Showing posts with label Breakfast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breakfast. Show all posts
Thursday, August 19, 2010

Spinach, Mushroom and Ham Quiche

    When i visited Seatle last year, i took the opportunity to meet up with my dear friend, TT.  Although TT can be the son that i never had(how i wish), his knowledge in the culinary arena surpass mine by many folds.  Visit his blog Playing With My Food and you will understand what i mean.  When i met up with him for dim sum, he gave me this book -The Sweeter side of Amy's Bread"  and wished me well by writing this - To Lily - May you always be on the "Sweeter" side of life".  I was quite choked up with his wishes and when i feel down, i always kept  this in mind.  So, out with this book and made this Quiche.  This recipe is a keeper, thank you TT, if not for you, making this lovely recipe will not be possible.












    Ingredients:


    Whole Wheat Pastry Crust:

    2/3 cup/5.15 ozx/146 gm unsalted butter, cut into 3/4 inch dice
    5/8 cup + 1 tbsp/4 ozs/112 gm cream cheese
    4 tbsp/1.83 ozs/52 gm ice water
    2 1/2 apple cider vinegar
    1 cup + 1 1/2 tbsp/5.60 ozs/158 gm unbleached all-purpose flour
    1/2 cup/3.0 ozs/86 gm whole wheat flour
    3/4 tsp kosher salt/1.2 tsp table salt
    1/2 tsp baking powder

    Method:

    Freeze the diced butter and cream cheese for at least 30 minutes.  In a small cups or bowl, combined the iced water and the vinegar.

    In a food proccesor fitted with the metal balde, combine the 2 flours, salt and baking powder and process them for 5 seconds until they are just combined. 

    Add the frozen chunks of cream cheese and process again for 5 seconds or until the mixture looks like coarse meal.

    Add the butter chunks and process again for 10 to 15 seconds until the largest pieces of butter are about the size of peas.

    Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and sprinkle it with the ice water mixture. (If you don't have a food processor, mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl with a wire whisk and rub very cold, not frozen, cream cheese into the flour with your fingers until it looks like coarse meal..  Repeat the process with very cold, not forzen, butter chunks until the largest pieces of butter are about the size of peas.  If the butter starts to feel soft, freeze the mixture for 10 minutes before continuing.  Sprinkle the ice water mixture over the flour).  Using your hands, stir the mixture, pressing it together firmly until it forms. a cohesive ball of dough.  There should not be any pockets of dry crumbs remaining.  If necessary sprinkle in another 1 or 2 tsps of ice water.  Place the ball of dough on a large piece of plastic wrap, seal the wrap aaround the dough, and flatten the ball to make a round 3/4 inch thick disk.  Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out.  This dough may be kept refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 6 months.

    Ingredients for the Quiche 

    1 tbsp + 1/2 tsp olive oil
    One 8 oz package fresh mushroom, halved, cunt into 1/8 inch slices
    1 cup ham diced very small
    One 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
    Salt and pepper to taste
    3/4 cup onion - finely chopped
    2 1/2 tsp garlic finely chopped

    1 cup Monterey Jack cheese corarsely shredded

    Custard Filling

    1 1/2 cup/8.5 oz/240 gms half and half
    5 large eggs
    1/2 tsp kosher salt
    A pinch of ground cayenne pepper

    Method:

    Position one rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat the oven to 400f. 

    Line the 12 x 17 inch sheet pan with baking parchment. 

    Remove the bottoms from the mini tart pans or a 9 or 10 inch tart pan and place bottomless pans on the prepared sheet pan.

    Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch.  Cut 6 circles of dough, each 6 1/8 inches in diameter.  Line each tart pan with a dough circle and blind bake the crusts(use coffee filters and topping with weights(i used beans)  for 20 minutes, or until they barely begin to brown.  Remove the weights and the paper and continue baking for 4 - 5 more minutes, until lightly browned and the bottoms are just starting to look a little dry.  Don't be concerned if the crust bottoms puff up slightly after the weights are removed, they should deflate again when they come out of the oven.

    In a medium skillet or saute pan, heat 1/2 tsp of the olive oil and cook the mushrooms over medium heat with salt and pepper to taste, stirring occasionally until their water has been released and they start to brown 6 - 7 minutes.  Transfer the mushrooms to a large bowl and set aside.

    Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in the pan and add the onions and garlic with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring occasionally, until they become translucent, 2 - 3 minutes. 

    Add the spinach and ham to the pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, and cook briefly until the spinach and ham are cooked through,  Transfer the mixture to the bowl with the mushrooms and mix it all together with a wooden spoon until everything is evenly distributed.  Let  cool slightly before mixing in the cheese.

    To make the custard filling

    In a large measuring cup or a 3 to 4 cup container with a pour spout, whisk together the half and helf , eggs, salt and cayenne pepper until well combined.

    Five to 10 minutes after the crusts come out of the oven, with the tart pans still on the baking sheet, spread 1/3 cup of the spinach, mushroom, ham and cheese mixture evenly in the bottom of each tart shell.  If using a 9 - 10 inch tart pan - use all the mixture. 

    Stir the custard and pour it over the spinach, filling each pan to within 1/8 inch of the top edge of the pastry.  Don't overfill the shells, or the custard will run out during baking.  It's not a total disaster if this happens.  The quiche will still be edible but there will be less filling in the shell.

    Return the pan to the oven abnd bake for 20 - 25 minutes, or until the eges of the filling begin to puff up and the center still jiggles slightly when you shake the pan.  (The 9 - 10 inch tart pan might need a longer time to get custard to set).

    Place the sheet pan on a wire rack to cool.  When cooled enough to handle, remove the quice from the pans.  Pans with filling that has run over may have to cool longer before the quiche can be extracted from the pans.

    Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

    Leftovers may be regrigerated or frozen and reheated in a 400f oven for 20 minutes, or until heated all the way through.




    Serves
    Source URL: http://plasticsurgerycelebrities.blogspot.com/search/label/Breakfast
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Friday, August 6, 2010

How to Make Yogurt in the Microwave

    This summer, prices for a gallon of milk has gone down tremendously - only $1.49 for a gallon.  Thus making homemade yogurt less expensive.although it is already so much less than the store-bought ones.  Making your own  helps you control the amount of fat you consume but i find that whole milk yogurt is richer and tastes the best. Fruits and berries are of abundance and cheap too,  so do add as much or varieties into your yogurt, it is a real treat. Yogurt-making in any other way is a lengthy project, but using the microwave to make yogurt can save you some time in the process



     Ingredients:

    Glass bowl

    4 cups fresh milk
    1/4 cup powdered milk (adding this gives a better texture)
    2 tbsp. plain yogurt with active cultures  - from the supermaket is fine or leftover from a previous homemade batch

    Food thermometer

    Microwave

    Plastic wrap

    Dish towel



    Method:
    Take the plain yogurt out of the fridge and leave it out on the counter  - it has to be at room temp. (Yogurt will take a longer time to set if cold yogurt is used)

    Pour 4 cups of fresh milk into a glass bowl that is safe to use in a microwave. Choose skim milk for a nonfat yogurt or whole milk for a richer yogurt. (i put  the milk in the container that the completed yogurt will be stored in the fridge - save me washing the glass bowl)

    Add 1/4 cup powdered milk and stir well.

    Put the bowl of milk in the microwave and heat it on high power for 3 - 4 minutes. The temperature of the milk should reach 175 - 180  degrees F. (Time to reach 175 - 180 f depends on the wattage of your microwave)  After 4 minutes or more, check the temperature with a food thermometer.(Cooking the milk is to kill unnecessary bacteria present)

    Allow the milk to cool down for a few minutes. Keep the thermometer in the bowl and let it cool down until the temperature reads 100 degrees F(Higher temp will kill the culture)

    Add 2 tbsp.plain yogurt with active cultures to the milk. This serves as your starter. Stir well.

    Cover the bowl with milk and yogurt with plastic wrap (my container has a lid, so i just close it with the lid)and wrap a dish towel around it to provide additional insulation.(It is hot now, summer, so i do not need to wrap with a dish towel, i left it on the counter).

    The yogurt will be set eventually and when set, put in the refrigerator to chill, it will set further.(If you like your yogurt sour, keep it longer on the counter before chilling in the fridge)

    Enjoy with fruits, granola etc, anything your heart desires.

