Spicy Prawns a la Miss Lucky Piggy

I remember I had Spicy Crabs in one of Chinese Resto in Indonesia.

So I tried to make it with Prawns.


Ingredients:
1 tsp of Sea Salt
4-5 cloves of Garlic, minced
250-300 gr of Prawns*
Lemon Juice
Oil & Butter for frying
Blended chilli (I use the "Gourmet Garden Mild Blended Chilli" brand)

* Best to have the prawns shells intact from body to tail (not the head - you can if you like). Last time I made it it was quite crispy because of the shells. But my husband would like to have it "practical and efficient" so this time I made it without prawns shells.


Method:
Marinade prawns with salt and lemon juice, 10 - 15 minutes.
Heat oil and butter in a pan.
Deep fried prawns until cooked. Take the prawns out from the pan.
Continue fried garlic until golden brown.
Once golden brown, put garlic on top of the prawns.

Nice to have it with Steam white rice! Yummy!!

Seafood Green Thai Curry

^^Pictures to follow^^


Ingredients:
Carrots
Baby corns
Round beans
1 pc Brown onion
1 pc Lemongrass
3 cm of Galangal
1 tbsp grated Ginger
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp sugar
5 pcs of Lime Leaves
Corriander leaves
2-3 tbsp Green Thai Curry Paste( I use "Volcom" brand)
1 can of Light Coconut Milk (I use "Ayam" brand)
1-2 tbsp oil for sautee
1 fish fillet (I use Orange Roughy Fish Fillet)
Prawns
Water, as needed

Method:
Heat oil in medium heat, sautee brown onion until tender.
Add Green Thai Curry Paste, sautee until fragrant.
Add coconut milk, grated ginger, fish sauce and sugar.
Keep stirring, add carrots, baby corn, round beans.
Once veggies almost cooked, add fish fillet and prawns, bring to boil.
Once seafood cooked, add corriander leaves as garnish.
Ready to serve with steam white rice, and tasty fried red onion.

On My Husband's Birthday - 26.02.2009

On my husband birthday - Thursday, 26th February 2009, I made Chinese Steam Bun, Fruit Pudding and Vanilla Custard, also Marble Cake.


Marble Cake (in Indonesia we know it as Kue Marmer)
It was failed as I mix the flour and egg mixture too much :-( but my husband still supportive by saying "It still taste OK" (^_^) BUT I will make it again one day ;-)
I got this recipe from Palmira Bachtiar.
Here is the link to her website for Marble Cake recipe:
http://palmirabachtiar.multiply.com/journal/item/5/Resep_kue_marmer_diminta_oleh_Nani

Fruit Pudding and Vanilla Custard.

Recipe for Fruit Pudding

Ingredients:
1 can (875ml) of mix fruits salad in natural juice
1 package of Nutrijell
200 gr sugar
700 ml mixture of water & natural fruit juice from can fruits salad

Method:
Mix Nutrijell and sugar in a pan.
Add mixture of water & natural juice in it, and bring to boil.
Keep stirring until nutrijell & sugar disolved in the water mixture.
Once mixed, switch off stove.
In pudding dish, arrange fruits salad, then pour in Nutrijell.
Set in the fridge.


Recipe for Vanilla Custard a la Susanna Olivier

This is the recipe from her:
Milk, corn starch, yellow food color or cocoa powder for brown color, vanilla extract.
Bring all to boil until thickens, then ready to serve.
OR
Just buy cream and mix it in the mixer, then ready to serve.


And this is what I made:

Ingredients:
300 ml non-fat milk
3 tbsp diet sugar
1 tbsp corn starch
1/2 tbsp vanilla extract

Method:
Bring all to boil and keep stirring until mixture thickens.
Once thickens, ready to serve with Fruits Pudding.

Chinese Steam Bun in Wholemeal Flour
For Chinese Steam Bun recipe, I got it from Susanna Olivier.

