Memories in the Cooking

This soup is super cool! Not just because of the cool temperature but the idea that soup can be made without cooking! This soup is super delicious too.  Ingredients: - 2 large cucumbers, chopped into chunks  - 1 packet of spinach  - 4 cloves of garlic  - 1 bowl of chicken stock (can be made by dissolving chicken cube in warm water)  - 1 bowl of Greek yogurt  - juice of 1 lemon  - 1 small packet of almonds (sliced or crushed)  - salt - pepper  - cumin  - olive oil  - balsamic vinegar  - parmesan cheese  - herbs (I like dill)  - bread (optional)  Procedures: 1) Place cucumbers, spinach, herbs, garlic, lemon juice, bread and chicken stock in a blender. Add a pitch of cumin. Blend until it gives a smooth consistency.  2) Mix well with Greek Yogurt. Add salt and pepper to taste.  3) Add olive oil and balsamic vinegar to toasted almonds (crushed or sliced).  4) Serve the soup on a bowl. Add parmesan chee...

This is my hubby's favourite Thai dish. Actually, Tom Yum Soup is really not difficult to make.  Ingredients: - 10-15 lime leaves, torn into halves  - 2 large chili, sliced  - 2 stalks of lemon grass, cut into large pieces  - thumbsize ginger, sliced - thumbsize galangal, sliced  - 3 cloves of garlic, sliced  - half a cup of lime juice  - 1 tablespoon of Thai chili paste - 1 tablespoon fish sauce  - salt - chicken stock cube  - oyster mushrooms - tomatoes, cut into large chunks - seafood (prawns, sotong), chicken  - evaporated milk  - prawn broth  Procedures: 1) Place the spices (chili, lime leaves, lemon grass, ginger, galangal, garlic, Thai chili paste) in a pot of boiling prawn broth. Let it simmer for a while.  2) Add chicken, tomatoes and  mushrooms. Season with chicken stock, fish sauce, lime juice and salt.  3) Add seafood and let it cook only for a while.  4) Add evaporated milk (skip this step for c...

I had some leftover avocados but did not feel like making Guacamole Dip or Avocado Milkshake. So, I have decided to do something less common, like an Avocado Soup!  Ingredients: - 3 avocados  - 300g of salmon  - 150g of Camembert cheese  - 1 large yellow onion - 3-4 cloves of garlic  - half a teaspoon of Italian Mixed Herbs  - salt  - 3 tablespoons of parmesan cheese  Procedures: 1) Blend avocados, onion and garlic into puree.  2) In a pan, heat up the puree. Add 3 bowls of water and heat it up. Season with herbs, cheese and salt.  3) Add salmon into the soup. Switch off the fire and let it poach for 15 mins.  4) Scoop the soup into a bowl, top it with Camembert Cheese. 

Here is another yummy 'ang-mo' soup - Cream of Corn and Potato Soup.  Ingredients: - 2 cans of corns  - 1 kg of potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks - 1 onion, diced  - 4 cloves of garlic, minced  - half a teaspoon of Italian mixed herbs  - 2 chicken cubes  - pepper  - 1 can of nestle cream  Procedures: 1) In a pot, add some vegetable oil and fry onions and garlic until fragrant.  2) Add potatoes and fry until cooked.  3) Add corn and mix well.  4) Add boiling water until it just covers the ingredients. Let the ingredients simmer until soft.  5) Blend the soup using a hand blender.  6) Add chicken cubes, herbs and pepper to taste.  7) Add cream and mix well. Serve. 

This fish soup is similar to a chowder. It has so much ingredients that it can be eaten as a meal.  Ingredients: - 300g of salmon, cut into cubes  - 2 carrots, diced  - 2 russet potatoes, diced - 2 stalks of leeks, diced  - 1 cup of milk  - 1 cup of fish stock (or dissolve 2 fish cubes in water) - 1 can of nestle cream  Procedures: 1) In a pan, add vegetable oil and fry leek until caramelized.  2) Add carrots and potatoes and fry until soft.  3) Add fish stock and let it simmer for 5 minutes.  4) Add cream and milk. Mix well.  5) Add salmon and turn off the fire. Let the salmon poach for 15 mins until cooked. Serve. 

