WHAT MALAYSIANS SHOULD EAT THIS CHRISTMAS....YEAR 2020??

It is Christmas again.  What are you planning to eat the whole month of December?  Many must be thinking of .... yea I am working and I never had time to cook. 

I am not gonna do this.  This is ridiculous.  It needs lots of money when it comes to eating.

Well, actually it doesn't when it is meant to be Christmas and if you have a desire to make it an annual family tradition.

We all want to have a family tradition.  Why can't this be one?  Eating as a goal to give that satisfaction to yourself as well as to your children.

Lets ponder down:

ON THE FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER....

LETS EAT Spaghetti and meatballs:

There are lots of spaghetti recipe on the web.  You can actually cook them.  If you are planning to dine out, a plate can cost you from RM 12 to RM 17.  This is just going to get your mood out and eating with the mission to love is never going to happen.

Let me give you a simple recipe which will get your whole household to be back home straight.

 A packet of spaghetti  - 500 g        RM 3 - RM 4.50

Chicken / Beef - Any amount will do  RM 5 - RM 7 per kg

bread crumbs - 100g  RM 2 - RM 3 per packet

Finely chopped parsley RM 2 - 3 per packet 

egg - RM 0.30 per egg

Freshly grated parmesan - 50g  RM 17 per packet of 150g

2 garlic cloves  RM 3 for every 300 g

a pinch of salt

oil  2 TBSP

1/2 onion, finely chopped  RM 4.50 per bag

1 can of crushed tomatoes - RM 3.20

1 bay leaf  RM 1 per bag

Freshly ground pepper RM 2 per bag

Directions

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain. 
2. In a large bowl, combine beef with bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, egg, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes. Mix until just combined then form into 16 balls.
3. In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer meatballs to a plate.
4. Add onion to pot and cook until soft, 5 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Return meatballs to pot and cover. Simmer until sauce has thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Serve pasta with a healthy scoop of meatballs and sauce. Top with Parmesan before serving.

You just need 1.5 hours to prepare and serve to your household.  The remainder of the ingredients you have purchased can be used in many other dishes that you will be planning this entire month.

We had spaghetti on the first day.  It gives you all the luxury and love as you get to the fullest and just dash down the bed for a good nap.  

However, what happens the next day?  Lets get our Asian sense coming in for something more spicy.

ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS...

Let's get the spicy chillies down our throat... ooooh..... exciting...

TOMATO RICE WITH AYAM MASAK MERAH

When you head to the shop, a plate of tomato rice, ayam masak merah with a piece of chicken garnished with some cucumber pineapple dessert can get you to atleast RM 7.  If it is only you in the house, RM 7 is not a big deal.  How if you have more people in the house?

There are some houses that has atleast a minimum of 3 people to say.

The recipe below can accomodate 3 to 5 people

Ingredients:

Directions

A) Ingredients: (for Tomato Rice)

2 cups rice

1cm. knob ginger (peeled and smashed)

1 small cinnamon stick

1 cloves

1 aniseed

3 cloves garlic (chopped)

1/2 cup milk

2 cups water

2 small tomatoes (cubed)

1/2 onion (cubed)

1 tbsp. tomato sauce

3 tbsp. tomato puree

1 tbsp. butter

Dash of salt and sugar (to taste)

Methods:

1. In a heated wok melt butter and saute cinnamon stick, cloves, aniseed, ginger and chopped garlic till fragrant.
2. Add the tomatoes followed by the washed rice, tomato sauce and tomato puree. Stir-fry a few minutes until well mixed and aroma are well incorporated.
3. Transfer to the rice cooker. Add 1/2 cup milk and 2 cups water.  Normally I will use the proportion of 2 cup rice : 2 1/2 cup water.
4. Add salt and sugar, stir and taste for correct seasoning and cook in the rice cooker.
5. Fluff rice before serving.

(B) Ingredients: (for Ayam Masak Merah)

2 chicken thighs with drumstick (cut into big pieces)

1/2 can tomato puree

1/4 cup tomato sauce

2 small tomatoes (cubed)

5 dried chillies (soaked and drained)

1/2 stick lemongrass (sliced)

1cm. knob ginger (peeled and sliced)

5 shallots (peeled and cut into chunk)

3 cloves garlic (peeled)

1/2 onion (peeled and cut into chunk)

2 tbsp. cooking oil

Salt and sugar (to taste)

Methods:

1. In a blender put in dried chillies, lemongrass, ginger, shallots, onion, garlic and some water, blend into fine paste.
2. In a heated wok, add 2 tbsp cooking oil, saute the blended paste until fragrant and aromatic.
3. Add tomato sauce, tomato and tomato puree, bring to a boil and then add chicken pieces and cook till sauce dries up. It is advised that we do not add water when cooking at this stage provided if it is too dry.  However, constant stirring is needed to ensure that the bottom is not burnt. This dish should have a thick consistency when cooked.
4. Before off the heat add salt and sugar, stir to mix and taste. Let it sit in the pot for at least 15 minutes to half an hour before dishing up for serving.

ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS...

Lets get the veggies down to get the digestion system work well

*We ate carbo on the first and second day.  Let's focus on something herbivorous with greens and some hidden meat.

SEVEN LAYERS SALAD RECIPE **credits to Binaykumarkeshri357

Secret Ingredients

• 1\2 Pound bacon
• 1 medium red onion
• 1\2 cup cauliflower chopped
• 1 spoon white sugar
• 1 head ice berg lettuce ( rinsed, dried and chopped )
• 2\3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2.5 cup package frozen green peas
• 6 ounces sheddar cheese
• 2.5 spoon mayonnaise
• 3 Hard Boil Eggs

Directions

1. First of all place the bacon in a large skill. After then cook it on medium heat till it is brown in colour. Now set it aside. Shredded cheese, cauliflower and last bacon.
2. Prepare the dressing by whisking together the may onnaise, parmesan cheese, sugar Drizzle over salad.
3. Then placed it refrigerate until chilled.
4. Now you layered lettuce salad is ready so you can serve it and enjoy your salad recipe.
5. Calories – 147 g
6. Protein – 7 g
7. Sugar – 2.8 g
8. Cholesterol – 26 mg
9. Carbohydrates – 4.5 g
10. Carbs – 0.25
11. Fat – 16.3 g
12. Saturated fat – 5.1 g
13. Foliate – 21.3 mg
14. Calcium – 121 mg
15. Vitamin B – 0.15 mg
16. Vitamin C – 5.3 mg
17. Potassium – 132.1 mg
18. Magnesium – 13 mg
19. Sodium 333 mg

 ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS...

My tummy is craving for something more delicious.  What can that be? How about some goat meat...mutton...yum..yum....

MUTTON CURRY WITH VEGETABLE MIX

Ingredients

1 teaspoon chilli powder

10 garlic cloves

1 1/2 inches ginger

1 tomato (finely chopped)

salt

1 teaspoon cumin powder

1 teaspoon coriander powder

1/2 teaspoon kasuri methi

1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder

1 green chilli

1 cup warm water

3 tablespoon coriander leaves

1/2 teaspoon Garam masala (freshly made)