Prosperity Oyster with Mushroom

Every Chinese family would have in some form in at least one of their dishes where there will dried oysters. This dish is said to bring happiness and spendour to the whole family. A lot of chopping though but a yummy dish.

Ingredients A:-

- 150g dried oyster (soak in water overnight)
- 4 Chinese mushrooms (soak till soft, remove the stems)
- 1 Chinese sausage
- 120g water chestnuts (peeled)
- 150g celery






Ingredients B:-

- 3 cloves garlic (diced)
- 1/2 tbsp chopped ginger
- 20 lettuce leaves


Seasonings:-

- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp light soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/3 salt
- 1/8 pepper
- 1/2 tbsp huadiao wine
- adequate sesame oil
- adequate dark soy sauce


1. Dice Ingredients A, scald it in boiling water, remove and drain.
2. Heat up some oil in pot, fry minced garlic and ginger till fragrant. Add in scalded INgredients A, stir-fry evenly. Add in Seasonings, stir-fry until fragrant. Dish out.
3. Cut lettuce into round slices. Wrap in fried ingredients. Serve.


Another easy recipe but I really didn't like the dicing though. It's a lot of work. Hahahahahhahahaha.....

Chicken & Vegetable Soup

I came across this recipe. Looked absolutely simple and healthy. Another single dish meal which I absolutely love when I'm not so hot about cooking so many darn things. Hehehehehhehe....

Ingredients: -
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp chopped garlic
- 1 chopped onion
- 4 carrots, chopped
- 4 celery sticks, chopped
- 1.4kg skinned whole chicken
- 2 litres water
- 2 vegetable stock cubes
- 2 cups rice or pasta
- Fresh chopped parsley


1. Heat oil in a deep pan and garlic and onion. Stir-fry for 15secs and then add carrots and celery. Stir-fry for 4 mins until onion is soft.
2. Add chicken as a whole, water and the vegetable stocks. Bring to boil over high fire, then lower to simmer, covered for 1 ½ hours. Remove chicken from pan to cool.
3. Add pasta and rice. Simmer uncovered for 10-15mins or until pasta or rice is done as desired.
4. Remove meat from chicken, and shred roughly. Return shredded chicken meat to pot with some fresh parsley. Heat until boiling.
5. Serve hot.

Chicken, Carrot, Cucumber & Capsicum in Plum Sauce

This is a dish that you can always have on its own because of the varieties in one dish. All you need is some steam rice.......

Ingredients: -

- oil for frying
- 500g chicken breast, sliced thinly
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed or diced
- 1 tsp chopped ginger
- 1/2 a carrot, peeled and sliced thinly
- 1 red capsicum, seeded and sliced
- 1/2 a cucumber, sliced
- 230g water chestnuts, peeled and halved (optional; I didn't use this in this cooking)
- 2 tbsps light sauce
- 1 tsp cornflour
- 1/4 cup plum sauce
- 1 cup bean sprouts, trimmed
- Some roasted cashew nuts

1. Heat some oil over high fire and fry the chicken for about 2 to 3 mins and transfer it out of the wok onto a clean plate.
2. Heat a little oil using the same wok and stir0fry garlic and ginger for about 10 seconds.
3. Add the capsicum, carrots and cucumber and cook for 2 mins.
4. If you are using water chestnuts, add them and continue to stir-fry for another minute but if not, move to the next point.
5. Once veges are tender, turn fire to low and quickly mix the soy sauce with the cornflour and add on to the cup of plum sauce.
6. Return the chicken with bean sprouts and add the mixed sauce and stir-fry for 2 mins.
7. Add a 1/4 cup water as the sauce may be too thick and stir-fry for another 30 seconds with the roasted cashew nuts.
8. Serve with wam rice.

Ta da!!!!! A simple meal. .................

Stir-Fried Beef & Broccoli

Hmmm....it's really been a while since I've tried any new recipes. Well, I have been cooking but it's just that I've been cooking my regular and familiar recipes which I have already shared on this blog. So, I got hold of this easy recipe and here is the recipe...........

Ingredients: -

- 2 tbsps oil
- 500g beef rump or topside, sliced thinly (you may also buy the pre-sliced ones from supermarkets)
- 1 onion, diced or sliced thinly
- 2 tsp finely grated ginger or thinly sliced
- 1 bunch of broccoli, cut into florets
- 1/4 cup oyster sauce
- 2 tbsps light soy sauce
- 2 tbsps sherry (I used hua tiao wine)
- 2 tsps brown sugar
- hot rice to serve

1. Heat 1 tbsps oil in a wok over high fire. When hot, stir-fry beef in 2 batches for 2 to 3 minutes, until brown. Remove and set aside.
2. Heat remaining oil in the same wok over medium fire. When hot, stir-fry onion and ginger for 1 to 2 minutes until soft and fragrant. Add broccoli and stir-fry for another 1 to 2 minutes until just tender.
3. In a bowl, combine oyster sauce, soysauce, sherry (hua tiao wine) and sugar. Return beef to wok with sauce mixture. Stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through.
4. Serve hot with rice.

