Nasi Kuning Spesial ( Yellow Fragrant Rice )

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups uncooked jasmine rice, washed and drain
• 2½ cups coconut milk
• ¾ cup chicken stock
• 1 salam leaf
• 1 pandan leaf
• 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
• 2 Tbs. turmeric water
• ¾ inch laos, cut in 4 lengthwise slices
• 1 Tbs. salt

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients in rice cooker or stockpot and simmer, covered, until done.

Helpful hints:


If you are not using a rice cooker, cook the rice over high heat until the liquid comes to a boil, then lower heat and cook gently so that the coconut milk does not scorch on the bottom of the pan. Remove the lemongrass and laos before serving.

Makes 3 servings with other dishes.

Read More

Lontong ( Compressed Rice )

Lontong is an Asian dish made of compressed rice that is then cut into small cakes. Its very popular in Indonesia and Malaysia, the dish is usually served cold or at room temperature with sauce-based dishes such as Gado-gado, Soto Ayam, salads, and also it can be eaten as an accompaniment to other dishes such as curries. In Indonesia, you don't need to make it by yourself since you can get it ready in traditional market with cheap price.

Lontong is traditionally made by partly cooking the rice and packing it tightly into a rolled-up Banana leaves. The leaf is then secured and cooked in boiling water for about 2 hours ormore. Once it is cooled, the rice compacts and can be cut up into bite-sized pieces. And since I don't find banana leaf here, so I have to modify it by using alumunium foil instead. Here's how to make it.

Category : Rice

Difficulty : Medium

Cooking time : 2,5 - 3 hours

Ingredients

- 10 tablespoons of basmati/jasmine rice

- alumunium foil

- 750 ml water

Directions

1. Rinse and stir the rice very well under water until the resulting water becomes clear.

2. In a pan over medium heat, bring the water to a boil and add in the salt. Slowly stir in the rice then let it boil and cook until the rice become smooth (but not as smooth as porridge). Add more water if necessary.

3. When the rice is done, turn off the heat. Wait 5 minutes.

4. Take alumunium foil, wrap the rice.

5. Boil the water and put lontong to cook for 2,5 to 3 hours. When cooking, puncture the foil with toothpick so the water will go through inside and make it cook. Add some water while cooking.

Read More

How to Make a Yummy Lemon Cheesecake that is Diabetic Friendly

Receiving a diagnosis of diabetes usually means a change in lifestyle and diet. If you are like me--I have a terrible sweet tooth!--I had this mental image of all things sweet and good disappearing from my diet. Imagine my surprise to discover this is not true. In fact, doctors and nutritionists recommend eating fresh fruit. And there are many ways to make delicious diabetic desserts. As with all foods, we diabetics have to watch our portions and even more so with sweets. Do not make this cheesecake and eat it all before bedtime! But incorporated into a healthy diet, you should be able to enjoy it. With its sugar-free ingredients and fresh fruits, it is healthy and tasty enough for anyone!

DIABETIC'S LEMON CHEESECAKE

1 1/4 graham cracker crumbs*

1/4 cup Splenda granular

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 pkg (3-oz) sugar-free lemon gelatin mix

2/3 cup boiling water

2 bars (8-oz each) light cream cheese

6-oz. lite/firm silken tofu

grated rind of 1 lemon

juice of 1 lemon

1 cup sugar-free frozen whipped topping, thawed

Fresh fruit of your choice, optional

In a small mixing bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, Splenda, and melted butter until mixed together well. Using the back of a large spoon, press the mixture on the bottom and up the sides of an 8-inch springform pan. Chill the crust for about ten minutes.

In a blender container mix the lemon gelatin mix and the hot water; slowly add in the cream cheese and the tofu. Continue to mix until smooth. Pour the mixture into a large mixing bowl and add the lemon rind, lemon juice and the thawed topping. Pour into the prepared pan, smoothing the top. Chill for 4 hours or more. Before serving garnish with more whipped topping and fresh fruit/fruits of your choice, if desired.

*If you cannot use crumbs made from graham crackers, make your crumbs from sugar-free butter cookies or sugar-free vanilla wafers.

Serves 12. Enjoy!

Read More

Baking Homemade Brownies

Baking homemade brownies is one of life's sweetest delights. The smell of the brownies baking in the oven never fails to attract every family member to the kitchen to await the finished treat. When they are finally done it doesn't take but a few seconds for them to disappear, having been devoured by everyone who could get a hold of one.