    As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received this  ALL-BRAN Bran Buds from Kellogg's and i have been enjoying it with my yogurt every morning.  Thank you Kellogg's.

    .













     Serves
    Source URL: http://plasticsurgerycelebrities.blogspot.com/search/label/Breakfast
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Ginger Milk Curd

    I have heard of this Ginger Milk Curd but did not have a chance to taste it until i managed to buy a ready mixed in the asian store here.  It was so easy to make, like making a cup of 3 in 1 coffee and i like the texture and taste very much.  In fact i love anything that has ginger.  Ginger has been my savior when digestion is concerned.  It has helped to rid of the huge bubble of gas build-up which has caused me alot of pain.  I decided to make this curd from scratch and after going through many recipes and know how from the net,  went ahead to make one bowl for myself.  At first, i doubted that it will set, how can just ginger juice and milk set? but it did.  The crucial part in this recipe is to have the milk in the correct temperature - 176f  - 165 f. This recipe is only for 1 small bowl, double or triple if you have to.

    Ingredients:

    150 ml whole milk
    1 tbsp ginger juice
    1 tsp sugar/sugar substitute


    Method:



    Grate ginger with a microplane grater and squeeze the juice through a strainer.  Measure 1 tbsp and leave in a small bowl.

    Measure 150 ml of whole milk and add in 1 tsp of sugar or sugar substitute.

    Microwave on high for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes to obtain the temperature of 176f - 186f.  Cooking time differs as microwave oven differs in wattage - know your microwave wattage.

    Stir the ginger juice, then pour the hot milk into the ginger juice and allow it to set.  Curd should set in 10 minutes.  A spoon rested on top of curd will not sink, then you know that the curd has set.

    ENJOY


    Serves
    Source URL: http://plasticsurgerycelebrities.blogspot.com/search/label/Breakfast
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Friday, June 18, 2010

Spam Musubi

    In Hawaii, Spam musubi, a tradition of Japanese onigiri,  is a very popular snack   Spam musubi is composed of a block of rice, be it jasmine or sushi rice,  with a slice of grilled spam(luncheon meat can be used, then the snack will be called Luncheon Musubi) on top and nori (seaweed) wrapping to hold it together. There are no fast rules to making this yummy snack except for the 3 main ingredients, cooked rice, Spam and Nori.  The sauce is of your own choice and if you are like me, i like mine naked - meaning 'no sauce' cos i find that the Spam is flavorful enough, in fact too salty.  A musubi mould would be good to have but until i visit Hawaii to get one, i will have to continue to make my musubi with a homemade improvised mould - an empty small can of Spam with both ends removed and a thick cardboard cut to the size of the can, covered with several layers of aluminium foil to be used as a press. A word of caution, the edges of the bottom of spam can is very sharp, so neaten sharp edges and use with caution.   I love making spam musubi for breakfast cos it is fast to make.  You know - asian household -  i always have leftover cooked rice and i will just heat it up in the microwave.  I even use the microwave to brown my slices of Spam - no washing of pans.  Yes, in a jiffy you can assemble and a sumptous breakfast/snack can be served.



    Ingredients:

    5 cups cooked sushi rice/jasmine rice, room temperature
    5 sheets nori, cut in half lengthwise
    1 (12 oz.) can Spam
    Furikake(optional), to taste

    Sauce:
    6 tbsp soy sauce
    4 tbsp mirin
    4 tbsp sugar






    Method:Cut Spam into 10 slices. Fry until slightly crispy. Remove and drain on plate lined with paper towels.

    To make the sauce, in another pan, combine soy sauce, mirin and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low. Add Spam slices, coating them in the mixture. When mixture has thickened, remove Spam from pan.

    To assemble, lay a sheet of nori lengthwise on a clean surface. Moisten lower half of musubi mould and place on lower third of nori. Fill musubi mould with rice and press rics flat until the rice is 3/4-inch high(this height is desirable but it does not matter, if you have put in more rice, then the height will be taller -  no rocket science). Sprinkle rice with furikake if using. Top with slice of Spam. Remove musubi mould with the press still on top of Spam,  keep in a bowl of warm water to keep it clean and moist.



