Milk Butter Toast

What's up for breakfast, the first meal of the day?  Came across this recipe from Kitchen Cookbook.  Thick-cut bread toasted to golden perfection and brushed with a sweet, creamy butter glaze!  Grab hold of butter, condensed milk, milk and salt; and 2 slices of my recent baked Sourdough Honey Oat Sandwich... Breakfast is served ~ YUMMY ~

Ingredients:

For the toast:

2 slices thick-cut bread

For the milk butter glaze:

25 g unsalted butter (softened)

1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk

1/2 tablespoon whole milk

A small pinch of salt

Methods:

1. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the milk butter glaze.  The consistency should be thick enough to spread but soft enough to melt easily into the warm toast.  Set aside.
2. Heat a non-stick pan over medium-low heat.
3. Melt 1 teaspoon of butter for added flavor and golden color.
4. Place the bread slices in the pan.
5. Toast each side for 2-3 minutes, pressing gently, until the surface is crisp and golden brown, but the inside remains soft.  You are aiming for a texture like grilled cheese sandwich: crisp edges and soft centre.
6. Once the toast is freshly toasted and still hot, place it on a serving plate.
7. Immediately spread a generous layer of the milk butter glaze across the top using a butter knife.  The glaze will begin to melt and soak into the warm toast, creating a glossy, buttery finish with a caramel hint.
8. You can add slice fruits as topping; sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the glaze before serving; add crushed nuts over the top; serve warm toast with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top or add 1/2 teaspoon matcha powder to the glaze.  I did not use any of the above mentioned options, as my tummy is calling out loud "feed me now!" A cup of freshly brewed hot coffee is enough to go with it. 

Asian Cucumber Salad

 

Ingredients:

1 large Japanese cucumber

1/2 tsp salt

Honey Chili Garlic Vinaigrette:

2 tbsp rice vinegar

3 garlic cloves (peeled and finely chopped)

1 tbsp honey

1/2 tbsp toasted sesame oil

2 tsp PEKIN spicy secret sauce (or garlic chili sauce)

Methods:

1. Washed and dice the cucumbers to 1/4-inch thick cylinder shape pieces.  In a large mixing bowl, toss with salt and let rest for 30 minutes.
2. In the meantime, combine the honey chili garlic vinaigrette in a bowl.  It should taste garlicky, tangy, and a little sweet. Store it in the fridge.
3. Rinse the cucumbers to remove the salt.  The cucumbers should taste a little salty but not too salty.
4. Pat dry the cucumbers with a clean towel. Mix the cucumbers into the honey garlic vinaigrette.
5. Arrange and stack them in a serving plate to make a tower.  Pour the excess dressing over the top and serve immediately.

This recipe is adapted from 'I HEART UMAMI' with slight adjustments to suit my cooking preference.

Matcha Cream Scones

 

Ingredients:

260 g. plain flour (sifted)

10 g. Matcha powder (sifted)

85 g. caster sugar

1 tbsp. baking powder (sifted)

1/2 tsp. salt

50 g. raisins (washed in warm water, drain and pat dry with kitchen paper)

50 g. walnuts (finely chopped)

250 g. whipping cream (more for brushing)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 tbsp. brown sugar (for sprinkling over the top)

Methods:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, matcha powder, and salt.
2. Add the raisins and walnuts, and stir to combine.
3. Pour in the whipping cream and add vanilla into the dry mixture.  Use a sturdy spatula to stir into a shaggy dough.
4. If the dough is too dry and won't come together, add more cream, one tablespoon at a time.  I did not add extra whipping cream.
5. Sprinkle some flour on your work surface and transfer the dough onto the floured surface.  Flour your hands and a rolling pin.
6. First, use your hands to pat (don't knead) the dough into a rough rectangle with the long side near you.
7. Fold the two sides over to meet at the center.
8. Then rotate the dough by 90 degrees, so the long side is near you again.
9. Use a rolling pin to roll it out into a rectangle again.  Fold the two sides over to meet at the center again, rotate 90 degrees and roll it out into a rectangle again.  Do this one more time, so you do a total of 3 of this folding.
10. After the last folding, you don't need to roll it out into a rectangle, pat the dough to shape into a roughly 7-inch round disk.
11. I use a dough scraper to cut the disk into 8 wedges.  Slowly remove the wedges into a prepared lined baking sheet, about 1/2 inch apart from each other.  Brush the top with some whipping cream, and sprinkle with some brown sugar.  Chill the dough in the freezer for 30 minutes before baking.
12. 15 minutes before the end of the freezing time. preheat the oven to 190 degree Celsius.
13. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.  Rotate the pan halfway through baking.  Bake until the top and the bottom of the scones are golden brown.  
14. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the scones cool down for 5 minutes, then remove them onto a wire rack.
15. Serve the scones warm.  They are best served on the same day if possible, but these scones are so good and they stay tender for 3 days in an airtight container at room temperature.  If you want slightly crisp scones on the outside, simply reheat them.

