Soto Ayam Bayu Puteri

Bahan-bahan Sup

1 ekor ayam
2 batang kulit kayu manis
4 biji buah pelaga
3 biji bunga lawang
5 biji bawang kecil
3 ulas bawang putih
2 inci halia
1 sudu besar jintan manis
1 sudu besar jintan putih
1 sudu besar lada hitam
1 sudu besar biji ketumbar
Minyak masak untuk menumis
Air
Garam

Bahan begedil

10 biji kentang kuning
Isi ayam yang digoreng
Bawang goreng
Garam
Daun ketumbar
Daun bawang
Lada sulah
Lada hitam
Telur

Bahan kicap cili

Cili padi (ikut suka, nak berasap kepala... letakla semangkuk)
Bawang putih
Kicap manis
Cuka
Gula

Bahan lain

Nasi impit
Isi ayam yang digoreng
Su-un
Taugeh
Kacang tanah
Bawang goreng
Daun ketumbar
Daun bawang

Cara memasak

Sup Ayam

Ayam di potong sederhana. Tumbuk hingga lumat bawang, halia dan bawang putih. Asingkan. Tumbuk pula jintan manis, jintan putih, ketumbar dan lada hitam. Dalam stock pot, panaskan minyak untuk menumis. Tumiskan kulit kayu manis, buah pelaga dan bunga lawang. Masukkan bawang yang ditumbuk lumat. Tumis sehingga kekuningan dan wangi. Kemudian masukkan bahan rempah yang ditumbuk. Tumis lagi hingga naik bau rempah.

Tuangkan air, sebanyak mana yang perlu. Untuk soto, kita biasanya perlukan kuah yang banyak. Oleh itu, jumlah air perlulah diletak secukupnya. Masukkan ayam, kacau sup, tutup periuk dan renehkan sup selama 1 jam. Pastikan api gas ditukar kepada tahap rendah (low heat).

Selepas 1 jam, keluarkan ayam dan biarkan sejuk. Pada masa ini, boleh la ditambah garam untuk memberi rasa kepada sup.

Ayam yang dibiarkan sejuk perlu dicarikkan halus-halus. Setelah selesai, masukkan semula tulang-tulang ayam yang berlebihan ke dalam periuk sup. Isi ayam yang telah dicarik ini perlu digoreng sedikit dengan minyak untuk memberikan aroma dan rasa yang lebih enak. Isi ayam perlu dibahagi dua - satu untuk bergedil dan satu untuk bahan soto sendiri.

Begedil Ayam

Kentang di kupas dan di potong menjadi kepingan-kepingan setebal 1/2 inci. Gaulkan dengan garam dan goreng dengan minyak sehingga kentang bertukar kuning keemasan dan separuh garing. Kentang yang selesai digoreng hendaklah ditumbuk hingga hancur dan boleh dikepal. Di dalam mangkuk, campur kan kentang, isi ayam yang telah digoreng, bawang goreng, daun bawang dan daun ketumbar yang dihiris halus. Tambahkan juga garam, lada sulah dan lada hitan untuk perasa. Gaul hingga rata. Pecahkan sebiji telur ke dalam adunan. Kepalkan menjadi begedil yang comel. (Kalau suka besar2.. sukahati ler.. tapi nanti susah goreng).

Panaskan kuali dengan minyak. Pecahkan telur dalam mangkuk dan kacau telur. Salutkan begedil dengan telur sebelum menggoreng. Goreng hingga kekuningan/masak.

Kicap cili

Cili padi dan bawang putih ditumbuk hingga lumat. Campurkan bahan yang ditumbuk dengan kicap manis, tambahkan sedikit cuka serta gula.

Bahan-bahan lain

Nasi impit seeloknya direbus terlebih awal supaya ianya sejuk dan mudah dipotong. Biasanya kita potong bentuk cube macam nasi impit sate tu. Sukahati la nak potong mcm mana pun. Su-un ni perlu digoreng dengan minyak panas. Kejap je dia dah kembang macam keropok. Tapi harus diingat. Su-un ni tak leh dibasuh. Kalau basuh, sure tak jadi. Ataupun, kalau dibasuh, dikeringkan semula then baru goreng. Taugeh dicelur. Kacang tanah perlu digoreng tanpa minyak. Bawang kecil dihiris nipis dan digoreng - jadi la bawang goreng. Daun-daun ketumbar dan bawang dihiris nipis.

Penyediaan

Biasanya kita makan soto ni dalam mangkuk. So, dalam mangkuk tu, letakkan nasi impit, begedil, isi ayam goreng dan taugeh. Tuangkan kuah dan barulah tabur kacang, bawang goreng, daun ketumbar dan daun sup serta letakkan kicap cili. Hidang panas-panas. ;)

I won something!!

Today is one of my lucky days. I won something just by participating in a quiz on MixFM - Are You Smarter Than a 12-year-old?. That brightens up my day after being stood up last nite. ;)

L.O.V.E

Love is very subjective. It can be love to the parents, siblings, children, friends, spouse, and of course, the ultimate love is to the Mighty Creator (ALLAH) and the Prophet of Muhammad(Rasulullah s.a.w).

