LONTONG GORENG

A popular South East Asian dish, made of lontong (compressed rice cake) either home made or store bought. The preparation is pretty similar to mee goreng (fried noodle). They are cubed and fried together with blended dry chili, onion and sauces. Prawn, chicken or mince meat are added together with eggs to further enhance its taste.

This dish is almost a complete meal by itself. The key to make this really fast is to get ready all the ingredients before your turn on the heat for cooking. The following merely a guide, you can substitute or add according to your preference..

LONTONG GORENG

500g lontong (rice cake) cubed
2-3 T chili paste
1 onion chopped
3 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp ginger paste
250g prawns shell removed
2 tomato chopped
2 T tomato sauce
1 T sweet soy sauce
2 T oyster sauce
2-4 eggs beat lightly
3 T cooking oil
Scallion for garnish

METHOD

* Heat oil, fry onion, garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add blended chili, tomato, salt and the sauces, stir for 2 minutes.

* Add the prawn and fry until prawn is cooked. Add the cubed rice cake.

* Push ingredients to the side of pan, add more oil if needed, pour the eggs into the middle and let eggs cook.

* Mix with the other ingredients, stir well. Remove from heat.

* Garnish with scallion at the time of service.

BANANA CHOCOLATE BREAD, MARBLED

A classic favorite, chocolate and banana. It's an  easy recipe that anyone can attempt. For healthier version,  you can use whole wheat flour and brown sugar.

This bread will keep for a couple of days in an airtight container and can also be frozen, It is a great companion with a cup of tea/coffee or a glass of milk. You can easily turns this into a delectable dessert when paired with  chocolate sauce or vanilla ice cream.

CHOCOLATE MARBLE BREAD

All along I've baked rolls and bun with different filling but this time trying my hand to bake something different. Using sweet bread dough, this Chocolate Marble Bread  is born.

I halved the recipe but I suggest you follow the recipe below since my experiment yields a thin loaf, it only fills half of the loaf pan. You can also use ring pan.

Though they turned out not so perfect but Chocolate Marble Bread  tasted incredibly wonderful. Hope my next attempt will be better that this one.

CAULIFLOWER MASALA

This is a simple and easy side dish to go along with steaming white rice or flat bread. Although my son is not a big fan of this veggie but this one is an exception. Using sliced onion, tomato and right balance of spices, this turns out incredibly delicious.

CAULIFLOWER MASALA

300g cauliflower cut into bite size piece
2 Onions chopped
2 Tomato chopped
1/2 tsp cumin seed
1 tsp chili powder
3/4 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp ginger paste
3 garlic chopped
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
2 T coconut milk
2 T cooking oil
1/4 tsp mustard seed
salt to taste
1 sprig curry leaves
1/4 C water

METHOD

* Soak cut cauliflower in hot salty water for 10 minutes, drain.

* Heat the oil, fry the cumin seed and mustard seed until fragrant, add in the onion, cook until light brown.

* Add in ginger,  garlic, salt and tomato, cook until tomato turns soft.

* Now add the chili powder, coriander powder and turmeric, cook until raw smell goes.

* Add the cauliflower,  coconut milk and  1/4 cup of  water,  stir then cover the pan and cook until cauliflower turns soft.

* Sprinkle curry leaves and check the salt. Remove from heat.

PUMPKIN PAYASAM

This is a sweet dessert of South  Asian.  They have different varieties which is made with semolina, rice, sago, vermicelli, carrot, almond,  chana dhal and many more normally boiled in milk,  sweetened with sugar and flavored with cardamom, raisin, pistachio or almond. It varies from region to region.

But now I used fresh pumpkin, first boil then mash them. Quantity of sugar is entirely up to you. This is so creamy and light, best taken after completion your main meal. Cashew and raisin can be fried in ghee (clarified butter) but I just roasted my cashew without them.

PUMPKIN PAYASAM
250g pumpkin mashed
1 C milk
1 C water
1/2-3/4 C sugar
1 tsp cardamom powder
2 T raisin
2 T cashew roasted

METHOD

* Place water and milk in a deep pot, bring to boil.

* Add in sugar and mashed pumpkin, stir until sugar is dissolved.

* Now add the cardamom, stir and remove from heat.

* At the time of serving garnish with raisin and cashew.