Simple Meals - We Can All Do It!

A homecooked meal is a labour of love.  Who agrees with me?

No matter how simple a meal is, I believe that if it is cooked with love, it is just as good, if not better than "outside" food.  And I believe too that if a meal is cooked when angry and frustrated, the food will just not be nice.  So, I rather not cook when I'm feeling angry.  Because being able to cook for the family should be a happy thing!  :)

I get angry only after the meal, when washing the dishes.  Haha!

Cooking simply on weekdays is what I have been trying to perfect.  Within 45 minutes.  It is not impossible with proper planning.  I realise that when I have a meal plan set up before the start of each week, it is achievable.  I use lots of kitchen "gadgets" too - rice cooker, thermal pot, pressure cooker, oven.  Truth be told, I love steaming most because that means lesser washing and mopping.

While trying to retrieve my photos from my hard disk drive that died, I did not blog much.  I was mostly on Instagram and Facebook.  Interestingly, a lot of recipes I added in there are so easy that it needs no blog posts.

So, here's the link for those very simple recipes, or find the Simple Meals at the sidebar to find those others that I do blog about.  Like my Facebook page to get up to date or access to those simple recipes that I do not blog about.

With the aim of cooking for our loved ones, regardless how simple a meal is, I am sure it is a delightful one.

Let's all work towards that!  :)

I'm on Facebook!  Please like me on Facebook if you have enjoyed this post as it's where I connect constantly with my readers.  I'm on Instagram and Twitter too!

Quinoa [藜麦] - The Super Food from Superlife Co.

You probably have read that the hubs and I are currently trying on some kind of "diet" - our own kind of diet.  Low carbs, no (added) sugar diet.  As such, we have been pretty much playing around with our grains, to substitute our very Asian palate of white rice.

Interestingly, we got attracted to this superfood called Quinoa [pronounced "keen-wah"].  Commonly known as a grain, it is actually a seed.  One that is packed full of benefits, thus the high rating for being a healthy food.

So what is quinoa?

It is a protein-packed seed that is low in sugar.  Also high in fibre, it is an excellent rice replacement. 

Some people dislike quinoa because they find the taste "nutty".  Some find it tasteless.  And I agree that plain quinoa can be quite unappetising especially if you are so used to white rice.  However, Superlife Co. changed the whole "food" game.

With the introduction of the Asian Quinoa Packs, Superlife Co. manage to incorporate many of the Asian flavours with quinoa.  From Korean kimchi to Thai green curry, from non-spicy mushroom to spicy curry, I am sure there is one that suits every taste buds.

As I found something the family love!  And it is non other than the Japanese quinoa.  The nori seaweed was a refreshing change to the plain quinoa we often cook.

Each individual pack is 90g and serves 1 to 2 persons.  Easily a complete meal when paired with some vegetables and meat.

Here's my version of stir-fry beef with capsicums, roasted asparagus and mushroom quinoa.  My kind of one-bowl meals.  Zero pretence, zero added sugar.  Just pure good food.  :) 

Superlife Co. only imports the most premium quinoa that is pesticide-free, non-GMO and organically-grown using ethical and sustainable agricultural practices.  Totally what I look for in superfoods.

Then there is this Protein Bloc.  Made from 70% Tanzania organic premium taco, 10% quinoa and 20% sugar, it is an interesting block.  As much as I would prefer a block with no sugar, it is not easy to find one that is completely sugar free.  The fact that Superlife Co. states the percentage of the sugar in the block makes me feel more in control as I know how much sugar it contains.

The hubs tasted it too and found it pretty tasty.  I guess we would rather eat this, than many of the other yogurt bars and chocolate bars out there.  And it's so so so so much convenient!

Thinking to try out the different flavours?  Get the Quinoa Starter Pack!  It has one of every flavour of the Asian Quinoa packs, together with 3 of the quinoa cacao protein blocs.  Perfect.

And to make these superfoods "sweeter", enter SUPERCYN17 at checkout to get a 10% off your online purchases.  Valid for a minimum purchase of $40, this code last till 30 June 2017 (excludes the Cacao subscription).

Try it and let me know how it is!  I am bringing my kimchi quinoa with more kimchi to work next week!

Disclosure: We were given the quinoa starter pack for product review purposes.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photos and opinions are true to my own unless otherwise stated.

I'm on Facebook!  Please like me on Facebook if you have enjoyed this post as it's where I connect constantly with my readers.  I'm on Instagram and Twitter too!

One-Bowl, No-Mixer Banana Muffins

It has been awhile since I last baked, well apart from baked pasta and roasted chicken and the likes.

A bunch of bananas lying in the kitchen prompted a frantic search for something easy to deal with it.  I was determined not to let it turn black and feed the dustbin.

The boys have been asking for their cupcakes, muffins for a while but I have still been pretty much suffering from the hangover from the school holidays and my vacation (oh I know, it's been so long right?).

 

 

Determined, I did a one-bowl, no-mixer banana muffins.  Done in 30 minutes, of course excluding the baking times.  And it was so easy that the boys chipped in to help.

 

They mashed the bananas (some motor skills there, yea), whisked the wet ingredients.  Very nicely, they helped wipe dry the muffin pan and lined it with their favourite cupcake liners, before scooping the mixture into them. 

I love baking with them, if the mess is not too much to handle.  Especially with sugar (headache).  Now that D is in primary school and reading much more, he reads the recipe to me sometimes.  Of course, I get squabbles too as they argue who should be doing what.  Haha 

This photo of the banana muffin is not the best because it was taken in the morning when we ate them.  At 6am, orange lights, that's probably the best I can do with an iPhone.  :D

 

But boy was it nice!  It tastes somewhat like the fried banana balls that I always like buying from Malay stores or Subway Niche.  Oh it's call Kueh Kodok. But this isn't fried and it is definitely healthier with coconut oil.  

