New Moon Muah Otah March 24, 2010

So, I’ve discovered a new vice – New Moon Muah Otah (Otah is spicy fish paste, typically wrapped in banana leaf and barbequed over a charcoal fire).

It comes frozen in supermarkets and in 2 flavours – Mackerel Fillet and Mackeral Fillet and Prawn.

Great thing about this is that it comes in one ginormous slab, and you wrap it in cling film and pop it into the microwave on medium for 2 -3 mins… and you get piping hot, soft, tender and melt in your mouth otah.

I’m not usually a fan of otah as I don’t take spicy food (I am a disgrace to Singaporeans). But since I’ve been pregnant, I have been craving for all things spicy and coconut-y – curries, spicy coconut rice (nasi lemak), laksa, otah…

I can’t really do this otak any justice with my words… so just go get it people!

“Ah-Pa” Crumble November 16, 2008

I was standing in line at the supermarket checkout this arvo and my niece points to something behind me and goes “Ah-Pa! Ah-Pa!”. I stopped for a moment to think figure out what she was trying to say. Turns out, she was pointing out to the shelf of apples behind me.
This “Ah-Pa Crumble” is named after my sweetheart Issy.

From your loving Ah-Yi!

Home-made Bread Loaf January 28, 2008

Having been home for the last few months, I decided to attempt the frightful world of breadmaking.  Like others, I’ve often had the fear of baking bread.  Even when I use to own a breadmaker, the bread came out quite hard, and extremely doughy.  Here’s a brilliant recipe for making your own loaf at home.   Especially if you like the soft Japanese loaf bread, light and fluffy.

Ingredients:

• 250 grams of bread flour
• 140 mls of milk (low fat is ok)
• 50 grams of unsalted butter
• 25 grams of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon of instant yeast

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients together and knead til doughy and smooth.
2. Proof dough in a mixing bowl for 1 hour. Cover bowl in cling film.
3. By this time, the dough should have doubled in size. Punch out the air and divide the dough into 3 balls. Place the 3 dough balls back in the mixing bowl and cover with cling film. Proof for another 30 mins.
4. Grease a pullman tin (loaf tin with cover. Available at specialised baking stores).
5. Take one ball of dough and roll out with a rolling pin. Roll up tightly (swiss-roll style) and repeat for other 2 balls of dough.
6. Place the 3 pieces of dough in the pullman loaf tin and proof for another 30 mins. In the meantime, pre-heat oven to 180 degrees celcius.
7. Bake for 30 mins. Remove tin cover to let bread top brown for another five mins.
8. Remove from loaf tin and let it cool before cutting.

VOILA!

Not that hard eh! After this successful attempt, I’ve gained more confidence in baking bread. Will update with new bread recipes and pictures too.