Cuisine Paradise Kitchen's Tips

BOSCH MCM 4100 Food Processor

2012-01-18T13:12:00.000+08:00

From my posts you would notice that I love to experiment with new Kitchen Gadget, tools, products and etc such as Happy Call Pan, Tupperware, MasterFood Spices. In this post I would be share with you my new toy which is this - BOSCH MCM4100 Food Processor. This food processor comes with multiple functions such as; juice blender, meat grinder, dough maker and other usage like making meringue, sorbet, mayonnaise and etc.

As you can see from the photo above, they also have a handy accessories drawer where you could keep those unused blades and slicing discs in order to prevent them from being misplaced.

In order to maintain good condition for the blender, do not process deep-frozen ingredients except ice cubes. And to attach/remove the blender always rotate the blender in a clockwise/anti-clockwise direction, and do not remove it by force.

Features of this food processor such as:-

~ 800W Motor
~ 2 Speed settings and pulse setting
~ Stainless steel chopping blade and plastic whisking disc
~ Plastic liquidiser attachment 1.25L
~ Plastic mixing bowl 500g
~ Stainless steel cutting disc inserts (thick and thin)
~ Stainless steel shredding disc inserts (coarse and fine)
~ Plastic carrier disc for inserts
~ Dough tool
~ Citrus press

The "Bowl" works well as a food processor, dough maker or whipping of egg whites and etc. It comes with a transparent bowl, lid, funnel and changeable blades and discs and slicing attachments.

These are some handy Slicing Attachments ranging from Coarse - Fine (left to right, shown above). The 1st and 2nd on the left can be used to slice cucumber, fries and carrots while the 3rd and 4th on the right can be use to grate apples, carrot, cheese and cabbages.

Above the Whipping disc, Carrier Disc for disc inserts, Citrus Press from left to right. All these would come in handy depending on what recipe you are working with. For me I find the Whipping disc is quite interesting and I would like to try using it to whip some egg whites/cream instead of my usual electric beater.

This food processor can also act as a Citrus Press for pressing the juice out of citrus fruits such as Oranges, Grapefruits, lemons and etc. In order to do it:-

1. Attach the bowl(arrow on bowl on dot on the appliance) and rotate as far as possible in clockwise direction.

2. Insert drive shaft into the bowl and attach the citrus press to the drive shaft and rotate in a clockwise direction. (The lug on the filter basket must be located fully in the slot in the bowl handle)

3. To extract the juice, set the rotary switch to low speed and press the fruit onto the pressing cone.

RECIPES USING BOSCH MCM 4100

ABC Detox Juice	Lemon Berry Tarts	Baked Lemon Cheesecake Upcoming Recipe

If you are interested to get one of this BOSCH MCM 4100 you could go to their “live” kitchen at Harvey Norman’s newly revamped Millenia Walk Flagship Store. (detail HERE). Indeed this machine is a great helper in modern kitchen.

Happy Call Double Sided Pressure Pan

2012-01-12T11:39:00.000+08:00

Recently there is a Happy Call Pan craze across most of the forum, facebook and recipes websites such as Munch Ministry where individual and members gets together to share their experience and recipes on using this "in-pan".

Basically Happy Call Pan works with a logic of a pressure cookers, patented silicon gasket and on-touch button magnetic locking systems which ensures cooking is hassle free, faster and healthier. With the "Normal Pan(red )" having 3 layers and new "Ocher Deeper Pan(brown)" having 5 layers of ceramic durable non-stick coating, it actually speed up the cooking process and produce healthier dishes with enhanced flavour too.

The photo above shows the New Happy Call Ocher Deeper Pan (measured 27.5cm x 24.5cm x 7.5cm) and it is handy for cooking fish, chicken, meat, stew, soup and etc. Below are some basic functions of Happy Call pan's numbered above:-

1. SILICON GASKET
These red patented silicon gasket can effectively seals pan to prevent greasy liquid or smoke from escaping during cooking. And it also acts to prevent leakages during flipping of the pan while cooking.

