MANI CHAI OR CANGKUK MANIS

This is called" Mani Chai".Translated from hokkien to english is money vegetables.The malay called it ''Cangkuk Manis".It means sweet shrub.
In chinese it is called "Shu Cai".

Above picture is the raw "'Mani Chai".One stalk of this "Mani Chai" can be share with 4 persons.Before cooking,this vegetable have to be wring small first so that it will taste sweet and delicious.The smaller you can wrng the better.It's like wringing your clothes to take the water out or squeeze/crush
as some said.The stalk you can put to the soil to grow in your backyard or it can also be grown in a pot.If you grow it near the bitter gourd,it will be bitter.So,do not grow near to the bitter gourd.
                   





We got a habit of ordering for Mani Chai whenever my family and I went out to eat in the restaurant,or any dining places.It is one of the popular dish of Sarawak.It is often cook with eggs.

We have now try to eat less of this vegetable.It is long believe to have cause headaches when eaten too much.Parts of the reasons too is because Mani Chai need to be cook with a lot of oil and add in
monosodium glutamate(MSG) so that it is palatable.It eats up a lot of oil.If the oil is fewer,it won't be that nice.The MSG enhances the dish making it sweet and appetizing,though nowadays people
opt out the MSG and substitute with chicken stock or some even oyster sauce.I totally opt out both.
One more thing is "Mani Chai" have to be cooked dry and not too moist and watery.The plenty of oil made it moist a bit and not too dry.

INGREDIENTS;

1 stalk mani chai/cangkuk manis
2 eggs
1 tbsp onion/garlic
1-11/2 tsp(adjust to your taste bud)
1/2 cup oil
1/2 tsp aji-no-moto(monosodium glutamate

METHOD;

1.  Heat up oil in a wok.When smoke comes out,saute the onions/garlics until fragrant.

2.  Add in the vegetable together with the access bits of water.Stir.

3. Make a hole in the center of the veg.Add in the beaten eggs.

4. At this stage don't do anything,Wait for the eggs to turn dry,then quickly stir-fry the eggs and
    the vegetable.You can even fry the eggs first then the mani chai.Both ways will do.Add in the
    salt and the msg.

5.  Continue stir-fry for another 2 minutes then dish it up to serve with warm rice.

WATER MELON LAYERED CAKES

Whenever I saw people posting water melon cakes or cookies,I weren't interested but just admired their creativity and hard work.Lately,I don't know why I suddenly became very interested and had tried to make this water melon layered cake.
I wanted to use raisins instead of the chocolate chips for the seeds,but I don't have raisins at home,so I just used chocolate chips.I'm very pleased with my cake.

Perhaps next time I'll use raisins.


INGREDIENTS;

10 Eggs
500G Golden Churn butter
200G caster sugar
300G Hong Kong flour
1 small tin kaya
1 small tin condensed milk
50G santan/coconut cream
1Tbsp ovalette
1Tsp vanilla essence
1 botol chocolate chips
2Tbsps of cocoa to mix with the red batter

Red,Yellow and Green colouring

METHODS;

1.  Preheat oven to 200°C.Line an 8"x 8" baking tray with greaseproof paper on the bottom        and lightly grease the sides with butter.
2.  Beat butter,sugar,vanilla and ovalettes till creamy and fluffy using high speed.
3.  Add in eggs one by one till well combined.
4.  Switch the beater to low speed and add in the milk,kaya and santan/coconut cream. 
    Beat again till all are well-mixed
5.  Add in the flour in batches or slowly(bits by bits).Mix well.
6.  Divide the mixture into 3 portions:
   
     Using the soup ladle,
   
     Portion 1-Scoop up 3 ladles-Add in green colour

     Portion 2-Scoop up 2 ladles-Add in yellow colour

     Portion 3-The rest of the portion add in red colour and cocoa powder

7.   First layer,set the oven to top and bottom heat.

8.    Pour the first layer of green to the baking tray.Spread it evenly.Grill with top and bottom heat for about 7 mins or when it turns slightly brown.Take it out from the oven
     .
9.    Change the oven setting to top heat only and pour in the second green layer,third green layer,then  first yellow layer,then second yellow layer,and follow by  the red layers till all the 
layers are used up.Flatten each layer with a flattener.If no flatterner,use the bottom of  a glass.
This is to ensure that no wind are trapped inside and that the cake are level and nice.Each
 layer of red must put in some chocolate chips as the seeds.
10.  After all layers are baked,cool on a wire rack.When cooled,cut into water melon shape.

