My Domestic Art

I have been cooking with lentils a lot lately. They are so incredibly delicious, nutritious, healthy and filling. They are also quick and simple to prepare. I am obsessed. This leek and lentils soup has become another one of my family's favourite. Not only does it taste so good, it is also ridiculously healthy! Leek, lentils, onions, and loads of flavourful spices. It is very thick and creamy, more like a stew, and very hearty on its own. The addition of vinegar at the end of cooking gives this soup a lovely tartness that brings out the rest of the flavours of the soup. Serve with some roti prata or naan, and you have a perfect vegetarian dinner. Full of proteins, fiber and cozy flavours. Leek and Lentils Soup Ingredients: 100g green lentils - washed and drained 1 onion - chopped 4 garlic - minced 3 leeks, white parts only - chopped 3 celery - chopped 2 carrots - chopped 2 tbsp. butter 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp...

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...

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...

Meal times should be fun and enjoyable for the whole family. Sometimes I stress about what the kids are putting in their mouths, whether they are healthy or nutritious enough for their growing bodies. And I get really upset when they refuse the food I have laboriously prepared for them! I know I shouldn't take it personally and I'm trying to accept that they may take a while to like a certain new taste or texture. But really, meal times should be enjoyed and stress-free. Sometimes it's great to just let go and let the kids have what they want, even when it's messy and may be not the healthiest option! My kids love seaweed and sushi so much. I figured a sushi making activity would be a hit with them. With minimal prep, I can get dinner on the table in 30 minutes - which is the time taken to cook the rice in my rice cooker :P I prepare the kids' favourite like tuna mayonnaise, omelette, sweet corn, crabsticks, and seasoned seaweed sheets. I usually use...

These colourful bell peppers are great as a side dish to your meats, or toss into your pastas and salads. They are wonderfully crunchy, flavoursome and healthy. Stir-frying the peppers over high heat gives them a lovely caramelised, charred flavour, much like being roasted, but in much less time! Stir Fry Bell Peppers and Red Onion Ingredients: 1 green pepper 1 red pepper 1 red onion 3 cloves garlic salt pepper 1 tbsp. light soy sauce 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar Instructions: Mince garlic, slice peppers and red onion thinly In a wok, heat cooking oil over high heat, add the garlic and onion, cook until translucent Add the peppers, season with salt, pepper and light soy sauce Continue stir frying over high heat for about 5 minutes, until vegetables are done Add vinegar and combine Serve warm

This easy chicken and broccoli recipe is low fat, low carb and tastes fantastic. Loaded with broccoli and tender chicken breasts, this is a recipe you can rely upon for a delicious, quick, easy, healthy dinner.  Serve over white/brown rice for a yummy, wholesome, guilt-free meal that the whole family will enjoy. Broccoli and Chicken Stir Fry Ingredients: 300g chicken breasts - cubed 1 large broccoli - cut into florets 3 cloves garlic - minced 1 shallot - minced 1 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tbsp. oyster sauce 1 tsp sesame oil 1 tsp corn starch salt and pepper Method: Heat oil in a large wok, cook garlic and shallot until fragrant Season chicken with salt, pepper and corn starch, add into wok and cook until lightly browned Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil and continue cooking until chicken is cooked Toss broccoli into wok, add 2-3 tbsp of water and stir Cover wok and let broccoli steam cook for about 1 minute until cooked ...

My little one is intolerant to cow milk and most milk related products. As much as my family loves our milk and cream and cheese, I have to be very careful in incorporating them into my cooking. Recently I discovered that my little one could take coconut milk. He's had mild curries, coconut rice and coconut cream with no problem, and he loved the taste! This creamy chowder is inspired by him. It is rich and full of flavours, packed with the natural goodness of chicken and various veggies, and thickened with coconut milk. Absolutely comforting and delicious! I use my thermal cooker for my soups as it saves me time and produces lovely broth. But you can use a slow cooker (just add the coconut milk at the end of cooking) or cook on the stove top by simmering the chicken first to make the soup base before adding the rest of the ingredients. Asian Creamy Coconut Chicken Corn Chowder Ingredients: half chicken - cut to parts 2 ears fresh corn - cut into thirds 1 bo...

The combination of chicken and potatoes is so simple yet wonderfully perfect that my kids absolutely adore. Tasty and tender chicken pieces, paired with crispy thin potatoes, cooked in delicious sweet soy. A truly simple comfort food that is sure to please! Quick Braised Chicken with Potatoes Ingredients: 500g chicken thighs - sliced thinly 2 potatoes - sliced thinly 3 cloves garlic - minced 1 shallot - minced 1 tbsp. oyster sauce 3 tbsp. light soy sauce 1 tsp sugar salt pepper Instructions: Deep fry potato slices in batches until lightly browned, then set aside In a large wok, heat up cooking oil over moderate high heat, toss in garlic and shallots, cook till fragrant and browned Toss chicken, season with salt, pepper and the rest of the seasoning Continue cooking until chicken is browned Add 1/2 cup water, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes until chicken is tender Add a little water if the sauce has dried up, then add back the potatoes, careful not...

