Cooking and Baking Adventure

Saturday, December 31, 2016

2016 has been an adventurous year for me in terms of cooking and baking. I am so blessed to be able to live in Australia, the land where a wide array of fresh produce is so widely available! I thought to myself, it would be a waste to not learn how to cook when I could source the freshest ingredients so easily. Having moved to a new accomodation with a really encouraging kitchen, I really love my new found culinary hobby. Just thought I might do a recap on my humble experiments throughout the year here. These are meals I've cooked over the weekend, or meals that I've bulk-cooked to last me a few meals. I am a busy full-time nursing student you see, but cooking does relieve some my stress and it is very, very therapeutic. 



You may find the recipes I retrieved from various sites and I apologise for some recipes which I couldn't relocate. Do follow me on Pinterest, I have some of the recipes pinned on my "Recipes to Try" pinboard. Hope you enjoy this :)

The kitchen in my new accomodation 

Seafood Paella
This paella (pronounced as pie-yah) wasn't cooked in the most authentic Spanish way as I do not have a paella pan. And being a student living on a budget, I opt out the saffron for the rice. But my version of this paella definitely has the goodness of the smoked paprika and the lovely seafood! 
Teriyaki Salmon
Japanese Chicken Katsu and Egg Don
Recipe: https://www.buzzfeed.com/emilyhorng/fried-chicken-and-egg-rice-bowl?utm_term=.abeM3qaaxy&sub=4174185_8139415#.iqR2a3mmNW
Fettuccine con Salsiccia & Funghi Porcini (Italian Sausage and Porcini Mushrooms Fettuccine)
Recipe: https://au.tv.yahoo.com/my-kitchen-rules/recipe/30820018/my-kitchen-rules-recipe-fettuccine-con-salsiccia-funghi-porcini/
Simple Asian Stirfry
Recipe: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/tofu-cashew-stir-fry/
Gyu Don (Japanese Beef Bowl Rice)
Recipe for Gyu Don: http://thewoksoflife.com/2016/02/gyudon-recipe-beef-rice/
Recipe for ajitsuke tamago (marinated eggs): http://www.justonecookbook.com/ramen-egg
I visited Melbourne earlier this year and had a bowl of satisfying gyudon when I touched down. Couldn't stop thinking about it when I came back from Melbourne so I decided to look into the recipe. It's one of the easiest thing to make and I've been cooking this for a few times now!
Gyu Udon (Japanese Beef with Udon)
Teriyaki Chicken 
Vegetarian Bibimbap
Eomuk Bokkeum (Korean Stirfry Fish Cake)
Recipe: http://www.koreanbapsang.com/2015/04/eomuk-bokkem-stir-fried-fish-cake.html
Inspired by one of my favourite banchan (side dish) at Brisbane's Maru Korean Restaurant, the super famous Korean restaurant located in the CBD.
Lemon Chicken Rice
Recipe: http://rasamalaysia.com/lemon-chicken/
Lotus Root and Pork Ribs Soup
One of my favourite soup my mum cooks at home. Lotus root simmered in pork ribs and red dates for hours. Comfort food.
Salted Egg Yolk Chicken
Recipe: http://themeatmen.sg/salted-egg-yolk-chicken/
Nua Pad Krapow (Thai Beef and Basil Rice)
Recipe from Adam Liaw's Asian Cookery School
One Pot Chicken Rice with Grated Ginger and Homemade Chilli Sauce
Recipe: https://www.tastemade.com/videos/hainanese-chicken-rice
Nyonya Chicken Stew
Recipe from Adam Liaw's Asian Cookery School
Apam Balik (Malaysian Folded Pancake)
Recipe: http://www.seasaltwithfood.com/2015/03/apam-balikpancake-with-peanuts-filling.html
It was the Ramadan period and my friends were sharing photos of the ramadan stalls on their social medias so I decided to make my own Apam Balik! Not as yummy as the ones back home but I was satisfied with these ones.

