This is my project of documenting food during my study in UK 2012/13 under Chevening Scholarship. Many friends have requested me to do this and I think it's a great project to pick up. Who says study abroad means instant noodles, fast food restaurants and eating out all the time? Who says that it has to be fancy, expensive and time consuming.... hehehe... let's break that with a little bit of TLC from your own kitchen.

Enjoy!

Friday 19 April 2013

Sambal with ikan teri asin // Indonesian Spicy chili condiment with little salted anchovies


Chili or Sambal is a firm favorite in Indonesia. My little family doesn't usually eat spicy food but if you are cooking certain Indonesian food, an accompaniment of Sambal is prerogative. My fellow Chevening Scholars were coming to visit me few weeks ago and I made Sop Buntut Bakar - Indonesian Broiled Oxtail Soup. I know they must want sambal to go with it. So although I am not an expert in Sambal making, I did my best. and it turned out great... we all love it... Though they said it is not so spicy... my husband said, it's spicy enough. hehehehe... I forgot to take the proper picture, lucky that my husband manage to snap one on the table before we finished them all

I adapted the the recipe of Sambal Lado Mudo from Mbak Peppy IndonesiaEats Blog. I cannot call my sambal the name because it lacked 2 of its defining ingredients. The green Chilies and green tomatoes. So here's the recipe


Ingredients - after modification:
5 Bird eye chili (mine is a mix of green, orange and red)
2 shallots (for smaller shallot like in Indonesia, use 16 shallots)
5 cherry tomatoes
A handful of Teri kecil or Little Salted Anchovies - (you can get it from the dried food in Asian store. pick the smallest you can get)
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
salt and sugar to season

Direction:

It's easier to do in a food processor or blender but I have none... so Pestle and Mortar it is. 
  1. Fry the salted anchovies for about 2-3 mins. Strain on a paper towel to absorb all excess oil.
  2. Grind Shallots and Chilies in pestle.Add Salt and sugar to help the grinding. 
  3. Grind the cherry tomatoes to grind together. Add the oil and mix together. 
  4. Turn on the heat on the hob and place a small frying pan. 
  5. Put in the sambal mixture even before the frying pan is hot.
  6. Add the lime juice. At this point you can taste and see whether you need more salt or sugar, Be careful the anchovies are salted already. 
  7. Once it start bubbling, add the fry anchovies. Mix well and let it heated. 
  8. Done and serve

  • Don't worry if you cannot grind everything well. I like mine chunky and if anyone commented I will just say, I am going for the rustic touch... hehehehe
  • My mom says, putting the sambal mixture before the pan and oil get heated up reduce the chance for you to get spitted by the hot oil and that the spicy aroma won't torture your nose during cooking and your cushions and curtains days after.

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Chocolate Muffin


This is an easy Muffin to make. No need for mixer or food processor. Good fork or whisker will do. 

Mix 1:
1 3/4 C All Purpose Flour
1/2 C    Unsweetened Baking Cocoa Powder
2 Tsp   Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt

Mix 2:
1 C  Sugar
2     Eggs
3/4 C Milk
1/2 C Vegetable Oil
2 tsp Vanilla essence

Optional:
Add Chocolate Chip or chunky nuts to your liking

Direction

- Add mix 2 to Mix 1. Stir until well combined
- Lined muffin baking tray or cup with muffin paper cup or baking paper
- Spoon a spoonful of muffin mixture to each muffin cup
- Add chocolate chips or chunky nuts if you are using.
- Sprinkle sugar on top
- Bake in Oven (gas mark 5) until set... about 15 - 25 mins
- Take it out and leave it for 5 minute before transferring to wire rack

When I am pressed on time this will be fine but sometimes when I'm feeling fancy or want a proper indulgence, I like to garnish this with Chocolate Lava

The Chocolate Coffee Cake's Choc Lava Topping

- In a medium size pan with handle, mix together with a whisker
1 cup Sugar
3 tbsp Corn Flour
6 tbsp Baking Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
- Add to the mix, 1 Cup of boiling hot water
- mix them well on a medium hob
- Keep mixing until its boiling then turn off the hob. take the pan off the heat
- Add 3 Tbsp of Margarine (I use I Believe It's Not Butter) and 1 tsp Vanilla essence. Mix well
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