I adapted this recipe from 'What To Cook Today' with slight adjustments to suit my baking preference.

Chicken Udon Noodles

 

Ingredients:

2 packets Udon noodles

6 chicken tenders (cut into bite-sized pieces)

2 tablespoon cooking oil (part)

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1/2 onion (peeled and cubed)

1/2 carrot (peeled and sliced)

3 heads bok choy (sliced into thin strips)

1 tablespoon toasted white sesame seeds (optional, I did not put)

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon water

Chicken marinade:

1 teaspoon light soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon corn flour/corn starch

1/2 tablespoon water

Sauce:

1/2 tablespoon light soy sauce

1/2 tablespoon dark soy sauce (depending on the darkness of your soy sauce)

1 tablespoon oyster sauce

1 tablespoon rice wine

1/2 teaspoon sugar

Methods:

1. Blanch the Udon noodles as per packet instructions, drain and set aside.
2. Marinade the chicken in light soy sauce, pepper, corn flour and water.  Let it sit for 10 minutes while you prep the veggies.
3. In a heated wok, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, then add chicken.  Pan-fry over medium heat until cooked through and set aside.
4. In a clean wok, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and saute mince garlic until lightly golden.
5. Add onion, carrot, bok choy and 1 tablespoon of water, stir to mix well. Cook until carrot softens.
6. Add back the chicken, udon noodles and sauce, then mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes.  Add 1-2 tablespoons of water if needed, and serve warm. 

This yummylicious recipe is adapted from 'cookingwithlei.com' with slight adjustments to suit my cooking preference.

My Simple Fried Rice (Recipe 3)

Another Simple Fried Rice from my humble kitchen, comprises of luncheon meat, corn, carrot, onion and garlic.  My usual seasonings of oyster sauce, chicken stock granules and dashes of ground white pepper. As usual I am using Basmati Rice. Let's enjoy this 'Simple Yet Yummylicious' fried rice with carrot and chayote chicken soup...

Fried Rice is always the most simple and yummylicious dish to prepare and enjoy.  I believe, even for those who doesn't cook, they also know how to fry rice.  ~ SMILE ~

The Best Homemade Bread

Not only was I being tempted by the name of this homemade bread, but at the same time being attracted by the looks of it!  With just  few simple ingredients, and without egg and milk, let me share with everyone, a beautiful loaf of 'The Best Homemade Bread!'

"Simple Yet Yummylicious"

Click here for the full recipe.

Let me share some photos which I have captured during the process of baking this great bread...

From a small dough

To a huge dough

From this rolled dough

Rose to above the rim of the loaf pan

Let's have breakfast!

Pan-Fried Curry Lemongrass Chicken with Coconut Rice

It has been quite sometime since I last prepare one plate meal.  This pan-fried curry lemongrass chicken caught my attention recently.  The recipe comes with coconut rice or popularly known as Nasi Lemak.  Thus, I decided to come up with pan-fried curry lemongrass chicken and served with this authentic coconut rice.  I serve this one plate meal with the yummylicious pan-fried chicken, coconut rice, slices of cucumber and topped with a fried egg over the rice.  I did not serve it with the usual nasi lemak sambal and fried peanuts.  It is indeed a 'Simple Yet Yummylicious' lunch!

