Turkey Time!

Ahhh, Christmas...  this is usually when I panic at the thought of cooking, and then hacking the Christmas turkey to pieces that resemble gnawed pieces of meat.

It looks like I'm not the only one having Christmas entertaining nightmares of struggling to chop up the bird, as Tesco have very helpfully produced this video of to help with the high pressure situation of carving the turkey!

Oh, and is it just me, or did anyone else notice how sharp her knife seems to be? It cut through the bone with no trouble at all!




The website also has lots of turkey recipes to suit all budgets and tastes. My personal favourite is this roast turkey with sausage, chestnut, sage and lemon stuffing. Let the festivities begin!

Thank you Tesco!

Fried prawns with chinese wine, garlic and flavored salt

Ingredients

8 large prawns

1 tablespoon mince garlic
1 tablespoon extra mince garlic
1 red chili- sliced
Oil for frying
1 tablespoon chinese cooking oil
3/4 teaspoon flavored salt (instructions below)

Method

1. Deep fry 1 tps garlic till brown
2. Drain excess oil on paper towel/set aside
3. Dust corn flour on prawns
4. Deep fry the prawns till cook - set aside
5. Heat some oil, fry remaining garlic & chili till fragrant
6. Add wine, salt and prawns
7. Stir fry till dry and then add the fried garlic and mix

Instruction for Flavoured salt

1tsp 5 spice powder, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp salt

stir-fry on low heat for 10 mins (without oil)
 
Enjoy!!!!!

Aaron Craze Cooks Up Delicious Beef Recipes

Aaron Craze creates amazing beef and lamb dishes, all ready in minutes.




It's sooo simple and fast! Here's the recipe.

Ingredients - Serves 2

2 lean sirloins or rump steaks (marinate with some salt, pepper and oil)
1 tbs oil
1/2 red onions- peeles and thinly sliced
50g stilton cheese
2tps soft cream cheese
1tbsp semi-skimmed milk
1tbs English mustard

If you don't know who this guy is, Aaron Craze he came into the scene as Jamie Oliver's protégé on TV show 15. He's now an established chef and presenter in his own right, and brings his unique style to Meals in Minutes, a series of short recipes for beef and lamb, a carnivore's dream come true.

A vegetarian's nightmare, his main aim to inspire people to think of beef and lamb as tasty, easy meats to use in weekly meals. It was for this reason that he created the concept of 'Meals in Minutes' - delicious recipes that anyone can make in under half an hour at home after a hard day’s work.

Tips! How to style a cheeseboard !

All you need is a variety selection of cheese, fruits, nuts and some guide from the experts to create magic! Learn how!



Tesco Real Food show you how to prepare the perfect festive cheeseboard

A tasty cheeseboard is a must-have to finish off a wonderful Christmas meal. And there is a real art to making sure all the scrumptious cheese on display looks as good as possible. At Tesco Real Food we’re committed to making Christmas as easy as possible, so we’ve put together a simple ‘how-to’ film that gives you some handy tips to create a stunning cheeseboard

At Tesco Real Food you'll also find over 100 tried and tested Christmas recipes. There are turkey tips, all the trimmings, sauces and accompaniments, plus lots of delicious desserts and party food. You can even find a meal planner to help you plan the perfect festive menu.

The site is also packed with thousands of inspiring, delicious recipes to suit any occasion. Whether customers are looking for a quick midweek meal for the family or something for a special event, users are sure to find exactly what they're looking for. In addition, a range of step-by-step cooking tips and videos to help improve kitchen skills can be found, as well as healthy eating and cooking with kids sections. To make shopping even easier, every recipe has a ready-made shopping list that can be used to add all the ingredients to the shopping basket in just a few clicks.

"Coffee, chocolate, women… some things are just better rich...."

NESCAFÉ® DOLCE GUSTO® coffee machines may be small, but they stand head and shoulders above the competition. Delivering professional 15-bar pressure, our little wizards make delicious coffee shop quality drinks in a matter of seconds. And with a wide variety of roast & ground coffees and delicious hot chocolate drinks you'll wonder how you ever coped without it.

Check out this new video from Nescafe's Dolce Gusto - introducing and exciting ways to enjoy deliciously stylish coffee.



To find out more, check out http://www.dolce-gusto.co.uk/

PS: the NESCAFÉ® DOLCE GUSTO® coffee machines also come with a one year warranty from KRUPS®.

