Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts

Oct 20, 2011

Pumpkin Fun


Autumn has arrived the harvest time of year has just begun. Followed by boxes and boxes of apples, it's time to have fun with all the fresh pumpkins and squash!



There are so many ways to be creative with this beautiful colour, hard shell, and full of flavour veggies.
Here are some past recipes I tried to share with all of you.
Have fun curving, cooking, baking with your pumpkins!









Rissotto in Pumpkin dish casserole

















Pumpkin Pie: Recipe














Double layer Pumpkin Cheesecake: Recipe









and the best I've tried this year... Pumpkin crème brûlée!!! (recipe)
It was a big hit on the Thanksgiving night this year, but unfortunately... I forgot to take a picture! But it's so good that I will soon make it another time so the pictures will be posted soon! Keep exploring!

Time to Paella!!



My first time to try out Paella because the difficulty on ingredients search.
One of the most important magic spice for Paella is Saffron. I searched entire grocery store and got lucky to meet the spice vendor who was just displayed the newly ordered spices. So I ordered Spanish Saffron from him but I should've asked the price first really. It's well known as the world's most expensive spice regarding the price per weight unit. A little bit of Saffron can cost 7-10 CAD. Although you may find the non-Spanish ones in Asian market or in a lot of Fusion recipes, they just use more turmeric instead.

The 2nd task is to find the right rice for it. Since I NEVER saw it in the grocery store, plus as a proud big rice-eater for over 30 years, I don't believe I need to order the special 'Paella' rice online to make it right.

Therefore, after viewing several Paella recipes online, I decide to give this a try with creativities and guts to substitute lots ingredients and alert the cooking time by 'sense'... um...must be a rice-eater thing ;)


I will have to make it again some time before posting a recipe but here are some pictures and reference website to share first in case some of you have been waiting for a homemade Paella for ages. :)
Enjoy~


Recipes online for reference



Feb 17, 2011

元宵


今天元宵節,晚餐當然要是中式,還要來個飯後甜點-花生湯圓~~ ^^幸福滿分...
除了網路新發現的食譜味噌燒肉,還做了炸豆腐,配上媽媽教的沾醬,和蠔油青江菜,整桌滿滿的臺灣味呢.. (因為都有加糖... 哈哈)
p.s. 肚子太餓來不及照相 >_< 如果我妹這時候還在就好了... 呵...

照片、食譜出自楊桃文化 他們網站有很多值得參考的小食譜,可以用食材搜尋很實用喔~ ^^

【材  料】
五花肉片200公克
洋蔥1/4個
熟芝麻1茶匙
萵苣葉10片
蒜泥1/2茶匙
【調 味 料】
味噌1大匙
2茶匙
米酒2茶匙
2大匙

【做  法】
1.洋蔥切絲,備用。
2.將調味料混合均勻,再加入蒜泥拌勻,即為味噌醃醬,備用。
3.將五花肉片加入作法2的味噌醃醬內拌勻,醃漬約3分鐘。
4.熱鍋,加入3大匙沙拉油,放入作法3的肉片以半煎炒方式煎約3分鐘,再加入作法1的洋蔥絲炒約2分鐘炒勻,盛盤後撒上熟芝麻即可,食用時可用萵苣葉包裹肉片搭配食用。

Dec 20, 2010

Menu this week

Saturday
Spicy Avocado Chicken Casserole

Sunday
Pepperoni pizza

Monday
Beef stew

Tuesday
Lasagna (Kirk night)

Wednesday
Curry fried rice

Thursday
Pizza or Won-ton noodles

Friday
Christmas Eve!!!

Dec 12, 2010

Menu this week


Sunday
lunch
Sweet Pork buns + Sticky rice pork balls + 滷菜 + 叉燒 + Puerh tea

dinner
Garlic butter sauce Sea scallop + Asparagus Risotto + Avocado Salad
White wine
Apple crisp + ice cream

Monday
Day time: wonton making
Thai green curry chicken + Rice

Tuesday
Day time: bread
Steaks + Salad + mash potato or garlic bread

Wednesday
Curry wonton udon

Thursday
Chicken wings + Tomato basil Pizza
Beer

Friday
Italian sausage, Chinese broccoli and pasta


Nov 27, 2010

Menu next week

So... my sister is her!! She arrived last night and we chatted till 2am until we can't keep our eyes open anymore.
Sophia will be here for 6 weeks. In the meantime, I will have another person to make supper, lunch, breakfast and desserts for...
Awesome!!
Now I have chance to try more new recipes!! Can't wait!

