Ratatouille, Pommes Duchesse (Baked puree potatoes)

Ratatouille movie is one of my favourite movie, i was repeated watching this movie for few times..Finally i made Ratatouille for the 1st time...

Ratatouille
(recipe source: adapted from Flavours Food Magazine Oct 2007)

1 long purple eggplant
2 zucchinis, cubed
1 onion, cubed
1 red capsicum, cubed
1 green capsicum, cubed
3 cloves garlic, chopped
200g tomatoes, peeled and cubed
100g tomato puree
1 sprig rosemary
1 sprig thyme

3tbsp olive oil
Brown sugar to taste
Salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste

Method
1. Split the eggplant lengthwise, place in a colander, and sprinkle with salt to draw out the bitterness. Set aside for 30mins, drain and cut into cubes.
2. Heat the oil in a heavy-bottom pan. Add the eggplant and cook until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same pan, cook the zucchinis the same way. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same pan, cook the onion until aroma. Add red and green capsicums and cook until tender, add garlic, eggplant, zucchini, tomato and tomato puree. Cook for 1min.
5. Pluck the rosemary and thyme leaves, add to the ratatouille. Simmer over low heat for 1hour. Stir from time to time.
6. Season to taste with sugar, salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
7. Allow to cool and refrigerate if not using immediately. The flavours will develop overnight.
8. Serve warm or cold, as a side dish, as a topping, or use as a base or flavouring for other recipes.

 We enjoyed Ratatouille with Pommes Duchesse (basically some puréed potatoes that includes egg yolk, butter and seasonings), sausages and sunny side-up eggs..

Pommes Duchesse (Baked puree potatoes)
(recipe source: adapted from Angie’s recipe)

400g potatoes, peeled, roughly chopped
1 egg yolk
50g butter, melted
A pinch of nutmeg
Salt and white pepper to taste

Method
1. Boil potatoes till tender. Drain, mash and press potato through a fine sieve into a bowl.
2. Add egg yolk and half the butter. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper, stir to combine.
3. Pipe swirled rosettes onto a lined baking sheet. Drizzle remaining butter over potato.
4. Bake at pre-heated oven at 220c for 20-25mins or until lightly browned.

Thanks Angie for sharing Pommes Duchesse recipe, it was yummy while still hot, especially the brown and baked edges..so aroma..

Gulangyu Island, Xiamen China 2011 (鼓浪屿)

I would like to continue sharing the pictures taken during my trip to Xiamen China recently. There are not many places to visit in Xiamen, when i asked the local people where to visit, they told me only Gulangyu Island..The only transport to this island is by ferry, about 5 minutes from Xiamen city center.Gulangyu Island is renowned for its beaches and winding lanes and its varied architecture.

We engaged this lady as our tour guide. She just approached us at the ferry counter and she requested a very minimum fee..There are many peoples similar like her to earn little money as tour guide..

Let me share with you the Colonial architecture on Gulangyu island..

Gulangyu island is a car free island, this is the only transport to carry goods..

This is the beach, don't think one can enjoy at this beach in view of so many tourists..

I tried this local famous snack 金包银 , a steamed bun with full of mushrooms filling, quite good!

going back to Xiamen city by ferry

Homemade Tau Sha Piah (Flaky mung beans biscuits) 豆沙饼

This is another work under 吃饱饭没事做 (Having nothing better to do after being fed). I just like to try out making this "Tau Sha Piah" even i can easily buy this from the outside shops...when this biscuit hot came out from oven, it tastes like the one which is selling in the shop as it is very flaky and smells good !

But, the tedious steps, repeat the rolling steps for each of the small biscuit..