See!!! A healthy meal and simple to prepare and cook. You won't even need to prepared additional dishes if you're pressed for time. This dis itself already have its meat and vege. A balanced meal if you ask me.

Beef Stew

Another recipe that I love and have always been cooking this dish on a regular basis and I was pretty surprise that I didn't actually share this with you all. Anyway, here's the recipe. You may use lamb if you prefer especially for those of you who don't eat beef......... :D




Ingredients:-
- 500g beef
- 300g potatoes
- 200g carrot
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsps flour
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
- 650ml hot water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 pepper
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1. Rinse meat, drain and cut into 3cm cubes or you may buy those pre-cut ones. Peel carrot and potatoes into 3cm cubes as well. Chop garlic finely.
2. Add meat, garlic and plain flour into a non-stick pan/wok/pot and stir well. Cook under high heat for about 3 minutes, mix well. (no need for any cooking oil)
3. Add hot water, dried bay leaves, dried thyme, potatoes, carrot, salt and pepper to the meat mixture and boil.
4. Stir constantly so that the ingredients do not get stuck to the bottom of the pot.
5. Boil for about 15-20 minutes until potatoes and carrots are tender.
6. Add another 50-100ml of hot water if the stew becomes too thick.
7. Serve with rice.
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Yummy!!!! Absolutely yummy.............
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Italian Roast Chicken with Vegetables

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As you all know, I have gone MIA for a while and have hardly had the time to cook and am now trying to get back into experimenting new stuff again. Anyway, I came across this recipe and thought I should just give it a shot since it didn't look very complicating and seemed pretty healthy as well.
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Anyway, it turned out well and tasted really yummy. Hubby felt that the chicken was a bit bland because I didn't marinate it....well, first the recipe didn't require marinating and secondly, sometimes having it a little bland is good for the health. Moreover, the juice from the roasting was tasty enough for me.
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Here's the recipe.....
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Ingredients: -
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- 4 chicken breast fillets
- 4 thin slices rindless turkey bacon (I used beef bacon as it's not easy to find turkey bacon)
- 500g cherry tomatoes
- 2 medium (400g) red capsicums, cut into thick strips
- 250g baby potatoes, thinly sliced (you may use regular potatoes)
- 2 cloves garlic, sliced or diced
- 1/4 cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
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1. Preheat oven to 240 degrees/220 degrees Celsius; fan forced
2. Wrap each chicken breast with a piece of bacon. If the chicken fillet is too large, you can always slice them to smaller fillets
3. Combine tomatoes, capsicum, potatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper in a large, shallow baking dish; mix well.
4.Push the vegetables to the sides of the baking dish and place chicken in the centre dish, turn to coat in the oil from the dish
5. Bake, uncovered for about 20 minutes.
6. Turn the chicken from the bottom, facing the top and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
7. Add parsley to vegetables.
8. Serve.
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Voila!!!! A delicious simple meal. You may want to make some soup to go along with this dish.....
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Stir-Fried Celery with Pork

I have been cooking this dish for quite a while now and I have always loved this dish. You may choose to use chiken fillet instead of pork. It always depends on one's preference.

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Anyway, here's the recipe....

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Ingredients:-

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- 4 stalks celery, sliced

- oil for frying

- 3 cloves of garlic, chopped

- 375g pork, thinly sliced

- 1/4 cup water

- 1/2 tbsp cornstarch

- 1 tbsp water

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Seasonings:-

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- salt to taste

- 1 tbsp light soy sauce

- 1 tsp sugar

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1. Blanch celery in boiling water for 1 minute. Plunge into cold water and drain.

2. Heat oil and fry till colour changes. Add celery, water and seasoning ingredients.

3. Simmer for 2-3 minutes

4. Stir in blended cornstarch with the 1 tbsp water and remove onto a serving plate.

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Ta da!!!!! Hope you enjoy it as my family and I do...........

