Chicken Pot Pie 杯式鸡肉派

I have been making this chicken pot pie for lunch but have never record it down the exact recipe as i always in the rush when preparing this for lunch. Finally i was able to record down this recipe today, and have it record in my blog here.

Chicken with 40 cloves of garlic 四十瓣蒜烤鸡

While I transited at CDG airport Paris when returned from US trip. I spotted a French cookbook in English, so happy and quickly bought this cookbook. The first recipe immediately I try out is this Chicken with 40 cloves of garlic, perfect to cook in a lazy Sunday dinner.

Pumpkin Gnocchi with Sage and browned butter sauce and baked beef balls 南瓜義式麵疙瘩

When I was figuring out what to cook for lunch yesterday, seeing the balance pumpkin sitting in the fridge, suddenly think of making gnocchi using pumpkin instead of the usual potato.

Roast Pumpkin and Chorizo Pizza 南瓜西班牙香肠比萨

Yesterday after we have dinner at Bangsar, then we went to nearby Jasons food hall to get this Chorizo which is a new ingredient for me. Today i used this chorizo and add pumpkin to make into pizza. I got this new inspiration after watched the Australian masterchef TV program.

Red Wine Beef Stew 红酒炖牛肉

Usually during weekend, we either eating out or prepare some foods that don't need to use wok to stir fry or deep fry. Something like this red wine beef stew. Since the thyme plant that I bought is growing well, so is time to use it to make this beef stew . If you have time,  you can even bake a focaccia or baguette to go with this beef stew. But that day weather wasn't good to bake bread, so I just bought from a bakery shop nearby.

Grilled prawns with butter and garlic, Basmati Rice with Pomegranate Seeds and Pine nuts 牛油蒜烤虾, 红石榴松子印度香米饭

Don't be scared by the long title of this post, actually these are two simple recipes. Sometime when I getting boring to cook Chinese foods, I like to have this type of grill and simple foods.

Spanish Tortilla 西班牙烘蛋

Usually I prefer to cook simple and quick dish during lunch time, example Chinese fried noodles, fried rice, pasta and etc. One of them is this Spanish Tortilla, which only need few ingredients. The taste is great with sweet onions and nice egg aroma.

Rosemary and Lemon Roasted Chicken 迷迭香柠檬烤鸡

I made this roasted chicken when I organized a family gathering at my house during Valentine's day and Cap Goh Mei. So it was a super busy day by preparing 2 roasted chickens, mushroom soup, crab meat salad with Miso and carrot dressing, Italian focaccia, tomato spaghetti and also made two heart shape chiffon cakes (you can view these pictures in my Instagram account). I worked like a maid on this romantic Valentine's day !! Anyway I was happy to see all enjoyed the foods that I have prepared.

Toad in the hole (Sausages pudding) 布丁香肠



After Christmas and New Year, Chinese family is also getting start to preparing some cookies for the coming Chinese New Year celebration. If you would like to try out some new recipes, you may check out my earlier Chinese Delights 2013 event round up posts here or you may refer to the top page at my blog header. There are many good recipes shared by many bloggers, check it out!
I made this Toad in the hole during Christmas time, even though we didn't celebrate Christmas, but I still prefer to make some Western foods during this time.
Toad in the hole is a traditional English dish comprising sausages in Yorkshire pudding .The origin of the name "Toad-in-the-Hole" is often disputed. Many suggestions are that the dish's resemblance to a toad sticking its head out of a hole provides the dish with its somewhat unusual name.

Impromtu Valentine's meal- grilled lamb, mushroom, mashed potato

After i married and have kids, no more celebration of Valentine..On the recent Valentine's day, i still plan to cook as per normal Chinese meal. But my daughter requested me to cook Western meal after she came back from shool..She said we should also celebrate this day this time. I also sick of everyday Chinese meal, so i agreed with her, and i rushed to the nearby supermarket to make my last minutes marketing..

Ratatouille, Pommes Duchesse (Baked puree potatoes)

Ratatouille movie is one of my favourite movie, i was repeated watching this movie for few times..Finally i made Ratatouille for the 1st time...

Saltimbocca (Beef roll with sage leaf)

This was the 1st time I use sage leaf in the cooking. I tried this recipe as seen in Flavours food magazine, this is how they described Saltimbocca -Popular in Rome, this dish is usually served with a salad and boiled potatoes for dinner. You can also vary the ingredients to make a vegetarian version, replacing thinly sliced eggplant for the beef and stuff the roll with parsley, tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Baked Spaghetti with meat sauce

My kids not only like to eat Spaghetti with meat sauce, they also like to top up with a lot of mozzarella cheese and bake the spaghetti. So this is the baked spaghetti with meat sauce that i usually prepare for them for a quick and simple lunch.