Note: Over the time, this silicon gasket might expand a little so you can just trim it off the excess and push back firmly onto the groove, but ensure it does not black the "steam vent".

2. STEAM VENT
This allow excess steam to escape, maintain optimal pressure and cooking conditions inside the pan and allow the meat to be evenly cooked.

3. OIL RECEIVER
It collects excess water or oil condensation which flow from "the upper pan" when the pan is opened.

4. GROOVED RIM
A grooved structure helps the pressure function of the pan by fitting the silicon gasket into the groove which seals and lock the pan.

5. STAINLESS STEEL HANDLE HOLDER
It connects the handles to the pan.

Each part of the handle comes with a magnetic button attached at the ends of the handle(refer to the photo above). With just "one-touch" the magnets it will lock both halves of the pan together tightly and sealed it before before any cooking or flipping.

To Lock - Push the two ends of the handles near and the magnetic buttons will snap closed with a distinct "click".

To Unlock - Simple insert you finger between the two ends of the handle and pry them apart and always open with both hands.

During cooking when the pan is sealed it cause the greasy oil and steam residues to collect on the inner part of the Upper Pan. So when the pan is opened all these residues will drip down onto the "tray" for easy and mess-free disposal.

Whereas the "steam vent" also acts as the drainage access for the oil and steam condensed and collected on the Upper Pan.

TO CLEAN AND MAINTENANCE
In order to maintain the pan in good conditions, once in a while, take out the silicon gasket and clean with a soft toothbrush in order to remove food residues. Or every 4 - 6 month, rub vinegar or lemon juice on the inner non-stick surface and warm it over low heat for a few minutes, rinse and wipe clean with a damp cloth. And remember NEVER use metal spatulas or cooking utensils that may damage the non-stick surface of the pan.

MY HAPPY CALL PAN RECIPES

Although there are quite a number of readers and friends asking me whether is it worth getting this Happy Call pan but for my view it always up to individual and their needs. Although this pan can do certain wonders but it also have negative area such as you won't be able to do stir-fry and get those "wok" smell like most of our wok do.

But in another way it does help to prepare some quick and easy healthy dishes such as pan-fry/grill fish and meat which reduce smokes and smells in the kitchen.

Grilled Teriyaki Saba	Bak Kwa(BBQ Pork)	Stir-fry Choy Sum

Baked Sweet Potato	Sizzling Tofu	Claypot Rice


Stuffed Mushrooms with Black Moss	Glutinous Rice Wine Chicken	Caramel Popcorn

UPCOMING RECIPES

Buttermilk Cereal Chicken	1 Pot Banana Muffins	Braised Bee Hoon with Pumpkin

Till then happy experimenting with the Happy Call pan if you do own one.

MasterFoods Herbs And Spices

2011-12-23T22:35:00.000+08:00

MasterFoods brand products use only the finest premium ingredients for every range of products and they are mainly available in supermarkets across Australia and New Zealand. In Singapore we do have a wide range of MasterFoods products which are easily found in local supermarkets such as NTUC and Cold Storage.

Above are 3 of my favourite MasterFoods range of seasonings which I could not find in Singapore. And thanks to my brother who recently went Sydney for holiday to bring back these for my pantry.

Portuguese Chicken Seasoning:-
Brings together the flavours of lemon and chillies to create traditional Portuguese Chicken (recipe HERE) at home and this sure come perfect during Christmas season.

Pri Pri Seasoning:-
A hot spice seasoning with a hint of lemon which is excellent on fish, prawns, shellfish or chicken. To in-cooperate them, sprinkle some on the meat before grill, pan fry or BBQ on medium heat. This spice is also good for rice dishes such as paella or spice risotto.

Thai Seasoning:-
I love this spice which can be use to brush with oil on chicken or beef kebabs before grill or barbecue. And for a quick dish, sprinkle some over prawns when stir-frying or use in a Thai noodle salad and curries.

Other than the above, I also have some other MasterFoods products in my pantry which comes in handy while preparing pasta, pizza and etc.