GENERAL TSO'S FRIED BEE-HOON

ONE FINE AFTERNOON LUNCH

With the leftover "General Tso's Chicken" bites pieces,I use it for my fried bihun(rice vermicelli).
Surprisingly,it was super delicious!.Will cook like this again some time.

Ingredients:

General Tso's bites chicken pieces-abt 90g of left over

200g Bihun/rice vermicelli
1tbsp chopped garlics
1tbsp chopped oinions
2 stalks green onions
2tbsps chicken stock powder seasoning or more for extra flavour
1/2 tsp salt
abt 4 tbsps cooking oil for frying

Method:

1.  Soak the bihun/rice vermicelli until it soften in hot boiling water.

2.  Take it up.Drain any excess water.Set aside

3.  In a wok,fry the onions,garlics until brown and fragrant.

4.  Add in the chicken pieces.Stir for 3 minutes.

5.  Add in the bihun/vermicelli.Fry until all are mixed well.

6.  Add in the chicken powder seasoning,and salt.Keep frying for 5 minutes until well mixed.

7.  Lastly,add in the green onions.Dish it out.

8.  Serve warm.

GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN

Nothing special about this.It's just a sticky chicken.Not much to my liking.Seen everyone raved about it and cooked at home,I decided to give it a try.The taste is sweet,sour and sticky because of the added corn starch.Maybe too much corn starch was added? Marinate with corn starch,coated with corn starch and again corn starch in the sauce.How sticky this chicken bites can be?Maybe I should have add less starch so that it won't be that starchy?

Recipe taken from an internet source,but forgot whose one.I forgot to bookmark it.

Ingredients:

MARINATE;

350g chicken chunks

1 egg white
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp light soy sauce
4 tbsps shaoxing wine
2 tbsps corn starch

COATING:

1/3 cup plain flour
1/3 cup corn starch
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

SAUCE;

1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tbsps shaoxing wine
11/2 tbsps white vinegar
3 tbsps water
3 tbsps sugar
1 tsp sesame oil
2 bsps tomato sauce
1/2 tsp corn starch

STIR-FRY INGREDIENTS;

2 tbsps cooking oil
2 tsps garlic chopped
2 tsps thin sliced ginger
some green onions
5 dry chillies(optional)

OIL FOR DEEP-FRYING;

1.Cut chicken into chunks.Marinate the chicken with the marinate ingredients for one hour.

2.Drain the excess liquid away from the chicken and coat with the ready mixed dry flour.

3.Pour enough cooking oil into the wok for deep- frying the chicken.Deep-fried until it turns brown and cooked through.

4.Then when it is cooked,dish out the chicken onto a plate.

5.Mix the sauce together until well-combined.Set aside.

6.Next,stir-fry the garlic,ginger,dry chillies and green onions until fragrant.Pour the sauce to a pan and cook until mixture becomes translucent.Then turn off the heat.Add the deep-fried chicken into the sauce and mix thoroughly through.

7.Serve hot with rice.

FINGER CHEESE HAM ROLLS WITH SPRING ROLL WRAPPERS

Look at this! Don't they look yummy?I sprinkle lots and lots of parmesan cheese to add to the flavours.You can also go with mayonnaise if you don't have parmesan cheese...Or dip it in plum sauce.
It is the same as the chicken ham roll,but this is without chicken.
Above all,it is very easy to make.
This is great for party!

