1 hour french bread

Prep Time : 40 min

Cook Time : 20 min

Yield : 1 big loaf

Freezer-friendly : Yes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup warm water

1tbsp honey

1 1/2tbsp instant yeast

1 1/2tsp salt

3 1/2cups all purpose flour (i use 3cups bread flour)

Steps:

1) Mix water, honey, yeast and salt in a glass bowl. Let it sit for 7-10 min until bubbles are formed.

2) Pour mixture into breadpan, add flour, press knead function for 10 min (donlim BM Function No.6)

3) Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees celcius.

4) Take out the dough from the breadpan, shape it into long oval shape and place onto baking tray lined with parchment paper.

5) Let the dough rise for 15 min.

6) Cut slits on top and bake for 20min or until bread is browned.

Original Recipe:

http://www.mymundaneandmiraculouslife.com/foodie-fridays-easy-peesy-french-bread/

Soft Raisin Butter White Bread

Prep Time : 15 minutes
Cook Time : 3 hours 19 minutes
Yield : 1 loaf of bread
Freezer Friendly : Yes

Ingredients:
1 cup fulll cream milk
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
350g bread flour
2tsp instant active dry yeast
3tbsp cold unsalted butter, chopped
4tbsp raisins

Steps:
1) Add all ingredients into breadpan in the order above except butter & raisins.
2) Insert and lock breadpan into breadmaker. Select Mode 1: basic bread, Weight:900g, Crust Intensity:Light, press Start.
3) After 2 minutes, add butter then raisins.
4) Cool on wire rack for 20 minutes before slicing the bread.
5) Serve warm or freeze in freezer bag for on-the-go breakfast.


Original Recipe:
Donlim Breadmaker Recipe 1 

Carrot Choy Sum Congee

Preparation Time : 15 minutes

Cooking Time : 1 hour 30 minutes

Yield : 3 servings for toddler

Freezer Friendly : No

I made the congee before I head off to work on weekend, so I did not get a chance to snap the photo of the congee.

Ingredients:
2 stalk of Chinese Flowering Cabbage (Choy Sum in Cantonese)
1 small carrot
2 oz pork tenderloin
1/2 cup of uncooked rice
4 cups of water
Pinch of salt

Steps:
1) Wash Choy Sum, carrot and pork. Cut into small pieces.
2) Wash rice and put into rice cooker.
3) Add water, Choy Sum, carrot and pork.
4) Press 'boiling' function.
5) When the mixture is boiling (about 15 minutes), stop the 'boiling' function and press 'congee' function. This should take 1 hour and 30 minutes.
6) When the congee is done, add a pinch of salt, stir with ladle and serve.

Boiled Chrysanthemum, Apple and Sweet Pear

Prep Time : 10 min

Cook Time : 2 hours

Yield : 1litre cooling drink

Freezer Friendly : No

Ingredients:

2 palm grasp dried chrysanthemum

1 red apple

1 sweet pear

1pc rock sugar (optional)

1 ltr water

Steps:

1) Wash all ingredients except rock sugar.

2) Remove skin and seed of apple and sweet pear, dice it.

3) Put all ingredients into rice cooker, press boiling function. Once boiled, press soup function 2 hours.

4) Serve warm.

Inspired by mummy Wei San Foong at Healthy Food for Baby FB.

Pumpkin Crunchy Rings

Prep Time : 20 min

Cook Time : 30 min

Yield : 1 medium bowl of rings

Freezer Friendly : No

This is the 2nd time in my life to pipe out a batter, it is difficult! Forgive me on the poor piping skills, was trying to make pretzel shape but only manage to pipe 2, lol...

Ingredients:

80g frozen pumpkin puree

80g potato starch

1tsp brown sugar

10g olive oil

Steps:

1) Heat pumpkin puree under high heat for 15 min. If you have fresh pumpkin, steam 100g for 20 min then blend it. 

2) Pre-heat oven at 160 degrees celcius.

3) Mix everything together while the puree still hot, stir with hand whisk.

4) Pour into pipe liner, pipe desired shape on baking tray lined with parchment paper.

5) Bake for 30 min. As the crunchiness will depends on how thick the ring is, I suggest go for 20min, checked by prickling with fork,  if not crunchy, then go for another 10 min.

