What's In My Food?: 2015

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

Bak Choy with Eggs

What's in this dish:

Bak Choy
Eggs
Garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Tomato Chicken

What's in this dish:

Baked Chicken drumsticks, seasoned with ginger powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper

For the tomato sauce:
Tomatoes
Garlic
Olive oil
Ketchup
Balsamic vinegar
Lemon juice
Salt
Pepper

I got my coffee

I got my coffee fix! Brewed coffee from Delifrance. No sugar added.

Tuesday, 6 October 2015

I ran out of Nespresso capsules. Which means no coffee for me this morning. I rummaged through my pantry drawer and found a sample packet of instant white coffee. I think it came with the SG50 fun pack. I was happy for a second that I did not have to survive today without coffee. Sure, I could pop by Toastbox or Killiney to buy a cup. But I have long ditched such traditional, highly acidic local coffee drenched in condensed milk / evaporated milk / heaps of sugar. I was once an addict for such coffee, but thank goodness no longer. I now always start my day with a cup of plain Nespresso coffee.

Back to the instant white coffee. I looked at the ingredients list. Here's what it says:

Non-dairy creamer (glucose syrup, hydrogenated vegetable fat, sodium caseinate (milk protein), emulsifier, stabilizer, silicon dioxide), sugar, instant coffee, milk solids, freeze dried instant coffee, cocoa powder and permitted flavouring.

There are 12 ingredients altogether. I don't know what some of the ingredients are, but for sure, I know things like glucose syrup, hydrogenated vegetable fat and sugar is something that is definitely unhealthy. What I wanted was coffee, not junk food. I made the logical decision not to waste 181calories on a cup of coffee and reached for green tea instead. The ingredients: Green tea, matcha. No junk.

Pan Fried Beancurd with Peanut Sauce

What's in this dish:

Firm beancurd (firm tofu/tau kwa)
Olive oil

For the sauce:-
Peanut butter
Honey
Black sweet sauce
Hot water

Beef Fusilli

What's in this dish:

Wholewheat fusilli

Beef

Yellow capsicum

Tomato

Button mushrooms

Garlic

Olive oil

Teriyaki sauce

Salt

Pepper

Lunch Today

Today's lunch comprised of baked chicken breast with cherry tomatoes and garlic stir-fried baby spinach. Dessert was a bowl of green seedless grapes. Simple but satisfying.

Chye Sim with Enoki Mushrooms

What's in this dish:

Organic chye sim
Enoki mushrooms
Garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

Soba for Dinner

My little one requested for soba for dinner, so this is our one-dish meal tonight.

What's in this dish:

Organic soba
Chicken breast meat
Bak Choy
Tomato
Egg
Garlic
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Low sodium soy sauce
Salt
Pepper
Ginger powder
Sesame oil

Monday, 28 September 2015

Lunch in 10 minutes

Today's lunch is an effortless meal. I had air-fryer baked salmon with cherry tomatoes and served with steamed broccoli and a squeeze of fresh lemon. There is no seasoning at all! 4 ingredients healthy meal in 10 minutes. Plus a cup of ice cold green tea to finish up.

The haze may reach hazardous levels this afternoon. Eat healthy, stay healthy!

What's for Dinner? - Fried Rice

What's in this dish:

Steamed rice
Egg
Organic cherry tomatoes
Brown button mushrooms
Organic chye sim
Garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Baked Ginger Chicken with Brown Button Mushroooms

What's in the dish:

Chicken breast
Brown button mushrooms
Ginger powder
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
Minced garlic
Teriyaki sauce (honey & soy)

Homemade Potstickers / Gyozas

I love potstickers with vinegar and can gobble up a lot at a time! Pack more vegetables in the filling to make this a healthy one-dish meal. I have chosen to make the wrappers myself as the store-bought ones usually contain chemicals/preservatives. It is actually very easy, albeit time-consuming. Choose a day when you are free the whole afternoon to make this with your family!