Italian Herbs:-
It consists different types of herbs such as Marjoram, Basil, Red Bell Peppers, Rosemary, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme in a bottle. This is great for adding to spaghetti bolognese, lasagne sauce and fresh tomato sauce.

Chilli Flakes:-
Chilli Flakes are the chopped, diced fruits which is a popular hot spice with bite. This can be added to meat sauces, all Mexican dishes using meat, beans or vegetables. I love to use it in salads or salad dressings as well as rice or pasta dishes.

Will update more on new Recipes using these wonderful herbs and spices. Stay tune.

Palm Sugar(Gula Melaka) Syrup

2011-11-28T10:33:00.000+08:00

Gula melaka or also known as Palm Sugar in English is made by first extracting the sap from the flower bud of a coconut tree. Several slits are cut into the bud and a pot is tied underneath the bud to collect the sap. After which the sap is boiled until thickens before pouring into bamboo tubes between 3-5 inches in length and left to solidify in order to form cylindrical cake blocks.

GULA MELAKA SYRUP

These homecook gula melaka syrup can be used as topping or sweetener for dessert such as Chendol, Chendol Agar Agar, Sago Gula Melaka, Bubur Terigu and etc. These cooked syrup can be stored in the fridge for a few weeks up to 3 months.

Ingredients:
200g Palm Sugar(Gula Melaka)
Knot of Fresh Pandan Leave
80ml of Water

Method:-
1. Bring Palm Sugar(Gula Melaka), pandan leaves and 80ml of water to boil.

2. Lower the heat and simmer till the palm sugar cubes melt and syrup slight thickened (about 10 minutes).

3. Remove pan from heat and sieve syrup into a sterilised glass jar and cool completely before storing in the fridge.

The Goodness of Kiwifruit

2011-11-10T11:45:00.002+08:00

In Singapore you can easily get a pack of these yummy ZESPRI Kiwifruit from any leading supermarkets or fruit stalls. And do you know ZESPRI Kiwifruit are the most "nutrient dense" of popular fruits that belong in the "Super Fruits" category. Each bite contains more essential nutrients than the other 27 most popular fruits.

GETTING THE BEST OUT OF KIWIFRUITS

ZESPRI Kiwifruit also contains more than 210% of the recommended daily intakes of Vitamin C which gives you 2 times more Vitamin C than an orange. Furthermore it is also a good source of folate which is essential for healthy development of the foetus in early pregnancy.

Remember to always avoid kiwis that are very soft, severely shriveled or have bruised, damp spots as these are usually inductors of damaged kiwis. Instead, select those that yield gently to pressure (hold the fruit between your thumb and forefinger to gently appear pressure) as these are normally the sweetest. And the easiest way to peel a kiwifruit is to cut it into half and scoop out the ripe fruit from the skin with a spoon.

There are also alternative methods to speed up the process of ripening and the easiest way is to leave them to ripen for up to a week at room temperature. Alternatively, you can speed it up by placing kiwis in a paper bag with an apple, banana or pear as the ethylene emitted from these fruits are able to do so.

SIMPLE KIWI SKIN FIRMER

Bursting with vitamin C and antioxidants, these kiwifruits can be used as a weekly mask to rejuvenates dull tired skin, leaving you with a beautiful natural glow. And for another variation you can also add olive oil instead of honey to the kiwifruit mixture. For your information this skin firmer mixture can be used on both face and body as it is extremely nourishing and besides kiwifruit seeds are also considered to be a natural defoliators too.

Mask recipe extracted from June 2008, Food & Travel Magazine.
(Preparation: 5 minutes)

Ingredients:
1 Ripe Green Kiwifruit (peeled)
1 Teaspoon Honey

Method:-
1. Mix the kiwifruit in a blender or mash with a fork, if it is soft.

2. Strain the excess juice and add honey to the mixture.

3. Apply it on the face for 10 - 15 minutes before washing it off thoroughly.

If you wish to try your hand on some Recipes using Kiwifruits, do click on the image shown below for more details.