She has not upload it on her Multiply yet, so please refer to her Facebook.

I use shifted Wholemeal Plain Flour and Wholemeal Self Raising Flour and that is why my steam buns color not as clear as if you use plain flour.

2-day Event @ Maitland Showground, Maitland, NSW

Chicken Satay

Sate Ayam a la Indri Bahar
(Chicken Satay)

I got this yummy recipe from Indri Bahar. Here is the link to her blog for this recipe:
http://indbahar.multiply.com/recipes/item/20/SATE_AYAMala_saya


And below is what I made tonight:

Ingredients:
About 500 grams, skinless & boneless chicken thighs, cubed

Marinade spices:
4 garlic, blender
1 tbsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp salt
A very little amount of pepper
Lemon juice from 1/2 lemon
1,5 tbsp oyster sauce
3 tbsp sweet soya sauce
1 tbsp canola oil

Method (same as Mbak Indri's):
Mix all ingredients and leave it overnight in the fridge.
Insert cubed chicken in satay sticks.
Grill until chicken cooked.

I had Chicken Satay with Peanut Butter Sauce:
1 tbsp of peanut butter
1/2 tsp of lemon juice
1/3 tsp of salt
1 tsp of blended chilli
Warm water, as needed
Mix them all together and ready to serve.

Singgang Ayam (Grilled Chicken a la "dapoer iboe")

I got this yummy recipe from "dapoer iboe" of Simple Kitchen.

Here is the link to her blog for her original recipe:

http://simplekitchen.wordpress.com/

Below are the ingredients I used last night:

4 pcs of skinless & boneless chicken thighs

1 lemongrass, bruised

2 cm galangal, bruised

3 small bay leaves

1 tsp tamarind puree

4 pcs of fresh kaffir lime leaves

275 ml thick coconut milk

Blended ingredients:

2 red chilli, seeded

1 big red onion

4 small garlic

1 cm ginger

1/2 tsp turmeric

2 tsp coriander powder

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp sugar

Method:

- Boil coconut milk and all spices.

- Once boiling, add chicken.

- Stirring occasionally until chicken cooked.

- Take chicken out from the coconut gravy.

- Grill the chicken. Don't forget to brush the coconut gravy on the chicken while grilling.

Nasi Uduk (Rice in Coconut Milk and Spice) and Fried Button Mushroom

Nasi Uduk
(Rice in Coconut Milk and Spices)



Ingredients:
250 gram rice, washed
1 tsp salt
2 lemongrass, bruised
3 bay leaves
275 ml coconut milk

Method:
Cook coconut milk with bay leaves, lemongrass and salt until boiled. Pour in the rice, mix well until coconut milk dried. Steam the rice together with bay leaves and lemongrass until cooked.





Serve with slices of fried egg(s), Tasty Fried Onion and Peanut Butter Sauce.

Tasty Fried Onion, recipe link:
http://missluckypiggy.blogspot.com/search/label/Tasty%20Fried%20Red%20Onion








Sambel Kacang
(Peanut Butter Sauce)



Ingredients:
Peanut butter, as needed.
2 Red chilli, sliced and seeded (optional)
Lemon Juice / Vinegar, as needed.
Salt, as needed.

Method:
Mix well all ingredients together. You can heat it if you like it warm.







Jamur Kancing Goreng
(Fried Button Mushroom)

I got this yummy recipe from http://unserimbiss.blogspot.com

Ideal to have this as snack or with rice. I had it with my Nasi Uduk.

Ingredients:
5 button mushroom, sliced thinly
1 tbsp rice flour
3 tbsp plain flour
Pepper & salt
1 tsp blended garlic
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
Water, as needed

Method:
Mix well all ingredients, the batter should not be too thick.
Excess excess batter.
Fried in hot oil until dried.

