My Messy Vegetable Garden

First of all, I must confess that I don't take proper care of my vegetable garden, but... but.., we can still grow something that doesn't need too much care of it. The heat here in summer is really killing us (110F/42C), not much work we can do for our garden (well, try to find an excuse :-p), secondly, we are busy from work, cooking and blogging... (more excuses..lol)

Anyway, we still got something to grow in our garden, you can tell how messy it is from the following photos that I am going to show you, a lot of weeds. We grow potato leaves, chilies, mint, oregano, pumpkin, winter melon, water melon, lemon grass and green onion. Most things we can grow in summer which grow wild and don't really need weeding anyway. I think we can harvest the pumpkin and winter melon early of October. I will take the photos again then.
In the fall we can start to grow some more orderly vegetables!

Here comes our vegetable garden tour! :-)

3 months ago.....


Oregano...


baby lemon grass


little mint....


Still empty....

3 months after......umm...messy started.... :-p


Pile of pumpkins...accidentally planted by Tom. (I didn't know they would grow THIS well! -Tom)


Big bunch of lemon grass, I save a lot of money to buy it from Asian supermarket!


The mints grew really big and killed my oregano.. :-(


Potato leaves.. I think this is the easiest vegetable to grow.. also got a big pile of them and have to give away to my friends.


Baby winter melon. I bought winter melon from the store and there were some seeds in it. Just tried to plant it and didn't expect they can grow... :-)


Pumpkin... harvest soon :-)


More baby pumpkins out there!!!


Of course, this one can't be missed!! Chili!!


I have more than 10 chili trees growing, I don't know which is which, might be chili padi from Malaysia, habanero (the most spicy chili in the states, no kidding), bell pepper or sweet chili!!



Onion!! Just have to cut it whenever I need it!

Sambal Petai and Prawn Again!!!

I have posted this recipe before. I just wanted to update it with better photos as I was in a hurry while shooting the last photos.

While I was reading Petite Nyonya's post, it reminded me that I still have a pack of petai in my freezer. The frozen petai is from Thailand and doesn't taste as good as the wild and fresh petai in Malaysia. However, it is good enough to relieve my craving for it. I can't complain too much! :-p

Normally, I will cook some egg plant whenever I consume petai, it is a trick to get rid of the awkward smell of the urine after consuming petai. Trust me, it works!! :-)




Tom loves petai so much, surprise huh?? :-p

Recipe from my previous post :
1. 120g petai
2. 400g medium prawn (trim the spikes and de-vein)
3. 170g shallot
4. 125g red chili (unseeded)
5. 5g dried chili (unseeded)
6. 1/2 tbsp dried pre-fried belacan
7. 10g fresh turmaric
8. 1 tbsp dried shrimp
9. 2.5 tbsp vegetable oil
10. 160~80ml water
11. 10g tamarind fruit - mix with 1.5 tbsp water for juice
12. Salt to taste
13. A pinch of sugar to taste (optional)

Steps :

1. Blend well the ingredient #3~#8.
2. Heat up the frying pan and oil.
3. Pour in sambal mixture, stir in medium high heat for 7~8 minutes.
4. Add in the prawns, continue to cook (gradually add in water) until the prawns are almost done (about 3~4 minutes, depends on the prawn size),
5. Add in petai and tamarind juice cook for another 2~3 minutes.
6. Season to taste.

Homemade Fish & Chips

After a very Chinese meal, here come with a western meal. :-)

I think Fish & Chips and Chicken Chop are the top 2 items listed on the menu in western restaurant/stall in Malaysia. About 10 or 15 years ago, when we talked about western food, many people would think that their choices would be only Chicken Chop or Fish & Chips. I am not a big fan of meat, I usually order fish & chips.

Sometimes, it is actually faster and easier to make western food compared to oriental food. But I don't know why they are selling it so expensive in the stall/restaurant.


Crispy and delicious!!

It took me less than 15 minutes to have this fish & chips done. You may make the salad/coleslaw ahead and refrigerate them until needed.

I use the same breadcrumbs (Old London brand) that I used to make my chicken cordon bleu and onion rings. I think it is also available in the supermarket in Malaysia, may be different brand. Just look for it in the western seasoning aisle.

