When having friends over for dinner...........

When having friends over for dinner,if you want to spice up your evening dinner. Start of with an appetizers to stimulates the appetite. The variation for appetizers are endless, its sure to impress your friends.

An appetizer........

 Shrimp on crackers........

Shrimp On Crackers
(Recipe adapt from Ritz Crackers with modification.)

Ice Bath
A) 1 tbsp sea salt
     2 tbsp lemon juice
     1 tbsp cayenne pepper
     1 bowl water    
     1/2 cup ice cubes
Mix all the ingredients together and chill in the fridge till ready to use.

Bathe the shrimp in ice bath till ready to be serve.

To cook the shrimp.
B) 1 tbsp sea salt
     2 tbsp lemon juice
     1 tbsp cayenne pepper
     2 cups water
     1 bay leave
     12 medium size shrimp

Fresh shrimp from the wet market.

1/  Peel off the shrimp shell, wash and pat dry. Marinate shrimp with 1 tsp sugar and dash of pepper.
2/ Mix all the (B) ingredients together and bring to boil. Add in the shrimp and boil the shrimp till turn pink.
3/ Remove the shrimp and soak in the ice bath (from A mixture)

Topping
C)  1 tbsp cream cheese ( room temperature)
      1.5 tbsp mayonnaise
      1 tsp chopped spring onion
      1 tsp chopped celery
      Pinch of salt
      Dash of cayenne pepper
      1 to 2 tsp of lemon juice

Mix all the(C) ingredients together and chill in the fridge till ready to serve.

D) Ritz crackers or any cheese crackers

I use this Lee brand Spray cheese crackers.

E) Garnishing

 Chopped celery

 Chopped carrot

Chopped coriander

Place crackers on a platter. Half the cooked shrimp lengthwise. Top each cracker with shrimp and scoop a teaspoon of cream cheese mixture on top the shrimp. Garnish with celery, carrot and coriander leaves.

If you prefer something more cheesy, add a slice of cheese on the cracker. This is sure eyes rolling for those who love cheese.

A eye catching, pretty plated appetizer to wow your friends.

Or perhaps a poolside dinner, there is nothing more romantic than planing something special just for your loved one, boyfriend, lover or sweetheart.

Imaging dining in total privacy while enjoying the stunning view with your loved one.

You don't have to spent hours in the kitchen to impress your friends. This quick and easy one pot meal is eye catching and sure to wow your friends.

Pineapple Shrimp Coconut Rice

Some interesting facts about pineapple.

Pineapples are thought to have originated in Brazil and Paraguay in South America. They were first discovered by Europeans in 1493 on the Caribbean Island now known as Guadeloupe.
Pineapples arrived in the Caribbean after centuries of Indian migration and commerce.

When Christopher Columbus and other discoverers brought pineapples back to Europe, attempts were made to cultivate the sweet, prized fruit until it was realized that the fruit’s need for a tropical climate inhibited its ability to flourish outside of the tropics.

Although originally from South America, most of the world's pineapples now come from Southeast Asia. Thailand is said to be the biggest producer of pineapples in the region.

By the end of the 16th century, Portuguese and Spanish explorers introduced pineapples into many of their Asian, African and South Pacific colonies – countries in which pineapples are still grown today.

Lutheran missionaries introduced the pineapple to Australia in the 1830’s and it now grows predominantly along the coast of Queensland.

Did you know pineapple is good for colds and coughs? Pineapples are packed with Vitamin C and all the flu fighting goodness you'd expect to get from oranges except pineapples have something EXTRA special!

Bromelain, an enzyme which is found in pineapples, is excellent for digestion and has been found to help suppress coughs and loosen mucus. Pineapple canneries use every bit of the pineapple. The skins, core and end portions are used to make a variety of products including vinegar, alcohol and animal food.

Pineapple Shrimp Coconut Rice
1/2 cup rice
100 mls thick coconut milk
3/4 to 1 bowl water
2 cloves garlic
1 small onion
1 tbsp oil
1/2 bowl chopped pineapple
10 pieces of medium size shrimp
1 small ripe pineapple

1/  Peel off the shrimp shell and devine. Wash and pat dry, season with 1 tsp sugar, dash of pepper and 1 tsp soya sauce. Chill in fridge.
2/  Wash the rice and toss dry.
3/  Chopped the onion and garlic coarsely.
4/  Heat up a heavy bottom pot or saucepan with oil. Saute the garlic and onion till slightly brown.
5/  Add the shrimp and stir fry until shrimp turn pink. Dish out the shrimp only and keep aside.

