Claypot Braised Tofu #SundaySupper

Happy Sunday everyone!  Glad I am able to join the #SundaySupper again!  This week theme is One Pot Recipe and this event is host by Amy Kim from Kimci Mom.  

Even though I am not living in a country with four seasons but I know the weather is going cooler towards the end of the year at most of the countries especially to most of our #SundaySupper members.  The kitchen chief at home of course will start cracking their head what kind of comfort food to ward their family members.  So, you must not miss this week #SundaySupper event that will give you a long list of easy-to-make-recipe - One Pot.  What's more convenient cooking ways that just need to put everything in a pot?

I have chosen a claypot as my main cooking stool for this theme.  For us Chinese, we believe a claypot dish will able to maintain the food warm temperature and best during the cold weather.  Here is my new toy in my kitchen - the claypot!

Braised Tofu is always my favorite but I have not tried it in a claypot and I am confident that it will turn-out good. And, it really does not disappointed us!  From the first bite on the tofu, it was marvelous - you still feel the hotness and juice in it. I am quite certain the tenderness of the tofu because I had deep fried them before hand.  It's really make lots of different.  Beside tofu, I have added some chicken breast meat to enrich the taste of the gravy.  Other ingredients are button mushrooms and vegetables.  

Well, let see whether this One Pot dish will get your attention!

Unbaked Healthy Oatmeal Sesame Bars #SundaySupper

It's been more than six months since my last participation in #SundaySupper.  My sincere apologies to all my #SundaySupper members for my long absence.  This was due to my havoc working life and is getting better now.

I have planned this recipe ready to go live this weekend and I kind of excited to find out that it's suits this week #SundaySupper theme - Crunch Goodness!  So, how can I resist? 

This is my first trial on unbaked recipe and am quite satisfied with it.  I have used honey instead of cooking chocolate or peanut butter on my recipe.  These oatmeal bars is a perfect choice for those who are on healthy diet as there are ample of vital nutrients in it and of course is easy to make!  After this experience, I will try to come out with more varieties of snack healthy bars for sure.

Steamed Ginger Chicken with Mushroom

Every time when I came back from a short holiday to my hometown, I have to take some time to settle down with my emotion, but this time is so much better as I have Simon with me.  At least I don't feel lonely during on board.  As usual my two sisters will prepare some food to bring back with me.  This time I have got some dumplings......my favorite, which I have missed out for almost two years.    One thing that we enjoy the most during the trip were the fabulous food.  No matter is home cooked food that prepared my eldest sister or outside local food.  My sister is also great cook, could be inherited from my late mom.  

Talking about my mom's recipes I have this recipe for so long and had inspired me to try this out and share with all of you, that is Steamed Ginger Chicken with Mushroom.  Steaming is always a wonderful way of enhancing the taste, texture, color and nutritional value of the food, so do this recipe. 

I have modified a little on the marinade from the original ingredients.  I have added in with some ginger juice to enhance the ginger taste in the chicken. I also have used some Chinese wine when I steam the chicken.  There are few important steps that need your attention and there are the timing of steaming, it should not over cooked.  This gives you the smoothness of meat. Of course you also need to use a real quality fresh chicken as this will give you a perfect taste of the chicken essence.  This definitely a healthy and yet easy to prepare dish that suitable to everyone at home.

Chinese Scallion Pancake

This post was supposed to be up on the 26 May 2013 for #SundaySupper for the  "Picnic"  theme, but it was interrupted by the major issue of internet at my area.......and you won't believe it, it was dragged till now.......what a shame on me (long sigh.....)!  Nothing to be blamed but my tight working schedule that had mess-up all.

Let's not waste time now, let me share some stories on this recipe.  I am grown in a family that dealing with food business.  Fried Chinese pancake is one of it and they were all filled with fillings of few choices - grind peanuts, red bean or shredded coconut.  But today, I would like to try the savory recipe - with scallions

I have modified a little on this recipe, instead using the normal cooking oil to roll on the dough, I have used the melt butter.  I always believes butter will able to enhance a better taste and aroma especially when it put into pan-fried.  You can imagine this crispy and tasty pancake now?  It will an ideal for tea-break or picnic.  Is time to prepare some Chinese tea to enjoy my Chinese Scallion Pancake.

Oriental Chicken and Celery Salad served with Sesame Ginger Oil

Another month has passed from my last post.  It took me more than a week to get this post up.   This is due my new role and additional responsibilities in my working life.  This month is the second month for this new challenge of my career.......hope everything will be getting smoother soon, and I should able to get back to my normal blogging momentum.  

Time flies.......and I just noticed I had been in blogging world for more than 365 days.   Is time to celebrate my 1st Anniversary of this blog - My Trials in the Kitchen.  I feel so bad that I unable to cook something special for this special occasion, instead, I wish to share an Oriental style of salad recipe.  The special of this salad is the dressing.  Instead, the common mayonnaise dressing, I have used the sesame ginger oil.  These has enhance this salad with the natural nutty flavor from the sesame oil.  And of course this is also an easy to make recipe.  Let's find out how easy it is...