Here's the recipe. You may make your own western candle light dinner at home. :-)

1. 2pcs (440g) cat fish fillet ( can any fish fillet you prefer) - rub some salt on both sides.
2. 2/3~1 cup all purpose flour
3. 1/2 tsp salt
4. 1/2 ~ 2/3 cup of milk
5. 2/3 cup of seasoned bread crumbs (or as needed)
6. Oil for deep frying

Side dishes :
1. French fries
2. Salad/coleslaw
3. Some tartar sauce and lemon/lime juice to serve with fish


Steps :
1. Heat up the oil in a deep frying pan.
2. Mix well the flour and salt.
3. Place the fish fillets on the flour mixture, dust/coat both sides well.
4. After all the coating is done, add milk into the flour and stir to form a smooth batter.
5. Dip the floured fish fillets the batter, then remove and place it on the cooling rack by a kabob skewer (or any thin stick), let the batter drip off a bit.
6. Get ready the seasoned bread crumbs in a plate. Move the fish from the rack with a skewer, coat it with the bread crumbs evenly.
7. Deep fry in the heated oil over medium heat for 3~4 minutes or until it turns golden brown.
8. Sprinkle some lemon/lime juice and serve with tartar sauce.

Floured fish fillets


Bread crumbs coated


"Old London" brand seasoned bread crumbs

Pak Cheng Soup - 八珍养颜汤, 八珍面线

My friend in China is bugging me to post this recipe for her in Mandarin, as she doesn't speak English. I was thinking to take this as an excuse to skip my English lesson for one post. :-p. I thought that it might be easier for me to post this recipe in Mandarin too because it is related to Chinese medication. Anyway, I will still post bilingually.

I was suffering from the pain of PMS(Premenstrual syndrome) long time ago, my mom kept nagging me about consuming this traditional Chinese herbal medicine soup. It is to ease my pain and help to improve my blood circulation. The "Pak Cheng" prescription contains ligusticum wallici, Angelica Sinensis, Paeonia Lactielora, Glutinosa, Coponosis Tangshen....etc. You may cook this with some pork ribs or chicken. Or, you may substitute the meat with eggs too.

I bought few packs of "Yew Chian Haw" brand Pak Cheng soup ingredients from Penang. When I can't finish the whole pot of soup, I will do some creative cooking by adding the wheat flour vermicelli (mee sua), mushroom and vegetable in the soup, it becomes another yummy and healthy meal.

对许多女性来说, 经痛是个挥之不去的恶梦. 以前的我是其中之一. 比较普遍的解决方法就是吃止痛药, 可是我总是担心会有副作用.

终 于, 在妈妈一再唠叨下, 好几年前开始, 每次月事一完, 我就会自己炖一锅的八珍汤来调养身体, 这配方不但可以改善经痛的问题(当然啦, 生冷食物尽量避免), 而且对血液循环也有帮助, 让我们脸上气色比较红润. 我都是买现成包好的配方 (成份有川弓, 当归, 熟地, 防党参, 大枣等等), 特别喜欢"游建好"这品牌, 就算不加骨头,不加肉,汤喝起来也很甘醇, 不会苦. 在马来西亚的超级市场都可以买到.




我每次煮一锅, 都要分好几次才能喝完. 所以就动脑筋想到不如加点面线, 香菇, 蔬菜, 搞搞新花样, 效果还不错哦, 喜欢吃素的人可以试试看. 如果想吃荤的, 就加点排骨或鸡肉.



我个人觉得不加肉类真的蛮好喝的, 甘醇而不腻. 我都加鸡蛋 (妈妈说可以补充钙质哦) 想滋补又怕肥的朋友,不妨试试看吧.

材料:

1. 一包(120gm) "游建好" 八珍养颜汤配方
2. 2~3 个鸡蛋 (如想吃荤就以排骨或鸡肉代替)
3. 枸杞 - 随意(我自己另外加的)
4. 1000ml 水 (包装上是2000ml), 我比较喜欢浓一点的味道, 可依个人口味调整, 如果是要加面线的汤就要浓一点.

如果想加面线,另外准备以下材料:
1. 面线
2. 香菇 (先泡软)
3. 枸杞 - 少许
4. 当季蔬菜
5. 香菜(芫荽) 或芹菜少许
6. 麻油或蒜油少许
7. 绍兴酒-随意(不喜欢可以不加)
8. 盐少许


步骤 :
1. 把水烧开, 加入配方和鸡蛋, 中小火炖15分钟.
2. 把鸡蛋捞起来, 拨掉壳, 再加入汤里, 再炖多45分钟就可息火.
3. 如果只想喝汤, 不加盐也可以.


4. 如想加面线的话中途可以把一半的材料分到另外一个锅, 再加香菇和 枸杞一起煮.
5. 面线和蔬菜再另外烧水煮熟.
6. 汤煮好以后加点盐调味即可.
7. 把汤淋在面线, 撒点香菜, 滴几滴麻油或蒜油, 和绍兴酒, 又是一道美味可口的药膳面食啦!!!