    Starting at the end towards you, remove the press and  fold nori over Spam and rice stack, and keep rolling until completely wrapped in the nori. Slightly dampen the end of the nori to seal it.

    Repeat with the other nine Spam slices, making sure to rinse off musubi maker after each use to prevent it from getting too sticky.

    Source URL: http://plasticsurgerycelebrities.blogspot.com/search/label/Breakfast
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Glutinious Rice Roll

    Today is the 5th Day of the Fifth Moon following the Lunar Calender and today is the day of the 'Chung/Rice Dumpling Festival'.   I had wanted to make  some 'chung'  but due to unforeseen circumstances was not able to make some - excuses - excuses!!!  But...... since i do have leftover Law Mei Farn which is a very good filling for these Rolls.  These rolls are so much easier and faster to make and I am pleased that i have kept half the tradition by having glutinious rice served today but in another form.  You can follow any pau dough recipe or follow the one below.


     Ingredients:

    Pau Dough:

    2 cups pau flour(if all-purpose flour is used - add more water to make into a soft dough)
    3/4 cup wheat starch
    2 tsp baking powder
    3/4 cup powdered/confectioner's sugar
    1 1/2 tbsp shortening/lard
    1 tsp instant yeast
    2/3 cup water(adjust according)
    1/4 tsp vinegar

    Filling:

    1/2 recipe of Law Mei Farn

    Method:

    To make pau dough:

    Put flour, wheat starch, baking powder, powdered sugar and yeast in the food processor and pulse a few times to mix ingredients well..

    Add in shortening/lard and pulse until well mixed.

    Add vinegar to the water and pour into flour mixture with the food processor on,  Mix until a soft ball forms - water has to adjusted, adding more a little at a time, to make dough into a very soft and pliable dough.

    Remove from food processor and knead until smooth, then leave to proof until double it's size.

    To assemble:

    Roll the 'law mei farn' into a 2 inch log.

    Punch down the pau dough and roll into a rectangle that is big enough to wrap the law mei farn log.

    Wrap the law mei farn log with the pau dough rectangle and pinch the seam well.

    Cut the log into 1 1/2 inch pieces and put a piece of greaseproof paper underneath every piece. Leave rolls to proof again before steaming.  Pau dough should feel puffy and if touched lightly, the dough should not spring back and the dent remained)

    Bring the water in the steamer to a very high boil and steam pau rolls for 8 - 10 minutes.

    Serve hot

    Serves
    Source URL: http://plasticsurgerycelebrities.blogspot.com/search/label/Breakfast
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Friday, May 28, 2010

Round Crimped Loaf Bread

    I don't know if this bread is still available in Malaysia as this bread was my favorite.  It was there way before sliced sandwich bread and the crimp gave guide to slicing into very thin slices,  Bread of yesteryears was from cottage industry and mostly made by Hainanese (yes, the same clan who introduced the famous - Chicken Rice and Kopi(coffee)).  The bread made was white bread , tall with a lovely rounded brown top.  These bread was fantastic for making 'roti kiap' but the only set back is that this bread can taste very sour sometimes - not very consistent with the oven, which was wood fired.  Ah!  'roti kiap'  - how i miss it!!  =  2 slices of soft white bread cut into about 1 inch thick, squished(not really squished) with a grill basket and put over the charcoal stove.  Gone are the days of charcoal grilling, the bread toaster has conquered the kitchen. Oops, off track, sorry, now back to the round crimped bread -  this style of bread must be a legacy of the British and i found in the net that the moulds for this bread could be from 1800's.

    Ingredients:

    1 egg plus water to make 1 cup
    2 tbsp sugar
    2 tbsp powdered milk
    1 tsp salt
    2 tbsp oil
    2 cups bread flour
    1 cup whole meal flour
    1 1/2 tsp instant yeast

    Method:

    Put in egg and water into bread machine bowl, then follow by the other ingredients ending with the instant yeast on top.

    Select the 'dough' function and press start.