6/  Add the rice, coconut milk and water. Stir occasionally to prevent burn.
7/  Cook until water evaporate and check if the rice is cook. If rice not cook, add a bit more water to continue cooking.
8/  Switch off the stove, keep the rice in the pot for 20 mins.

9/  Meanwhile prepare the pineapple. Cut off the top part of the pineapple and scoop out the pineapple flesh.
10/ Wrap the bottom of the pineapple with aluminum foil and put on the baking tin.

11/  Fluff up the cooked rice, add chopped pineapple and 1/2 tbsp of cheddar cheese.

12/  Scoop the rice into the pineapple bowl and put the shrimp in between the rice.

13/  Blanket the rice with some cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese.
14/  Bake in preheat oven at 180 deg  for 20 mns.
15/  Serve immediately.

The pineapple shrimp coconut rice is ready to serve.

One of this day when I invite anyone of you over for lunch or dinner, I hope you will enjoy this simple Pineapple Shrimp Coconut Rice. Fast to cook, good to eat and still have ample of time for gossip and chit chat. LOL

Fluff up the rice with a pair of chopsticks or fork.

My pineapple parrot. LOL
Cut a 1 inch cube pineapple, carve it into round shape. Use a toothpick to secure it to the pineapple crown. Cut a small piece of carrot for the beak and use raisin or chocolate chip for the eyes.

Pineapple parrot is ready to be present as centre piece for the dinning table.

If you don't want the rice to be too mushy, put less water.

 Enjoy this wonderful pineapple shrimp rice with a cup of coffee.

Have a wonderful week ahead.
Amelia

Lemon Garlic Shrimp Rice Porridge

Congee is another name for rice porridge or rice soup, it's very popular in Asian countries. Culture also often dictates the way rice porridge is cooked or eaten. For many families in Asia, a typical day begin with a bowl of rice porridge.

Lemon garlic shrimp rice porridge

Although rice porridge come from humble beginning, today it is served with a variety of exotic toppings. A soupy porridge made with rice, water, ingredients of your choice like vegetables, tofu, fish, meat, chicken, seafood and other ingredients is one comfort food you don't have to feel guilty about downing on a regular basis.

Lemon Garlic Shrimp Rice Porridge.

Marinate 50gm prawn with 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp soy sauce and 1/4 tsp pepper.                                        

2 cloves garlic- chopped coarsely

Chopped spring onion for garnishing.

Spring onions were grown in Chinese gardens 5000 years ago! Do you know the onion bulb was worshiped as the symbol of the universe by ancient Egyptians?
Nutritionally, green onions have a combination of the benefits of onions and greens. They are an excellent source of vitamin K and vitamin C, and a very good source of vitamin A too.

Some the health benefits of spring onion are as follows:-
1/ Lower the blood sugar level.
2/ It is a support against gastrointestinal problem and common flu.
3/ It speed up the level of blood circulation in the body. 

Celery for garnishing.

Celery is rich in Vitamin A,C,D,E,K, B6,B12 and mineral such as calcium, sodium, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, fibre, etc....

Some health benefit of celery are as follow:-
1/ Lower cholesterol
2/ Prevent cancer
3/ Weight loss
4/ Detoxifies the body
5/ Reduce low blood pressure

Carrot - cut julienne

The benefits of carrot can be attributed to their beta carotene, fibre contents and antioxidant agent. Carrots are rich in vitamin A,c,K,B8, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron, copper and manganese.

Some of the health benefits of carrots are as follow:-
Reduce risk of stroke, boosts immune system, improves eye sight, prevent heart disease, lower risk of degeneration, facilitate digestion, reduce blood pressure, prevent cancer, regulate blood sugar level in body.

Lemon - use approximate 1 tbsp lemon juice for each serving of rice porridge.

As a refreshing drink, lemonade help you to stay calm and cool.
Extract the juice of 3 tomatoes + 1 lemon in the juicer, add 1 to 2 tsp honey and drink immediately 30 mins before breakfast.

Drink this power juice 2 to 3 times a week help in improve the skin and weight loss. It help to bring glow in your complexion internally and prevent aging.

1/  Heat up 1 tbsp of oil, stir fry chopped garlic until golden brown.
2/  Add the prawn and half the carrot, stir fry until prawn is cook. Keep aside.

1/2 cup of Jasmine fragrant rice, wash and rinse 3 times.

1/ Cook half cup of rice with approximate 3 cups of water and 1 cube of chicken stock in a heavy bottom pot.
2/  When boil, remove the lid immediately cos the water will bubble out of the lid or you'll have a hard time cleaning the mess.

