Tuna Bake

I have made this dish a couple of times but not for a year now. So, since it's a public holiday today and I have time on my hands; decided to venture into this recipe. Hehehehehehe....and I must say; it tasted good.

Here's the recipe.....

Ingredients:-

- 200g short curly pasta
- 4 hard boiled eggs, roughly chopped
- 4 spring onions, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill (you may use the bottled ones)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 110g butter
- 3 tsps madras curry powder (any curry powder may do)
- 50g plain flour
- 1 1/2 cups (375ml) milk
- 1 1/2 cups (375ml) cream
- 170g mayonaise
- 3 x 210g cans tuna, drained
- 2 cup (160g) fresh white breadcrumbs
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 tbsps grated Parmesan

1. Preheat the oven to moderate 180 degree Celsius.
2. Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of rapidly boiling water until al dente. Drain well. Lightly grease the ovenproof dish.
3. Combine the egg, spring onion, dill and lemon juice and season in a separate bowl.
4. Melt 60g butter in a saucepan, add the curry powder and cook for 30 seconds. Stirr in the plain flour and cook for 1 min, or until foaming.
5. Remove from the heat, gradually stir in the milk and cream, then return to low heat and stir constantly until the sauce boils and thickens. Reduce to a simmer for 1-2 mins, then stir in the mayonaise.
6. Combine the sauce, cooked pasta, tuna and egg mixture and spoon in the prepared dish.
7. Melt the remianing butter in a frying oan, add the breadcrumbs and garlic, and cook stirring for 1 min or until the crumbs are golden and coated in butter.
8. Stir in the parsley and grated Parmesan, and sprinkle over the tuna mixture.
9. Bake for 15-20 mins, or until golden and heated through.

The recipe may look complicated but it actually isn't. You just need to work on one thing at a time. First sort out the eggs, then work on making the cream and then making the breadcrumbs.....

Here's the side of the tuna bake.....


Let me know how you like it!!

Curried Chicken and Rice

Here's a recipe which I found pretty easy to tackle. It's been a while since I've updated any recipe because I've just been so darn busy and whatever I've been cooking are the ones that I'm already pretty familiar with. Anyway, this is not spicy and it's ok for kids to eat it because Caitlin had this for dinner.

Ingredients:-
- 60ml/4 tbsps vegetable oil
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 chicken (about 1.5kg/3-3.5 lbs) or chicken pieces, skinned and boned and cut into bitesize pieces
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 450g jasmine rice, rinsed and drained
- 2 tsps salt
- 1 litre/ 4 cups chicken stock
- small bunch of fresh coriander, chopped to garnish

1. Heat the oil in a wok or flameproof casserole, which has a lid. Add garlic and cook over a low to medium heat until golden brown. Add the chicken, increase the heat and brown the pieces on all sides. (You may want to cook in batches)
2. Add the garam masala, stir well to coat the chicken all over in the spice, then tip in the drained rice. Add the salt and stir to mix.
3. Pour in the stock. stir well, then cover the wok or casserole and bring to the boil . Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes until the rice is cooked and tender.
4. Lift the wok or casserole of the heat, leaving the lid on and leave for another 10 minutes. Fluff up the rice grains with a fork and spoon on to a platter. Sprinkle with the coriander and serve immediately.

Try this recipe. It tasted pretty good in my opinion.....

Corn Flake Cookie

A very simple recipe and who can resist Corn Flake Cookies.

Ingredients A:-
- 100 g butter
- 80g caster sugar

Ingrdients B:-
- 1 egg (Grade A)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Ingredients C:-
- 150g plain flour
- 15g custard powder
- 30g cereals
- 50g almond nibs

***You will need about 80 to 100 small paper cups and 150g corn flakes for decorations***

1. Place ingredients (A) in a mixer. Beat until fluffy, add in ingredients (B). Mix well, fold in ingredients (C) to form a dough.
2. Divide dough and roll into small balls and coat with the cornflakes. Leave in the paper cup. Repeat process and arrange the cups on lined baking trays like below.

3. Bake in a preheated oven at 170 degrees for about 15-20 mins. Cool and store in airtight containers.

An easy recipe and a healthy snack.....

