Steamed Beef Mince on Rice (蒸冬菜牛肉餅飯)

Ever tried this Hong Kong rice dish, steamed beef mince on rice? It's one of my favourite childhood steamed rice dishes. I especially love the grains because they absorbed all the beef juice and sauce. So tasty!

Sometimes you may need a recipe to let yourself be lazy for some reason, not wanting to stand in the kitchen too long or dine out. No matter what the weather is like, this delicious steamed beef on rice is perfect to ease your starving.

My mother used to make this rice dish in an electric rice cooker. Yet a wok or hot pot will do too. The end result is equally good. All you need is to prepare some cooked rice that’s a bit drier than usual because the rice will take up every bit of the tasty beef juice while steaming.

You can imagine how yummy the rice will be. Apart from making fried rice, you can turn leftover rice into another superstar on your dining table with this recipe.

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Mini Blueberry Cheesecakes

Can I say everyone in parties loves cheesecakes? If not everyone, then most people are so into trying these little cute cheesecakes. I made some for a bring-a-plate family gathering, they’re gone quickly once served on table.

What I like the most about making cheesecakes is that I can make them well in advance, chill in fridge, then bring them along inside an insulated food bag. Then off I go for enjoying the party without any stress.

As I got a new kitchen toy – a 12-cup mini cheesecake pan recently, I can’t wait to try this nifty kitchen gadget. Baking cheesecakes turns out into a 20-minute-or-so matter. Then simply top the baked cheesecakes with some blueberry coulis, place one or two fresh blueberries for garnish.

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Shanghai Fried Noodles

Want a light and healthy meal? Here comes this classic Shanghai fried noodles that can be easily found in most Shanghai restaurants in Hong Kong.

If you like noodles as a quick and light meal, this is a must-try one. The upside of home cooking is that you can make the dish with anything left in your fridge or comes in handy. A side note, I added a secret ingredient to this Shanghai fried noodles and get my family hooked.

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Asparagus, Chicken and Walnuts Stir Fry

Ever tried stir frying asparagus with walnuts? The crunchiness of walnuts and crisp asparagus stems are so enjoyable.

Asparagus is regarded as a classy vegetable and you have to pay more than other vegetables in restaurants. Lucky me, I’d find some fresh asparagus, available at a bargain price in supermarkets every now and then through out the year.

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Elegant HK Zha Jiang Noodles (炸醬麵) | Secret 20-Min Recipe

In the hustle and bustle of city life, we are often chasing time, forgetting to pause and feel the warmth that food brings. These Hong Kong Zha Jiang Noodles are my favorite "soul food" during busy days. Unlike the salty, heavy northern version, the soul of the Hong Kong style lies in the perfect balance of sweetness and spice.

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Beef Brisket in Clear Broth (清湯牛腩)

This beef brisket in clear broth dish goes perfectly with vermicelli or egg noodles. Just add a few bunches of Chinese bok choy and cook in the soup. Then you and your family can enjoy a tasty light meal.

I had luck to spot this lean beef brisket from a nearby Asian butcher. Why not got some back home and cooked up for hubby as he’s a big fan of beef brisket?

Every time I cooked beef brisket, I’d make the traditional flavoursome stewed beef brisket in Chu Hou sauce, a fool proofed dish for anyone who wants to try Hong Kong cuisine.

This time I tried another classic beef brisket soup dish that I grew up with and it’s still popular in Hong Kong. The cooking method for both mentioned dishes is similar. As for making this beef brisket soup dish, the key to success is preparing a delicious clear soup base, not a cloudy one.

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Steamed Chicken with Sand Ginger Powder (沙薑雞)

This steamed chicken with Sand Ginger powder dish is very simple and delicious.  It's a traditional Chinese dish, best served with steamed rice and ginger and scallion dipping.

Simple is the best. You can’t imagine how nice the taste of this steamed chicken was. The chicken meat is so tender and silky smooth, steamed to just cooked. If you like the traditional, popular Chinese steamed chicken (白切雞), you have to try this dish as well, if you haven’t.

Try to use organic or free-range chicken if you can to ensure the best result. Having said that, I used corn-fed chicken this time. So, that’s why my steamed chicken was in bright, lovely yellow colour. The end result remained wonderfully good.

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Lemongrass Chicken Wings (Video)

These lemongrass chicken wings are perfect for grilling or BBQ, or even simply pan-frying. They will taste great and wonderful.

Chicken wings are always a big hit in my family. You can’t be wrong if you bring along some yummy wings to share in any party or BBQ gatherings. I just pan-fried the marinated wings, and was very satisfied with their BBQ-like looking. The taste of the chicken wings was sensational with rich flavours.

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Omurice (Chicken and Tomato Rice wrapped in Fried Eggs)

Omurice, is a contemporary Japanese dish. I guess it’s invented not long ago, yet it quickly becomes a very popular dish around the world.

Omurice is a kind of fried rice, commonly cooked with chicken, tomato sauce and ketchup, wrapped in omelette (a thin sheet of fried egg). In every Japanese restaurant, you’ll easily find this dish on their menu.

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Hokkien Fried Rice (福建炒飯)

This Hokkien fried rice is simple to make with incredible ingredients, easily found on the menu of Hong Kong yum cha restaurants.