Ingredients for making:

10 pieces turkey ham slices
10 pieces popiah/spring roll wrappers

1 beaten egg 
1tsp salt

For Dusting:
1tsp five spice powder
1tsp garlic powder(optional)
50g plain flour 

Oil for deep-frying

Parmesan Cheese

Method:

1.Gather salt,five spice powder,garlic powder and flour       together.Mix it well.
2. Roll the ham.Place the ham roll diagonally across the spring roll or popiah wrappers.Roll it up and seal the edges wet with the beaten egg and then dung the wrapped into the beaten egg to get a wet finger roll.Then dust it with the flour.Do the same with the rest until you had all the desired 10 rolls.


3.In a wok,pour about 3-4 cups of oil.When smoke comes out,put   the rolls in to fried.Deep-fried until golden brown and crispy.


4.Take it out onto the plate.Sprinkle some parmesan cheese all over or eat it with plum sauce.Parmesan cheese can be substitute with mayonaise.You can either eat it without adding any sauce.

Note: For "Chicken Ham Roll" visit: https://cocomintt.blogspot.com/2015/09/chicken-ham-roll.html

Very Easy To Make Banana Crackers

Pisang Ranggup

I always wanted to make this myself at home instead of buying.They are not getting any nicer compare to before.Nowadays,they made it very hard and it's very difficult to bite with my soft teeth.
My daughter complained that the one I bought is very hard and has no taste,not nice.So,when I made it at home,she was enjoying it with every crunch.I made it more thinner and crunchier too.It was very easy to make.I'm sure everyone can make it too.

For this,you have to use the unripe green bananas instead of the ripe one.Ripe bananas won't do.

INGREDIENTS;

Green bananas

Lots of cooking oil for deep-frying

Some sugar or pinch of salt

Slicer to slice the bananas


Peel the skin of bananas,Then using the slicer,slice the bananas either into a plate or straight drop into the hot oil.Once it turns crisp and slightly brown ,take it up into a big deep bowl.Sprinkle sugar or salt in to mix.When it is cooled,store it in an air-tight container.

KUEH CARA SARAWAK

MINI MINI SPONGE KUEH

INGREDIENTS;

2 large eggs

100g sugar

90ml coconut milk

10ml pandan juice

120g plain flour

1 tbsps tapioca flour

11/2 tsp double action powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbsps corn oil

Method:

Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl with whisk except corn oil.Mix until sugar has dissolved.

Then add in the corn oil.Stir and mix well.

Brush the mould with oil.Give the mixture a good stir.Spoon the mixture over to the mould.When 

bubbles start coming out,cover the mould.Cook over low heat.

When the surface is dry it is cooked.Take one by one out with a satay stick or toothpick.leave to

cool for a while before enjoying the kueh.It will look like a honeycomb cake.

Here's another version of Kueh Cara.Pictures and recipe below.

Another version of Kueh Cara a bit different from above.This one uses a lot of coconut milk.If you don't like too much coconut,try the other recipe.This version smells of coconut.

Recipe:

2 cups flour

3 cups santan/coconut milk

2 eggs

6 pandan leaves-cut small

pinch of salt Method:

.Blend the pandan and santan together.

.Strain thru a sieve.

.Mix all the ingredients in a clean blender.Pour the pandan mixture over and blend till smooth.

.Oil the mould with brush.

.Pour the mixture slowly into the oil mould.Sprinkle some sugar over the kueh cara.

.Cover to allow it to cook faster.

Take the kueh out with a toothpick .Enjoy!

UPDATE KUEH CARA RECIPE: 

After trying many other mini sponge cake recipes, I found that I like the below recipe the most. It is much softer and spongy. Although it is not really the Sarawak version, they are all equally the same. Perhaps each recipe lies in a person's hand skills. When it is done right, you'll yield a better

result. Cheers!

