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Category: ♥Yummy yum♥

#JoandBoCooks – Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice Bowl (滷肉飯)

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Finally, another #JoandBoCooks after so long! We haven’t been able to cook for about 3 weeks ‘cause there was pipe leakage in our kitchen and now the problem has been diagnosed and repaired. Anyway, a few of you have requested the recipe for my Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice Bowl (滷肉飯) when I cooked it the other day, so I decided to make this dish today. I would say this dish is the easiest and the most satisfying dish that can be prepared at home.

The ingredients you need for this dish are:

Minced pork – 200 grams (good enough for 2-3 pax)

Chinese mushrooms – 6 to 8 mushroom

Shallot – 1 whole

Five spice powder (五香粉) – a pinch

Salt – a pinch

Sugar – 1 TS

Angel Oyster Sauce – 2 ½ TBS

Angel Light Soy Sauce – 2 TBS

Eggs – 2 to 3

Rice – 1 cup

If you’re thinking to cook it tonight make sure you soak the mushroom in a small bowl of water in the morning. It will help to rehydrate the mushroom and we also need the leftover water as stock to braise the pork later too =)

First, heat up 1 TS of oil in the pan, then add in cut shallots and mushrooms slices. In the meantime, also bring a pot of water to boil, and once boiling, turn down the heat, and cook the eggs for roughly 8 mins. I usually put the cooked eggs in cold water to stop the cooking.

Once the shallot turns golden, add in minced pork or chicken into the pan and stir fry till it’s cooked!

Stir it for a while then add in the Angel soy sauce! I’m using the Light Soy Sauce because we like the great taste and “umami” flavor that can only be brought out by using soy sauce, but we also want to reduce sodium in our diet. Consuming high amounts of sodium is unhealthy and can lead to health complications later on!

I am using Angel soy sauce and oyster sauce not only because they taste good or are a trusted household name in Malaysia, but because Bidor Kwong Heng is the first sauce manufacturer in Malaysia to use only non-GMO (genetically modified organism) ingredients!

They were also the first to receive ISO 9001:2000 and HACCP certification way back in 2002 and the company has also received the prestigious BRC certification and full FSSC22000 certification since 2011.

Angel Soy Sauce are 100% naturally-brewed for 3 to 6 months and are made without added HVP (hydrolysed vegetable protein), thus free of 3 – MCPD, a carcinogenic compound.

Don’t say I’m aunty but I’ve heard many stories or old wives tales about how some soy sauce and oyster are made using really cheap ingredients, or are made with lots of colouring and preservatives, so I only choose a good trusted sauce like Angel.

Then add in Angel Oyster Sauce! Oyster sauce is very commonly used in Chinese cooking but a good oyster sauce really makes a big difference as the taste is rich, but not overly salty or overpowering.

Then add in the salt, five spice powder, and sugar!

The chef and her very expressive eyebrows LOL. I was frying the shallot for the vege!

Once you have added in all the spices, it’s time to pour the leftover mushroom stock into the pan and let it slowly simmer. You need to simmer for 10-15 min! Oh yeah, remember to put in the eggs that you cooked just now too!

This is really a simplified version of this dish, and not to mention slightly healthier as you can ask your butcher to grind you lean meat to use in this recipe!

While waiting for the meat to simmer, you can prepare Taiwanese sausages as a side dish. The best way to cook Taiwanese sausages is to steam them first, and when they are cooked through, pan fry ‘till golden and crispy! This way you can make sure they are crispy on the outside but perfectly cooked on the inside =)

For the vege, I boiled one pack of Hong Kong kalian in salted water, then added 1 TBS of Angel Oyster Sauce, and topped with a bit of fried shallot and shallot oil!

Our dinner is served, Taiwan Braised Pork Rice with Taiwanese sausages!

For more information about the sauces I used in this recipe, go to www.bidorkwongheng.com

♥

July 29, 2016
#JoAndBoCooks – Cold Soba and Grilled Salmon

We eat Japanese food quite often because it’s considered quite healthy and less fattening compared to many other cuisines. The only problem of Japanese cuisine in KL is that it’s pretty costly, if you go to those who are less costly, the serving is either very small or it’s not as fresh. So, I’ve pretty much given up eating in a Japanese restaurant in KL.

However, since I have my own kitchen now, I get to prepare my very own Japanese dishes at home and at a fraction of the cost. Most of the ingredients can be easily found in any grocer!

