Parmesan Tilipia and Sweet Potato Fries

I'm trying to clear my deep freezer so that I can clean it soon. I've also tried to stay away from the store because of the access of perishable food that I bought on my last few trip to the store. I already threw out two head of lettuce because we could not eat it in time (I have good intention to use all the perishable food that I bought). Anyway I've forbid myself from going to the grocery store to get anything (not even milk) until I've clear out my refrigerator and most of the deep freezer.
I remembered that we had some frozen tilipia in the freezer so I decided to make some fish for dinner and since I bought some sweet potato a couple of weeks ago I thought that I should use that too. I remember eating sweet potato fries at this restaurant a few months ago and loved it so I thought I would fry some up too.

Parmesan Tilipia

Ingredients

1 lb tilapia fillet (orange roughy, cod or red snapper can be substituted)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1-1/2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
1/8 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (or salt)
1/8 teaspoon dried basil
Dash of black pepper
1/2 dash Tabasco sauce(or hot sauce)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In buttered 13-by-9-inch baking dish or jellyroll pan, lay fillets in single layer.
3. Do not stack fillets.
4. Brush top with juice.
5. In bowl combine cheese, butter, mayonnaise, onions and seasonings.
6. Mix well with fork.
7. Bake fish in preheated oven 10 to 20 minutes or until fish just starts to flake.
8. Spread with cheese mixture and bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
9. Baking time will depend on the thickness of the fish you use.
10. Watch fish closely so that it does not overcook.
11. Broil 3 to 4 minutes or until almost done. Add cheese and broil another 2 to 3 minutes or until browned.
Note: This fish can also be made in a broiler.

Initially I was not too keen on making fries because I the night before I made about 2 dozen of chocolate glaze donuts and thought that I should not make so much fried food but sweet potato fries was what came into my mind and it was also what I wanted to eat. I didn't want to bake it in the oven because I've tried baking sweet potato fries in the oven before and it didn't taste too good so I thought screw it I'll just fry it. I guess I should make some herb drink before I get sick from all these fried food.

Homemade Seasoned French Fries

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes or just normal potatoes, peeled
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon onion salt
1 teaspoon old bay seasoning or salt or seasoned salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup water, or as needed
1 cup vegetable oil for frying

Method

1. Slice potatoes into French fries, and place into cold water so they won't turn brown while you prepare the oil.
2.Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. While the oil is heating, sift the flour, garlic salt, onion salt, old bay seasoning, and paprika into a large bowl. Gradually stir in enough water so that the mixture can be drizzled from a spoon.
3. Dip potato slices into the batter one at a time, and place in the hot oil so they are not touching at first. The fries must be placed into the skillet one at a time, or they will clump together. Fry until golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.

I've use this recipe to make french fries for quite sometime now. This french fries recipe is really yummy and is worth making. Even my hubby that's really picky with his fries approved of this recipe.

Donuts

For some reason I've been having craving for donuts ever since I came home from Malaysia. I know that J&Co. (I'm not sure if I have it right) is really popular in Malaysia but obviously when I went home to Malaysia that was the LAST thing in my mind to want to eat. Even if I had cravings when I was back home it would be the donuts you find at the bakery store!I love those donuts and I remember when I was little every time we go out and pass a bakery store I would ask for some of my parents would buy some for me if they go out because they know I love them.

Anyway I've been really lazy to go to the store to get some donuts(have to go really early in the morning if I want the fresh once) so I decided to make my own donuts. I was really skeptical because I know that it would not taste like the once at the store but then I really wanted some so I took the courage and tried it.

Retarded looking glazed donuts (I don't have the doughnut mold to shape them nicely)

I didn't enough glaze so I sprinkled some with sugar

Donuts
Ingredients
Set A
2 1/4 tsp of yeast
2 tablespoons warm water (105 to 115 degrees)
3/4 cup lukewarm milk
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 eggs
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons shortening
2-1/2 cups bread flour
oil for frying

Glaze
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons butter
1 cup confectioners' sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons hot water or as needed

Directions
1. Add set A in the bread machine and set it on knead cycle. (Watch the first 5 minutes of the consistency of the dough-not too wet not too dry). Let it rise until it becomes double of its size (Mine took like 1 hr).
2. When is done rising bunch and let the air out. Let it sit for 10 minutes again then shape it however you want. Let it sit out and rise again. (Mine stuck together and my "so call" shaping thing fell apart resulting in horrible donuts shape)
3. Fry them in a pan of hot oil.
4. For the glaze: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in hot water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is somewhat thin, but not watery. Set aside.
5. Glaze donuts while is still warm

p/s: You can add 4 ounces or chocolate chips or semi sweet chocolate chips to the glaze to make chocolate glaze.

