Shitake Mushroom-Potatoes Soup Recipe

Easy Shitake Mushroom-Potatoes Soup Recipe (4-5 persons) - Non Dairy


Benefits of Shitake mushrooms: Rich source of iron and good for cardiovascular system! And low in calories and high in B vitamins.

Ingredients:

• 3 potatoes-medium size (cut into small cubes)
• 1 cup fresh Shitake mushroom (cut into small pieces) - i bought from Tesco
• 1/2 big onion (cut into tiny pieces)
• 4-5 cups of water
• A pinch of Italian herbs
• A pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of Maggi seasoning (Cukup Rasa)

Steps:

1. Cut the potatoes, onion and Shitake mushroom into small cubes/pieces. (The smaller the cubes, the shorter the cooking time.)
2. Now, place all the potatoes and onion cubes in a pot and add in 3 cups of water.
3. Boil for about 15-20 minutes or until soft. Then, add in Shitake mushroom and continue to boil for another 10 minutes.
4. Put it aside to let it cool for 15-20 minutes.
5. Now, get ready your blender and pour in the mixture. Blend it till puree state.
6. Pour the blended mixture into the pan. Then, add in 1 cup of water (you may add more water if you want to, but I prefer thick soup!) and stir it.
7. Heat it again.
8. Then, add in salt, Italian herbs and Maggi seasoning. Stir it.
9. Your Shitake mushroom-potatoes soup now is ready!

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 45-50 minutes

Enjoy!

More pictures here:

My Mum

I really miss my mum...i love her very much...one of my dearest ones in this whole wide world. She was the one that would cry with me, encourage me and hug me when i needed her. She is not in this world now. She was called home to be with the Lord on 5th May 2015. An unforgettable day in my life. Yes, i have had to accept this fact, though it was so bitter and heart breaking.

I tried to be more focused to carry on with my life without her, sometimes by doing my sewing and craft items...but in the midst of it, i still miss her presence. Life still goes on. But i know...every day, i will think of her. I think it is normal, because i really miss her. It's like just yesterday, i was still talking and doing things with her together. Mum, you will always be on my mind. I thank you for all the things that you had done for us, dad, your children, your grand children and family.
Forever remembered, forever missed!

Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Remember to spend more time with your loved ones, not only your own family members, but parents and grandparents! God bless.

June Flowers 2015

Hi, i'm back..back again to jot and share something, since Christmas last year! Now already end of June 2015. Time really flies... and so many things had happened.
Here, to begin my article of 2015, I would like to share some beautiful flowers, from Penang Hill, Malaysia.

DIY: How to make a Christmas Hairband

Ho ho ho...Here is the 'Step-by-step guide on 'How to Make a Christmas Hairband'. And this is my early Christmas gift to all :)

Materials:
Scissors, acrylic felt (white & red), felt marker, needle, thread, glue (E6000 or UHU), black hairband and scallop scissors (optional).

Steps (with pictures shown below):

1. First, draw 6 circles on the red felt (diameter: 6 cm).
2. Cut them out.
3. You will get 6 red circles. Put 2 of them aside.
4. Take 4 of them. Fold it in half.
5. Then, fold again.
6. As shown in the picture.
7. Using a needle and a red thread, sew it few times at the tip (holding all the layers) and make a knot.
8. Repeat steps 4-7 until you get four petals.
9. Now, get ready the white felt and draw a circle (diameter: 4.5 cm).
10. As shown in the picture.
11. Cut it out and put aside.
12. Draw another white circle (diameter: 6 cm).
13. As shown in the picture.
14. Use a pair of scallop scissors and cut slowly at about 3 to 4 mm away from the circle. (If you don't have the scallop scissors, don't worry, you can always draw the wavy line and cut it carefully).
15. Take the four petals (from no. 8), sew it onto the white scalloped-circle.
16. Repeat for all four.
17. Now, get the 2 red circles (from no. 3). Fold it in half.
18. Fold it again, 1/3 to the front (as shown in the picture).
19. Fold it again, this time 1/3 to the back (refer to the picture).
20. You will get something like a 'S' shaped petal.
21. Sew it at the tip, holding all the layers together.
22. Then, sew it to the centre of the white scalloped-circle with the 4 petals (no. 15).
23. Stitch it nicely at the centre and end it with a knot. Repeat steps 17-23 for the second petal.
24. Now, you will get a nice red Christmas peony!
25. Turn to the back.
26. Apply some glue to it, make sure you glue the knot and the stitches.
27. Place the black hairband to it, at the desired position. Hold it carefully for few minutes.
28. Then, get the smaller piece of white circle (from no. 11) and apply some glue on it.
29. Put it onto the back of the peony (no. 27). Press nicely and leave it for 10 minutes to let it dry.
30. Now, your Christmas Hairband is DONE! Simple and nice, right?

Enjoy and Blessed Christmas!

'Kam Puang/Kolok Mee' (Foo Chow Noodles) Recipe

Hi all, as I promised..here is the 'Kam Puang/Kolok Mee' (Foo Chow noodles) Recipe. 'Kam Puang' mee is a very famous Foo Chow's local delicacy. Fyi, Foo Chows from Sitiawan, Perak call it 'Kam Puang' and in Sarawak they call it 'kolok mee'. Actually the traditional Kam Puang recipe uses lard (from pork) and pork crisps, but I replace it with shallot oil (remaining oil from Steamed Pumpkin Cake) and shallot crisps-healthier :) My parents have been making their own mee (handmade noodles) since I was young and I always love it. And now, my children and husband also enjoy this delicacy so much :)

As usual, i only share simple and easy recipes...So, to make it an easy recipe, you don't have to make the noodles yourself. I replace it with Sakura 'You Mian' that i bought from Tesco (picture as shown at the end of the article) and replace the sliced 'char siew' with hard-boiled eggs. And you still can enjoy the 'authentic taste' of this delicacy!

