Gram's beef steak stew

Gram's beef steak stew...

(Serves 15-20)

This is a beauty which my grandma makes on special occasions. A spicy stew which goes great with french loaf. Finally i have mastered the recipe on my own.

Ingredients:

1 kilo of beef (for stew, cut into bite size)

8 clove garlic (diced)

6 large red onions (diced)

8-10 tablespoons of chili paste. (According to your liking)

1 2cm wide ginger

5 large tomatoes (diced)

6-8 large potatoes (diced)

1 tablespoon sweet dark soya sauce

1 teaspoon curry powder or beef steak powder

1 teaspoon garam masala

2 cans tomato puree

5 tablespoons tomato ketchup

1 can green peas

1 small cabbage (roughly sliced)

2 large red onions (sliced)

1 1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 cups water

Directions:
1. Heat oil in a large stew pot.
2. Add the garlic and chili paste. Stir till fragrant for 5-7 Min's.
3. Put in the meat, onion, ginger and tomatoes and brown for 10 Min's.
4. Add water, tomatoes puree, ketchup, soya sauce, curry or beef steak powder, garam masala and stir well. Cover and simmer on low heat for 45 Min's.

I throw in a metal spoon to help the meat cook faster. Grandma's kitchen trick.
5. Season well with salt. Constantly stirring the stew from time to time so it wont get burnt.
6. Once meat is almost cook add in the potatoes and mix well. Cook for another 25 Min's.
7. Lastly add in the remaining onion, green peas and cabbage to the stew.

Mix it well simmer for another 20 Min's.
8. Check stew making sure all ingredients are soft and cooked. Remove spoon.



Let it rest for 30 Min's. Serve with french loaf or even white bread.

You can store leftover stew in air tight container and freeze it. Reheat on low heat.

3 cheese lasagna...

3 cheese lasagna...

(Serves 8)

Here is a very easy to follow recipe. My family loves it.. Rich cheesy slice of heaven. I use the no hassle Barilla La Collezione lasagne pasta, no precooking needed. It take a longer preparation time but it worth every minute.

Ingredients:

500 grams mince beef

2 large onions (diced)

2 clove garlic (diced)

4 large tomatoes (diced)

1 can of whole tomatoes

2 cans of tomato paste

2 cans of tomato sauce

1 packet 500 grams shredded mozzarella cheese

250 grams ricotta cheese (grated)

250 grams parmesan cheese (grated)

1 large bunch of italian parsley (chopped)

1 bunch of basil leaves

1 teaspoon fennel seed

1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1 egg

1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg powder

8 sheets of Barilla La Collezione lasagne pasta.

Black pepper

Salt

1/2 cup olive oil

23 cm square baking tin

Directions:

1. Heat up a large pot and pour in the oil.

2. Throw in the onions and garlic. Stir for 1 minute.

3. Add in the mince beef, brown the meat for 6 to 9 Min's.

4. Once meat is brown add in the diced tomatoes,whole tomatoes, tomato sauce and paste.

5. Season with salt and pepper.

6. Add the sugar, fennel seeds, italian seasoning, basil and a part of the italian parley.

7. Simmer on low heat for 1 hour and 30 Min's. Making sure you gently stir it from time to time.

8. Once meat sauce is ready. Turn off heat.

9. Mix the egg, nutmeg and the rest of the italian parley and ricotta cheese together in a bowl.

10. Pre heat oven to 180 deg.

11. Take the baking tin and lightly grease it.

12. Firstly, spread 1/3 of the meat mixture.

13. Then place 4 pasta sheet. Making sure the layer is covered.

14. Later spread 1/2 the ricotta cheese mixture over evenly using your fingers.

15. After that sprinkle 1/3 generous amount of mozzarella cheese over.

16. You then top that layer up with 1/3 the parmesan cheese.

17. Repeat the same process again.

18. Lastly you top the last portion of the meat mixture on the top followed by the mozzarella and parmesan.

19. Cover with aluminium foil and bake for 25 Min's.

20. Then take the foil out and bake for another 25 Min's.

Let it rest before serving. Sprinkle chili flakes over to add more heat.

You can save and reheat leftover at 160 deg for 15 Min's..

Blueberry & Banana muffins...

Blueberry & banana muffins...

(Makes 8)


Simple, easy to do muffins over weekends.. Perfect for breakfast and tea time.


Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
1 cup of fresh blueberries
1 large egg
3 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups of all purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 large muffin cups
Pinch of salt


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 200 deg.
2. Mash bananas in a bowl.
3. Shift the flour,baking soda, salt, cinnamon powder in a large bowl.
4. Throw in the mashed bananas and blueberries in the flour mixture.
5. Whisk eggs, milk, honey, oil together in a small bowl.
6. Pour in the liquid mixture into the flour mixture.
7. Stir gently till everything combines nicely together.
8. Put in the muffin cups into a 8 hole muffin tin.
9. Pour in the batter mixture equally into each cup.
10. Bake for 20 Min's.

Raf and i love how it is not dry...the banana give it a rich taste and moist texture.

Sambal fried rice..

Sambal fried rice...

(Serves 2)

It's one of my favourite simple dishes of all time.. Since young my grandma use to make this in the morning, traditional malay breakfast. Brings back fond memories.. Of course u can serve it at any time of the day. My husband loves it with his achar..:)

Ingredients:

5 red chilies

2 medium red onions

2 cloves garlic

1 small 2 cm cube belacan, burnt lightly over small fire (shrimp paste cake)

1/2 cube ikan bilis stock (maggi seasoning)

4 eggs

Oil

Salt

1 cup water

2 cups fragrant rice

Directions:
1. Wash and cook rice in cooker.
2. Blend chilies, onions, garlic, belacan and water together.
3. Heat wok and add oil.
4. Gently pour in the blended mixture. Stir till fragrant for 15-20 Min's.
5. Add salt and ikan bilis stock cube, keep stirring so it doesn't burnt.
6. Beat 2 eggs in the mixture and stir gently.
7. Check on the rice it should be cook by now.
8. Add in the rice to the mixture.
9. Gently stir it for 5-10 Min's and off heat.
10. Fry the other 2 sunny side ups.
11. Serve on plate top with the sunny side ups..


Enjoy.... Goes great with hot tea and fish or prawn crackers on the side.

Achar

Achar...

Here is my favourite Ruchi achar in the world.. It's basiclly an indian pickle. There are many different types of achar. But this particular one Mango Avakkai Pickle or also Cut Mango has won hearts of not only mine but also my husband, family and my close friends....Simply amazing.. It's sour and spicy burst of flavours enhances and compliments other dishes really well.... It only cost $2 at any indian convenient stores.

Poached eggs on toast....

Poached eggs on toast...

(Serves 2)

Never fails to brings a smile on my husband's face on weekends...


Ingredients:
4 eggs
3 tablespoon vinegar
Salt
Black Pepper
Water
4 toasts


Directions:
1. Fill pot or pan half full with water and bring to boil.
2. Once water is boiling bring heat down and let it simmer.
3. Add the vinegar and a good pinch of salt.
4. Stir a spoon clockwise to make the water gentle moving in a circular motion.
5. Crack one egg and drop it gently, make sure you make a slow circular motion around the egg after you set it in the water.
6. Repeat process for the rest of the eggs.. Don't worry about it sticking to each other.. It won't...
7.Flip eggs after 45 seconds with a slotted spoon. You don't want the egg to be fully cooked. Yolk should be runny when served..
8. Remove eggs, drain excess water. Served hot on toast.
9. Sprinkle salt and pepper...


Little practice makes perfect eggs...:)

Daging Kicap (Soya sauce beef stew)

Daging Kicap ( Soya sauce beef stew)

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:
500 g beef (sliced rather thinly)
3 large red onion (2 cut in quarters,1 into rings)
4 cloves garlic
3 red chili (cut into 3)
2 cups water
4 large potatoes (cut into quarters)
2 medium tomatoes (cut into quarters)
1 tablespoon chili paste
1 teaspoon garam masala
4-5 tablespoon sweet dark soya sauce
2 tablespoon tomato ketchup
1 teaspoon maggi seasoning
1 tablespoon turmeric powder
1 cup oil
Salt



Directions:
1. Blend 2 onion, garlic and chili and 1 cup water together in a mixer.
2. Heat up wok and add oil.
3. Once oil is hot, gently add in the blended mixture.
4. Also stir in the chili paste, turmeric powder, garam masala and stir till fragrant for 15-20 Min's.
5. Throw in the beef and stir well and cover wok and let it cook for a good 15 Min's.
6. Make sure u keep an eye and stir the beef from time to time.
7. Add 1 cup water, soya sauce, tomato ketchup, maggi seasoning. Throw in the potatoes, stir well and cover. Let it simmer for another 20 Min's till meat and potatoes are cooked.
8. Lastly add in the fresh tomatoes and sliced onion rings and stir for 5-7 Min's.
9. It's best to let the gravy rest before serving.



Serve hot with steamed rice... For extra oomph..try it with malay sambal belacan or indian achar..