Fried Fish with Fake Chilli a la Susanna Olivier

As of this week, I am 35-weeks pregnant and my friend, Susanna Olivier, suggest this recipe for me since too much chilli is not good for my baby :-)

This is the recipe from her:

Ingredients for Fish:
Fish
Lemon Juice
Salt
Flour

Ingredients for Fake Chilli:
Red capsicum
Tomato
Red Onion
Garlic
Tomato Paste
Oil

Method for Fish:
Fish: Marinade fish with lemon juice & salt, leave it for 2 hours in the fridge. After that cover fish with flour before frying in hot oil.

Method for Fake Chilli:
Put all of these ingredients in the blender: red capsicum, tomato, red onion, garlic, tomato paste.
Heat a little amount of oil in the pan, sautee the fake chilli until fragrant. Add a little bit of lemon juice once done.

Serving: pour fake chilli on top of the fish.

Here is the link to her blog: http://coolsue1812.multiply.com/

Below is what I made today for lunch.

Ingredients for Fish:
1 Fish (I use Yellow Leather Jacket Fish)
1 Lemon Juice
1 tsp of Coriander powder
Salt

Ingredients for Fake Chilli:
1/2 Red capsicum
1/2 Tomato
5 Cherry tomatoes
1 Red onion
1 small Garlic

1 small can of tomato paste
Oil

Method for Fish:
The same method as directed from Susanna, but I did not cover it with flour before frying because I forgot!! Luckily the fish didn't stick in the pan! :D

Method for Fake Chilli:
Put all of the ingredients in the blender.Heat a little amount of oil in the pan, sautee the fake chilli until fragrant.

Siomay

I got this recipe from Mbak Retno of Kedai Hamburg.

Thank you, Mbak Retno, I made this Siomay today and it was yummy.

Here is the link to her blog for this recipe:

http://kedaihamburg.blogspot.com/2007/04/baso-tahu-siomay.html

Steam Minced Chicken a la Mum

Description:
Below is original Mum's recipe for Steam Minced.

Ingredients: Minced Pork, Minced Garlic, Minced Garlic (a little amount), Soya Sauce.

Method: Mix all ingredients, place it in a steam dish & steam until minced pork cooked.


Below is my version of Steam Minced Chicken (^_^)

Ingredients:
3 tbsp Minced chicken
3 cloves of garlic, minced
Ginger, sliced*
5 tbsp of soya sauce

*I sliced it because my husband does not really like the taste of minced ginger

Directions:
Mix all ingredients, place it in a steam dish & steam until minced chicken cooked.
Ready to be serve with rice and bokchoy or wombok soup.

Chicken and Veggies Thai Red Curry

Description:
I used Red Thai Curry paste and combined it with fresh spices.

Ingredients:
1 sachet of Red Thai Curry paste
1 skinless breast chicken
2 medium size potatoes
2 carrots
1 lebanese eggplant
a handful of round beans
a handful of fresh green basil leaves
3 cm of galangal, bruised
1 pc of lemongrass
3-4 pcs of lime leaves
1 small can of coconut milk
1 tbsp of oil


Directions:

Curry Paste:
Heat oil in a pan, sautee Red Thai Curry paste & fresh spices until fragrant, add chicken & half can of coconut milk, mix until chicken cooked. Set aside.

Curry:
In other pan, boil potatoes & carrots until almost cooked.
Add round beans and eggplant. Mix well.
Add sauteed curry paste & chicken.
Mix well, bring to boil.
Add fresh basil leaves, close pan with the lid.Switch off the stove.
Ready to serve with Tasty Fried Red Onion.

