Foolproof home made fries

You will be surprised how easy it is and how cheap it is to make you own flavoured fries from scratch!

I used 3 potatoes, unskin them and cut them up into the thickness you like. Boil them for 3 minutes (be careful with this, you don't want to cook them). After boiling, pat them dry and heat the oil. Put the potatoes in when the oil has been heated (you will hear the sizzling sound). Then, add in the herbs you want. I chose rosemary and pepper and some grounded red chilli. Stir them along with the potatoes. I did add some salt but I felt I could do without it, so it really depends on yourself though. Fry till golden brown and its all ready to be eaten after cooling them. You don't have to add anything else after. Serve hot and sauces aren't needed! Enjoy! :D

Sambal Chilli

Recipe:

Belachan 

Spices

Chilli paste (grind from dried chilli)

Onion

Garlic

Lemongrass

Dried chestnut

Red chilli

Dried shrimp

Sugar

Above are the ingredients used, but I don't have the proportions used so I will just note down some things you have to follow to make nicer sambal.

Note

1. Do not put a lot of belachan. There will be a heavy taste.

2. Add less lemon grass. The smell will be quite strong and grind it.

Other than that, just add the ingredients slowly and taste until you are satisfied!

Char Kweh Teow using the chilli

The Handburger

Review

Visited the Handburger at 313 Somerset. FYI, they will be closing down on 25 nov. You can still visit their Raffles City Outlet.

I did some research before heading down to try their burgers. The more common burgers that were recommended: The Works, Chicken Cajun, Stuffed Portobello and the Battered Dory.

I tried the Works and stuffed portobello because I am a huge fan of mushrooms. What I liked about the Works, the onion rings and the sauce. The beef patty was kind of normal. The portobello mushroom was huge and it's really healthy with spinach as stuffings. However, I found the mushroom taste too overwhelming even for me, a mushroom fan. My suggestion would be to order a meat patty burger and complement with the mushroom burger.

Overall, the food was nice and filling too. The burgers came along with a side, fries or mushroom soup or house salad. I didn't really like the mushroom soup. The fries were nice and the sauce that accompanied the fries was kind of special, being a little sour. I would definitely return to try out the other burgers!

Cinnamon puffs

Using puff pastry,
Just add 2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder and 2 tablespoon of sugar.
You can adjust according to your own preference.
Use a spoon and spread it over the pastry dough. Then roll it up and cut into small pieces.
Brush beaten egg on the rolls and bake in preheated oven at 200 Degree Celsius until golden brown.
Do not over bake it!

Mini sausage rolls

Chicken sausage rolls using puff pastry.

Puff pastry dough (you can always buy the ready made kinds)

Ingredients:
240g plain flour
1/2 tsp salt
250g cold unsalted butter
130ml cold water

Steps:
1. Put the flour and salt in a large bowl and mix together. Add butter and rub in with your finger.
2. Make a well in the centre and pour in cold water. Mix them together and use your hands to shape the dough into a ball.
3. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll it out.
4. Fold the dough and roll it out. Repeat.
5. Chill the pastry for 30 minutes before using.

So once you have gotten the pastry, just cut up the sausages and roll it up using your pastry dough. Brush beaten egg on it and send it to preheated oven at 200 Degree Celsius.

Almond Butter Biscuits

Ingredients:
225g butter
120g sugar (can use 100g of sugar if you prefer it to be less sweet)
1 yolk
180g flour
50g self raising flour
1/4 tsp salt
75g grounded almond

Step:
First mix the butter, sugar and yolk.
Next, mix everything together.
Bake in preheated oven at 180 Degree Celsius for 10mins or until golden brown.
Brush the cookies with sugar and milk mixture before putting into oven!

I made these some time ago. It turned out to be soft and crispy. It tastes like those goodies you eat during the Chinese New Year. I am considering to make them to give away as goodies during the festive season next year!

Papaya Milkshake

A healthier lifestyle with just a blender! Use half a papaya and add Magnolia HL low fat milk according to your own liking.

Papayas nutrition information:
Contains vitamin C, calcium, potassium
Aids digestion because of the enzymes, chymopapain and papain that helps digest protein.
Low calories too!

Kimchi Fried Rice

In an attempt of following the kimchi fried rice we ate at Novena (will do a post on the Korean eatery), mummy requested me to try cooking it for her. Here is what I used but I left out a most important ingredient - the red pepper paste which didn't make it as authentic.

Ingredients
Kimchi
Bean sprouts
Onion
Garlic
Ham
Overnight cooked rice (best for making fried rice)
Soy sauce
Butter

Steps:
1. Heat a pan with oil
2. Sauté the onion and kimchi
3. Add bean sprouts ,garlic, soy sauce and some butter
4. Add the ham and rice and fry everything together!

Easy and nice! I will try out with red pepper paste next time! Feel free to comment on the above recipe!