GURILEM (HOT & SPICY STICK CRACKERS)

People in West Java call this crackers (kerupuk) G u r i l e m.

What make this crackers very special for me is the color of ground red chilli.

It's very enticing for hot red chili pepper lovers.

We, who lived in Java island loves to eat kerupuk.

Even my mom who is originally from Sulawesi island, since she lives in Bandung (West Java) she became kerupuk lovers.

At first, back in 1968, she said, why people eat rice with something like cookies (==kerupuk).

But now, she used to it, and often includes kerupuk as condiment to any kind of dishes she made.

Anyway, this yummy gurilem came from Bandung. My friend brought it last month.

My husband and I enjoy it so much. We take our time to eat it...slowly but sure :-)

I think my strength to eat hot and spicy food has decreased. Sometimes too much ground red chili makes my stomach has burn sensation.

Anyway, I feel I'm in Bandung while eating G u r i l e m....

MR. TURKEY & HIS FRIENDS

So happy...yesterday was my first time cooking turkey and the sides. The results were good...Happy Thanksgiving!

Roasted Turkey

I used recipe from Ina Garten , but before applying that recipe I rubbed my turkey under the skin with the recipe from allrecipe.com. click HERE.

I was worry, the turkey would be tasteless...But it was good. Everybody enjoyed it. Oh..o...I forgot to take the picture of Giblet Turkey Gravy...

THE FRIENDS

I followed the recipe from Tyler Florence. The original recipe is HERE. Just missed the bayleaf...This potato was the hit of all sides :-). Creamy...garlicky...yummmy.

The recipe for green beans is from Tyler Florence, so simple and easy. Great for veggie supply among all the fat and protein. Too bad I couldn't use the almonds.

Kids loved this suffing...I just made according to the instruction from the box, but adding cooked sausage, apple and corn.

Fudge Brownies Sundaes

This is the dessert for Thanksgiving Lunch this year.

I realize, I will not be able to make any sophisticated desserts...

Just making brownies from a box with a twist.

Though it's already winter, but I believe no one can resist ice cream.

So simple but satisfying.

Fudge Brownies -- egg, water, oil called for on brownie mix box. Bake according to the instructions.

Let cool completely.

Cut the brownies square about 2"x 2", top with a scoop of ice ream (today I choose yoghurt swirl ice cream).

Drizzled with chocolate condensed milk ( i mix choco powder with condensed milk).

Top with a cherry.

Isn't that beautiful?

Thanksgiving Lunch Preparation

I never imagine, I will prepare meals for Thanksgiving.

It started when our neighbor gave us a big turkey plus some canned and boxes groceries for making side dish, dessert, etc. I feel like I'm American :-)

It will be a second time for us to have turkey at home. Last year the same person who gave us turkey who seasoned the turkey and we just roasted it. But this year, I have to prepare it by my self...Little bit nervous...

This afternoon I started browsing recipe, base on rating and my preference.

(on the left, my son is playing with some boxes and can ^_^)

I came up with this plan :

PERFECT ROAST TURKEY ..recipe taken from foodnetwork.com, recipe courtesy Barefoot Contessa Parties! 2001

TURKEY GRAVY recipe taken from foodnetwork.com, addapted from Food Network Kitchens How to Boil Water, Meredith, 2008

GREEN BEANS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND ALMONDS recipe courtesy Tyler Florence, but I will cut almonds...may be will add wonton strips for crunchy texture. I still cannot eat any nuts due to my son's allergy reaction.

SCALLOPED POTATO GRATIN recipe corutesy Tyler Florence

I will use my 5 lbs potatoes, and left over half and half in my fridge instead of heavy cream.

STUFFING, just follow the recipe on the box of stuffing for chicken. I will add apple, corn and sausage.

BROWNIES WITH ICE CREAM...I will use ready to use brownie mix. Slice brownies plus ice cream, top with maraschino cherries.

Hopefully the recipes I chose are good...And of course I added with a prayer..."Oh help me God...bless the work of my hand." :-)

Pumpkin Cake

I still don't want to end this fall season...

Still enjoying the last foliage around my house.

