Home made bread - without a bread maker

I’ve always wanted to learn how to make bread. And so I put that into my 2015 resolution to LEARN how to make bread. My first attempt was at making a loaf of plain white bread. I modified the recipe from the following link:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCQqWeGmG08

 

Banana cookies

Well, well, there were still a few bananas left, so I decided to make some cookies. 

This is a very simple and easy to make cookie, but be warned that the texture is cake-like and is therefore not crunchy nor hard. They should turn out moist and chewy.

The recipe is taken from http://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/2014/02/11/moist-chewy-banana-oatmeal-cookies/ 

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Yield: makes 34-36 cookies

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup mashed bananas

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp cornstarch

3 cups old fashioned oats

Instructions

1. Mix together butter, brown sugar, sugar, egg, vanilla extract and mashed bananas until well 

combined.

2. Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, cloves and cornstarch and mix until combined.

3. Stir in oats.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

5. Spoon tablespoons of dough onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Flatten dough a little bit, into thick discs. They will spread a little when baked.

6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges just start to golden.

7. Remove from oven and cool on cookie sheet for 3-4 minutes, then move to cooling rack to finish cooling.

2 versions of banana cake

The banana tree finally yielded some fruits for me. I waited for the bananas to ripen, in fact to be over-riped and tried my hand at making some banana cakes.

This is simply called mum's banana cake. I used the recipe from this website:-

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/17052/mum-s-banana-cake.aspx

Although the cake did not look like my idea of a cake, it was yummy. I guess it's due to the fact that the recipe calls for a shallow baking tin.



The following day I made another banana cake, this time using a recipe from a Malaysian:-

http://inibelogcikgusuraya.blogspot.com/2013/11/resepi-kek-pisang-mudah-dan-sedap.html

I believe this is the easiest banana cake recipe you can ever find! 

Oven baked naan

13 days into the new year and some people sent me emails asking where I've been hiding. Well, to be honest, I've been trying to make naan on my own, without a proper tandoor, just using the modern day oven that we have at home. Well, the result was good!

Here's the recipe that I used from http://bhavnaskitchen.com/naan/ . I must admit that I did not use ghee. I substituted is with normal vegetable oil.

Home made pancakes

The kids have gone berserk after staying at home for a few days during this school holidays. To occupy their time, we decided to ask them to make pancakes for breakfast.

This is the end product – nicely rolled up pancakes. We use steel chopsticks as they are washable and reusable, unlike satay sticks which need to be disposed after use.

We used the recipe from:-

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3374/perfect-pancakes

Ingredients:-

• 100g plain flour
• 2 eggs
• 300ml semi-skimmed milk
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil or vegetable, plus extra for frying
• pinch salt

1. Blending in the flour: Put the flour and a pinch of salt into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Crack the eggs into the middle, then pour in about 50ml milk and 1 tbsp oil. Start whisking from the centre, gradually drawing the flour into the eggs, milk and oil. Once all the flour is incorporated, beat until you have a smooth, thick paste. Add a little more milk if it is too stiff to beat.

2. Finishing the batter: Add a good splash of milk and whisk to loosen the thick batter. While still whisking, pour in a steady stream of the remaining milk. Continue pouring and whisking until you have a batter that is the consistency of slightly thick single cream. Traditionally, people would say to now leave the batter for 30 mins, to allow the starch in the flour to swell, but there’s no need.

3. Getting the right thickness: Heat the pan over a moderate heat, then wipe it with oiled kitchen paper. Ladle some batter into the pan, tilting the pan to move the mixture around for a thin and even layer. Quickly pour any excess batter into a jug, return the pan to the heat, then leave to cook, undisturbed, for about 30 secs. Pour the excess batter from the jug back into the mixing bowl. If the pan is the right temperature, the pancake should turn golden underneath after about 30 secs and will be ready to turn.

4. Flipping pancakes: Hold the pan handle, ease a fish slice under the pancake, then quickly lift and flip it over. Make sure the pancake is lying flat against base of the pan with no folds, then cook for another 30 secs before turning out onto a warm plate. Continue with the rest of the batter, serving them as you cook or stack onto a plate. You can freeze the pancakes for 1 month, wrapped in cling film or make them up to a day ahead.

Noodles @ Tanjung Malim

Another  leisurely day and we decided to take a drive to nowhere –and guess what? We ended up in another town in a different state altogether!  Our short drive brought us to Tanjung Malim!

As it was time for breakfast we decided to go breakfast ‘hunting’ and ended up at Lorong Kancil 1. We saw 2 houses selling noodles and decided to try number 92. It was a corner, single storey house.

These lanterns must be hanging here all year round!

We had a bowl of curry noodles and dried noodles and a lo han kuo drink each. The curry was thick and delicious..so much so that not a drop was left! The dried noodles with a some soya sauce did not look appetising…but….the taste was simply awesome! It must be one of the best home-made noodles I have ever eaten. Springy noodles cooked to perfection – I just can’t find the correct words to describe it….you’ve got to try it to know what I’m raving about.

Curry noodles

Dried noodles

Yong taufu

 The bill came as a shock to me as the entire meal costs us less than RM8!

Address :  92 Lorong Kancil 1

Tanjung Malim

Perak

All About CNY & FOOD, FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD!

Happy Birthday everyone! In case you are wondering what I am rattling on about, Chinese believe that the 7th day of the new year is everyone's birthday (人日). It is on this day that everyone grows a day....oops...a year older.

Here are some home cooked food I've had so far this CNY.