mint (chopped)
Handful of coriander (chopped)
2 tbsp garlic (chopped)
1/2 chilli powder
2 limes
1 bunch of spring onions(chopped)
1/2 red pepper ( cut small)
2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp paprika
sugar
Pepper

Method

1. Mix chilli powder, lime juice and mint into a bowl.
   
2. Marinate mixture with tuna steaks for 30 minutes.
3. Mix all ingredients for salsa.
4. Grill the tuna steaks for 2-3 minutes and flip over. Cook for further 2 minutes.
5. Serve with salsa.

Coconut and Coffee Agar Agar

One of the great treats of summer is a light and refreshing dessert - coconut and coffee agar agar !

Ingredients
Brown coffee layer
20g agar-agar strands or 2 tbsp agar-agar powder
2 tbsp of instant coffee powder
1200 ml water
200g sugar

Method

1. Dissolve coffee powder with 2 tbsp of water.
2. Similar steps as Pandan Agar-Agar.

Congratulations Little Sis !

Siaopo is now back in action. The blog was on hibernation mode for past 2 weeks due to Siaopo's vacation in Moscow.

Mum,dad, BigSis, Aunt AhYee and Siaopo were in Moscow for little Sis's convocation ceremony.

After spending 7 years in medical school in Russia, she graduated with a degree in medicine.

The whole family is extremely proud of her achievement. Congratulations Dr Lee !