When you fall in love, everything seems to be beautiful. You go through each day feeling great and excited. Each time the phone rings, you'll rush to answer hoping that it's from the sweetheart. You'll feel your cheeks rose everytime you talk to him. You can even smile to yourself just by thinking of him. That's how powerful LOVE is. Makes people go insane..

But what about if you don't have love? Or your love has been betrayed? Everything seems to be dark and gloomy. Nothing feels good, even if you are given a first class treatment on any service. You will become annoyed easily and moody. That's how powerful LOVE is. Without it, people can also go insane...

I'm in LOVE. But, i get heartbreaks quite often. So, that's why I'm insane all the time.....

Nasi Minyak Panahan Asmara

This recipe was originated by my father. Thank you Abah for teaching me how to cook this recipe until it become the talk of the town (chewah.. perasan!). But the taste memang sedap. Sampaikan, ada yang minta recipe ni masa raya puasa baru ni. So, I'm sharing with all of you this recipe. Kalau first time buat tak jadi, it's normal. Tapi kalau dah buat selalu, mcm petik api lighter jer....

Recipe for Nasi Minyak (eer... by the way, nama kat atas tu nak glamer jer)

10 cups of Basmati Rice (the best type, otherwise, can use Sunwhite)

1 can of evaporated milk (I use Ideal)

10 cups of hot water

3 table spoon of Pure Ghee

3 table spoon of Cooking Oil

1 table spoon of Tomato Puree

Salt

Raisins

Other ingredients

A

1 stick of cinnamon stick - about 3 inches (kulit kayu manis)

3 seeds of cardamom (buah pelaga)

3 seeds of star anise (bunga lawang)

2 cloves (bunga cengkih)

B

5 red onions

3 cloves of garlic

1 inch of ginger

(Pound these ingredients with pestle and mortar)

C

1 table spoon of cumin seed (jintan manis)

1 table spoon of (jintan putih)

1 table spoon of coriander seeds (ketumbar)

1 teaspoon of black pepper (lada hitam)

(Pound these ingredients with pestle and mortar)

Method:

Preheat your cooking part with Pure Ghee and Cooking Oil. Saute ingredient A until it is fragrant. Add in Ingredient B and saute them until it turns golden in color. Add in ingredient C and further saute until it is fragrant (all together it should not take more than 10 minutes).

Add in the rice. Mix the rice with the sauteed ingredients. Do this for about 5 minutes. Make sure the heat is medium-low. Once the rice is all mixed up, pour in the hot water followed by one can of evaporated milk. Add in the salt (not too much as the ghee is already salty) and also the tomato puree.

This is the crucial part. Make sure heat is turned to be at medium-high. You need to stir the rice in the liquid until the amount of liquid is reduced, just like how you want to cook rice in the traditional way on stove. Once you see the liquid has been absorbed mostly by the rice, turned down the heat to low, put on the lid and let it cooked. I would put something heavy on top of the lid and cover the edge of the pot with towels to make sure the steam remains in the pot and that makes the cooking perferct. Most of the times, I would let it cook for about 30 minutes.

After the 30 minutes, check it out whether the rice has cooked and for tasting. Once it is ready, pour in the raisins (mixed the yellow and brown). Serve it while it's hot and garnish with fried shallots and sprinkle with some chopped coriander leaves and spring onions.

Baked Chicken

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sophiafoots/

Recipe

2 pieces of chicken thigh (leave skin on as this will preserve the tenderness of the chicken)
4 table spoon of dark soy sauce
2 table spoon of Mixed Herb (or you can mix on ur own - rosemary, thyme, dill, etc)
1 table spoon of Cajun Seasoning
2 table spoon of Pure Honey
1 table spoon of Sunflower Oil (any oil will do, if you have Olive Oil, much better)

Method:

Mix all ingredients including the chicken into a ziplock bag and marinate for at least 2 hours. Then, preheat your normal skillet (non-stick frying pan or better still the griddle) with very minimal amount of oil. Just to grease your skillet litely. Place the two thighs on the skillet, cover it with a lid. Slow cook the chicken for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. You'll have a perfect baked chicken ready for two.

Once the chicken is ready, remove the skin before serving unless you love to torture your heart with cardiovascular disease! Served best while it's hot. The recommended side dishes would be steamed brocoli and baby carrots and mashed potatoes.

Happy cooking :)

Body Massage

My whole body is aching. Maybe because I have not pampered my self for quite sometimes. I have not even gone to do facials for God knows how long. So, I was telling my self maybe it's about time to go for a body massage. The question is WHEN?

As usual, I'm thinking of hopping into Thai Oddysey. So far, it's the best spa I've ever experienced. So, Thai Oddysey... here I come.....

Back in the office

Today, I'm back to the office after a one-week holiday in my hometown. I got back to my place yesterday evening and reached home around 6 pm. It was kinda sad to leave mak and abah home alone. But it would not be for too long as they will be coming here on Friday evening.

Anyway, I'm already in the office and there are many things to be done. Will continue to write later...