Ramadan 2013 Day 1 -Spaghetti and Garlic Bread

Yeay! It is time to fast again. The first day of Ramadan in my area was today, the 10th of July. Mr Big and I woke up around 4 am to have our super twilight early breakfast. I cooked chicken sausage for him and a bowl of oatmeal for myself. After breakfast, we went back to sleep until our alarm went off for us to get ready for work. Very exciting…I was not feeling weak or sleepy at work. The oatmeal and the dates worked. Breaking fast was at 8:38 pm today. I baked garlic bread and cooked spaghetti for our meal. I am having a big glass of sweet “rambutan” drink. It was very cooling. I should stock up on the fruits. Delicious!

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Corn Bread and Croaker Tom Yam

During this fasting month, diet is very important. I try to eat food that will not hurt my tummy since I have not eat or drink from sunrise until sundown. However, for today, I am craving for something spicy and sour. I am also crave for some corn bread. I love bread especially a sweet bread. This corn bread is very tasty. I can eat a few pieces in one sitting. Yummy!

Ingredients for corn bread:

1 cup of all purpose flour

1 cup of yellow cornmeal

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/2 cup olive oil

Method for the corn bread:

In a large bowl, combine the dry mix first, flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking powder. 

Then add egg, milk and olive oil until well blend.

Prepare a 6 inches square pan by greasing the pan with baking spray.

Pour the batter into the pan.

 Bake the corn bread at 400 degree F for about 18 minutes.

Ingredients for Croaker Tom Yam:

2 croakers ( cleaned, head off and cut half)

4 tablespoons tom yam paste

1 large sweet onion

4 medium size tomatoes

5 pieces kafir lime leaf

3 cups water

2 tablespoons olive oil

Method:

In a big pot, heat olive oil. 

Fry the sliced onion.

Add Kafir lime leaf.

Add tom yam paste. Stir well.

Add water.

Add fish and tomato and let it cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat. Cover.

Enjoy!

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Toasted Panini

Panini or sandwich is one of my favorite meal. I can have it for lunch or for dinner. In my neighborhood there is a sandwich place called sandwich man that I always buy my sandwich or sub from. I like their sandwich because they have a nice flavor of onion in their sandwich. The tartness of the onion is intense and infuse with coriander.
For today's lunch, I try to re-create the flavor in my toasted panini.

Ingredients:
My favorite spanish sub roll. I am using 2 rolls.
3 pieces romaine leaves
1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
1 medium yellow onion
1 ripe roma tomato
2 slices American cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 pieces sweet bologna (optional)

Method:
Chop coriander leaves.
Slice onion thinly.
Mix onion and coriander. Set aside.
Slice tomato.
Cut open the roll lengthwise.
Spread with mayonnaise.
Layer with romaine leaves.
Add bologna or any lunch meat you like.
Add tomato.
Layer with cheese.
Add onion mix.
Spread mayonnaise on the second roll.
Top the sandwich.
In a big pan, melt 2 tablespoon butter on low heat.
Lay the sandwich. Use another smaller pan to press the panini.
After 5 minutes turn to the side.
Press the panini.
Let it cook for another 5 minutes.
Serve warm.


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Eleventh Day Ramadan - Meatloaf and Mashed Potato with Beef Gravy

I am a little behind in posting the recipe for my dinner tonight. Boy!This meatloaf is very filling. I had to take a long break before I can get back to the internet.
This is a very simple recipe that I put together. Unfortunately, honey didn't like it just because I put carrots in my meatloaf.
Yes, my loyal reader, honey is very fussy about having carrots in his meal. I tried to hide it by shredding it finely but somehow the taste is there for him to recognize it.
I told him that I have lots of carrots from my garden and didn't want to waste it.
Seriously, I personally think this meatloaf is delicious. It has a hint of hotness from the spices and sweetness from the carrots.
This meatloaf is loaded with the goodness from carrots and potato, bread, egg, milk and all kind of aromatic spices. Tonight meatloaf is a version where East meet West because I added some curry powder, cumin, coriander, ginger, paprika and cayenne pepper.