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Minced Meat Curry

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A dish that gives you the option to use either beef or mutton. I personally feel it will always taste better with either of these red meat.
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Ingredients:-

- 200g potatoes
- 100g onions
- 2 cloves garlic
- 10g ginger
- 2 tbsps cooking oil
- 250ml water
- 250g minced meat
- 7-8 pcs curry leaves
- 3 tbsps green peas
- 4 tbsps unsweetened plain yoghurt
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Spices:-

- 2 tsps ground coriander
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground tumeric
- 1 1/2 tbsp chilli paste
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Seasonings:-

- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
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1. Peel potatoes and cut into 1cm cubes. Peel onions and garlic and chop finely. Peel ginger and grate finely.
2. Mix onions, garlic, ginger well with oil in a wok for about 3 minutes.
3. Add spices and stir well for another 2 minutes. Stir in potatoes and water. Cover and continue to cook for another 3 minutes.
4. Stir in mince meat, curry leaves and Seasonings and cook for another 5 minutes and continue stirring.
5. Stir in green peas and unsweetened plain yoghurt for 2-3 minutes.
6. Serve.

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French Beans with Egg

A dish I picked up from my mom while growing up. Mind you, my mom is an absolutely fabulous cook. She bakes and cooks almost anything under the sun!

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Ingredients:-

- French beans

- 3 cloves of garlic (diced)

- 2 eggs, beaten

- 2 tsp chicken stock powder

- 1 tbsp cooking oil

- 1/4 bowl water

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1. Heat up oil.

2. Once oil is semi hot, add diced garlic and fry for 1 minute.

3. Add French Beans and stir fry.

4. Add water and chicken stock powder.

5. Add beaten eggs and continue to stir fry.

6. Serve

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See? A simple meal........

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Chicken Cacciatora

Seems like a complicated recipe by the title of the recipe, huh but I assure you it's not difficult. It's basically chicken cooked in lots of fresh tomatoes and in white wine. Here's the recipe....

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Ingredients:-

- 1kg ripe tomatoes or 2x400g tins of chopped tomatoes
- 1.5kg chicken, cut into 8 pieces
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 onions, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves,, finely chopped
- 2 tbsps tomato paste (puree)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsps finely chopped rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- 185ml (3/4 cup) dry white wine
- 125ml (1/2 cup) chicken stock
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 80g (1/2 cup) kalamata olives (optional)
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1) If you are using fresh tomatoes, peel and seed them and cut into smallish dice.
2) Cut any excess skin and fat from the chicken pieces and season them well with salt and black pepper.
3) Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat and cook the chicken peices a few at a time until golden brown.
4) Remove from pan and keep chicken pieces aside.
5) Add the onion to the pan and cook over low heat ntil wilted and just starting to caramelised (takes about 10 mins)
6) Add tomatoes, garlic, tomato paste, sugar, herbs, wine and stock. Bring to boil and then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for about 15 mins or until reduced by half.
7) Add chicken pieces to sauce and season well with salt and pepper.
8) Add lemon juice, then cover and cook over very low heat for about 20-30 mins.
9) If using olives, add olives and then remove from the heat and leave covered for 10 mins.
10) Serve with butter rice and steamed vegetables.
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There!!! Another simple dish but absolutely yummy.......:D
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Sausages with Creamy Mash & Onion Gravy

This is one of my family's favourite meal. A healthy meal of Sausages with Creamy Mash & Onion Gravy.
Trust me, I make a mean Onion Gravy....
Ingredients: - Onion Gravy

- 40g butter
- 3 Onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 2 cups (500ml) chicken / beef stock
- 1/2 cup (125ml) dry white wine (I can't tell the difference from dry or wet; I just use white wine)
- 2 tsps Dijon mustard
- 3 tsps soft brown sugar
- 1 tsp thyme
Ingredients: - Creamy Mash

- 4 large potatoes, peeled
- 1/2 cup (125ml) milk
- 30g butter, cut into cubes


1) Heat oil in large frying pan. Cook sausages over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until browned.
2) Remove to a plate and keep warm.
3) To make onion gravy, melt the butter in the same frying pan, add onions and cook over low heat for 15 mins or until golden.
4) Add garlic and cook for 30 secs. Stir in flour and cook over low heat for 1 min to brown.
5) Remove the pan from the heat and gradually add the stock and wine. Return to the heat and bring to boil.
6) Stir in the mustard, sugar and thyme; and then reduce the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally until gravy thickens.
7) Season to taste with pepper.
8) Add sausages to the gravy and simmer for another 5-8 minutes.
9) Meanwhile, cut the potatoes into chunks and boil for 10 mins or until cooked through
10) Drain well and return potatoes back to the saucepan, stirring for 20 secs under low fire until the excess moisture is removed.
11) Add hot milk to the potato and mash until lump-free.
12) Add butter and stir in until potato is smooth and creamy.
13) Season well.
14) Serve the sausages and gravy over the mashed potato with salad or steamed vegetables.
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Absolutely yummy!!!!
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