I am not a fan of bittergroud but I love bittergroud soup. It leaves a refreshing feeling after drinking and I heard it is very good for health too.  Ingredients: - 500g of prime ribs  - a handful of goji berries  - a handful of red dates  - 1 bittergroud, cut into chunks  - 1 stock cube  Procedures: 1) In a slow cooker, add prime ribs, goji berries, red dates and bittergroud.  2) Add enough water to almost cover the ingredients.  3) Let it cook at high setting for 4 hours.  4) Add stock cube. Serve. 

This is my favourite Japanese soup that I will order at any Japanese restaurants. This soup has the power to make a cold sushi meal end off on a warm satisfying note. Ingredients: - salmon fishhead - salt - pepper - corn flour - soft tofu, diced - 1 radish, sliced - 1 carrot, sliced - 2 tablespoons of miso paste - ginger, sliced Procedures: 1) Rub some salt, pepper and corn flour to the salmon fishhead. Set it aside. 2) To a pan, add some vegetable oil and fry the ginger slices until fragrant. 3) Place the salmon fish head, skin-side down, on the pan for 2-3 minutes. Flip the fish head to the other side and fry for another 2-3 minutes. (Can choose to grill in the oven too) 4) Add about 3 large bowls of hot water to the pan. 5) Add radish and carrot to the pan and boil it until soft. Add tofu. 6) Add 2 tablespoons of the miso paste to the soup. Stir well until the paste dissolve. Serve.

Another Chinese soup that can be cooked in a slow cooker. Minimum effort and maximum comfort.  Ingredients:  - 500g of spare pork ribs - 1 packet of black beans (about 2 cups) - about 6 to 10 red dates  - 1 stock cube  - salt  Procedures:  1) Place pork ribs, black beans, red dates into slow cooker. Add water until it just covers the ingredients.  2) Cook for 6 hours at high setting.  3) Add stock cube and any salt (if needed) to taste. 

This is a quintessential soup of any chinese household. This recipe requires minimum effort as the slow cooker does the cooking.  Ingredients: - 500g of pork ribs  - 300g of raw peanuts  - 1 dried cuttlefish, shredded - a handful of red dates - 2 stock cubes  - 1 lotus root, sliced  Procedures: 1) Add pork ribs, peanuts, cuttlefish, lotus roots and red dates to the slow cooker.  2) Add enough water to cover the ingredients.  3) Cook at high setting for 5 hours.  4) Add stock cubes. Serve. 

Lately, we have been scheduling nature walk on Saturday late afternoons. So, in order to have hot dinners awaiting us when we return, I have been using the slow cooker a lot. Tonight, we had Ginseng Herbal Chicken Soup and it was perfect for a cool day.   Ingredients: - 1 whole chicken  - 8 ginseng slices  - 2 tablespoons of wolfberries - 8 red dates - 5 sticks of dang sheng  - 5 slices of chuan xiong  - 5 slices of dang gui - 1 chicken cube  - salt and sugar  Procedures: 1) In a slow cooker, place the washed herbs and chicken.  2) Add water to just cover the chicken. 3) Let it cook at high setting for 3 hours. 4) Season with chicken cube, salt and sugar. Serve.

I am cooking an anyhow soup to go with my anyhow stir-fried maggi mee (yes, my family demand, the recipe is in this blog). This fuss-free Cucumber Ikan Bilis Chicken Soup is cooked by my slow-cooker. Ingredients: - chicken bones or chicken feet  - 2 cucumbers, sliced  - 1 handful of ikan bilis - 1 ikan bilis cube  Procedures: 1) Place chicken bones/feet, cucumber and ikan bilis in slow cooker.  2) Add enough water to just cover it.  3) Let it cook for 2 hours on high setting. Serve. 

