Leftover Makeover

www.chefchong.blogspot.com

2010-04-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

Sorry to tell you that I stop posting my blog on Leftover Makeover from now onwards.

Please follow me at www.chefchong.blogspot.com which I blog mostly everyday about my cooking and baking. Also you are most welcome to become one of my Followers, asking questions and giving comments.

Cheers and see you there.

Chef Chong aka Eddie Chong

Sake Mushrooms Alaskan Halibut

2009-09-06T16:58:00.001-07:00

Well, Alaskan Halibut is one of my favourite white fish other than the snapper, seabass and cod. I used the sake instead of white wine to enhance the flavor of the mushrooms and other ingredients in it. Good for dinner, eat with jasmine steamed rice. Yummy......

Recipe soon to come...........

4 Fruit Fennel Chicken salad

2009-09-06T16:48:00.000-07:00

Gregg loves the Apple Fennel Salad I made for him few months ago. Yesterday I was recreating the recipe with slight changes. I added oranges and grapefruit I have in the fridge. They are few weeks old. However, it is still ok to consume, eventho not as fresh and juicy. Good to save lots of money and the hassle to buy more at the groceries. When you feel like eating it, just make it and find the ingredients in your house. Also, I keep the fresh mission figs in the kitchen (not in the fridge) so that the figs will shrink and have the sweetness enhanced. I help you save lots of money here. Hahahahhaha. To have some protein, just garnished with some sliced leftover roasted chicken.

Recipe soon to come...

Chef Chong's Mini Double Chocolate Cake

2009-09-06T16:42:00.000-07:00

Gregg and I were invited to a dinner of a friend's house, Miss Fain Hancock in Napa Valley. At the same time, there is a River Festival going on this Labor Day weekend. So I insisted to bring a dessert to her house. Just happened the other day, Gregg was talking about the chocolates and cocoa powder in our pantry. It then struck me, telling me to make a Chocolate cake. At first I was planning to make a Chocolate Lava Cake, the mini size. Since this is my first time making it from scratch, no recipes required, the mini size cake turned into Double chocolate cake, soft in the inside and pretty in the outside. Oh, it is not too sweet, good with ice-cream or caramel or chocolate sauce.

Recipe to come soon........

Simply Carrost Beans

2009-09-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

Want something healthy and light and tasty. I got the baby carrots and string beans from work. They are actually a week old. The Chef wanted to get rid of it, and asked me to take home. So I did and I transformed it into this beautiful colorful dish with garlic oil. Just add in salt and pepper, you can have this light healthy greens on the table. Oh, just sauteed, no need the oven.

Recipe soon to come.............

Figs Plum Salad

2009-09-04T11:46:00.001-07:00

Oh gosh, this is my favourite! Gregg and I loved it. We have a huge fig tree in the backyard, and everyday, we will search behind the big fig leafs for dark purple ripe mission figs. We will sometimes keep it for few days in a room temperature (remember not in the fridge)so that the sugar content is much condensed and sweet. You can see the skin will become wrinkly. So I used it for my salad with some 2 weeks old plums in the fridge. Mix it with Romaine or Butter lettuce or fennels. The dressing is important, I used the leftover corn fritter's dipping sauce as dressing. So you can imagine, the leftover makeover can really make something wonderful. Add some of the Malaysian shrimp crackers, fantastic texture for the whole salad when put in your mouth.

Recipe soon to come.....

Truffle Corn Soup

2009-09-04T11:41:00.000-07:00

Totally leftover makeover. I got the leftover corn soup from work, Chef Neda made the corn soup for a family party few days ago. I kept it in the fridge with airtight container for few days. Still good, trust me. When you are at the restaurant, at a family party, at friends' gathering or anywhere you are dining, dont be afraid to take some leftover soup when asked. I have a basil plant in my backyard and a bottle of truffle oil. Use them....

Recipe soon to come.....

