What Can You Do With Over-Ripe Bananas?

Two versions of Chocolate Banana Shakes
- can you guess which is which?

Click here for the answers to both questions.

Banana Oat Muffins

Banana Oat Muffins

Click here for the recipe.

Steamed Glutinous Rice for Lunch

Glutinous Rice

Click here for the recipe.

Resting in Jesus, a Daily Commitment

Like the water she has committed to drinking daily to ensure good physical health, she wants to be committed to rest in Jesus daily for good spiritual and mental health. Looking to Him to lead and guide her. Waiting for His direction rather than plunging headlong into unwise situations. Spending time reading His word first before checking her messages or reading the news.

Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again

Psalm 23:1-4 (NIV)
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Not be in want.

Soul restored.

Notice how the "He" became "You"? That's the type of relationship that the Swallow hopes to have with her Lord.

Personal.

Intimate.

And that can only come as she spends time with Him. Daily.

John 4:14 (NKJV)
But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

Sambal Cooked with Anchovies (Ikan Bilis) aka Sambal Ikan Bilis

Sambal Ikan Bilis

Click here to read how to make this delicious and spicy dish with little effort after some smart meal planning!

Cranberry Oat Muffins

Cranberry Oat Muffins

Click here to see the basic recipe for these muffins.

Basic Oat Muffins

For several years now, the Swallow has been preparing breakfast muffins for her mate. Working in the healthcare, he required a substantial and healthy breakfast that could last him till the lunch hour which would usually be about six hours later.

Initially, the Swallow made sandwiches but this couldn't fill him long enough and he wasn't really a 'bread' person. Having an oatmeal in the morning was something he could consider and this went on for a while. He didn't complain (yes, the Swallow is grateful he is 'low-maintenance') but she felt there was something more that he could eat for breakfast. Also, he was frequently on the move each day and he felt the weakening effects of a small breakfast many times.

Many experiments later, the Swallow has found that breakfast muffins made with oats filled him best. Adding in dried cranberries and he easily ate two muffins every morning when he was on the go. Making these in a batch of twelve also lessen the Swallow's anxieties for the week as she wasn't much of a 'morning' person.

BASIC OAT MUFFINS (makes 12 muffins)

Dry Ingredients

Muffins baking in the oven

120 g rolled oats
120 g plain flour
50 g brown sugar
50 g fine sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder (optional)
1/2 tsp fine salt

Wet ingredients
250 g plain yoghurt, at room temperature
2 large eggs, about 60g each, at room temperature
125 ml sunflower oil
1/2 tsp vanilla essence (optional)

Additional ingredients - see variations below

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. 
2. Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Remove the lumps of brown sugar by pressing them to the side of the bowl with a spoon.
3. Mix the wet ingredients together in a smaller bowl.
4. Add the additional ingredients accordingly (see variations below). If its a dry ingredient, to the dry and if it's a wet ingredient, to the wet. Mix well.
5. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture. Using a spoon, combine them together quickly but don't over-mix.
6. Spoon the combined mixture into twelve muffin cups.
7. Bake the muffins for at least 20 minutes. They are done when a  toothpick inserted into the centre of the each muffin comes out clean.

Notes

• This is a basic recipe. Variations can be made but adjust the bake time as needed. Some variations may produce moist muffins while others are drier. Some sweeter, some less. Experiment and let your family tell you what they like. 



Cranberry Oat Muffins

• If you are not a fan of oats, replace the oats with plain flour. However, the texture of the muffins will change.

Variations

1. Cranberry Oat Muffins - 200 g dried cranberries



Banana Oat Muffins

2. Banana Oat Muffins - 200 g bananas (mashed)
3. Seeds Oat Muffins - about 160 g mixture of various types of seeds such as pumpkin, melon, sunflower, sesame, etc

   

   Seeds Oat Muffins
   

4. 100g dried cranberries, 25g pumpkin seeds, 25g melon seeds & 25g sunflower seeds
5. 100g dried cranberries & 80g chocolate chips / couverture droplets
6. 100g bananas (mashed) & 80g walnut pieces

Grilled Sesame Chicken

Sesame Chicken

This recipe can be made at home or grilled at a barbecue. Click here to find out how.

A Cantonese Favourite with a Twist

Sweet Sour Chicken

Click here for the recipe.

A Grandmother's Love

Mee Jiang Kueh

Click here to read the story behind this attempt.