Category Archives: Uncategorized

Zucchini Pancake

September 1, 2016 chinesetuition88 4 Comments

I used a half zucchini and made it into shreds.

In a large bowl, put in zucchini shreds, an egg, a small bowl of flour, a small bowl of water, a tsp baking soda, some salt and some black pepper powder. Then stir evenly.

Heat oil in the pan. Put a spoonful batter in the pan. When the downside turns golden brown, flip it over.

It’s very soft, so it’s ideal for kids. Zucchini can also be replaced by carrot, potato or white radish. It’s very popular in China. And it’s a good choice for breakfast. Very quick and easy.

Chinese, Pork, Uncategorized, Vegetables

Moo Shu Pork (Fried Pork With Scrambled Eggs And Fungus)

August 31, 2016 chinesetuition88 Leave a comment

I think many people are very familiar with this Chinese dish. The first time I saw this dish’s name on the menu, I was surprised. Because its Chinese name is “木须肉”( mu Xu Rou), while “mu” means wood, ” Xu”means beard. I was like what kind of dish is that! 🙂

But it turned out to be a delicious dish with pork, egg, carrot, black fungus and cucumber.

It’s not a difficult dish to cook.

Ingredients:

Pork ( cut into pieces, marinate with a little salt, light soy sauce, and starch for 10 or 15 minutes)

Eggs (2 or 3)

Black fungus ( if you use dry ones, please soak them in water for several minutes. Please note that black fungus soaked in water for a long time could be poisonous, so just several minutes is fine. Romove their bottoms, and tear them into small pieces with hands)

Carrot ( chopped into pieces)

Chopped Celery ( because I didnt have cucumber, so I use celery instead. Cucumber would be better. )

Oil, salt, starch, water, sugar, chopped garlic (optional)

1. Make omelet. Take the omelet out once they solidify.

2. Heat a little more oil in the pan. Put the marinated pork slices in. Stir fry till they get brown and take out.

3. If there is no oil in the pan, add in a little. Put in the garlic, then carrot. Stir fry for around 2 minutes, then add in celery (or cucumber ). Stir fry for another minute or two.

4. Put in pork and black fungus. Stir fry for 1-2 minutes.

5. Add in salt, light soy sauce and sugar. Stir fry evenly.

6. Put into the omelet. Stir evenly with the other ingredients.

7. At last pour in a little starchy water and quick stir fry for a minute.

Ready to serve.

Chinese, Dumplings, Uncategorized

Quick Fried Dumplings

August 30, 2016 chinesetuition88 2 Comments

I love dumplings. Maybe because I come from northern part of China, I have an affection for dumplings. Every time I miss my hometown, I feel like having some dumplings.

Except commonly seen dumplings cooked in boiling water, another way is to fry them.

It’s not complicted. And it’s also a quick and convenient dish, since I always buy some frozen dumplings in the fridge in case that I miss them or I feel tired and not like cooking.

1. Pour a little oil in the pan. ( non-stick pan) Swirl the pan a little to make the oil cover the whole pan.

2. Put the frozen dumplings ( freshly-made ones are also ok) in the pan. Better place them in order.

In a square shape or circle.

3. Let dumplings stay in the pan and fry for a while. When their bottoms get golden brown, add in water to the height as tall as 1/3 height of the dumplings. Then cover the pan with lid.

4. After several minutes, water in the pan will become less. Before it’s almost dry, pour in some flour water. ( ratio should be flour: water=1:10) Sprinkle some black sesame and chopped spring onion as well.

Just wait till the water is dry with low heat.

Dumplings’ bottoms taste crunchy.

Chicken, Chinese, Uncategorized

Braised Chicken in Brown Sauce

August 29, 2016 chinesetuition88 2 Comments

This dish is perfect for rice.

1. Prepare a boneless chicken leg.

2. Heat the pan. ( no oil is needed here, because chicken leg contains fat. )

3. Put the chicken leg into the pan with the skin side down. The fat will come out. When the down side is a little burnt, flip it over and fry the other side.

4. After both sides turn golden color. Add in dark soy sauce, some sugar and water. Cover with the lid.

5. When the sauce becomes much less, remove the lid. Spread some black sesame.

6. Turn up the heat. Keep stirring to avoid being burnt. The sauce will become less and more condensed. Make sure the chicken coated with sauce evenly.

7. When the sauce is almost dry, turn off the heat.

8. Cut chicken into slices and put them on rice.

Brown sauce also makes rice yummy.