The only hard part of preparing brownies is the preparation and the cleanup afterward. It takes longer to prepare and bake brownies than it does for them to be eaten, especially if they come out delicious. For this very reason many people prefer to buy brownies from the store and miss out on the deliciousness of home-made brownies. Following these simple tips ensures that you will have delicious brownies that the whole family can enjoy with little or no hassle.

1. Don't over mix when preparing the batter and if possible mix the batter by hand. This will ensure that the brownie does not come out bland or too dry.

2. Spay the bottom of the pan with non-stick cooking spray, making sure to cover the surface evenly. You can also dust the pan lightly with cocoa powder. Using cocoa powder ensures that you won't have white residue on your brownies as you would if you were to use flour.

3. Follow the recipe instructions carefully especially the temperature and cooking time instructions. To test if the brownies are done stick a toothpick into the brownies. If they come out clean it means that the brownies are done.

4. If you want to keep the brownies from over-drying you can wrap them with plastic wrap and put them in a zip bag for added protection.

As a final tip: enjoy your brownies with your whole family, give them as gifts, share them with your co-workers, and don't forget to make plenty for everyone.

Read More

History Of Chocolate Recipes To Keep You Warm

There is nothing else that will surely perk you up on a cold and rainy day than a cup of hot and creamy chocolate drink. Thanks to the Aztecs who discovered and gave us this wonderful gift of sweet delicacies that we just love! The Aztecs, during the earlier times of chocolate history, believed that consuming large amounts of chocolate would bring one's health and power. That is why they did not only call it in "energy drink" but a very strongly defined "divine drink".

Chocolate Drink Shops Growing Like Mushrooms

And I believe this still holds true until today. No wonder hot chocolate recipes have popped up everywhere, every chocolate shop claiming to have the best chocolate drink ever! But that is highly expected since they must be chocolates experts to be putting up a chocolate shop, in the first place! Home made hot chocolates are most intriguing, though. For how do you turn a simple chocolate drink into something sumptuous, tempting and tantalizing?

Another natural chemical of chocolates that is responsible for that rushing feeling and tingly sensation of homey goodness began many years ago just like a cup of chocolate drink. They started out liquid, would you believe? Now, here are some hot chocolate drink recipes that you may want to try at home for you and your loved ones to enjoy!

However, let us clarify something first. You must know that there is a very huge difference in ordering for hot chocolate and hot cocoa in your favourite local chocolate shops. The chocolate you drink is made out of pure chocolate compound while the cocoa drink you order is prepared using cocoa powder and mixing it with water. An expert would know right away even if blindfolded which drink is served to him, by merely smelling. Indulge in these recipes below and you will surely be delighted and satisfied with the warm and fulfilling sensation these concoctions will give you!

Warming Chocolate Recipes for the Sweet-Tooth's

If you are born a sweet tooth, then you will surely adore this warm Coconut Hot Chocolate drink! Instead of putting milk on your warm chocolate drink, you can put coconut milk instead. Nothing could taste better than this. It actually tastes like chocolate daiquiri!

Chile Hot Chocolate Beverage

But if you are fonder of eating spicy food and drinking spiced-up beverages than drinking and eating sweets, well, the Chile Hot Chocolate beverage is the right warm chocolate beverage for you! Just add up a little of cayenne, about half a teaspoon, to get the kind of kick in the taste you want. Rest assured the spice will never overpower the sweet taste of the chocolate giving you that tangy and delightfully sweet flavour till the last drop!

Double Anise Hot Chocolate Drink

Or you can also try the Double Anise Hot Chocolate if you still want to keep that spicy tang on your drink! Don't get surprised though if you get too buffed up about it, everyone else who tried this warm chocolate drink got addicted and never got off the hook! The sweetness of the licorice combined with the bitter taste of star anise is actually the culprit why so many fall into the pit of addiction to this drink!

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Drink

For those who like their chocolate drink minty, get a hold of the Peppermint Hot Chocolate drink where chocolate is blended with compressed peppermint candies for the holiday seasons!

Caramel Hot Chocolate Drink

And last of all, for kids who just adore chocolate drinks, energy drinks, as they call them.

Let them try the delightfully sweet Caramel Hot Chocolate drink. This caramel hot chocolate drink is a must for everyone who wants to feel like a kid once again! Because these heart-warming chocolate drinks just taste so great, they will undoubtedly leave an sweet indelible etch on the history of chocolates!

Read More