Singaporean Night

This was probably 3-4 months ago and I thought I already wrote about it, but guess it slipped under the radar. I consider myself a pseudo honorary Singaporean, all began over 10 years ago with my very first bf (Dr PJ) - he first introduced me to all things Singaporean back in Jamaica. So by the time I got to Sydney I joined the Singaporean Society on campus and was also on the committee, organising parties and outings. Some of my closest friends to this day are Singaporean.

So I decided to do them proud (not really) and try out my skills with some Singaporean dishes.

There was the Hainese Chicken Rice (not quite there), Curry Devil (yum! but not quite either), Chilli Prawns (closer but no) and just some steamed green veg. Who knew Singaporean was so difficult to make! Uuuggggh - so annoying. Now I dunno if I'll want to do this again....

Funny thing was my flatmate offered to help me that night and she was in charge of the rice. And we ran out! OMG most embarrassing. Whoever runs out of rice and it was Chicken Rice too, so good.

My ex flatmate NerdyGirl used to make Curry Devil, and wow it was sooo good, so spicy but sooo good that you can't stop eating. Her mom made some for me when I went to visit her last year. BLISS

Curry Devil

• Chicken
• Tumeric
• Onion (LOTS)
• Mustard seed
• Chilli
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Potato
• Vinegar

Directions

Heat oil, fry seasonings, fry onion, add chicken, add potato, and vinegar and water. cover

Turkish Delight

Apparently I offered to cook Black Belt Dude dinner for his birthday (so totally did not recall this conversation happening). But anyway, it's been a while since my last dinner party plus I'm going away - Jamaica! (bwoy mi cyaaan wait!) next week. So it's good excuse to see some ppl before I see them all next year. OMG can it be 2011 already?!?

BBD specifically requested Turkish Dinner (actually he asked for Roti & Curry - but that got shot down real quick, told him to go to Mamak if he wants some). So he brought over a couple frens from work who are in need of a home cook meal and I got some girlfriends along, in total a dinner party of 8.

I was fretting the whole day that I wouldn't have enough food (why ?!?! There's always left overs!) So the menu includes: Fattoush, (A mountain of) Couscous, Tava (modified) and Apricot Chicken.

The food all went down quite well. I particularly liked the Apricot Chicken but it was the most labour intensive. and even though I modified the Tava. It was really quite nice, its simple favours played off well with the complexity of the Chicken dish.

Piggierised Tava

• Beef Chunks
• Onion
• Garlic
• Mushrooms
• Potatoes
• Can of Tomato
• Jar of Grilled Capsicum
• Parsley
• Fetta Cheese
• Salt & Pepper

Directions

Brown Meat, add onion and garlic, add mushrooms and then pureed capscium sauce and can of tomato. Layered Casserole dish with nuked potatoes, cover with mixture from pan and cook in oven uncovered for 20 mins. To serve, top with chopped Parsley and crumbled fetta

Thai Chilli Basil Beef and Modified Doubles

This is one of the most simple stir-fries around. Doesn't require much seasoning as long as you got your handy bottle of Fish Sauce it's all good. :)

I start throwing in some random vegetables and before I know it, my wok was full! It was so yum though so lucky to have extra for lunch.

My friend DigiKing was sharing his recipe for the Trinidadian Favourite Doubles with me on Facebook and I couldn't wait to try it out. But after reading the recipe, there were instructions on how to make the "Bara" - the fried dough/bread that you fill it with the Curried Channa (Chickpeas)...I thought about it for a minute, and knew there's no way I'm gonna try make the Bara. So I modified and here's the first FAILED attempt with puff pastry.

Dr Rats and my flatmate were my test subjects. It wasn't too too bad. I just need to figure out a way to wrap this thing prettier and not let the filling escape. I made it again when I went to Melbourne to visit MrShyGuy. It's actually a really good snack. I would recommend for potluck or picnics.

