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In Recipes

Spicy Baby Octopus Stirfry

February 15, 2023

Korean-style Spicy baby Octopus Stirfry Have you ever walked past baby octopus in the shops and wondered how to cook it? This Spicy Baby Octopus stirfry is beginner friendly and a great way to start out cooking with baby octopus! This delicious dish is quick, easy and healthy. It is also a one-wok wonder, making cleanup a breeze. If you want to make something different for dinner give this Spicy Baby Octopus Stirfry a try tonight! This recipe is inspired by the Korean dish Nakji-bokkeum. It’s flavoured with soy sauce, gochujang and corn syrup. The main flavours are spicy and sweet-savoury. It’s moreish and really opens up the appetite, making it great to pair with rice or noodles, as the filling of a lettuce wrap or as snack for beer and drinks. Cooking with baby octopus Baby octopus is much easier to clean and cook with than large octopus as…

In Recipes

Golden Kimchi

February 8, 2023

Taiwanese Golden Kimchi Golden kimchi is not a true kimchi but rather a quick pickle that originated in Taiwan. It is usually made with wombok or sugarloaf cabbage and carrots. The pickling sauce is actually an emulsion of vinegar and sesame oil. Additionally, its beautiful golden colour comes from the beta-carotene of the carrots in the sauce. Alternatively, pumpkin is sometimes used to flavour and colour the sauce as well. The sauce is well balanced with sweet, salty and sourness which make it the perfect refreshing summer snack or side dish. It is also commonly served as an appetiser in restaurants or beer snack at bars in Taiwan. How long does it keep for? Because golden kimchi is not a true ferment, it unfortunately cannot be kept indefinitely. But if you use a sterilised jar and clean utensils every time you eat it, it will last for two weeks in…

In Recipes

Sourdough starter

December 14, 2022

What is sourdough starter? Sourdough starter a fermented live culture of flour and water. It is used as a means to leaven sourdough bread. Bread is typically made with yeast, flour and water. It replaces commercial yeast, to help the bread rise. Because the starter is rich in unique and individual microflora, the resulting sourdough bread will have its own rich, tangy and unique flavour profile. Starter is still a form of yeast, however it is made of naturally occurring wild yeast in the environment. What do I need to make my own sourdough starter? To make your very own sourdough starter, you only need a few ingredients and materials. You only need flour, water, scales and a jar! I recommend using filtered or bottled water if you want the flavour profile of your starter to be as controlled as possible. For flour, I’d recommend starting off with plain or…

In Recipes

Fluffy Sourdough Pancakes

December 14, 2022

Fluffiest Sourdough Pancakes These pancakes are made from sourdough discard and some simple pantry ingredients. They can be whipped up in less than five minutes and are so delicious and fluffy! These sourdough pancakes will help you start your day off right! I love making these fluffy pancakes on the weekend to enjoy with my family. Sourdough discard To make these delicious sourdough pancakes, you need a sourdough starter. Sourdough discard refers to the portion of sourdough starter that is thrown out before the starter is fed. These fluffiest sourdough pancakes are thick and fluffy because of the interaction of acids from sourdough discard and the baking soda and baking powder. These interactions creates lots of bubbles resulting in deliciously airy and fluffy pancakes! It’s a great way to use up sourdough discard and reduce food waste as well. If you don’t have a sourdough starter, it is definitely worth…

In Recipes

Thai Coconut Rice

July 28, 2022

Thai Coconut Rice Thai coconut rice is a staple at any Thai restaurant and I always order it when I have curry! This deliciously perfumed rice is the perfect foil to rich flavoursome curry. The subtle natural sweetness of the coconut milk is brought forth by a little salt and palm sugar. The fragrance is a delicious combination of kaffir lime and coconut. This underrated rice will elevate any curry to another level. Tips and Tricks If you’ve always wanted to try making your own fluffy and delicious Thai coconut rice at home, here are some tips and tricks to make it a success! The coconut milk – I really recommend using full fat and not skim/ lite because the flavonoids of coconut that perfumes the rice is hiding in the coconut fat! If you use lite coconut milk, it means less coconut fat and therefore less fragrance and flavour!Wash…

