Spicy Calamari

Ingredients:

• 100 g squid tube (cut into bites)
• oil for deep frying

Batter:

• 1 tbsp minced red chili-pepper
• 1 tbsp minced Khaffir lime leaves
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 shallot (minced)
• 2 tbsp Thai fish sauce
• a dash of Japanese fish stock/dashi (optional)
• 6 tbsp plain flour
• 3 tbsp rice flour
• ice water for blending

How to:

• mix all the batter ingredients in a big bowl. Slowly pour in the ice water and blend till forming a thick batter. Set aside for 5 minutes
• heat your oil (~1 inch deep) for 1 minute
• coat the squid with batter piece by piece and deep fry till golden brown
• sprinkle some salt and pepper if desired and serve for 2

Indonesian Spicy Anchovy

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried anchovy (soak in hot water to remove the saltiness)
• 4 shallots
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 red chilli-pepper - use more if you like it spicy
• 1 fresh tomato
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp fresh lime juice
• oil for frying

How to:

• add all the ingredients except the anchovy into a food processor and finely chop
• dry your anchovy using kitchen towel and deep fry for 1 minute
• heat 4 tbsp cooking oil in a frying pan for 1 minute. Add in the sauce and stir-fry till fragrant
• add in the anchovy and stir for another 1 minute
• serve for 2

Pancake

I know there are tonnes of yummy pancake recipes out there. Anyway..

Ingredients:

• 1½ cup self-rising flour
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp cinnamon powder (optional)
• grated cheddar cheese or parmesan (optional)

How to:

• mix all the ingredients in a big bowl and whisk using a fork. Leave for 5 minutes
• heat your pan for 1 minute and grease it with margarine
• pour in the pancake mix into the pan for the size of a palm. Sprinkle some cheese on top of it. Flip occasionally and remove when it is lightly charred
• serve with maple syrup or anything you like

Stir-fry Cellophane Noodle

It's another classic recipe that suits every tastebuds. I marinate the chicken first to enhance the flavor :)

Ingredients:

• 200 g chicken thigh fillet (cut into strips)
• 2 knots of cellophane noodle (soak in hot water) - you may use any amount that is sufficient for two
• 1 carrot (juliened)
• ½ red capsicum (cut into strips)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 6 dried shitake mushrooms (soak and cut into strips)
• 1 cup of any vegetable (cut into bites)
• 2 tbsp cooking oil

Marinade:

• 1 tbsp mirin
• 1 tbsp sake
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp dark vinegar

Sauce:

• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sweet soy sauce

How to:

• marinate the chicken for at least 30 mins
• heat 1 tbsp cooking oil in a frying pan for 1 minute. Add in the chicken piece by piece and panfry till golden brown. Set aside
• add the remaining cooking oil and stir-fry the carrot until it has softened
• add in garlic, capsicum, mushroom, and vegetable into the frying pan. Stir-fry for 1 minute
• add in the cellophane noodles and the sauce. Stir-fry for 3 minutes
• add in the chicken and Stir-fry for 1 minute
• add a few drops of sesame oil. Mix well and serve for 2

Sichuan Eggplant

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sized eggplant (cut into 2 inch bites)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 inch fresh ginger (minced)
• 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorn
• 2 tbsp cooking oil

Sauce:

• 1 tsp cornstarch
• ¼ cup of chicken stock
• 1 tsp chili bean paste
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tbsp dark vinegar
• 1 tbsp chinese red wine
• 1 tsp sugar

How to:

• heat your oil in a frying-pan for 1 minute
• add in the eggplant and stir-fry till soften
• add in garlic, ginger, and peppercorn. Stir-fry till fragrant
• add in the sauce and stir-fry till thicken
• serve for 2

Fried Sausage Roll

This is a good way to finish off your toasts when they are near expiry date :)

Ingredients:

• 5 slices of toasts (remove the edges) - you may use more, as I only left with 5 :)
• 150 ml milk
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground white pepper
• 1 cup of bread-crumbs

How to:

• beat your egg and mix with milk, salt, and pepper
• dip your toasts, slice by slice into the mixture - Remember, it's a dip not a soak!
• on a plain surface roll the soggy toast over a sausage. Carefully press the toast to harden it a bit
• roll over the bread-crumbs. Set aside for 5 minutes
• deep fry till golden brown
• serve for 2

Stir-fry Fish Ball

This is a dish for lazy people :)

Ingredients:

• 150 g fish balls (cut into coins)
• 1 green chili-pepper (devein, deseed, and cut into slices)
• ½ onion (sliced)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 tbsp Thai fish sauce
• a few drops of sesame oil
• 1 tbsp cooking oil

How to:

• heat your oil in a frying-pan
• add in the fish balls and stir-fry until they turn yellowish
• add in chili-pepper, onion, and garlic. Stir-fry for another minute
• add in fish sauce and stir-fry for another minute
• add in a few drops of sesame oil. Stir twice
• serve for 2