Menu next week:
Monday
Cuban chicken
(This is cuz we know it is so good and I want to impressive my sister with it ;))

Tuesday
Pineapple chicken thigh
(Always wanted to try, especially when I got a fresh pineapple two days ago)

Wednesday
Beef Lasagne
(The cottage cheese MUST be used!)

Thursday
Off to Toronto
Yeah Yeah! The menu of Toronto will be....
*Catch up with old friends
*Fetish party with girls and gay
*Restaurants!
*Good meals and good chats!
*Opera or NOT...

Nov 23, 2010

Menu this week

Monday
Won-ton curry Udou soup + 炒高麗菜 (fried cabbage)

Tuesday
Lemon Butter sauce with white fish
Baked asparagus+ red/green peppers
Rosemary and mozzarella potatoes

Wednesday
Spaghetti

Thursday
Chicken Florentine Rice Casserole from Allrecipe.com

Friday
Photography class

Saturday
Dinner with family

Sunday
Terry's party


Nov 16, 2010

Menu this week

Monday
Red wine Mushroom Risotto + Chicken + Parmesan Asparagus
Cranberry Green tea

Tuesday
4-year aged cheddar + blueberries/Raspberries/Blackberries + SHIRAZ red wine
Potato Leeks soup + Belgian Bread

Wednesday
Lunch in Montreal!
Steve's bday~

Thursday
Moroccan Tagine + Bread or Rice

Friday
Dim sum or afternoon tea
Photography class

Saturday
Dinner with friends

Sunday
Dinner with family



Nov 8, 2010

Menu this week

Monday
Dark Beer Beef Stew + Steamed Broccoli/Cauliflower + Garlic Butter Bread

Tuesday
Kirk cooking night (Spaghetti)
Dessert: Chocolate cheesecake + Espresso/ Cappuccino

Wednesday
Spicy Cuban Mojo Chicken with Mango-Avocado Salsa

Thursday
Jing-Jiang Pork(京醬肉絲) + Lotus Shrimp Roll (生菜蝦鬆) + Rice

Friday
...(Photography class)
Starting to prepare for the dim sum dishes...

Weekend Special~
Lunch (Chinese)
Dim-Sum:
Pearl Rice Ball (珍珠丸子)
Sweet Pork Bun (叉燒包)
Won Ton Soup (餛飩湯)

Dinner (Italian)
Prosciutto & Porteenie mushroom pizza
Wine from Italy: MASI Modello delle venezie

Looks like we are having a colourful international meal week!! :D

Menu this week

最近一整個的有點懶散...雖然飯還是每天要吃的,可煮完就懶得照相了...
來報告一下上禮拜的菜單,現在正在計畫這週的,稍後再update這週的吧~

Menu 'last' week:

Monday
Chorizo + 芥藍菜(Chinese broccoli) Penn
This time I got 'real' Chinese broccoli from T&T and 'real' Chorizo from IGA extra and I added less olive oil but some chilli powder and red pepper to brighten the color. The result turned out well and both Kirk and I loved it!

Tuesday
Salmon + Veggie + Potatoes

Wednesday
Chicken casserole + Pumpkin soup + Homemade artisan bread

Thursday
Beef Stew + Rice

Friday
Green Curry Chicken + Rice for lunch

Saturday
Homemade Pizza (tomato,basil,mushroom) + Baked chicken wings

Sunday
Grilled chicken with pesto bow tie pasta casserole (Lulu recipe)
Apple crisp plus woo-long tea for dessert with movie 'Julie & Julia'

Oct 26, 2010

Menu this week


Mon. (Chinese)
Steam dumpling + Fried Woo Dong + Bok Choy

Tue. (Italian)
Spagetti + Basil Tomato Pizza

Wed. (French..?)
Pumpkin Squash soup + Homemade Bread + Mushroom risotto + Asparagus
& Wine


Thurs. (Thai)
Green Curry Chicken + Da Pao Beef + Rice





Fri. (Italian)
Chinese broccoli & Chorizo Penn

Sat.
Steaks + Baked Veggies + Broccoli

Oct 6, 2010

Dinner for two tonight


Mushroom risotto + Grill Salmon + Baked Vegetables

It's a sunny Fall Tuesday.

