Radish & Carrot Chicken Soup

It's been for weeks we have not making or boiling any soup for our meals due to our busy schedule.  Simon has reminded me by telling me he missed soup.  He is a big fan of any types of soup.  I was actually cracking my head thinking what type of soup that suitable for us, as both of us just recovered from our fever and cough, and worse, I am not prepared for any.  I went for a check in my fridge and see what can I do from there.  The radish and carrots catches my eyes, and happens I have just bought chicken from the fresh mart this morning.  And here it goes - Radish and Carrot Chicken Soup!

I love soup too!  For me soup is a type of comfort food.  This soup is common in the Chinese society and is so easy to prepare.  It's a delicious and yet nourishing soup and taste good too. Not only that, the combination of radish and carrots is known to assist and to improve your digestion, especially radish is good for blood detoxification.  I have also added in with red dates which are rich with fiber and much needed minerals and energy to help you stay fit and healthy!

Thai Style Sesame Glass Noodle #SundaySupper

Even though I have missed the first Mom 100 Cookbook event organized by #SundaySupper and am glad to be one of the participants for this round.  Thanks so much to #SundaySupper for giving me this opportunity.

Being a full time working profession, I always have time restriction to prepare dinner (the only meal that can prepare for the day) for Simon and myself.  Despite the advises from friends and relatives to have our meal outside as just two of us but we still believes homemade meals are most precious one.  I fully agreed with Katie Workman saying in her latest The Mom 100 Cookbook's website (The MOM 100 Cookbook) - "Because homemade not only tastes best, it is best for you."  I viewed all her kitchen tips from her blog and I am amazed! 

I have used one of her tips for this recipe - Getting all the Zest!  Amazingly, I save half of the time compare with my usual method.  Thanks Katie, you have made my day in the kitchen! 

Thai Style Sesame Glass Noodle is my choice for this event.  I choose Thai style because both me and Simon likes spicy food.  I boiled the glass noodle and toss it with dressing (combination of lemon zest and juice, fish sauce, sesame oil, sugar and chili paste).  I have also added in the minced chicken which I stir-fried with sesame oil to match the noodle.  I just used about 30 minutes to prepare this dish, hope all of you will like it too.

Century Egg Chinese Dumpling Soup

It’s been raining for the past whole week in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah - also known as Land Blow the Wind and marked the seventh month after my transferred from the busy city life of Kuala Lumpur (the capital of Malaysia).  In this cold mood has made me craving for the hot dumpling soup.

Chinese dumplings are made by spreading a square wrapper which made of flour, egg, water and salt (normally you can get the ready made form easily from any the supermarket) on your palm and start to place a small amount of filling in the center and seal into your desired shape by compressing or fold the wrapper’s edges with your fingers and a little bit of water.

As for the filling I have used the common minced pork and I have added with something unusual – century egg.  And also some chopped cucumbers to make it more revive.  Whereas the soup, I have used the simple chicken stock as the base.  This easy to prepare dumpling soup is perfect blend in for tonight dinner. 

Ingredients
(a) Dumpling wrapper – 1 pack (normally consists of 50 pcs)

(b) Filling
200gm pork minced meat seasoned with the following:
1 tsp corn flour
1 tbsp of soy sauce
1 tsp of ground white pepper
2 tsp of same oil

½ cucumber, chop finely
4 medium size of mushroom, soak and sliced and cut finely
2 century eggs, cut in small cube

(c) Soup
1 tbsp of chicken stock powder, mix with warm water
2 onions, chop finely
2 slices of ginger
1 tbsp of cooking oil
2 bowls of water

Some spring onions or lettuce for garnish

Directions

1.   Mix the seasoned minced meat with cucumber, mushrooms and century eggs.  

 

The well-mixed filling

2.   Spread a wrapper on your palm and place the filling using a spoon on it.

Placing filling in the center of the wrapper

3.   Wet the edge of the wrapper with water and compress it or fold it into triangle shape.

Folding dumpling into triangle shape

Or compress the dumpling

4.   Repeat the same until you have finished all filling.

5.   Soup preparations – sautéed on onions and ginger, add in water and the mixed chicken stock and simmer in low heat.

6.   In another pot or wok boil with water, put in dumplings to boil. 

To cook or boil the dumplings in a separate pot or wok

7.   Once cooked (the dumplings will be floating if cooked), remove, drain and transfer to the serving bowl.

8.   Scoop in soup and garnish with spring onions or lettuce.

The century egg dumplings ready to serve

Golden Potato Patties for #Sunday Supper

This is my second participation in #Sunday Supper.  This week theme is Kids in the Kitchen to talk about bringing the whole family into the kitchen and have fun.  Initially, I was hesitant to join in as I don’t have children but this has made me thought of all my nieces and nephews in hometown, who are lives more than a thousand miles away from me now.  I promised them on the phone to make this for them on my next trip back to hometown and I know they will love it as potatoes are always the favorite for me and the kids. 

In Malaysia, these deep fried potato patties also call as “Begedil” usually eat alongside with curries.  Well, you can also treat it as a snack.  Its goes well with some chili or tomato sauce. For me, I will just like to wrap it with a piece of lettuce, yummy!  To make it more savory I have added in with minced meat and I have preferred pork instead of the regular beef for a change.  I used celery and spring onions leaves to add on with the fragrance.  I bet these golden-brown delicate patties will draw a lot of attentions and I hope you will like it too!  You may want to try to make it together with your kids too.  Have fun! J