Wednesday, February 15, 2006

[簡直不把我當人看嘛!!]

我為什麼會寫這句 「簡直不把我當人看嘛!!」???
來來來... 大家來給我評評理.
上禮拜六傍晚 5點多跟頭家倆人在家裡呆了一整天, 決定要到外面去散散步﹑透透氣. 倆人全副武裝 - 風衣; 運動長褲; 散步鞋, 打扮好. 嗯... 外面的風是有點大, 不過看樣子還不至於大到走不動. 整裝好... 出發嘍!!!

。。。開門。。。 跨步走出去。。。
*咻咻咻* 厚... 風還真不小咧.
*嘎嘎嘎* 哈... 頭家的牙齒已經打起來了.

頭家: 嘿... 我我我... 看我們們們... 還是... 把把把把垃圾丟一丟然後就就就回去了. 好好好嗎? *一邊講話一邊不停的打哆嗦*

影子: Huh??? 你是說真的還是跟我開玩笑? 把垃圾丟一丟後就回去?
頭家: 真的啊. 好好好好冷哦.
影子: {{哈哈哈}} 醬子就好冷哦? {{哈哈哈}}... *這時候剛好把垃圾丟好了*
頭家: 好啦... 要不然我們就繞一個小圈去看看有沒有信然後就 回去好不好?
影子: {{哈哈哈}} ... 走個根本 (註1) 不要說沒有走到是不是? {{哈哈哈}} ... (實在是沒有辦法忍住不笑. 方圓五百哩內一定可以聽到我那高亢雄厚的笑聲)
頭家: 好不好嘛?
影子: ok ok ok ... {{哈哈哈}}

*疑惑的看倌* 嗯... 這些對話好像跟妳的標題沒什麼關連咧.
慢著慢著... 別急嘛. 就來了.
所以我們就走去看信箱有沒有信. 嘿... 頭家是用衝的速度往前跑企. 他說因為風太大太冷了, 用跑的可以大幅度減低在外面的時間, 這樣就可以快快到達信箱然後快快回去. *很不以為然的影子*

咦... 有信! 還有一堆雜誌!

頭家: 嗯... 既然已經出來了 ... 不然我們走到前面的 corner store 企逛逛.
影子: 好啊好啊... (我當然是好啦. 這點小風對住十幾年紐西蘭, 夏天也常有這種強風冷風的我來說, 哼! 小兒科啦!)



走啊走啊走啊走 ... 到了小店的門口了. 剛要推門進去... 頭家一把把我拉住 ...
頭家: 等一下
影子: huh? 怎麼了? *我以為是店已經關門了*
頭家: *指著貼在門上的一張紙* 妳看 ... 這上面說什麼 ... "NO PET BEYOND THIS POINT"(註2). 妳不能進去.

{{{ 吼 }}}

可想我大吼一聲後; 我的拳頭握得多緊; 呼吸有多急; 目光有多銳利 ...
沒有 ... 我只是把嘴嘟得長長尖尖高高的 ... 一副很委屈的樣子. ={


註1: 台語 - 意思意思的意思
註2: 寵物不能進去

[吃包子嘍!]


video 是頭家幫我製作的. =)

有好一陣子沒做包子吃了. 之前一直想要做可就是沒做成. 也許是要做要試的 recipe 太多了 ... 所以我們很少會短時間裡重複做同樣的東西來吃.

Anyway... 禮拜天那天跟頭家聊到一個網友 (叫包子媽) 貼在她部落格裡的笑話. 結果笑話說完了他對笑話沒什麼反應卻問我

頭家: "Mmmm... 我們什麼時候要做包子吃?"
影子: "咦, 你怎麼會突然間想要吃包子?"
頭家: "Errr... 因為, 因為妳剛剛提到包子."
影子: *$#&%@!@* "嘿, 所以你覺得那個笑話好不好笑?"
頭家: "笑話? 哦, 還好. 所以妳說我們什麼時候要做包子吃?" (厚... 棄而不捨的精神又來了)
影子: "厚!!! 所以剛剛我在跟你講笑話你根本沒有在聽! 只一心的在想包子."
頭家: "有啦. 有在聽啦. 只是沒有覺得很好笑而已嘛. 所以我們什麼時候要做包子吃啦?" (天啊! 怎麼有這麼難纏的人啊???)
影子: "好啦好啦好啦. 明天做包子啦."

嗯... 以上的小對話就是為什麼我們禮拜一會做包子吃的原由啦. 好啦 ... 嘰哩咕嚕說了一堆, 來看材料跟做法吧. 啊... 在這裡要跟我老媽說聲謝謝. 因為這是她給我的食譜. =)) 意思就是說呢 ... 如果不好吃還是做不成的話, 不要來找我, 找我老媽. 嘻嘻嘻...