Water-roux Method - 烫种法

2011-08-26T23:41:00.000+08:00

Tangzhong, or the water-roux method(烫种法) is the best method if you are looking for some way to retain the soft and fluffy texture for homemade bread which can stay fresh for up to five days. Thus by incorporating tangzhong into your bread it will give bring a soft and fluffy bread that has fine crumbs and springy texture.

For your information, the flour-to-water ratio for tangzhong is always 1 (bread flour) : 5 (water). For instance from the recipe shown below you can make a batch of approximately 150g tangzhong.

Ingredients: (able to make 2 loaf of bread with 350g bread flour)
25g Bread Flour
125ml Water(could be replaced by milk, juice or 50/50 water and milk)

>Method:-

1. Mix flour and water in a small saucepan until without any lumps.

2. Cook over medium low heat, stirring consistently with a egg whisk or wooden spoon to prevent the mixture from burning while cooking.

3. The mixture will thicken up (takes about less than 2 minutes) while cooking, so once you see “lines” appear in the mixture or it starts to form a dough. It is done.

4. Transfer the cooked dough into a clean bowl and cover with a cling wrap sticking onto the surface to prevent it from drying up.

5. Cool it completely before use. (I have tried using it while lukewarm and it works well too)

Do check up my latest recipe on Homemade Bread shown below.

Bread Flour And Instant Yeast

2011-08-12T16:24:00.001+08:00

I have tried using both "Red Man" and "Prima Flour" BREAD FLOUR which turns out equally good with price ranging from S$2.80 - S$3.00 depending on the supermarkets. Whereas for the INSTANT YEAST I have do a swap on my last two recipes from "Bake King" to "Saf instant"(comes in a box of 5 packets each weighing 11g) upon recommended by Sherie and a few baking friends.

BREAKDOWN OF TIME SPENT
FOR MAKING THE BREAD

I am sure some of you are just like me, whenever we scan through any bread related recipes we are always hesitate to try out the recipe due to the long proofing hours. But physically what it required is about only 15 - 20 minutes of hands-on such as preparation plus kneading of the dough(for those without bread machine at home) whereas the rest of the time taken is more for proofing of the dough. Below is the breakdown for your reference:-

~ Preparing Tangzhong/Water Roux: 3 minutes

~ Preparation plus Kneading: 15 minutes

~ 1st Proofing: 45 - 60 minutes or double it's original size (you can do other household chore while waiting)

~ Shaping: 5 - 7 minutes

~ 2nd Proofing: 45 - 60 minutes or double it's original size
(Check the dough after 45 minutes by pressing it lightly with a fingertip, it is ready when the dent springs back slowly. But if the dent stays as it is, the bread is overproofed.)

~ Adding Toppings/Baking Time: 20 - 30 minutes depending on the recipe.

Below are some Bread RECIPES:-

OR click HERE for more recipes.

3M Scotch Premium Kitchen Scissors

2011-08-04T09:54:00.000+08:00

Recently while sourcing for some kitchen utensils I saw these NEW 3M Scotch Kitchen Scissors at one of the FairPrice Xtra hypermarkets. And base on the description from the packaging it seemed that these scissors are made using high quality Stainless Steel and electro-polished blades to resist corrosion as well as for easily cleaned and thus reducing the risk of bacteria growth.

But as you can see the prices of these premium scissors are slightly higher compared to those that we often purchase which is perhaps less than S$8.00. So with such thought I decide to do a survey on facebook (read more HERE) and ask for suggestions and feedback from those who had bought or current using these scissors.

And so coincident, just a couple of weeks back I also received these two scissors as sample for selected household homemakers to try out these products. These Kitchen Scissors comes in two different designs and functions such as - detachable, shown on the left photo above (S$19.90 with GST) and non-detachable (S$15.90 with GST).

As you can see from the above photos, the Scotch Kitchen Scissors is ergonomically designed with a symmetrical shape for comfortable cutting and shearing compared to the rest of the scissors shown. Their soft and comfort handle make it great for those who has bigger palm as well as provide handy grips on the handle for both left and right handed.