Only several trees with yellow leaves still remain. Some of the trees have lost their leaves which give sign of winter will be coming soon.

After walking around the house, I still want something with "pumpkin" to use the remain pumpkin puree. And to celebrate the end of my fave season. My mom loves to make pumpkin cake using fresh pumpkin. She will steam the pumpkin and make the cake from it. I searched my files, I couldn't find my mom's recipe.

So I tried to make it base on my memory and feeling.

The cake is so dense, I want it fluffier... but anyway it's still good for my sweet tooth.

I will call my mom and ask the exact recipe :-)

Here's my modification recipe

Wet ingredients : 1 cup of canola oil, 2 cups of pumpkin puree, 3 eggs, 2 cups sugar --mix using whisker.

Dry ingredients : 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda

I mix wet ingredients and dry ingredients until well blend.

Bake it 350 F for 45 minutes.

I think because I used pumpkin puree from can which is denser than the fresh pumpkin, I need to whisk the eggs with my hand mixer to give more airy texture to the cake...

Pumpkin Pancake with Raisin

Last Monday we woke up late...we fell asleep about 1.30am after long day Sunday.

There were 2 friends from my home town slept over at our house.

I ran out of bread for breakfast.... "how about having American breakfast at local restaurant?"

My husband agreed with me..

We went to Harvey's, Dover NH. Delicious..homey breakfast.

One of menus that my friend ordered was pumpkin pancake...

Pumpkin always reminds me of the warm color of fall season.

I love bright orange color of it...the color tone matches with the orange of maple leaves..

My mind keep thinking about pumpkin pancake....yummy. And I still have one can of pumpkin puree. I can't help to try making it at home.

After browsing some recipes, I decided to use recipe from All Recipes. Click HERE for the original recipe.

PUMPKIN PANCAKE

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons vinegar

Directions

1. In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt, stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Note : while I'm editing this blog....I just realized I used 2 cups of pumpkin puree...no wonder my pancake was dense... :-(

Blueberry Lemon Tiramisu

Bosan dengan tiramisu klasik, dan kebetulan ada sekaleng blueberry pie filling yang tidak jadi dipakai membuat cake ulang tahun untuk suami bulan Mei lalu, saya coba resep dari Paula Dean. Sangat simple, tidak usah menyalakan kompor atau oven. Dessert lembut dan ringan tersedia untuk potluck hari minggu ini. Sayangnya tidak ada kesempatan foto setelah diiris. Sepertinya polesan lemon pada lady finger perlu ditambah sedikit lagi, lemonnya hampir tidak berasa. Lumayanlah untuk sesekali, meskipun rasanya ringan tapi sumber kolesterol dan lemak juga hehe..

Ingredients

• 1 pint heavy whipping cream ---- whipping cream biasa -- yang heavy-nya habis di super market, bagus juga sih jd mengurangi lemak.
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 pound mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
• 3 (3-ounce) packages unfilled ladyfingers
• 1 (6-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed ----- saya ganti dengan Lemon
• 1 (21-ounce) can blueberry pie filling
• Fresh mint leaves, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, beat cream with an electric mixer at medium speed until thickened. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Gently stir in cheese until combined; set aside.

Split ladyfingers in half. Line a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish with ladyfingers, cut side up. Brush ladyfingers with limeade concentrate. Spoon half of cheese mixture over ladyfingers. Top with half of blueberry pie filling. Repeat procedure for the next layer with remaining ladyfingers, lemonade, cheese mixture, and pie filling. Cover and chill 8 hours.

Video untuk membuat tiramisu ini dapat dilihat di SINI.

SUN - DRIED TOMATO & SPINACH SPAGHETTI

Yesterday just before I went to Boston, I stopped by to a local farm market to buy sun dried tomato, spinach, and bell pepper. I was planning to make pasta with those ingredients the next day.There was Italian food in my mind. Apparently my pastor and family treated us Italian Food at a restaurant near their house for celebrating the head of the family's birthday. It was a nice experience enjoying different kind of pasta. Yummmy....

Today I tried to mix those healthy ingredients..Hope they will turn out good...though will not taste as good as Italian restaurant where I went yesterday ^_^.