Quick recipe, Uncategorized

Quick Meal With Baguette

August 29, 2016 chinesetuition88 Leave a comment

When I get home from work tried and hungry, I really don’t feel like cooking. Yet I don’t like eating outside so I have to figure out some quick and easy ways to solve the problem about food.

One of my hobbies is searching recipes that I think worth trying. Of course, I also keep an eye on those that can help me handle a meal within several minutes.
The other day I tried the following recipes with baguette. They turned out not bad and my husband loved them.

Mix melted butter with minced garlic and mixed herbs. Spread the mixture on the surface of baguette slices. Bake for 5 mins with 220 degree C. Easy and simple.

Baguette can also be used for sandwich. Cut a medium slice open in the middle. Add in the meat and vegetables you like. Then it’s done. You can also put in salad, or whatever you like.

This is my husband’s favorite. Put the scrambled egg on the surface of sliced baguette, and top with cheese slice. Put into the microwave oven for 1 or 2 minutes till the cheese is melted.

Cake, Uncategorized

Apple Cake

August 29, 2016 chinesetuition88 2 Comments

This is the first time I tried apple cake and it turn out to be very good.

I made changes based on original recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/german-apple-cake-16883
Ingredients:

1 egg

90 ml canola oil

150g icing sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

120g flour

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 Apple ( chopped into small pieces)

1. Put egg and oil in a bowl and stir smoothly.

2. Add sugar, vanilla, flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Stir well before adding another.

3. Add in Apple pieces. Mix well.

4. Pour batter into pan.

5. Preheat oven to 180 degree C. Bake for 30 mins. ( because the cake I baked is a small one, so 30 mins is enough. If your cake is bigger, it will take longer time). You can check whether it’s done by a toothpick.

Because I used less sugar, so it’s not that sweet but to me it’s perfect.

I also used homemade caramel sauce as topping. Very tasty.

Story, Uncategorized

Chinese Food Treatment

August 29, 2016 chinesetuition88 2 Comments

There is a concept of “食补” (shi bu) in China, which means food treatment approach or using food as medicine.

Some of them are really interesting. Like if you hurt your ankle, then you need to have trotter. As the saying goes, what part of animal you have will do well to the same part of your body. Another saying is some food look like our human bodies, and they are good for the part they look like. For example, black soy beans look like kidneys, so they are good for kidneys. Walnuts look like human brain, they are indeed good for human brain.

Many people in China know the saying ” medicine is always 30% poisonous”. It’s an exaggerating way to express that medicine always has potential side effect. So many Chinese people prefer to have natural food and get nutrient substance they need instead of taking medicine when they are not seriously sick. They will certainly seek for doctors’ help when they really need.

Over centuries, Chinese people have got methods of food treatment for many common illness. Each ingredient is considered to have its own property. Mutton belongs to “hot”, that’s why it’s a good choice in autumn and winter. Bitter gourd belongs to “cold”, so when you feel very hot inside your body or have oral ulcer, bitter gourd will be helpful.

Chinese food treatment is kind of like philosophy of yin and yang.

Cake, Uncategorized

Crumb Cake

August 26, 2016 chinesetuition88 Leave a comment

I found the recipe online:

http://www.food.com/recipe/new-jersey-crumb-cake-33645

This is my first crumb cake. And It turned out to be a big success. I did a little change based on the original recipe.

For cake:

Butter 60g

Sugar 80g ( I’m afraid the original recipe would be very sweet, so I reduced the sugar)

Egg 1

Milk 80g

Flour 140g

Baking powder 1tsp

Vanilla extract 1/2tsp
For topping :

Biscuit mix is used in original recipe. I changed it. I used flour and ground almond powder instead. I reduced butter and sugar too. Cos my husband is on a diet.

Butter 40g

Sugar 40g

Flour 40g

Ground almond powder 20g

Cinnamon powder 1 tsp
1. Cream butter and sugar.

2. Beat egg and milk, mix with butter.

3. Add flour and baking powder to the butter mixture. Then add in vanilla extract.

4. Pour batter into pan.

5. For topping: put all the topping ingredients in a bowl. Rub them by hand. And they will become crumb.

6. Sprinkle crumb topping over batter in the pan.

7. Preheat oven to 180 degree C. Bake for 30 mins. ( you can check with a toothpick. Poke the cake with toothpick, if it comes out clean, then the cake is done).

Powdered sugar is used to top the cake when cool. I didn’t use it.

It tastes really good. Since I reduced sugar, it’s not too sweet.