Sunflower Seed Crisp Cookie

This recipe is very similar in terms of looks and taste to my Macadamia Chocolate Chip Cookie except that this recipe has cereals and sunflower seeds added on. For those of you who don't want it to be too sweet, my advice is to lessen the sugar in the recipe.

Ingredients A:-
- 200g butter
- 80g caster sugar
- 140g brown sugar

Ingredients B:-
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 2 eggs (grade A)

Ingredients C:-
- 270g plain flour
- 50g cereals
- 200g chocolate chips
- 200g sunflower seeds
- 1/4 tsp baking soda

1. Beat ingredients (A) in a mixer until fluffy. Add in ingrdients (B) and mix well. Fold in ingredients (C) and combine to form a dough,
2. Divide into small rounds and arrange on line baking trays.
3. Bake in preheated oven at 180 degrees for 10-15 mins. Cool and store in airtight containers.

Ghee & Almond Cookies

An all-time favourite especially for hubby. Since I first made this some 4 years back, hubby has always loved it and it's been 2 years since I've bothered to make any cookies to begin with. Time never seemed to be on my side and since my decision to make some cookies this festive season; my as well make hubby's favourite cookies.

Also, it's quite simple to bake as well.

Ingredients A:-
- 150g ghee
- 130 icing sugar

Ingrdients B:-
- 150g almond powder (toasted)
- 230g plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder

Glazing:-
1 egg yolk

1. Stir ingredients (A) together until well mixed. Fold in ingredients (B) and stir together to form a dough
2. Make it small round balls and arrange on lined baking tray. Glaze surfaces.
3. Bake in a preheated oven at 170 degrees for about 10-15 mins. Leave to cool and then store into airtight containers.

I told you it was an easy recipe.....

Macadamia Chocolate Chip Cookie

An all time favourite for people of all ages. Well, following the recipe, you may want to lessen your sugar if you're not all that into sweet stuffs. I followed the recipe to the T and felt it was a bit sweet for me but hubby seems to love it.

So, it's entirely up to you.....

Ingredients A:-
- 160g butter
- 80g caster sugar
- 110g brown sugar


Ingredients B:-
- 1 egg (grade A)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Ingredients C:-
- 200g plain flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 100g Macadamia nuts (diced)
- 100g chocolate chips

1. Place ingredients (a) in a mixer. Beat until fluffy and add ingredients (B) and mix well. Fold in ingredients (C), Mix till paste-like.
2. Use a teaspoon to scoop out the dough and use a second teaspoon to aid in shaping the dough on lined baking trays.

3. Bake in a preheated over at 180 degrees for about 10-15 mins or until golden.

4. Cool well on wire racks and store in airtight containers.

See??? An easy recipe...

German Crunch

Well, due to my very, very busy work and social life, I've hardly had much of a time to experiment new cooking recipes. In fact, whenever I've got the time, I will just cook the usual recipes which I'm already familiar with which you can see here in this recipe blog.

In conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities, I had decided to make a couple of cookies for hubby's workplace, mine and some for home; and some for my ex-office where I still have very dear ex-colleagues who I'm still close with.

Here's the first of the cookies I have made and this is one of my personal favourites. An easy recipe.

Ingredients A:-
- 250g butter
- 100g icing sugar

Ingredients B:-
- 250g potato starch
- 100g plain flour

1. Place ingredient (A) in a big mixing bowl. Cream well, add in ingredient (B) and mix to form a dough.

2. Shape into round balls and arrange on lined baking trays.
3. Press flat with a fork to create a pattern.
4. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 170 degrees for about 10-15 mins until well baked through.
5. It should be pale in colour and not golden brown. Cool well on wire racks and keep in ait tight containers.

Black Pepper Beef with Ginger & Spring Onions

Easy to prepare, short marinating time, easy to cook. What else could you ask for, right? Not for those who don't eat beef. You could use pork or chicken.....

