Raisin Butter Cake

School term holiday started and Olivia is so kind to lend me a hand.
She wants to help mummy to bake mummy's favourite Butter Cake.

School holiday just started and Olivia said she wanted to help me bake my favourite  butter cake, specially those who made from creamy butter. I choose to use salted butter because I prefer a little salty and that brings out the butter taste of the cake. I used SCS butter, although it is a little pricey but you will get a premium quality butter cake.

My Butter Cake has no rules! You may add in additional ingredients your wish. I will add in Desiccated Coconut and Raisin, topped with some almond flakes. It turns out very nice indeed! 

Ingredients 

250g Self Raising Flour

180g Sugar

4 eggs

250g Butter

1/4 cup Raisin

10g Desiccated Coconut

4 tbsp Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Essence

SCS Butter

Sim reduced from 200g to 180g Sugar

4 eggs (A size)

250 self raising flour

10g dessicated coconut

Raisin

1 teaspoon Vanilla Essence

Mix butter & sugar in low speed

Add in eggs one by one

Ready to bake

The result

Creamy Garlic Butter Prawn

10 devined prawns (marinate soya)

2 tbsp mince garlic

3 tbsp butter

1 cup evoporated milk

1 slice cheese (Kraft)

Salt & pepper to taste

Method

1) Heat Frying Pan with 1 tbsp cooking oil. Stir fried prawns for 1 minute. Set aside.

2) Use a clean pan/wok, heat pan add in butter, when melted add in garlic. Stir till smell the aroma of the garlic but not turning brown. In medium flame, add in milk, keep stiring till u see boiling bubble add in cheese. Stir till cheese melt and mix well.

3) Add salt & pepper to taste. (I skipped salt, but add little pepper)

4) Add in prawn and stir till prawn well coated with cream.

5) voila!

NESTLE Natural Set Yogurt Quiche

If you are planning to bake a healthier quiche perhaps you could replace the pastry crust with bread and the sour cream with yogurt. I love the crunchiness of the bread, as it taste like a fresh toast from oven and the savoury fillings of seafood and egg just combined so well.

Yogurt is an excellent substitute for sour cream in most recipes, but keep in mind it is thinner in texture, so to thicken the yogurt you will need to drain it through a cheesecloth-lined sieve over a bowl in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. 

 

 

NESTLE Natural Set Yogurt.

Ingredients

6-8 slices of Bread

2 tablespoon olive oil

200 gm Seafood of your choice

1/2 cup Bacon (chopped)

2/3 cup NESTLE Natural Set Yogurt.

3 Eggs

2 cup Mozzarella Cheese (grated)

1 tomato Slices

Salt & Pepper to taste

Oregano & Parsley

Method

1. Greased bread with either butter or Olive oil. Line them in a Oven proof glassware or pan.

2. Pre-bake them in a 160°C Oven for 5 minutes. You don't want to toast them brown, just need to

    harden the bread, so they will not turn soggy.

3. Fried the bacon bits. Keep the oil, use it to cook the seafood.

4. Cut the seafood, I used squids, prawn and fish fillet. Marinate them with salt & pepper. Precook the

    seafood, to avoid sogginess when baking because seafood then to release liquid when cooking.

5. Use an oil free non stick pan, grill the tomato slice, so they look dried.

6. Mix Sour Cream & Eggs together, whisk them well and add salt & pepper to taste.

7. Add seafood, egg mixture and 1 cup of cheese. Top with tomato slices, bacon and the remaining cheese.

8. Bake for 40 minutes. Use a sharp knife, cut the middle of the flan, if knife comes out dry then

    your flan is done.

Creamy Spinach Sauce Nuggets Served with White Rice

 Yesterday we had potluck and every each of us cook some nice dish so  we ended up with some left over and never throw them away as you could use them to make another dish for lunch or dinner. I preheat the nugget in a frying pan without using any oil, because you don’t want oily nuggets, all you need is to reheat the nugget in a non stick pan, use medium flame and when you could feel the outer layer is crisp again, then set aside.

What goes well with nuggets? Actually nuggets goes well with all dips and sauces. So I tried Creamy White Sauce, and the outcome is quite good. Olivia like everything creamy and cheesy. I skipped the cheese this round, because I will pack this as Olivia’s lunch, which she might eat it an hour later and if any sauce contains cheese it will get harden and lumpy.

If you are packing lunch for your toddler, serve nuggets and creamy white sauce with white rice.

To make the sauce/dip, it’s very simple. Below are the ingredients and here are the simple steps:

Creamy White Sauce Ingredients2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 Cup Chopped Spinach
Dash salt & pepper

Methods

1)      Use a pan, pre heat it in medium heat and add in butter. When butter is melt whisk in flour. Keep whisking until l lumpy texture is achieved.

2)      Whisk in milk and stir until the lump is dissolved. And the texture should be creamy. Add in salt and pepper to taste.

3)      Add in chopped spinach (this is optional).

4)      You are done, pack the nuggets, rice and sauce separately.