Recipe for Tasty Fried Red Onion, please see below link:http://missluckypiggy.multiply.com/journal/item/22/Tasty_Fried_Red_Onion

Veggies and Cheese Pie

Ingredients:
1-2 tbsp oil for sautee
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 medium size of brown onion, chopped finely
1/2 red capsicum, chopped finely
1 zucchini, chopped finely, don't use the middle part
1 small size of carrot, chopped finely
1 small size of eggplant, chopped finely
2 tomatoes, chopped finely
2 eggs, beaten well
1 full tbsp of chopped thyme
Low fat cheddar cheese, grated

**Mix eggs with a handful of grated cheese, set aside

Directions:
Heat oil, sautee brown onion until fragrant then add garlic, sautee until tender.
Add all vegetables & capsicum, mix and sautee until all cooked.
Prepare oven at 180 degree Celcium (fan forced).
Fill the vegetables sautee in the oven baking dish.
Pour mixture of eggs & grated cheese.Mix it well with vegetables sautee.
Cover with grated cheese.
Closed the baking dish with aluminium foil.Bake it for 25 minutes.
Take it out from the oven, uncover the aluminium foil.
Bake again without aluminium foil for 15 minutes or until cheese become golden.
Ready to serve.

Veggies and Cheese Puff Pastry

Description:
If you have some filling left from Vegetable Cheese Pie, you can make this as snack.

Ingredients:
1 puff pastry, cut triangle shape

Filling from Vegies and Cheese Pie

Directions:
Take 1 piece of puff pastry.
Cut triangle shapes.
Add Vegetable Cheese Pie filling.
Put it in the middle, spread it out evenly.
Close the triangle puff pastry, no need to closed the ends.
You can if you like.
Bake in 180 degree Celcius fan forced oven until the puff pastry golden brown and the cheese in the filling melted.

Sautee Veggies and Fried Tofu

Ingredients:
oil for sautee
bean sprout
4 pcs of anchovies
carrots, julienne cut
3 garlic, chopped finely
a bunch of snake beans
a bunch of round beans
a handful of corn kernels
firm tofu, slice in big square shape
2 eggs, beaten well
1 spring onion, take the green part only & sliced finely
vegeta gourmet stock, as needed
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Direction for Tofu:
Mix eggs with spring onion, vegeta gourmet stock.
Dip tofu in it and fry on both side.

Direction for Veggies:
Heat oil, add garlic until fragrant.
Add carrots, round beans & snake beans.
Sautee until cooked.
Add bean sprout & corn kernels, mix well.
Add salt, pepper & anchovies.
Mix well and ready to serve.

Serving method:
Tofu at the bottom and veggies on top.

Home Made Potato Chips

Home Made Fish Ball Soup

Recipe to follow ;-)

Chinese Style Steam Fish

Ingredients:
Fish fillet (I use Tasmanian Salmon )
2 tbsp Chinese rice wine
1.5 tsp minced ginger
2 cloves of garlic, minced
4 tsp soya sauce1,
5 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp fresh coriander leaves
Salt & pepper
Sesame oil, as needed.

Directions:
- Drizzle 1 tbsp steam dish with sesame oil.
- Put fish in the steam dish.
- Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
- Add Chinese rice wine.
- Add soya sauce, sesame oil (drizzle lightly on the fish) & 1 tbsp fresh coriander leaves.
- Steam for 10-15 minutes.
- Once cooked, serve with 1 tbsp fresh coriander leaves.

Kids Friendly Food

Buat yang lagi hamil, yang punya anak kecil, and yang lagi rencana mo punya anak or mo punya anak lagi.

KIDS FRIENDLY FOOD

Kemaren nonton acara masak di TV, ada menu buat anak2, yg masak bilang dia kasih makanan ini buat anaknya yg umur 10 bulan, gak jelas apa 10 bulan udah bisa makan makanan ginian ya? Apa dah ada gigi & dah bisa ngunyah gitu? Karena ada nasinya. Tapi keliatannya sehat buat anak2. Silakan mencoba >^_^<

Ingredients:
Olive oil, as needed
2 garlic, minced
1 brown onion, chopped finely
1 zucchini, chopped finely
1 brocolli, chopped finely
1 carrot, grated
2 celery stalks, chopped finely
1 cup tomato pasta sauce
1 small can tuna in water, drained.