Craisins Alaskan Halibut

2009-09-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

Chef Neda who is the Private Chef for a wealthy family in San Francisco and ex-Chef for French Laundry gave me some frozen Alaskan Halibut few days ago. I was thinking, should I just seared it with salt and pepper or making it more fancy and gourmet. Well, of cos, more gourmet and fine dining experience, Chef Chong's way. I have some craisins in the fridge, cut leeks and romaine. Good light bright idea, genius.... See, nothing goes to waste. Always keep those extra vegetable tops or shoots in a ziploc bag or air tight containers to keep it fresh. I was using Japanese Sake for this Halibut and it was wonderful. Gregg loves it and we were silent when we had the first bite of the halibut... yum yum yum....:)

Recipe soon to come.............

Trout Bouganon

2009-09-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by Julie and Julia movie, Julie made a Beef Bouganon and she burnt it the first time. I always advise my friends, dont cook stew at late nite. So I made my version of bouganon, Trout Bouganon. Gregg and I caught some Trouts in July at the Trout Farm Tahoe. We kept some in the freezer. So I was craving for fried sweet and sour fish, but have the idea of making it French way. I pull out the hard frozen trout and thawed it in the fridge overnite. I have also lots of old yam, vegetables and squash. Good idea for a stew, always remember this. Dont go to waste, and nothing goes to waste. Asian way of living, save and rich.

Recipe soon to come......

Chef Chong's Apple Pie

2009-08-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

My partner and I went to Colorado to visit a friend of his, Cecilia Pang. She is a very adorable and outspoken lady, nice to hang out with her. She has a puff pastry pie shell in her freezer, sitting for so long. She wanted me to make an apple pie with it, cos she loves apple pie. I thought her to make my famous Apple Pie and she loves it. She can make it on her own now, cos I know she can.

Ingredients:-

3 Granny smith apple
2 Red Delicious
(actually, more granny smith gives better tartness and body to your pie)
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (it depends on your taste, you can put 1 1/2 tsp)
1/2 cup Dark brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
a pinch of salt
1/2 stick unsalted butter
8" Puffy pie shell frozen (from Safeway or Walmart or any)

Method:-

1. Peel, core and dice the apple (a size of popcorn)
2. Use a pot or saucepan, cook the apple, both sugar and the butter together until a little soft. Use medium heat.
3. Add in salt, ground cinnamon and nutmeg
4. Cook until the all the apple look glossy and syrupy, take one and taste it. Not too soft tho cos we need to cook it again in oven with the 8" pie shell.
5. Put aside and let the apple cool down a little.
6. Heat the oven to 375 deg.
7. Pour the cool down apple into the shell.
8. Add any toppings you want, either another pie shell or sugar crumbs. When you used another pie shell, remember to brush with beaten egg and poke a whole in the at the center, so that the steam will come out from the apple while baking. Brush the
9. Bake for 25 min the most, and check the color of the crust to your preference.

Sugar crumbs:-

1/2 cup Dark Brown sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 stick unsalted butter, must be cold but not too hard
a pinch of salt

Pinch with your fingers or use folk to crumb all together until crumbly. Remember dont melt the butter.

A Little Love Sweet Spread

2009-08-07T04:47:00.000-07:00

What is A Little Love Sweet Spread? Well, it is a very special spread, cook with love and passion, deliciuos, creamy, sweet and alternative to Peanut Butter and Nutella. Good for breakfast, snacks or even a quick lunch or dinner. The main ingredient is coconut cream, for those love this exotic palm fruit. In Malaysia, we call it "Kaya" meaning Rich. So it is truely rich in flavor and it will not disappoint you once you have it. You can get it at www.angelnet.com.

Substitute for Sugar

2008-12-19T12:35:00.000-08:00

What if you dont have a pinch of granulated sugar at home when you want to sweeten your coffee, make muffins and sweet pastries, make sweet and sour meat, make jams, make sweet vinegarettes for salads and some savory dishes? Dont get Panic! Just look for anything which is sweet, for example, honey, chinese sugarcane bar sugar, rock sugar, palm sugar (if you want some coconut flavor), confectionary or powder sugar or worse come to worst is candy. You wont go wrong, Trust me!

Happy Holidays

Pumpkin Chicken Curry

2008-12-14T23:43:00.000-08:00

Remember the pumpkins you have after Halloween? Well, use it for your curry. It is a wonderful flavor with creamy texture with less coconut milk in it. Healthy for you too. Halved the pumpkin and take out the seeds. Pop into the oven at 375F on a sheetpan with parchment paper for 45-60 min. Once done, you can use a spoon to scoop the pumpkin puree. You can keep some in the freezer for future use.

