PINEAPPLE TART

This melt in the mouth Pineapple Tart is a must during festive season in most South East Asian homes. It consists of two parts, the pastry and the filling. It is such a delight to bite into one, just can't stop eating them, so damn yummy.

Best to prepare the filling ahead before you start baking this tart. Most suitable to choose ripe pineapple that will produce better tasting filling came from the pineapple thus adding less sugar. The grated pineapple along with its juice is cooked until thick along with sugar using low heat and constant stirring if not it sticks to the bottom of the pan. Once cooked, leave to cool and refrigerate. This way the filling is quite easy to handle and easily shaped into small balls before stuffing into the pastry.

If the dough is too soft, you can add about 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour and refrigerate for 30 minutes in a covered bowl. Apart from using the fluted tart cutter, if you have time and patience, do pinch the sides of tart using tart pincer, look pretty but time consuming.

FRIED BEE HOON

Bee hoon is a thin noodle made of rice, dry packed and requires soaking before you proceed to prepare any dish using rice vermicelli.

It is particularly prominent in the cuisines of China, Hong Kong and most South East Asian countries. It is either stir fried or served along with a soup. Sometimes fish ball, beef, prawn or egg are added along with other ingredients.

What I have prepared is vegetarian version, feel free to include chicken, beef or prawn if you want and adjust the spice level to your liking. Adding chili paste is personal preference you can either add or omit this.

FRIED BEE HOON
Serves 3-4 persons

250g bee hoon (rice vermicelli)
1 big onion chopped
2 tomatoes chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1 cup bean sprout, tail removed
Small cabbage shredded
1 carrot cut into matchsticks
1 cup button mushroom cut into 2
2 T chili paste
2 T tomato sauce
2 T chili sauce
3/4 cup hot water
2 T oil
salt and sugar to taste
red and green chili for garnish

METHOD

* Soak bee hoon with cold water for 1 hour then drain.

* Heat the oil, fry the onion and garlic until fragrant.

* Add in the tomato and salt, cook until tomato turns soft.

* Now add the chili paste and fry until the raw smell goes.

* Pour chili sauce, tomato sauce and sugar to the chili mixture, add 3/4 cup hot water let it boils.

* Mix in carrot and cabbage, stir for a few minutes, add bee hoon and mushroom.

* Once the bee hoon turns soft, add salt and sugar if needed, turns off heat.

* Now add the bean sprout, stir well. Garnish with sliced red and green chili before serving. Enjoy...

RED BEAN RING

After my successful attempt on baking bread, I have regularly baked my own instead of buying from the store.

Each and every time, my bread gets better and softer and I owe this to my children who constantly gave positive and encouraging feedback.

Red bean ring is an adaptable sweet bread that can be served for breakfast, brunch or dessert.

This time the evaporated milk is used for mixing the dough. Oh my goodness! I couldn't believe how good they were. I have used lots of different recipes before but this one by far is the best ever. It's a keeper, bread came out softer and tasty even after the next day.

RED BEAN RING

3  cup  all purpose flour
2 and 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
4  tablespoon  melted butter
2  tablespoon  sugar
3/4  cup warm milk
1/4  cup  warm water
1 tsp salt
red bean paste
butter to apply on top

METHOD

* Place yeast and sugar together with warm water in a small bowl, keep for 15 minutes or until frothy.

* Combine flour, salt, butter and yeast mixture in a mixing bowl. Gradually add the milk and forms into pliable dough.

* Knead by hand for 10 minutes or use your stand mixer until elastic.

* Rest the dough for 1 and 1/2 hours in an oiled bowl until double.

* Punch out the dough to release air, roll out into rectangle about 15 x 12 in on floured board. Spread generous amount of red bean paste leaving 1/2 in space along the corners.

* Roll out, jelly roll style and join both ends to form a ring. Slit the edges by 1 in interval using sharp knife. Let rise for 45 minutes. Towards the end of raising time, preheat the oven @ 18O C.

* Brush top with butter, bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

* Remove from the oven, apply again with butter and transfer onto wire rack to cool.

This goes to Yeastspotting 9-24-10

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BOMBAY PAV BHAJI

Pav bhaji is a famous street food of Indian, especially Mumbai and Pune. It consists of pav (bread) and the bhaji (gravy) made of potato, carrot, capsicum or other vegetable cooked with pav masala, onion, tomato and ginger garlic paste.

It is so convenient and also a complete meal for busy workers who are rushing for time. Now you can find this in many parts of the world including Singapore, Hong Kong, USA, UK and many more.

In my recipe, I have used whatever vegetables available in my kitchen and added chili powder since my family loves spicy food, green chili can be added instead of chili powder. It is entirely up to you to adjust the spice level according to your taste. I didn't mash the veggies but let them fully cooked and turns soft.

It is so delicious and will definitely cook this Bombay Pav Bhaji often. I halved the recipe, another alternative you could use this bhaji for stuffing your puff or bun. They become as great snack to be enjoyed by whole family during picnic or party.

CARROT CHAPATI

Chapati is unleavened flat bread mostly found in Indian homes. It is made of whole wheat flour, water and salt but sometimes oil or ghee is added in the dough to obtain softer roti. The pliable dough is then roll out into disc, fry without oil on preheated cast iron pan until bubble appears on both side.

Using the basic chapati recipe, various vegetable or lentil are added to the dough and now it is getting popular, great taste and a lot of variety to choose from. It is all depends on your creativity and imagination.

This time, I have chosen carrot to be added to the chapati dough. They turn out fantastic and my family loves them a lot. I have divided them into 6 but you could also shape them slightly larger that means you get only 4 pieces.