Prawn Linguine
Avocado Toast (Practiced cutting avocado rosette)
How to cut an avocado rosette: http://healthynibblesandbits.com/how-to-make-avocado-rose/
Baked Sweet Potatoes and Butternut Squash (Sunday wrap with salad greens and sautéed mushrooms and onions)
This is one of the impromptu ideas I had while shopping at the markets. I told you fresh produce are so readily available in Australia so make use of what you have and whip up a good, hearty, meal! Sweet potatoes and butternut squash, so nutritious!
Agedashi Tofu (Japanese Deep Fried Silk Tofu in Dashi Stock)
Recipe: http://norecipes.com/recipe/agedashi-tofu
Also available from Adam Liaw's The Zen Kitchen
Tuna Pasta Bake
Practiced plating a quenelle
Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci1MTA6pX9U
Winter warmer - Sweet Potato and Ginger Hot Dessert
What my mum would make at home. In Chinese culinary, ginger has a warming properties, and too much of it becomes "heaty". Adding a few pieces of ginger would balance the "coolness" of the sweet potatoes.
Shrimp Pasta with Lemon Cream
Recipe: http://littlespicejar.com/shrimp-pasta-with-lemon-cream-sauce/
Chicken Mushroom Florentine
Recipe: http://shewearsmanyhats.com/mushroom-florentine-pasta-recipe/
Apple and Blue Cheese Lamb Burger
Recipe: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/blue-cheese-apple-burger/
Miso Ramen
My favourite breakfast - Avo Toast and White Tea (Fried two eggs to match the Brazilian colours to celebrate the opening of the Rio 2016 Olympics Games)
Baked Hasselback Potatoes
Recipe: http://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/hasselback-potatoes-2273
Lemon Chicken and Sun-dried Tomatoes Linguine
Recipe: http://www.iheartnaptime.net/lemon-chicken-fettuccine/
Chinese Hot and Sour Soup
Recipe: http://rasamalaysia.com/hot-and-sour-soup/
Malaysian Coconut and Palm Sugar Jellies
Available from Adam Liaw's Asian Cookery School 
Baked Garlic Ginger Drumsticks
Recipe: http://rasamalaysia.com/ginger-garlic-baked-chicken/
Honey Soy Drumsticks
Recipe: http://rasamalaysia.com/honey-soy-chicken-wings/
Cilantro Lime Rice
Recipe: http://rasamalaysia.com/cilantro-lime-rice/
Karipap Pusing (Malaysian Spiral Curry Puffs)
Recipe: http://www.huangkitchen.com/spiral-curry-puffs-karipap-pusing/
Takes a lot of effort and time to achieve this spiral puffs! 
Baked Rosemary Lamb
Crispy Skin Salmon with Broccoli, Sweet Potatoes and Barley
Forget about quinoa/chia seeds. Don't get me wrong, quinoa/chia is very nutritious for you but it's not the only superfood trend that is worth following. There are so many other nutritious grains that you can incorporate into your cooking, like barley! 
One Pot Lemon & Herb Chicken Rice
Recipe: http://www.lecremedelacrumb.com/2015/06/one-pot-lemon-herb-chicken-rice.html
If you are stocking up on proteins aka chicken breasts on your work-out routine, don't forget you could make use of all the herbs and spices to season your meat rather than eating them blandly! Nutritious food are meant to be healthy and flavourful at the same time! (But still, stock up on greens and grains too!)
Chawan Mushi (Japanese Steamed Savoury Egg Custard)
Available from Adam Liaw's The Zen Kitchen
Oyakodon (Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl)
Recipe: http://www.japanesecooking101.com/oyakodon-recipe/
Oyakodon is literally translated into "parent-and-child in a bowl", where the "parent-and-child" refers to chicken and egg. This dish answers the famous question - Did the chicken or the egg exist first? Clearly, chicken wins this round! 
Mum's One Pot Long Bean Rice
This is something my mum and my maternal aunts would cook at home. One pot meals are my family's favourite! Not only they are easy to cook (dumping everything into a pot), but they are extra flavourful too! 

Pandan Chicken
Recipe: http://rasamalaysia.com/pandan-screwpine-leave-chicken/
I visited my family in the UK during my July holidays and cooked a few meals for them. This Gyu Don is one of them :) 
Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes - baked these with my sister-in-law, Kirsty for my baby nephew Noah's baptism (Yes, I'm an aunt now!)
Recipe from The Hummingbird Bakery
Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes for Noah's Ark themed Baptism party
Carved a strawberry rose
Baked Sea Salted Kale Chips 
Matcha and Red Bean Snow Skin Mooncake for Midautumn Festival
Recipe: http://en.christinesrecipes.com/2014/08/green-tea-custard-snowskin-mooncakes.html
I didn't have a proper mooncake mould so I made these using a thin plastic jelly mould. The patterns weren't too obvious because of the thin plastic material of the mould. Nevertheless, I was making use of what I had at that time.
Matcha Cupcake with Matcha Frosting
Matcha Cupcake Recipe: http://www.thelittleepicurean.com/2011/09/matcha-azuki-cupcakes.html
Matcha Frosting Recipe: http://mynameisyeh.com/mynameisyeh/2014/5/chocolate-cupcakes-with-matcha-green-tea-frosting