Whenever my family thanks me for cooking a delicious slow-cooked dish, I always respond 'I did not cook the dish, the slow-cooker did.' It is really just so easy. It is the same with this Old Cucumber Pork Rib Soup. Ingredients: - 1 old cucumber, cut into 6 pieces  - 500g of prime pork ribs  - 1 handful of red dates - 1 handful of wolfberries - 1 chicken cube  - salt  Procedures: 1) In a slow cooker, place the pork ribs, old cucumber, red dates and wolfberries.  2) Add enough water to just cover the ingredients. Cook at high setting for 3 hours. 3) Season with chicken cube and salt. Serve. 

I am going for my first Christmas Potluck today! In my opinion, these are only a few types of dishes that are suitable for potluck. Dishes that do not taste good after turning cold or does not withstand reheating are not good choices. Hence, I always prefer to bring soups, stews, starters or desserts. For today's party, I am bringing Prawn Bisque! Ingredients: - 2kg of prawns - 1 bunch of celery, chopped  - 4-5 large tomatoes, chopped  - 2 carrots, chopped  - 1 onion, chopped  - 1 clove of garlic, minced  - 1 can of tomato paste  - 1 can of all purpose cream  - 2 chicken cubes  - 2 tablespoons of seasalt  - 2 tablespoons of sugar - 1 teaspoon of mixed Italian herbs  - black pepper  Procedures:  1) In a heated pot, add vegetable oil. Stir fry half the onions and garlic until fragrant. Add prawn shells and fry until pink.  2) Add 1 litre of boiling water. Let it simmer for 30 minutes...

This soup really needs no introduction. However, while everyone cooks ABC soup, the taste may differs with the various versions. This recipe attempts to document a set of procedures to cook a version that brings out the natural flavour of its ingredients. The key is in the proportion. Ingredients: - 500g of pork ribs - 3 large Russets potatoes, cut into chunks - 3 carrots, cut into chunks - 1 large onion, cut into chunks - 2 cobs of corn, cut into chunks - 4 tomatos, cut into quarters - 1 chicken cube Procedures: 1) In a large pot, add the pork ribs, potatoes, corns, carrots and onions. 2) Add boiling water to just cover the ingredients. Let it cook for 1 hour. 3) Add tomatoes and chicken cube. Let it cook for another 15 minutes. 4) Adjust the taste with sea salt if needed. Serve.

This is another 'ang-mo' soup to add to my 'ang-mo' soup collection. Pumpkins are sweet and high in beta-carotine. As such, pumpkin soup is good for both your eyesight and tastebuds! Ingredients: - 1/4 pumpkin, cut into chunks - 3 potatos, cut into chunks - 1 chicken cube - 1 onion, diced - 1 can of all purpose cream - 1 tablespoon of mixed Italian herbs - pepper Procedures: 1) In a pot, add a little oil and fry garlic and onion until fragrant. 2) Add pumpkin and potato and fry a little. 3) Add 4 large bowls of hot water and let the soup simmer until the pumpkin and potato are soft. 4) Blend the soup using a hand blender. 5) Season the soup with chicken cube, herbs and pepper. 6) Add cream and stir well. Serve.

This cream of tomato soup is an unexpected success! My children and hubby gave it an average rating of 10 out of 5 (this is not a typo)! Like my other western soup recipes, I use potatos to achieve the creaminess. This is definitely more healthy than using solely cream.  Ingredients: - 4 large tomatos, choppped  - 5 Russet potatos, chopped - 1 can of nestle all purpose cream  - 1 onion, diced - 1 tablespoon of mixed herbs  - 1 chicken cube  - 1 can of pastata  - salt, sugar, pepper  Procedures: 1) In a pot, add some vegetable oil and fry diced onions until fragrant. Add the pastata and mix well.  2) Add chopped tomatos and potatos and fry until slightly soft.  3) Add water until it just slightly covers the ingredients. Let the soup boil for 20 minutes.  4) Blend the soup with a hand blender.  5) Boil the soup over small fire. Add cream, herbs, chicken cube, salt, sugar and pepper. Mix well. S...