For your information these 3M’s Scotch Kitchen Scissors’ used Japan-made JFE SUS420J2 Stainless Steel that is treated using 3M’s unique electro-polishing process for superior smoothness in comparison to generic stainless steel. The metal’s polished coat not only results in a higher tassle and increased hardness, but also enhances the material’s ability to resist corrosion.

From the above photo you can see the comparison result whereby one of the Scotch Kitchen Scissors is put to test together with another 3 different brands of kitchen scissors on 3 weeks daily kitchen chores experiments. To my surprised, the cutting blades for the Scotch Kitchen Scissors still remains new and shiny compared to the other three pairs with corrosion blades.

The micro-serration blades of these Scotch Kitchen Scissors also add an extra level of sharpness, so the device is strong enough to cut through meat and bones and yet delicate enough to snip fresh herbs and fruits. Furthermore, the detachable blades of the scissor also makes it easy cleaning and quick drying, thus allowing for longer-lasting hygiene and durability.

So I guess it is still quite worth to invest in a pair of durable kitchen scissors whereby it will served multi-purpose from cutting to snipping chores in the kitchen. Example like the photo shown above, you can easily use the Scissors to cut both raw and cooked poultry instead of the old method on using chopper and chopping board.

Fresh Pandan Juice

2011-06-17T16:08:00.001+08:00

Pandan or Screwpine is a type of plant that grows in tropical areas of Asia. This Pandan leaves have a sweet, unique flavor that is commonly used to enhance both desserts and savory dishes. The leaves are long and bright green, and when pounded or grind they will release a sweet taste and aroma that found in most desserts and drinks.

Below is a simple recipe on how to make your very own fresh Pandan Juice for making flavour dessert, rice and cake.

Ingredients: (makes 3 Tablespoons Juice)
10 - 12 Pandan Leaves
50ml Of Water

Method:-

1. Rinse and clean the pandan leaves, cut into 1cm size pieces and blend it together with 50ml of water.

2. Using the electric blender, pulse the pandan leave mixture for about 3 minutes till it form paste like shown in the photo above.

3. Strain the leaves mixture over a sieve to obtain the fresh Pandan Juice.

Alternatively:

*3. If you do not have a blender, use the stone pounder to pond the juice from the leaves without add the 50ml of water.

Asparagus

2011-06-08T11:20:00.002+08:00

Asparagus is high in vitamins B6 and C plus fiber, folate and glutathione as well as with anti-carcinogen and antioxidant. Although asparagus comes in three different colours such as: white, green or purple but the the green variety is the most common to be found.

Asparagus spears can be thick or thin but most important factor is to select those straight, firm, uniformly sized spears with closed tips. Since asparagus deteriorates rapidly try to select bundles that are refrigerated or on ice. And take note is it best to used it within two or three days of purchase.

You can eat asparagus with nothing more than a drizzle of good-quality olive oil or use them in different dishes like: in soups, salads, stir-fries, scrambled eggs, pasta and etc. Do check up my latest recipe on Caramel Olive Asparagus shown below.

Fermented Black Bean - 豆豉

2011-05-27T12:27:00.000+08:00

Douchi(黑豆豆豉)is a fermented black beans commonly used as a flavoring in most Chinese cuisines as well as an key ingredient to make black bean sauce. These fermented black beans are especially used to flavor fish or stir-fried vegetables such as Steamed Spare ribs with Fermented Black Beans(豉椒排骨)and Fermented Black Beans (豆豉鯪魚).

Some of the RECIPES featuring Fermented Black Bean:-

OR click HERE for more recipes.

Yacon - 冰山雪莲果

2011-05-26T11:03:00.002+08:00

Yacon(冰山雪莲果) is a sweet and crunchy vegetable that has a flavour similar to an apple. The actual vegetable is called a "tuber" which is a thick stem or root that grows underground which similar to a potato. Yacon grows in a variety of different colors including pink, orange, white or purple. In the United States, Yacon that is sold in markets is typically white compared to the orange type that we have in Singapore.(if you seen any purple colour Yacon do share a photo of it with me as I am curious on how it looks like)

According to some google read-up this vegetable is very high in fiber and low in calories which makes it a healthy and nutritious snack. Furthermore Yacon has also been known to improve digestion by promoting the growth of bacteria beneficial to human health in the intestine too.(more information HERE)

I have used this Yacon to make two different type of soup such as "Yacon And Lotus Roots Peanut Soup" and Yacon with Sweetcorn Pork Ribs Soup. Both these soup taste refreshing with a light and sweet fragrant from the Yacon.