1 box whole wheat thin spaghetti

1/2 onion julienned

2 tbs minced garlic

1 orange bell pepper julienned

Baby spinach 10 oz

sun dried tomato about 0.3 lb, cut lenghtwise into 2 or 3 pcs

basil -- prefer fresh, but I don't have it, i ended up using dried basil.

garlic powder

salt

pepper

shredded cheese

canola oil --- I plan to use olive oil, but got no chance to buy it :-(

Direction :

- cook the pasta according to the package until al dente (be firm to eat), drain the water

- while the pasta is still hot, toss with some oil, garlic powder and basil powder, salt

- Heat some oil , saute onion and garlic until become soft, throw the bell pepper, sun-dried tomato, spinach. Stir fry them about 2 minutes.

- put the spaghetti into the saute mixture

- serve while still hot

- sprinkle with shredded cheese

By the way, everybody loved it....included my husband.

Veggie can be tasty and good while we give enough seasoning.

And no one noticed it was 100 %whole wheat pasta.

Perkedel Kentang Kornet

Setelah beberapa kali menonton program Foodnetwork TV, Semi Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee yang resepnya banyak menggunakan produk-produk kemasan instant atau produk setengah jadi untuk memasak, saya jadi teringat satu blog memasak yang mencoba membuat perkedel kentang dengan menggunakan bubuk kentang instant/ Instant Mash Potato Flakes. Saya lupa alamat blog itu. Dua minggu lalu saya mencoba membuatnya. Hasilnya enak...dan yang paling penting banyak langkah (menggoreng/mengukus kentang dan menghaluskannya) yang terlewati sehingga perkedel dapat cepat tersaji. Bumbu yang digunakan seperti bawang merah dan bawang putih goreng saya gunakan yang siap pakai juga. Benar-benar jalan pintas untuk menikmati perkedel.

Bahan :

Bubuk kentang instant

Air

Bawang merah goreng dihaluskan

Bawang putih goreng dihaluskan

Irisan daun bawang

1 Kaleng kornet

Garam

Merica

Bubuk Pala

Putih telur

Cara membuat :

Karena baru pertama kali mencoba dengan bubuk kentang ini, yang menjadi patokan saya adalah mencampur bubuk ini dengan jumlah air yang dikurangi dari pentunjuk kemasan.

Misalnya kemasan meninstruksikan mencampur dengan 3 cup air, kita coba mencampurnya dengan 2 cup air dulu, baru jika kurang lembek tambahkan air sedikit lagi.

Kentang halus instant ini dicampur dengan semua bumbu dan kornet. Bentuk bulat pipih, celupkan ke putih telur dan goreng dengan minyak dan api sedang.

Fresh Roll

Since last summer I've planned to make fresh roll.

But in the middle of Fall season I could make it. Late summer roll ^_^

But I think it was good for balancing my meaty Korean barbecue.

Fresh & healthy to eat...Quick and easy to make

Ingredients :

Rice Paper

English Cucumber

Carrot

Mung Bean Vermicelli

Cilantro

Direction :

Wet rice paper with some warm water (...not too long, or else it will get too wet and easy to break)

Put the veggie and vermicelli on top of wet rice paper, wrap it thigh.

Many times I use peanut sauce for eating this roll, but this time I chose sweet and sour chilli sauce.

Lemper Ayam ( Steamed Glutinous Rice Ball with chicken filling

About a month ago I went to an Asian groceries store in Quincy, MA.

I was so glad to find nigiri sushi mold. Many cooking blogs suggested to use this kind of mold to shape lemper (sticky rice ball) easier and faster.

The size of this rice ball is not too big...my husband said, "it only needs my two bites"

Just wondering someday I can get the bigger nigiri sushi maker.

Here is the recipe :

Steamed Glutinous Rice :

250 gram glutinous rice

125 mL coconut milk

1 pandanus leaf

1 lime leaf

- soak glutinous rice in water about 2-4 hours, rinse the water and steam the rice about 10-15 minutes.

- boil coconut milk, pandanus leaf and lime leaf, set aside.

- mix half cooked rice with boiled coconut milik

- put rice mixture into the steamer again, steam until done.