Verdict: I really liked the donuts. I haven't tried the once with sprinkled sugar but hubby said that the once glazed is better although he'll also eat the sprinkled once. Aunt and Uncle Richie loved it. They both each had two and I send home half a dozen back with them (although they are trying to lose weight-my bad). I would definitely again and I think I would do half of the normal glaze and half chocolate glaze this time. Although it doesn't taste like Krispy Kreme or Shipley's but then I think it taste really good too. Hubby says that it tastes better than the store bought once. I'm happy with it :).

Chicken and Mushroom Steam Pau

I've had cravings to eat steamed pau for quite some time now. For some reason I very rarely would order steamed pau when we eat dim sum so last week I decided that I would try making pau. I did not make the dough from scratch because I've never tried making pau on my own so to be on the safe side I just bought the pau flour and just mixed it up according to the direction.

Before it was steamed

After it came out of the steamer

Yummy

Ingredients

Pau flour

Filling: (marinate it for at least 30 minutes)
Mushroom (cubed)
chicken (cubed)
sesame oil
salt
sugar
garlic
salt
pepper
oyster sauce
soy sauce
dark soy sauce
A dash of Shao Hsing Hua Tiau wine (optional)

Seasoning B:
sesame oil
salt
sugar
salt
pepper
oyster sauce
soy sauce
dark soy sauce
corn flour
water
A dash of Shao Hsing Hua Tiau wine (optional)

Method

1. Prepare the dough according to the direction.
2. Marinate the chicken and the mushroom for at least 3o minutes.
3. Mix seasoning B together (except oil, water and corn flour)
4. Heat the wok and the oil.
5. Pour in the chicken and mushroom.
6. Add in mixed seasoning B.
7. Mix water (I use the water that I soaked the mushroom in) and corn flour together pour over chicken and mushroom after it is cooked.
8. Wait for the water and corn flour to boil again and turn off the stove.
9. Divide the dough into 12 (I didn't get 12 I got 9) and fill the dough with the cooked filling according to the directions.
10. Steam the pau for about 10 minutes.

The steamed pau actually came out not bad in terms of taste wise..I need a lot more practice in terms of presentation. Hubby didn't care for the filling so I'm going to have to find another filling for him. Uncle Richie thought it was weird at the beginning because he's not used to eating steamed pau but he loved it. I gave him 4 to take home. Aunt L don't like mushroom so she didn't try it. Overall I'm pretty satisfied with my end results.

DISASTER!!

Two days ago I had a craving for pineapple tart and I decided to try and make some. I started with making the filling with the directions from Lily's website. I was going to make the pastry skin yesterday because the filling had to be made a day before we use it. Yesterday we went to the gym and after dinner it got quite late so I decided to make it today. As I was looking through the website again I noticed that I forgot to put sugar in the pineapple filling (Disaster #1)! $^%$#. So today I proceeded to add the sugar in and recook the pineapple filling ( got to see how will this go since I messed up the first time) then while making the pastry and trying to follow every step of the direction my pastry didn't look like what Lily described in her blog (Disaster #2) $%^%* My pastry looked really wet for some reason so I added quite a bit of flour to it hoping that it'll be better. I am not sure how my pineapple tart wanna be will turn out but I'll post it up after it's done. Wish me luck here...I hope nothing goes to waste. I hate to waste food.

Update: So I didn't exactly follow Lily's recipe to the T but close. I just omitted the water and the coloring therefore my tart don't look yellowish...also I should warn that is not pretty like the once you buy from the store or order from people who bake cookies for Chinese New Year. Anyway..I'm not sure about the filling..it doesn't taste bad but I don't remember how the once from home taste like anymore however I have to say the pastry is DELICIOUS!...it actually melts in your mouth yummy...It's not a waste after all!!! Now if I could follow recipes accurately then it would be perfect. I would then be able to actually role the pastry out and shape it like I wanted to or make it look prettier instead of what you see!

