Braided Matcha Streusel Milk Bread

Another Matcha Bread which caught my attention!  The original recipe uses red bean paste as the filling, but I am using Matcha Streusel instead, being a huge fan of Matcha ~ SMILE ~

In October 2023, I baked this Yummy Matcha Streusel Bread, and love the delicious filling.  So, for this Braided Matcha Milk Bread, I decided to use the same filling, but with a smaller portion as listed below:

70 g. unsalted butter

27 g. caster sugar

20 g. whole egg

34 g. cake flour

47 g. milk powder

4 g. Matcha powder

Click this link here for the instructions to make the Matcha streusel filling.  For the Milk Bread recipe, click the link here for the full recipe.

Let me share some photos captured throughout the process of baking this delicious Braided Matcha Streusel Milk Bread.

Just a small dough ball from the start

The bread dough with the Matcha Streusel filling

Braided and after second proofing

Topped with white sesame seeds and ready for baking

Time to enjoy!

Mongolian Minced Pork Udon

 

Ingredients:

2 portion Udon noodles

1/2 yellow capsicum (sliced)

1 tbsp cooking oil

200 g. minced pork

3 cloves garlic (peeled and chopped)

1/2 tsp fresh ginger (peeled and grated)

1/2 small onion (peeled and chopped)

Sauce: (mix in a bowl)

2 tbsp light soy sauce

2 tbsp water

1 tbsp brown sugar

1/2 tbsp hoisin sauce

1/2 tbsp Mirin or rice vinegar

1/2 tsp sesame oil

1/2 tsp corn flour

Methods:

1. Cook the Udon noodles according to package directions, drain and set aside.
2. In a wok heat the cooking oil, add minced pork and cook, breaking it up with a spatula until it turns opaque.
3. Add in the capsicum, chopped garlic, grated ginger and onion.  Stir and cook until fragrant.
4. Stir the sauce ingredient, then add the sauce into the wok.  Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly.  The sauce will thicken noticeably.
5. Add the cooked Udon.  Mix and toss everything together until the noodles are evenly coated in the delicious sauce.
6. Divide into serving plates and serve!

This delicious recipe is adapted from 'Chef Marion Grasby' by Mehjouba Dahouk with slight adjustment to suit my cooking preference.

Chicken Herbal Soup

 

Ingredients:

2 chicken Whole legs 

3 pieces dried Chinese yam (huai Shan)

2 tbsp Yi Yi Ren (Chinese barley)

10 g. dried lotus seeds (lian zi)

10 g. fox nuts (qian shi)

10 g. solomon's seal (yu zhu)

5 g. dried longan

5 g. goji berries

2 pcs. honey dates

8 pcs. dried scallops (small)

Water

Salt to taste

Methods:

1. Clean the chicken legs and remove excess fat.  Cut each whole legs into 2 pieces, thighs and drumsticks and set aside in a large bowl.
2. Wash all the herbal ingredients, drain in a colander and set aside.
3. In a pot bring water to a boil, pour some boiling water over the chicken to blanch to remove any impurities.  Remove the chicken and put it back into the pot of leftover boiling water together with all the herbal ingredients, and switch on the heat to high.
4. Once it comes to a boil, turn the heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.
5. Season with salt before serving.

Benefits: Boosting the immune system, revitalizing energy levels (Qi), improve digestion and combating fatigue. 

This soup recipe is adapted from 'Janet's Home Cooking' with a slight adjustments to suit my cooking preference.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Ingredients:

230 g chicken breast

a pinch of salt

a pinch of white ground pepper

1/2 tbsp Shaoxing wine

1/2 egg white

1/2 cup corn flour (divided)

2 cups cooking oil (for frying the chicken)

Stir-frying:

1 tbsp cooking oil

1/2 small onion (peeled and cubed)

1/2 medium red and green capsicum (cubed)

Sauce: (mix in a small bowl)

1/2 cup water

2 tbsp ketchup

1/2 tbsp vinegar

1/4 tbsp sugar (to taste)

a pinch of salt

For the cornstarch slurry:

1 tsp corn flour

1 1/2 tbsp water

Methods:

