Rice and Coconut

This is one of the menu from our dinner with friends this weekend,is very simple salad with peanut dressing/ Indonesian gado-gado salad dressing.
I use butter head lettuce for a bowl of salad,just plate them together with main course meal.




You will need :
- butter head lettuce
- English cucumber/thinly slice
- carrot/ shredded
- red onion/thinly slice
- wonton chips for topping if you like/optional

 peanut sauce Ingredients :
- 1 1/2 cup roasted peanut
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 4 garlic
- 2 Thai chili
- 3 kafir lime leaves
- 1/2 cup grated palm sugar
- 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
-  salt to taste
-  1/4 cup water

Preparation :
grind garlic and chili,fry with 1 tbs vegetable oil until fragrant,set aside
grind  roasted crushed peanut, and combine with coconut milk,whisk them well
transfer to a blender and process to a smooth sauce
Pour into sauce pan,add very thinly sliced kafir lime leaves,fry garlic and chili,grated palm sugar,salt and water,
bring to simmer in low heat,stir until all ingred…

It's our dessert for dinner last night with our friends,I have to make this low carb cake for one my Foodie friend Miss K who strictly low carb diet,I'm glad I found this flourless and butterless cake from a cook book frame>byframe>baking.
as you know I'm not good on baking,so this recipe help me to learn more about baking, and this is the first time I make flourless and butterless cake, I'm glad that everyone enjoy this YUMMY almond cake and we had a great time as always :)
and of course I share this recipe with you guys !!


Ingredients :
- butter for greasing only
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 4 eggs,separated
- 1 tsp almond extract/ I substitute with vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 3/4 cups ground almond/almond flour
- finely grated rind of lime
- toasted silvered almond to decorate
-  confectioner sugar ,sifted for dusting


Preparation :
Preheat the oven to 300  degree F
grease and line a 9 inch/23 cm round cake pan

beat together the ricotta,egg yolk,almond ext…

I don't eat much sushi but If I do anything with cooked shrimp or cooked salmon, Californian and Inari sushi are my favorite, Use any raw vegetables you like such cucumber,carrot,avocado or steamed asparagus drizzle with yum-yum sauce it taste so good, or dip into soy or ponzu sauce along with pickled ginger and wasabi



Ingredients :
-  2 cups sushi rice / Han Kuk Mi / Nisiki
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 6 fresh steamed asparagus
- Imitation crab meat/cut in stick
- 1 ripe Avocado/cut in strip
- carrot / stick
- cucumber / stick
- 6 small sheets toasted nori

How to cook sushi Rice, Basically I just follow direction on the package

preparation :

combine 2 cups rice with  2 1/2  cups water in medium saucepan,bring to a soft boil,reduce heat and simmer
covered 20 minutes or until moisture is absorbed,remove from heat,let stand covered
add seasoned rice vinegar toss them gently.

You need sushi mat + cold water
divide Rice into 6 equal portions
put a sheet nori,shiny side down on a sushi rolling mat…

I made Inari sushi my way, sushi rice mixed with rice seasoning and topping with thinly slice green onion and sprinkle with ground peanut to add more taste to it, can be serve with soy sauce pickle ginger and wasabi if you like.



 Ingredients :
- 1 1/2 cups sushi Rice/ Nishiki
- 1/2 Tbsp seasoned rice vinegar/sushi vinegar
- 1 can  seasoned fried bean curd /Inarizushi-no-moto
- 2 Tbsp rice seasoning/salmon furikake
- 1 stalk green onion/thinly slice
- 2 Tbsp grounded peanut



preparation : if use sauce pan

combine 1 1/2 cups rice and 2 cups water in medium saucepan,bring to a soft boil,reduce heat and simmer
covered 20 minutes or until moisture is absorbed,remove from heat,let stand covered
add seasoned rice vinegar toss them
add seasoning / salmon furikake,mix them well
open tofu pouches / pocket very gently and stuff with sushi rice mixed about 2 Tbsp
topping with thinly slice green onion.grounded peanut
serve with soy sauce pickle ginger and wasabi if you like,,,

In My previous post I mention that I topped grilled salmon with Mango strawberry salsa,so here is the recipe, if you like mango you will enjoy this mango salsa as I do, fresh and yummy.