Stir Fry Choy Sum

Prep Time : 15 min

Cook Time : 15 min

Yield : 2 servings

Freezer Friendly :No

Ingredients:

2 stalks Choy Sum, roughly cut

2oz chicken breast, sliced

Pinch of salt

Dashes of peppers

Few drops of sesame oil

2 tsp starch powder

2tbsp oyster sauce

1tsp light soy sauce

2tbsp grapeseed oil

Water as needed

Steps:

1) Marinate chicken with 1tsp starch powder, pinch of salt, dash of pepper and few drops of sesame oil. 

2) Wash all ingredients thoroughly, soak Choy Sum for at least 2 minutes before rinsing.

3) Brown chicken with grapeseed oil under high heat. Remove and set aside.

4) Put Choy Sum into wok and stir-fry under high heat for 3 minutes. Put 2 cups of water, wait to boil. 

5) Simmer under medium low heat for 5 minutes or until water lessen to half.

6) Add dash of pepper, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, pinch of salt. Stir until combined, taste and adjust accordingly.

7) Add 1tsp starch powder to 1/2cup water. Pour into the wok to thicken the sauce. 

8) Stir until combined and serve warm

Tiramisu

Prep Time : 15 minutes
Chill Time : 8 hours
Yield : 6 servings
Freezer Friendly : No

Ingredients:
1/2cup coffee 3-in-1

3/4cup mascarpone cheese

10 lady fingers
1tbsp cocoa powder

Steps:
1) Dip lady fingers in coffee, arrange to cover the bottom of container.
2) Add mascarpone cheese until half of container.
3) Repeat Step 1.
4) Add mascarpone.
5) Sift cocoa powder on top of container.
6) Chill overnight.

Spinach Bread

Preparation Time : 35 minutes
Cooking Time : 3 hours 19 minutes
Yield : 10-12 slices of bread
Freezer Friendly : Yes

Starter Dough Ingredients:

100g bread flour

70g boiling water

Starter Dough Steps:

1) Pour boiling water onto bread flour, mix with fork. 

2) Refrigerate for 20mins or overnight (more than 8 hours).

Bread Ingredients:

Starter dough

40g grapeseed oil

100g spinach puree

50g water

2 tbsp formula milk (or normal milk powder)

2 tbsp brown sugar

Pinch of salt

200g bread flour

50g all purpose flour

1.5 tsp active dry yeast

Bread Steps:

1) Remove breadpan from breadmaker.

2) Put in all the above ingredients except starter dough (in sequence listed above).

3) Insert and lock breadpan into breadmaker.

4) Select Mode No.1 (basic bread), select weight 700g, select crust intensity light, press start. (I use Donlim Breadmaker)

5) When all ingredients are combined, around 2 minutes, add in starter dough bit by bit. 

6) Bread should be done in 3hours and 19 minutes.

Tips : Remove bread from breadmaker immediately when the bread is ready to avoid the bread shrinking.

Serve with your favorite jam or toppings, otherwise, throw into freezer ziplock bread for the coming busy week on-the-go breakfast! To serve, just steam for 15 minutes ( I throw into the steamer straight from the freezer the moment I wake up so that when I am ready to go, so is the bread) and it tastes as soft as freshly made!

Original recipe : Donlim Breadmaker Recipe Book

Wholewheat Crackers

Prep Time : 40 minutes

Cook Time : 20 minutes

Yield : 2 mason jars

Freezer Friendly : No

I personally feel that its too salty, so I will reduce the amount of butter and cheese in future.

Ingredients:
1cup whole wheat flour
1/2tsp salt
4tbsp cold unsalted butter, diced
8oz grated cheddar cheese
3-4 tbsp water

Steps:
1) Add flour and salt into breadmaker, press knead function (Function No.6 on Donlim BM)
2) While the BM kneading, gradually add butter, follow by cheese.
3) Drizzle water in until dough is formed.,
4) Flatten and cover with cling wrap. Chill for 20minutes.
5) Roll dough into 1/8 inch thick. Cut desired shapes.
6) Place on baking tray lined with parchment paper.
7) Bake under 170 degrees for 20 minutes.

Original recipe:

http://www.superhealthykids.com/whole-wheat-goldfish-crackers/

Chinese Cabbage Soup

Prep Time : 5 minutes

Cook Time : 30 minutes

Yield : About 500ml soup

Freezer Friendly : No

Ingredients:

1/3 Chinese cabbage/Napa cabbage

1/2 carrot

1 tomato

1/3 tsp garlic powder

1/3 tsp ginger powder

1 tsp vegetarian mushroom seasoning powder

150ml chicken stock

Water

Steps:

1) Put cabbage horizontally on chopping board, cut from leafy side about 2cm wide each cut. Cut carrot and tomato into small pieces.