Ingredients :

1. 1 pack (120gm) "Yew Chian Haw" Pak Cheng
2. 2~3 eggs (may use some pork ribs or chicken)
3. Wolfberry (lycium chinense) - optional
4. 1000ml water (instruction - 2000ml, I like stronger taste, so, you may adjust the volume to personal preference)

For adding noodle :

1. Noodle
2. Mushroom (pre-soaked)
3. Some wolfberries
4. Some vegetable
5. Some cilantro or chinese celery
6. some sesame oil or garlic oil
7. Salt to taste
8. Shao Xing wine (optional)

Steps :

1. Boil the water, add in "Yew Chian Haw" Pak Cheng ingredients and eggs.
2. Return to boil, simmer over low medium heat for 15 minutes.
3. Remove the eggs from the soup and peel the shell, then return to the soup.
4. Continue to simmer for 45 minutes.
5. Serve warm. Season with some salt if desire.

To add wheat flour vermicelli (mee sua)

1. Split the soup to 2 pots.
2. Add in mushroom and wolfberry.
3. At the meantime, cook the mee sua and vegetable in a separate pot.
4. Season the soup with some salt.
5. When serve, top few drops of sesame oil or garlic to taste.
5. Garnish with cilantro or Chinese celery



"游建好" 八珍养颜汤. 之前从PENANG带过来的, 最后一包咯....., 要空运过来咯....

Curry Potato with Paruppu and Roti Canai (short cut version)

Isn't that nice to live in a food paradise? I didn't have to think about cooking prawn noodle, laksa, roti canai (Indian paratha) on my own in Penang - I could easily get it everywhere, and they simply tasted good!

Paruppu curry (Dhal) is usually served along with roti canai in Malaysia. I always asked the boss to give me more curry gravy, and I'd eat a spoonful of the curry with every bite of my roti canai. Yummeh!!!!

I found a frozen roti canai in Asian supermarket here, and guess what?? It is made in Malaysia - Penang, Gelutong (Yay!!!), it is "Memori" brand, I strongly recommend this brand to those living out of Malaysia. It tasted the best among from other brands. Crispy and not oily.


Crispy layers of "Memori" brand roti canai.

Now I got the roti canai, but it wouldn't taste right without paruppu. The instant dhal I got from the store is the thicken version, I like a bit runny one better. So, what did I do?? It is time consuming to tenderize the dhal (the yellow split peas). So I invented a short cut version! LOL!!!

Tahdaaaah..... I cook a pot of curry potato, then mix with a pack of dhal, the gravy tasted exactly the same like the one sold at mamak stall! yay me!! yay me!!! hahahah

Here's my recipe for the curry, I cook this to serve homeless people too while I was volunteering at Tzu Chi, it is meatless meal.

1. 1tbsp garam masala (optional) - I added it for spicier and stronger taste.
2. 4 tbsp curry powder
3. 1 tbsp turmeric powder
4. 2~3 tbsp corn/vegetable oil
5. 1 large onion - squared or sliced
6. 1 stalk lemon grass (editor's note: This stuff, along with pumpkins, yam leaf plants, and winter mellons, are taking over the back yard!)
7. 8~10 curry leaves or as needed
8. 2 medium size potato (approx. 350g) - chunked
9. 1 large carrot (approx. 120g) - chunked
10. 3~4 tomatoes (approx 200g) - chunked ** add some tomato puree/sauce if you like it sour**
11. 450~500ml water
12. 1 pack of instant Dhal (Dal)
13. 30 ml coconut milk
14. Some sugar to taste
15 Some salt to taste.

Steps.
1. Mix ingredient # 1~#3 with 1/2 cup of water.
2. Grease a heated non-stick pot with oil.
3. Fragrant the onion (about 2~3 minutes)
4. Add in curry mixture # 1, lemon grass and curry leaves, stir and fragrant for about 3~5 minutes.
5. Add tomato, carrot and potato chunks, stir fry for about 3 minutes, sprinkle water if necessary.
6. Pour in water just enough to cover 90% of the potato, carrot and tomato chunks.
7. Bring to boil, simmer at low medium heat for 20 minutes.
8. Add instant dhal, tomato puree/sauce (if you like it sour) stir to mix well, simmer for another 10 minutes.
9. Add coconut milk, sugar and salt to taste. Bring to boil and remove from heat.
10. Serve with rice, noodle or roti canai.