材料:
1 1/2 茶匙 發粉 (baking powder)
6 杯 普通麵粉
12g 乾酵母
3 茶匙 糖
375ml 溫水
3 湯匙 白油 (shortening)

**可做24個大包子

做法:
1. 將發粉和普通麵粉篩到一mixing bowl 中 (需要用特大的哦). 置一邊.
2. 把乾酵母和糖混合均勻後慢慢的將溫水 (註1) 倒入. 慢慢的攪拌至糖溶解. 後置放一旁讓它發泡.
3. 將 (2) 慢慢的倒入 (1)中. 把麵粉跟水揉合. 如仍覺得麵團太乾的話可加少許溫水. 將白油揉入麵團中. 這時候的麵團會是粗糙的表皮. 不用緊張, 有耐心的﹑慢慢的揉會把麵團揉到光光滑滑的.
4. 繼續不間斷的揉麵團, 約 15分鐘左右. 後置放於一容器中, 蓋上濕布讓麵團醒 1小時或發至兩倍大.
5. 將麵團分成 24個等份. 包入預先準備好的餡料 (註2), 收口. 記得底下要墊一張 parchement paper/baking paper/wax paper 以防黏底.
6. 讓包好的包子再稍微發個 15分鐘才蒸. 一次四到五個包子蒸 15分鐘.

註1: 是溫水哦 (約 60C ~ 75C). 千萬不好用熱水, 會把酵母給燙翹翹!
註2: 內餡隨意. 我當天包了三種餡: a)豬肉炒海鮮醬加孛薺; b) tuna魚加香菜加檸檬皮刨絲; c)奶酥

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

[Mistaken a man for a bird???]

I guess most of you had learned about the story of the vp Cheney shot a man on the face on a quail hunting trip in Sth Texas on Saturday. It was already Sunday pm when I first read about the news on Reuters. It's no news about hunters shooting their hunting companions on a deer or duck hunting. BUT ... it's the first I heard of on a quail hunting trip! I can't help but laughed at it when I heard about it again on CNN news. I told my hubby that the media will sure have a field day on Monday. Hahhh... and they did!

VP Cheney
img src: reuters.com

This is the one that I first learned about the shooting @reuters.com:
Cheney accidentally shoots hunting companion: CNN




This is good!! Have a read ... it's gonna make you laugh! =))
TV joke writers take shots at Cheney

[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.

[元宵節之在家晚餐]

因為中午才大餐一頓 ... 所以晚餐我們就簡單解決. 一半也是因為我跟姪子在網路上玩 game 玩得越過準備晚餐的時間. =P

元宵節晚餐有: 《三全炒麵》 加 《金磚綠野》 和 《蒜香蜜汁烤排骨》


pic#1: 《三全炒麵》 加 《金磚綠野》
所謂的三全有: 雞腿肉; 豆芽菜; 菜脯粒
什麼? 菜脯粒炒麵? 對呀! 誰說菜脯粒只能用來炒蛋? 試試看, 很不錯吃哦. =))

《金磚綠野》實際上就是香菜煎蛋皮. 把蛋煎得金黃亮亮的看起來就像綠油油的小草長在金磚地上一樣啦.




pic#2: 《蒜香蜜汁烤排骨》

這不用特別介紹啦. 就是蒜香蜜汁烤排骨嘛.

整理一下再把食譜貼到廚誌上.

Monday, February 13, 2006

[元宵節之外出午餐]

哈... 這是我們昨天跟公婆還有頭家老弟一家外出到一家台菜小館用餐時我點的豬血湯. Gosh... 我想我少說也有整十年 (or maybe even more) 沒喝到豬血湯了. 喝/吃得好高興哦, 呵呵呵...



另外我們還公家點了: 蠔煎, 臭豆腐, 麻辣臭臭鍋, miso 蒸魚, 鹹蛋苦瓜, 燻鴨, 乾煎虱目魚.

只拍了這張豬血湯的相片. 另外的因為是跟一大家子一起用餐, 龍爭虎斗下沒來不及拍下她們的倩影. ={ 下次會努力一點...

Sunday, February 12, 2006

[Junk Dumping Ground]

{{{Ahhhhh...}}} *pulling hair*

Our home has becomes the official dumping ground of my MIL. It's awfully frustrating having to pick up after her, specially if she doesn't live here. How? You ask.

