Warm and Wintery

It's been cold lately. And when I'm cold I seek comfort and warmth under a blanket.. and in food. Whether it be a hot home-made ginger tea or a spicy black bean soup, a nice warm dinner never fails to make me feel better after a dreary cycle home from the office in the cold.

I made this lovely wintry lemon and wild mushroom risotto in the weekend. It had the woody flavour of mushrooms combined with the fresh tangy lemon which definitely did the trick in making me feel a little happier. Well that - and the load of cuddles I got after dinner for the nice meal. :)

Has Bean

Some foods just aren't made to be glamorous or hip for that matter. Take the humble black bean for instance. It's wholesome makings just aren't made up to rival let's say caviar or a fancy chanterelle. But great things can emerge from humble beginnings!

I recently made one of the most un-glamourous dishes in my mind's recipe book: black bean soup. It doesn't look great, it doesn't involve fancy preparation methods, it is about as down-to-earth as you can get. But this simple black bean it is so incredibly tasty and wholesome.
As we rise out of our economy's ashes it's always helpful to note that this is a great recession dish. A pot of soup hardly sets you off any money at all - but the flavours it offers is right up there with any five-star restaurant meal (in my opinion). I assure you, this dish is no has been.

What I put in (Enough for 4):

• 2 cans cooked black beans
  
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 250ml beef stock
• 250ml water
  
• 1 white onion, diced
• 1 red paprika, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika powder
• Salt to taste
  
• Coriander leaves (to garnish)
  
• sour cream (to garnish)
  

How to make it:
Sweat onions and paprika until onions are translucent. Add beans, spices, chicken stock and water. Bring the soup to a boil and then cover and allow to simmer for about 30 mins.

Serve the soup warm and garnish with coriander and a big dollop of sour cream.

Rucul-Ugg

Over my lunch today it hit me - where was Arugula (or as the Dutch fondly refer to as Rucula) 10 years ago? I don't remember having Rucula when I was a kid or even as a teenager but now, there's Rucula everywhere I look, in every bloody sandwich I order.

Rucula is in, Rucula is now.

Food doesn't exactly follow the frequency of seasonal fashion but I realise it definitely follows trends. The shoulder pads of the 80s went hand in hand with moulded jelly salads (where did those go?!). Pesto hit the world in the 90's...and now... there's Rucula.

I figure, in fashion terms Rucula to would be like Uggs. Only a select few knew its existence merely a decade ago but now you are served up with some more often that you can care to see.

Rucul-Ugg anyone?

Colossal Hunters

It first happened when I was about 15. It was my first visit to the then brand new Night Safari at the Singapore zoo. I was standing next to a man at the Golden Monkey exhibit who was pointing the little nimble little creatures out to his son. What a touching little scene. Immediately my thoughts were filled with romantic notions. Thoughts of how I perhaps someday I would be able to take my own kids to the zoo...until I got the gist of their conversation.

"Look boy, how small they are... their meat must taste so sweet."

I was horrified. How could he even associate those cute little monkeys with... food?

**************************

The setting was different this time: a tiny table at a Malaysian restaurant in Amsterdam's Chinatown with my fellow hobbit friend, Timi. Our conversation was of course rife with talk of our favourite subject: food.

The Char Kway Teow (surprisingly tasty although hardly authentic*) came first. Then came the squid.

"Imagine if this were a Colossal Squid!" said Timi as she took her first bite. She looked like was on to something.

" What's a Colossal Squid?"

Apparently (as I was explained to by my most knowledgeable friend), Colossal Squid are mysterious and highly evasive sea creatures which are similar their cousin, the Giant Squid but are believed to be much, much bigger. Their tentacles do not posses suction cups. Instead they are equipped with teeth that allow them to attack prey as large as sperm whales.

I was fascinated.

"So imagine if this tiny squid were a Colossal squid."

"Yes...?"

"We'd have to sit at this restaurant for weeks to eat it all."

I wasn't horrified. Something was different this time.
The Colossal Hunter in me understood.



*Note: Char Kway Teow is those things you just have to have in a hawker (food) center on a hot, humid Singaporean afternoon. Any other way and it just isn't the same.

Ode to my Boretti

I love you oven, dear
your fiery-playful flames,
your sudden upward sparkles
slowly cooking all around
those Italian lighting-flames.

There's a more potent smell:
eyes lower.
A mouth hungers.
Lids almost open.
My casserole is aglow.

