Deli Cold Cut Roast Beef

Deli cold cut roast beef is pretty expensive especially those premium brands.The price can go from $6.99 to $12.99 a pound! Every week I have to buy deli cold cut for hubby and one of the them is roast beef. Due to the high price, sometimes I get store brand instead of premium brand but hubby know it's not the quality roast beef and refused to eat it!.Ouch! Well,I don't know the different coz I don't consume beef due to religion reason. Anyway,when I shop at BJ's wholesale last week I bought a 6 pound round bottom and going to roast myself! The result it pretty good! Hubby gave a thumb up! Actually it's quite simple and easy..you might want to try out yourself to save $$$ during this hard economy time (recession).

Ingredients:

6 pound beef (round bottom )

5 tbsp salt

5 tbsp ground pepper

5 tbsp garlic powder

Method:

1: Preheat oven to 500 F or broil setting.Remove plastic bag from beef and cut some excess fat away,set aside.Prepare a baking dish line with aluminum foil underneath.

2:Combine salt,ground pepper and garlic powder together in a bowl and rub all the beef.Let's it season for 30 minutes or longer before broil.

3:Broil coated seasoning beef for 25 minutes.Every 1 pound of beef take 5 minute to roast.But I prefer slightly bloody inside rather than cooked all over so I reduce to 5 minutes lesser.

4:When timer ring,shut off the temperature but leave the beef inside the oven with door shut for 3 hours.

5:Remove the roast beef from oven and let it cool down at room temperature before store in fridge for overnight.

6:Remove roast beef from fridge and cut with slicer.(I don't have slicer so I used a very sharp knife)

7: Serve with bread or roll as sandwich. Sliced roast beef with sheared knife and pack it with wax paper and plastic wrap tightly before store in fridge.
The shelf life for sliced roast beef is about 1 week..

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Moist Banana Mini Cake

Almost every week I have left plenty of overripe banana in my kitchen .Each day I pack a banana with a sandwich for hubby to bring with him to work.Hubby refused to eat banana that have slightly black dots on it.Well,what to do with the remaining of the banana that turn to blackish color.I used to throw away overripe banana until I learn how to bake.Now I pack all the overripe banana and freeze it.I dunno what else to do with it beside baking or fritters. So far I baked some many banana cake but now I want to try to create bath in water (bain-marie) method- bake banana cake..sort of souffle type..And this cake turn out exceptionally moist ,light and delicious!!

Ingredients: (A)

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 tbsp butter (softened)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

3 large over ripe banana(mashed)

2 large egg yolk

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp banana extract

Ingredients:(B)

3 large egg white

1 tsp cream tartar

1/2 cup sugar

Method:

1:Preheat oven to 375 F.Prepare 24 muffin pan with muffin cup liner and large tray fill with 3/4 hot water. Sieve ingredients (A) flour ,salt and baking soda in a bowl,set aside.

2:In a large mixing bowl,whisk egg yolk,butter,sugar ,banana extract ,then combine with flour mixture and mashed banana,mix until well blended and smooth.

3:In another mixing bowl ,beat ingredients (B) egg white at high speed ,then sugar and cream tartar until stiff peak. It should not fall out when you turn the mixing bowl over.

4:Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the egg yolks mixture (A) and continue to do so until egg whites is finish. Remember to fold in gently until well mixed.Do not overfold and work quickly when folding.

5:Divided mixture evenly into muffin pan,about 3/4 full,then place muffin pan in a baking tray with hot water.Bake in a bain-marie(water bath and don't overfill water in baking tray,to prevent water from going inside the cake)

6:Bake for about 30 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

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Fettuccine with Shrimp and Pineapple in Tomato Sauce

I love to make my own tomato sauce for Italian pasta.Remember my previous Oregano linguine post? Check it out HERE ! Sometime,the farm market I shop will pack fresh tomato in individual bag for quick sale. I think it's weight approximately 5 pound each bag for $0.99. Good deal ,right? Of course, this perishable will go bad quickly,so they just sell it at bottom price rather than throw away. I want to try out some others exotic flavor for this fettuccine,so add in 1/2 cut fresh pineapple in cube and it's really out great!!

Ingredients For Sauce:

3 lb Fresh Tomato- (wash,cut and blend)

1 cup Parmesan cheese

2 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp salt

5 clove garlic (sliced)

3 tbsp olive oil

1/2 cut fresh pineapple(cut cube)

Ingredients:

1/2 box/pack fettuccine

I lb clean shrimp (small size)

Parmesan cheese for sprinkle *optional*

1 stalk cilantro for garnishing *optional*

Method:

1:Fill a large stockpot with water at high heat. Let's the water rolling boil,add in salt and pasta ,cook until al dented,sieved set aside or cook accordingly to the box instruction .

