Category: Basics and Blends

Basic procedures and custom spice blends

Thai Cucumber Salad

2 english cucumbers sliced thinly 2 large shallots sliced thinly 2 tbsp fish sauce 1 tbsp lime juice 2 tsp palm sugar jaggery or even white sugar works 1 clove garlic crushed 1/4 cup cilantro chopped 2 thai red chilies sliced thinly 2 tbsp chopped roasted peanuts Combine the fish sauce, lime juice, garlic and… Continue reading Thai Cucumber Salad

Pan-fried Chicken Breast

1 – 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast (about 2 chicken breasts) 2 teaspoons light soy sauce 2 teaspoons oyster sauce 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (or white pepper) 1 tablespoon garlic (finely minced; or substitute 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder) 2-3 tablespoon water 2 teaspoons cornstarch 2 tablespoons oil (any… Continue reading Pan-fried Chicken Breast

Tea Sandwich Ideas

Tomato-Cheddar. Spread mayonnaise on white bread. Sandwich with sliced tomato, aged cheddar and watercress. Trim the crusts and cut into pieces. Ham, Brie and Apple. Spread softened butter and Dijon mustard inside a split loaf of French bread. Fill with deli ham, sliced Brie and sliced green apple. Cut into pieces. Cucumber-Butter. Mix 4 tablespoons… Continue reading Tea Sandwich Ideas

Five Classic Tea Sandwiches

HAM AND MUSTARD FINGER SANDWICHES 2 slices bread butter 1 tsp wholegrain mustard 1 slice cured ham Spread butter on one slice of bread and mustard on the other. Place a piece of ham on the mustard side, making sure it is evenly distributed. Place the other slice of bread, butter-side down, on top. Carefully… Continue reading Five Classic Tea Sandwiches

English Featherlight Scones

1 egg 1 tablespoon sugar 30 g 1 oz melted butter 3/4 cup milk 2 cups self-raising flour 1/2 teaspoon salt milk for glazing Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F). In a bowl, beat the egg and sugar until thick. Combine the milk and melted butter. Sift the flour and salt into a box and… Continue reading English Featherlight Scones

Slow Cooker Chicken Congee

8 cups unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson) 1 cup uncooked jasmine rice 1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger 1?1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts 1 Thai chile 1 star anise pod 1/2 cup roasted, unsalted peanuts, chopped 1/2 cup chopped green onions 2 tablespoons hot chili oil 2 ounces watercress… Continue reading Slow Cooker Chicken Congee

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

1/4 cup unsalted butter 6 thyme sprigs 1 bay leaf 5 pounds large sweet onions, vertically sliced (about 16 cups) 1 tablespoon sugar 6 cups unsalted beef stock (such as Swanson) 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1?1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 24 (1/2-ounce) slices whole-grain French bread baguette 5 ounces Gruyère cheese,… Continue reading Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon vinegar 1 bottle sweet baby rays BBQ sauce 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon oregano 4 pounds Ribs of your choice 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper In a medium bowl, mix together the Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and oregano. Place ribs in… Continue reading Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

Nyonya Curry Powder

1 2-inch cinnamon stick, broken up 1 tbsp each, whole spices: green cardamom, cloves, fennel, coriander, cumin, dried mace 1 tsp each, whole spices: fenugreek, brown mustard seeds, black pepper, ground ginger or dried ground galangal 6 dried red chilies 2 star anise 1 nutmeg, broken up 2 tbsp turmeric Warm large frying pan over… Continue reading Nyonya Curry Powder

Super Quick Pickled Carrots and Daikon

3/4 cup shredded carrots 3/4 cup thinly sliced Persian, Kirby or European cucumbers 1/2 cup shredded daikon radish 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons sugar 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt In a bowl, toss together the carrots, cucumbers, daikon, vinegar, sugar and salt and let stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

Easy Yogurt Flatbreads

7oz / 200g / 1 packed cup Plain/All Purpose Flour 7oz / 200g / ~3/4cup Plain/Natural Yogurt (unsweetened) 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder (not baking soda!) 1/2 tsp Salt 8 tsp Olive Oil In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the centre then pour in yogurt.… Continue reading Easy Yogurt Flatbreads

Extra Crispy Smashed Potatoes

20 (approx 1.5lbs/700g) Baby Potatoes 4-5 sprigs of Fresh Rosemary 2-3 heaped tbsp Duck or Goose Fat, or enough to fill the base of your pan 1 small bulb of Garlic, cloves removed & skins left on Salt, to taste Fresh Parsley, to garnish Pop your potatoes in cold water and bring to the boil… Continue reading Extra Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Perfect Boiled Eggs

Find a lidded saucepan large enough to allow your eggs to comfortably fit on the bottom in a single layer. Add 1 inch of water, cover and bring to a boil. Gently lower eggs into the saucepan using a slotted spoon or a steamer basket. (It’s O.K. if the eggs are partly submerged on the… Continue reading Perfect Boiled Eggs

Ideas for Boiled Eggs

When you’ve got a stash of perfectly cooked boiled eggs in your fridge, you’re never far away from a meal (or a meal enhancement). Of course, you can eat them whole, make deviled eggs, or cut them into wedges or slices to garnish any number of salads, but that’s only the start. Quarter them and… Continue reading Ideas for Boiled Eggs

Ideas for Marinating and Grilling in Mayo

Basic process: Season meat with salt and pepper, combine some sauce or marinade with a dollop of mayonnaise and rub that all over the meat, let it marinate for a while if you feel like it, cook the meat, then serve it with the remaining sauce. Any sauce, any meat, indoors or out. Perhaps the… Continue reading Ideas for Marinating and Grilling in Mayo

Chimichurri Ideas

In addition to using chimichurri with beef, you can combine it with a dollop of mayonnaise to marinate chicken cutlets. That same mayo-and-chimichurri mixture makes an excellent potato salad dressing, or toss it with sliced scallions and grilled or boiled corn cut from the cob. Combine chimichurri with equal parts olive oil to use as… Continue reading Chimichurri Ideas

Thin but Juicy Chargrilled Burgers

¾ to 1 pound ground beef (at least 15 percent fat) Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 soft burger buns, toasted in butter Toppings (such as shredded iceberg, sliced onion, tomato and pickles) and condiments (mayonnaise, ketchup or mustard), as desired 4 slices American cheese or other sliced cheese of your choice Divide… Continue reading Thin but Juicy Chargrilled Burgers

Smash Burgers

1/2 teaspoon neutral oil, like canola, or a pat of unsalted butter 2 pounds ground chuck, at least 20 percent fat Kosher salt and black pepper to taste 8 slices cheese (optional) 8 soft hamburger buns, lightly toasted Lettuce leaves, sliced tomatoes Add oil or butter to a large cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet and place… Continue reading Smash Burgers