Direction:
Heat oil in the pan, sautee brown onion until translucent, then add garlic.
Add celery stalk, mix well.
Add brocolli and zucchini, mix well.
Add tomato pasta sauce.
Add tuna & carrot.
Mix well until all ingredients cooked.
Ready to serve.


TASTY BROCOLLI FOR KIDS
Kalo yg ini sebagian tips dari acara masak hari ini buat anak2, krn anak2 biasanya gak suka brokoli karena gak enak rasanya. Katanya kalo brokoli dimasak kayak gini, anak2 mau makan. Anakku masih "cooking" di perut jadi belum bisa di test hahaha... Met nyoba.

Ingredients:
Olive oil
Butter
Brocolli, chopped finely
Baking paper

Direction:
Heat oil, add butter.
Once butter melt, add brocolli.
Closed pan with baking paper until brocolli cooked.
Ready to serve.

Chciken Mushroom Noodle

Missing Chicken Mushroom Noodle Soup, try to make it by myself, it taste good and not bad to "heal" my home sick :-)




Chicken Mushroom Noodle Soup



Ingredients:

220 gr Singaporean Noodles
1 boneless chicken breasts, cubed
1 small can of whole mushroom, drained
4 bunches of baby bokchoy / baby choy sum
1/2 package of bean shoot
2 maggie chicken blocks
Water, as needed
4 garlic, chopped finely
1,5 tbsp maggie oyster sauce
2 tbsp maggie fish sauce
3 tbsp sweet soya sauce (kecap manis ABC)
1 tbsp sesame oil

Sprinkle of Fried Crispy Garlic
link: http://missluckypiggy.blogspot.com/search/label/Fried%20Crispy%20Garlic

Chicken Mushroom:
In a bowl combine chicken & mushroom, add garlic, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sweet soya sauce, sesame oil, mix well. You can put this in the fridge first for 2 hours if you like. If not, it is OK too, still taste good. Heat the pan, add mixture of chicken & mushroom, sautee until cooked.

Vegetable Soup:
Boil water, add maggie chicken block, bokchoy/baby choy sum and bean sprout, boil until cooked.

Noodles:
Soak noodles in a hot boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes, drained, set aside.

How to prepare:
In serving bowl, put 1 tbsp of canola oil & 1/2 tsp salt, mix well.
Add noodles, mix it well.
Put chicken mushroom & vegetables on the top, cover with the soup.
Sprinkle with fried crispy garlic.
Ready to serve with ABC Hot Chilli Sauce.

For sprinkle on the top of the noodles, you can use Fried Crispy Garlic or Tasty Fried Red Onion.

Tasty Fried Red Onion
link: http://missluckypiggy.blogspot.com/search/label/Tasty%20Fried%20Red%20Onion






Chicken Mushroom Vermicelli Soup



Ingredients:
100 gr dried vermicelli
1 boneless chicken breasts, cubed
1 small can of whole mushroom, drained
1 big bunch of choy sum
2 maggie chicken blocks
Water, as needed
4 garlic, chopped finely
1,5 tbsp maggie oyster sauce
2 tbsp maggie fish sauce
3 tbsp sweet soya sauce (kecap manis ABC)
1 tbsp sesame oil

Sprinkle of Fried Crispy Garlic
link: http://missluckypiggy.blogspot.com/search/label/Fried%20Crispy%20Garlic

Chicken Mushroom:
In a bowl combine chicken & mushroom, add garlic, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sweet soya sauce, sesame oil, mix well. You can put this in the fridge first for 2 hours if you like. If not, it is OK too, still taste good. Heat the pan, add mixture of chicken & mushroom, sautee until cooked.

Vegetable Soup:
Boil water, add maggie chicken block and choy sum, boil unti cooked.

Vermicelli:
Pour hot boiling water onto the vermicelli, allow it to soften, drained, set aside.