Pineapple tart wannabe

Hope my ugly looking pineapple tart would not make you not want to eat pineapple tart anymore. Honestly is really not bad and I'm proud to say that..hahaha...at least is not going to end up in the garbage.

Bisquick Chocolate Chip Bars.

Apparently when I said that I need to be more committed and update my blog it actually means updating once a week. I guess I should be glad that if I manage to update my blog once a week. I've actually been busy myself at home packing and cleaning. I did manage to cook/bake a little. Friday was the last day for two boys at my work place and we were having food day for their farewell. I was really busy at work Wednesday and Thursday. I wasn't able to get out of the office on Thursday until about 6:45pm and I was actually rushing to get home because daddy didn't go home before school to let Stanley out and I felt so bad because Stanley's in his crate for quite some time therefore I was actually looking at the clock hoping that I can have stuff done and go home to him and I actually had a roast cooking in the crockpot. Luckily I had the time set to start at noon so it didn't cook for too long of a time. When I got back I quickly gave Stanley a snack, attended to my roast and took Stanley out to do his business. Quickly took a shower and got dinner ready. Then I had to think of something to take to work and finally decided on Bisquick Chocolate Chip Bars because it was simple and I had all the ingredients on hand.

Ingredients

1. 2-1/2 cups bisquick baking mix
2. 1 cup of sugar
3. 1 large egg
4. 1/4 vegetable oil
5. 2 tsp vanilla essence
6. 1 cup or more chocolate chips
   

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients except chips.

2. Spread in a 13 x 9-inch pan, greased and floured.

3. Sprinkle chocolate chips over top.

4. Bake 25-30 minutes at 350° (will look bubbly and light in the center).

I should have covered the bars before I went to be after it cooled off because when I got to the office it was pretty hard and I had to nuke it in the microwave so that it's soft again but since I let it on the counter the whole day by the end of the day it was hard again. No pictures too because I was glad that it was done end of the night that I could not be bothered to take pictures and just want to get in bed. Lately because of the lack of time I cannot be bothered to take any picture of anything. I should do more of that since hubby actually spend some money in all the gadgets we have at home.

Speaking of gadgets hubby bought me a new phone..LOL...We were actually thinking of getting the iphone but we didn't want to switch cell phone carriers therefore we just got a blackberry. This was not launched until April 14 so I had to wait about 3+ weeks after I found out about it and everyone knows how I HATE to wait but I was really patient waiting for it which was surprising actually...:)

I love my new phone but I'm still getting hubby to learn about it so that it'll be easier for me to use it..:P...

Caramel Apple Bread

After Jakob's 1st birthday last Sunday we decided to stop by the apple orchard to get some apples. We bought a peck of normal apples and one whole box of cooking apples(I don't think they are called cooking apples but I'm going to be using it for cooking that's why). The cooking apples are much smaller and supposedly second grade. I'm going to be using it for cooking and for Stanley to it because Stanley just LOVES apples. He is weird in that way. From what I've heard dogs do not like to eat fruits and vegetables but Stanley will it almost every fruits and vegetables known to man kind. Anyway because we have a box of cooking apples I decided to use some up to bake. I've made this before but that was like two and the half years ago. A and BIL(the second one) likes it therefore since A will be seeing his brother this Saturday I decided to make some so that he can pass it to him. BIL's girlfriend doesn't cook. Supposedly she's afraid the the stove will catch on fire (we/they have electrical stove by the way) therefore I think BIL does the cooking and I think they rarely/don't bake at all.

Caramel Apple Bread

15 caramels
1 1/2 cups flour, divided
1/2 cup room temperature butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 apples, cored,peeled and finely chopped

1. Heat oven to 350° and grease and flour a 9x5 loaf pan.
2. Unwrap caramels and with a scissors, cut each one into 8 small pieces.
3. Toss caramels with 1 tablespoon of the flour in a small bowl to keep them from sticking together; set aside.
4. Beat together butter, sugar and vanilla until fluffy.
5. Add eggs, one at a time and beat well after each.
6. In another bowl, stir together remaining flour, cinnamon allspice and salt.
7. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and blend well.
8. By hand, stir in apples and caramel mixture.
9. Spoon batter into prepared pan.
10. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
11. Cool completely on a wire rack, then remove from pan.

Chopped Apples

Cut Caramel

Before going into the oven

Done baking/cooling down