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. 

Simplee Dinner Ideas : Dory in Marinara Sauce

 

Preparation : 3mins

Cooking : 10mins

What will be more promising than a good dinner your children enjoy eating? I always believe that a yummy home cook meal is good enough to tell your children how much you love them. Even a simple one that comes put from your kitchen.

Ingredients 

100gm Dory fish fillet (sliced and season with salt & parley flakes)

1/2 cup Spinach (chopped)

1 1/2 cup water

3 tbsp Prego spaghetti sauce

Simplee Dinner Ideas : Oriental Chicken Chop

Olivia loves chicken chop very much specially those with crispy batter. But I'm trying something new today. Chicken Chop without batter, cooks with gravy. This is an Oriental Style Chicken Chop, weel known among Malaysia & Singaporean Chinese. Some said it's similar to Hainanese Chicken Chop.

Preparation time: 5 min
Cooking time: 20 min

Ingredients

1 Chicken Whole Leg (you may debone)

3 tbsp cooking oil

1/4 tsp Salt & 1 tsp Corriander Powder to marinate the chicken.

100g Brocolli (steam)

Simplee Ideas : Teriyaki Salmon Cake

Salmon is a popular food in Japan and now it has become the favourite among us because of its high protein, high omega-3 fatty acids, and high vitamin D content. Salmon can be eaten raw and cooked, and I love both.

I have a left over salmon in the freezer, not much. Approximately 150gm, a small piece of fillet. But with the right combinations, this could ended up to be a delicious snack.

Simplee Idea Dinner : Teriyaki Salmon Cake

Preparation time: 10min
Cooking time: 10min

Made : 5 Pieces

Ingredients 

100gm Salmon Fillets (chopped)
1 medium size potato (shredded, squeezed out excessive water)

3 tbsp Olive Oil

Salt, pepper & chinese 5 spices powder 五香粉 (to marinate salmon)

1 egg

3 tbsp breadcrumbs

1/2 tsp salt to taste

Teriyaki Sauce

1/4 cup soya

1 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp mapel syrup/honey (optional)

Methods

1) Mix all ingredients in a big mixing bowl.

2) Heat pan with olive oil, scoop a small amount of batter with a soup spoon and gently place it in the pan and fry each side for 4 minutes or until brown, flip side and fry for another 4 minutes.

3) Serve with rice. Bon-appetite.

Simplee Ideas : Butterless Orange Cake

Ingredients:

1 orange
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 sunflower oil
1 1/2 cups flour (sieve)

Methods:

1) Cut orange in half and extract juice with a hand juicer. Use the flesh and the juice.

2) Put sugar & oil into a bowl and beat on medium speed for 5minute. Add in eggs and beat for 2 minutes then add in flour batches by batches beat for 2 minutes. After flour is well mixed, add in orange juice & flesh beat for another minute.

3)Pour into a greased and floured round springform pan.

4)Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until skewer inserted in middle comes out clean. It's OK when top starts to crack. You'll flip it over when it's done. Don't overbake or cake will be dry.

5)Sprinkle with icing sugar and grated orange peel or mix some orange juice and icing sugar to make a glaze.

Simplee Snack : Zucchini Bites

Preparation Time : 10 minutes

Cooking Time : 15 minutes 

Made : 9 bites

This afternoon I have an appointment with the fiber optic cable guy and the installation takes so long, more than 4 hours. So instead of sitting there watching him, I planned to kill time with some baking, snack perhaps. Searching in my fridge for ingredients and guess what? A Zucchini! Lets cook something out of this plain vegetable.

Ingredients

1 cup zucchini, grated

1 large egg

1/4 medium onion, diced

1/4 cup reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

salt and pepper to taste

Dash of mixed dried herbs

cooking spray.        

Methods

1) Preheat oven to 300°.  Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.

2) Grate the zucchini into a clean dish.  Wring all of the excess water out of the zucchini. In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and season with salt, pepper and mixed herbs to taste.

3) Fill each muffin section to the top, pushing down on the filling with your spoon so it's nice and compacted so they don't fall apart when you take them out of the tin.

4) Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the tops are golden.

5) Use a rubber spatula around the edges of each bite to remove them from the muffin tin. Bon appetite!

How to clean raw prawn

There are many ways to clean prawns. And there is no right or wrong way of doing it. But I particularly like to maintain the tail and shell. 

 1) Rinse prawns with tap water.

2) Trim off the spear above its head.

3) Trim off the eyes.

3) Trim off its legs.

4) Clean body.

5) Trim off the pointy part at the bottom.

6) Lastly, cut along the back of the prawn's shell, remove the vein.

You are done..

Simplee Kiddy Meals : Creamy Spinach Millet

Preparation time : 5 min

Cooking time : 30 min

Holiday is around the corner, and kids are asking for something new for lunch. Oh well, mummy is definitely not in the mood of kneading and frying on a lazy Raya eve. What is easy and simple will be mummy's first option. (Giggles)

Ingredients:

1 cup millet

1 medium potato (shred)

1 cup chopped baby spinach 

3 cups water

50g dory fillet (cut small)

2 slices of cheese

Dash of parsley flakes

Salt to taste

Methods:

1) Mix millet, shredded potato & water, bring to boil. Keep stirring.

2) When content turn thick, add in cheese keep stirring till cheese melt. 

3) Add in parsley flakes, spinach and fillet, cook for another minute, add salt to taste, turn off flame.

4) Bon Appetite.

What is STIR FRYING?

what is STIR FRYING?

Stir frying is a pair of Chinese cooking techniques for preparing food in a wok: chǎo (炒) and bào (爆). The two techniques differ in their speed of execution, the amount of heat used, and the amount of tossing done to cook the food in the wok. 

(source from Wikipedia)