Trip to Seattle

Revisited Seattle after 8 years and we have our two girls joining along this time.  The agenda of the visit was therefore child friendly.  We omitted the first Starbucks store that we visited before but have a quick stroll in the pike market with the girls before we headed to China Town for dim sum brunch.

We spent most of the time in the Seattle Aquarium instead. 

The entrance of the Aquarium is welcoming, but the size is a bit small and less exhibits inside than expected.  Probably i should not have compared it with the Vancouver Aquarium that we visited years before. ;P


Girls at the entrance/lobby of the Seattle Aquarium


There are many coral, sea stars, beautiful jelly fish and colourful salt water fishes in exhibit. 

The highlight of the Aquarium would be the giant octopus and the sea otters, to me. 

 

We were been told that we were lucky to see the giant octopus active moving around and stretching wide out as most of the time he/she is inactive lying underneath the water.  

We spent the evening in Seattle with a leisure walk along the Alaskan way before we have our dinner in the Crab Pot Restaurant. 
      

The Eyes of Seattle at the back will be ready by 2012 Summer

We were too tired to drive home after a long day in Seattle and decided to stay overnight at last minute.  We covered the city center the next morning and the girls experienced their first public bus ride in Seattle (The bus ride was FOC till Sept 2012 if i'm not mistaken).  As we stayed in the Courtyard Marriott at downtown, the bus ride was a mere 10-15mins ride, the girls were excited about it and wanted to ride a longer distance.  We had a good lunch in a Thai Restaurant opposite the hotel we stayed in.  The food tasted delicious. 

It was raining almost the whole day when we were in Seattle, but we still have a fun trip there.  ;)  

Dessert Pizza

When i came across this great recipe from a little chef (Liam), i know i need to try it one day for my two little lovers.  Finally, i made this dessert pizza as a reward for my girls who have been a great home helpers lately.

My 5yrs old has grown up day by day that she is now a real home helpers.  She helps to take care of her little sister and assists her to toilet when i took my bath or busy with cooking/baking.  

Saw this when i came out from bath one day : My 5yrs old is reading to her sister 

When i prepare a prawn dish, she will help to have the prawn peeled.  She has been helping me to prepare the rice for dinner almost everyday now too, from measuring the cup of rice to washing.  My 2yrs old also eagerly wanted to help when seeing her sister doing it  :)

Now, they're responsible to peel off the shell of the boiled eggs whenever we have that for lunch/dinner. 

My 2yrs old is changing her sleepwear by herself nowadays as well.  Guess what my 2yrs old told me today when i bath her?  She said: 'Mom, when u become old old, i will help to bath you'.  What a beautiful sentence that melted my heart.  I didn't expect her to say this and she probably don't quite aware what she is talking about yet, still this made my day sweet. ;D 

How could i ignore all their good effort?  Hence, this dessert pizza is specially made to reward them and my two little lovers enjoyed it very much, especially my 5yrs old.    :)

Ingredients:

For the cookie crust

• 6TBSP unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/8 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2, 1/4 & 1/8 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

For the topping

• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese (softened)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• Strawberries slices (to garnish/deco)

Steps:

1. Lightly grease a pizza pan or baking sheet with butter
2. Preheat oven to 350F/180C
3. Add the powdered sugar, cocoa, flour and salt in a mixer bowl and whisk to combine
4. Add the cubed butter to the dry ingredients and stir mix till the mixture forms lumps about the sieze of peas
5. Beat in the egg and vanilla, until a stiff dough is forms
6. Knead the dough lightly on a flour surface
7. Curl the edges in slightly with the fingers
8. Bake for about 15mins or until the surface is firm to the touch and the edges are crisp.  Allow to cool completely

Meantime, make the pizza topping:

1. Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla in a mixer bowl until fluffy
2. Spread the cream sheese pizza topping on the cooled cookie crust with a spatula
3. Arrange the sliced strawberries on top
4. Cut into wedges and serve

Celery Fried

Celery has numerous nutritional and health benefits.   Celery leaves has high content of vitamin A, whilst the stems are an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C with rich supplies of folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium etc.  The high amounts of vitamin C in celery promote a healthy immune system.  Celery helps to reduce high blood pressure has long been recognized by many Chinese, it also believed to have cholesterol-lowering benefits.  Celery is very low in calories and has lot of fiber which is a great aid in weight loss and prevent constipation too.  ;)  

While many foods lose nutrients during cooking, i was told that most of the compounds in celery hold up well during coking.  Celery has a pretty strong flavor and i usually cook it together with other vegetables like broccoli, carrot etc as a mixed vegetable dish.  But now, i'm sharing a simple colourful celery fried, which is crunchy & yummy.  :)  

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp chopped garlic
• Pork meat, sliced
• 2-3 stalks of Celery, cut into pieces
• 1 tomato, quartered
• 1/4 of a yellow bell pepper, slice in thin pieces
• A handful of nuts
• Salt & sugar (to taste)
• 1 TBSP Cooking oil

Steps:

1. Place a wok/stir-fry pan over high heat, add the oil, swirling to coat the sides
2. Add the garlic, cook and stirring until fragrant
3. Add the pork meat and cook through
4. Add the celery, yellow bell peeper and continue stir fry, add some water if necessary 
5. Add a pitch of salt & sugar, then nuts, stir to mix well
6. Transfer to a serving plate and serve 

Sweet Potato Dessert Soup (蕃薯糖水）

Soup, is part of most Chinese diet, be it a savory soup that served together with lunch/dinner, or a sweet soup served for dessert.  Sweet soup is another alternative of nourishment to many Chinese. 