How to prepare:
In serving bowl, put 1 tbsp of canola oil, Fried Crispy Garlic and 2 tbsp of soya sauce, mix well.
Add vermicelli, mix it well.
Put chicken mushroom & vegetables on the top, cover with the soup.
Ready to serve with ABC Hot Chilli Sauce.

You can also sprinkle it with Tasty Fried Red Onion.
Tasty Fried Red Onion
link: http://missluckypiggy.blogspot.com/search/label/Tasty%20Fried%20Red%20Onion

Ecology and the Human Heart by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

I believe, just because this was written by the 14th Dalai lama, it has nothing to do with religion or certain race. It has beautiful message for all of us about our relation with our environment & other beings. I enjoy reading this, I hope you are too (^_^)

About the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso
------------------------------------------------------
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso is the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. He was born Lhamo Dhondrub on 6 July 1935, in a small village called Taktser in northeastern Tibet. Born to a peasant family, His Holiness was recognized at the age of two, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, as the reincarnation of his predecessor the 13th Dalai Lama, and thus an incarnation Avalokitesvara, the Buddha of Compassion.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a man of peace. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems. Since 1959 His Holiness has received over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. His Holiness has also authored more than 72 books.

His Holiness describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk.
==========================================

Ecology and the Human Heart
by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

According to Buddhist teaching, there is a very close interdependence between the natural environment and the sentient beings living in it. Some of my friends have told me that basic human nature is somewhat violent, but I told them I disagree. If we examine different animals, for examples, those whose very survival depends on taking others lives, such as tigers or lions, we learnt that their basic nature provides them with sharp fangs and claws. Peaceful animals, such as deer, which are completely vegetarian, are gentler and have smaller teeth and no claws. From that viewpoint we human beings have a non-violent nature. As to the question of human survival, human beings are social animals. In order to survive we need companions. Without other human beings there is simply no possibility of surviving; that is a law of nature.

Since I deeply believe that human beings are basically gentle by nature, I feel that we should not only maintain gentle, peaceful relations with our fellow human beings bur also that is very important to extend the same kind of attitude toward the natural environment. Morally speaking, we should be concerned for our whole environment.

Then there is another viewpoint, not just a question of ethics but a question of ourown survival. The environment is very important not only for this generation but also for future generations. If we exploit the environment in extreme ways, even though we may get some money or other benefit from it now, in the long run we ourselves will suffer and future generations will suffer. When the environment changes, climatic conditions also change. When they change dramatically, the economy and many other things change as well. Even our physical health will be greatly affected. So this is not merely a moral question but also a question of our own survival.

Therefore, in order to succeed in the protection and conservation of the natural environment, I think it is important first of all to bring about an internal balance within human beings themselves. The abuse of the environment, which has resulted in such harm to the human community, arose out of ignorance of the importance of the environment. I think it is essential to help people to understand this. We need to teach people that the environment has a direct bearing on our own benefit.

I am always talking about the importance of compassionate thought. As I said earlier, even from your own selfish viewpoint, you need other people. So, if you develop concern for other people's welfare, share other people's suffering, and help them, ultil11ately you will benefit. If you think. only of yourself and forget about others, ultimately you will lose. That is also something like a law of nature.

It is quite simple: if you do not smile at people, but frown at them, they respond similarly, don't they? If you deal with other people in a very sincere, open way, they behave similarly. Every body wants to have friends and does not want enemies. The proper way to create friends is to have a warm heart, not simply money or power. The friend of power and the friend of money are something different: These are not true friends. True friends should be real friends of heart, shouldn't they? I am always telling people that those friends who come around when you have money and power are not truly your friends, but friends of money and power, because as soon as the money and power disappear, those friends are also ready to leave. They are not reliable.

Genuine, human friends stand by whether you are successful or unlucky and always share your sorrow and burdens. The way to make such friends is not by being angry, nor by having good education or intelligence, but by having a good heart.