Comfort food in under 30 minutes, with basic pantry essentials. When I am short on time and want to get a meal ready on the table quickly, I like to whip up a simple pasta dish with what I have in my cupboard. Not only is this tuna pasta incredibly quick to cook, there's no defrosting of meat and not much chopping to do. The ingredients list is short and they are things I always have on hand... Garlic, onion, can of tuna, tomatoes and basil. I can get dinner sorted in under 30 minutes and my kids absolutely love this pasta. It is saucy, tasty and delicious! Tuna and Tomatoes Macaroni Pasta Ingredients: 1 can (140g) tuna 3 cloves garlic - minced 1 small onion - minced 1 tomato - chopped handful basil - chopped 5 tbsp. tomato paste salt pepper 350g macaroni pasta grated cheese - to serve Instructions: Cook pasta in boiling salted water, according to packet instructions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid Meanwhile, heat cooking oil in a ...

My family loves our pizzas. And we indulge in pizzas every now and then - not too often though, as they can be quite unhealthy with the high carb, high calories and high fat content! 😩 Annoyingly, we all can't quite agree on our favourite toppings! We all like different things... one likes ham with no cheese, the other likes spicy pepperoni, whilst another likes ham and sausages but can't handle any spice. And we adults like pineapples and veggies thrown into the mix, much to the kids' protests.  So isn't it perfect to get the kids to customise their own pizzas the way they want it at the comfort of our own home!  I just have to get the ingredients ready and let the kids do the rest of the work.  I used store-bought pizza bases as they are readily available, reasonably priced and generally less hassle and less mess. 😛 Our Must Have toppings are: tomato paste, chilli sauce, sausages, ham, and cheddar cheese. But we have als...

A healthy low carb soup-y dish that my family loves. It is easy to prepare, incredibly satisfying and tastes wonderfully delicious. Spinach has an extremely high nutritional value and is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. When cooked in a soup, as in this case, it becomes very tender and easy to eat, which my kids enjoy. The addition of eggs and prawns just up the protein content of this dish, while still keeping it healthy and low carb. It is great served with rice, but I like to just slurp it all up as a side dish. A truly comforting and soothing dish! :P Low Carb Spinach And Egg Soup Ingredients: 1 bunch (200g) spinach 2 eggs 2 cloves garlic 1-2 tbsp. goji berries 2 cups chicken/vegetable stock 1 cup frozen thawed prawns 1 tbsp. oyster sauce salt and pepper Instructions: Beat eggs in a small bowl with a little salt and pepper Heat cooking oil in a large wok, fry garlic until fragrant Pour the beaten eggs and cook until half done, breakin...

This is another one of my family's favourite soup recipes. The kids just love the creaminess and richness of this soup. And I love looking at my kids having so much vegetables, all hidden within this delicious thick soup! 😊 There is NO cream and NO flour added, which makes this soup very healthy and yet amazingly delicious. The secret to this lovely soup is to sauté the broccoli in some garlic first. This makes the soup more flavoursome and retains the crunch of the broccoli. The potato gives this soup its thick and rich consistency. With the addition of some mixed vegetables, plus the sautéed broccoli, this soup is incredibly tasty, rich and sweet. A definite family favourite! Sautéed Broccoli and Corn Soup recipe Ingredients: 1 onion - minced 2 cloves garlic - minced 1 tsp minced ginger 1 potato - cut into bite sized pieces 1 cup frozen corn 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn) 4 cups chicken/vegetable stock 1 tbsp. butter ...

Mushrooms are high in antioxidants and are an excellent source of dietary fiber. While they are low in calories, they are very satiating. So you can eat a whole bunch of them without any guilt. :P The taste and texture of mushrooms are amazing too. They are easy to cook and require minimal seasoning. Sautéed mushrooms are great as a side dish for your meats, as a salad topper or mixed with your pasta or rice. They are versatile and delicious! I used mini king oyster mushrooms as that's our favourite but you can use shitake or other mushrooms as well. Sautéed Mushrooms with Garlic Chilli Ingredients: 300g mini king oyster mushrooms - sliced thinly 2 cloves garlic - minced 1 shallot - minced 2 red chillies - minced spring onions - sliced thinly 1 tbsp. light soy sauce 1 tsp. sesame oil black pepper Instructions: Heat cooking oil in a wok over medium-high heat Toss garlic, shallot and chillies and fry till lightly browned and aro...