Beef Stew with Mash - Beef Week # 3

I made this for my friends when they came to visit me during Chinese New Year Day 4 this year. Almost each year, my home is the "tempat" for this event. *Tempat means place in Malay

Some of my friends are big beef lovers and don't consume pork. Not all eat beef as well, so I made another pot of pork porridge suitable for the kids that my friends are bringing over too. Each year, at this time, when I have a bunch of BIIIIIG  eaters over, it is a good chance for me to try making things that I find it hard to finish on our own. And this a good make ahead dish. I don't need to wake up really early and prepare lunch for them.

Beef Rendang - Beef Week # 2

Dish done in March 2011

There are many versions of beef rendang. Somehow, I have a certain fondness for the one that is made with  local ingredients that is with lots of roots and bulbs and without dried aromatic spices.

There's a nasi lemak shop nearby and my husband and I adore their rendang. It's fragrant but not spicy, aromatic and with a sweeter end. It doesn't have that spice taste that is almost like a dry Indian curry. It just taste wonderfully aromatic. Their rendang is tender and doesn't need much chewing... melts in the mouth : )

I went scouting around for THE recipe and when I chanced upon this recipe by Hanieliza. It looked almost like that we have here, except it's bigger in size. And the sound of the recipe, yes, it should be the one!

Does it taste like the one I ate at the nasi lemak stall??
Yeessssssss! And my hubby super loves this.

Actually I cooked this rendang for the 3rd time for the CNY bloggers potluck this year and to their surprise it was very tender. *Ahem*. And I used buffalo meat, Indian frozen buffalo meat that sells for RM14/kg at Tesco. Cheap stuff. Don't need no Aussie prime cut. The secret is the marinating and the long hours of simmering. No meat will remain tough with all those gingers.

Beef Rendang

Recipe by: WendyinKK
Adapted from Hanieliza

+/-1kg beef
50gm peeled ginger
40gm peeled galangal
30gm peeled turmeric
4 lemongrass (5 inches from the base), weighing 40gm in total

Grind the above aromatics and mix with the beef. Set aside while you do the rest. The ginger will soften the beef so that cooking time can be reduced.


10 dried chillies
10 shallots (100gm peeled weight)
3 cloves garlic

Snip dried chillies and rub them to remove seeds. Soak in water to soften. Peel shallots and garlic. Grind everything together to form a fine paste (Can add some water, no problem)


3 large turmeric leaves, rolled and snipped
150gm freshly grated coconut (half a coconut), toasted on a pan until golden
1 cup thick coconut milk
Salt to taste
40gm Palm sugar, depending on taste (hubby preferred it to be sweeter and the 2nd time I made this, I put in 60gm and he liked it)

To cook, just combine everything together except salt and sugar, add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and turn to low heat. Simmer for 2-3 hours or until softened. Put in palm sugar and salt and reduce gravy until desired thickness.

*Beef rendang tastes better after being aged for a few days, so if you can, cook this few days ahead before intended serving time, chill in the fridge and reheat it to serve. And the good thing is, you can cook a large portion and separate it for a few meals. Isn’t that fantastic!

If you don't cook beef at home, You can use pork loin to mimic the effect. You may not need the same amount of sugar if you're using pork. Use less water and 1-1.5 hours of cooking should be enough, without marinating with the ginger paste.

Baked 3 Layer Beef Pie - Beef Week # 1

Recipe tried in 9 March 2011

When I ate my first mouth of this……. OMG, this is good. That’s all that came into my mind.

My hubby went ummmm, Lydia gave me a big thumbs up and a very wide smile, Lyanne said nice, nice nice, my MIL quickly asked me the recipe, Mike’s aunt said tasted very delicious, my BIL quickly savoured his first piece and took seconds and thirds, too busy to say anything but to eat. Hahaha!!

At the end of the meal, we all felt satisfied, very satisfied. The kind of feeling that you’ll get after a good meal.

Cherry Tomatoes, a surprise from the soil - Random Sunday



My hubby took this pic under the instruction of Lydia,
"Papa, take the picture like this, my hand only!"

