Lemon Pound Cake

My hubby complaint last night that I hardly bake for him anymore. Actually is not that I don't want to bake but is just that the weather is so hot nowadays and I don't want to crank up the oven. Temperature today is like 96 degree. So here is your favorite lemon cake sweetie :-)

Ingredients :

1/2 pound of butter (2 sticks)
2 cup of sugar
4 large eggs
3 cups of flour
1/2 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of baking soda
1 tsp of salt
2 lemon zest
1/4 of lemon juice
3/4 cup of buttermilk or milk
1 tsp of vanilla

Glaze:

1 cup of powder sugar
2 tbsp of lemon juice

1) Pre-heat oven to 325 degree F. Prepared and butter 2 loaf pans
2) In a bowl combined buttermilk, lemon zest and juice
3) Sieve flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda
4) Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
5) Add in eggs, one at a time, beating until well incorporated after each
6) Slow down the mixer, then add in flour mixture in 3 parts alternately with the buttermilk mixture in two part. Beginning and ending with flour. Beat just until smooth (do not over mix)
7) Divide batter evenly between the two pans. Smooth the top and bake until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. It will take around 50-60 min
8)Turn out cakes and let it cool. Pour glaze over the cake.

Glaze :

Mix powder sugar and lemon juice. It should be thick but spreadable over cake. Add more sugar or lemon juice if necessary.

Golden Pockets

These little pockets are ideal for snack or parties. Is simple and really easy to make.Ingredients :

Wanton skin

For the filling :

1/2 pound of ground chicken
1/2 pound of prawns (chopped)
2 stalk of spring onions (finely chopped)
a small bunch of cilantro (chopped)
1 egg
2 tbsp of corn flour
1 tbsp of oyster sauce
salt and pepper to taste


1) Mix all the filling ingredients in a mixing bowl and set aside for an hour
2) Place 1 tsp of filling in the centre of the wanton wrapper. Brush the edges with water and then gather up to the points and press them firmly together to make a pouch.
3) Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling
4) Heat the oil and deep fried the pockets until golden brown
5) Drain on kitchen towel and serve hot with chili or plum sauce.

Beef with Zucchini

I received some beautiful zucchini from my good friend Zue. I will usually make zucchini pancakes out of it or stir-fry it. Here is one of my favourite way of cooking it.

Ingredients :

1/2 Ib of sirloin steak
1 tsp of corn starch
1 tbsp of soy sauce
2 zucchini (yellow or green)- cut into chunks
2 shallots (quarter)
1 clove of garlic (chopped)
1 1/2 tbsp of oyster sauce (1/2 tbsp of marinate the beef)
1/2 tsp of sugar
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp of cornstarch + 4 tbsp of water for thickening

1) Cut and marinate the beef with oyster sauce, cornstarch and soy sauce
2) Combine oyster sauce, sugar, salt & pepper, cornstarch and water and set aside
3) In a hot wok or pan put 1 tbsp of oil and stir fry the beef until is no longer pink and set aside
4) In the same pan, heat up 1 tbsp oil and stir fry shallots and garlic until fragrant
5) Add in zucchini and stir fry for two minutes
6) Return the beef to the pan and add in the sauce mixture
7) Stir fry until well combined and sauce thicken. Dish out and serve over warm rice

Fried Beehoon (Rice Vermicelli)

When comes to lunch I like something simple, no fuss and quick. So I will normally have a fried rice, noddles or beehoon. I think my mom's fried the best beehoon. Her fried beehoon is always very dry and not sticking together. Mine, I tend to put too much liquid to it that is why it always turn out really soggy. The trick I learned from her is to soak the beehoon until is soft before frying them. Fried beehoon is really simple and everyone can do it.

I used beehoon, prawns, fried taufu, cabbage, bean sprout and garlic. Heat up some oil in a frying pan and put in the garlic. Then the taufu and prawns follow by the cabbage. Stir fry for a few minutes and then put in the beehoon. Put a dash or two of water and put in the seasoning like oyster sauce, soy sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Continue to stir fry until everything well mixed. Lastly put in some sambal (optional- I used Tean's) and beans sprout. Mixed well and serve.