Ingredients: (serves 2)

(A)  Coconut Rice

• 1 cup basmati rice (washed, soaked for 30 minutes and drained)
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 thumb-size ginger (peeled and lightly smashed)
• 1 stalk lemongrass (lightly smashed)
• 2 pcs. pandan leaves (tie into knot)
• 1/8 tsp. salt

(B)  Chicken and marinade

• 2 boneless chicken thighs
• 1 tsp. curry powder
• 1/4 tsp. ground tumeric
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. oyster sauce
• 1/2 tbsp. fish sauce
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 2 stalks lemongrass (tender inner core, finely chopped)
• 1 tsp. corn flour
• 2 tbsp. cooking oil (for pan-frying chicken)
• 2 sprig curry leaves
• Slices of cucumber, for garnish
• 2 fried eggs, for topping over the rice

Methods:

1. To cook the rice: Combine all rice ingredients in a rice cooker and cook until fluffy.
2. Mix chicken with all the marinade  ingredients except corn flour, and let it marinate for few hours to let the flavors seep in.  Stir in the corn flour just before pan-frying.  In a medium heated wok, add in cooking oil, pan-fry  the chicken until golden and cooked through, both sides.  While pan-frying the chicken, in the same pan, place the curry leaves on the side of the pan, with oil, fry until crisp.  Remove the chicken and curry leaves onto a plate and set aside.  
3. To serve:  On each serving dish, place a bowl of coconut rice on one side, follow with pan-fried chicken and the curry leaves over the chicken, then top the rice with a fried egg.
4. Let's indulge....

This yummylicious recipe is adapted from 'Miki's Food Archives' with slight adjustments to suit my cooking preference.

Coffee Buns (Kopi Roti)

This happens to be one of my favorite Buns to bake and enjoy with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, any time of the day.  Recently, I came across this  recipe from foxyfolksy.com, and since I have a bottle of MOCCANA Classic medium roast coffee in my pantry, there is no second thought. I grab hold of all the needed ingredients which are readily available in my pantry and put my baking gear into it.  Tadaaa...

 

When baking this recipe, I am revisiting the recipe for the Buns which I have baked on 19th September 2024,  click here for the recipe.

For the Coffee Caramel Topping recipe, I use the recipe from foxyfolksy.com.  Click the link here for the full recipe.  If you prefer to make use of the whole recipe from this link to bake your Coffee Buns, feel free to do so.  I am incorporating the 2 recipes from 2 different sources to bake this Coffee Buns (Kopi Roti) recipe during this round of baking.

Let me share a few photos which I have captured during the process of baking this yummylicious Buns...

A small dough for first proofing

8 round buns after second proofing

After topping and ready for baking

Let's enjoy!

Pork Blanket Dumplings

For this post, I would like to refer back to my earlier post 'Steamed Dumplings' on 23rd July.  With another packet of the Japanese Gyoza Pastry lying in my fridge, I have been thinking of what to do with it.  It is like, my thoughts are always being heard! I decided to use the same filling recipe for Steamed Dumplings to make this Blanket Dumplings.  Refer the link here for the filling recipe.

For infor, the actual recipe for the Blanket Dumplings is using minced/ground chicken, but  I am using minced/ground pork instead.  Click here for the Chicken Blanket Dumplings.

Ingredients:

10 sheets Japanese Gyoza Pastry

1 tablespoon cooking oil

3/4 cups water

1 sprig spring onion (washed and chopped)

Sauce:

1 tablespoon light soy sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons PEKIN Spicy Secret Sauce (or chili oil)

Methods:

1. On a flat plate, divide the pork fillings into 10 round balls.
2. On a clean non-stick pan, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil.  Arrange the pork balls in the pan and cover each with a gyoza pastry or wrapper.
3. Pan-fry over medium heat for about 1 minute.
4. Add water, cover, and steam for about 5 minutes until cooked through.
5. Uncover and cook for about 2-3 more minutes until the bottoms are golden and lightly crispy.  Switch off heat.
6. Drizzle with the light soy sauce and PEKIN Spicy Secret Sauce or chili oil.  Top with spring onion and serve immediately from the pan.

Let's Eat!

This delicious recipe is adapted from 'CiCi Li' with adjustments to suit my cooking preference.