    When bread is ready, remove from bowl and shape into a log - length to fit the size of the bread mould.  Lock the mould and leave bread to proof.  It will take 1 - 2 hrs depending on the weather.  To check if the bread has packed the mould, give a tap on the top of mould and it should not sound hollow.

    Bake in preheated 375 f oven for 45 mins.

    Remove and let it rest for 10 minutes before opening the mould.

    Cool bread before slicing.

    enjoy


    Serves
    Source URL: http://plasticsurgerycelebrities.blogspot.com/search/label/Breakfast
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Monday, May 24, 2010

Banana Cake

    How lucky Malaysians are with so many types of bananas to choose from.  The unforgetable Rastali and Pisang Emas are a must to eat when you are in Malaysia.  Pisang Emas is more friendly than Rastali, which is best eaten when it is perfectly ripened.  Here in the States, bananas in the regular supermarkets are of the 'Sweet William/Cavendish' variety - one and only - no choice.  But, now and then, Baby Bananas which is Pisang Emas is being sold.  When i see them on the shelf, i will not hesitate to get a bunch, no matter how much it will cost.  The asian stores in Chinatown Denver, do sell Baby Bananas, but they don't seem to look good at all.  I have always wondered if there is a difference in the taste of the cake made with Cavendish bananas compared to a cake made with Baby Bananas/Piisang Emars.  Since i have several baby bananas which were over-riped, i decided to try out this recipe of  Florence from Do What I like, and thank you Florence, this recipe is a keeper and the pisang emas does make a difference to the taste of the cake.



    Ingredients:

    200g cake flour
    3/4 tsp baking powder
    1/2  tsp baking soda)Friends from sea-level, use 3/4 tsp)
    50g unsalted butter at room temperature
    25ml corn oil
    80g - 100g sugar(i use 80 g and it is just the right sweetness)
    2 eggs lightly beaten
    210g banana puree with 10ml lemon juice
    60ml milk
    A pinch of salt
    A drop of banana essence
    60g walnuts (optional)





    Method:

    Sieve flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

    Cream butter, corn oil and sugar till smooth and creamy.

     Add in the lightly beaten eggs 1/4 at a time till well blended.

    Add in the banana puree and the essence.

    Add in the 1/3 of the sieved flour and half the milk.  Repeat and end with the last third of the sieved flour..

    Stir in the walnuts if you are using.
    Bake in a lined loaf pan or 2 small lined loaf pans at a preheated oven of 350f for 45 - 60 minutes


    Serves
    Source URL: http://plasticsurgerycelebrities.blogspot.com/search/label/Breakfast
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Saturday, May 22, 2010

Horse's Hoof/Mah Keok

    This is another spin-off from Hum Cheem Paeng.  This is a cousin of The Butterfly and Ox Tongue.  I have always thought that Horse's Hoof and Ox Tongue is the same but looking at the recipes for Ox Tongue,  i can see a difference.  Al;though the shape is the same, Ox Tongue has a sweet filling.  When i was back home last month, my dearest friend, Nancy, who still resides in Seremban, took me to the best YCK stall there and i stood there watching how YCK, Hum Cheem Paeng, Kap Chong and a new shape which i shall call = Seremban Butterfly were formed.  Forming all these were so easy for the stall owner and i would never imagine that they were done this way, if i had not watched him rolling, dusting and frying away.  I will have to do a batch of Seremban Butterfly before i forget how it is formed


    Ingredients:

    1 recipe of Hum Cheem Paeng II
    Sesame seeds

    Glaze:

    1 tbsp all purpose flour
    1 tbsp cornflour
    3 tbsp sugar
    60 ml water

    Method:

    Roll Hum Cheem Paeng dough into a 1/2 inch thickness rectangle with one side which is 8 inches.

    Spread the glaze all over the rectangle and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.  Cover with cling-wrap and roll lightly over the sesame seeds so that it will adhere to the dough.

    Fold the rectangle into half making a 4 inch side rectangle.

    Cut into 1 inch slices and pinch the two ends to look like the Horse's Hoof.

    Deep fry in moderately hot oil until golden brown.
    Remove and place to drain on a  cake rack which is on top of a lined baking sheet.

    Serves
    Source URL: http://plasticsurgerycelebrities.blogspot.com/search/label/Breakfast
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