Homemade fluffy Pancake with maple syrup

I just realized that pancake serve with maple syrup is very nice and love the fragrant smell from maple syrup...This morning we just having this yummy pancake at our favourite spot in our house, a wooden decking oversee our little garden...what a lovely morning..

Cheese and sausage bread rolls

This is a simple bread recipe that easily win kid's heart ! 骗小孩 ！

Grilled Rosemary chicken

A simple grilled Rosemary chicken with mashed potato and salads for a light dinner when we have bored of keep eating the same Asian style of meals...

Homemade chicken burger

I just enjoyed this yummy homemade chicken burger this morning.

I baked these burger buns yesterday, it still maintain the softness till this morning.

I even made my own chicken patties

Here is the recipe, this time I made the burger bun using two method-au Lait and water roux after I saw Moon made this way. The buns still soft even I kept till the next day.

Homemade Chicken Burger
(printable recipe)
Chicken patty
500g minced chicken
1 onion, finely chopped
3tbsp fresh breadcrumbs
3tbsp fresh milk
1/4tsp white pepper powder
1/4tsp black pepper powder
1/4tsp chicken stock powder
1tsp salt or to taste

plain flour - enough for coating
1 egg - lightly beaten
Fresh breadcrumbs - enough for coating

1. Mix fresh breadcrumbs and milk in a mixing bowl, set aside for few minutes.
2. Fry the onions till soft, and mix into minced chicken.
3. Add the rest of ingredients and seasoning, mix till well combine, form into patties.
4. One by one, dip patties in plain flour, next coat in beaten eggs, then transfer to breadcrumbs and coat thoroughly.
5. Pan frying with little oil until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels.


Burger buns (combine au Lait and water roux method)

"Water roux starter" method:-

50g High protein flour/bread flour
250g water

1. Combine water and flour in a saucepan, cook over low flame and keep stirring till become thicken and no lumps left, the texture is something like baby porridge.
2. Remove from heat and cover loosely with plastic wrap to prevent from drying. Store the starter in the refrigerator after completely cooling down for later use.

Burger dough (combine au Lait and water roux method):-

450g High protein flour/bread flour
55g sugar
1/2tsp salt
170g fresh milk (cold)
40g egg white (from 1 large egg)
1 and ½ tsp yeast
50g butter (soften in room temp)
100 water roux starter

Some poppy seeds
1 egg (egg wash)

1. Put all the ingredients except butter in a mixing bowl, knead until become a smooth dough.
2. Add in butter, and knead till smooth and elastic, takes about 10mins.
3. Let it proof for 60mins in a clean bowl cover with cling wrap.
4. Remove dough from the bowl, punch out the air, equally divide into smooth round shape, rest for another 20mins.
5. Apply egg wash and sprinkle some poppy seeds.
6. Bake at a pre-heated oven at 180c for 25mins.

Happy Baking !!

Chicken & Vegetables stew

Hi all, this is the Chicken & vegetable stew that I enjoyed with the yummy bagels. This is very similar to ABC soup (potato, carrot, tomato & chicken soup), but this is more flavourful.

I was adapted this recipe from Flavour Food Magazine wiht minor changes.

Chicken & Vegetables stew*makes 5 servings
(printable recipe)

8 big pieces of chicken
1 large onion, cut into thick wedges
2 ribs celery, cut into 3cm lengths
1 large carrots, peeled and cut into thick wedges
2 tomatoes, cut into thick wedges
300g pumpkin, cut into thick wedges
1 medium zucchini, cut into 2cm diagonal slices
200g fresh button, halved

1tsp dried thyme (if you have fresh thyme, add 2 sprigs)

1tsp ground cumin
1tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/4tsp ground black pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Marinate chicken with cumin, paprika, salt and black pepper for 30mins.
2. Pan fry chicken with little oil till browned, set aside.
3. In a saucepan or casserole, add 2tbsp Olive oil, add onion, celery and carrots, cook till pieces are browned around the edges.
4. Add tomatoes and thyme and cook for few minutes till tomatoes soften.
5. Return chicken to the pan and add just enough water to barely cover chicken.
6. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to boil, simmer for 15mins or chicken pieces are tender.
7. Add pumpkin, cook for 5mins. Add zucchini and fresh button, cook for another 5-7mins or until vegetables are tender.
8. Taste and adjust the seasonings,
9. Serve with bread, rice or paste on the side. The stew can be stored in the fridge in a covered container.