My plan is to draft the menu and grocery list for this week. And bike 40mins to Chapters and browse a book I like to buy- On Food & Cooking: the Science and Lore of the Kitchen. I noticed although my job had absolutely nothing to do with Food Science, my major in university, I'm still interested in the science part about cooking. After that, I can bike back home and maybe take some pictures on the way.
However, shortly after I made plan for this week menu, Kirk called and suggested to see 'the Social Network' tonight.
With the movie plan jumped in, this leisure plan suddenly became a mission to complete in limited time. (the mood is totally different)

With that rush, I manage to get the dinner done within a hour but I think if risotto is one of the dish that better not prepare in rush. If there's limited time, maybe switch the risotto to Uncle Ben to make things easier.

Mushroom Risotto
adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cup chicken broth
300g Mushroom, thinly sliced(suggested half portobello kind of mushroom and half white mushroom)
1 tbs olive oil
1/2 tbs onions or shallots
1/2 Arborio rice
1/3-1/2 cup dry white wine (I like strong wine flavour)
2 tbs finely chopped parsley & rosemary
1 tbs butter or margarine
1.5 tbs freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt & pepper for taste

Steps:
Total use- 3 sauce pan
No.1 pan(pot): Heat chicken broth to boil then turn the heat down to remain it hot
No.2 small pan: Add 1/2 tbs Olive oil in over medium high heat. Stir in mushroom till it's soft. Keep aside.
No.3 large pan: Add 1/2 tbs Olive oil in medium heat, fry onions for 1-2mins then add rice, let the rice coated with oil for about 3mins. Through in 1tbs of rosemary & parsley in.
Turn down the heat to simmer heat, add white wine (I added red wine once and it gave the risotto a light purple colour to go well with the pumpkin shell). **If the pot is too hot, the wine will disappear right away. So must turn the heat down before adding the wine.
Let it simmer till the wine is all absorbed by the rice, add 1/2 cup of chicken broth, stir constantly. Wait till the rice absorb the broth, add another 1/2 cup chicken broth a time. Separate to about 4-5 times by adding the broth. It takes about 25-30mins. Taste the rice while all the broth is done. If it's still hard, get more chicken broth to add in, it should not take more than 1 cup. If you need more, maybe means you turned the heat too high.
Once the rice is soft, turn off the heat, add the butter, rest herbs, parmesan cheese. Stir evenly and close pan cover let it set for 2mins before serving.




Oct 5, 2010

Menu this week


Mon.
Homemade bread + Chicken & Vegetable chowder
Lunch: Chicken sandwiches


Tue.
Risotto+ Grill salmon+Baked Vegetables (Green/Red peppers)



Wed.
Bake chicken legs with potatoes, tomatoes, chili, garlic and basil + Steam vegetables (broccoli)

Thurs.
Ma-Po To Fu + Eggplant dish + Asian rice

Fri.
Early dinner: Chorizo & Chinese Broccoli Penn + Cesar Salad
Dessert after photography class: Cream Brulee or Apple crisp

Baking this week:
Artisen bread
Banana bread
Pumpkin cheesecake
Cream Brulee or Apple crisp

Sep 30, 2010

Menu this week

Mon.
Curry Beef Stew + Rice +Broccoli

Tue.
Spagetti

Wed.
Seafood chowder + Homemade Bread + wonton appetizer

Thurs.
Mushroom Risotto + Baked vegetables

Fri.
Won-ton wu dong noodle soup

Sat.
Homemade pizza (tomato, pepperoni, peppers, ground beef, mushroom)

Sun.
Roast chicken (IGA)+Uncle Ben rice+brocoli and carrots



Sep 29, 2010

WonTon妙用

餛飩皮除了包餛飩外,在國外的食譜上,常看到用餛飩皮做的開胃菜,真正試了一次之後,發現味道也很棒! 像無鹽的玉米脆片一樣,讓人想一口接一口~ 實在是有噱頭又簡單、易活用的一個好主意!