1. To marinate the chicken, in a bowl, combine the chicken with salt, white pepper, Shaoxing wine, and egg white.  Mix well and let marinate while preparing the other ingredients.
2. To coat the chicken, mix the chicken with half of the corn flour and let rest for 5 minutes.  Coat again with the remaining corn flour.
3. To fry the chicken, in a heated pot, add cooking oil. Fry the chicken in batches for about 3 minutes until cooked through. Repeat until all is done.  Increase the oil temperature and fry again for about 1 minute until golden and crispy.
4. To stir-fry and finish, in a wok over high heat, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and stir-fry the onion and capsicum for about 30 seconds, then remove them onto a plate.  Reduce the heat to medium and add the sauce mixture and the cornstarch slurry.  Stir until the sauce thickens. Return the vegetables and chicken to the wok, and toss until evenly coated.
5. Remove on to a serving dish and serve with freshly cooked fluffy rice!

This recipe is adapted from 'cicili.tv' with slight adjustment to suit my cooking preference.

Chinese Tea Eggs

Ingredients:

6 eggs (washed and set aside)

Water (enough to cover the eggs)

3 tbsp light soy sauce

1 1/2 tbsp Lipton tea leaf (use Chinese pur-erh tea leaf if you have)

1 stick cinnamon

1 star anise

3 cloves

1/4 tsp Chinese five-spice powder

1/2 tsp sugar

Methods:

1. Add water to a medium pot and gently place the eggs in it, ensuring they are fully submerged.  Bring the water to a boil over high heat and boil for approximately 10 minutes to ensure the eggs are fully cooked.
2. Transfer the hard-boiled eggs from the boiling water and rinse them under cold water.  Keep the water from boiling the eggs. Using the back of a teaspoon, gently tap the egg shells to crack them.  Return the eggs to the water and add the remaining ingredients: light soy sauce, tea leaf, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, five-spice powder and sugar.
3. Bring the tea mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low.  Simmer for 1 hour (the longer the simmering the better the taste).  Add more water if needed.
4. Serve immediately, or leave the tea eggs in the mixture overnight to further enhance their color and flavor.

This delicious recipe is adapted from 'Rasa Malaysia' with a slight adjustment to suit my cooking preference.

5-Minute Cucumber Kimchi (No salting)

With the extremely hot and humid weather, anything simple and easy to prepare in the kitchen is most welcome. This Kimchi recipe does not need salting, thus is the reason for it's quick preparation. It is not only quick but 'Simple Yet Yummylicious!'

Ingredients:

1 large Japanese cucumber

1/2 onion

Seasoning:

1/2 tbsp gochujang

1/2 tbsp Korean red pepper (gochugaru)

1/2 tbsp granulated sugar (to taste, add more if needed)

1/2 tbsp fish sauce

1/2 tbsp vinegar

1/2 tbsp sesame oil

1/2 tbsp minced garlic

Toasted sesame seeds

Methods:

1. Washed and slice cucumbers into bite-sized rounds.
2. Peeled and slice the onion thinly.
3. In a large bowl, mix all the seasoning ingredients.
4. Add the cucumbers and onions, toss until evenly coated, and serve!

This delicious recipe is adapted from 'Woogu Cook' with slight adjustments to suit my cooking preference.

Steamed Dumplings

While I was in a popular Supermarket in KL, I came across this Dumpling Wrappers which is suitable for making Steamed Dumplings.  Since this wrappers are not available in the place where I am from, so I grab hold of two packets, and here goes my homemade Steamed Dumplings.  

Ingredients:

200 g. minced pork

8 medium-sized prawns (peeled, deveined and cut into small pieces)

1 tsp. grated ginger

1 tsp. light soy sauce

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. Shaoxing wine

1/2 tsp. sesame oil

3 dashes ground white pepper

1 stalk spring onion (chopped)

1 pack dumpling wrappers

Methods:

1. For the filling, in a large bowl, combine minced pork, prawns, ginger, light soy sauce, salt, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, ground white pepper and spring onion together.  Mix well and set aside.
2. To assemble the dumplings, put a small spoonful of the filling in the center of a wrapper.  Moisten the edge of the wrapper with water using your finger, then fold and pleat the dumpling.  Repeat this process for the remaining wrappers.
3. To steam the dumplings, arrange the dumplings in a steamer lined with parchment paper (punched with holes) at the bottom and steam for 8-10 minutes.
4. Remove the dumplings onto a serving dish and serve immediately with dipping sauce.

Ready for steaming

I serve my Dumplings with this Ultimate Dipping Sauce.