OK... this is how she does it. For example, she would pick up some freebies (ie. posters, brochures, cheapo keychains, deodorant samples, etc) from some fairs or festival events ... then dump them at our place when she comes to visit. The most annoying thing is she didn't even ask if we would like to have them or if any of those are any useful to us. She just dumped them on the dinning table or coffee table. This is what happened 2wks ago. First I thought she'd forgotten to take them with her when she left. But my hubby, knowing his mother, told me she didn't forget those stuffs are for us.

me: For us? You sure?
hubby: Yes.
me: But ... but but I didn't hear she say anything or ask if we would like to keep them.
hubby: No, she didn't. But this is her way of leaving stuff for her family.
me: Huh? How? How does she know without asking. Maybe we don't need or don't like any of those.
hubby: ... ... ... ... ... ... *speechless*
me: Anyway... I'm telling you I don't need any of those. I'm going to give them back to her.

And... that was what I did when she was here 2 days later.
In a way, I'm trying to tell her this is how you'll be treated if this is how you treat others**. If you want others to R-E-S-P-E-C-T you, first learn how to respect others. It's a 2-way street!! Mmmm... most importantly, I want to send her a message that our house is not some junkyard and we're not hobos or beggars who live by her disposal. Even if we're we deserve more respect that this!

**background info:
She returned a jigsaw puzzle CD that we gave her as a gift a while ago. Don't get me wrong, I've no problem with others returning the gifts if they (for whatever reason) don't want it or don't like it. It's ok if she just came out and said she doesn't like it or she doesn't even have to tell us why she's returning the gift to us but at least has the guts to tell us she's doesn't want the gift. But NO! She just slipped the CD in a plastic bag among other things when she visited us a few days later.

Friday, February 10, 2006

[Crunchy Fish Fillet with Toasted Couscous]

Was out shopping one afternoon, bought a copy of "Cooking Light" (it's not one of those cooking for the sake of losing weight kinda magazine. It has some cook smart healthy recipes) among many other things of course. The sole reason of the magazine purchase was I saw a picture of a plate of couscous topped with looks-like panfried shrimps while flipping. My whole attention stayed on the pictured meal - - - so yummy!!! I went straight to the check-up without thinking twice and said to myself "Mmmm... this is what we're going to have for dinner tonight".


pic#1: YUM!!! Loooove couscous!


The recipe called for jumbo shrimps but my hubby doesn't eat shrimps or prawns unless they're batter-coated and deep-fried. So I subsituted the shrimps with two fillets of white fish that I bought the day before. With that I also make other adjustment to the original recipe to my own liking.

Ingredients:
Couscous:
1 cups uncooked couscous
13/4 cups fat-free low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup lime juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
11/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
pinch of salt
*boiled vegie - I used cauliflower and carrots, mainly for their colour to go with the lite-yellowish couscous

Fish:
2x white fish fillet
finely chopped fresh cilantro
finely grated fresh ginger
freshly ground black pepper
drips of cooking oil (ie. canola or olive oil)
Panko** (Japanese breadcrumbs), enough to coat 2 fillets
** regular breadcrumb doesn't work as crunchy as Panko would.

Sauce:
1/2 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
11/2 tablespoons fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (can reduce the quantity if you don't like the taste or smell of cumin)
pinch of salt and pepper

serving for 2.

To prepate the couscous:
1. Place couscous in a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat, cook for about 3 - 5 mins, or until toasted, stirring constantly.
2. Add the chicken broth, lime juice, and salt, then bring to a boil.
3. Remove from heat, cover and let stand for 5 mins.
4. Fluff with a fork, add boiled vegie and butter. Keep stirring until butter melts.
5. Keep warm. Add the cilantro just before serving or the heat will brown the cilantro.

To prepare the fish:
1. Marinate the fish with all the ingredients except Panko for 10 ~ 15mins
2. Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet.
3. Coat the fillet with Panko, shake off the excess. Arrange the fillets in the pan. Cook ~5mins on each side or until done and golden brown.

To prepate the sauce:
1. Pour the 0.5 cup lime juice into a small saucepan, bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to 1/4 cup. Remove from heat, cool completely.
2. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Set aside.

To plate:
1. Place the couscous on a plate, top with a fillet of the browned fish. Sprinkle more chopped cilantro if desired. Drizzle with the prepared sauce or serve by the side.


pic#2: The sauce is really beautiful. Altho' I haven't try it, I think it would go pretty well with grilled lamb chops too.



pic#3: Look at the crunchiness!

Monday, February 06, 2006

[年夜飯之餐後點心]



餐後點心有: 金光燦爛 (Lemon Tart) 和 Raspberry & Vanilla Sherbet, 還有客人帶來的 Pecan Puff Pastries .