In Recipes

Massaman Beef Cheeks

July 28, 2022

Massaman Curry Massaman Beef Cheeks is my take on the Massaman curry – a traditional Thai Curry notable for its inclusion of whole spices. It is a deliciously rich curry of potato and beef, with a mild hum of chilli and spice throughout. It is famous for good reason! Because it is simply irresistible! As with most delicious curries, it does take a bit of time to develop those rich flavours. This recipe is definitely more complex and takes longer. Which is why you will notice it is quite a large serving (serves 8). Because if you are spending the time and effort to make it, you might as well make a big batch, because curry always tastes better the next day! Of course, you can always halve the recipe to just serve 4, but who wouldn’t say yes to more curry? Massaman Beef Cheeks This is my cheeky (pun…

In Recipes

Cumquat Parfait

July 15, 2022

Cold, creamy delicious Cumquat Parfait Cumquat parfait is a lusciously creamy dessert that will instantly cool you down on a hot summer’s day. Its tangy, sweet and citrusy flavour profile makes it simply irresistible. It is very easy to make and you don’t need any special equipment or ice cream churner. The active cooking time is also very short, the hardest part is waiting for the parfait to set! What equipment do you need? This cumquat parfait recipe is simple and doesn’t need much equipment. You can achieve a delicious creamy texture without an ice cream churner! You will need only basic equipment like an electric whisk, spatula, pot and mixing bowl. I recommend using silicon molds to set the parfaits in for easy release, you can set them in any cute shape! Alternatively, you can set them in plastic boxes and just scoop it out like ice cream. Choose…

In Cookbooks

The Dessert Game by Reynold Poernomo

July 15, 2022

The Dessert Game This cookbook is all about – you guessed it! Desserts! It is one of the most versatile dessert cookbooks I own and is extremely good value for money. It covers not just basic dessert skills but a wide variety of beautifully plated desserts as well. If you love creating gorgeous food or have a sweet tooth, then this cookbook is a must for your bookshelf! Review The Dessert Game is split into different “levels”, much like a video game. It is split into three main levels. The idea is that as you cook through the different recipes in the book, your skill level increases as well. With later recipes building upon the skills learnt from earlier recipes. This will then give you the confidence needed to tackle the harder recipes at the end of the book. Alternatively, if you are already a confident cook, you can jump…

In Pantry Staples

Doubanjiang

July 6, 2022

Doubanjiang – What is it? Doubanjiang (豆瓣醬) is a sauce/ paste that is made from fermented beans. It is a very common Chinese condiment and is a staple in my kitchen! There are many different types of fermented bean paste that come from different regions of China. Depending on the region and the beans used, the flavour profiles and taste of the sauce is completely different. Commonly used beans for fermentation are soy beans, black beans or broad beans. Some doubanjiang have chilli added during the manufacturing process which adds another dimension of flavour and heat. What Doubanjiang should you use? All doubanjiangs are delicious and are instant flavour bombs. Generally, you should use one that comes from the same region as the dish you are planning to make. The doubanjiang I have in my kitchen is a Taiwanese one that uses soybeans as the base. I found Taiwanese doubanjiang…

In Recipes

Lemon Ricotta Loaf

July 5, 2022

One bowl Lemon Ricotta Cake This delicious lemon ricotta cake loaf will bring a ray of sunshine into your house! It’s called a lemon ricotta loaf, but it really is a lemon ricotta cake that is baked in a loaf tin for easy slicing. It’s addictive and so simple to make. The best thing is there is minimal cleanup needed because its one-bowl! I first tried this yummy loaf cake at a local cafe and was instantly hooked to the fresh citrus-y and lemon-y flavour! Lemon flavoured desserts are my soft spot (I adore Lemon Crisps) I was left wanting for more and before I realised I kept thinking about it constantly! I just had to figure out how to make this delicious lemon loaf for myself. After many tries and tweaks, I finally ended up with a recipe I’m happy with! Minimal Equipment You don’t need much equipment to…