2) Bring chicken stock and 4 cups of water to boil.

3) Wash all veges. Put veges and seasonings into the water.

4) Turn heat to low, simmer with lid on for 25 minutes.

Tomato Baked Cheese

Prep Time : 2 minutes

Cook Time : 25 minutes

Yield : 1 tomato baked cheese

Freezer Friendly : No

                          After

                         Before

It has been a while since I made this for my toddler. Yes, she had been rejecting all kinds of food I cook for at least 2 months except egg. 

I notice that she becomes bored if I cook the same dish for the 2nd day so I decided to give this simple recipe a try again.

My girl was very hungry when we were on the way to dinner, she keep on asking for food. I gave her 1 pc Heinz biscuit and raisins (that was all I have) but she took all within minutes. Then asked for more and started wailing. I have no choice but to serve her the tomato baked cheese in the car. I fed her and she ate without fuss. 

I am a happy mom today!

Ingredients: 

1 big tomato

1 tbsp grapeseed oil

1/2 tbsp Italian herbs

2 tbsp grated cheddar cheese

1 tbsp Parmesan cheese

Dash of pepper

Steps:

1) Pre-heat oven at 210 degree celcius.

2) Wash tomato, cut into half.

3) I put the tomato halves into 2 ramekins so that it stands still and holds the cheese well.

4) Top the tomato with cheese, herbs, pepper and oil.

5) Bake for 25 minutes. 

Another version i made by slicing the tomato. Bake for 15 mins under 200 degrees and make sure oil is applied at both sides of tomato slices.

Steamed Shredded Chicken

Preparation Time : 5 minutes
Cooking Time : 20 minutes
Yield : 2-3 servings for toddler
Freezer Friendly : No

       

Ingredients:
1/2 chicken breast
Few drops of Liquid Amino
Dash of pepper

Steps:
1) Wash the chicken breast.
2) Put everything in a bowl, steam for 20 minutes.
3) Let cool and shred into small pieces by hand.

Dried Scallop Congee

Preparation Time : 30 minutes

Cooking Time : 1 hour 30 minutes

Yield : 3 servings for toddler

Freezer Friendly : No

It has been a hard week for me that I need to work on weekend but I know I still would love to prepare food for my baby (she is a toddler now but I still call her baby...). Saw this dried scallop porridge recipe on the book 'Cooking for Kids' by Ben Yeo and Anna Phua and decided to try it out as congee as the recipe is quick, easy, hassle free and still tasty!


Ingredients:
3 pieces of dried scallop (soaked in hot water for 30 minutes)
1/2 cup of uncooked rice
4 cups of water


Steps:
1) Put everything into the rice cooker.
2) Press 'boiling' function.
3) When the mixture is boiling (about 15 minutes), stop the 'boiling' function and press 'congee' function. This should take 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Original Recipe:
Cooking for Kids by Ben Yeo and Anna Phua

Cauliflower Potato Stir-fry

Prep Time : 5 minutes

Cook Time : 15 minutes

Yield : 1 serving

Freezer Friendly : No

First I must apology for the poor image as I forgot to take the photo until I was in the car. Basically this is my last minute recipe but the taste is pretty good, with the mash potato like texture.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp grapeseed oil

1 potato

5 florets of cauliflower

1 tbsp grated cheddar cheese

Pinch of salt and sugar (for blanching)

1 tbsp Vegetarian mushroom seasoning 

powder

Few drops of Liquid Amino

Dash of pepper

Water

Steps:

1) Wash potato, diced. 

2) Blanch cauliflower in boiling water with pinch of salt and sugar added for 1 minute.

3) Pour oil onto non stick pan. Add potato and cauliflower, stir-fry for 2 minutes.

4) Add 3 cups of water, add vegetarian seasoning, few drops of Liquid Amino and dash of pepper.

5) Cover with lid and wait for 8-10 minutes.

6) Open lid, wait until little water left, add cheese. Stir until even, serve.

Rice Cooker Fried Rice

Prep Time : 15 minutes

Cook Time : 45 minutes

Yield : Serving for 2 adult and 1 toddler

Freezer Friendly : No

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked rice

1 carrot

5 florets of cauliflower

2 oz of lean pork

Liquid Amino as needed

Dash of pepper

1 tbsp grapeseed oil

Vegetarian natural seasoning powder

1 1/2 cup water

Pinch of salt and sugar ( for blanching)

Steps:

1) Wash rice, set aside. 