其作法相當簡單,將餛飩皮自然卷起鋪在迷你muffin烤盤裡頭,進預熱350F的烤箱烤7-8mins成形,直到皮脆且色呈金黃。
鋪的時候,就只要注意底部是平的,這樣成形後,小餛飩cup才能站立在盤子上。
裡頭的填料可以有很多選擇,自己發揮。但最好是有一點濕度的餡,好中和餛飩皮烤過後的乾脆口感。 所以如果放起司,最好選擇濕度較高的Feta cheese, goat cheese... 又或者,可以善用酸奶或plain優格,這種不會增加味道卻可以中和口感的食材。例如,煙燻鮭魚片+酸奶再加一小株新鮮dill配色,又或者可以將酪梨壓成泥,加鹽和胡椒調味,放上一小片番茄和一小塊洋蔥(類似墨西哥salsa的配料)… 但是要注意不要濕到會滴汁,不然才放一會兒餛飩皮底部就軟了,失去口感;外加一口咬下去,滴滴答答的也不方便…除此之外,留意一下配料的顏色搭配即可。

只要注意這幾個小細節就可以輕鬆做出一道簡單、美味又美觀的開胃菜;派對上、朋友小聚時,大家一手飲料,一手可直接從盤子上拿取的小食囉!

*右圖中,我是用Homemade Hummus 加上 chickpeas 跟剖半的小番茄和一小撮新鮮parsley,味道也很不錯喔! :)

Easy Homemade Bread

Our dinner tonight was homemade bread plus seafood chowder and wonton appetizer.

Be honest, I am not a big fan of bread. They are hardly to be my love unless they are finely fresh baked. The best bread I've ever had was from a German bakery in ZhuHai, China. The bread smells delicious and the crust outside is hard and crisp but inside is soft and chewy.
Last week I found this recipe called No-knead Bread from New York Times 4 years ago.
(What were I doing 4 years ago... umm... working like a dog in ShenZhen China and had a kitchen that I barely walked in, not even mention about baking since there's no oven in a Chinese kitchen...)

Anyways, even I am not a big fan of bread, the picture just looks too good to not try and the steps seem fairly simple and easy. Plus I happened to have a cast-iron pot so... Why not give it a try?!

Therefore, I went into the kitchen to make a dough in 5 mins then set it on the counter till the next afternoon (19hrs). Then I followed the steps to let it set on the counter for another 15mins, and then 2 hrs. Preheat the oven & dutch pot to 500 degree(later I found out it says 450F in the recipe and 500F in the video, so maybe that's why my bread got burned a bit) 30mins before the ferment is done, then throw the dough in the pot, cover with lid to bake for 30mins then remove the lid for another 15-30mins.
And here we go... You take it out from the pot and rest it on rack to cool down. Easy, simple and it tastes really good, almost as good as the German bakery bread but not yet.
The bottom is a bit burned and I think the crust is a bit hard. The inside is chewy but not to dry or moist, it's just perfect! Perhaps next time, I will preheat the oven for 30mins but the pot only for 15mins. Besides that, I baked it with lid on a bit longer than 30mins, shouldn't have done that.
I certainly enjoy the fun of tasting and the satisfaction! It's definitely worthy to try!

Sep 22, 2010

Moon Festival Special

自製蛋黃酥

從來沒有想到有這麼一天...我竟然會閒到自己做蛋黃酥...
中秋節,既然沒有家人在身邊可以團聚,那就是和朋友相聚最好的理由和藉口啦~
昨天在家裡grill了些chicken kebab,下午揉麵團桿皮包餡烤了22個蛋黃酥...晚上和一個台灣朋友和她老公一起品嚐... :)
今天又和幾個加拿大朋友到中國餐館小聚,裡頭剛好遇到另一大家子過中秋,熱鬧到不行...
今晚老天爺還特別放晴,從餐館出來就看到頭上的滿月~
總算,中秋節圓滿結束... 該是我來分享蛋黃酥製作過程的時候了...(痛苦的回憶 >_<)