2:Blend clean and cut tomato until fine or puree.Prepare stock pot at high heat with olive oil,add in garlic ,fry until lightly brown not burn.Add in blended tomato sauce,reduce heat to medium.Add in salt,sugar ,pineapple cube with juice and Parmesan cheese into the sauce.Let it simmer until boil,then add in shrimp .Cook for 5 minutes.

3:Add pasta into fresh tomato sauce ,mixed well.Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese and cilantro on the top.Serve warm.

Note:

You can use pineapple in can if don't have fresh pineapple but omit the sugar.
I would love to submit this pasta dish to Presto Pasta Nights ,created by Ruth and this round up is host by Theresa of Food Hunters Guide .Hop over to join the event if you're interested:)

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Baked Cauliflower with Three Cheese and Bacon

Recently I bought a big head cauliflower from our local market.Mostly the big head cauliflower sell in our farmer market grown locally at East End Suffolk County,Long Island.Don't think East End or Hampton 's residence are the only rich and famous people like J.LO,Hilton's,Trump and etc!! There are still some part of the island land preserved for farmers that been here for many many years ago. Well,I try to think what should I do with this cauliflowers beside stir-fry Chinese style.Since hubby and daughter loves cheese, so I bake this simple cauliflowers with cheeses and bacon. It's turn up really cheesy and creamy like MC and Cheese!!

Ingredients:

1 big head cauliflower ( wash and cut -floret)

5 strips cooked bacon ( chopped)

1 cup whole milk

1/2 cup Cheddar cheese ( shredder)

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredder)

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese ( grated)

1 tbsp ground black pepper

1 tbsp salt

2 tbsp olive oil

Method:

1: Wash and cut cauliflower pieces into bite-size florets .Preheat oven at 350F .Prepare water in large pot over high heat.When water rolling boil,add in florets for a quick 2-3 minutes cook,then drain and run under cold water for a minutes,set aside.

2:Prepare a large deep baking dish,spread all the drain 1/2 cooked florets.Combine ground black pepper,salt and olive oil together and mix into the florets.Then add in milk ,spread all the shredded cheese and chopped bacon on top.Bake for 30 minutes or until it's turn golden brown.

3:Serve warm as side dish.

Note:

If you like more creamy ,add in more cheese!

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Kuih Bahulu / Kuih Baulu

Kuih Bahulu or Kuih Baulu is the same cake just different pronunciation.This cake is almost similar with Madeleines .Both these cake needs their special mould to bake .Kuih bahulu is usually baked during the festive seasons such as Hari Raya or Chinese New Year. These sweet and eggy kuih go very well with coffee, and are always a crowd-pleaser during the festive seasons.Last year I bought 2 bahulu moulds when I was in Kuala Lumpur visiting my family. So far I don't have the motivation to try to bake this cake until I saw one of my favourite blogger, Mat Gebu recipe at his blog. Mat Gebu is a very talented baker and cook.I 'm impressed with his food-photography and cooking.If you can't understand Bahasa Malaysia ,just refer to Google Language Tool.Thank you ,you Mat for sharing your wonderful recipe:)

Ingredients:

5 large eggs

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

1/4 cup cooking oil for brushing

Method:

1:Preheat oven at 400 F .Lightly grease the bahulu moulds with cooking oil and place them in a preheated oven .Sifted flour and baking powder in a bowl,set aside.

2:Meanwhile beat eggs with sugar at high speed until frothy.The mixture must be creamy and fluffy.Add in vanilla essence.Then reduce the speed before add in flour mixture little by little.Mix well.

3:Scoop batter into the moulds using tablespoon,about 3/4 full of the mould.Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.(Again depend on your oven temperature.

4:Remove mould from oven,use bamboo stick to remove the cake from the mould.

5:Serve warm or let's it cool completely before store in air tight container.

Fish shape

Shell shape


Original Shape Bahulu Mould

Cooking Oil with brush
Mix shape bahulu mould.

Note:

I was surprised my new moulds doesn't stick alot. That mean this recipe is good !!

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How To Make Pigs In a Blanket

I loves Pigs in a Blanket hot dog. This is the second time I make this snack. Don't mistaken it's not make from pork since the name is pig. I recalled the first time I made this snack ,hubby told me it's called Pigs In a Blanket. Huh? why I asked? Then I refer to Wikipedia : "In the United States, the term "pigs in a blanket" often refers to hot dogs, Vienna sausages, or breakfast/link sausages wrapped in biscuit dough, pancake, or croissant dough, and baked. A common variation is to slit the hot dog or sausage and stuff it with cheese before wrapping in dough. The dough is sometimes homemade, but canned dough is most common." This time I used store bought pie crust dough and the blanket is really flaky!!