Chicken Filling :

2 pcs chicken

1 white curry instant seasoning

1 tsp coriander powder

2 bay leaves

1 lime leaf

salt, pepper, sugar to taste

150 - 175 mL coconut milk

- stir fry instant curry until it fragrance, add bay leaves, coriander powder.

- throw the chicken in, mix with with the seasoning.

- add coconut milk, let the chicken tender and cooked, and almost all liquid is absorbed.

- shred cooked chicken in food processor.

Finishing :

Open the upper part of sushi mold

Put some rice into base sushi mold

Put some chicken on top of rice

Layer the chicken with some rice again

Press and mold the rice using the upper part.

Open the mold, we will get small tube shape of rice cake.

Wrap with banana leaf.

To know step by step pictures of making this, you can click Bunda Estherlita blog HERE.

Slow Cooker Chicken Porridge (Bubur Ayam Slow Cooker)

Many times I use slow cooker to make rice porridge.

From making our breakfast to making my son's strained porridge when he started to eat solid food.

What I like, I don't have to stir the porridge many times, I don't have to wait near the stove.

Usually I will put chicken stock, rice and seasoning into the slow cooker and turn it on to low setting at night. In the morning I will have nice, smooth and much flavor porridge ready to eat.

(picture of slow cooker is taken from google image search, forgot to save the link, I used the same model of slow cooker as this pic,

Farber ware 6 quarts)

But last Friday, I tried to assembly all the ingredients at 1 pm, because we would have it for dinner time. Usually porridge is for breakfast, but I still can enjoy it for dinner :-)

Here is my recipe :

Ingredients :

4 cups of rice

16 cup of chicken stock

4 cup water

2 tsp ground garlic

3 cm of ginger

2 lemon grass

2 pandan leaves

Direction : put all the ingredients into slow cooker (6 quart capacity), low setting for about 7-8 hours.

For Chicken to spread on top of the porridge, I sauteed chopped chicken tight with garlic, fish sauce, little bit of soy sauce and cooking wine, pepper and salt.

Put the porridge into a bowl, sprinkle with green onion, cakue (Chinese cruller fried bread stick), sauteed chicken and fried shallot, if you like you can enjoy this porridge with hard boiled egg.

Strawberry Cupcakes & Jolly Soda

I combined two recipes...

For the cupcake I used Betty Crocker recipe Strawberry and cream Cupcakes.

And for the frosting I used grouprecipe.com yogurt and whipped cream frosting.

For the batter, the recipe suggested us to use strawberry pop soda which I've never seen or recognized before. I went to Walmart and couldn't find it. Finally I found this kind of soda at Market Basket, it is a local product from our neighbour's state, Maine. I love the vintage design of the package.

This kind of soda reminds me of old style of beverage in my country, we call it "limun".

I used golden vanilla super moist cake mix, I love the taste of the batter but the result was not as I expected, may be next time I will stir some strawberry puree to give more strawberry taste. But so far the cupcake turned good, moist and not too sweet. I was worry because the added soda is sweet.

Cupcake Recipe :

1 box vanilla cake mix (follow the instruction from the box, use strawberry soda instead of water), I used 4 eggs instead of 3 eggs.

Frosting recipe :

Ingredients

1 container strawberry yogurt (32 oz)

1 package heavy whipping cream (32 oz)

1 tbsp sugar

1 envelope unflavored gelatine

Direction

Sprinkle gelatine into 4 tbsp cold water, let sit for few minutes then heat it until dissolve.

Whip the cream and yogurt until thickened but not stiff. Put the mixer on high slowly drizzle gelatine into the cream until well blended. Refrigerate to make it set.

Put into piping bag, and ready to use for frosting the cupcake.

I still have one bottle of soda left...I offered my husband "Jolly soda", just simply mix the condensed milk with cold soda and stir it.

Usually I make Jolly soda (soda gembira) using red Fanta or Coke or just plain carbonated water.

$0.50 off Betty Crocker Cake Mix and Frosting

Plus 41 more...

About Concordance™

Easy Cream Cheese Tiramisu

It is always good to check our fridge so we can avoid wasting food.

I did it last Monday, and found some cream cheese that almost reach its expiration date by the end of this month. I remember my old recipe of easy tiramisu using cream cheese.