Assam Fish

Ingredients- To make chili paste

*Onions

*Dried Chilis

*Lemongrass (serai)

*Garlic

Blend ingredients till fine to make chili paste.

Other Ingredients:

1 pomfret (1/2 pound to 1 pound)

10 small okras

1 tomato (cut into wedges)

1 teaspoon of fish curry powder

5 tablespoons of cooking oil

1 tablespoon of palm sugar/sugar

Salt to taste

Tamarind Juice:

1 1/4 cup of water

Tamarind pulp (size of a small ping pong ball)

Method

1. Add oil and fry chili paste till cook. This may take a while. The chili paste must be really cooked to make it yummy :-)

2.Add the tamarind juice, tumeric powder and bring to boil.

3.Add the tomato wedges and okras and bring to boil.

4. Add fish , salt and sugar to taste.

ENJOY!!!

Fentimans Ginger Beer demonstration

Fentimans Ginger Beer demonstration


Fentimans demonstrate the effects of drinking their botanically brewed ginger beer, versus a normal, thin and weedy ginger beer.

Job Vacancy!! Green & Black's Taste Assistant

Oh my gosh............ chocolates!!! *saliva drooooling* "Its a tough job, and somebody got to do it?" What is he on about? Its the best job in the world! Not really good for the waistline though! I would work for free!



 
Green & Black's Taste Assistant


Green & Blacks are offering you the chance to start a new career tasting chocolate, developing new products and helping to approve everything they make.

The successful candidate will have exceptional taste, a knowledge of the food industry and, of course, a passion for chocolate.

Applications will close on the 14th December 2010. After this, Micah and the team will shortlist the individuals they believe to be the best candidates from the applications received to come to Berkeley Square, London for an interview. The individuals that make it through this interview stage will then be given a cookery- based challenge and a final chance to impress the Green & Black's team in January 2011.

Apply now at www.pieceofgreenandblacks.co.uk

Tilda's Exclusive Recipe for Chicken Curry

Tilda presents celebrity chef Jo Pratt demonstrating how to cook Chicken Curry



Ingredients:


Whole cumin seeds
mustard seeds
onion
root ginger
garlic
green chilli
chicken breast
tomato puree
green pepper
ground coriander
tumeric
cardamom pods
fresh coriander
lemon
Tilda Pure Basmati

Instructions
1. Toast cumin and mustard seeds till start to pop
2. Transfer and grind it till fine. Add, ground coriander, tummeric, cardamon pods and tomato puree and make it into a paste.
3. Add some oil, add chopped onions, ginger, chopped green chili and garlic and fry till fragrant
4. Add cut chicken and stri. Add some water and cover it. Let it simmer for about 20 mins.
5. Add green pepper and cook for a about 5 mins.
6. Lastly, add coriander. Give it a stir and its done.
7. Best served with basmati rice.

Enjoy!

'Jo Pratt Making Fish Cakes Using Tilda Lime and Coriander Steamed Basmati Rice

Tilda presents celebrity chef Jo Pratt cooking a very quick and simple recipe for fish cakes using Tilda Lime and Coriander Steamed Basmati Rice




Ingredients
Tilda legendary basmari rice - Lime & coriander
Fresh Coriander
1cm ginger
Spring onions
Red Chili
Thai green curry paste
Lightly beaten egg
Coconut
And some bread crumbs

Instructions

1. Put Tilda Basmati rice into a big bowl
2. Add chopped spring onions, grated ginger, red chili, white crab meat, lime, egg, coriander, coconut into the bowl.
3. Mix well and shape into fish cakes
4. Coat the fish cakes with bread crumbs
5. Heat oil and fry till brown.
6. Its done and enjoy!!

Curry Potato Chicken (mama's style)

Ingredients

500g chicken - mince
2-4 large potatoes - cut into small cubes
2 big onions - chopped finely
2-3 tablespoon curry powder (according to taste)
1 chicken stock cube
Some tamarine juice and salt to taste

Directions
1. Mince the chicken  and marinate with some pepper and soy sauce. Set aside
2. Heat oil and fry the chopped onions till fragrant.
3. Add mince chicken and fry till cook.
4. Add potatoes and continue frying.
5. Add curry powder and chicken stock cube
6. Continue stiring and add water (about 50 ml)
7. Lastly, add salt and tamarine juice to taste.
8. Put on low heat and let wait to potatoes are soft and cooked.