Simplee Dinner Idea : Star Fish Dinner

What would you call this? A piece of "Fish Fillet" serve with Spinach that molded into a Star shape with creamy white sauce? I call it "STAR FISH DINNER". When mummy gets lazy and tired, this is what Olivia will get for her dinner, simple and fast meal in less than 10 minutes. She loves this combination! All you need is a frozen fish fillet that you could get in most of the supermarket.

Ingredients

1) 1 piece Frozen Fillet

2) 1 Cup Spinach

For the Sauce

1) 2 tbsp Butter

2) 1 Slice of Cheese

3) 2 tbsp Flour

4) 1 Cup water

5) Salt to taste

Methods

1) Fry fish fillet in a frying pan, set aside.

To make sauce

1) Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour and keep stirring till bubbly.

2) Whisk in water, and become roux. Add in salt to taste. 

To make Star spinach

1) Blanch spinach in a boiling water with a little salt added. Drained and soak in ice water for 3 minutes to maintain it's greenish colour. Drained.

2) Use a star shape cookie cutter, stuffed spinach in to fill the space. The pull out the mould.

Star Fish Dinner

1) In a plate, pour sauce and then place fish and spinach on top of it. 

2) Done! Voila

 

Yoga Crow Pose (bakasana)

Bakasana pose by simplee. This pose will help to strengthen the wrist, forearms and abdomen; improves balance. Just remember to balance yourself distribute your weight evenly. Don't forget to breath right.

Yoga Headstand Home Practice Tutorial

Headstand is the king of all asanas. I find this pose very interesting and start practicing at home. Despite numerous falls, I don't see a reason why I should stop but there more than 10 benefits which keep me doing it.

1. Reduces anxiety and stress and enhances self-confidence
2. Promotes heart relaxation by directing blood to the brain, allowing gravity to do the magic
3. Heats and cleanses the body
4. Very stimulating and revitalizing
5. Stimulates the nervous system, increasing mental power, concentration, clarity, and balance
6. Feels centering, calming and soothing
7. Tones the abdomen, legs, and the neck muscles
8. Cleanses and massages the internal organs
9. Reduces muscular strain and stress
10. Boosts metabolism and alleviates IBS and other digestive concerns
11. Directs blood flow to the face, providing an organic facelift
12. Offers anti-aging perks
    
    information are courtesy of http://www.yogavibes.com

Petite Cheesy Tuna Puff

Preparation Time :  20 minutes
Cooking Time : 15 minutes
Yield :  12 Puffs

When baking bug bites, it contiguous and I meant it. I have been baking since last week and I just fall in love with puff pastry that I could just but them of the the supermarket's shelf. This could saved up a lot of time by making my own pastry from scratch. I make my first batch of puff pastry with cheese, tuna and spinach filling and the following days I tried Rendang Ayam, Ham & Cheese, Sardine and Curry Potato. Mostly local flavours, because my family loves spicy aromas and taste, even Olivia asking for Curry Puff, oh yea she is a typical Malaysian.

Ingredients
6-8 sheets of frozen pastry (8cm x 8cm)
1/2 cup tuna chunks
1/2 cup grated cheese
1/2 cup chopped spinach
1 egg (egg wash)
3 tablespoon Mayonnaise (kewpie)
salt to taste  (optional)

Methods

1) Cut puff pastry diagonally into 2 triangles.
2) Mix tuna, spinach, cheese, salt and mayonnaise.
3) Divide the pastry into 2 sided, place tuna mixture on the right side of the pastry and fold the left side over the mixture.
4) Press down the side of the pastry with a fork to seal.
5) Pre heat oven at 180 degree for 5 minutes.
6) Apply egg wash on top of the pastry and bake for 15 minutes or till pastry turn golden brown.
7) Remove from oven.
8) Voila.

Cut puff pastry diagonally into 2 triangles

Mix chopped spinach, tuna, mayonnaise and cheese together

Put tuna mixture on one side of the pastry and leave the other half empty

Fold the pastry to form a triangle

Press down a fork, to seal the opening

Brush the top part of the sheet with the egg wash

Mummy, can I have 1 please? said Oliver (my boy) and Olivia's eyes have never been so BIG before. haha

Kiddy Meal Ideas : Bunny Burger

As I did mentioned in my earlier postings, Olivia is a picky eater and I always wanted to make her finished her meals the fastest pace she could. And one day, when I was cleaning my kitchen cupboard, I found these cute little cookie cutters and was thinking of making something out of it.I used the bunny cutters to cut out some bunny shape bread and then patty. 

I used minced chicken for my patties, marinate with little sugar and soya sauce. I add some breadcrumbs & corn flour to make hold the meat together. Stuffed them in the bunny shape cutter and slowly remove the cutter and use a small spatula to scoop it in the pan, fry with medium flame. 

Ingredients are simple and I used whatever that I could grab from my fridge. I see Olivia enjoyed her bunny meal very much. Hope you children will love this as well.

Ingredients:
2 slices of bread
1/4 cup of minced chicken
Some sugar, soy sauce, breadcrumbs and corn flour for the pattie
Vegetables (I used spinach here)
Tomato sauce and mayonnaise to decorate

Tools:
Bunny-shaped cookie cutter

Method:

1) Marinade the mince with a pinch of sugar and some soy sauce. Add some breadcrumbs and corn flour to hold the pattie together.