What's in this dish:

Wrapper:-
Plain flour
Hot water
Olive oil

Filling:-
Minced chicken
Brown button mushrooms
Cabbage
Low sodium soy sauce
Sesame oil
Ginger powder
Garlic powder
Pepper

Dipping sauce:-
Balsamic vinegar

What's for Dinner? - Beef Soba

What's in this dish:

Organic soba (buckwheat noodles)
Beef
Broccoli
Yellow capsicum
Carrot
Tomato
Garlic
Olive oil
Teriyaki sauce (honey & soy)
Salt
Pepper
Ginger powder
Garlic powder

Cooking method:

Stir fry

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Stir fried Bak Choy with Tomatoes

What's in this dish:

Bak Choy
Tomatoes
Garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Chicken Soup with Potato and Carrots

What's in this dish:

Chicken legs
Potato
Carrot
Yellow onion
Red dates

Cooking method:

Boil and simmer

What's for lunch? - Wholemeal Fusilli

What's in this dish:

Wholemeal fusilli
Organic cherry tomatoes
Broccoli
Chicken breast meat (from chicken reared without hormones and antibiotics), seasoned with ginger powder, garlic powder, pepper
Olive oil
Minced garlic
Salt
Pepper

Steamed Sea Bass with Enoki Mushroom

What's in this dish:

Sea bass, steamed

Sauce, simmered-
Balsamic vinegar
Low sodium soy sauce
Ginger powder
Garlic powder
Sesame oil

Enoki mushrooms, pan-fried-
Enoki mushroom
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

What's for Dinner - Fried Bee Hoon and Sweet Vinegared Pork Ribs

I am having my ultimate comfort food for dinner tonight! Fried bee hoon! While fried been hoon bought from outside is laden with oil and sodium, homecooked fried bee hoon is not sinful and is choked full of healthy vegetables.

I also tried cooking sweet vinegar pork ribs for the first time today and it was quite good. But this is definitely not very healthy because of the added sugar, so portion control is important.

Lovely meal!

Monday, 21 September 2015

Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie 烘焙巧克力燕麦饼干

I used a regular chocolate chip cookie recipe that I had used before, and made it a little healthier by swapping half of the required flour with rolled oats. I should have cut a bit of the sugar as well as the oats seemed to add some sweetness to the cookies.

我改了我平时用的巧克力饼干食谱，把一半的面粉换成燕麦，这样饼干就会健康一点点！燕麦有甜度，下一次我会减少一点糖。

What's in the cookies:

饼干材料:

Plain flour 面粉
Raw rolled oats 燕麦
Butter 牛油
Raw brown sugar 糖
Eggs 鸡蛋
60% cacao chocolate chips 巧克力
Salt 盐
Baking powder 发酵粉

What's for lunch?

What's for lunch today:

Baked salmon with lemon
Stir fried mixed vegetables with egg

Monday, 14 September 2015

Tofu with Mixed Vegetables Stir Fry

What's in this dish:

Tofu
Organic french beans
Brown button mushrooms
Carrot
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Oyster sauce

Cooking method:

Stir fry

What's For Lunch? - Baked Chicken with Bak Choy and Tomatoes

What's in my lunch?

This is my typical lunch - excluding the rice which is for my little girl. It comprises of some protein baked in the air fryer, usually chicken breast or salmon, with lots of lightly stir-fried vegetables. There's really no need to starve while trying to stay slim and healthy.

What's in the dishes:

Baked chicken breast - seasoned with garlic powder, ginger powder, salt, pepper, sesame seeds. Served with lemon.

Stir fried Garlicky Bak Choy with tomatoes, cooked in olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Teriyaki Beef Stir a Fried with Onions

What's in this dish:

Beef
Yellow onions
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Pepper
Teriyaki sauce (honey & soy flavor)

Cooking method:

Stir fry

Organic Choy Sum with Portobello Mushrooms

What's in this dish:

Organic chye sim
Mini portobello mushrooms
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Cooking method:

Stir fry

Scrambled Tomato Eggs

What's in this dish:

Eggs
Tomatoes
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Tomato sauce

Cooking method:

Pan fry

What's for dinner?

