Lava Queen

Kitchen reopens after being away for a week! Brought some local avocados back from Kota Kinabalu but unfortunately LO doesn't like eating them plain anymore :(. So I had to think of ways to 'hide' them so LO will eat without knowing. Haha :P. When I told my hubby I wanted to try making avocado and blueberry muffins, he laughed and said, "Huh? Sounds like a weird combination!" To prove him wrong, ta-dah! Eat them for breakfast, teatime or anytime! These avocado and blueberry muffins have reduced calories, fat and cholesterol with increased 'good fats'. There are nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients in avocado, not to mention the nutrition in blueberries. And the taste? These muffins are moist and surprisingly delicious!! The local avocados have smooth skin and the texture is slightly less creamy than the usual Australian ones that we buy. Ingredients: (Makes 6) 1 cup all purpose flour  1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking so...

An easy peasy no egg, no milk and no butter chocolate cake! It takes under 45 mins to whip up, using a bowl, a fork and, of course, the loaf pan (Or, you could choose to mix everything in the cake pan so you'll have 1 less thing to wash haha!). LO got to enjoy the taste of chocolate for the very first time :D. She seemed to like this more than the banana walnut cake (The recipe for the banana walnut cake is  here ) that I made previously...  Guess most people just love chocolate, eh? ^^ You can also decorate it with berries, ganache or frosting. It's chocolatey, moist and quite tasty. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour  3 tbsp cocoa powder  1 tsp baking powder  3/4 cup castor sugar (Originally 1 cup of granulated sugar) 1 tsp white vinegar  5 tbsp vegetable oil (I used sunflower oil) 1 cup water 1 tsp vanilla extract (Optional. I didn't use) Some icing sugar, for garnishing (Optional) Preheat oven to 170°C and li...

This is another easy recipe (Adapted from something I saw online the other day). All you have to do mostly is chop, chop, chop, mix and pan-fry, that's all. They are yummy and packed with goodness! A good way to trick kids into eat veggies as they won't know there are lots of them hidden in these small little patties! They are pretty filling too due to the oats. Not only do they smell good, they are delicious! LO couldn't stop eating them :D Ingredients: 3 tbsp quick/steel cut oats 2 tbsp shredded cheddar cheese 1 tbsp shredded carrot 1 tbsp finely chopped baby asparagus  1 tbsp finely chopped corn kernels  1 tbsp finely chopped red Chinese spinach  1 tbsp finely chopped fresh button mushroom 1 egg, whisked 3/4 tbsp chia seeds Olive oil, for pan-frying The ingredients. Soak quick oats in hot water for 5 mins. Strain and discard excess water (Try to strain it as dry as possible). Mix all ingredients in a large bowl til well com...

A simple pan sauce of chopped mushrooms, onions and fresh thyme that enlivens the basic chicken breasts (I left out the dry white wine as I didn't think it was suitable for my LO yet). Mushrooms are often underappreciated in vegetable recipes. It’s true that they don’t share the bright color of tomatoes or carrots, but they taste a lot better than they look. Since chicken breast is quite a lean meat on its own, the mushrooms in the sauce are perfect for making this recipe hearty and satisfying.  An easy chicken dish topped with a savory mushroom sauce for a tasty meal. You can use whatever species of mushrooms you like best. I used white button mushrooms.  Ingredients: Approx 1/2 a chicken breast 1 medium-sized fresh button mushroom, finely chopped  1/2 tsp all purpose floor 1/2 tbsp butter 1 slice yellow onion, finely chopped  1 clove garlic 1/4 cup homemade stock 1 sprig of fresh thyme, leaves stripped from the stem  Some baby as...

This  is a favorite in our home now - b anana and blueberry pancakes, with a touch of cinnamon and a hint of coconut aroma.  These  easy, delicious banana and blueberry pancakes  are moist, subtly sweet and full of juicy blueberries and mashed bananas. You can also make a vegan and gluten free version of them by substituting fresh milk with almond milk and using gluten free/whole wheat flour. Had mine with blueberries, rose apple and maple syrup, while LO had hers with just fruits. A good way to start the day! Yumzzz. Ingredients: 2 medium bananas (Approx 140g), mashed  1/4 cup fresh blueberries  3/4 cup all purpose flour  2/3 cup fresh milk 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon  Virgin coconut oil, for pan-frying Mix mashed bananas and milk in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix all dry ingredients together, except blueberries. Pour banana/milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir til just combined. Gentl...

