Light Pasta Soup with Ham

This dish was inspired by the leftover ham from our Christmas party and the need for something light and soupy after all the festive bingeing. Extremely easy to cook, and with common ingredients (other than the ham) you already have in your fridge. This was a hit with my young children for its light and tasty soup and easy to eat texture.

(serves 3-4)
Ingredients:
200g pasta (shell/spiral shapes)

5-8 stalks Caixin (or any green leafy vegetables)

200g ham (I used honey baked ham for more taste)

3 bowls chicken stock (or boil 1 cube Knorrs chicken cube with 3 bowls water)

1 tablespoon cooking oil

A few spigs of Spring Onions (chopped finely)

1 teaspoon salt

Dash of white pepper

Method:

1. Boil chicken stock in a pan and add pasta once the stock boils.

2. Boil pasta for about 15 mins on medium fire and add salt and cooking oil and vegetables once pasta is al dente.

3. Boil contents for another 5 minutes or until almost cooked. Add ham and dash of pepper to taste.

4. Add spring onions when ready to turn off fire. Cover for 2 minutes before serving.

Tips:

1. Add some coriander leaves for extra aroma. Some people do not like the smell of coriander, so check before adding.

2. Add salt to your preference.

3. Boil pasta longer if you want a softer texture which is great even for kids with few teeth.

Cajun Seafood Golden Rice

This dish was created as I wanted to make a signature fried rice dish that is different from the usual ones we eat outside. It was an instant hit with my family (including my young daughter), even though it is a little spicy. Everyone who tasted it wanted my recipe, so here it is. Have fun!

(serves 4)
Ingredients:
2 cups rice (to be cooked with 2 teaspoons salt & kept warm until ready to fry)
1 stick celery (sliced into small slices)
1 large onion (cut into chunks)
1 small/ medium bell pepper (chopped into medium size cubes)
300g prawns (shelled)
1 large squid (cleaned & cut into 1cm rings)
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons cajun mix
1 tablespoon butter/ margarine
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (lightly beaten)

Method:
1. Mix spices into the cooked rice and stir until even.
2. Heat wok and empty oil and butter.
3. Add in onions to wok once butter has melted and fry until fragrant.
4. Add seafood and fry until almost cooked.
5. Add in salt, bell peppers and celery and fry for a minute.
6. Add in rice and fry until ingredients are even.
7. Pour in the beaten eggs and toss until eggs are cooked. (About 1 minute if wok is hot)
8. Turn off heat and cover until ready to serve.

Tips:
1. You may add in some garlic for a more aromatic taste. I did not add it into the ingredients list as some people prefer not to have a garlic smell.
2. Experiment with different coloured bell peppers for different presentations.

Comforting Chicken Stew

A comforting stew that tastes great with rice or with bread. Very easy recipe that I had adapted after using one from a cookbook. This is an instant hit with guests and my hubby.

(serves 6-8)
Ingredients:
1 medium size meaty chicken (chopped into large pieces)
3 large white onions (diced into large chunks)
2 large carrots (cut into cubes)
2-3 medium potatoes (peel & cut into cubes)
2 celery sticks (cut into bite size pieces)
1 small bunch coriander (chopped finely)

1-2 cups water (more water if you want a more soupy stew, less water for thicker stew)

1 tablespoon butter

3 tablespoons cooking oil

Coating:
2 tablespoons plain flour
1 teaspoon nutmeg powder
2 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Dash of pepper

1 teaspoon salt

Coating the chicken

Method:

1. Mix coating ingredients evenly in a large bowl.

2. Coat the chicken with the coating mixture.

3. Boil potatoes, carrots, celery in a large pot with the water.

4. Heat oil & butter in wok and fry the onions and chicken lightly. Once chicken in slightly browned, remove all and place into the boiling water.

5. Boil for 1 hour or until the carrots & potatoes are soft to your liking. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Tips:

1. Add a little cornflour into the stew if mixture is not thick enough. Add only 1 teaspoon at a time to prevent too thick a stew and stir in evenly.

2. Add a little more nutmeg &/or cinnamon powder to achieve a more aromatic stew. Depends on individual's taste.