making salted limes

Trying my luck at making some salted lime.. using calamansi lime. 

Keeping them to 'jaga pintu' in case of sore throat.

Salted lime makes good remedy for sore throat and for heatiness

Batch 1-4 combined for group pic

And another group pic

And the salt we used red for coarse and green for fine

 

Chawan mushi in a cawan

To make life more fun and interesting, I make it a point to try out new breakfast recipe for every week. So in a year time, i would have at least try out preparing plus minus 40 different varieties of breakfast.

This one is one of my favourite and nutritious .... I call it chawan mushi in a cawan 

Because I can't fit 4 bowls into the steamer tray, i decided to use cup (cawan) instead. And because I don't have spring onion at that point of time, I just added some moringa leaves pluck from my kitchen window. What makes me happy was my children like this localised & improvised 'cawan mushi' ... and it's all that matter.

Mushi mushi ... cawan mushi 

 

Moringa seaweed soup

I'm thankful I managed to grow moringa tree at my backyard (near my kitchen window) and didn't want to waste the nutritious moringa leaves which greet us every morning.

Cut some of the leaves and mix it into our breakfast seaweed soup. I'm happy children like the new ingredient addition. 

Benefits of moringa leaves (source : https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-benefits-of-moringa-oleifera)

Moringa leaves are an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals such as protein, vitamin B6, vitamin C, Iron, Riboflavin (B2), vitamin A, Magnesium. It is rich in antioxidant, can lower blood sugar level, reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol and protect against arsenic toxicity

糖水without the 糖

The long weekend, I boiled 糖水 without the 糖, but happy as everyone like it :D

the yellow, orange & purple sweet potatoes + ginger

all into the pot with lots of pandan leaves...simmer with slow fire

It has been there all along...

It has been there all along,
just what took me so long...
to realize that healthy hearty breakfast is so within reach,
even on days when I'm not cash rich...
and I actually paid 2 to 3 bucks last time 
at some oldtown kopitiam I am...

Things needed : 
A stainless steel kole
2 eggs (or more)
hot hot water (free flow from office dispenser)
kicap / pepper / herbs flakes (as substitute as I haven't buy pepper yet)
some soft boil egg making tips from colleague
* also comes with free coffee / milo / tea from office vending machine

the little disadvantage : 
have to wash own utensil after eat
and risking people sitting nearby tempted (if they like), or 'boh song' (if they don't like)
or risking boss thinking ... wah, buka kedai makan ah??

but sometimes I just plain lazy to care so much. 
It's kind of tiring for this old soul.

colourful things that can go into the mouth

Ever since what happened to us (my family) last year, 

I've learnt the importance of health 

and is more careful with what we put into our mouth.

I like colourful things so I assume my kiddies like them too ...

so I learn to make our own snacks.

I love making these for them.

They love these their mother make for them.

I couldn't have ask for more =)

the 4 jars of dried fruits were gone in less than an hour =D

The process :

1. Cutting and slicing the fruits. Treating some with lemon juice if required (to reduce oxidation)

2. Arrange slices of fruits according to similarity of texture (ie. time needed to dry). Mine is more of trial and error basis.

So we have

• kiwi
• mango
• dragon fruit
• pineapple 
• nangka / cempedak
• green & red apple
• guava

 3. stack up the tray and on power ... then we just wait. I prefer to do it at night after they sleep.

4. When they reach desired dryness, we off the power and let the fruit cool down before canning them in clean airtight container (preferably glass).

5. Give the kiddies some suprises. Enjoy!

easy yummy fully happy banana pancake

I'm no good at cooking (this is a known fact...LOL)

but I found something totally edible no matter how bad a cook I am

banana pancake with only 2 ingredients needed

banana + eggs 

1. Got some ripe bananas for RM0.99 from reduced to clear .. the riper the better more banana'ish sweet taste

2. cut the banana and smash using fork till puree (like for baby food)

3. beat 2 eggs (here I use telor kampung)

4. mix the banana and egg together and beat again to mix well

5. spread some oil / butter on the stove (I use butter, more yummy and smell nice)

6. pour the mixture into the pan and wait for them to cook. determine how small / big you want your pancake be.

7. Can eat just like that or with banana slice / honey / yoghurt / ice cream (we had it plain because it was already banana sweet. (okay I admit my end product look more like fried egg than pancake)

1st time my kids say I can cook nice food :D

can't wait for making the next batch.