I tried to prepare a sweet soup/dessert every alternate week for my family and i usually prepare it on Friday, a great treat for the weekend.  This easy to prepare Sweet Potato Dessert Soup is one of which that i prepared.

Ingredients:

• 2500ml water
• 2 sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into cubes)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/8 cup Tapioca Pearl (Sago - 西米露)

Steps:

1. Soak the Tapioca Pearl with clean water in a bowl
2. Bring the water to boil in a pot
3. Add the sweet potatoes and continue boiling for 15mins
4. Reduce the heat to medium low after 15mins and simmer for 1.5 hrs.  Cover the lid during the simmer process, stirring occasionally
5. Add in sugar, stir and cook till the sugar dissolved
6. Add in the Tapioca Pearl and continue cook for another 15-20mins
7. Ladle into bowls and serve hot/warm.  To serve cold, allow it to cool in the pot, then keep it in the fridge till serving time.

Notes:

• Water can be added during the cooking process according to personal preference on the ratio between the sweet potato and the water.

Macaroni Soup

With two little girls at home, a soup based meal is always a favorable option for me.  This macaroni soup is one of a simple & quick to prepare meal, a good alternative when don't feel like to have rice. 

Ingredients:

• Macaroni, 1/3 of a package 
• Chicken/Pork meat (sliced)
• 1 carrot (sliced)
• 2 potatoes (cut into cube)
• Medium firm tofu, 1/4 of a package (cut into cube)
• Vegetables (e.g. Bak Choy; Kai Lan etc)
• A handful of dried mussels
• Salt to taste

Steps:

1. Soak the dried mussels in a bowl of water, drain well
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the chicken/pork, dried mussels, potatoes, carrot, continue cooking to return to a boil
3. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cook for another 15-20min
4. Add vegetables and tofu, continue cooking for another 10-15min
5. Meantime, cook the macaroni according to the instruction given in the package in another pot (i.e. Cook the macaroni uncovered in a pot of boiled water, stir occasionally according to the suggested time.  I normally add a tsp of oil and a dash of salt to cook)  
6. Remove from pot, drain well and transfer to a serving plate, pour in the soup once the soup is ready & serve

Long Bean, Tofu and Snap Peas Stir-Fry

Usually, i have my vegetable dish prepared pretty plain, just boil, steam or quick stir-fry a specific veggie (e.g. Kai Lan, Cabbage etc) with chopped garlic. 

Nowadays, i started to add more variety to my vegetable dish occasionally for something difference.  This is one of the veggie dish with variety of ingredients and a taste of tomyam.

Ingredients:

• Chinese long beans (cut into 2-inch pieces)
• Snap Peas
• 1/4 package of medium-firm tofu (cut into cube)
• 1 TBSP of shredded carrot (or thinly sliced carrot)
• 1/2 tsp chopped garlic
• 1/4 of an Onion (sliced)
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp Tomyam paste
• A pinch of salt & sugar  
• 1 TBSP Cooking oil

Steps:

1. Place a wok/stir-fry pan over high heat, add the oil, swirling to coat the sides
2. Add the garlic and onions, cook and stirring until fragrant
3. Add the long beans and stir fry until almost tender, about 2 mins
4. Add the snap peas and tofu and continue stir fry, add some water if necessary
5. Add the soy sauce, sugar and tomyam paste, stir well till all blended
6. Continue cooking till the long beans and snap peas are tender
7. Transfer to a serving plate and serve 

White Carrot Soup with Dried Octopus (白萝卜汤）

White carrots, though look less attractive, they are as tasty as orange carrots and is a good alternative to the traditional orange carrots.  They are good sources of dietary fibre which help to fight against colon cancer.  White carrots are also good for digestion. 

I often cook the white carrot soup with red dates and wofberries.  Sometime, i added dried octopus to the recipe for a richer flavor and here sharing the recipe with dried octopus.   

Ingredients:

• 2L water
• 1-2 white carrots (skin removed & cut into slices)
• Pork ribs or pork meat
• 2 dried octopus (cut into pieces) 
• 1 tbsp wolfberries (枸杞)
• 6 red dates
• Salt to taste (optional)

Step:

1. Thoroughly clean the pork ribs/meat, rinse it with hot boiling water
2. Wash/rinse the dried octopus, wolfberries and red dates
3. Bring 2L of water to boil in a pot, add the pork ribs/meat and white carrot
4. Cook on medium heat for 10-15min 
5. Add all the rest of the ingredients and simmer under medium-low heat for 1.5 - 2 hours
6. Add a dash of salt and stir well
7. Serve warm