Making the curry, put some oil (preferably peanut oil) into a pot at medium heat. Add a packet of Thai Panang Curry paste (can use other curry paste if you have at home), fried with chopped onions and crushed garlic for a 1 min. Then add some chicken (use the breast cos easier to cook) which already cut into cubes. Fried for 2-3 min and then add in 1can coconut milk/cream. Put in the pumpkin puree (say 1.5 cup) and stir. Cook till the curry turn orangy red and creamy. Add salt and sugar to taste (it will taste a little salty than sweet). Optional, add a tablespoon of soy sauce for more flavor at the end. Serve with coconut milk rice or just steam rice.

What is Apple Butter?

2008-09-24T00:26:00.000-07:00

Do you know what is Apple Butter? I am sure many of you think that it has butter in it. As for me, I think it is just an ordinary apple pie filling with lemon zest and brown sugar. Hope this will add to your food knowledge.

Kampachi Mini Burgers

2008-08-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time I have not updated my blog. Here is the one and only Kampachi Mini Burgers I made for a potluck party. The main ingredient actually is the fillings. Kampachi is a Hawaiian Fish, just like Mackerel. To make the burger, first have to have the kampachi fillet clean and de-boned. It is hard to take out all the tiny bones but it is ok. Put them in a food processor with garlic, basils, jack cheese, onions, olive oil, salt, sugar, dry shrimps, corn starch and ground black pepper. Remember, it is ok to put more fish than others, cos it is the main fillings. Use a spoon to make a burger shape and put on the medium hot saucepan with hot oil to pan fry. Not too brown, just a min a side cos the fish paste can be cooked easily. The other ingredient is plum jam or sauce. You can make your own jam by buying ripe plums, add lots of sugar and a little salt. Last step, resemble the rolls, lettuce, cilantro, jam and kampachi burger together. Great recipe...!

Chef Chong
Keep cooking

Humus Roasted Chicken

2008-06-20T00:12:00.000-07:00

I like to use the leftover food to makeover into another yummy dish. I used the leftover humus to make a sauce for the Roasted Chicken. Why, because it has the creamy thick texture to make the sauce tasty on the chicken. Ingredients to rub on the chicken for roasting: humus, garlic, thyme, cumin, paprika, olive oil and salt. Then the sauce, brown the garlic. Then add in the thyme, paprika and cumin to fragrant the oil. Add humus and let it cook until the humus gets mixed well. Lastly add some wine and reduced it. Add salt to taste.

Try it out and let me know the outcome. Bon Appetite...

Chef Chong
Keep cooking

Snickle Doodle Cake

2008-03-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

I tried this recipe of my own when I was at my friend's place the other day. It was a spontaneous bake, thinking of simple and easy cake dessert for a friendly dinner. I searched thru the fridge and cupboard for ingredients. There I found all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, half & half, ground cinnamon, baking powder, hazel nuts, eggs and granulated sugar. My mind was thinking of Snickle Doodle cookies I used to have when I was in Arkansas working at the bakery. Well, I love the cinnamon, sugar and butter taste. Now, the steps of making it: Beat 2 large eggs and 3/4 cup sugar until slightly melted and creamy. Stir in 1/2 cup half and half and 3/4 stick melted butter, then add in 1 cup of flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, pinch of salt, ground cinnamon and chopped hazel nuts. Pour into 6" round pan (buttered and floured) and then sprinkle some granulated sugar on top of the batter. Bake in the oven at 315 F for about 30-40 min until puffy crack look on the surface and brown at the edge. Serve with ice-cream.

Mixed Mushrooms Truffle Oil Pizza

2008-01-21T22:10:00.000-08:00

I had the most amazing pizza at RNM Bistro on Haight St (cross Steiner St) last weekend. The pizza was made with mixed mushrooms, caramelized onions, jack cheese and drizzle of Truffle Oil on a nicely baked pizza crust. I just love it. The owner is Chef Justine Miner, and the bistro was named after her father, Robert N. Miner. Just order a pizza and you know what I mean. Reservation is recommended.