To think more deeply, if you must be selfish, then be wisely selfish, not narrow-mindedly selfish. The key thing is the sense of universal. responsibility; that is the real source of strength, the real source of happiness. If our generation exploits everything available - the trees, the water, and the minerals - without any care for the coming generations or the future, then we are at fault, aren't we? But if we have a genuine sense of universal responsibility as our central motivation, then our relations with our neighbors, both domestic and international.

Another important question is: What is consciousness, what is the mind? In Western world during the last one or two centuries there has been great emphasis on science and technology, which mainly deal with matter. Today some nuclear physicists and neurologists say that when you investigate particles in a very detailed way, there is some kind of influence from the side of the observer, the knower. What is this knower? A simple answer is; A human being, the scientist. How does the scientist know? With the brain, Western scientists have identified only a few hundred so far. Now, whether you call it mind, brain, or consciousness, there is a relationship between brain and mind and also mind and matter. I think this is important. I feel it is possible to hold some sort of dialogue between Eastern Philosophy and Western science on the basis of this relationship.

In any case, these days we human beings are very much involved in the external world, while we neglect the internal world. We do need scientific development and material development in order to survive and to increase the general benefit and prosperity, but equally as much we need mental peace. Yet no doctor can give you an injection of mental peace, and no market can sell it to you. If you go to a supermarket with millions and millions of dollars, you can buy anything, but if you go there and ask for peace of mind, people will laugh. And if you ask a doctor for genuine peace of mind, not the mere sedation you get from taking some kind of pill or injection, the doctor cannot help you.

Even to day's sophisticated computers cannot provide you with mental peace. Mental peace must come from the mind. Everyone wants happiness and pleasure, but if we compare physical pleasure and physical pain with mental pleasure and mental pain, we find that the mind is more effective, predominant, and superior. Thus it is worthwhile adopting certain methods to increase mental peace, and in order to do that it is important to know more about the mind. When we talk about preservation of the environment, it is related to many other things. The key point is to have genuine sense of universal responsibility, based on love and compassion, and clear awareness.

Excerpt from My Tibet (Text by H.H.the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: Photographs and Introduction by Galen Rowell) Thames and Hudson Ltd., London, 1990 (p 53-54)

Minced Chicken and Veggies Pie, Or Puff Pastry

Minced Chicken and Vegetable Pie a la Miss Lucky Piggy

Ingredients:

1 large brown onion, chopped finely

3 garlic, chopped finely

1 red capsicum, medium size, seeded & chopped finely

1 carrots, cut small size

4 celery stalks, chopped finely

a handful of round beans, chopped finely

1/2 tsp of ground cumin

Minced chicken

2-3 eggs, beaten well

Milk, non fat, as needed.

2 tbsp oil for sautee

2 maggie block chicken cube

1/2 tsp salt

black pepper, as desired

1 puff pastry

butter to grease the oven bake

Light & tasty cheese, grated (I use "Devondale" brand, 30% less fat)

Heaps of parsley, chopped

Directions:

Heat oil & sautee onion & garlic until translucent.

Add minced chicken, sautee until cooked.

Add cumin, maggie block, salt & black pepper, mix well.

Add carrots, round beans & celery stalks, sautee until translucent.

Add capsicum, mix well.

Add parsley, mix well & switch off the stove.

Allow the sautee to cool before filling the puff pastry.

Preheat oven at 180 degree Celcius.

Lightly greased the oven bake with butter.
Place the puff pastry into the oven bake.

Place the sautee mixture into the oven bake.

Pour in the milk & beaten eggs.

Cover with grated cheese.

Cover the oven bake with aluminium foil.

Into the oven for 20 minutes.

After that, take the oven bake out, take off the aluminium foil.

Into the oven again for another 15 minutes without aluminium foil cover.

Ready to serve.

I use puff pastry as the "skin" with the same filling, without eggs & milk.

So it is now Minced Chicken & Vegetable Puff Pastry.

