Recipe: Baked Layer Fusili

This is my all-time favourite pasta! It is a winner with kids, young and old-er...(haha!) It is fun to make and you can make them in large quantities for parties; hassle free. This recipe serves 2. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp olive oil
2 cups Fusili, boiled with ½ tbsp salt and olive oil
½ can of small Cream of Mushroom, boil with ¼ can water
½ can of button Mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 tomato (Organic, if possible cos it's sweeter), cut into 8
1 small bottle of spaghetti sauce (Use your favourite brand as it's going to be the base for your pasta)
200g minced Australian beef, thawed
1 small packet of Low Fat Shredded Mozzarella
½ tbsp mixed Italian Herbs
Salt and Black pepper to taste

Method:
1. Saute garlic in olive oil until fragrant (abt 1 min).
2. Add salt & black pepper (as much/little as you like) into your minced beef and mixed them thoroughly.
3. Add beef and Italian Herbs into the pan on medium low heat, keep stirring until 80% cooked.
4. Now, mix in sliced button mushroom and tomato.
5. Then, add spaghetti sauce. Stir and bring to a boil. Remove from heat.

Assemble:
1. Pre-heat oven 180℃.
2. Using a loaf pan (or any pan you like), pour half the fusili into the pan. Spread them out nicely.
3. Spread a layer of the sauce you made earlier ensuring every inch is covered.
4. Pour half cream of mushroom over the spaghetti sauce.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 to form another layer.
6. Finish the top with some Mozzarella Cheese.
7. Pop it into the oven for 30 mins or until golden brown. Serve while it's hot.

Collection of our 2011 Orders

Healthy Homemades is grateful for every order received. Thank you for your support. This page will constantly be updated with all our 2011 orders.

Mobile Upload: 100 Hazelnut Buttercake & Hershey's Chocolate
For a wedding tea ceremony.

Special Arrangement - 6 cupcakes and balance in a medium loaf
Christmas Fruitcake with Sherry & Hennessy

Christmas Fruitcake with Sherry & Hennessy

6 Christmas Fruitcake Cupcakes with 4 flavours.
3 Rum, 1, Sherry, 1 Whisky & 1 Brandy.

12 cupcakes packed in 2 boxes of 6 each.

Order Information

Packaging	Prices	Prices in USD
12 standard cupcakes in one (1) box	RM104.50	USD32.00
6 standard cupcakes in two (2) boxes	RM112.50	USD34.00
4 standard cupcakes in three (3) boxes	RM120.50	USD36.50
2 standard cupcakes in six (6) boxes	RM144.50	USD44.00

Please note that a minimum of 2 weeks notice is required.

Our Boxes
Healthy Homemades prides itself for its quality boxes. For our premium homemade cakes, we got ourselves our signature boxes which comes in 4 sizes (right). These boxes are sturdy and we fly them in all the way from The States. They provide a clear view of what you are getting with the classy windows. In addition, the boxes lock professionally keeping your cakes fresh longer.

Self-Collect and Delivery

Healthy Homemades is based in Setia Alam and Damansara Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Delivery within these 2 locations are free with 24 cupcakes ordered. Do get a quote from us for deliveries out of these 2 areas or advise us on self-collect arrangements.

Special Requests, International and Bulk Orders

We are happy to accommodate your special requests, international and bulk orders. Please e-mail us at healthyhomemades@gmail.com.

Payments

We accept direct Telegraphic Transfer to MayBank, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

Health Benefits: Raisins vs. Grapes

It's good to know what we are eating and why we choose certain ingredients in our food. But first of all, let's understand the health benefits of Raisins vs. Grapes.

Raisins are simply dried grapes. They make great alternatives to processed sugar and can help weight loss objectives. The vitamin C content is low, but they are rich in powerful antioxidants that can reduce signs of aging and prevent cancer, amount other benefits. (1)

Summary of benefits:

1. Rich in Antioxidants that are crucial to prevention of diseases
2. Has an exceptional ability to reduce signs of aging
3. It is nature's natural healthy sugar that digests easily in our body
4. Cholesterol and Fat Free
5. Prevent cavities and protect against tooth decays
6. Contains Vitamin K, C, E, B and mineral Boron which helps promote bone health and prevent osteoporosis. Boron helps the body better process estrogen and vitamin D. (2)
7. Prevents constipation due to its fibrous nature.

Now, the major difference between grapes and raisins. Since raisins are dried grapes, the concentration of all benefits above triple with raisins. Why? Simply because they are dried and takes less space. If you were to consume 100g of grapes vs. 100g of raisins, you have have tripled the amount of antioxidants in your body. However, the natural sugar content triples as well.

Therefore, in our Hershey's Chocolate Cake, we chose Golden Raisins over normal brown raisins because they are not as sweet and have a better bite and flavour to it. And with the presence of raisins, sugar was significantly reduce for a healthier cake.