Ingredients :
- 1 mango/peel and dice - 10 fresh strawberry/ dice - 1/4 red onion/dice - 2 sweet peppers/dice - handful cilantro/chop
( mix all chopped ingredients into salad bowl,set aside )

dressing ingredients :

- 2 tbsp Avocado oil - 1 tsp peppercorn chili oil - 1 tbsp honey - 2 tbsp lime juice + lime zest - pinch of salt ( whisk all dressing ingredients until combine and pour in to salsa mix )

Salmon fish can be pricey,especially in the restaurant,but you still can create elegant dish at home with no time,and cheaper than what we pay in the restaurant.








This recipe is very easy and simple,you can serve with side of rice,noodles or vegetables, topping with mango strawberry salsa ( recipe will post later ) and grilled asparagus.

Ingredients :
2 salmon fillet  6-8 oz each / Atlantic or sockeye
salt
lemon pepper spice blend
peppercorn chili oil or olive oil

Preparation :
Heat grill pan in medium high temperature.

Meanwhile,,,,sprinkles  both side of salmon fillet with salt, lemon pepper spice blend and peppercorn chili oil if you like spicy,or use olive oil.

Cook for about 3-4 minutes each side or until the middle part cook through,if you like grill asparagus you can cook them on the side at the same time

E N J O Y ,,,

Tofu is one of the list ingredients that I always have in the fridge, to make this recipe more easier you can buy fried tofu mostly available in Asian market, so you can skip fry the tofu and ready to slice them and ready to cook with other ingredients in no time, this type of dish recommended to serve with white jasmine rice is the best, Can be vegetarian or vegan dish just replace fish sauce with soy sauce.








Ingredients :
- 2 block firm tofu/extra firm cut into 1/2 inch /1cm thick
- 3 Tbsp vegetable oil for frying ( need only 1 Tbsp if use fried tofu )
- 1  Tbsp Thai fish sauce or soy sauce for ( vegetarian-vegan )
- 1/2 of fresh lime or lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 stalk lemon grass ,thinly slice
- 2 large shallot, finely chop
- 1 clove garlic ,finely chop
- 1 Thai chili pepper/finely chop ( optional )



Preparation :
Heat 2 Tbsp vegetable oil on medium high temperature.
fry tofu until cook or looks golden brown  both side,drain on the plate lined with paper towel,set a…

If you guys like chickpea/garbanzo beans and avocado,you should try this salad recipe either you serve as salad or you can roll in flour tortilla as sandwich.
as my experiment I fry garlic and shallot in olive oil instead use a fresh one,and I really like the way turn out,,, by the way this is the second time I make this salad and I will make it again soon :)

Ingredients
- 1 can chickpea/garbanzo bean 15,5 oz
- 1 can canellini beans 15 oz
- 3 sweet peppers/ rough chop
- 1 cup cherry tomato/ cut in half
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- handful chopped cilantro
- 5 sun dried tomato in oil/chop/ I use California sun dried tomato
- avocado cut in cube ( mix until last step )

for the dressing :
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp oil from sun dried tomato
- 2 -3 clove garlic/thinly slice/chop
- 1 shallot/ thinly slice/chop
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 1 tbsp lime juice


Preparation :
in large bowl mix chickpea,canellini bean,sweet pepper,cherry tomato,red onion,cilantro and sun…

This beef dish is similar with beef satay,I use the same marinade ingredients for satay dished the only different  I didn't cut beef in cube,I use  thinly sliced Beef cut in strip.


Ingredients :
- 1 lbs beef/thinly sliced beef cut in strips
marinated ingredients :
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sweet soy sauce/kecap manis
- 1 tbsp peanut oil/vegetable oil
- 1 inch fresh galangal /grated
- 1 clove garlic /grated
- 1 shallot/grated
- 1/2 tsp lemon grass powder
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
Preparation :
If use the grill soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes,before use to prevent them burning
*tip* I use flat grill pan on the stove,its OK not to soak wooden skewers in water
mix all marinated ingredients together whisk it until well mixed
place meat in a plastic bag and put marinade mixture over it
close bag securely,turning to coat.
leave marinate for at least 2 hours

if you ready to cook :
Heat flat grill pan in medium High/ electric grill
grill for about 4-5 minutes each side,or yo…

Happy valentine's day everyone,,,
Wish you all have a wonderful time with a great meals and sweet valentine's dessert to share with family,yours and loves one.