Matcha Pancake
Recipe: http://www.patesmith.co/matcha-pancakes/
Yaki Ramen
Flapjacks
Recipe: http://www.likeastrawberrymilk.com/2012/02/find-a-map-and-draw-a-straight-line-chewy-flapjacks/
Chicken and Chorizo Paella
Recipe: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/rice-recipes/chicken-chorizo-paella/


Got my second Adam Liaw's cookbook, this one is his fifth cookbook, but his first cookbook dedicated to all things Japanese. The first one was Asian Cookery School. I didn't quite like cooking Asian cuisines (too many condiments needed) but I was obviously converted and heavily inspired by Adam Liaw :) 
Sukiyaki of Beef and Asian Greens from Adam Liaw's The Zen Kitchen
This is a nabemono (one-pot) dish which is very easy to make by frying the ingredients and pushing them to one side one at a time. These cooked ingredients are then simmered on soy sauce and then served in the pot for everybody on the table to dig in. 
Chicken and Tofu Meatballs from Adam Liaw's The Zen Kitchen
Breadcrumbs are normally added to the meatballs/hamburgers patties as "fillers" but tofu gives a juicier result. And it is so much healthier too! These meatballs are pan-seared then coated with Teriyaki Glaze (which you could make and store your own) for a glossy finish.

Egg Rice Porridge from Adam Liaw's The Zen Kitchen
This is something my mom would make for me for breakfast or when I'm sick. Simple yet delicious! 
Summer Ramen with Wafu Dressing from Adam Liaw's The Zen Kitchen
Recipe for Summer Ramen: https://au.tv.yahoo.com/the-morning-show/a/33102924/adam-liaws-summer-ramen/
Recipe for Wafu Dressing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QJxo5xOx6o
Okinawan Salted Shortbread Cookies from Adam Liaw's The Zen Kitchen
Besides being the birthplace of karate, Okinawa is also famous for its high quality produce, such as pork, bitter gourd and seaweeds. Two of its famous exports are a rich, black sugar called "kokutou", and mineral-rich sea salts. I have not been to Okinawa so obviously my ingredients are sourced locally from Australia. I would love to visit the beautiful Japanese islands one day! 
Vinegar-dressed Cucumber and Wakame from Adam Liaw's The Zen Kitchen
Dried seaweed is one of the staples I have in my pantry. I use it for cooking miso soup all the time. The rehydrated seaweed and sliced cucumber are mixed with "sanbaizu", which consists of 3-part rice vinegar, 2-part sugar/mirin, and 1-part soy sauce. This is a super easy-to-make side dish and can provide important balance to oily fish or savoury simmered dishes.




I turned 21 this year and I baked myself a birthday cake for the first time!
Lemon Cake with Rosemary Buttercream
Recipe: http://www.thelittleepicurean.com/2015/11/rosemary-lemon-cake.html
This is also my first ever 3-layer semi-naked cake. So happy it turned out well! Many would find the rosemary buttercream odd but I actually like the hint of rosemary in the buttercream. 

2016 has also been star-struck year for me! I've met celebrity chefs like Luke Nguyen, Matt Sinclair and Adam Liaw with my Brisbane food buddy, Carmen, whom we've met through my uni's Malaysian Students Association! Food really does connect everybody together! 
Met Luke Nguyen at Brisbane's Night Noodle Markets!
Matt Sinclair, runner-up of MasterChef AU 2016. So happy to be able to see his food truck dream came true at Eat Street Markets, Hamilton! 
And I finally met my biggest Asian home-cook/celebrity chef, Adam Liaw, winner of MasterChef AU 2010! 



Cooking is not just about the technicalities, presentation or tastes; it also encompasses a personal story, a cultural background and even a whole lesson about life! I never thought cooking would be a thing for me but I am slowly loving it and will continue explore my culinary adventure in the lifetime to come!

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