How to decorate fairy cakes

I just love cupcakes and their beautiful icing decorations! It makes me feel like a kid again!

Tesco Real Food give you 4 great techniques for perfect fairy cake icing


Tesco Real Food has everything you need to make the perfect cupcake. With fantastic recipes, great video tips and even the ability to get ingredients delivered to your door, there’s no need to go anywhere else. In this video, Sal Henley shows your four different ways to ice your fairy cakes (or cupcakes, if that’s what you’d prefer to call them!), so you’re all set to get creative with your creations.

The best buttermilk pancakes

I woke up this morning and I told hubby, "I wanna eat pancake". He thought I was going to make my thin pancake, but this is a different pancake I was talking about. It's the BEST Buttermilk Pancake. My mother-in-law made it once and I fell in love with it.

I was going to make it with normal milk, from the recipe but hubby said it has to be buttermilk. He asked can I wait until lunch for the pancake, so we can get the buttermilk, I said no. I really really wanted to eat this pancake for some reason, and no, I am not pregnant.

Anyway, here's the recipe;

1/2 cup (125ml) unsalted butter

2 cups (500ml) buttermilk or 2 cups (500ml) milk with 2 tbsp (30ml) lemon juice

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup (50 ml) sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

butter for cooking

1. Melt butter in microwave or stove, set aside to cool. Measure out butter milk let stand for 5 mins to thickened. In a large bowl, using a fork, stir flour with sugar,baking powder, baking soda and salt. Make a well in the centre

2. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs with buttermilk, cooled and melted butter and vanilla. Pour into well in flour mixture. Using a wooden spoon stir until just blend. The batter should be lumpy. For fluffy pancakes, mix as little as possible.

3. Lightly coat a large frying pan with butter and set over medium heat. Pour 1/3 cup of batter into pan. Pancake will be about 6 in. wide. Add 1 or 2 more pancakes. Gently press peaches/berries into batter.

4. Cook until bubbles form on the top of each pancake and edges begin to brown, 2-4 mins. Using a wide spatula flip and continue cooking until the bottoms of the pancakes become golden. Don't press of they will become tough.

5.Serve right away or place on a plate and keep it warm in a low temparature oven while cooking remaining pancakes. They are delicious drizzled with maple syrup.

Baked Salmon

This is a really easy and fast recipe. Try this out :-)

All you need is

*Salmon

*Mince Garlic

*Lemon

*Olive Oil

*Salt and pepper to taste

*Fresh parsley and basil - (you can use the bottled one if you dont have)

Directions - Rub salt and pepper to the salmon, add olive oil, squeeze some lime juice, add mince garlic, parsley and basil. Wrap in aluminium foil and bake for 35-45 minutes (190 degrees)

Its Done!! simple and delicious!

Sambal Chicken

Ingredients - To make chili paste (same as assam fish)

*Onions

*Dried chilis

*Lemongrass (serai)

*Garlic



Blend all ingredients until fine.

Other Ingredients

*500 g chicken (cut in cubes)

* Lemongrass

* lime leaves

* Salt, sugar and some tamarind juice.

.

Method

1. Add some oil and fry cut onions till fragrant.
2. Add the blended chili paste and continue frying till cooked.
3. Add salt, 1 stick of lemongrass, lime leaves, salt, sugar and tamarind juice to taste.
4. Lastly, add chicken and continue frying till cooked.

Baked Sweet Potatoes and Pumpkin

This is one of my all time favorite dish! Its so simple to prepare and its YUMMY! Whenever I'm feeling lazy or just got out from the shower and didn't want to make my hair stink, this dish is just awesome!

All you need is...

*Sweet potatoes - cut in cubes

*Butternut Pumpkin - cut in cubes

*Garlic

*Olive Oil

*Salt and Pepper

You can use carrots and potatoes as well!

Cut pumpkin and sweet potatoes into cubes and put in the oven dish.

Then add some olive oil - a little bit will do. Add crushed garlics, salt and pepper!

Bake at 180 degrees for about 35-50 minutes till soft. And its done!

I'm waiting for my baked pumpkin and sweet potatoes :-) Its still in the oven!