The Bridge

2008-01-10T23:53:00.000-08:00

I watched "The Bridge", a powerful documentary made by Eric Steel. It was made in 2004 but released in 2006. I am touched by the story and the messages from it. The Bridge is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. If you have been to the gigantic, magnificent and beautiful Golden Gate Bridge, you could feel the Big Wow and breath taking as well. On the sad side, some suiciders used it as a place to end their lives. Watch the documentary and you will know what I am saying.

Anak Malaysia but not treated as One

2007-12-11T00:15:00.000-08:00

There are many things we need to be discussed and resolved professionally and with open mind. Talking about religion is a very sensitive topic, so does the races. One thing we should know is Change for the betterment of Malaysian. Encik Anwar Ibrahim was the politician who I wanted to vote for the next PM that time. I could see that he could make a change to Malaysia, the country I still called Home. I always get angry when talk about Malaysia NEP and the rest of the dinosaur years policies. Those were laid at that time and for that period of time. Now is the time to have new policies, make a change. I am Anak Malaysia, but I am not treated as One cos I am a Chinese. How come??? I was borned as Malaysian, why I could not get into local University with my good grade, why I could not get 7% discount for purchasing a new house, why I could not leave work early during Fasting month, why I could not apply for any jobs which I was qualified, why I could not invest in certain banks, on and on. Lets make a change and I will definitely come back home. If not, I am ready to let go my citizenship and migrating to other countries where I am most welcome. I would like to remind all viewers, definitely there is a race discrimination in every country. However, some countries have a race discrimination act to protect the citizen. What about Malaysia??? We need Change, PM!

Teh Tarik Yog

2006-11-28T20:24:00.000-08:00

Teh Tarik is a term for the tea being poured back and forth using 2 cups, so that it creates bubble in it and makes it cooler to drink. It must have cream or condense milk in it, sweet with tea flavour. Lipton tea is a good choice.

Teh Tarik or Pull Tea, comes from India, as what I heard. Besides adding condense milk or creamer, I add in plain yogurt too. I guess it is ok to use different flavors if you have some preferences.

1 Cup Lipton Tea
1 Tablespoon Sugar
2 Tablespoon Condense Milk
2 Tablespoon Plain Yogurt

Method:

1. Make a cup of tea, just normal tea with milk and sugar.
2. Stir in plain yogurt, until smooth.
3. Using another cup, pour into back and forth until some bubbles formed, may be 5 times.
4. Drink when there are bubbles on the surface, just like espresso...

Enjoy... Sedap!

Dictionary: Malay to English

Sedap - Delicious
Teh - Tea
Tarik - Pull

Rainy Taufu

2006-11-02T18:48:00.000-08:00

Well, why the name of my dish is Rainy Taufu? It is a rainy day today, and taufu is my favourite. As I promised earlier on putting my recipe on the blog, here it is.

1 packet Firm/Medium Taufu (cube)
3 stalks Thai Basil (take the leaf)
1/2 red onion (julien)
2 cloves garlic (chop)
1/2 bell pepper (chop)
3 tablespoon Teriyaki sauce with sesame
2 tablespoon cooking oil
sprinkle crushed pepper (optional)

Method:-

Heat the wok, and add the oil. Then add in cube taufu, fried until slightly brown on the surface (to reduce the water content too). Add in garlic and crushed pepper. Stir fried a little and then add in teriyaki sauce and the rest of the ingredients. Stir fried and simmmer for at least 10 seconds until the sauce thicken and smells good. Serve hot. Good with steamed rice.

Yummy......

Express yourself by playing around with food

2006-07-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

Do you know that cooking and baking at home is alot of fun? Well I do love cooking and baking since I was a kid. I do remember, when I was 12 years old, I loved seeing my mom cooking all the time. I always stand beside her watching her seriuosly cooking the family meals. Well, I ended up being her assistant until I told her that I can handle it by myself. I cook for family of 7 all the time back home, now I cook and bake for a party of 30 to 100 or more. It is easy and simple, provided that you have the vision on what you want to eat and serve to guests. If you want to get started, do follow my steps and my own recipes. Pretty easy and simple. I remember once my friend told me, "Cook and bake what you like to eat, surely guests will like it too."

Keep smiling,

Eddie Chong