References:
(1) http://www.benefitsoflife.org/benefits_of_raisins.html
(2) http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/the-nutrition-of-raisins.html

Hershey's Chocolate Cake with Golden Raisins

This cake is absolutely delicious! When you bite into these, they just melt in your mouth. The toasted hazelnut topping adds the necessary crunch this cake needs to the whole experience of eating this cake. It is a really light cake that can be eaten any time of the day.

And to give it more bite, we added golden raisins from USA. Yummmmmm!


Ingredients: Semisweet Hershey's Chocolate, Plain Flour, Bicarbonate of Soda, Salt, Anchor Unsalted Butter, Caster Sugar, NutriPlus Low Cholesterol Eggs, Vanilla Extract, Farmhouse Low Fat High Calcium Omega Milk, Nescafe, Lemon Juice, Golden Raisins & Hazelnuts (Both from USA).

Optional: Add Rum with Raisins

Homemade "Fully Loaded" Fruit Cake

This is a light (as in colour) fruit cake filled with lots of fruits and what's different are the dried apricots in this cake. We put them in because they taste so good and have great health benefits. We have significantly reduced sugar in our batter to allow you to taste each fruit and its sweetness.

This cake can be served refrigerated or at room temperature. We personally like it refrigerated. It is good for 2 weeks refrigerated or 1 month frozen. With brandy and sherry in it, the duration 3 folds.


Ingredients: Anchor Unsalted Butter, Dark Brown Sugar, Light Brown Sugar, NutriPlus Low Cholesterol Eggs, Orange, Lemon, Almonds, Apricots, Mixed Peel, Cherries, Sultanas, Raisins, Currants, Apricots, All Purpose Flour, Salt, Baking Powder.

Optional: Enjoy Sherry & Hennessy in cupcakes.

Recipe: Steamed Chicken with Preserved Sausages

I don't normally enjoy steamed food but thought I would give this recipe from my mom's a try since it was a mad rush home today. This recipe is easy, tasty and healthy. I omitted salted fish that's called in this recipe and used homemade preserved sausages that mom ordered from her friend. My husband and I were surprised with the turnout. The chicken was tasty and juicy. The juice from the preserved sausages and chicken, coupled with shaoxing wine made this dish simple satisfying. You've got to try this!

New Research Confirms Hazelnuts Have More Antioxidants per Serving Than Many Other “Superfoods"

Reading from the National Cancer Institute website, it says "Antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables, as well as in other foods including nuts,...". (1)

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage may lead to cancer. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals might otherwise cause. (1)

What's good about Hazelnuts?

Hazelnuts have long been valued for their indulgent flavor and upscale appeal, but many people don’t realize that they are also one of the most nutritious nuts and a powerful source of antioxidants. Hazelnuts are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin E, magnesium and B vitamins. Hazelnuts can give meals an antioxidant boost while adding the indulgence, exotic appeal and satisfaction that consumers crave. (2)

References

(1) http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/antioxidants; Point 1 and 7.

(2) http://www.westnut.com/pdfs/ANTIOXIDANT_RESEARCH_FINAL.pdf

Light 'n' Soft Hazelnut Buttercake

This cake is a super fun cake. It is very light, fluffy and crunchy. It tastes like a pound cake with a smell that's familiar but you probably haven't had a cake like this before. The beauty is, we crush whole hazelnuts, toast them till their natural aroma fills the air, cool them and THEN, we use them in this cake. And for crunch lovers out there, we ensure you get the lovely chunky hazelnut crunchy bits in the cake for you!


Ingredients: Hazelnuts (From USA), Corn Flour, Plain Flour, Baking Powder, Salt, Anchor Unsalted Butter, Caster Sugar, NutriPlus Low Cholesterol Eggs, Vanilla Extract, Lemon, Icing Sugar (For dusting).

Review of Krabi, Thailand - The Food, People & Lotsa Fun!

Here's our Top 3 Favourites in response to Grace Wong's comment on Facebook for all the good stuff in Krabi.  :)

First and foremost, the Food.  You've got to try these:

1.  Banana Pancake

It's something like "Roti Pisang" but not as sweet.  They give you soft, plump nicely ripe bananas rather than the over ripe, sometimes brownish bananas here in KL.  To serve, they drizzle it with some condense milk.  It is available at almost every street.  (No, we didn't fall sick or ill after having street food.)

2.  Dry Tom Yum with Seafood 

The love of Tom Yum is always in the soup.  But not this dish as the nice bouncy and chewy noodles have absorbed the soup giving that burning sensation when you eat it.  What's special here is the seafood.  It is raw, then placed into a pot with the cooked noodles adding some vinegar to kill the germs and after a few stirs over high flame, everything is cooked.  It is then finally garnished with cilantro, bits of serai and tiny slices of cucumber.  We ate this at the Krabi Walking Street located in Town.

3.  Mango Sticky Rice  

I'm not a fan of sticky rice but this was exceptionally good.  First, the colour was really pretty with pink, yellow, white rice and a bright yellow mango.  The rice is light, slightly sticky with a little bit of sweetness in it.  Coupled with the coconut milk and sweet mango, it is truly mouth watering.  Again, this was found at Krabi Walking Street.

