Cuisine & Culture the Chinese Family Way
Crackerbread is baked with wheat in a uniquely light and crispy texture. They come in four ranges: Original, Wholegrain, Pepper and Cheese. They are great as the base to all different kinds of sweet or savoury toppings. There are only 19 calories per Crackerbread.
Today is another cold and wet day and Mr C needed to work. So we decided to bake cupcakes and decorate it with Cake Angels.
I had not heard of Cake Angels until now and now I wish I knew about them earlier! I know in supermarkets they tend to carry big brands like Dr. Oetker, Renshaw, Betty Crocker, and of course the supermarket’s own brand. What makes Cake Angels so special from the rest is that their ingredients are unique and made in the UK.
I have to admit that I am not a brilliant pancake maker but using the right kitchen tools does help to cut down waste, time and make a perfect pancake. Not long ago, I received the Pyrex granate pancake pan, an OXO Good Grips turner, OXO Good Grips batter dispenser and a bottle of Clarks Maple syrup. You can read from my past blog post on how I did the pancake challenge with those items and how I used Clarks maple syrup in smoothies.
For this coming Pancake Day, Warburtons have kindly sent me an amazing magic pancake kit box. I was very impressed when I opened up this box. Watch this video to check out this amazing kit.
Last week, my mum and sister arrived in the UK and it has been great to spend some quality time together. My mum loves to cook Chinese meals and spending time with her reminded me of her cautions to eat eggs in moderation. She has always told me to just eat the egg white and leave the yolk as the yolk contains too much cholesterol. My mum has high cholesterol and this was the advice given to her by her dietician.
Mums always like to have the last word and so I can’t ever win by reasoning with her. But in fact, egg yolks are packed with goodness like calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, thiamine, B6, folate, pantothenic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, B12, vitamins A, D and E. There is an extensive list of nutrients just in the egg yolk itself. On the other hand, egg whites are only packed with proteins and water.
This post is an entry for BritMums ‘Winter Little Adventures Challenge’ sponsored by Barny, individually wrapped bear-shaped sponges with a hidden filling. Find out more about Barny here.
Last year, Ms C took Barny out to explore the nature in autumn where she went on to look for insects. We have tried their chocolate and milk flavour. Now they come in two new delicious flavours: Apple and Strawberry filling. It is a sponge cake with a hidden flavoured filling. They come in a multipack of 5 single packs (5 x 30g) which is great to take out in a lunch box or as a quick snack as they are individually wrapped. They are not suitable for people who have allergies to wheat, gluten, soya, milk, eggs or nuts. They do not have artificial colours or preservatives.
Want to impress your family and friends with your new cooking skills? Why not start the party with canapés? They are perfect for any occasion from pre barbecue nibbles to tea time treats or delicious paired with a glass of wine. I had always wanted to learn how to create my own canapés but have always struggled for time to make the mini pastries. So in the end, I go for simpler options such as deep frying spring rolls and grilling Thai fish cakes instead.
This week, I have been quite busy making Valentines Day things with my kids and I came across a video post on facebook to make a rose bun.
Valentines Day is approaching soon. Instead of buying an expensive gift to Mr C, I decided to make him a jelly heart as a treat! I bought the jelly mixture from a Chinese supermarket. It is called agar agar and is slightly firmer than other jellies which is good with moulding and cutting. I also bought a pack of heart shaped cookie cutters.
Last week, on the eve of Chinese New Year for our reunion dinner, I had cooked a steamed fish. I mentioned in the post why a fish dish is a must on the table, so today, I am writing my recipe for you if you wish to follow.
Pop the fish in the steamer for 6-8 minutes or until it is cooked. Mix 4 tablespoons of Kikkoman soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, 1 teaspoon Shaoxin Chinese wine and pepper. Pour in the mixture once the fish is cooked. Serve while hot. It is that simple! They are fantastic!
As many of you will know, I’ve been writing a series of Chinese New Year posts from crafts to foods. Check out my Chinese New Year’s Pinterest board for ideas!
Many Chinese will cook a fish dish on Chinese New Year Eve reunion dinner as it represents 年年有余 (Nian Nian You Yu) meaning abundance through the year. It is a great auspicious dish for all to eat. It is also traditional to serve fish with its head and tail intact to symbolise a positive beginning and end to the New Year.
Following the massive success of the Chill Factor Slushy Maker (I reviewed it with video) which Character Options brought out last year, they have now brought out an ice cream maker.
We all love a Saturday lie-in and a bit of family time together! Unfortunately this morning, both kids decided that today was not a day for lie-ins and woke us up by jumping on us in bed! We managed to fight off this onslaught momentarily but the final straw came when the postman knocked on the door so we all got up.
I was so excited when I was introduce to these GOOD Hemp Products. We always love to try new food products and they are produced in Britain – Devon in fact! They produce products from hemp seeds including GOOD OIL, a 100% cold-pressed hemp seed oil, GOOD HEMP Milk alternative, and GOOD SEED which are shelled hemp seeds. All of their products are 100% natural and are suitable for vegetarians, vegans and contain no allergens. I have received these three products for review and this is what I think of them:
PLj is a classic British brand, which evokes nostalgia amongst many, a favoured slimming aid since the 1970s is a great everyday accompaniment to many drinks and dishes. They can be used for detoxing, adding to recipes or giving a twist to your favourite cocktail. Their natural lemon juice contains no artificial ingredients or colours and is a staple for Pancake Day as an easy, affordable and convenient replacement for fresh lemons.