Ingredients:-
- 300g beef tenderloins, strips
- 50g young ginger, sliced
- 4 stalks spring onions, cut into 4cm lengths
- 60g red capsicum, cut into wedges
- 1 tsp chopped garlic
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 4 tsbsps oil

Marinade:-
- 1 tsp light soy sauce
- 1/4 bicarbonate of soda (optional)
- 1 1/2 tbsp water
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp cornflour
- 1 tsp sesame oil

Seasoning:-
- 2 tbsps black pepper sauce
- 1tsp oyster sauce
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp cornflour
- 3 tbsp water or fresh chicken stock

1. Season beef strips with marinade for 10 mins.
2. Heat wok with oil until hot. Stir-fry the beef in 2 batches for 20-30 seconds. Dish out and drain.
3. Reheat wok and add sesame oil. Saute garlic and ginger until fragrant.
4. Return beef to the wok and add spring onions, carrot and capsicum. Stir in the combined seasonings. Toss and fry briskly for a minute. Sprinkle coarsely ground pepper. Dish out and serve immediately.

There you go! Have fun....

Fish & Chips

An all-time favourite among children and adults alike. I have never cooked Fish & Chips before and I saw this recipe and decided to give it a shot. The tartar sauce is made from scratch and it's really easy to make. It tasted better than those that you buy from supermarkets......

So, do give this recipe a shot.

Ingredients:-
- Oil for deep frying
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup (60ml) cold water
- Pinch of salt
- 40g plain flour
- 10g corn flour
- 4 fish fillets (I used Dory fish)
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges

1. Beat egg, cold water and salt together. Stir flour and corn flour into the liquid, mixing quickly with a fork. It is not necessary for the mixture to be completely smooth.
2. Pat fish dry and deep into batter. Ensure that both sides are dipped.
3. Fry in hot oil until fish turn golden brown. Drain well and serve with fries, lemon wedges and tartar sauce.

Ingredients for Tartar Sauce:-
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp finely chopped pickled gherkins (you can get them from supermarkets)
- 1 tbsp finely chopped onion
- 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley

1. Stir all ingredients together and keep refrigerated until ready to use.
**
See? I told you....it is easy to make. You may even buy fish patties to make fish burger and smear some tartar sauce on it or you may have some fish fingers with some homemade tartar sauce.

Hubby and Caitlin absolutely enjoyed the Fish & Chips and Caitlin was looking for more fish. Hahahhaha....I had to keep her in check before she overfed herself.

Chunky Chicken Meatloaf with Veggie Crunchies

I love meatloaves and 2 Christmas ago, hubby asked me to make a meatloaf which turned out real good served with homemade BBQ sauce.

I had even brought it for some potlucks which my friends liked as well. But it's been a while since I've made any meatloaves. The last recipe was quite a handful and it involves so many type of meat from beef to lamb to pork.....quite a handful, you know and a real nightmare to make when some don't eat lamb or beef or pork.



Anyway, I came across this meatloaf which uses only chicken, nothing but chicken. I guess you can also substitute it with other meat if you don't like chicken. :D Here's the recipe......simple and healthy....

Ingredients for Meatloaf:-
- 500g minced chicken
- 300g chicken fillets, cut into chunks
- 2 tbsps cajun spice seasoning
- 1 tsp white pepper powder
- 2 pcs white bread, soaked to soften in a little milk
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 6 slices chicken ham
- 3 to 4 pieces of chicken sausages, cut into halves lengthwise

Ingredients for Veggie Crunchies:-
- 1/2 cucumber, cut into half lengthwise and sliced
- 1 to 2 red onions, slices
- 1 red apple, cored and sliced
- 1 green apple, cored and sliced
- 3 tbsps of apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsps of castor sugar
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
- salt to taste (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 180 degree Celsius
2. Combine mince meat and chicken fillet, add in seasonings, soaked bread and eggs. Mix well.
3. Line a loaf dish with greaseproof paper. Arrage slices of chicken ham. Top with half the minced chicken mixture and spread to level. Arranged sliced sausages as third layer and follow with the remaining minced chicken mixture.
4. Bake meatloaf at 180 degrees for 40 mins. Remove from oven and leave to cool for about 20-30 mins. Another way to know if meatloaf is ready, use a skewer and insert into the meatloaf and if the juice oozes out, that means your meatloaf is ready.
5. To make veggie crunchies, toss all ingredients together and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.
6. To serve, invert meatloaf on a serving dish and serve with vege crunchies.

Ta da!!!!!!!

A real simple recipe and like I said, a healthy one, too. ^o^