Puten meat loaf patties

I decided to do my own patties and bought a kilo of mince meat (really up to u be it beef or chicken).

1tsp Paprika (dash of it or loads!!)

cumin (a pinch)

1tbsp soya sauce 

2cloves mince garlic

honey (just a teaspoon for binding purpose)

salt and pepper

You can add it chili or anything you fancy

Mix all together and work your fingers. shape it like a ball and flatten in. Grill or oven it, choice is yours! without eggs and flour my patties shape and hold it well too!!

Look at that gorgeous grill marks!!! ready to serve with burgers or if you are on diet with some salad. But with patties like this, we can afford to cheat dont we??

Banana Upside Down Cake

It is Sunday and the sun is out, which is a rare rare sight. I was contemplating between going out or hibernating on the couch with my book. Somehow, somewhat, I decided dressing up to go out for that short Sun is really an effort. Mentally I am doing the math of by the time I get dress, put on the socks and jacket and shawl and all that jazz, the SUN will play me out. Its a lame excuse I know, but its not all that bad. After all, I do get some work DONE!! Its the Banana Upside Down Cake people!!  I love doing work like this when I am home alone. The kitchen is really my playground and I am in my element when I get down to it. To stay home is a wise call after all. 

Banana Upside Down Cake
Ingredients for  the batter (good for 9" round pan)
3-4 ripe bananas (to be mashed)
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup sugar (I don't like my desserts too sweet)
1 tb sp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 cups flour
Mixed all the above into the mashed banana, folding the flour with normal spoon will do. You don't need electric mixer for this.


For the bottom layer
2-3 bananas to be sliced
diced almond to be scattered over the caramelised sugar for extra crunch
*1/2 cup brown sugar or raw sugar 
*3 tb spn butter
For the marked items, please heat up on non stick pan till caramelised and be very careful because it is really hot)


Method:
Pour the melted sugar and butter over the base of pan. I always put a baking paper on my baking pan so that cleaning up is easier. Arranged the banana slices on it. Pour batter over it and pop into the over for 20-30 mins, @180deg.  When done, let it cool for 20 mins or so, or until the caramelised bit hardened. Then you can flip and turn your cake.

    Arrange the banana slices on top the caramelised sugar. Add the almond bits before the 

    batter. I forgot to take the picture with it!!

   Pour the batter once you have creatively arrange the banana

    Look how gorgeous it is once bake? the sticky caramelising bit just make you drool!!

    Forgive the blur picture but I am just too excited and can't wait to taste it!

   Amazingly, it is not sweet at all. Maybe because I halved everything and the cake just 

   balance the caramel bit. The almonds just add that crunch, super!! Having a second 

   helping now!!

Cinnamon roll with almonds (with puff pastry)

It is only mid November but it do feel like winter already with some days hitting as low as -5 deg!! This is the time of the year when baking is a staple in our family. Apart from enjoying the warm that radiates from the oven, it is just therapeutic.  The days that are short doesn't seem that miserable when you get busy in the kitchen, no? I came from a place where summer is like 365 days a year and in this time of the year, I do miss the SUN, ALOT.  So, today I decided to bake this simple Cinnamon Roll with Almonds for tea time. It is really really minimal effort and take you barely 15 mins to get things going. The secret to this simplicity is, pastry puff!! If you are in a lazy mood but your hand is itching to bake, this is really really a quick fix!! I promise you, this recipe is a keeper!! So, my simple recipe is:

Cinnamon Roll with Almonds

Ingredient
1 packet of puff pastry
2-3 tbsp melted butter
brown sugar
cinnamon powder
almonds 
honey
some butter to be placed on the roll
egg wash to be brushed around the roll so the pastry stick together


Method 
Spread the puff pastry on flat surface and sprinkle a bit of flour.
Brush melted butter on it and sprinkle brown sugar accordingly, followed by cinnamon powder. Roll it and slice it or cut it in equal size. Arrange the pieces on tray, place bits of butter on it. Top with almond bits and drizzle a bit of honey so that the almond stick on the top and it is caramelised at the same time!! Bake at 180deg for 15mins, depending on your oven. Get your coffee, be lazy and enjoy your tea break!!

       The babies when they are ready!!

   Brush the melted butter over the puff pastry and sprinkle brown sugar and 
   cinnamon powder over it.

    Sorry the picture is little blur but these are the babies before baking

   Bits of butter on top of the roll, diced almonds and drizzle of honey

Fish Curry (asian style)

A friend have been bugging me for this recipe. My computer have been "sick" and I have been trying to play doctor thus the delay in posting this. This dish was typically asian and we called it "Indian Fish Curry" because of the rich spices. There are many variants out there and we can argue until the cow come home on which district and which ethnic group curry is better than the other. However, this is my version, and just for record, this dish have no coconut milk or milk. Its tangy, sourish but lots of spices that just balanced everything in the right note. You get that afternote from the curry leaves, that after taste from the cinnamon stick and star anise, you get that spice from the curry powder and everything is so well matched that you just can't get enough. This dish can be eaten with rice or bread. 