首先是材料,除了油、麵粉、蛋黃、水、鹽、米酒外,最重要的就是豆沙餡、鹹蛋黃和黑芝麻。向來沒研究過鹹蛋黃怎麼來的我,很蠢的到超市問說,"你們有賣鹹蛋黃嗎?" 機車店員一看就知道我是阿傻,什麼都不懂,他說"沒有,但是我們有鹹鴨蛋" 我想"沒關係,那我可以把蛋白剝掉拿來煮稀飯"...誰知道,我打碎第一個蛋,蛋白留了滿桌滿地... 0_0~'原來阿嬤早上配稀飯的鹹鴨蛋是煮過的呀...',我恍然大悟,忍著噁心的情緒(味道蠻腥的),拿出稍呈固狀的生蛋黃,去掉上面的蛋白,放上烤盤... 噴上米酒入烤箱(350F/180C)烤10mins,烤後放涼切半備用... (如果真要我再做一次,我想這個差事會叫哈你完成後再去上班)
接下來就是最辛苦的油皮和油酥製作了...
油皮:鹽水+中筋麵粉+油......................油酥:低筋麵粉+油

醒好麵團後,開始餅皮製作: 油皮包油酥,桿平捲起兩次...重複22次...=_=


將餅皮壓扁,包入豆沙和鹹蛋黃,收起開口捏緊朝下放在烤盤上,表面刷上蛋黃液


灑上黑芝麻,進烤箱(350F/180C)烤35分鐘... Done!

這個'Done!' 等了我近四小時,手酸腳酸,不過吃到剛烤完的蛋黃酥,好感動呀~ Q_Q
超愛蛋黃酥甜甜鹹鹹的味道和表面酥酥的口感的! 蛋黃酥真的是我月餅裡的最愛呀~
因為我不是油、鹽、糖(糖果巧克力除外)的愛好者,所以成品不甜膩也還好不會太油或乾(是奇蹟呀~),哈你說第一次吃月餅會想再吃第二個(他說月餅這種東西他只能接受一年一個),我特還地做了gift pack 分給好友和鄰居,不過說實在,Mooncake這東西真的不是西方人的菜,加上製作過程這麼麻煩,我想...以後真想吃還是用買的好了... :D

p.s.其實蛋黃酥對會烹飪的人來說,應該算是月餅裡面最簡單做的了... 我參考很厲害的人寫的很清楚的食譜... 有興趣的話可參考...

最後,分享一下我今晚的應景照片... :)

Sep 20, 2010

初秋的甜點- Apple Crisp


轉眼九月將盡...
最近一首Green Day的歌常在我腦海中揮之不去
"Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends~ "
看到一兩片楓紅已漸不稀奇,天氣轉涼了,人們也換上了長袖衣裳,加拿大的面貌又不同了...

在加拿大,初秋是蘋果豐收的季節,走一趟Farmer's market,就會看到各個不同種類的蘋果,呈在淺色的木桶裡販售,那天和哈你去了

一趟Old Chelsea,拎了五種不同的蘋果回來,那位小姐很好心,還幫我在每個袋子上寫上那種蘋果的種類,其中一袋酸蘋果,最適合拿來做甜點。
小姐還送了我一顆Gala在路上吃,一口咬下去,新鮮的清脆口感,拌著濃郁的蘋果香氣和果汁的甜味~ 果肉脆的剛剛好、皮超薄~ 激動的讓我回去又多買了16顆... (羞)

既然買了這麼多蘋果,那就在九月結束之前,試試這道超級簡單又好吃到升天的Apple Crisp(蘋果脆)吧!