I dress both the mashed potato and meatloaf with beef gravy.

Ingredients for the meatloaf:
1/2 lb ground beef
1 cup shredded carrots(optional)
1/2 cup cooked potato(optional)
1 egg
1 cup milk
3 pieces wheat bread( you can use old bread, crouton or regular white bread)
Spices: 1 teaspoon of each - cumin, coriander, curry powder, cayenne pepper, paprika,ginger,sugar,ground black pepper and salt.
3 tablespoon tomato ketchup
1 tablespoon BBQ sauce

Method:
Cut bread into pieces.
Soak it in milk.
Add egg. Mix well.
In another bowl, add ground beef. Mix it with all the spices. Work it lightly.
Add shredded carrots and cooked potato.
Lastly add the bread mixture.
Combine well.
Using a square meatloaf pan, add mixture in and level it evenly.
In a small bowl, mix the tomato ketchup and BBQ sauce.
Spread this mixture on top of the meatloaf.
Preheat oven at 350 degree F.
Bake this meatloaf for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Let it set for 30 minutes before serving.

In the mean time, you could start making the mashed potato. I am using my left over mashed potato. The full recipe is here.

Next we can start making the beef gravy.
This is the easiest gravy to make.
I am using 1 cup of low sodium beef broth.
Heat it on medium low.
Add 2 tablespoon salted butter.
In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon corn starch with some of the beef broth.
Whisk it smooth without lump.
Pour the corn starch into the rest of the beef broth.
Keep stirring and cook the gravy until desired consistency.

Enjoy!

Tenth Day Ramadan - Breaded Fried Shrimp, Cream of Tomato and Toasted Garlic Bread

Honey said he started to feel tired and sleepy. I told him that our breakfasting meal is not going to help him much. I am serving cream of tomato, garlic bread and tempura battered fried shrimp. Each of this meal is loaded with starch and surely will make him go to bed early.
The recipe for the cream of tomato is here. This time I add whipped cream for dressing. I could not find my sour cream in the fridge. I swear I bought a tub. Oh! Well...

As for the shrimp, it was really easy. I am using the ready to use tempura batter I bought from the asian store. It came out very crunchy and lightly each time.

I mashed some chopped garlic. Then I mix the garlic into 1/2 stick of salted butter that has been soften into room temperature. Mix them well.
I am using whole wheat bread. I slice the bread open. Spread the garlic butter evenly on cut side. Toast this bread in the toaster oven for 3 minutes. The smell is divine.

Happy eating!

Fourth Day Ramadan - Roast Beef Sub and Dragon Fruit

I am doing well so far with the fasting ritual. No food and drink from sunrise to sundown. Today is the 4th day and still counting. I was extremely sleepy during the day but that was because I slept late at night. I've got to watch Malaysian movie on youtube before I doze off.
Around 6 pm, after taking a few minutes of nap, I went outside and start raking the grass that honey had cut last night. Trash is coming tomorrow morning, so I want to put the grass bag out for them to pick up. I was tired, not hungry though, it was a weird feeling. I slowly rake the grass. I already yipping yapping at honey for leaving the hardest job to me. Raking the grass by hand is not fun nor easy. His excuse for not able to help me is his allergy, the common reason people give when they cannot go outside. But I understand him. His allergy is really severe.
Luckily the cloud was hovering on the sky. There are some breeze. Overall, I managed to rake the grass in the front yard. I cannot do the back yard and will leave it at that.
After hard labor work in the yard, I decided not to cook today. So, we both had sandwich for our breakfasting meal. I had this beautiful dragon fruit along side my meal.
Thanks to Keats The Sunshine Girl for giving me the courage and inspire me to try this exotic looking fruit. I bought this dragon fruit from the Asian store. It cost me $4 for just this one fruit. But the taste is good that I would not mind splurge a bit. All I can taste is the seeds. It was not hard and crush easily in my mouth. The white flesh is refreshing. Not sweet nor sour. It was just right.
I use spoon and scoop out the flesh. Actually the flesh can comes right off from the skin when you push the skin back.
Happy fasting!

