Red bean (azuki bean) paste is widely used in Chinese and Japanese confectioneries. The ready-made red bean paste sold in the stores usually contains preservatives and is laden with oil and sugar. Hence, it is definitely a healthier choice to make your own as you will be in full control over the ingredients you put in. You can adjust the amount of sugar and oil to your liking, select better quality red...

  I initially thought that making fresh pasta was very intimidating. But, having seen more and more people succeed in making pasta from scratch, I realised that my perception was wrong. Getting inspired, I began my pasta making journey.   The steps in making pasta are pretty straight-forward. They can be summarised as below: • Combine the ingredients • Knead the dough • Rest the dough • Roll...

  I love tomatoes for their vibrant colour, flavour and nutrient. I buy tomatoes almost every week from my favourite vegetable seller who sells his own produce from Bukit Tinggi, at the foothill of Genting Highland. Their tomatoes are not only fresh and cheap but also pesticide-free. As you can see from the photos, they even come with green stem attached. How lovely!   Tomatoes are so versatile that...

  A couple months back, a cooking method on how to whip up a super-fast congee (Chinese rice porridge, 快速煲靚粥) was widely circulated among the internet users, as well as being demonstrated on cooking shows in Hong Kong and Taiwan.   The secret behind this method lies on the application of a little scientific know-how. Washed raw rice after being frozen will undergo a structural change. This...

  Have you ever tried making your own cookie cutter? I had just made my very first mini fishy cutters, and had used them to make these cute tiny goldfish crackers.  Are you inspired to make them for your little ones too? It’s an easy recipe. If I can do it, so can you.   Let’s start with the DIY cookie cutters. All you need is an aluminum can (use more if you plan to have more fun), scissors,...

  What should I do if my child: – refuses to eat vegetables? – refuses to try new food? – refuses to eat on his own? – is not interested in food? – never sit still during mealtime? – love to watch TV during mealtime?   Do any of these sound familiar to you? These are the questions frequently asked by my readers since I started blogging. When parents or caregivers...

  Homemade fish stock makes a great soup base for soups, congee, rice, braises, stews and sauces. It gives any seafood-based dish an immeasurable flavour even to the simplest recipe. Apart from flavour, it is extremely nutritious too as it’s a rich source of gelatin and minerals that our body requires. This is further mentioned by by Sally Fallon (author of Nourishing Traditions) in her article titled...

Apples are traditional remedies for diarrhea. But do you know that raw grated apples are used to treat constipation whereas stewed apples for diarrhea? No, not me. I was totally ignorance about this fact until last December when my son was hit by a stomach virus. When I read up on what food to offer for kids with diarrhea, I found out that we should avoid raw apples!! This is because they contain high fiber...

  Congee or porridge (粥) is not only a staple food among the Chinese community but also one of the first few baby foods recommended for weaning. It is a versatile dish which can be easily prepared and served with added ingredients like fish, chicken, pork or veggies to enhance the flavour and increase its nutritional value. The texture and consistency of the congee is determined by three main factors...

Recently, a close friend of mine asked me how I line a cake tin. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a million words. That gave me the idea of doing this tutorial post to share it with more people who are new in baking. These steps are neither new nor are any fancy tips, but just basic knowledge which I picked up from the cookbooks. So next time if you come across “grease the baking tin and line it with...