tasting tales

Chicken and pork pâté with pistachios

February 27, 2017

by Kelsey

Quick and easy

“Pâté is a mixture of cooked ground meat and fat minced into a spreadable paste. Common additions include vegetables, herbs, spices, and either wine or brandy (often cognac or armagnac). Pâté can be served either hot or cold, but it is considered to develop its fullest flavor after a few days of chilling.”

A traditional country-style pâté and a great staple to have in the fridge for everyone to help themselves to whenever they want. Inspired to make Michel Roux Jr chicken and pork pâté with pistachios from his latest cookbook “The French Kitchen.”

Braised chicken and pork in a black nut curry

December 29, 2016

by Kelsey

Leave a comment

Asian cuisine

Quick and easy

” Known as an Indonesian black nut called buah keluah in Malay. The nut is mainly found in parts of South East Asia of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Growing up in a peranakan/nonya home, this is known to be a traditional dish, a hard treasure to find but one of the most frequent delights.”

My grandmother’s mom (great grandmother) taught my grandma at a very young age how to make this authentic dish that is usually very famous among the peranakans/nonya people. The nut needs to be soaked for a number of days then cracked open, scooping out the flesh and then refilled. Because of it’s rarity in western countries (e.g Australia), you can easily find the flesh filling in a vaccumed packed in the frozen section in China town. The meat for this dish can consist of either chicken and/or pork. In Malay, ayam means chicken and babi means pork, directly translated as “ayam buah keluak” and “babi buah keluak.”

Oven-baked almond chicken

November 17, 2016

by Kelsey

Leave a comment

Western cuisine

Quick and easy

“A clean eating version of chicken breasts that are baked instead of fried, and coated in almonds flakes and breadcrumbs. This almond crusted chicken is fantastic for stubborn eaters – it crunchy on the outside, moist inside and full of flavour.”

This oven-baked chicken recipe has a combination of super flavours and is so easy to do. Have dinner on the table in less than an hour.

Apple and almond meal flaugnarde

October 27, 2016

by Kelsey

comment 1

Western cuisine

Quick and easy

“A baked French dessert of fruit, traditionally black cherries, arranged in a buttered dish and covered with a thick flan-like batter. The clafoutis is dusted with powdered sugar and served lukewarm, sometimes with cream. A traditional Limousin clafoutis contains pits of the cherries. The pits contain amygdalin, the active chemical in almond extract, so during baking a small amount of amygdalin from the pits is released into the clafoutis, adding a complementary note to its flavor.”

I’m not really the sweet tooth but I do like this quick and light dessert. It’s very fluffy and versatile with adding a number of different fruits such as red cherries, plums, prunes, apples, pears, cranberries or blackberries.

Benefits of amino acids

August 28, 2016

by Kelsey

comment 1

Nutrition

What is amino acids?

Twenty percent of the human body is made up of protein. Protein plays a crucial role in almost all biological processes and amino acids are the building blocks of it. A large proportion of our cells, muscles and tissue is made up of amino acids, meaning they carry out many important bodily functions, such as giving cells their structure. They also play a key role in the transport and the storage of nutrients. Amino acids have an influence on the function of organs, glands, tendons and arteries. They are furthermore essential for healing wounds and repairing tissue, especially in the muscles, bones, skin and hair as well as for the removal of all kinds of waste deposits produced in connection with the metabolism. Research over recent years has shown that amino acids have been useful against diabetes, osteoporosis, heart trouble, metabolic disorders, erectile dysfunction and also anti-aging and also menopausal complaints, to name but a few.

Cod and potato crust

July 2, 2016

by Kelsey

Leave a comment

Western cuisine

Quick and easy

“A fish recipe you can’t help but love, this is a light and summery alternative to fish and chips.“

Recently I haven’t had much time or the passion to cook for myself at home. But saying that, a work colleague named Alessio has inspired me to recipe test this Italian dish that is not only quick to make but incredibly flavorsome, light and healthy.