Bread in Pancake Syrup

This is a simple recipe I try for breakfast. It is delicious but loaded with carbs.

Ingredients:
2 to 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 envelope Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter

Method:

Mix 3/4 cup flour, sugar, salt, and undissolved yeast.
Heat milk, water and butter to 120° - 130°F. Gradually add to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer. Add 1/4 cup flour. Beat at high speed of electric mixer 2 minutes.

Stir in enough additional flour to make a soft dough. On floured surface knead 2 to 3 minutes.

Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Shape into balls. Let rise 30 minutes. Uncover rolls.

In a round pan, grease with butter. Add some dollups of butter. Pour 1/2 cup pancake syrup.

Layer the bread ball in the pan. Brush the bread with some melted butter.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until done. Remove from
pan. Turn it upside down.
Serve warm.

Leftover Roasted Chicken Sandwich

I love a hard crust bread. Give me a 6 inches sourdough sandwich and I am set for the day. Since I have some leftover chicken, I use it to make this sandwich for my lunch.
Ingredients:
6 inch sourdough or any hard crusted bread.
4 pieces romaine leaves
1 cup leftover cooked chicken
1/2 cup grated or shredded cheese
some garlic butter as spread

Method:
Wash and cut half the romaine leaves.
Cut the bread open lengthwise.
Scrap the center of the bread out.
Spread the bread with garlic butter.
Layer the romaine lettuce.
Then add the leftover chicken on top of the lettuces.
Sprinkle evenly with some grated cheese.
Toast the bread open in the toaster oven until the cheese melted.
Remove from the toaster oven and bring the sandwich together.
Serve warm.
Serving for 1 person.

Toasted Sardine Sandwich

Sardine is a healthy food that many non vegetarian should consume. It is loaded with calsium and good for the bone. Listen to me, a non nutritionist or MD. Anyway, on this beautiful Saturday morning, I am craving for another sardine meal. If the last time I cook Sardine roll, this time I am making sardine sandwich.

For this simple meal I mix 1/3 cup chopped onion and 1 tablespoon chopped hot peppers in a can of sardine in tomato sauce (drained).

I also add a layer of cucumber inside this sandwich before I toast it.

Serve warm with a cup of hot tea or coffee. Yummy!

French Toast

Honey and I care for a simple breakfast. A french toast.

Ingredients:
4 slices white bread
2 eggs
3 tablespoon half and half (any cream or milk)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract(optional)
2 tablespoon unsalted butter

Method:
In a big bowl, whisk egg, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Coat one bread at a time.
In a skillet, heat butter on medium heat. Cook bread on the skillet. After 1 minute, turn on the other side. Brown it and remove from the pan. Continue to cook the rest of the bread.
Sprinkle with sugar to serve.

Zucchini Bread

This recipe is very moist and sweet.
You could adjust the sugar and add walnut in the recipe.



Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
2 cups coarsely grated zucchini (from about 1 large)

Method:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter and flour two 8x4x2 1/2-inch metal loaf pans. Whisk flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda and baking powder in medium bowl to blend. Whisk sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, and lemon peel in large bowl to blend. Whisk in flour mixture. Mix in zucchini . Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake breads until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Turn breads out onto rack and cool completely.

Cottage Cheese Bread

You've got to give this a try. The biscuit is so....delicious!

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter (4 oz/114 gm)
2 cups cottage cheese
1 egg
1 table spoon lemon juice
1 ts baking powder
1 ts soda bicarbonate
1 ts vanilla extract(or almond extract)

In a bowl, mix butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg and cottage cheese. Keep mixing. Add lemon juice and vanila extract. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients flour, baking powder and soda bicarbonate together. Slowly add dry ingredients into the mixing bowl. Stir until blend.
Heat oven 375 degree. Use cupcake paper in muffin pan. Fill in batter into the cupcake paper. This batter will make 12 muffins. To decorate, put at the top some slivered almonds and shake some sugar. Bake for 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Garden tool
This is one of my handy dandy garden tool. I wash the tool after every use. I bought this one from a dollar store for $1. That means I wouldn't feel sad if something bad happen to this tool.