Ingredients : yield 6-8  cupcakes
- 6 tbsp softened butter
- 3/8 cup superfine sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1/2  cup all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp salted caramel cocoa mix
- 1 tsp baking powder

Topping :
- 4 tbsp butter softened
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 tbsp salted caramel cocoa mix
- 1 tbsp strawberry syrup
- store bought heart candy

Preparation :
preheat the oven to 350 degree F put 6 paper muffin cases in muffin pan
put the butter,sugar,and vanilla extract in a bowl and beat together until light and fluffy
gradually add the eggs,beating well after each addition
sift the flour,salted caramel and baking powder,using a large metal spoon fold into the mixture,spoon the batter in to the paper cases
bake the cupcakes about 20-25 minutes until well risen and firm,transfer to wire rack …

I posted this peppermint bark pancake before,but this time I just want to share a simple and easy valentine's breakfast idea for you guys to share with your family or loves one.
and I would like to thank you to my friend Cindy for heart candy's and mrs,mitchell for  heart cookie cutters :)





I made  this pancake from store bought pancakes mix,The recipe and preparation is Here
except I use powder sugar as topping instead of chopped peppermint bark.
and Cut the pancakes with heart shaped cookie cutter,do the same with butter using small one,see picture above between two pancakes  and store bought heart shaped candy on top.
and I use raspberry curd instead of pancakes syrup,



Enjoy,,,hope you guys have a wonderful valentine's day with your loves one :)

Ingredients :
- 9 oz/250 gr dried Thin buckwheat  noodles
- 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds toasted
- 1 tbs grated ginger
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
- pinch of sugar
- pinch of pepper
- top with thinly sliced scallion and carrot if you like


Preparation :
- Bring a big pan of water to boil add buckwheat noodles and cook according to the package direction,drain and rinse well with cold water
- Heat a wok/ fry fan over medium heat with sesame oil
- add noodles stir add ginger,garlic powder,soy sauce and pinch of sugar and black pepper
and stir in toasted sesame seeds  cook about 2-4 minutes

This Fragrant Rice recipe is similar with one of Indonesian Rice dishes we call it " Nasi uduk "

Nasi uduk is an Indonesian style steamedrice cooked in coconut milk dish originally from Jakarta,[1] which can be widely found across the country.
this recipe is vegetarian idea and gluten free.






Nasi uduk literally means mixed rice in Indonesian. The name describes the dish preparation itself which requires more ingredients than common rice cooking and also varieties additional side dishes.


ingredients :
- 1 1/4 cup jasmine Rice
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 inch piece of fresh ginger/grated
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp super fine sugar
- 1 lemon grass stalk/bruised
- 2 kaffir lime leaves
- 2 bay leaves


preparation:
-  soak the Rice in cold water about 40 minutes- an hour
- melt the butter in the large pan and fry the rice on a high heat for 1 minutes,stirring until the grain are glassy
- add the ginger and cook,stirring for 1 minutes
- stir in the coconut milk and water,then …

This fish tempura can be served as appetizer or dinner meal with jasmine rice and side of vegetables with a simple sweet spicy ginger sauce





 Ingredients :
- 4  Tilapia fillets
- 1 cup tempura batter mix
- 3/4 cup cold water
- vegetable oil for fry
- green onion/scalion/ optional

for the sauce  ingredients :
- 2 tablespoon sweet soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon  garlic powder
- 2 Thai chili/ chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
pinch of salt
preparation : - on the fry pan heat vegetable oil in medium high temperature until reach 350 degree F - cut fish/tilapia in to strip,season with salt and pepper,set aside - mix tempura flour with cold water ( follow the direction on the package )  - drop fish stick in to tempura batter mix - fry about 2-3 minutes each side until looks golden brown - mix all sauce ingredient,simmer on low heat for 3-4 minutes - pour in to tempura fried fish - serve immediately as appetizer or main course with rice and side o…