I've been cracking my head thinking what to cook for my LO the past whole week as she's going through the so-called 'I-only-eat-fruits-and-drink-soups' phase >.<. Was so glad to see her finishing her rice during dinner yesterday. This morning, as usual, I was standing in front of the fridge wondering what to cook (and also the fact that I needed to clear the fridge since we're going outstation tomorrow) when  I remembered seeing someone posted some baked pasta with sweet potato a couple of days ago .  I happen to have 1 sweet potato sitting on my kitchen counter, which I've no idea what to do with it, s o I  tried cooking my own version of sweet potato baked pasta with whatever leftovers I had in the fridge. This is the result... Made with simple ingredients but rich in flavor. The leftovers: pork, carrot and baby bok choy. Ingredients: 1 small Japanese sweet potato Cooked macaroni, depending on personal appetite  1 clove garlic, mi...

Fermented black beans are a versatile staple in Chinese cooking.  The tiny salty bits can lend subtle depth to a sauce or a savory bite to main dishes.  You can use it to flavor steamed fish, eggplant, or braise with meat. It has a pungent, earthy aroma. A spoonful of black beans packs so much flavor that you often don’t need additional salt. One way to use fermented black beans is to buy them whole, rinse them under cold water, and chop them up, otherwise the flavor might be too intense. Be sure to have rice handy coz you’ll need it to sop up the addictive sauce :) Ingredients: Approx 300g spare ribs, cut into small pieces 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tbsp fermented black bean, chopped 2 chili padi (bird's eye chili), cut into small pieces Oil, for stir frying Spring onion, for garnishing Sauce: 1 tbsp black bean paste   1/2 tbsp dark soya sauce  1/2 tbsp Chinese cooking wine 1 tsp brown sugar 1/4 cup water Mix all ingredient...

Unlike in the USA, we don't have a special day known as Parents' Day in Malaysia. So the month of May and June are considered the "Parents' Day" celebrations period since Mother's Day falls on the 2nd Sunday of May and Father's Day on the 3rd Sunday of June. During this period, we'll see plenty of posts/articles/videos on showing thanks or love for parents.  This is something that I read lately which I think is worth sharing. The original thing was in Chinese and I've tried my best to translate it without losing any of its meaning. Though some of the things may sound a little 'strict' or ridiculous to certain people, this actually happens in very traditional Chinese families where there are 101 rules to follow when you are pregnant and the gender of the baby or the baby itself is more important than the mom who gave birth to him/her. This has definitely changed over the years but it still applies to some people in rural areas or smaller pl...

For those who are a fan of fancy cakes/sweets or the '7 sins of chocolate', the name 'Delectable by Su' shouldn't sound unfamiliar at all. Their latest outlet offers its patrons a dining area that looks out onto lush greenery. Located on the 2nd floor of the glasshouse (opposite the famous Siu Siu Restaurant), this impressive building boasts of floor-to-ceiling glass walls that allow you 360-degree views of its surroundings . Apparently, this is where Delectable's main kitchen is housed. The cafe is cosy and quiet, creating a perfect ambience to sit down and chit chat with friends or just to have some private me-time.  Photo taking here is fairly easy too as there is an abundance of natural lighting penetrating through the glass walls. We ordered the Banana Peanut Butter ala Mode, a slice of lemon meringue tart, a coconut latte and a ribena lychee soda (RM8, not in the picture).  Waitresses seemed friendly enough but I felt they were sort of chasing us away wh...

Most kids love butter cookies. They are eaten all year round and are a great staple for sweet trays during holiday seasons too. The result of this butter cookies recipe is tempting. Crisp and smooth, these German cookies literally melt in your mouth!! These are the lightest buttery cookies I have ever had :D Ingredients: 125g unsalted butter, room temperature  30g icing sugar 125g potato starch  80g all purpose flour Preheat oven to 160°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar til light and fluffy.  The butter is 'creamed' when it has almost doubled in mass and has lightened to a yellowish-white color.  When it's ready, the mixture should be creamy, lump-free and slightly paler in color. Sift potato starch and flour into the butter mixture. Mix well to form a soft dough using a spatula. Leave the dough to chill in the refrigerator for 10 mins.  The dough after chilling. Roll the dough...

Hectic lifestyle and changes in emotions will cause exhaustion and result in yin and yang disorders. The effects can be seen in a decrease in physical strength and early signs of a ageing, especially for women. This soup is said to help nourish yin, moisten dryness, moisten lungs, improve metabolism, and above all, nourish skin. It tastes a lil like soya milk, with a mild sweetness from the pear. Ingredients: 1 tael (Approx 37.5g) bird's nest 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) white/snow fungus 2 snow pears, stems and cores removed 500 ml fresh milk Approx 300g lean pork The main ingredients: Snow pear, white fungus, bird's nest and milk.  Soak bird's nest til soft, clean thoroughly and set aside. Soak white fungus til soft, clean thoroughly and set aside. Scald lean pork in boiling water for 5 mins without cutting into pieces, rinse and set aside. Cut pears into pieces. Put pear and lean pork in a stew pot. Pour enough water to cover the ingredients. S...