Next, the People.  We find that they are extremely crafty, talented and always so humble.  Here are a few pictures that caught our eyes.

Here's a little boy sitting at the back (more like the edge) of a motorcycle whose size is smaller than his school bag.  Unfortunately, he's not wearing a helmet and it does look rather dangerous sitting at the edge.

Beautiful hand bouquet made with Pandan Leaves!

Blue Statue...a man painted his whole body blue, including his specs, puts on a crazy wig and stands still at the market.  There's a money can for donations and 3 paint brushes with different colours beside it.  As you've already guessed.  Once the money is dropped in, you pick up a brush and draw anything you like on him.   Artistic, eh?  :)

Finally, the Fun stuff.

1.  A ride in their natural aired taxi.

This ride will only cost you RM2 per person.  Ride at night for a colourful display of their in-house boombox. 

2.  Go Island hopping

Traveling on a speed boat, it only takes about 10minutes from one island to another.  This is the Chicken Island.

You can see fish from the shore!  The water is crystal clear.

Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way on your ride to the next island.

3.  Get yours Nails done and a Body Massage

Please click on the photos to enlarge.  All photos are taken by Jonathan Photography at http://www.jonkam.com/

Recipe: Oh, Bruschettas!

Bruschettas are my all-time favourites.  I can have it for breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner and even supper!  These little yummies are filled with flavours that have a bite and crunch to it.  Anything that's yummy and crunchy always wins in my household.  This is a brilliant idea to give a little sophistication to your menu at home when you have guests around. Here's my favourite recipe and a picture to inspire more ideas.  Have fun and enjoy this with ingredients that you like.

A platter of bruschetta shows the variety of toppings for this simple concept. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times / September 15, 2011)

Ingredients:
1 loaf of Bruschetta, sliced
2 tomatoes, diced
Extra Virgin Olive oil
Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Easy Steps:

1. Pre-heat oven at 200°C.
2. Mix 1 tsp Olive Oil with the diced tomatoes and let it sit.
3. Brush some olive oil over the sliced Bruschettas and load the diced tomatoes on them.
4. Add a tiny pinch of salt and pepper to every slice and pop it into the oven for 5mins.  Serve hot.

Recipe: Short Rib Stew in Red Wine

Did you know, making stew is like boiling good soup?  It has to be simmering away in the same temperature over a period of time.  So, don't you lift up that lid to peek.  :)

Ingredients:

10 short ribs

1 tbsp corn flour

1/2 large onion

1 tomato, diced

1 carrot, roughly chopped

Gravy:

1/2 cup red wine

1 small can tomato sauce (any brand)

Pinch of salt

Dash of pepper (White or Black to your liking)

1/2 tsp sugar

1 cup water

Easy steps:

1. Coat ribs with corn flour and pan-fry in hot oil till both sides are nice and golden brown. Then, transfer into your stewing pot.
2. Throw in onions, tomato and pour tomato sauce, red wine and water in. Close the lid and allow it to simmer over medium low flame for 25mins.
3. Drop the potatoes and carrots in and allow it to simmer for another 15mins.
4. Stir in salt, pepper and sugar.  

That's it! Serve with rice and a simple vege dish.  Try it out and tell me what you think.

Hot meals on the table by 7.30pm on a Weekday?

Have you ever wondered how did our moms do it?  Work from 9-5pm and still make it home on time to have hot meals on the table by 7.30pm.  I told myself "Hmm...perhaps they are extremely skilled at cooking.  Also, they work only till 5pm whereas women today work till 6 or 7pm.".  Soon after, I realized well, if they could do it, I could too! (Very typical of me...kiasu :)).

After thinking it through, I listed a few things that I could do to achieve this.  Since having this list, I have been able to dish out hot homemade meals on the table by 7.30pm (I work till 6pm).  So, here's my list and hope it helps you too.

1. Plan your meals ahead.  I plan what I want to cook the next week every Saturday morning.
2. Shop for groceries once a week.  I buy everything I need on Saturday from Jaya Grocer or Cold Storage (I'm really not a wet market person).  I noticed I spent less when I shop once a week.  So, that's another plus point!
3. Pre-cut vegetables and throw frozen meat into the fridge to thaw* the night before for meals you plan to cook the next day.
4. Cook your meal and voilà!

* Did you know, the best way to thaw meat is by placing it in the fridge? This significantly reduces bacteria from getting into your meat. Need more info on thawing?  Refer to http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Big_Thaw/

YES, We're Back

Hi Everyone,

We've been out for the last 1 year and it's time to be back to do what we love.  We will be launching in a couple week's time. 

Being busy people, we understand the pressure in making quick homemade meals.  Therefore, we are planning to share 1 quick meal recipe bi-weekly to all our e-mail subscibers.  To join us on this exciting journey, please e-mail healthyhomemades@gmail.com.

Stay tuned!