Fried Shallot Oil - Microwave Version

2011-05-17T06:29:00.000+08:00

Shallot Flakes Oil is a common fragrance oil use is cooking or as an condiments impart a particular flavor to the dish or dessert which gives it a special touch to perfect the taste. You can always find the dried version of the prepacked crispy shallot(without the oil) from any local supermarkets or grocery stalls in the wet market.

To make this Condiments in a quick and simple without "perfumed" your whole kitchen with oil smell, you may want to try this microwave method which can be done in about 4 minutes depending on your microwave voltage.

Ingredients:
5 Red Shallots (小红葱头)
100ml of cooking oil
Pinch of Salt

Method:-
1. Removed the outer skin of the shallots and sliced it thinly.

2. Place the shallot and oil in a microwave safe bowl. Cook on HIGH heat for 3 - 4 minutes, pause every 1 minute and give it a quick stir till the mixture starts to appear slightly golden brown in colour.

3. Carefully remove the bowl from microwave, add in pinch of salt and stir well.

4. Set the mixture aside for another minute or two as it will continue to cook from the heat to make shallot slightly darker brown in colour.

STOVE METHOD:-

1. Removed the outer skin of the shallots and sliced it thinly.

2. Preheat a small saucepan or frying pan with cooking oil, add in sliced shallot and saute them on medium low heat (stirring on and off to prevent burning) till slightly golden in colour.

3. Remove the pan from heat, add in pinch of salt(this will make the flakes more crispy) and give it a quick stir.

4. Set aside to cool and later use.

Cupcake Pop Mold

2011-05-03T22:40:00.000+08:00

Ever since I saw and bought these cute cupcake pop molds it has being sitting in my cupboard got quite sometime until I recently took it out and try making some Assorted Cream Cheese Cake Pops(recipe HERE). I have always wanted to make these Cake Pops which is one of the latest trend among online bakers other than cupcakes and macarons.

What is Cake Pops? Cake Pops can be defined as little/mini cakes on a stick that is coated with chocolate/icing and decorated with all sort of sprinkles or toppings which made famous by Bakerella( read more on the link HERE).

These cute Cupcake Pop Mold can be purchased from "My Little Cupcake" site or "Shop N Bake" or you can refer to more details HERE.

Fresh Lily Bulbs (鲜百合)

2011-03-11T12:40:00.002+08:00

Lily bulbs taste slightly sweet and is slightly Cold in nature. It benefits the Lungs and Heart as well as nourishes the Lungs, stops cough and calms the nerves. It has certain effects on cough and helps with anxiety and insomnia. Lily Bulbs are rich in proteins, phosphorous and carbohydrates which is one of the good body tonifying and nerve calming Chinese medicine for those suffering from cough due to coldness and loose stools should not eat.

Fresh Lily bulbs are rich in glucose that promotes digestion and they are commonly used in cooking and desserts. You can purchase Fresh Lily Bulbs at most local supermarkets near the vegetable chiller section. Choose those with white and clean bulbs which can last for at least a week in the fridge. Price: S$2.20 - S$2.50 per packet

Some of the RECIPES featuring Lily Bulbs:-

OR click HERE for more recipes.

Ginkgo Nuts Vs Water Chestnuts

2011-03-08T12:16:00.002+08:00

Gingko Nuts ( Bai Guo - 白果) are mostly beneficial to our respiratory system including asthma, bronchitis, and coughs. And I often use them in cooking soups, desserts, or even in porridge for added flavours. But remember not to over consumed Gingko nuts are it might have some harmful effect on human body especial for younger kids.

Water chestnuts(马蹄) are small, rounded corms with a crispy white flesh that can be eaten raw or use as sweetening ingredients for dessert or soup. Besides they can also be ground into a flour form used for making water chestnut cake, which is common dessert found in most dim sum menu too.