2) Using the cookie cutter, cut the bread and chicken pattie before carefully putting the pattie on the pan.

3) Once the pattie is cooked, remove from pan.

4) Assemble the cut bread and pattie, then decorate by using tomato sauce as the eyes on bunny!

Kiddy Steam Egg

Drunken Tiger Prawns

Simplee a Headstand Yoga (Shirshasana)

Daily Yoga Headstand Practice at Home

Simplee Kids Meal : Tamago Maki

I'm a Japanese Cuisine lover. I love everything from Green Tea to Ramen and Sushi. And tonight I'm going to make Olivia some Tamago Maki sushi for her dinner. This is a very simple sushi compared to the conventional ones. To make a good sushi you will need a good rice, Japanese rice is soft and sticky so it is the best choice to make sushi.

Olivia loves this, she could finished the whole sushi meal by herself in less than 15minutes which is record breaking (haha). Most kids will find this delicious because it has tamago (omelet) and mayonnaise, even I love it.

What is Tamago?
Tamago is the Japanese omelet commonly used in maki sushi. Unlike a regular omelet, the tamago is made with sugar and soy sauce added.

1. To cook tamagoyaki, beat eggs then add in soya sauce, sesame oil and sugar.
2. In a frying pan, layer egg batter, gently fold in from one corner. At least 3 folds to achieve a nice
    thick effect.

Easy Sardine Puff

Preparation Time : 20 Minutes

Cooking Time : 10 Minutes

Yield :12 small puffs

What is your favourite childhood dish? Mine is Sardine in a can. I will never get bored with Sardine in a can which they soak it in a tomato base. When I was young I remembered the Sardine Puff they sell it in the school canteen is so delicious that I feel like having one today.  But we are making the Sardine Puff with Ready Puff Pastry Rolls instead of the conventional pastry's skin.

This is a very simple snack that you and your kids can do it together. Let your kids did the simple part like, rolling out the pastry or like me, I asked Olivia to brush the egg coating. She loves to do so, she even said "Good mummy, I love painting!" haha

Ingredients

1/2 cup Sardine (in can)

6 sheets Frozen Puff Pastry (6cm x 6cm)

1 egg (wash)

Methods

1) Rolled out ready Puff Pastry, put Sardine (drained) in the middle. Fold over and press the side with fork.

2) Coat the skin with eggs wash

3) Bake for 10 minutes or till its golden.

Simplee Tea for Health

	Black Tea All black teas contain polyphenols which are powerful antioxidants and have great restorative powers. Unlike the high levels of caffeine found in coffee, the low amounts in black tea promotes blood flow to the brain without overstimulating the heart. The caffeine in black tea sharpens mental focus and concentration, and the trace element fluoride inhibits tooth decay. Black tea also contains abundant tannins which have a soothing anti-inflammatory effect on the digestive tract. One cup of black or green tea has more antioxidant power than a serving of broccoli, carrots or spinach. (Prevention, 1998) Black tea improves cardiac blood flow and coronary function and also improves endothelial function in the heard which improves vascular function. (Dr Renold Sebold, The Truth About Tea & Health part 1) Pu-erh tea is a particular type of Chinese black tea which is praised for its ability to boost the metabolism and help the body break-down fat. Throughout history, the Chinese have drunk Pu-Erh tea to counterbalance rich food and help digestion. Today it is very popular as part of weight-loss programmes due to its positive effects on metabolizing fat,
	Green Tea Unlike black teas, there is no oxidation or fermentation in the processing of green tea which means that the antioxidants found in green tea are unharmed. Green tea contains similar flavonoids to those found in broccoli, cabbage, grapes and red wine. (AmeriScan, August 2003) The University of Purdue found that green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells and also helps to reduce cholesterol levels.  Drinking green tea does not only inhibit the growth of cancer cells, it also kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. A study at the University of Kansas concluded that the catechins found in green tea is more than 100 times as effective as Vitamin C at neutralizing free radicals. (greentea.com) Drinking tea is known to aid weight loss by naturally burning fat and increasing the bodies metabolism. It has also been found that drinking green tea can block the absorption of bad fats by up to 30%. (greentealovers.com) Kidney problems are often associated with high blood sugar - since green tea has the ability to lower serum glucose, drinking tea can help protect against kidney failure.  The antioxidant properties of green tea also play a likely role in protecting the kidneys.  Maintaining kidney health is a crucial part of anti-aging medicine. Tests carried out at the University of Newcastle found that green tea could help improve memory and slow the development of Alzeimer's disease.

Therapeutic Benefits of Rose Tea

Rose is a kind of precious medical materials,can beautify and improve the skin,dredge the channels,soften the blood tube. It coordinate liver and spleen,regulate vital energy and stomach. 

Because of the medicinal properties of rose, it is widely used in Ayurveda medicine. One cup of fresh rose hips has the equivalent amount of vitamin C in 60 oranges.