 
I throw a lot of things into my garden.
Things I never thought would grow, did grow.
Like my strawberries! They are growing well, but not flowering, I wonder why?


I had a pack of squished flat cherry tomatoes that got forgotten in my crisper.
I threw them into my garden divider to that they will rot and turn to compost.
As usual, the memory rots together with the discarded

Pesto - Going Nuts # 3

Recipe done in Oct 2010.

Yes you didn't read it wrongly, 2010. LOL. Had been waiting for a suitable theme.

Actually before this, I didn't know how pesto really tasted like. I had some pesto on pasta before in Italiannies or Tony Romas, but I didn't know what it was. My pasta didn't taste any tooo special. Just a hit of herbs, that's it.

Until I saw Swee San making her own pesto, I only knew what pesto is. Yeah, it sounds hard to believe. But I grew up eating Chinese and Malaysian food, knows heck about Italian food except bolognese and Pizza.

Almond Butter - Going Nuts #2

I never thought I could do this at home!
I thought I needed a Blendtec (see it blend an Iphone here)
But no, my trusty Panasonic could do it too,
Maybe not really as smooth, but I can accept that.

Brussels Sprouts Chiffonade with Hazelnuts - Guest Post at Quay Po Cooks

Hi, today I'm guest posting at Quay Po Cooks. This lady is full of stories,...stories that get your head nod nod nod with agreement. Her sense of humour will not only tickle you pink, but tickle you red!

She didn't tell me what type of post she wants... this makes life hard with noooooooo "tips". How to guess another woman's heart, you teach me. Being the nice lady she is, I know she doesn't want to ask too much from me, but so hard la....

Anyway, here's a simple dish that is both healthy, delicious.. don't think of the price of Brussels sprouts here. It's a budget killer. May not be frugal here, but I know it's very cheap overseas.

Veron, Sorry I left out this picture. I just found it.

How to chiffonade the brussels sprouts

Picture taken on my 1st attempt 2 years ago

Hop over to Veronica's blog see the recipe :)

Apple Pear Millet Porridge - Baby Food # 3

Millet is another grain that is suitable for baby's consumption. It is easily digestable and high in protein, manganese, phosphorus and magnesium. Good for diabetics and is heart protective. Eating whole grains is also good for kids and toddlers to prevent childhood asthma. (source: WH Foods). I have also been told that millet helps promote good sleep.

Carotene Mash - Baby Food # 2

I’ve heard many telling me about babies spitting out potatoes. Potatoes are really bland, if you ask me, and when they are not seasoned, they have an unpleasant smell.

But not sweet potatoes. They are delicious! And this mash is quick to cook too! I don’t bother with steaming because steaming takes so long, as long as you feed the water it is cooked in, then the nutrients are not lost.

Quinoa Rice Pudding with Blueberries - Baby food # 1

How was your school holidays?
I love it because I could sleep until the sun shines bright......
I hate it because the house will be in a mess all the time.
Now it's over, I'm glad but yet dread the early mornings.
Haha....


Many of us South East Asians are used to preparing baby's porridge with rice. Usually savoury with meat(fish, chicken or pork) and vegetables. The porridge is both filling and nutritious. This time around I want to be more adventurous and wander off into more unfamiliar territories.

Reuben's Gallery - Random Sunday

I know you don't see Reuben as much as the girls. He doesn't like the cameras as much as the sisters, plus, well you know, he's the 3rd kid. There will be less pictures, much less, compared to the 1st kid. It's a fact.

So, here are some pictures that I have collaged, Enjoy!

Reuben is 1 today!

Last year on this day, I gave birth to my only son.

It was a prayer answered. I prayed that I will have a delivery in the afternoon because for the 2 girls, I was hecticly rushed to the hospital at 5.30am.

This boy is nicknamed "Kim Soon" in Hokkien meaning gold grandson. LOL. The only male grandchild.

But he ain't going to be pampered, not by this tyrant mom. I promise him he'll wash dishes, sweep the floor when he is old enough for it.