Homemade Tau Sha Piah (Flaky mung beans biscuits) 豆沙饼
(recipe source: as seen in Jane’s corner who adapted from 安琪玲的天空)

Filling
400g peeled mung beans (soaked overnight, steamed and mashed),
1 1/2tsp white pepper
2tsp salt
250g fine sugar

100g cooking oil, 10 shallots (sliced thinly)

Dough A
125g flour
35g shortening
35g cooking oil

Dough B
250g sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp fine sugar
65g shortening
120-130ml water

Method
Filling
1. Combine sugar, salt, and mashed beans in a large bowl. Mix well.
2. Heat oil in wok or pan. Stir-fry the shallots till fragrant and lightly browned, removed fried shallot and chopped into small pcs and grind it, set aside for later use.
3. Stir in the bean mixture, stir-fry on low heat till it becomes dry and able to form a ball.
4. Remove from heat and stir in fried shallots. Cool completely, divide and shape filling into 34 equal portion balls (around 20-22g).

To make Tau Sha Piah
1. Prepare dough A and B separately using the same method. Bring together all ingredients for each dough, mix well and knead to form soft dough. Cover and let them rest for 20 minutes. Divide and shape each dough into 34 equal portion balls.
2. Wrap dough A with dough B. Roll it out into long rectangle shape. Then roll up the dough like the swiss roll. Repeat this step twice.
3. Roll it out into a circle and place the filling at the center. Bring all edges together and pinch to seal.
4. Egg wash and bake in preheated oven at 180 degree C for 20 minutes or till golden brown.

Think twice before you want to try this out, find one day you are really free and nothing to do..very tedious steps indeed..I will also think twice before I will make this again, hehehe....

Saltimbocca (Beef roll with sage leaf)

This was the 1st time I use sage leaf in the cooking. I tried this recipe as seen in Flavours food magazine, this is how they described Saltimbocca -Popular in Rome, this dish is usually served with a salad and boiled potatoes for dinner. You can also vary the ingredients to make a vegetarian version, replacing thinly sliced eggplant for the beef and stuff the roll with parsley, tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Saltimbocca (Beef roll with sage leaf)
(recipe source: adapted from Flavours Food Magazine-Tasting Italy-Oct 2009)
*makes 12pcs

12pcs of beef tenderloin slices
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 slices ham, slice into equal size of beef
30g butter
3tbsp Olive oil
Sage leaves

Method
1. Gently pound the beef slices to flatten into thin slices.
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Lay a piece of ham and sage leaf on top of the beef.
4. Roll and secure with toothpick.
5. In a frying pan, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat.
6. Add 4 sage leaves. Place the beef rolls in the pan and cook until lightly browned.
7. Remove and serve immediately, topped with a sage leaf.

We enjoyed Saltimbocca with mashed potatoes and fresh cherry. Love the fragrant of sage leaf, next time i will  try to use sage leaf to roast a chicken..

Korean Kimchi fried rice

My daughter is Korean drama/K-pop super supporter. And now Kimchi also become our family's favourite dish..I saw this Korean Kimchi fried rice in a Korean cookbook that i bought during my trip to Shanghai. I tried and i have served this fried rice many times as my family just love it..

Usually we serve this with a sunny side-up egg, when the runny egg yolk mixed with the fried rice, so flavourful, creamy, spicy and sour, it was so delicious!

Korean Kimchi fried rice
(recipe source: by Sonia aka Nasi Lemak Lover)


2cups uncooked Japanese short grain rice, cook in a rice cooker


1 onion, chopped
½ yellow pepper, cubed
1 Japanese cucumber, cubed
½ small carrot, chopped


200g chicken breast, cubed (marinate with salt and pepper) , or replaced with minced beef or pork
130g Korean Kimchi, chopped


Seasonings
Chicken stock powder
Salt
Japanese cooking wine, optional


Method
1. Heat some oil in a non-stick pan, sauté onion till aroma.
2. Add chicken, stir fry for 1-2mins.
3. Add in pepper, cucumber, carrot, mix well with chicken and sauté for a while.
4. Add in chopped Kimchi and cooked rice, stir fry to mix well
5. Add in seasonings, stir fry to mix well. Last sprinkle some Japanese cooking wine, combine well. Dish out and serve immediately with a sunny side-up egg, Enjoy!!

Wishing all who celebrates, a very Happy Thanksgiving day and Happy Holidays!!