Based on Tyuchetv's I love your eyes. The work of a genius which I have blatantly bastardized.

baby cakes

Is it the fact that they're individually portioned and look like a little present? Or maybe its just the icing...I can't decide what it is about cupcakes that makes me love them so much.

These are one of my favourites - double chocolate cupcakes with white chocolate and mascarpone icing. The cupcakes are super moist, icing nice and creamy.

What I put in (makes about 12 cupcakes)
Cake recipe:

• 125g butter (if using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 100g good dark chocolate
• 155ml (1/2 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons) water
• 12g (1 1/2 tablespoons, firmly packed) cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules/powder (optional but good for flavour)
• 168g (3/4 cup) caster sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (1 teaspoon natural vanilla essence)
• 1 large egg (we use eggs with a minimum weight of 59g)
• 125g (1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup) self-raising flour

White chocolate frosting:

• 175g white chocolate
• 75g mascarpone
• 2 tablespoons cold milk

How to make it:
Place butter, chocolate, water, cocoa, coffee and sugar in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally and remove from heat when chocolate and butter have just melted. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and set aside to cool for about 15 minutes. Add vanilla and egg to chocolate mixture. Using hand-held electric beaters, beat until combined. Add flour and beat for about one minute, until mixture is smooth. Bake for 12-15 mins at 160 degrees

Icing:
Melt the white chocolate an au bain marie (no direct heat!!) and mix until smooth. Beat in the milk until nice and creamy. Leave to cool for awhile before mixing in marscapone. Place in a piping bag and leave to cool for at least 20 mins before icing the cupcakes.
I like topping the cupcakes off with a strawberry or raspberry. The tartness of the fruit really completes the flavour of the chocolate cake. Yum.

Chicken Curry Memories

I don't think I know anyone that doesn't like Chicken Curry. It's such a flavoursome, comforting dish and once you have the basic spices at home, you'll be able to make it several times over without buying too many ingredients.

My childhood memories of chicken curry include family picnics at the beach. In Singapore, where I grew up, chicken curry was considered a picnic (!) food. My mom would make a huge pot of the stuff and we would drive to the beach with the family and have dinner on a big canvas sheet on the sand. When we made longer trips we would even bring along a make shift stove to re-heat the curry so that we would have something warm to eat after having a dip in the cool sea. I have many fond memories of shivering away in half-soaked beach towel towel, ready to dip a big chunk of french bread the thick gravy.

There are lots of different types of chicken curry and this one is some what a hybrid version of my mom's chicken curry and a North Indian version I created myself.

What I put in (Enough for 4):

• 1 whole chicken (around 1-1.2 kg) cut into parts
• 2 large white onions
  
• 4 cm of ginger root
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 large ripe tomatoes
  
• 1tsp chilli powder
• 1.5 tbsp garam massala
• 1 tbsp curry powder
  
• 4 cloves
• 2 seeds of cardamon
• 6 whole black peppercorns
  
• 1/2 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 4 dried chillis
• Half a star of anise
• 1 small stick of cinnamon
  
• 4 tbsp thick full cream yoghurt (greek-style yoghurt works well)
• 1 tsp sugar
  
• 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (do not use olive oil!!)
• Coriander to garnish

How to make it:

• Pound the garlic and ginger and dice the onions finely.
• Cut the tomatoes in half and then into slices
• Place the chicken parts in a large bowl and add curry powder, chilli powder, garam massala and salt. Use your fingers or a spatula to ensure that the chicken is well coated in the spice mixture. Leave to rest.
  
• Heat the oil in a large wok or saucepan on high heat. When oil is hot, add the pounded garlic and ginger and then cloves, cardamom, peppercorns, cumin seeds, dried chillies, anise and cinnamon. Fry in the oil for about 10-30 seconds until fragrant, don't let the spices burn!
  
• Turn the heat down to medium and add the onions, letting them sweat until the onion is translucent. Try to make sure that the onion does not brown.
• Add the chicken and stir until browned then add in the tomatoes and cook till soft.
• Add the yoghurt and stir till all ingredients are well mixed.
• Turn the heat down to low and allow to simmer for about 30 mins, occasionally stirring.
• Your curry is ready to serve!
  

Curries tend to taste even better when left to sit for a day so make a big portion and have it the next day or the day after. I like to serve this up with steamed white rice and garnish with coriander. Or go old school and dip a slice of thick-crusted french loaf straight in the pot.