(糖量已減少,因為西方人的甜食有時候真的很甜>_<)
材料:
蘋果6-8顆 (我愛蘋果的酸甜,所以都放8顆)
2 大匙 檸檬汁
1/4 杯白糖
1/2 杯 黑糖
1/2 杯 中筋麵粉(All-purpose flour)
1/2 杯 燕麥片 (我用生的燕麥片,也可用沖泡用的麥片)
1/3 杯 室溫融化的奶油(動物性或植物性皆可)
3/4 小匙(tsp) 肉桂粉
3/4 小匙(tsp) 荳蔻粉 (nutmeg)
香草冰淇淋一大匙(依個人喜好)

步驟:
(烤箱預熱350F/180C)
1. 蘋果削皮,切小塊 (不規則形狀皆可,一般apple crsip會切約薄小於1cm,常約2cm大小,但我喜歡多富含一些蘋果本身塊狀的口感,所以我prefer切大一些,約兩倍大)
2. 將檸檬汁倒入切好的蘋果,攪拌均勻,可增加風味且減速蘋果變黃
3. 在9"正方形烤盤中,噴油或抹些奶油,將拌好檸汁的蘋果倒進鋪平,灑上白糖、肉桂粉和荳蔻粉
4. 在另一個碗裡,案順序倒入麵粉、奶油、燕麥片和黑糖,混和好後平均鋪在烤盤中的蘋果上方
5. 放進預熱完成的烤箱內烤25-30mins,直到表面金黃且下層的蘋果可用叉子輕易叉過。

自烤箱拿出後,稍微冷卻10mins,趁溫熱的時候食用,也可在上面放球香草冰淇淋,口感很棒喔~

Sep 16, 2010

墨西哥料理-綠番茄牛肉湯/ Carne en su jugo

第一次吃到這道墨西哥菜,是在公司餐廳,綠綠的湯從此成為我在公司餐廳的最愛~我和台灣同事每當輪到這到菜的當天,都一定在午餐時刻電話連絡、準時吃飯!

對於Carne en su jugo的記憶,除了公司餐廳外,還有同事邀我們到家做客,做了一大鍋肉湯,還加煎的脆脆的培根末... 離開墨西哥前,我的助理兼好友問我想吃什麼,我一時就想到這道菜,他還特地在家煮好帶來我家一起晚餐...

離鄉的心也因為這道菜和溫馨的人情而暖和了起來...
熱呼呼又帶些辛辣、萊姆汁的酸和番茄的甜,襯出肉汁的氣味... 這就是墨西哥食物的精隨啦!

材料:
綠番茄 5-6大顆 (越多番茄越濃稠且湯汁味道越甜) 去皮切塊(說是這樣說但綠番茄皮比較薄,超難去...不挑剔的就把皮留著吧)
蒜頭 3-4顆 去皮
青辣椒 jalapeno 2支 切塊
牛肉片(比火鍋片厚一點) 1kg 切2cm、易入口大小
牛肉高湯塊 2塊
洋蔥 1/4顆 切碎裝碗
香菜 1/2杯 切碎裝碗
萊姆 2 顆 切半裝碗
培根 6片 煎到脆脆的撈起,壓碎成末,裝碗備用
大彎豆 400g 可買罐頭的,或是煮軟瀝乾備用 (我是省略,因為不愛吃豆)
鹽和胡椒 斟酌

作法:
1. 大鍋中,放入番茄、蒜頭、青辣椒+水(略蓋過番茄)煮滾,滾後關小火煮約10-15mins,直到所有的材料都變軟後,放置冷卻 (或隔水冷卻快些)
2. 冷卻至可接受溫度後,倒入果汁機攪拌
3. 在另一鍋中煎肉片,肉片要吸乾,可噴少許油或不加油乾煎,煎兩面微焦變色即可,底部的湯汁不用撈掉,再加入2.攪拌完的湯汁,加入2-4杯水(自己斟酌湯的濃度..試喝)和高湯塊小火煮滾即可(約4-7mins) (如果有豆,這時候也要一起加入煮)表面若有看起來髒髒的泡沫,撈起倒掉,試看味道,斟酌加鹽和胡椒。
*如果是可煎肉有可悶煮的鍋 eg.鑄鐵鍋或大平底鍋或大不鏽鋼炒鍋容量夠大即可,可直接煎完肉加入湯汁,或者可在另一個平底鍋煎肉,撈到大鍋和湯一起煮
4. 上菜的時候,連同洋蔥末、香菜末、萊姆片和培根末一起放桌上,讓大家自己加喜愛的量

墨西哥人還會搭配一種軟的玉米餅(Tortilla)食用,不過我喝湯吃肉就飽了,很少餓到需要吃玉米餅 :D
不然也可以飯吃7分飽,之後再來個甜點~ Yum!