To make fried rice is a good way to clear all the leftovers in fridge. It’s my family’s all-time favourite dish. Or to say, it’s my most favourite dish especially when I don’t feel like spending too much time in kitchen. It’s simple and could be finished on the go.

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Chicken in Tomato Sauce (Chinese Cuisine)

This is my favourite tomato dish that I learned from my mum. It's a Chinese popular dish in Hong Kong. My mum used to add an ingredient to make the tomatoes taste even better. It’s a kind of homey dish that many kids like to have with rice.

Tomato is a healthy food, not very expensive and can be easily found throughout the year. Long time ago, I read an article on The World’s Healthiest Foods talking about the antioxidant function of lycopene that tomatoes contain:

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Stir-Fried Yam Bean with Beef and Cloud Ears

Ever tried this stir-fried yam bean with beef and cloud ears? This is a traditional Chinese stir-fry dish that I tried and loved when I was very small. The slightly sweet and crunchy flesh of yam bean impressed me very much.

That said, yam bean can remove body heat and help control blood pressure. I love its crunchiness going so well with the juicy stir-fried beef. Once the dish was served, I finished nearly half of it by myself.

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Ginger Pork and Fried Egg Donburi (Japanese Rice Bowl Dish)

I reckon this recipe is a saver for myself especially on hectic days. You can whip up the dish in just a few minutes without any fuss at all.

This simple rice dish is full of nutrients and flavours that your family will love.

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Banana Pastry with Chocolate Sauce

Ever tried this simple banana pastry with chocolate sauce that's quite popular in Hong Kong?

This recipe was suggested by my sister when she traveled to Australia and visited me. She said she tried this dessert, banana pastry at a dessert café in Hong Kong.

Immediately I baked one for her, that only took me just half of an hour. It’s really yummy and easy to make. The hot banana inside the pastry with smooth chocolate sauce tasted heavenly. Who can resist the temptation of ice-cream as well?

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Fish Chowder Soup (Quick & Hearty)

Growing up in a family with lots of fish to eat, I just enjoy any fish soup very much. Here’s my light lunch that I had the other day, Fish Chowder Soup. This hearty and delicious soup goes really well with crusty bread or crackers. At the first glance, it seemed to be not much for a meal, I felt so full after finishing a bowl though. Once you've got all the ingredients in fridge, it’s so quick to prepare it on the go!

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Chinese Almond Dessert

This almond dessert is not too sweet with a creamy texture. It’s good for wrapping up your dinner or as a snack throughout the day.

This is my childhood dessert that I often enjoyed with my dad in a little dessert shop in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong version of it yields those almonds for making Chinese soups, sweet almonds (南杏) with a little bit of bitter almond (北杏).

The fragrance of the almond is so strong that makes you love it or hate it, similar to the case of celery and coriander. I love it very much. Well, it’s not the cup of tea for my family though.

Almond is recognized as a healthy food. It helps lower LDL-cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease. I have been trying to add some almonds in my family menu.

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Teochew Dumplings (潮州粉果)

This popular Chinese dim-sum, Teochew dumplings can be made at home. Best of all, it's healthier. Make more in advance, then you can enjoy whenever you crave for some. 

Would I make Teochew dumplings (aka Chiuchow dumplings) at home? When living in Hong Kong, I wouldn’t give it a thought. Chinese restaurants are everywhere. I could enjoy any dim sim at any time anywhere.

But if I make my own dumplings, I can choose any ingredients I like. The taste is tailor-made and surely suits my personal preference. I don’t use lard, so it’s much healthier. You can make as many as you like, then keep them in freezer for up to 3 months.

When you crave for some, just steam them in a wok. They are served as a perfect Chinese breakfast or afternoon tea. What a bliss having dim sum enjoyed at home.

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Strawberry Smoothie

Whenever I finish doing body workout, I like to have a full-glass of smoothie, like this mango blueberry smoothie, or this strawberry smoothie. Both are super healthy and handy to be prepared on the go. Yesterday was the starting day of Spring down under here. Strawberry is still in season. Lucky that I got some beautiful strawberries at a bargain price. I especially love the vibrant red colour of this smoothie, very pleasant and refreshing. If fresh strawberries are not available for you, you can use frozen ones instead. The taste is equally good.

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Tofu and Pork Mince Patties

Tofu and pork are perfect partners. As for this dish, the tofu, adding a refreshing note, helps turn the pork mince patties even more tender with moist. On the plate, a bed of crispy and crunchy lettuce to balance the texture will make you feel like never having enough of those pan-fried patties. Each bite of it that dipped in the delicious sauce will make your taste buds dance. Both my hubby and I found those four tofu and pork meat patties are really not enough. I have to double the portion when I make this dish next time.

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Flourless Nutella Cake (2 Ingredients)

If you’re a big fan of Nutella like me and my daughter, this is a Nutella cake recipe for you. No flour is needed. With only 2 ingredients, you can make this yummy cake on the go. The main ingredients of Nutella are hazelnut and cocoa. So, you can imagine this yummy cake is full of chocolate flavour. Oh another important kitchen gadget you might need is an electric mixer that will make the job done perfectly and easily. Or else, you need more elbow grease to beat the eggs with a balloon whisk. Sounds easy enough? Give it a go then.

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