Famous Amos Secret Recipe

I was browsing through the Internet for recipes and I came across this blog!

http://ampin.wordpress.com/2006/10/15/famous-amos-secret-recipes-cookie/

Someone apparently got so mad that Famous Amos charged her RM250 for the recipe because the waitress said "two-fifty". She thought it was only RM100. Famous Amos won't give her money back and its payback time!! Enjoy the recipe! its FREE!!!

Recipe may be halved:

2 cups butter
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar
5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal &
blend in blender
to a fine powder)
24 oz. chocolate chips
1 tsp. salt
18 oz. Cadbury bar (grated)
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)
2 tsp. vanilla

cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and
vanilla; mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt,
baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips,
Cadbury bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place
two inches apart on a cookie sheet.. bake for 10
minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 122 cookies..

Have fun..!!

Hey, Pesto?

Pesto Chicken Pasta is one of my favourite pasta. You can use Spaghetti or penne, any pasta it will taste as good.

Make this pesto when fresh basil is plentiful and affordable. Be sure to plant lots of basil in your garden; pesto freezes well.

You'll need
2 cups (packed) fresh basil leaves
3 cloves garlic
3 tbs pine nuts/ walnuts, toasted
1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste

1.In blender or food pocessor, blend together basil,garlic,pine nuts and enouhg oil to make mixture smooth.
2.Transfer to bowl; stir in Parmesan.
3.Add Salt & pepper to taste. If too thick, add 1-2 tsp hot water or a bit more oil.
4.Store in refrigerator for up to one week, or in freezer.
I freeze the pesto in ice cube trays and then transfer to plastic bag.

You can get a cube out whenever you want to cook it. Just simply mix it with pasta, stir fried chicken breast (in a different pan and then add them together). You can mix in veges such as peas, courgette/zucchini, broccoli or asparagus. It's so simple and cook whenever you want.. it stores in my freezer for a year and it's still good!

Sri Lanka Briyani Rice

Chamelia makes the best briyani rice ever! She is from Sri Lanka and her briyani rice is HEAVEN! She normally makes ALOT and we will have to eat briyani rice for a week! Today she made for us again and I was helping her with the chopping and cooking :-)

Ingredients

To Make the rice

*Briyani rice (she said to use the rice from Sri Lanka of course)

*1 tbs of turmeric powder

* Salt

* Pandan leaf

For the briyani sauce

* 1 whole chicken

* 2-4 potatoes

* 2-3 tomatoes

* 2-4 Chopped onions

* Garlics (10 or more), sliced

* Ginger (2-3 cm), sliced

* Fresh Coriander (chopped)

* 1 tsp chili powder

* 1 tbs briyani mix

* 2 tsp coriander powder

* 1 cube chicken stock

* Some cardomom, cloves and cinnamon sticks

* Salt to taste

Methods

1. Marinate the chicken with vinegar, salt and chili powder the night before or at least 2 hours

2. Add some oil and fry until super crispy and set aside.

3. With the same oil, fry potatoes till brown and also the garlic and ginger. Set aside

4. Add some oil and fry the onions.

5. Then make a hole in the middle of the wok and add the chopped tomatoes.


6. Then add the spices - cardomom, cloves and cinnamon sticks

7. Add curry leaves and chopped coriander

8. Next add the Briyani Mix ,hicken stock, chili powder, coriander powder and some salt to taste.

9. Add the fried chicken into the mix.

10. Add the potatoes and fried garlic and ginger and mix.

For the rice

Cook rice the usual way u cook. Chamelia cooked it in the pot because she is making a huge portion and it will not fit in the rice cooker :-P. She add turmeric powder, pandan leaf and some salt.

When both rice and the briyani sauce is cooked, Just mix them together and yummy yum yum!

Enjoy!!

Banana Bread

This banana bread is so simple to make and it's sooo good...

You'll need these ingredients;

3 Ripe bananas

6 Tbs melted butter

1 tsp vanilla

2 large eggs

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Optional; 1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup chocolate chip

1/4 cup chopped walnut

Just simply mix all the ingredients together shown as in picture above.

Pour them on a baking tray. Bake in preheated oven for 52-55 mins at 350 F

And put it on wire rack to cool...

I love to eat it warm, where the crust is still crispy and the inside is still soft.. usually gone in 2 days!

