Chunky Banana Loaf
08 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Stir N Bake
I baked over 200 loaves of this for a bake sale in September last year for a fund-raiser. I’m grateful that Ariel and Joshie were a part of the whole exercise – the whole process of putting the cake together was simple enough for a 4 and 5 year old, and they did their bit for charity! The nice thing about this loaf was the crunchiness on the outside, and the soft, fluffiness on the inside. And to top that off, it was lovely to have uncompromised chunks of sweet banana goodness with each bite.
Ingredients :
1 cup oil
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup quick oats
1 1/2 cup self-raising flour
4 bananas, chunked up
To Do :
1. Combine all
2. Bake at 160C for 1 hour
Ah Kong’s Nonya Agar Agar
08 Feb 2012 Comments Off
in Local Desserts & Sweets, Nonya Nonya
This number is a must at Chinese New Year’s. Mom tells me stories of how Grandpa would collect seaweed from the beach, then boil his magic brew for hours in his huge copper pots, then sunning it for days before it is gloriously revealed when guests called upon the family. Best relished sliced thin, savoured in the mouth for its texture and jaw-jerking crunchiness that resounds in-between your ears.
My recipe
2 packets agar agar powder (Rose Brand preferred)
400g honeycomb rock sugar
2 litres of water
To Do :
1. Combine all, and bring to a boil
2. Keep boiling for half hour
3. Pour into moulds
4. Cool then sun, if possible
5. If not, refrigerate open-faced
6. Slice THINLY, then serve. Enjoy the crunch!
And now, the spill on the real deal -
Ah Kong’s Recipe
Ingredients :
4oz sugar
1 kati rock sugar
8pcs pandan leaves
96oz water
3 packets agar agar strips
4 egg shells
To Do :
1. Caramelise sugar till golden brown
2. Combine all other ingredients
3. Boil for 2 hours
4. Sieve and boil for another 1 hour
5. Pour into moulds
6. Sun for 3 days, no refrigeration please.
Chestnuts and Chocolate Cake
02 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Stir N Bake
Off to more CNY visits, can’t go empty handed! A little pick-me-up to sweeten the occasion.
Ingredients :
100g self raising flour
80g sugar
80ml oil
40g chopped cooked chestnuts
40g mini bitter-sweet chocolate morsels
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tsp black sesame seeds
To Do :
1. Combine all.
2. Grease baking tin, sprinkle black sesame seeds sparingly.
2. Pour into baking tin and bake at 160C for 40mins.
Mac N Cheese
02 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Entrees
Ariel’s latest hot favourite, and I’m trying to wean her off Kraft’s Easy Mac. oh man…
Ingredients :
250g elbow macaroni
250g whole wheat macaroni
50g butter
1/4 cup flour
3 cups whole milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup finely chopped onions (red or yellow, your choice)
2 cups extra sharp cheddar
1 cup gouda
5 slices of bread
butter
To Do :
1. Butter bread generously, bake at 100C till crispy, very very crispy.
2. Remove and cool. Crush finely.
3. Cook macaroni, till al dente. Drain, set aside.
4. In a pan, melt butter.
5. Make a roux. Add flour, rid lumps, cook for about 5 minutes.
6. Add milk and onions, cook till it thickens, around 10 minutes.
7. Temper in eggs, stir in 3/4 of cheese.
8. Fold in macaroni. Dish into serving bowl.
9. Cover with remaining cheese, top with bread crumbs.
10. Bake at 180C for 30 mins, till golden brown, crispy, gooey and yummy!
Hokkien-Styled Leeks and Tau Kwa
28 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Local Fare
This is a New-Year-Must-Eat dish.
Derived from the word “韭” (leeks) , which is a phonetic play on “数” (to count), in the spoken vernacular . This symbolic tradition celebrates that the family will have “lots of gold ingots / money to count in the new year.
Hokkien-styled, what else? 
Ingredients :
8 stalks of chinese leeks, sliced finely
2 pcs fried tau kwa, julienned
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 small carrot, shredded
1/2 cup shrimp (shelled) – optional
1/2 cup roasted pork belly – optional
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp soya sauce
To Do :
1. Heat oil, fry tau kwa till golden brown.
2. Add in pork belly and shrimps.
3. Add in carrots and leeks, fry till tender.
4. Condiments go in, stir to combine. Dish and serve.
Grandma’s Sagun
26 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Local Desserts & Sweets, Nonya Nonya
Made with lots of patience, and truck loads of love.
My mom recalls stories about how this was sold in the old days – wrapped up in a thin pipe – akin to the size of a long cigarette; clipped at one end, and tied up with a piece of frilled colored paper on the other; for 10cents a pop.
However, if the grandma made these over Chinese New Year, we would have this neat from a spoon – la décadence absolue ; or use the end of a piece of kueh belanda as a scoop to dish up yummy goodness.
Yes, double dipping was allowed in those days. hahaha…
Ingredients :
3 grated fresh coconuts
3 eggs
1 packet rice flour
3 cups sugar (adjust to taste)
To Do :
1. Combine all.
2. Cook over medium heat until dry, grainy and delicious. – About 2 hours.
Loquat Orange Cake
26 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Stir N Bake
Ingredients :
2 1/2 cup self raising flour
100ml oil
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
150g plain yogurt
3 tbsp sunquilk
180g canned loquat*, cubed.
To Do :
1. Combine all.
2. Bake at 140C for 45min.
* Replaceable with canned mandarin oranges.
The Potato Salad
21 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Starters
Ingredients :
8 large potatoes. Skinned, cubed. (Russets not preferred)
6 stalks of celery. De-veined, cubed.
6 hard boiled eggs. Yolks separated, whites cubed.
1/2 cup REAL bacon bits
1 cup mayonaise
To Do :
1. Cook potatoes and drain well.
2. Whip mayo and egg yolks.
3. Combine all. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Golden Clusters
21 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
Ingredients :
A -
300g butter
300g sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 tbsp vanilla essence
B -
400g Cornflakes
200g raisins
100g sliced almonds (optional)
To Do :
1. Combine A ingredients, and microwave till a smooth mixture is achieved
2. Stir in B ingredients, mix well.
3. Place in paper cups, bake at 160C till golden brown – around 15mins,
4. Serve cooled, store in an airtight container.
Ayam Sio
20 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Nonya Nonya
An end to “agak-ration”.
hahah…
Ingredients :
2kg chicken thigh, skinned.
8 small onions
3/4 cup coriander powder
8 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup dark soya sauce
2 tbsp vinegar
To Do :
1. Combine all, and marinate overnight.
2. Place on medium heat, cook till serap.
3. Enjoy!