The ingredients you need for this dish are :

Soba- 1/2 packet (we can do 4 servings in 1 pack, but depends on you)

Soba dipping sauce – 1 cup or bowl per person

Seaweed – a few sheets sliced thinly

Green onion – I prefer lots and lots of green union

Salmon fillet – 1 piece per person

Salad – 1 packet

Salad dressing – any low fat, or non mayonaise based dressing (such as ranch or thousand island) is OK

This dish is pretty simple and fast! All you need to do is to boil the soba. I prefer the texture to be on the firm side, so once you reached the texture you want, rinse with ice cold water!

Lightly season the salmon with a bit of salt and black pepper then pan fry it!

Prepare a bit of salad on the side of the fillet to have a balanced meal. No greens is a big NONO. Jo doesn’t really like salmon so he made his own teriyaki style chicken breast.

Squeeze and put a slice of lemon on the salmon for some acidity.

A bowl of cold soba with a lot of green onion and seaweed!

There you go, a easy, simple, healthy and satisfying dinner. You can even make it in the morning and bring it to the office for lunch! Soba is meant to be eaten cold and you can just heat up your salmon in a microwave but don’t overcook it!

♥

April 27, 2016
#JoAndBoCooks – Spaghetti Aglio Olio & Grilled Chicken Breast

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I started my own show to show everyone how to prepare a simple and quick healthy dish at home. Each episode is only 3-4 min and there is only a total of 6 episodes, so I thought it’s pretty hard for me to show everyone a lot of different dishes or combinations. So I decided to just create a new category in my blog, “JO AND BO COOKS” to share healthy recipes that we prepare at home in the form of blog posts, you’re very welcome =)

Yesterday we cooked aglio olio & grilled chicken breast at home because we were too lazy to go out for dinner and we have leftover ingredients at home. The thing I like about aglio olio is that it’s the easiest dish ever and the ingredients can be kept at home for a while so you dont have to rush to the supermarket the night before. Just keep them at home and cook it whenever you like!

Aglio Olio & Grilled Chicken Breast!

Ingredients:

Broccoli, red pepper, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, dried chili flakes, pasta, chicken breast, Parmesan cheese (not in the picture).

Clean and cut all the vege into even pieces so they cook evenly.

Pat dry and marinate your chicken breast with salt and pepper.

Boil the broccoli and to save time, remove the vege and boil the pasta in the same pot of water with a bit of salt.

I prefer it to be a little under cooked. The secret of cooking the perfect pasta is to keep trying it hahahaha, but just take a bite, not eat a big mouthful!

Drain the pasta but remember to reserve a bowl of pasta-cooking water, u will need it to cook the sauce later! It contains starch and it will thicken the sauce later on.

Set your pasta and other ingredients aside. Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium heat then add garlic and cook till golden brown. Add in chili flakes, and slowly pour in the reserved pasta- water, add a bit of salt then let it boil for another 5 min or until the water is reduced by half!

Side note- If u’re adding vege like mine into the pasta, put all the vege in now and stir for 1 min.

Then turn down the heat then it’s about time to add in the pasta! Stir it a bit and make sure the pasta absorbs the sauce. Last but not least, add in Parmesan cheese and toss!

Now to pan fry the chicken breast, just make sure you put a tea spoon of oil and heat it up. Once the oil is hot, put in the chicken breast and cook for around 2- 3 min each side! Don’t poke or prod the breasts if not you will lose all the juices! You know its done when the surface is hard and then the inner layer is firm. If the surface is hard but the inner layer is still soft/squishy, cook a little longer.

There you go, the simple and healthy dinner at home!

The trick to be more healthy is to control the portion of pasta, I usually eat more vege than pasta so I can still enjoy it without feeling too stuff with carbs!

To make your meal to be even more enjoyable on a hot weather, I drink soda water with a slice of lemon and a lot of ice! This is another healthy option for those who love soda drinks but in a healthier way!

I hope you enjoy reading this =)

♥

April 15, 2016
Bobo’s Big Day Out!

If you’re following me on Dayre or Instagram you should have already known that I have recently released my own show on Reelity TV Channel on Youtube! I’ve always wondered how does it feel like to host a show, whether it will be fun or too stressful. English is not my first language and my brain always goes blank when I need to speak in front of a camera haha. When I was first offered this opportunity I wanted to reject it instantly but I’m so glad I didnt. I discussed with JO a little then he was very supportive over the whole idea, he told me to just take it and have fun. He encouraged me to do it and told me I’ll be all right. He says it’s not as hard as you think, just speak like u’re talking to ur friend, dont be pretentious as thats’s what everyone likes about u.

I was like OK, lets do it! At my first shoot I was so tense and made a lot of mistakes (well, not like I dont make mistakes now lol). I had a hard time remembering the name of the dishes and ingredients when the camera is rolling! Thank god the crew were so patient and nice haha!