I found I still have lady fingers, coffee liquour, chocolate powder, I just needed to buy whipping cream to complete all the ingredients.

This recipe is modification from Easy Nilla Tiramisu from Kraffoods.com.

Ingredients :

Two packs 8 oz fat free cream cheese softened

16 fl Oz heavy whipped cream

2 tbsp instant coffee dissolve in 2 tbs of hot water

1 tbsp of coffee liquor

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp powdered sugar sifted

Lady fingers

for soaking lady finger :

1/2 cup of instant coffee + 1/2 cup of coffee liquor + 1 tbsp of choco powder

Directions :

1. Beat whipped cream in cold bowl until hard peak. Put in refridgerator while doing next step.

2. Gradually add coffee to cream cheese, beating with whisk until blended. Add powder sugar, mixed well.

3. Stir whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.

4. Soak lady finger with the coffee liquor mixture, place in container. Cover with mixture no.3. Repeat layer as you like.

5. Sprinkle with sifted choco powder before serving.

I tried to put the cream cheese mixture into ready to eat mini pie crust. And I also just put in a small bowl with 2 lady fingers. It was fun to do something new.

KERUPUK PULI (Javanese rice crackers)

"Krupuk, kerupuk, or kroepoek in Indonesia; keropok in Malaysia; kropek in the Philippines; bánh phồng tôm in Vietnam; is a popular snack in parts ofEast and Southeast Asia. Krupuk are deep fried crackers made from starch and other ingredients that usually give the taste. " (Wikipedia.org)

Kerupuk Puli is one of many variations of kerupuk. I got this crackers from my friend who came from East Java, Madiun City. The starch for this crackers is from rice. I prepare this crackers by deep frying the raw kerupuk. Once the crackers deep into hot oil, it will expand and form the crunchy form of crackers. If we want to reduce oil in our intake, we also can use microwave to cook it. The time to cook kerupuk in the microwave depends to what kind of kerupuk we use. Many times kerupuk will not expand perfectly they still have hard part remain , but for Kerupuk Puli Burung Walet, I was surprised, though I was using microwave it taste good and crunchy in all part. Three pieces kerupuk need one minute to cook in high setting.

Though I live in US. I noticed Indonesian kids who are born in US, they also like kerupuk. One day, a little girl came to my house, and her eyes was staring at something in my kitchen. Finaly, she came to me, " Aunty, can I have the kerupuk please"...Oow..she saw my crackers :-)

We can enjoy kerupuk as snack or as condiment for rice entree, gado-gado (vegetable salad with peanut sauce) and many other kind of food.

Refreshing Watermelon Salad

I couldn't resist to make this salad after seeing the beautiful color of this salad at kraftfood kitchen. Fresh salad is always easy to make but refreshing effect will last long :-)

Original recipe is HERE, this recipe is using balsamic vinegar. But I chose Italian dressing and little bit honey, and it turned out good.

1/4 of whole watermelon (cut triagle shape)

1 cucumbers (cut half and slice thinly)

1/2 cup crumbled fat free Feta Cheese

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint

2 Tbsp. Italian dressing

1 tbsp honey

make it

COMBINE ingredients.

SERVE immediately.

Oven-barbecued Drumstick

This recipe is very simple, and the rating is also good. So I applied this recipe to chicken leg instead of turkey from the original recipe (kraftfood.com). Here is the link for Oven-barbecued Turkey Legs for crowds.

For me this recipe is Ok, but I want it to be tastier and bolder. Next time I'll marinate the legs with more spices.

Ingredients :

3 lbs drum stick
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tbs mustard
Salt & black pepper

Direction :

PREHEAT oven to 325°F. Mix barbecue sauce, sugar, mustard, honey, red pepper and onion powder. Remove half of the barbecue sauce mixture; cover and refrigerate until ready to serve with the cooked chicken.

SEASON chicken with salt and black pepper; place in shallow baking pan.

BAKE 2 hours or until cooked through (165°F), turning and brushing occasionally with the remaining barbecue sauce mixture after 30 minutes. Serve with the reserved barbecue sauce mixture.