I cut puff pastry to half and fill it with the filling, bake it in the oven until golden brown.

It was quite big, so I cut it to half.

This one, I use the same filling with Puff Pastry as the base & fillo pastry as the cover.

Marinated Stir Fry Chicken a la Mum

This is one of my Mum's recipes. It is easy, simple, fast & delicious!

Ingredients:
1 skinless chicken breast, cubed
4 garlic, minced
3 tbsp soya sauce
2 tbsp sweet soya sauce
Ground white pepper

Direction:
Mix all ingredients & keep it in the fridge for 2 hours. Heat oil and stir fry until cooked.

Meat and Beans Hot Pot a la Eleonora Hedvall

I got this recipe from my long time friend, Eleonora Hedvall.

Make it today as lunch for both of us...yummy!!

Ingredients:
300 gram minced chicken
2 maggie chicken stock cube
1 onion, chopped roughly
2 carrots
2 large potatoes
1/2 tsp salt
400 gr (or 1 can) red kidney beans
a Handful of chopped parsley
Black pepper
Hot boiled water, as needed

Direction:
In medium heat, heat oil and sautee onion until tender.
Add minced chicken, stir fry until cooked.
Add salt & chicken cube, mix well.
Add potatoes and carrots, mix well.
Add hot boiled water as needed to cover.
Closed the lid, cooked in lower heat until potatoes and carrots are cooked.
Add black pepper.
Open the lid, add red kidney beans, parsley & worcestershire sauce.
Ready to serve.

We add more Worcestershire sauce in our bowl!


Original recipe from her are as follows:

Beef & Bean Hot Pot
Ingredients:
250g lean minced beef
1 beef stock cube
1 large onion, roughly chopped
2 carrots, peeled and thickly sliced
3 large potato, peeled and cut into large chunks
400g (1 can) baked beans
Worcestershire sauce or Tabasco sauce, to taste
large handful of parsley, roughly chopped
1. Heat a large non-stick pan, add the beef then fry over a medium-high heat until browned,
stirring often, crumble in the stock cube and mix well.
2. Add the vegetables, stir to mix with the beef and pour in enough boiling water to cover.
Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and stir well. Cover the pan and simmer gently until the vegetables are tender.
3.Tip in the baked beans, sprinkle with Worcestershire sauce or Tabasco to taste, stir well and heat through. Taste for seasoning and sprinkle with parsley. Serve with extra Worcestershire sauce or Tabasco, for those who like a peppery hot taste.

Here is the link to Eleonora's blog:

http://ehedvall.multiply.com/

Mini Pizza a la Eleonora Hedvall

I got this recipe from my long time friend, Eleonora Hedvall

I never make this before with puff pastry, so I did not make much.

Ingredients:

1/2 brown onion, chopped finely

2 cloves of garlic, chopped finely

1 tomato, chopped finely

1/3 red capsicum, chopped finely

Thyme, as needed

Anchovies

1 Puff pastry

Egg white from 1 egg for brush

Direction:

Prepare oven 160 degree Celcius

Saute brown onion and garlic until fragrant

Add tomatoe, red capcicum and thyme

Mix and stir until cooked

Cut puff pastry to square shapes

(I tried small square & large square shapes)

Brush puff pastry with egg white

Arrange all mixture with anchovies on top

Into the oven for 30 minutes or until crisp

Nice when they are still crispy!

Original recipe from her are as follows:

Ingredients:

1 large brown onion, chopped finely

2 cloves of garlic, chopped finely

3 tomatoes, chopped

Thyme

Pitted Olives

Anchovies

1 Puff Pastry

1 egg & milk for brush

Direction:

Sautee onion and garlic until golden brown

Add tomatoes & thyme, stir, mix until cooked

Cut puff pastry into little square

Mix well egg & milk, brush on pastry

Arrange tomatoes mixture, olives & anchovies

Bake until crisp

Here is the link to Eleonora's blog:

http://ehedvall.multiply.com/