Ingredients:

2 sheets pie crust dough (1 box)

2 pack hot dog ( any flavor)

1 egg for brushing

Method:

1:Preheat oven at 375 F .

2:Spread store bought pie crust dough on kitchen counter with some flour.Use pin roll to roll the dough again.Sprinkle some flour if necessary.

3:Cut each pie crust dough to 8 pieces.Then roll up with hot dog until finish.Arrange each roll hog dog apart on baking sheet.Brush each roll hot dog with egg wash.Bake for 15 minutes or until light golden brown.

4:Serve warm as snack .

Note:

This snack is suitable to serve as appetizer at any party. Method # 1:

Unwrapped pie crust dough,dust with some flour,then roll with rolling pin to even outMethod #2:

Cut the dough to 8 pieces

Method # 3: Roll hot dog from the border side first.

Method # 4:

Method # 5:

Arrange 16 Pigs In a Blanket on baking sheet line up with parchment paper.

Method # 6:

Brush with egg wash before bake in oven for 15 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

Then serve warm.

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Fried Salt and Pepper Calamari

Fried Squid or Fried Calamari is popular in the cuisine of many Eastern or Western countries. Usually it's often served as an appetizer or snack in any Italian or Western restaurant. But in Chinese cuisine it's usually served as a main dish. Don't we all loves Fried Calamari ? I don't really care what style,cuisine or how Calamari is fried,as long as it's Fried Calamari,I love it !! How about you?

Ingredients:

2 pound white squid (clean,cut 1 inch X 3 inch)

1 tbsp salt

1 tbsp ground black pepper

1 tsp sugar

1 tbsp garlic powder

*mix above seasoning well with clean cut squid in a large bowl*

1 cup all purpose flour

4 tbsp corn flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp Cayenne pepper

*mix above dry ingredients together in Ziploc bag *

Method:

1: Heat oil in frying pan or pot at medium heat. Coat seasoned cut calamari/squid with flour mixture well.Or shake cut calamari well with flour mixture in Ziploc bag.

2:Fry coated calamari in medium heat oil for 1-2 minutes or until light golden brown.Drain on paper towel before serve warm or hot.

Note:

Do not over fried calamari ,it's tend to be rubbery or chewy.

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Valentine Cake ( Peanut Butter Fondant Cake)

Happy Valentine to my dear readers,blogger,friends and family!! Let's me present my first own make Fondant paste or sugar paste(cake) to you! Usually I will just use store bought Fondant paste to decorate the cake.But this time I would like to try to make my own fondant. I know buying a ready to use fondant is much much easier but it's freaky expensive!! A pound for $19.99!!.Furthermore, I would loves to learn how to make my own fondant. The last time I decorated fondant cake was the day I received my Wilton's Certificate of Merits. As they said,practise make perfect!! I gather so many fondant recipes but dunno which one is good/suitable for me. So I decided to use a recipe from AllRecipes but adapt some measurement and ingredients to suit me. I find it's not really hard at some point.The down side to make fondant is kneading. I think my fondant is not really elastic or smooth due to lack of kneading.

Fondant Ingredients:

1 1/2 tbsp unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup cold water

1/2 cup glucose syrup

1 tbsp glycerin

2 tbsp shortening

1 tsp vanilla extract

10 cups sifted confectioners sugar

Method:

1:Combine gelatin and cold water in a stainless bowl,mix well. Place gelatin mixture in double boiler and stir until dissolved.

2:Add glucose and glycerin, mix well. Stir in shortening and just before completely melted, remove from heat and stir in vanilla.Mixture should cool until lukewarm.

3:Place 5 cups confectioners' sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and using a wooden spoon, stir in the lukewarm gelatin mixture. Mix in confectioner sugar and add more a little at a time, until stickiness disappears.

4:Knead in remaining confectioner sugar. Knead until the fondant is smooth, pliable and does not stick to your hands. If fondant is too soft, add more sugar, if too stiff, add water (a drop at a time).

5: Add in desire color and knead again. Use fondant immediately or store in airtight container in fridge. When ready to use, bring to room temperature and knead again until soft.

Cake Ingredients:

4 tbsp butter,softened

1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter,generously

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup milk

Method:

1:Prepared 12 cupcake paper cases in a muffin pan and a small heart size baking pan..Preheat oven at 350 F.Sift flour and baking powder in a large brown,then set aside.

2:Combine butter,brown sugar, and peanut butter in a bowl and beat together for 1-2 minutes, or until well mixed.

3:Gradually add the eggs,one at one time,then add in vanilla extract.Fold in sifted flour mixture,alternating with the milk.Spoon batter into paper cases and heart baking pan.

4:Bake cupcakes and heart cake in preheated oven at 350 F for 25 minutes or until well risen and golden brown.Transfer to a wire rack and let it cool completely before decorate.

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