The instant dhal (dal)


"Memori" brand roti canai, made in Penang, Malaysia. Highly reconmended

Ravioli with Mushroom Red Sauce (Quik and Easy Meal)

I always keep something for quick and easy meals in my fridge, so in case when I come home late from work we can have something in fast for our dinner. (Tom said: If I tried to cook, we'd have frozen burritos and canned peas.)

We bought a pack of grilled chicken with mozzarella cheese ravioli from Costco last week. Since I got home late today and was so tired from work, I decided to cook this lazy meal for our dinner tonight. It only took me 5 minutes of preparation, and 30 minutes for the cooking time.



I have also included a pasta/noodle machine in my wish list - so I will make my own version of ravioli from scratch one day! :-p (editor's note: Sounds like the kind of present we'd all enjoy! hehe!)

1. 1lb of grilled chicken with mozzarella cheese ravioli

2. Mushroom sauce
i) 1 tbsp olive oil
ii) 1 cup of chopped sweet onion
iii) 300g fresh whole white mushroom
iv) 1 can - 751g Hunt's Garlic and Herb spaghetti sauce
v) Some basil and parsley flakes (dried or fresh)
vi) some black pepper and salt to taste
vii) Some shredded mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese for topping

Steps :

1. Heat a sauce pan, add in olive oil.
2. Fragrant the chopped onion, stir in whole mushrooms. Cook for 2 minutes.
3. Pour in spaghetti sauce, bring to boil, add in basil and parsley flakes.
4. Simmer for 30 minutes, pepper and salt to taste.
5. Meanwhile, boil a quart of water, cook the ravioli for about 3~4 minutes or until it reach your desired tenderness. Drained and set aside.
6. When the sauce is done, top the mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese on the ravioli, scoop the mushroom sauce to the top of it.
7. Serve warm

Homemade White Bread (Pain de Mie)

I really love the fresh baking aroma from the oven spreading in my house. Plus a cup of fresh brewed coffee, oh gosh!! Just like being in the heaven! lol!!


I am a bit picky about the shape of my bread. I don't like the shape of the bread pan that came with my bread machine. Tom helped me to get a new square bread pan with lid from Amazon (editor's note: This is called a "Pullman Loaf Pan." You buy a slide-on lid to make the square "sandwich bread" loaves). Its weird, we had to order it online, we couldn't find it from the major supermarket or retailer stores here.



There are so many bread recipes out there. I am still new to bread making, so for safety, I started with a very basic white bread recipe (editor's note: This is technically called "pain de mie"). It turned out great! Cottony soft inside. I am glad that I have everything for a fresh and healthy homemade bread now. I was really concerned about consuming too much bread improver - a common ingredient for those bakery shop to make nicer looking or texture bread/bun. I don't have worry too much about this now. yay!!!

Here's my recipe I would like to share, it is really simple for a new bread baker. Try it out! :-)
(editor's note: Best "white bread" ever! Can't wait for raisin bread!!!)

For a 4" X 4" X 13" Bread Pan

1. 350~360ml fresh warm milk (100~110F) - volume is to be adjusted according to the moisture of the dough.
2. 1tbsp sugar
3. 1 pack (7g or 21/4tsp) active dry yeast
4. 40g butter - melted (I will add up to 60g in my next attempt as I like the taste of butter a lot)
5. 1 .5 tsp salt
6. 510g all purpose flour

For bread machine baker
1. Pour the warm milk in the pan, dissolve sugar and yeast in warm milk. Let is rest for 5 minutes.
2. Add in flour and salt, select dough function and press start.
3. Add in butter after 4 minutes of mixing.
4. I shorten the mixing and kneading process, I just let the machine run for 25 minutes.
5. After 25 minutes, turn off the power. You may rise the dough in the machine or remove it to a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic film and rise for 1 hour in warm (85F) place or doubled in size.
6. Punch the dough down with your fist, divide to 3 or 4 portions. Let them rise for 10 minutes.
7. With a rolling pin, flatten the dough to approx. 4" wide, 12" long, roll it from short side like a swiss roll, place it in the bread pan. Repeat the same to the rest of doughs.
8. Cover with plastic film, let it rise for another 45~60 minutes, or until it is 90% up the way to the top of the pan.
8. Bake with lid on at preheated oven (350F) for 35~38 minutes.
9. Once its done baking, remove the bread from the pan immediately and cool it on a wire rack.

For hand kneading baker
1. Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm milk in a large mixing bowl, let it rest for 10 minutes.
2. Add butter and flour into yeast mixture, stir until well it form a dough. Turn dough out to a floured surface.
3. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10~15 minutes)
4. The rest of the steps will be same as machine baker #5~#9.

Ready to bake!


Fresh from the oven!