Kuih Bahulu

This Madeleine like cake is a favorite among many Malaysians. It’s soft and slightly dry texture goes really well with a cup of coffee. We usually baked Kuih Bahulu during the festive seasons like Hari Raya and Chinese New Year. I remember when I was young I used to help my grandmother, mom and aunt made these for CNY but during that time we baked it the traditional way using charcoal fire as we don't have an oven. This little cake comes in many different shapes and sizes.


Ingredients:

5 eggs
130 gram sugar
140 gram cake flour
10 gram custard powder or cornflour
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp essence vanilla
1 tsp lemon zest
3 tbsp of melted butter

1. Sift flour and baking powder and set it aside. Whisk eggs and sugar until white and stiff.
2. Add in vanilla and lemon zest. Turn down the speed of your mixer and slowly add in the flour. Mix until combined. Fold in the melted butter and mix well.
3. Pre-heat oven to 400 degree F and warm up the bahulu mould for 5 minutes. Take it out and brush it with some oil or spray on some non-stick spray.
4. Put about 1 tsp of batter into the mould, bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
5. Remove the cakes, and repeat step 4 again until the batter is finish.


Note: Kuih Bahulu keeps well in an airtight container.

Braised Pork Ribs with Dry Bean Curd

This is very popular home-style Hokkien dish which we called ‘Hong Bak’ or 'Tau Yew Bak'. I learned making this dish from my mother but she normally uses pork rather than ribs. Since I am not a fan of fatty pork I used ribs for this dish. This dish goes really well with rice and it taste even better the next day.

Ingredients:

1 pound of ribs
Half packet of dry bean curd stick - cut and soaks in water until soft
1 whole bulb of garlic
2 star anise
5 slices of ginger
2 tbsp of sugar or a few pieces of rock sugar
3 tbsp of oyster sauce
3 tbsp of soy sauce
2 tbsp of black soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Marinate the pork with oyster sauce, soy sauce and dark soy sauce. In a heavy pot heat up 3 tbsp of oil. Add in sugar, stir until sugar melted and caramelized. Add in the whole garlic, star anise and ginger. Stir fry until fragrant and lightly brown.
2. Add in ribs, stir-fry until the meat changes color and the liquid almost evaporate. Add enough water to cover the ribs and bring it up to a boil.
3. Lower down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the dry bean curd stick. Continue to simmer. Remember to stir occasionally to prevent burning at the bottom and even cooking
4. Continue to cook until the ribs is tender. Add in more water if needed.
5. Check seasoning and adjust the taste accordingly. You might need more salt or soy sauce. Serve with warm rice.

Note: You can add hard boiled eggs to this dish. Just boil the eggs, peel and put it into the dish 15 minutes before the dish is done. You can also use pork belly for this dish

Fettuccine with Saffron Shrimp

This is a really fabulous meal that not only fast to prepare but delicious. By the time you are done boiling the pasta the sauce is done. Doesn’t that sound like a plan for a tasty and sophisticated meal?

Ingredients:

½ box of fettuccine pasta
½ pound of shrimp – shelled and devein
2 shallots – sliced thinly
2 cloves garlic – finely chopped
1 cup white wine or chicken stock
1 cup of milk
1 tbsp flour
4 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsp snipped fresh chives
A few threads of Saffron – soak in 1/4 cup of hot water
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Bring a pot of water to boil and cook the fettuccine pasta till al dente.
2. In a sauté pan, heat 3 tbsp of olive oil. Sauté shallots and garlic over medium heat until fragrant and lightly brown. Add in the shrimps. Stir until the shrimp changes to light pink color.
3. Sprinkle in the flour, stir and cook for a minute. Add in the white wine or chicken stock. Stir well and bring it up to a boil and sauce thicken. Add in the milk and saffron liquid.
4. Once the sauce is boiling, add in parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste.
5. Drain the pasta and toss into the sauce, stir well. Dish out, garnish with some chives and serve warm.