OK, Let me share the 4 Ws (Why, When, What, Who) of Bobo’s Big Day Out and also some behind-the-scenes of the show!

What?

Bobo’s Big Day Out is basically a 3-4 min short video to show some of the healthy recipes that can easily be done at our kitchen and also some alternative activities you can try instead of going to the gym.

Why?

The reason why I decided to do this is mainly because I would love to share with my friends and readers how easy it is to eat healthy at home. A lot of people have the wrong concept of eating clean, they tot eating clean means eating tasteless and boring food. I have seen ppl who shars their so called “eating clean” on their Instagram and I instantly got turned off so I wont blame you guys if you have this misconception. If you’re following me on Dayre or Instagram you should know that eating clean can be very fun and satisfying! So in some of the episodes of Bobo’s Big Day Out, I decided to share with everyone what kind of healthy meals that I usually eat at home! And yes, everything can be done as long as you have a pan and a stove at home, you’re welcome!

Besides cooking, I also share some fun and relatively unknown activities that you can try in KL. Have you heard of Ultimate Frisbee or Quidditch (yes, the game in Harry Potter movies ^^)! Without this show I wouldn’t be able to experience these new activities and to share with everyone!

Who?

OK, there is 2 who in this question. 1 st will be who are the crew? They are the very talented and professional people behind Reelity TV! I’m so glad that I have them onboard. They are very professional and patient when it comes to the shoot. All I need to do on the shooting day is to make sure I look good and they will handle the rest! The bonus part is that I dont have to spend 100 hours to edit the video, YAHOOO!

Who were my special guests in some of the episode? Dont even need to ask because first person who came to my mind was Jo (my personal eat clean chef ) and also CityGal from KampungBoyCityGal! I love how KBCG always make cooking look so easy and effortless hahaha, give them whatever ingredients they will serve u something amazing! I strongly suggest u all to try the Lemon rice recipe that Citygal cooked in my show!

When?

The first episode of Bobo’s Big Day Out was released 2 months ago (sorry I’m only telling you guys now T_T). Currently there is a total of 5 episodes that have already been released on Reelity TV Youtube Channel. The air time of my remaining episodes are every other Friday!

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxUt693lXgQ&list=PLGx3n-GYui16TxFZEacjkaTiJWF3nr7Bj&index=5&nohtml5=False[/youtube]

1st Episode

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQf0_8Vmaww&list=PLGx3n-GYui16TxFZEacjkaTiJWF3nr7Bj&index=4&nohtml5=False[/youtube]

2nd Episode

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzASbKdqabI&index=3&list=PLGx3n-GYui16TxFZEacjkaTiJWF3nr7Bj&nohtml5=False[/youtube]

3rd Episode

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2VnzOHtr34&index=2&list=PLGx3n-GYui16TxFZEacjkaTiJWF3nr7Bj&nohtml5=False[/youtube]

4th Episode

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTLP65NeRqA&index=1&list=PLGx3n-GYui16TxFZEacjkaTiJWF3nr7Bj&nohtml5=False[/youtube]

5th Episode

Here are the episodes that are already out now, you can watch it on youtube =)

Behind The Scenes!

I always get the ingredients that I need the day before the shoot!

My first time putting on a mic hahaha

All of the cooking episodes were done in my small kitchen… Like I said, as long as u have a pan and a stove you’re good to go!

This is how the actual shoot looks like hahaha. Can you spot Babyboy standing next to me hahhaa

Jo took this super cute picture of babyboy being my loyal audience lol.

As for the activities, I did archery tag

I also did fencing which I really enjoyed!!

Then kickboxing!!! My super favorite le!

And Fly Yoga!

Last but not least Ultimate Frisbee!!!

The super fun coach, Ben from Ultimate Frisbee!

Coincidentally my fren was the trainer for Fly Yoga!

I am done shooting all the episodes last weekend and there will be a total of 12 episode so now we just need to wait for the episodes to air hehee. Overall, I found it really fun and I have finally learned how to be natural/casual in front of the camera!! I still need to practice on my talking tho LOL. Besides that, I also get to experience some activities that I would have never had a chance to try such as Ultimate Frisbee and Quidditch!

You guys can find out more from the videos, so remember to subscribe and watch all the videos!!

Thanks for the support!!!

♥

April 12, 2016
Dinner Date with Jo at TORII

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Last week we tried out TORII, a Japanese ‘izakaya’ style grill at TTDI, which is the first outlet of a branch at Batai, Damansara Heights.. Jo and I have always wanted out this restaurant cause its perfect for our date nights, where we can have some small bites over a few drinks and just chill for the night.