Tonight's dinner:

Teriyaki beef stir fried with onions
Organic chye sim with portobello mushrooms
Tomato egg
Rice

Sunday, 13 September 2015

Mixed Pasta

What's in this dish:

Wholemeal fusilli pasta
Farfalle pasta
Organic cherry tomato
Chicken breast meat (from chicken reared without hormones and antibiotics), marinated with garlic powder, ginger powder and pepper
Baby spinach
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Cooking method:

Stir fry

Wednesday, 9 September 2015

Stir fried Bak Choy with Tomato and Egg

What's in this dish:

Bak Choy
Tomatoes
Egg
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Cooking method:

Stir fry

Sweet Cabbage with Mushroom and Glass Noodles

What's in this dish:

Organic sweet cabbage
Mini portobello mushrooms
Bean vermicelli (glass noodles)
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Low sodium soy sauce

Cooking method:

Stir fry

Stir Fried Chicken with Mushrooms and Capsicums

What's in this dish:

Chicken breast meat (from chicken reared without hormones and antibiotics)
White button mushrooms
Yellow capsicums
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Teriyaki sauce (honey & soy)

Cooking method:

Stir fry

What's for Lunch? - Chicken Mushroom Farfalle

What's in this dish:

Farfalle pasta
Chicken breast meat (from chicken reared free of hormone and antibiotics)
White button mushrooms
Organic cherry tomatoes
Baby spinach
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Cooking method:

Stir fry

Tuesday, 8 September 2015

What's in your Tom Yum Paste?

This is the ingredient list of an organic tom yum paste I came across at the supermarket.

What's glaring for me is the amount of salt and sugar in the paste:

Salt 11.6%
Sugar 10%

Wow, that seems a lot (although I do not know how much in absolute amount). So organic doesn't automatically means that it's healthy!

Pork Rib Apple Soup 排骨苹果汤

What's in this dish:

Pork ribs
Apple
Carrot
Yellow onion
Red dates

Cooking method:

Slow cook in magic thermal pot

Broccoli with Bhutan Mushrooms and Tomatoes

What's in this dish:

Broccoli
Tomato
Organic Bhutan mushrooms*
Egg
Olive oil
Minced garlic
Teriyaki sauce (Soy & Honey Flavour)
Salt
Pepper

Cooking method:

Stir fry

* This is my first time buying Bhutan mushrooms. I'm not sure if it goes by a more commonly known name, but it looks like small oyster mushrooms. This is a picture of the mushrooms in its original packaging which I bought from Cold Storage supermarket.

What's For Dinner?

What's for dinner:

Broccoli with Bhutan mushrooms and tomatoes
Pork rib apple soup
Canned tomato sardines

Served with rice.

Wednesday, 2 September 2015

Tomato Egg

What's in this dish:

Eggs
Tomatoes
Tomato sauce
Olive oil

Cooking method:

Pan fry

Roasted Butternut Squash

What's in this dish:

Butternut squash
Olive oil
Garlic powder
Salt

Cooking method:

Baked in airfryer

Stir Fried Baby Spinach with Mushrooms

What's in this dish:

Baby spinach
Mini portobello mushrooms
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Cooking method:

Stir fry

Baked Salmon

What's in this dish:

Salmon
Juice of fresh lemon

No seasoning required!

Cooking method:

Baked in airfryer

What's In My Lunch

What's in this dish:

Wholemeal spaghetti
Minced chicken breast
White button mushrooms
Organic cherry tomatoes
Green capsicum
Minced garlic
Olive oil
Juice of fresh lemon
Salt
Pepper

Method of cooking

Stir fry

What's In My Grocery Bag

What's in my grocery bag today?

Leafy green vegetables
Broccoli
Japanese cucumbers
Tomatoes
Butternut squash
Yellow onions
Eggs
Kiwi
Salmon fillets
Chicken breast meat
Pork spare ribs
Ground beef

Where's Your Coriander From?

Recently I grabbed a bottle of ground coriander from the supermarket shelf, forgetting to check the label. After using it a few times, I then realized that the coriander was from Iran. I have no clue on the food standards in Iran and felt quite uncomfortable using the coriander again. I also could not find an ingredient list on the food label to confirm that it is 100% coriander, and not mixed with some other stuff which is quite common in processed food.

This was actually my first time buying coriander as I am still getting used to using spices in cooking. Looks like I need to source around more.