Some of the RECIPES featuring these Ingredients:-

[New Bento Tools] Food Picks, Puncher, Cutter and Drawing Pen

2011-02-28T11:20:00.003+08:00

Latest pop flowers and music notes food picks which you can pick up from any Daiso outlets that is near your area. This will come in handy if you are going to prepare some music related bento theme.

This is one of our Cuisine Paradise Fan Page(detail HERE) Christmas Giveaway gift set which consists of to"Food Drawing Pen and assorted Food Picks". I am not sure of the usage of the food pen as I didn't get to try it yet, but those food picks are definitely a keeper.

Gift set 2 consists of "Knife for food decoration and Smiley Face Nori Punchers". This V-shaped food knife is great for carving small objects and patterns. Whereas these nori punchers can help to decorate those plain rice balls or bread with cute facial expressions even if u do not have these complete set shown HERE.

This 3-in-1 mini "circle and oval" shapes food cutter wil be a great tools for cutting out mini circles to form eyes , nose or even create Polka dot designs on bento even if you don't have all these fancy cutters shown HERE.

These colourful assorted Cocktail Umbrellas will sure to turn your drinks into a topical paradise with extra add-on message and design. You can also use these 2” cocktail pick to decorate your bento or add colours to your fruit trays and etc.

Bread Cutter and Mould

2011-02-24T22:14:00.002+08:00

These are my collection of Sandwich Sealer and Cutter which I bought it either online or at Daiso. These tools will come in handy if you are making some cute sandwiches for kids party to impress your little guests apart from the usual triangle shape sandwiches.

This is a New square sandwich sealer which I bought from Daiso to add on to our bread sealer/cutter collections. In order to cut a prefer shaped out from the sealer, you have to purhcase those bread which is slightly bigger than the usual one so that it will fixed well on the cutter. You can see an example on how I use this cutter to make a Bread Pockets Bento Set, HERE. [Update On: 18 April 2011]

I bought this Sandwich Sealer from CP @ bentomarket. But in order to use it correctly you have to find the right size of bread and you can't put too much filling between the two slices of bread or else you won't be able to seal it properly.

Got this new 4-in-1 Transportation Sandwich Cutter from Daiso too. It comes with two different design which is in blue(transports) and pink(animals). But Rey only prefers the Blue one, so we didn't get the pink one to add in our collection.

Can't resists to get this new design bread cutter from Daiso with tulip and heart shape included.

Found this 4-in-1 design Bread Cutter at Carrefour today. Furthermore it was on 10% discount so I got it at a much lower price.... :) (update:21.03.09)

How To Shred And Grate Orange Rind

2011-02-23T10:24:00.002+08:00

There mainly two major varieties of oranges such as Navels and Valencias. Navels are available from November through May, with peak supplies in January all the way to March. These oranges are big and easily spotted with the button formation opposite the stem end while compare to Valencia oranges that are small to medium sized.

If you like oranges I am sure you are aware of the Sunkist, Navels orange promotion that is available in most local supermarket where you can get big, juicy and sweet oranges at around S$3.25 for 5.

Sometime in certain recipes you might come across these words/phases appear beside the citrus fruits such as “rind of 1 lemon”, “grated rind”, “shred lemon/orange peel” or etc. And I have received a few comments asking on how to get grated rind and shreds peel so I think perhaps this little note might do some help. For those who is new in the kitchen, freshly grated zest is the coloured part of citrus fruit peel which adds extra fragrant and tangy taste to butter, cake, frosting, savory dishes or desserts. (Recipe of Orange Cinnamon Sorbet HERE)

The most common tool use for removing the zest from an orange or other citrus fruit is a Microplane grater(refer to the 2nd photo above on right) which comes in different sizes and design (click HERE for more samples) that is easy to use and produce fine result. But as for bigger shreds use as garnish, you can try a Vegetable Peeler/Shredder (refer to the 1st photo above on the left) to slice off thin strips. These tools come in handy and helps to take off the colored part of the peel easily without touching most of the white pith which is very bitter.