I admit that I am the kind of mothers who would sneak vegetables into dishes so that my children get more vitamins, minerals and fibre. Broccoli Soup is one way that I do it. My younger son loves broccoli soup even though he is less enthusiastic about broccoli. Somehow, vegetables when blended are not vegetables anymore. Ingredients: - 300g broccoli, chopped - 2-3 Russet potatos, peeled and diced - vegetable stock cube - 1 teaspoon of mixed Italian herbs - pepper - 1 cup of milk/cream - 1 clove of garlic - 1 onion, diced Procedures: 1) Heat vegetable oil in a pan. Add garlic and onion and fry until fragrant. 2) Add potatos and broccoli. Fry until soft. 3) Add boiling water, just enough to cover the ingredients. Let it simmer for 15 minutes. 4) Blend the soup until smooth. 5) Add a cup of milk/cream, vegetable stock cube, herbs and pepper. Serve.

Mushroom Soup is undoubtedly my sons' favourite soup, even for the younger one who does not like mushrooms. This is a healthy version of Mushroom Soup as it gets its creamy texture from potatos and not cream! However, should you still want to enhance the creaminess of this soup, feel free to add some milk or yogurt. Ingredients: - 500g of swiss brown mushrooms, sliced - 4 russet potatos, diced - 1 onion, diced - 3 cloves of garlic, crushed - 50g of butter - chicken stock -milk/yogurt (optional) Procedures: 1) Melt butter in a saucepan. 2) Add onions and garlic. Stir fry until soft and fragrant 3) Add potatos, followed by mushrooms. Stir fry until slightly soft. 4) Add 2 bowl of chicken stock. Let it simmer. 5) Blend the soup mixture until smooth. 6) Add salt, pepper and mixed Italian herbs. 7) Add milk/yogurt. Serve

I love hosting! Cooking to me is not a chore but a project that gives me tremendous satisfaction at the end of it. Moreover, food bonds people and I love to bring families and friends together through this act of service. This year Chinese New Year 初三, I hosted my siblings- in-law and prepared a 9-course feast. The feast comes with a satisfying fish maw soup. Here is the recipe. Ingredients: - 6 large fish maw, soak it in hot water, cut into small pieces - 2 eggs - 400g of shredded crab meat - corn flour - chicken stock Procedures: 1) In boiling chicken stock, add fish maw and let it simmer for 20 minutes. (The chicken stock comes from the Samsui Chicken dish) 2) Add crab meat.  3) When the soup reboils, add corn starch to thicken the soup. 4) Season with pepper and salt. 5) Add 2 beaten eggs. Serve. My more artistically-inclined husband arranged a cute dog design for our Yu Sheng this year.

Milk Fish Soup is one of my husband's favourite hawker dishes. Generally, fish soups are too 'healthy' for my liking as I have a penchant for rich and flavourful food. But Milk Fish Soup is different. The carnation milk makes the soup so creamy and yummy. Just add some noodles or macaroni, it will transform into a satisfying one dish meal. Ingredients: - red snapper fillet and salmon fish head  - one-quarter cup of plain flour with 1 teaspoon of baking powder - 1 thumb-size piece of ginger  - 2 large tomatos - 1 can of carnation milk - 1 chicken cube - pepper, sea salt, fish sauce  - 1 cup of chinese wine (shaoxing wine or XO)  - additional ingredients: fishball, tofu, seaweed, spinach, noodles Procedures: 1) Cut red snapper fish and salmon fish head into big pieces 2) Mix half a cup of plain flour with baking powder. Coat fish pieces with the flour mixture.  3) Fry fish pieces until golden brown. Set aside.  4) To a lit...