No-Frills Recipes ... cooking, baking & excerpts on travel

 Pork tendons are a great source of protein which is essential for muscle repair, tissue regeneration and overall bodily functions. High in collagen and glucosamine and chondroitin they help to support joint and skin health and muscle maintenance. Low in fat, rich in carbohydrates and trace elements, they have nutritional characteristics of high calcium, high protein and no cholesterol.  Tasteless by nature like sea cucumber, and being tough they need to be slow cooked like braising and simmering to make them tender and release their collagen like in stews to create a rich flavour. Braised pork tendons with pork belly  ~   红烧猪筋   Ingredients 240 gm rehydraed pork tendons (from 150 gm dried tendons) 450 gm pork belly 10 shitake mushrooms rehydrated 4 bulbs of garlic 10 slices of young ginger 5 bay leaves 4 star anise 2 cinnamon sticks 1 to 2 pcs of rock sugar (according to taste) 2 to 3 Tbsp Shaoxing wine 2 Tbsp oyster sauce 1 Tbsp light soy sauce 1/2 Tbsp d...

  This is a light and spongy chiffon cake with lovely green hues.  Not too sweet but full of green tea flavour.  You can serve it with some whipped cream, fruits or just indulge with a piping hot cup of green tea or black tea or just have it on its own.  Matcha or Green Tea Chiffon Cake  ~    綠茶戚風蛋糕 Ingredients (A) 5 'L'' egg yolks 100 ml milk 50 gm oil 30 gm caster sugar 120 gm plain flour 1.1/2 Tbsp Green Tea powder  )   Mix this into a paste 1.1/2 Tbsp hot water                ) (B) 5 'L' egg whites 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar 70 gm caster sugar Method In a mixing bowl mix the Green Tea powder and hot water into a paste. Add in the egg yolks, mix with a ball whisk.  Then add in sugar, oil and milk.  Mix till fully incorporated. Sift in the plain flour and mix well. In another clean mixing bowl,  beat the egg whites till slightly foamy, add in the lemon juice, and gradually add in...

  Fish bones and cartilage are often believed to provide important nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus essential for bone and joint health including the knees.  Fish cartilage contains potential collagen boosting properties which are much needed to improve  the immune system, anti-ageing and help to support joints and osteoarthritis.  This is a simple soup to prepare and it's suitable for adults and children alike.  It can be served with rice or noodles or just enjoy it as a refreshing soup on its own. Ingredients  300 gm chicken, preferably whole leg of chicken 20 gm yu zhu 20 gm fish bones 10 gm dang shen 10 gm goji berries (to be added about 15 mins. before serving) 6 red dates, deseeded 6 shitake mushrooms, dehyrated and stemmed 2 litres of water Method Boil 2 litres of water and once boiling, add in all the ingredients. Let it boil for about 15 mins. on high, then reduce to low for about 1.5 hours. Add in the goji berries about 15 mins. before ser...

 Muffins taste as good as they smell.  Sprinkling of rapadura sugar right before baking gives the muffins some texture and crunch in every bite.  Baked with crushed ginger nut biscuits inside. Ginger Nut Biscuit Muffin   ~ 姜坚果玛芬   Ingredients 240 gm plain flour 2 'L' eggs 120 gm caster sugar 1/2 cup oil 1/2 cup milk 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla 80 gm (7 ginger nut biscuits, crushed) Rapadura sugar or granulated sugar (optional) Method Sift the flour with cinnamon, baking powder and salt, set aside. Whisk the eggs, sugar, oil, vanill  and milk till creamy. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture, followed by the crushed ginger nut biscuits, just mix to combine.  Do not overmix. Scoop mixture till full.  Sprinkle on some Rapadura sugar. Bake @ 200 deg. C for 5 mins. then for about 10 to 15 mins, @ 180 deg.C .  The initial high oven temperature helps to lift up the muffin top quickly to create a t...

  Porridge or congee is a refreshing light meal and can taken for breakfast as well.  You can cook simple plain white porridge to go with small side dishes or even with leftovers from dinner.  There are various types of porridge, like fish fillet porridge, pork ribs porridge, beef porridge, chicken white mushroom porridge while the century egg, dried oyster with minced pork porridge is widely served in dim sum restaurants.  For today I am posting Seafood Porridge and with aromatics like chopped spring onions, ginger, pepper, sesame oil and cooking wine will certainly make this a gratifying and comforting meal. Seafood Porridge ~    海鲜粥 Ingredients                   160 gm fish fillet 160 gm prawns  20 gm dried scallops (dehydrated) 70 gm uncooked rice 3.5 cups water 1 Tbsp instant oats + 1/4 cup hot water Seasoning 1.5 tsp salt 1/4 tsp sugar 1.5 tsp sesame oil 1.5 tsp cooking wine a dash of pepper Garn...

  The classic 'Victoria Sandwhich' .... an 'oldie' but certainly a goodie and have you ever wondered how it got its name?  There's a history behind this Victoria sponge    cake .  It was named after Queen Victoria, who favoured a slice of the sponge cake with her afternoon tea.  A traditional Victoria sponge consists of jam sandwiched between 2 layers of sponge cakes, the top of the cake is not iced or decorated.  If you wish to know more of this history, then read it from   here . I've never had any formal lessons on dressing up a cake, so I just 'plaster' up the sides since there's extra    chocolate  mixture and  I see no reason to waste!  Sprinkle on some nibbed almonds, and there you are, a plain Jane no more! I would prefer to round this piece of yummy cake with a cup of hot tea, sit down, relax and enjoy! Victoria Sandwich Cake ~  維多利亞蛋糕 Ingredients 4 eggs 8 oz butter/margarine 8 oz self-raising flour...

 Made with oil and yoghurt, this Chocolate Chip Orange Loaf Cake is fragrant, moist with tender crumbs, bursting with orange flavour and slightly melted chocolate chips. It is effortless to make this loaf cake, no need to bring out the mixer, just gather all the ingredients and with a few bowls, you're ready to whip up  this delicious cake. Chocolate Chip Orange Loaf Cake  ~     橙子巧克力片蛋糕 Ingredients 240 gm plain flour 100 gm caster sugar 1 Tbsp zest 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/8 tsp salt 2 'L' eggs 1/2 cup plain yoghurt 1/2 cup orange juice 1/3 cup oil 1 tsp vanilla 30 gm chocolate chips Extra orange juice for drizzling (optional) Method Prepare and line a 4.5 x 8.5 inch loaf pan Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt.  Set aside. Mix the sugar with the zest and pour into the flour mixture. In another mixing bowl, beat the eggs, add in oil, juice, yoghurt and vanilla.  Mix till well incorporated with a ball whisk. Pour the wet ...