[錦繡花籃 [Crunchy Bread Baskets]]

材料:
A:
12 片 白麵包, 將 四邊的 crust 切除
奶油

B:
4x 雞蛋
半杯 鮮奶 (可以 half & half 或 heavy cream 代之)
2 湯匙 自發粉
半罐 罐裝 (15oz/432g) 玉米, cream style
紅蘿蔔, 切細顆粒
青蔥, 切顆粒

做法:

1. 將 B 的所有材料拌勻, 暫置一邊. (如喜歡稀一點的餡的話可多加一些鮮奶. 同樣的如要稠一點的餡就多加一些自發粉.)
2. 將麵包塗上奶油.
3. 將塗好奶油的麵包"塞"到 muffin tray 裡.
4. 把調勻的 (1) 料慢慢的倒入 (3)中. 只要倒 3/4 滿即可.
5. 放入預熱的烤箱 (180C/390F) 烤約 15分鐘 或至金黃色.

**當天因為要配合一位吃素的客人所以這到小點用的材料是全素的. 要準備葷的《錦繡花籃》可加一些蝦仁或切丁的 crab stick.

Recipe in English:

Ingredients:
A:
12x White bread, cut off the crusts
butter

B:
4x eggs
1/2 cup milk (could substitute for a richer taste with half & half or heavy cream)
2 TBspn self-raising flour
1/2 can 15oz/432g sweet corn, cream style
carrot, diced
spring onions, diced

Methods:
1. Mix together all ingredients in B, set aside. (may add a little more flour if you like a thicker filling or vice versa)
2. Spread butter evenly on the bread.
3. Arrange the buttered bread on the muffin tray.
4. Slowly pour (1) into (3), with only 3/4 filled.
5. Bake in a preheated over (180C/390F) oven for 15mins or until golden.

** This is a vegetarian dish, for a non-vegetarian version, try add in some diced shrimps or crab sticks.

[Christmas Feast_Salmon Kebab Pockets]

Da da!!
This is my other way to make good use and good dish with the leftover banana leaves - - -> Salmon Kebabs in pockets made from banana leaves. Of course, if you have a whole fish you could wrap it in the leave and either BBQ (weather permitted =)) or grill it in the oven. Banana leave has this unique smell and taste when put on grill (either on a BBQ grill or oven grill). It's great with seafood, chicken and pork. Not so good with beef, unsure about lamb tho'.

Ingredients:
Salmon (or seafood you desire), cut in cubes
Red onions (I love the taste after grilling)
Mushrooms
Cucumber

Methods:
1. Marinate the salmond with a little olive oil, vinegar, and some finely chopped Italian parsley for 20mins.
2. Arrange the Salmon cubes, red onions, mushrooms, and cucumber on bamboo sticks.
3. Preheat the oven to 350F.
4. Lightly grill the kebabs on a non-stick frying pan. DO NOT OVER-COOKED!!! This step is done just for some brown colour on the Salmon and to release the sweet taste of the red onions.
5. Wrap up the kebabs with the banana leaves. Secure the pockets with toothpicks. Spray the pockets with
6. Arrange the pockets in an ovenproof dish and grill for 30mins.


pic#1: Hot from the oven Salmon Kebab Pockets



pic#2: What it looks like inside the pocket.

[Christmas Feast_Honey Baked Chicken]

Found *ecstatic* and bought some banana leaves at our local grocery store a few days before Christmas. Had not thought of what I want to do with them but was sure I will think of something. At the time, I just wanna buy them and get them home. =))

Just the night before Christmas eve (Christmas eve eve?? =)) I said to myself why not use some of the leave to make a banana leave woven and use the rest for something else. This would sure be a show taker!! So here we are! =))

Preparation:
The night before:
*Banana Leave Woven*
Shred the banana leaves to strips.
Best if you can have them same width and length.
Start weaving!! Just make it big enough for the dish you're serving the bird (ie. pic#1).
Once done, leave it on the bencetop overnight.


Pic#1: Finished weaving!

*The Bird*
Marinade:
Garlic mince
Ginger mince
Sweet Mirin
White Merlot (I used Beringer)
Oyster Sauce

1. Mix the marinade together (except oyster sauce) and leave for ~30mins.
2. Rub the bird (in and out) with oyster sauce.
3. Then when 30mins is up, put the bird in a plastic bag (best with Ziploc bag, if you have one), and pour the marinade over the bird.
4. Leave in the fridge for overnight.

On the day:
1. Cover the weavened leaves. You don't want it to go too dry.
2. When ready, preheat the oven to 425F.
3. Put the bird on an ovenproof baking dish (breast side down). Reserve the marinade.
4. Chop up some vegie in chunks (ie. celery, carrot, onion, garlic) and put them in the cavity.
5. Mix the marinade with melted butter and honey. Set aside.
6. Put the bird in the oven for 30mins, then brush with the honey butter marinade. Bake for another 30mins or until golden. Brush with the marinade at a 10-minute interval.
7. Reduce the temp to 400F and turn the breast side up, bake until golden, brush with the marinade at a 10-minute interval. Bake the breast side for about 30 ~ 45mins.
8. Turn the breast side down, put a few lemon slices on the bird, brush with the marinade, and bake for a further 20mins.
9. Reduce the temp to 375F and bake for another 20mins.
10. Take the bird out, set aside.
11. When ready to serve, put the bird the prepared serving dish lined witht the woven (pic#2 & #3).


Pic#2: How do you like my new outfit?!


Pic#3: I'm ready if you are!!