Lotus Seeds (莲子)

2011-02-19T15:29:00.001+08:00

Lotus Seeds(莲子)are actually nuts from the lotus plant that are commonly found in Asia. The typical lotus seed is small, round and slightly white in appearance that is usually sold in dried and pre-packaged. The most common use of the seed is in the form of a paste for making moon cakes and bun or sometime they are found as one of the ingredients in Asian dessert or soup.

It is believed that when using lotus seeds to cook soups, congee or dessert, it actually act as a cooling tonic that "clears heat" according to the Chinese Physician. being sweet and neutral, they have been known to tonify the spleen, reinforce the kidneys and nourish the blood too. But within the seed lies a "green sprout" that is quite bitter and it is usually removed when lotus seeds are use in sweet dessert.

For more usage of these Lotus Seeds, you can refer to the followig link HERE for more recipe ideas.

Mandarin Orange (柑/橘子)

2011-02-10T14:52:00.002+08:00

During Chinese New Year, “Mandarin Orange(柑) and “Tangerine(橘子)” are considered traditional symbols of abundance and good fortune. These fruits are frequently displayed as decoration or presented as gifts to friends and relatives. In traditional Chinese medicine the dried peel of the Mandarin Orange is also used in the regulation of “Chi” and treat abdominal distension, enhance digestion and etc.

If you like either the fragrant and taste of these Mandarin Orange, you can refer to the followig link HERE for more recipe ideas.

Leek (蒜)

2011-02-07T14:43:00.007+08:00

As you know Leeks belong to the same category as onion family where you will link to those thick stalked European leeks that are commonly found in supermarkets which have a mild sweet flavor that is suitable for making soup or pie. But as for Chinese leeks on the other hand they are smaller and thinner which resemble thick scallion that has strong flavor, which makes them a staple ingredient in most Chinese cooking.

Some of the Chinese also believe that by storing more LEEKS(蒜)at home it means there will have more money to COUNT(算) throughout the year as both have the same pronunciation in Mandarin. If you like leek, you can refer to the followig link HERE for more recipe ideas.

Assorted Mini Bento Food Cutters

2010-07-20T09:35:00.001+08:00

It has being so long since about a year ago from my last Bento making till now. Recently I saw these cute cutters available from the Daiso near my area and I went ahead buying a few sets of it :p So if you love to start off with some quick and simple bento for your kids, head down to the nearest Daiso around your area and some some cutters soon.

"Animals Set" allows you to create a simple bento with assorted cute animals such as panda, rabbit, birds and etc.

"Space Set" which i guess most of the boys will love this. You can even create a simple rocket with stars, moon and etc.

The "Garden Set" where you can make cute butterfly flying on flower beds using bread, ham and cheese with this set.

Assorted Transportation Flag Picks

2010-07-18T20:59:00.004+08:00

Grab a pack of this cute transportation flag picks from Daiso this afternoon. This might come handy when you prepared some snack for your kids to bring to school or use it as a decorative items on the bento.

Japanese Matcha Powder

2010-06-19T21:24:00.001+08:00

Matcha - 抹茶 refers to finely-milled Japanese green tea. Recent years it has also come to be used to flavour and dye foods such as mochi and soba noodles, green tea ice cream and a variety of Japanese confectionery too. Other than Japanese cuisine and pastry, matcha powder is also used as flavouring in many Western-style chocolates, candy, and desserts such as cakes, pastries, cookies, pudding and etc.

A few weeks back, I have made some lovely "Matcha Madeleines"(click Here for recipe) and "Matcha & Chestnut Chiffon Cake" (click Here for recipe) whereby I received some emails regarding on where to get the "Matcha Powder". Actually I have bought this Japanese Matcha powder from the NTUC located in Junction 8, at the Japanese section. This type of Matcha powder is slightly more expensive then the usual baking green tea powder that we used to purchase from Phoon Huat. A small can of 40g cost about S$6+ but I can guarantee you the end-products will be much more better then the usual green tea powder used.