 

Out of the 10 I made, the 2 young boys had 6 of them.  :)

One-Bowl No-Mixer Banana Muffins

Makes 8 to 10 muffins

Adapted from Foodie Baker

 

Ingredients

 

3 tbsp buttermilk or 3 tbsp milk with 1 tsp lemon juice

3 tbsp coconut oil

3 tbsp raw sugar (I used raw sugar because I did not have brown sugar)

1 egg

½ tsp vanilla extract

225g over-ripe bananas, mashed

120g plain flour

½ tsp baking soda

Pinch of salt

 

Method

 

1.  Preheat oven to 175 degree Celsius.  Line muffin / cupcake mould with liners.

 

2.  In a large mixing bowl, whisk whisk buttermilk (milk with lemon juice), coconut oil, sugar, egg and vanilla extract together until well-mixed.  Whisk in the mashed bananas.

 

3.  Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into the wet ingredients.  Fold with a spatula until well-mixed.  Fill the liners with the batter until ¾ full.  

 

4.  Bake for 17 to 20 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre of the muffin comes out clean and the top of muffin springs back when lightly touched.

 

5.  Remove the muffin tin and set on a wire rack to cool completely.

 

We baked it in the evening and had them stored air-tight overnight.  Let me know if you bake it and if it taste just as good warm after it's baked.  :)

 

I'm on Facebook!  Please like me on Facebook if you have enjoyed this post as it's where I connect constantly with my readers.  I'm on Instagram and Twitter too! 

{Media Invite} Weekend Family Breakfast @ Kakis

The long weekend is almost here!  Hang in there, folks!

And in case you are one of those who are not traveling out of Singapore but yet want to find an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, pop by Kakis Bistro & Bar.

We were recently invited to Kakis Bistro & Bar for their recently launched "Weekend Family Breakfast @ Kakis".  No, this place is not exactly a new kid on the block.  They have been serving dinner since November 2013 with a live band playing on weekends evenings (and I heard they are pretty good).

A hidden gem in the heart of Changi Village (really hidden as many of my friends do not know this place… or maybe we are "mountain tortoises :P), we were greeted with greenery when we reach.

Free parking :)

Loving these quotes.  Really.

The alfresco dining, together with the deco is what makes the place interesting.  Surprisingly, it was pretty cool with just the ceiling fans and the greens around.  The owners of Kakis wanted to make the place cozy and family friendly and that is why you will notice lots of spaces for the children to roam around.  And you know what?  They grow their own salads!

I really like that we are so near to the golf course area.  A very good time for both adults and children to rest our eyes and look far into the greenery, get some Vitamin D from the morning sun and of course, the air is definitely better with all the trees and plants around.

Let us look at the menu for the breakfast, shall we?

Photo credit : Kakis Bistro and Bar

Photo credit : Kakis Bistro and Bar

How interesting is this!  This is really useful if you ever need to order your own coffee at the coffeeshops / hawker centers - it's like an universal coffee-ordering language.

Photo credit : Kakis Bistro and Bar

Here's the Detox Infused Fruit Drinks.  It is all natural.  Real fruits infused drinks with no colorings added.  

Of course, it's approved by D!  

Kiddy Pancakes (S$6) just for kids which D finished everything.  I felt happy looking at this plate of food.  If only the maple syrup was served separately because I can then decide how much of it goes in. Yes, I can be quite fussy at times.

Little Hero Big Breakfast (S$8) which I thought is reasonably priced.  The bread was toasted nicely and look at those cherry tomatoes - not some small little ones lor…

Rosti Jumbo Hot Dog (S$11) is not something like what you get outside.  I believe they added onions, which can be a hit or miss with different people.  My boys will shun them but the big guy and I thought it was fine.

An everyone-also-know local delight, Nasi Lemak (S$8) with a chilli that did not disappoint.  B and I thought that the most important components of a Nasi Lemak are the chilli and the chicken.  Chicken was fried nicely and was flavorful which compensated the lack of the ikan bilis that most of us associate Nasi Lemak with.

Can you imagine E actually wanted the Nasi Lemak?!

One of the highlights of the event is the DIY your Super Kakis Hero Costume Contest, using recycled materials.  Materials were provided and we came up with the following:

Can guess who he is trying to be?

It was actually a milestone for the 2 boys.  Hardly those who like going up on stage, they were so keen this time.  Even though they did not win or said anything in the context of the contest, it was okay to us.  At least they willingly went up stage this time.

The children were all so cute!  Their words, their expressions, their gestures - they were all so priceless!

Open from 9.30 am to 1 pm on weekends, I think the best time to go will be in the mornings between 9.30 am to 11.00 am - that's us lah - the morning sun, the possibility of seeing golfers and buggies (children who do not golf will love to see them) and the morning fresh air will entice me to drive all the way to the East.  And if you really hate the heat, that's the period to go. 

Kakis Bistro & Bar

289 Farnborough Road

Singapore 509747

Tel: 62142956

Mon: 4:00 pm - 12:00 am

Wed-Fri: 4:00 pm - 12:00 am

Sat-Sun: 9:30 am - 1:00 pm; 4:00 pm - 12:00 am

http://kakis.sg

https://www.facebook.com/kakisbistro

Disclosure: We were invited to the breakfast session at Kakis Bistro & Bar  for review purposes.  No monetary compensation was received.  Unless otherwise stated, all opinions and photos are true to my own.

I'm on Facebook!  Please like me on Facebook if you have enjoyed this post as it's where I connect constantly with my readers.  I'm on Instagram and Twitter too!