'Kam Puang/Kolok Mee' (Foo Chow Noodles) Recipe

Ingredients (for 4 servings):

• 4 'pieces' of Sakura 'You Mian' noodles (you may use yee mee too)
• Some vegetables - i use 'Siew Pak Choy' (chopped)

For toppings:

• 2 eggs (cut into 2) - you may use minced meat/'char siew' pork (BBQ)
• 3-4 shallots (minced and fried)
• Some spring onions (finely chopped)

For seasoning (sauce):

• 3 tablespoons of shallot oil (i use the remaining oil from Steamed Pumpkin Cake)
• 1 tablespoon of thick soy sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon of light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon of Maggi seasoning/mononatrium glutamate (MSG)
• A pinch of white pepper powder
• 1/2 cup of hot water

Steps:

1. First, prepare the sauce. Add all the sauce ingredients together and mix it well.
2. Then, prepare the toppings' ingredients.
3. Boil a pot of water. Boil the vege for 5 minutes. Remove and drain it and keep it aside. 
4. Next, boil the noodles in the pot and cook for about 5-6 minutes.
5. Drain and run cold water through them and place them in a big bowl.
6. Add the seasoning mixture (sauce) to the noodles and mix well. Portion them in 4 plates.
7. Garnish them with the toppings and that's it!

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Enjoy!

I use these noodles...

These are the ingredients.

I left out this in the above picture...

Black Bean Soup Recipe

Hi all, yay TGIF...here comes my mood to write. As I promised, here is the 'Black Bean Soup' recipe. This is the simplest soup recipe for my family. You can try it too!

Black Bean Soup Recipe

Ingredients (4-5 persons):

• 1 cup of black beans
• 1/2 'kampung' chicken
• 7 cups of water
• Some cooking oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt or some light soy sauce
• White pepper powder (optional)

Steps:

1. Get ready a cup of black beans (I bought it from Tesco). Soak for few minutes, then wash and rinse them. Click here to read the benefits of black beans.
2. Grease the wok with some cooking oil and pour in the black beans. Stir fry for about 5 minutes.
3. Then transfer it to the slow cooker.
4. Add 7 cups of water.
5. Now, get ready the 'kampung' chicken and boil it  for few minutes before you transfer it to the slow cooker.
6. Let it cook in slow cooker for at least 4 hours. Then add salt/light soy sauce before you serve.
7. That's all, your soup now is ready!

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 4-5 hours

Enjoy!

You may want to refer to the photos here:

Smiley Nasi Pattaya Recipe

My girl, Sarah loves 'nasi pattaya' and she always hopes that i can cook for her. So, I decided to cook a simple dinner for her last week...and it turned out to be a cute 'Smiley Nasi Pattaya'! And healthy too...

Smiley Nasi Pattaya Recipe

Here are the ingredients (for 4 persons):
For fried rice:

1. 1 cup of white rice + 1/2 cup of unpolished brown rice (soaked & cooked)
2. 2 1/2 cup of water (to cook the rice)
3. 1 carrot (shredded)
4. 1/2 cup of sweet corn
5. 1/2 cup of celery (chopped into small cubes)
6. 8 fish balls (cut into 4 pieces)
7. 3 small garlic (cut into small pieces)
8. 4 eggs (for topping-smiley's face)
9. Some cooking oil

Mixture of sauce:

1. 1/2 tablespoon of thick soy sauce
2. 1/2 tablespoon of oyster sauce
3. 1/2 teaspoon of Maggi seasoning (Cukup Rasa)
4. A pinch of salt
5. A pinch of white pepper powder
6. 50 ml of water (add to the mixture 1-5 to dilute it)

Garnishing:

1. 1/2 cucumber (sliced)
2. 16-18 of cherry tomatoes
3. 4 sweet corn (from the fried rice)
4. Some tomato/chilli sauce
5. 8 black beans (optional-I got it from my 'Black Bean Soup')

Steps:

1. Fried the garlic with  some oil till brownish.
2. Add in fish balls and stir.
3. Then add in the sweet corn, shredded carrot and celery.
4. Continue to stir for about 5-6 minutes.
5. Then, add in the cooked rice.
6. Continue to stir for about 10 minutes and it is ready.
7. Use a bowl to portion the fried rice. Place the fried rice in the bowl and press it and then topple it onto a plate. (It will hold the fried rice in a nice mountain shape). Repeat till you get 4 plates.
8. Now, you can prepare the egg. Crack an egg and stir it. Then, spread it on a flat pan. (Tilt the pan in a circular motion to spread it equally). Cook for about 5 minutes and transfer it unto the fried rice in 7. (I didn't wrap it, so 1 egg per person. If you want to wrap it you may need a bigger pan and 2 eggs per person).
9. Now, you can garnish it as shown in the picture.

• 4-5 tomato cherries as smiley's hair
• 2 slices of cucumber as smiley's eyes
• 2 black beans as smiley's eye balls (optional)
• a corn as smiley's nose
• some tomato/chilli sauce as smiley's mouth

P/s: I served it with 'Black Bean Soup'...a simple and healthy soup :)

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 25-30 minutes

Enjoy!