My Piggierised Version of Doubles

(Guess it's a bit influenced by Curry Puffs)

• Onion
• Garlic
• Cummin
• Can ChickPeas
• Tumeric
• Ground Coriander
• Salt & Pepper
• Puff Pastry

Fettuccine Puttanesca

Dr Rats was hanging out one night and flipping through various magazines I had lying around and found this one that featured on some great Pasta dishes (Yes even my magazines are food-centric!). Initially she talked about making the great looking prawn pasta for me, and I readily agreed to be her test subject. But she's too busy testing on real rats to be cooking. So it's left to me again. as per usual.

I was more intrigued by the Puttanesca sauce, I've made it back in my college days and thought I could upgrade it. There's the Origin of the Puttanesca sauce that version (as they are many versions, as with most things) claims it was first put together for a bunch of prostitutes (Italian - Puttana) who visited a restaurant late one night after closing and the chef there didn't have anything left to put a proper meal together and so just went through what was available in the pantry and ta-da!

My version consist of: Garlic, Onion, Feta, Basil, Chili, Capers, Anchovies, Olives and cherry tomatoes. Not quite what's readily available in everday pantry, but it was great :)

Why am I eating alone?

I think I got food poisoning for the past couple of days, and it's the worst ever. I am so over Congee at the moment. Even though usually I looove that stuff, but after 2 days of eating nothing but plain congee. it's enough to dry up one's palate.

So for my day 1 recovery, I wanted something simple. Not going to make some crazy curry at the moment. LOL

Initially I contemplated on the Fusion Tom Yum Pork and Mushroom Spaghetti. But I think that might be too much for my tummy to handle. So the lamb cutlets were on sale in the local IGA supermaket, plus I still had some green beans I meant to cook from the week before.

And I totally thought my flatmate was home, so I set about cooking some anchovies garlic beans, dry roasted potatos, lemon & rosemary lamb cutlets and a salad for dinner.

But turns out I was the only one home! All that food and just for me....greedy piggie it is

Good Ol' Shepherd's Pie

I still remember the first time I tried to make a Shepherd's Pie, it was a group task in my Grade 8 Home Ec's class. and bwoooy did I feel sorry for my partner Tall girl then. I just remembered the rather disastrous result along with our failed grade. Eeeks

And since then, I haven't attempt to make it again. But it's been well over a decade. So maybe it was time to challenge myself again.

Com'on, it's just some mince and mashed potatoes right? How hard can it be? I checked out some recipes online at Taste.com.au and they seemed easy enough.... and then 1.5 hrs later, after all the chopping and stirring and transferring from pot to pan - I hate that! And popping it in the oven. it's finally finished. YAY!

Decide to make a Greek salad to go

with it. So it gives the illusion of a

healthy meal (despite all that butter

I used in the mashed potatoes) hehe

I just loved how crispy and crunchy the top of the potato layered was, went so well with the smooth creaminess of the rest of the potato and then the mince lamb and vegetables (carrots, onion, peas and celery). So really it was quite healthy.

Brazilian Night

Ooops totally forgot to update post with my Brazilian Night from few (like 3) weeks ago. Now I need to try remember what did I make that night..... Cartoon Dude, Exotic Asian, Dr Rats, Black Belt Dude all came to try out my Brazilian cooking.

As with many Caribbean and South American recipes, Black Beans play a fundamental role in many dishes. I remember what a pain it was trying to find Black Beans in Sydney. No, they're no available in your local Coles. Grrrr.... But after some searching in some delis and fruit and veg stores. Finally managed to get a can. (Dry ones take too long too cook!)

So the menu for the night, after being inspired by watching the Planet Food series the other day and they did a segment on Brazil -Feijoada (Black Bean Stew), Chicken with Coconut, Fish Stew, a Pomegranate Salad and a Beets Salsa. Yes there was waaaay too much food that night!

The most interesting dish of the night was the Feijoada

Ingredients

• Can Black Beans
• Can Tomato
• Onion
• Garlic
• Chorizo
• Sweet Potato
• Mango ( Yes I know!)
• Red Pepper
• Chilli
• Cilantro
• Salt & Pepper
• Cumin
• Ground Coriander
• All Spice
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon

Directions

Cook Onion and garlic, add Choizo, and veg

Add cans

Add seasoning

Top with water, simmer

Add mango and garnish with cilantro