There are basically 3 consistency of rice porridge thick, medium, thin and it depend on the rice-water ratio. While the rice porridge is roaring boil, you really can't leave the kitchen or else you will end up seeing something like this>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This is my pot, disaster happen last week while I caramelized the sugar. While cooking I was playing with my tablet and totally forgotten about it until I smell something burning.

OMG....I nearly more end up like this........

3/ Use a ladle to stir occasionally to scrap the bottom of the pot to loosen the rice grains that sticks at the bottom of the pot. Add the balance carrot.
4/  Cook the rice porridge according to the consistency you like, usually it takes about about 25 to 40 mins. Remove from heat, stir in the cook prawn, add pepper and lemon juice to taste.

Garnish rice porridge with spring onion and celery. You can add a dash of chilli flakes to enhance the flavor.

This Lemon garlic shrimp rice porridge is a very appetizing one pot meal. Great for breakfast or light lunch.

Season everything with love.

Another version of rice porridge......

Rice porridge is very versatile, you can add any ingredients according to your preference. Bean sprout with garlic shrimp and lemon juice taste good in rice porridge too. This is one of my favorite.

Bean sprout. Remove the tail, wash and drain dry.

Sprouts have always been in the list of healthy and nutrition foods.They are highly concentrated with enzymes, richest source of proteins, moisture, vitamins A, B, C, D, E & K and minerals.

The health benefit of bean sprouts are as follow:-
Anemia, cardiovascular healthy, constipation, hair & nail fragility, liver health, menopause, skin anti aging effect, stress and tiredness.

Hot rice porridge can be a hearty and comfort meal on a cold day. But no matter how hot and humid, I still love hot rice porridge.

After lunch dessert........my all time favorite.

Cream Puff

Ingredients
125mls milk
125mls water
4 eggs
165gm cake flour - sift
100gm salted butter

1/  Combine milk, water and butter cook over medium low heat until butter is melt and bring to boil.
Remove from heat. Add the flour and stir vigorously until well blend. Preferably use a wooden ladle.
2/ Return to stove using medium heat, continue stirring until flour mixture pull away from side of the pan and form a ball. Let the mixture cool for 5 mins.

3/  Add egg one at a time and beat until incorporated. After each egg is added, the mixture will separate and lumpy.
4/  Beat the mixture with cake mixer until the dough is smooth and shinny.  Let the dough rest for 10 mins.

5/ Line the baking tray with grease proof paper and grease lightly.
You can piped through a pastry bag or dropped with a pair of tablespoons to form into a balls..

Homemade cream puffs, they are not hard to make but hard to stop eating.
I eat way to many at one go.... minimum SIX!!! (>‿◠)✌

6/  Bake at 200 deg c in the preheat oven for 15 mins, Then reduce to 180 deg c for 15 mins or until golden brown. ( Don't open the oven door while the puff are baking.) Remove from oven, make a small slit to allow steam to escape.
7/  Switch off the oven, put back the puff leave the door ajar and leave the puff inside the oven for another 15 mins.
8/ Transfer to wire rack and let the puff cool completely.

9/ Split the puff into half, fill with cream patisserie. Sieve some icing sugar on top the cream puff and serve immediately.

Cream Patisserie

Ingredients
240mls milk
50gm castor sugar
4 egg yolks
25gm salted butter
1 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tbsp custard powder
1 tsp vanilla extract

1/  Beat egg yolk with sugar till sugar dissolved. Add in the custard powder and flour, mix well till no lump.
2/  Boil the milk till simmering boil, pour half the milk to the egg yolk mixture to temper the eggs.

3/  Mix the rest of the milk to yolk mixture and bring to boil over low medium heat. Stir constantly to prevent burn at the bottom.
4/  Cook until thick and glossy. Remove from heat.
5/  Stir in the butter till melted and mix well. Cover with cling wrap immediately to prevent skin forming and leave to cool. Chill in fridge till ready to use.

How could anyone turn down a delightful cream puff?  One bite in your mouth, blink your eyes 3 times and you can hear the bird singing ★*˚°。°*。°*。★*˚°。°*。°˚°★*˚°。°*。°*★*˚°。°*。°*★  ✫ ✫ ✫. `⋎´✫¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•✫ ..✫¸.•°*”˜ ✫ ✫ ✫. `⋎´✫¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•✫ ..✫¸.•°*”˜ (✿◠‿◠) 

A balanced diet always end with desserts.

Have a wonderful week ahead, cheers!
Amelia