TORII has a full range of grilled skewered meats and vegetables, in addition to a selection of fresh sashimi, soups, rice or pasta, and also a very inventive and interesting selection of appetizers that are ideal to share.

They also carry a huge range of the finest whiskeys, from Scotch to Japanese and also numerous cocktails for those who prefer something sweeter.

Bonded Unagi & Foie Gras (RM29.90). Consists of grilled river eel, egg, and pan-seared foie gras. This bite was as rich and creamy as it’s name suggests. Slightly salty and creamy, it was just the right size not to be too overwhelming.

Kampachi Uni Jalapeno (RM34.90) with citrus ponzu sauce & black truffle salt. This appetizer was, to me, the perfect start to the meal as it was punchy and acidic, well balanced with the sweet and creamy uni. It was my first time trying uni and I was a little hesitant at first, but I can tell you that it’s a turning point in my life! It was sweet and creamy, totally not what I expected!

Avocado De La Mer (RM19.90) which is baked seafood, avocado, mushrooms, piquant miso & cheese. The cheese was nice and crispy on top and the seafood, including lobster pieces, were cooked perfectly.

Broiled Lobster Chowder & Crab Croutons (RM18.90). The broth was very flavorful and the crab croutons were very surprising! I thought the cubes were just bread but it turned out to be crispy soft shell crab! Very clever indeed.

Triple Peaks (RM26.90) which were toro, uni & amaebi on rice molehills.

Sizzling Beef (RM35.90) which were sirloin slices with BBQ sauce & crispy garlic. I removed a few slices to show you the perfect cook on the meat! The sirloin was super tender and instantly melted in my mouth!

Autumn Risotto (RM27.90) of crab claw, egg yolk, and asparagus. The rice was cooked perfectly ‘al dente’ and the crab claw were super fresh and sweet. Crack the yolk, mix it into the rice, and enjoy!

Torii Fried Rice (RM25.90) with foie gras, herbs, & garlic chips. I can never resist fried rice and this was probably one of the best I ever tried.

Finally we moved on to the stars of the show! Haha, I am personally not a heavy eater so I do prefer the skewers as they were a bit lighter and as you order by the skewer, you can definitely try out more things!

These Veal Chunks (RM15.90) were definitely my favorite amongst all the other amazing dishes! Simple in execution, but amazingly difficult to perfect. The veal was cooked to absolute perfection! Great crust on the outside and amazingly tender inside. They melt on the first bite!

What more perfect combination can you possibly ask for? YES! Kirin Beer and Japanese grilled skewers, a match made in heaven. The beer was served ice cold, and perfect to go with one skewer after another. Consume one dish, take a drink to cleanse and freshen the palette and then start again! Hahaha, Jo definitely enjoyed the pairing as well.

Cheat day so might as well enjoy myself!

Next up was Chicken Wings (RM8.90) and again, amazingly simple but cooked perfectly. The wings are only seasoned with sea salt, and then grilled. The skin was super crispy, so crispy that I initially thought they were fried.

Then we had Rock Lobster (RM11.90) with scallion & garlic chilli sauce. The rock lobster were juicy and tender, and the sauce provided just enough kick to complement.

Lastly we had Squid Tentacles (RM10.90) with sea salt & tangy salsa. This dish was similar to the rock lobster before but the squid tentacles provided a great bite as they were crunchy and juicy.

Hahaha, I know right, I can recall how full we were that day after writing all this, but nonetheless, we also had dessert, which were also very good! This is a recurring theme of this post, everything was very well cooked and some dishes were very inventive and interesting!

First we tried the Green Tea Crème Brulee With Chocolate Lavender Ice Cream (RM24.90). The green tea crème brulee was soft and tender, and a strong macha flavor, a little sweet and bitter at the same time.

Then we had Nuttla Gyoza With Chocolate Ganache & Whiskey-N-Raisin Ice Cream (RM24.90). The gyozas were very crispy and light and Jo really liked their take on rum and raisin ice cream. The substitution with whiskey made the flavor more intense and less sweet compared to the typical ones.

Overall I rate the food and ambience very highly, and we had a great night out. We really enjoyed the Kirin Beer together with all the dishes served at Torii and we will definitely return to try out the rest of the grilled skewer menu!

Good news to those who are interested to try out Torii because they are having promotion for Kirin beer! Enjoy RM10 per Kirin glass on every Wednesdays & Thursdays (all night) but only in Torii TTDI !

♥

March 7, 2016