1 tablespoon light soy sauce

1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1 minced garlic clove

A pinch of grated ginger

Some fresh chopped spring onions

In a medium bowl, mix all the above ingredients together until the sugar has dissolved.  Ready to serve!

This delicious Steamed Dumplings recipe is adapted from 'Rasa Malaysia' with a slight adjustment to suit my cooking preference.

Stir fried durian flowers with prawns in curry and coconut milk

Came across a stall selling durian flowers when I went grocery shopping one morning at a local market.  I just couldn't help going home empty handed as I have not cook this Simple Yet Yummylicious dish for quite a long while.  Happily coming home with a packet of durian flowers, I quickly clean it and get ready all the necessary ingredients needed.  Since I don't have curry paste, I opt for a quick option of using curry powder.  Though the outcome is less pungent but it does satisfy my cravings! ~ happy tummy ~

Fresh durian flowers

"Simple Yet Yummylicious"

To get the full recipe, click this link here.

Green Matcha Bread Loaf

Since I still have leftover good quality Matcha Powder in my pantry, I will not let this beautiful GREEN colour Bread Loaf pass by without  baking it.  I love the rustic top of the bread, it appears hard while just out of the oven, but once it cools down, it is a delicious, soft and fluffy bread ~ Love It! ~

I am glad to share the beautiful photos which I captured throughout the process of baking this great bread. For infomation, I lightly add some chocolate chips into the dough.

Dough ready for first proofing

Outcome of first proofing

Dough shaped

Dusted with flour for a rustic look
and in to second proofing

After second proofing

Score the top of the dough and
it's time for baking

Tada.. Beautiful loaf just out of the oven

Slice and enjoy!

Click the link here for the full detailed recipe.  Happy baking everyone!

Simple & Hearty Oat Bread

I have always love Oat Bread, and have tried out few recipes from different recipe sources.  Came across this great recipe while I was away for holiday.  This is the first bread recipe which I baked after quite a while.

Click this link here for the full recipe, from 'The Craft Patch.'

I am sharing some photos throughout my journey of baking this Simple & Hearty Oat Bread.  

Ready for first proofing

After first proofing

Shaped and ready for second proofing

After second proofing

Beautifully baked!

5-Minute Cucumber Kimchi

Kimchi lovers would love this simple and easy to whip-up cucumber dish which does not need salting, and no waiting.  Just fresh, crunchy cucumbers coated in a bold and spicy Korean seasoning.  It is so 'Simple Yet Yummylicious!'

Ingredients:

2 Japanese Cucumbers

1/2 onion

Seasoning:

1 tbsp. Korean red pepper flakes (gochugaru)

1 tbsp. gochujang

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. fish sauce

1 tbsp. vinegar

1 tbsp. sesame oil

1 tbsp. minced garlic

Sesame seeds (toasted)

Methods:

1. Washed and sliced the cucumbers into bite-sized rounds.
2. Thinly sliced the onions.
3. In a large bowl, mix all the seasoning ingredients.
4. Add the cucumbers and onion, then toss until evenly coated.
5. Ready to serve.

This recipe is adapted from 'Woogu Cook' with a slight adjustment to suit my cooking preference.

Stir-Fried Tomatoes With Eggs

Tomatoes matches very well when cooked with eggs, meat or prawns.  The slightly sourish taste opens up our taste buds and it serves well with our Asian staple food RICE!

There are few different styles to cook the eggs with the tomatoes.  (1) the eggs can be scrambled and fried with the tomatoes or (2) leave the fried eggs whole and added to the fried tomatoes, or (3) drizzle the lightly beaten eggs over the fried tomatoes.  Whatever style we cook it, it is always deliciously tasty!

This time around I am cooking this tomato dish with whole fried eggs...

Click the link here for the full recipe.

Korean Marinated Eggs (Mayak Eggs)

I first try a hand on this Korean Egg recipe in August 2024, and prepared it again in the same year.  It is a 'Simple Yet Yummylicious' recipe to prepare, let it marinate in the fridge in airtight container for a day or two, and consumed it cold ~ YUMMY ~

Recently, with the weather getting hotter and humid, I decided to revisit this recipe, as it helps me to spend lesser time in the kitchen.  I consider it my life saver!

Let me share with you my most recent prepared Korean Marinated Eggs (Mayak Eggs).

Click here for the full recipe.