Ingredients:

Fish (be it slices or whole fish)
3 cloves garlic (sliced)
2 pcs onion (sliced)
1 stick cinnamon stick
2 pcs star anise
a pinch of cumin seeds
3-4 table spoon curry powder (more if you like it spicy, I do!!)
5-6 tb spoon of tamarind juice ( lemon juice can do too)
few leaves of curry leaves
3 tb spoon of oil
1 1/2 cup of water (estimated)

Instructions:

Heat up oil, fry the cinnamon stick, star anise, cumin seeds and curry leaves for a few seconds. Add in the onion and garlic and sautéed till brown. Add in the curry powder and fry till fragrant. You can see that it is turning into a paste. Keep on stirring otherwise it will be burnt and stick to the bottom of the pot. We don't want that. Add in water bit by bit and stop till you get your desired thickness of the gravy. Add in the fish and tamarind (or lemon) juice and let the gravy boil to perfection. Season with salt to taste. Serve with warm rice and eat your fill. 

You can add bell peppers or tomatoes in this dish. Potatoes will do too! 

Honey Glaze Chicken Strips

This dish is simple yet satisfying. The overly dressed sesame aside, the honey glaze chicken strips just make you forget your diet. The "boss" in the house like it with lots of sesame and he have been tasked to "dress" the dish but obviously, the job is taken way serioussssssslyyy... sheeeshhh...

Stuff needed

1/2 kg chicken breast (cut into strips)

3-4 tbsp of honey

1tsp of lemon juice

2 cloves of garlic

1tbsp of soya sauce

dash of salt to taste

spring onions and sesames for garnish

mix all in the above ingredient and marinate the chicken for 15 mins. Once done, you can grill, bake or fry it. The choice is yours. Garnish wifh sesame and spring onions or the likes.

Bon Apetito!!

Flaky Tuna Puff

I had a long long long day... and really, all I wanted to just put up feet and will the day away... And really, I could afford to that. I had easily 4 hours to myself and veg-ing if I want to. But then, I am also someone who don't believe in idling. My itchy hand start raiding my pantry and my quick scan land on a can of Tuna. I thought, well I could do a Tuna puff, that should could me occupied. Rolling my sleeves and I get busy chopping onions and what not, pull out the pastry puff that I bought 2 days ago from the fridge and in a matter of minutes I am like , done! My simple Tuna fillings are:

Items needed:
1 can of Tuna chunks (good for 9 pcs of Puff)
1 pc of onion (chopped)
2 cloves of garlic (chopped)
1 tsp of curry powder 
a few curry leaves (for aroma) 
2 pcs of bell peppers (diced)
salt season to taste
A roll of puff pastry 
1 egg for egg wash

Steps:
1 tbsp of oil (you really need min oil otherwise your pastry will get too oily)
throw in the onion, garlics and curry leaves, stir for a good 30-40 secs
Add in the curry powder and stir for a bit before adding the Tuna. Keep on stirring so that it does not stick. Lastly, add in the bell peppers and season to taste. Let it cool and in the moment, you can pre-heat your oven. Start unrolling the pastry puff, slice into half, and spoon in the Tuna. Press the edges gently with fork so that it is seal. Brush egg wash over it and bake for 10-12 mins, for 180 deg. Of course, varies from oven to oven. 

Ready for baking! Don't forget to poke few holes so the puff would not sink once baked!

Finish Goods!!


Enjoy and have fun trying this simple snack!!

Baked soya chicken

Days that I do not want to slog in the kitchen, I will just popped things in the oven and let the magic machine do the work. Dont you love the oven? It is really functionally and do its job without all the hassle.

Today, I want to share with you what I made for lunch because like I said, I am just too lazy to slog but we need to eat still, right? So, I opened the fridge and noted we have chicken and we have all other ingredients. What else? Marinated soya chicken it is then!


Ingredients good for 6-8 pcs of chicken
3 cloves of garlic (minced)
few slices of ginger (sliced thinly)
3-4tbsp of sweet soya sauce
1 tbsp of lemon juice
1/2 tbsp of chili paste (well I like it with more kick so, feel free to add more!)

Mixed everything merrily, then add the chicken and rub the ingredient evenly and ensure it is distributed on every corner of that wing meat (that is tricky the wing, I tell you!) Ideally, you should marinate it for 30 mins minimum but I am in the "not waiting mode" so i pop in the oven, 180deg for 30 mins or more (depending on your oven).

This dish is healthier since you don't need the salt and sugar etc. You won't miss it because its all in the soya sauce.

the mixed ingredient

Simple!! mix mix mix everything only!! even a child can do that!!

soaking and bathing the ingredients with the main star, the chicken!!

Normally, we should marinate the chicken with the sauces for minimum 30 mins. BUT, knowing me, I am one who don't do waiting. No complains though because it is just as good!

ta-daa!!! ready!!

Finally, it is ready all brown and caramelised, just love it!! If there is any leftover of the sauce, you can use as your salad dressing. Don't say I don't share ok!