INGREDIENTS;

100G all purpose flour

50G tapioca flour

180G sugar

120G coconut milk

80G Pandan Juice(10 screwpine leaves)

1/2 tsp Sait

2 Eggs

dash of apple green colouring(optional)

METHOD;

Provided your blender is big enough to fit in,you can pour everything in the blender to blend,but first you must prepare some pandan juice first.

Cut the pandan leaves small.Blend with some water in the blender,Strain 80g of juice out.Then after obtaining the pandan juice,you can now blend all the ingredients in the blender.You can also mix all the ingredients in a bowl.

Remember to oil the mould with a brush before putting in the batter.Pour 3/4 full.Cover the top and check to see whether it is done and take out with a toothpick.

NOTE; I do not wish to confuse you with so many recipes,but you can pick any one of the recipes and try yourself out.Maybe your skill are better than mine?

Midin Belacan

My stir-fried midin with shrimp paste/belacan.

Want to know what is "midin" read here:  https://dayakdaily.com/midin-more-than-a-wild-fern/

Ingredients:

A bundle of midin(grams not known)

(A)
1 tbp dried shrimp                     
1/2 tsp shrimp paste or belacan
1/2 chilly(seeds thrown)
1 tsp garlic
1 tsp onions

salt to taste
a bit of aji-no-moto or sodium glutamate to taste(optional)

2 tbsps of cooking oil

Method:

1.  Break each stalk of midin short and throw away the hard bottom part.Wash it in a coriander.

1.  Pound (A) ingredients using pestle and mortar.You can also use mixer to mince it small.

2.  Pour oil into the wok.

3.  Fry the pounded paste.

4.  When the paste is brown and aromatic,put in the midin to stir-fry until the stalks has softened and thoroughly cooked thru.

5.  Dish it up onto a plate and serve with rice.

Sarawak Laksa Paste

The Sarawak Laksa Paste

Whoever want to try making the Sarawak laksa paste can follow this recipe below:It is close to the original.

Ingredients:

10 shallots,coarsely chopped

5 single bulbs garlic,chopped

1 large galangal,chopped

10 fresh chillies,cut into chunks

1/2 cup dried red chillies,soaked in hot water for 20 mins,drained

5 stalks lemongrass-white parts only

50g candlenuts

1/2 cup sesame seeds,toasted

3/4 cups roasted peanuts

3 tbsps cumin seeds,toasted and ground

1/2 cup coriander seeds,toasted and fround

6 pcs star anise,toasted and ground

6 pcs cloves(bunga cengkih,toasted and ground

1 tsp ground nutmeg

10 cardamon pods

2 cups soybean oil

5 tbsps salt

1/4 cup palm sugar/sugar

1/2 packet of tamarind pulp,mixed with 1 cup boiling water

Preparations:

o Put inside the blender to blend until smooth paste is formed.Blend in batches because the blender could not hold a large amount.

o Add the 2 cups of soy bean to a wok and cook the paste under medium heat,stirring constantly.

o When oil starts to separate,add in the tamarind water,salt and sugar.Continue stirring constantly
for another 20 mins.

Kek Lumut Sarawak

Sarawak Moss Cake

This is a steam version cake.Nestum replaces the flour.

(A)

1tsp vanilla

454g anchor butter

3/4 glass castor sugar

(B)

10 eggs

1 small tin kaya

5 glasses Nestum cereal

1 bottle pandan paste

1/2 tin condensed milk

1 glass horlick powder

Method:

1.  Beat A till white and creamy,

2.  Add in egg one by one till all eggs are finished.

3.  Add in condensed milk.Continue beating.

4.  Add in horlick and nestum powder.

5.  Lastly,add in kaya and pandan paste.Combined well.

6.  Pour the batter into a 8"x 8" baking tray.Cover the top with aluminium foil Steam the batter for 4 
     hours using medium heat.Refill the water in the steamer every few hours as the water will           decreased faster.

Wait till the cake is completely cooled then cut the cake.I have opted out putting one whole bottle of
pandan paste to my cake.Hence,the colour is not so green.