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Saturday, September 11, 2010

Having a "Ball" of a time!

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

Sesame Ball with Red Bean Paste

Do you like sesame? I love sesame. Especially the sesame ball that you normally get in a dim sum restaurant. The filling can be, peanut or lotus paste or red bean paste.

I've been wanting to try this recipe (like many, many, many other recipes as well) and finally got to do some for my niece's birthday yesterday. I would love lotus paste better but since I can't get any, I've to settle with Red Bean Paste which is equally fanstastic!. No, I didn't make the paste myself. It takes too much work and time..so, I bought the paste from the cake ingredient shop. It's nice and not too sweet either.

Take a look at how fantastic it turned out to be not to mention just how delicious it tasted too!



Now, here's the recipe, taken from 'Dim Sum Made Easy' cookbook:

Ingredients:
300g glutinous rice
40g wheat starch
250g red bean paste
200g white sesame seeds

Seasoning:
1tbsp lard (I use vegetable oil)
1 1/2 tbsp castor sugar
3 tbsp sweet potato paste
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda

Method:
1. Combine glutinous rice flour & wheat start and sift into a mixing bowl.
2. Add seasoning and 1/2 cup hot water. Knead well to form a dough. (Add more hot water a little at a time if needed).
3. Divide dough into 15 portions. Roll each portion into a ball. Slightly depress center, fill with 2tsp red bean paste and bring edges of dough together to seal.
4. Put dough balls in bowl and spray sparingly with cold water. Set aside.
5. Roll dough balls into sesame seed to coat and fry till brown. Remove and drain.



Have a try! You will not regret doing this! I will definitely be making this again...



Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Yummy Tummy!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

'Wai Sek'! 'Gluttony'! 'Tham Chiak'! 'Gelojoh'! Whatever you call it, it means eat and eat and eat and eat! Food and food and food and more food! Well, that's what we, the seven of us (1 Thorn & 6 Roses), did in the office today.

Today has been a 'long waited' day for the seven of us. Actually we only kind of waited for about 2 weeks but for food lovers like us, two weeks is long enough. We've been planning for a potluck and each dish/dessert has to be home-cooked/baked. No such thing as buying from the shop. Every dish has to be done from scratch. That was our agreement when we decided to do the potluck. It did posed quite a challenge for a few of us who are not so 'cooking-know-how' but it was fun and everyone was sporting to take up the challenge. At least, everyone enjoyed every mouthful of the 'buffet' spread. Every dish/desert was received with awe and appreciation knowing that we went to so much planning and time spent in preparing each single item. All of us are not master chef or anything close to that (well, at least I'm not!) but we are proud with our 'masterpiece' and well, it did keep our tummy satisfied! So, when the food is there staring at you, what do you do?? Dig in la! Mo-Tak-Teng!

However, I must say this. Food alone cannot satisfy ones appetite. It has to be hand-in-hand with the company as well. If you have good company like I did today with all my 'food-loving' buddies and who are not shy about it, what more could I ask for?? So, friends are the secret ingredient to a good food.

To proof it, here are some photos showing how we've enjoyed our little gathering. You might wonder where is this little gathering? Well, it's none other than at our modern office pantry!! Equipped with coffee maker, a microwave and a refrigerator.





The buffet spread : Tomyam Spaghetti
Tau Kok Fan (I was told the direct translation is
'One Pot Long Bean Rice' - hope I got this right!)
Mashed Potatoes
Fruit Salad
Apple Crumble
Red Bean Jelly
Fresh Mango Ice Cream

Are you salivating already?? Well, you should coz the food was yummy for the tummy. With all the eating, you can imagine the amount of washing too! Fret not, cos amongst us, we have a dedicated 'washer' as well. None other than our dear dear Miss Washer...here she is..

Thanks, Miss Washer and thanks to your sis too for helping out in preparing the 'Tau Kok Fan'. It was tasty and delicious! Our compliments to you!

Just to let you know how wonderfully delicious the food was, I ate so much that my shirt seam burst. And it teared at the most embarrassing spot..no not the waist or the sides, it's just, just at ... well, it got torn. Thank God I have a jacket to hide the tear from curious eyes! hmmm...I will make sure that I wear something big and loose at the next makan-makan! See how yummy the food is...


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