Jon & Kate plus 8 - Pancake Recipe

Henry's Pancake

Pancake Recipe : Kate's Measurements x 3

* 1 1/2 cup flour , 4 1/2 cups

* 2 tsp baking powder , 6 tsp

* 3/4 tsp salt, 2 1/4 tsp

* 2 tbsp oil, 6 tbsp

* 1 1/2 cup milk (add more if needed), 5 cups

* 1 egg , 3 eggs

Directions:

Sift and mix all dry ingredients together. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients. Set aside. Mix all wet ingredients together. Pour wet ingredients into the dry and mix together. Using a 1/4 cup or 1/3 measuring cup, pour batter into a non-stick skillet or griddle.

Best served with maple syrup, fruits and nutella!

Ayam Masak Merah Pedas

Today I decided to satisfy my cravings for Nasi Totamo and Ayam Masak Merah. I first tasted this dish in Convent Hari Canteen last time, students and teachers will cook something and sell to raise money for the school.. and it has been one of my favorite dish ever since .... This is my first time cooking this dish *drum rolls* yeeeehhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! Not bad for my first attempt eh?

Nasi Tomato

Ayam Masak Merah Pedas

Okies.. enough of the food tease :-P haha! Here are the recipe :-)

You will need..

* Chicken

* Tumeric Powder , 2tsp

* Onions

* Tomatoes , 2-3

* Tomato Puree and Ketchup

* Dark Soy Sauce

* Water (depending on the thickness you want)

* sugar and salt

To make the chili paste

* Shallots (around 10) or just big red onions

* Ginger 3-4 cm

* Dry chilies, 5-6 (depending how spicy u want it to be)

* Fresh red chilies 3-4

* Garlic (maybe 8-10)

Directions

1. Marinate the chicken with turmeric and salt (leave it for 20-30 mins) then fry till its slightly browned and cooked. Set aside.

2. Blend the ingredients to make chili paste then fry the paste till it is cooked. (about 15-20 mins)

3. Next. Add onions ( cut into rings) and chopped tomatoes. Add add water and let it simmer.

4. Season it with tomato puree, tomato ketchup, dark soy sauce, sugar and salt till you get the taste u want!

5. Add chicken and let it simmer and boil till its fully cooked.

6. Lastly, add frozen vegetables and its ready to eat!

I'll provide the recipe for nasi tomato next time.. I'm hungryyyy!!! Enjoy!!

Healthy Banana Crepe (Thin sPANkCAKE)

Hubby used to wake me up on the weekend just to make him these. I used to just made plain ones and serve it with maple syrup but once the banana pancake is introduced, he doesn't want to go back to the plain old ones. It's so simple and healthy food for breakfast, and normally everybody loves pancakes (especially these). You can serve it with maple syrup, honey or chocolate topping, anything you desire...and some fruits and berries too.

The ingredients;

2 or 3 eggs (depending the size of the eggs)
1 cup flour
1 tbs milk
Water
1 banana (optional)
butter/margarine

Method;
1.Simply beat the eggs together, mix in flour bit by bit.. and add milk.
2.Add water a little bit each time, just make sure it's not too runny or too thick
3.Heat pan, make sure it's hot, put a little bit of magarine/ butter into the pan.
4.Add the mixture into the hot pan
5.Swirl it around to distribute it evenly... turn down the heat to medium
6.Add bananas or any other fruits you like in the middle.
7.Flip over when it's brown.
8.You can roll it up and cut into 3 pieces like what I do so every pieces will have bananas in it.

Breaktfast is ready!

Spaghetti for Dinner

I ran out of rice and had to cook something for dinner. Thinking to myself what would be so easy and fast to cook for dinner.. Spaghetti!! I've been cooking this for years now and still loving it!



Ingredients

* 250g chicken/ beef
* 1 big onions
* Garlic
* 2 tomatoes
* 1 bottle of spaghetti sauce mix - i like using the ones with loads of mushroom in it :-)

Chopped tomatoes, garlic and onions

Mince chicken till fine . Marinate with ground pepper and some soy sauce.


Methods

1. Heat oil and fry garlic and onions till brown

2. Add mince chicken/ beef and break up any lumps. Keep frying till chicken is almost cooked.

3. Add spaghetti sauce mix and tomatoes. Stir well. Bring to boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.

4.Lastly, add seasoning- salt, sugar, pepper, Italian spices to taste

Mix sauce with pasta, serve hot. Best served with loads of cheese on top!

Bon Appetit!!