MOIST LIGHT FRUIT CAKE

After long time, I have baked this Light Fruit Cake  for my family.  As requested again, by  my son, am going to bake his favorite cake.   

Always prefer less sweet and light fruit cake and this Moist Light Fruit Cake has a right balance of mixed fruit and sweetened with brown sugar.   

It is quite easy to make and a real crowd pleaser.  You can eat it anytime of the year not only for Christmas.

Used store bought dry fruit mix or mix your own dried fruit,  coated the fruit mix with flour before adding to the flour mixture. 

As am running out of fruit juice, have added half a cup of isotonic drink.

For eggless version, replace an egg with 1/4 cup plain yogurt or 1/4 cup apple sauce.

Moist Light Fruit Cake bake perfectly for flat 45 minutes and my son can't wait to devour after it came out of oven.  My family gave a thumbs up to this beautiful cake.

PETOLA MASAK LEMAK / LUFFA in COCONUT MILK

Another oil free cooking from my kitchen  with little twist.  Petola or peerkangai in Tamil would taste better if it is young otherwise the old one is fibrous and not pleasant to eat.  Luffa is cooked in coconut milk together with blended ingredients.

Petola Masak Lemak / Luffa in Coconut Milk is just a basic recipe.  You can add or leave out any ingredients you dislike for example, I have added tiger prawns towards the end of cooking as have lightly fried them first and remove to a plate but this is optional. 

For additional kick have used bird's eye chili for this Petola Masak Lemak / Luffa in Coconut Milk.  If you are not a fan of this, just add green or red chili for milder version.

AMAZING CARROT & SWEET POTATO PANCAKE

 

I always love to explore new ways to incorporate veggies in our diet. This Amazing Carrot & Sweet Potato Pancake  is  made with shredded carrot and sweet potato flavored with green chili, onion and ginger. 

It tastes like dal vada that I used to eat.  In my quest to reduce my intake of rice and wheat noodles, i am happy to share my search for this  quick and healthy meal.  

Sweet Potato is high in fiber,  Vitamin C, potassium , decent source of other vitamins and minerals, and rich in  antioxidant  called beta carotene which is very filling.  It can be boiled, steamed, baked or fried. 

Carrot is highly nutritious, high in Vitamin A,C and K, beta carotene,  vital for eye health, low in calories/carbs  and help improve your  immune system.

This Amazing Carrot and Sweet Potato Pancake  not only light but exceedingly tasty.  You could also turns this into cutlets instead of one big pancake.

HOMEMADE PUMPKIN HASHBROWNS

This simple Homemade Pumpkin Hashbrowns  was made with grated pumpkin using box grater with light seasonings for a healthy and yummy breakfast or brunch. 

Adjust the seasonings according to your preference.  Feel free to add garlic and  herbs fresh or dry to enhance the taste of this Homemade Pumpkin Hashbrowns, 

You could also make one large hashbrowns instead of individual patty.  Just scoop the pumpkin mixture onto the pan, flatten to shape into a big disc.  To flip without breaking, transfer it to a plate then put it back in a pan, uncooked part down.

This recipe yields 5 hashbrowns or patties.   Serve them with ketchup, mayo or yogurt.

IKAN MASAK ASAM REBUS (FISH IN HOT SOUR SOUP)

 

IKAN MASAK ASAM REBUS aka FISH IN HOT SOUR SOUP is a favorite of my parent.  It is very healthy as no oil is used.  The fish is cooked in tamarind and chili soup, it has tangy, spicy and slightly sweet taste.

You can use almost any fish but common one was mackerel, tuna, yellow stripe scad (selar kuning)  but I choose red snapper.

Before you start cooking, make sure to clean your fish properly. First remove the balance of scales from the body if any, the easiest way was to ask the fish seller to do that for you.  Then take out the gills, fats and organ otherwise you have a fishy stale smell after it is cooked.

Remove blood clots at the back bone of the fish.  It is not visible as it was covered with a membrane.  Slit open this white membrane and dig out the blood clots. Wash this with running water.  After that I soak my fish for 10 minutes in which 2 small lime juice was added, drain and coat with turmeric and salt.

Substitutions :   5 fresh red chili and 3 bird's eye chili instead of blended chili

1 teaspoon of shrimp paste (belacan) instead of dry anchovies

2-3 pieces asam gelugor  (dried tamarind slices) instead of tamarind paste

1 inch turmeric root instead of turmeric powder

Ikan Masak Asam Rebus tasted really wonderful if you cook with fresh fish and now this dish becomes my favorite too.