My Domestic Art

Marinated and then roasted, these mini Portobello mushrooms are quick to prepare, yet incredibly favourful and delicious. I love all kinds of mushrooms, be it button, enoki, oyster and many others, but Portobello mushrooms are in a league of their own. They taste very much like meats - hearty and satisfying. Some of these Portobello mushrooms are gigantic, when marinated and cooked their taste and texture are like grilled steaks. But I particularly enjoy these mini portobellos - they are easier and faster to cook, and perfect as a side dish. Mushrooms are an excellent source of dietary fiber while low in calories, making them very satiating and totally guilt-free. So go ahead and have a bunch of these in one go! :P Roasted Mini Portobello Mushrooms in Balsamic Vinegar Ingredients: 200g mini Portobello mushrooms 2 tbsp. minced garlic 3 tbsp. minced onion 3 tbsp. chopped tomatoes 3 tbsp. olive oil 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar salt black pepper Instr...

Indonesian cuisine features a lot of fried food. To accompany the main dishes, there are usually some fried food of some sort, like corn fritters , vegetable fritters, fried meat balls etc... They make perfect side dishes to the main meals, as a snack or treats for the kids. This potato fritter (perkedel kentang) is another example. It is an unassuming, humble side dish that is tasty and filling. It is incredibly delicious eaten with Indonesian sambal (chilli sauce). Soft and savoury on the inside and crispy on the outside, and extremely addictive! Potato Fritters (Perkedel Kentang) Ingredients: 3 potatoes 2 cloves garlic - minced 2 shallots - minced 1 egg ½ tsp salt ½ tsp ground nutmeg white pepper corn flour (optional) Instructions: Peel potatoes and cut into large chunks, boil till soft (around 8 minutes) Drain and mash potatoes Add the rest of the ingredients (except egg) to the mashed potatoes and mix well  If mixture is too runny, add a litt...

I enjoy eating lentils every now and then, usually in hotel buffets or as a side dish when having Indian cuisine. Lentils were never a star dish or something that I was interested to cook before. They are just not our usual Chinese ingredients. But, lentils are incredibly healthy and highly nutritious. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and selenium, all of which boost the immune system. They are also high in proteins and fiber, which are good for digestive and heart health, and to aid in weight loss. As I am incorporating at least 1 meat-free day per week, I have been experimenting with different varieties of legumes as our source of proteins. Some legumes require soaking overnight and cooking for hours, which can be tedious to prepare. But lentils are fast to cook and don't require soaking, making their preparation a breeze. After a few attempts at preparing lentils, I am now a lentils convert! I love their taste and texture, and how versatile t...

The Chinese Garden is one of our favourite outdoor spots. It is so under-rated and secluded that it feels like our little hidden oasis. When we came here a few weeks back, we were intrigued to spot quite a number of their resident monitor lizards roaming around freely. It is great that the people who see them don't disturb or feed them, and these wild animals were completely comfortable in their urban environment. This has to be the biggest one we have ever come across! The boys started off a little weary but soon went closer and closer. A lot of them came out as the sun was setting and the boys followed them to see where they were headed.  Into the waters to settle for the night, it seems. What a wonderful outdoor experience, with a few unexpected find! I hope this wonderful Garden will remain this peaceful, serene and clean, with the monitor lizards community striving for a long time to come. 😉

Semur Ayam is an Indonesian home-cooked dish that I grew up with. It is a classic chicken and potatoes combo, stewed in a lovely thick and rich sauce of nutmeg and kecap manis - which is an Indonesian sweet dark soy sauce. Indonesian food uses a lot of kecap manis, and this dish is no exception. It gives a distinct flavour of sweet with salty undertone, a lovely colour and thick consistency to the dish. I usually stock up on Bango kecap manis whenever I go to Indonesia as they give the most authentic flavour. Chicken wings are used here because my kids just love wings, but you can use any bone-in chicken parts cut to small pieces. For a wholesome meal, I like to add some hard-boiled eggs and serve with white/brown rice to soak up all the delicious sauce.  😋 A true comfort food indeed! Semur Ayam (Chicken in Sweet Soy Sauce) Ingredients: 10 pcs chicken wings - winglets and drumlets separated 2 potatoes - cut into big chunks 5 hard-boiled eggs 5 cloves gar...

My kids absolutely dislike the taste and texture of green peas, I have no idea why. I actually think they are quite mild-tasting. Whenever I include some green peas in fried rice or pasta or stir-fry dishes, the boys always pick and separate them at the side of their plates. Even the hubby does that! It's so annoying... But I'm glad I didn't give up. Green peas are a wonderful source of proteins, and contain high levels of glutamine - an amino acid compound that helps to repair muscles after workouts. Peas also improve digestive health and apparently can help to reduce sugar craving! What's not to love, right. After many trial and errors, I have now found a way to feed my family some green peas... By blending them into soups! My family loves our soups and this green pea soup is another winner. When blended and mixed with other veggies, my family did not complain about the taste of peas. In fact, they agreed the soup did not taste like green peas and all w...