2) Wash lean pork, mince the pork. Marinate with liquid amino and dash of pepper.

3) Wash and cut carrot into small cubes.

4) Cut cauliflower into small florets, wash clean, blanch in hot water with pinch of salt and sugar for 1 minute. Use a slotted spoon to remove cauliflower into a bowl of clean water before off fire.

5) Steam under high heat carrot and cauliflower for 15 minutes. Roughly chop cauliflower into size almost equal to rice.

6) Set rice cooker to "boiling" function. Put oil and stir fry pork until you did not see pink colour about 3 minutes. Add carrot, cauliflower, rice, seasoning, stir fry for 2 minutes. 

7) Add water, cancel " boiling" function, press " rice" function.

Strawberry Oat

Prep Time : 10 minutes

Cook Time : -

Yield : 1 bowl of oat

Freezer Friendly : No

Ingredients:

4 tbsp Quaker oat

2 strawberries

1/2 cup hot water

1/2 cup water

Steps:

1) Add Quaker oat and hot water in a bowl, stir until combined. Add water and stir.

2) Wash and cut strawberries into small pieces.

3) Put the oat and strawberries into blender, blend until smooth.

Banana Steamed Cakes

Prep Time : 10 minutes

Cook Time : 15 minutes

Yield : 3 cupcakes

Freezer Friendly : No

Ingredients:

2 eggs

59g brown sugar

2 ripe bananas (200g)

150g self raising flour

1tsp vaking powder

1 tbsp grapeseed oil

Steps:

1) Sift flour and baking powder, set aside.

2) Whisk egg and sugar until ribbon stage (pale white and fluffy)

3) Add in mashed banana, beat till combine.

4) Gently fold in flour, then oil.

5) Pour into cupcake liner, steam on medium high heat for 15 minutes.

Original recipe:

Kaz Tung @ Healthy Food for Baby FB

Carrot Sticks

Preparation Time : 5 minutes

Cooking Time : 20 minutes

Yield : 1 servings for toddler

Freezer Friendly : No

Ingredient:

1/2 small carrot

Steps:  

1) Wash and cut carrot into sticks. Thickness can be adjusted based kn preference. To start, can consider 1cm x 1 cm x 6cm.

2) Steam under high heat for 20 minutes

Tips: Remember to test it yourself before give to your baby to ensure it is soft enough as all steamers/wok might be different. Over time, you will get hold of the right time for the softness. 

Pumpkin Noodle in Tomato Soup

Preparation Time : 5 minutes

Cooking Time : 45 minutes

Yield : Serving for 1 adult

Freezer Friendly : No

Ingredients:

1 pack of organic pumpkin noodle

2 tomatoes

2 oz pork tenderloin

2 oz chicken breast meat

Water as needed

Pinch of Himalaya sea salt

Little Liquid Amino

Steps:

1) Wash and cut tomatoes,pork and chicken into small cubes.

2) Pour about 3 cups of water, pork and tomatoes into a pot and bring to boil.

3) Turn heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes. 

4) While waiting, Steam the chicken under high heat for 15 minutes. I added a little Liquid Amino for taste before steam. Shred the chicken using hand.

5) Cook the pumpkin noodle under boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain the noodle and set aside.

6) When the soup base is ready, add pinch of salt, pumpkin noodle and shredded chicken as topping.

I found the Organic Pumpkin Noodle in one of the organic shop in my area. The noodle is just made of organic pumpkin and wheat flour. Personally, I am quite happy with the product and do not intend  to invest in a noodle machine at this moment. The most important is my girl likes it!

Traditional Shortbreads

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time : 20 minutes

Yield : 1 mason jar biscuits

Freezer Friendly : No

Ingredients:

40g sugar

100g unsalted butter

150g all purpose flour

Steps: 

1) Preheat oven 165 degree celcius.

2) Mix all ingredients and form a dough

3) Roll the dough using rolling pin till 1cm thick. 

3) Cut into rectangles ( or any desire shapes). Move to tray with parchment paper.

4) Once on tray, poke holes using fork.

5) Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

6) Let cool, once cooled, put into mason jar or any air tight container.

It serve as on-the-go snacks, easy to carry for outings. Mummy love it with a cup of hot coffee too!