當晚因為一邊吃一邊聊, 興奮過度而忘了拍照. ={
這是隔天早上另外拍的. 相片裡的那杯飲料是 香檳+草莓. Errr... 小朋友喝的是 Sprite (或Ginger Ale) + 草莓.

Sweet desserts ... ahhh ... sucha great way to end the evening!! =))

Friday, February 03, 2006

[年夜飯之主菜]

主菜 set 1


左上: 富貴花開
這道菜每人都有個自的一盤. 基本上就是蛋皮包素炒飯, 鋪上川燙好的青江菜葉後倒扣在盤子上即可. 淡黃色的蛋皮配亮綠色的葉子, 遠看宛如一朵花, 所以取名 「富貴花開」. 這道菜的簡易處就在於勿需什麼打扮 (或另外的擺盤) 就很好看了.

右上: 三喜素燜
因為頭家他老弟吃長年素所以今年的年夜飯準備了三道全素的, 這樣他就不會有被 left out 的感覺. 所謂的三喜呢就是: 福壽﹑鴻運﹑吉祥 (這是影子我個人的 definition 啦).
這道素燜裡有: 長春菜﹑button mushrooms & oyster mushrooms﹑鑲油豆腐﹑發菜.

左下 & 右下: 寶袋翡翠
這是我特地去買了一顆 napa cabbage (天津白菜) 做韓國泡菜才做成的一道菜. 寶袋呢是韓國泡菜煎餅的 base. 煎好了之後, 寶袋的那碟是包 portobello mushroom; 翡翠那碟呢是包新鮮蘆筍. 這也是道全素菜.

主菜 set 2


左上: 酒香鳳凰
這是我做了好幾次的醉雞. 因為頭家跟公公都愛吃, 所以今年就把這道也列入年菜之一.
當晚婆婆咬了一口大叫好吃後就慫恿她吃長年素的兒子也試試看. 厚!!!

右上: 酒香鳳凰近拍
看! 有點燈哦. =)

左下: 年年有魚(餘)
因為在國外要買到新鮮的 whole fish 實在不容易. 這裡多數是去皮去骨的魚片或就算買得到 whole fish 的話也是冷藏過的. 為了除夕夜宴客我們特地去家轉角處的海產店跟他訂了一條 3磅的 Red Snapper 的. 禮拜五傍晚去把魚領回來 ... 哇哇哇 ... 好新鮮啊!!!

念在今年的座上客有兩個小朋友, 今年的「年年有魚」的料理有別於往年. 今年我把魚片切小塊後簡單的把魚片跟蝦子醃胡椒粉和少少許麻油 (註1) 然後裹麵糊下油鍋炸至金黃. 我還炒了一些三色甜椒加在炸好的魚蝦裡, 這樣盤中才不會只是單調的金黃色而已.

這道可以說是為小朋友而特別泡制. =))

註1:
如沒有要放隔夜的話可放些許鹽巴. 要不然可免, 因為醃太久的話鹽巴會把魚片中的水份 "吸" 乾.

右下: 旺旺金串

這也是以小朋友為目標的一道年菜. 是用兩種肉 --- 雞肉和豬肉串茄子和鳳梨片的烤肉串. 因為鳳梨的關係所以是咸中帶點甜味. 很得小朋友的青睞. 嘻嘻嘻...


開動嘍!!!


因為桌上不夠放, 所以當晚還動用了一大一小兩張桌子並排起來.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

[年夜飯之餐前小點]


餐前小點 #1: 錦繡花籃



餐前小點 #2: 雙色元寶



吃個小點墊墊肚子吧!
因為頭家跟公公還有小朋友不吃辣而我和另外的客人都嗜辣 ... 所以 ... 元寶的沾醬我調了 >加辣< 和 >原味< 兩種口味.
看! 菜單也已擺在桌上了. 這樣大家就知道會要上哪道菜嘍.

[年夜飯之精美菜單]



這是我頭家跨刀為我製作的菜單. 一直很喜歡頭家用手寫的字 ... 原以為讓他幫我用張紅色的手工紙 (過年嘛) 寫一寫就好. 誰料... 我一跟他提出要他幫我這個忙他就義不容辭的一口答應. 接著就忙進忙出的打點工具﹑材料﹑配色﹑還畫圖做各種不同的設計.

整整忙了半個凌晨跟半個下午 ...
*音樂響起* {登。登。登。登}
當我還在廚房忙著的時候他就已經把菜單做好, 呈現在我眼前. 仔細看的話還可以看到他還在每個菜名的小卡上畫上小圖案來標明那道菜的特色. 如餐前的「錦繡花籃」畫了一朵小花﹔「雙色元寶」畫了一個金元寶. 夠細心吧!! =))



再來張遠距離和用花做背景的菜單專欄. ^^