Cookbookmaniac
  • Asian Dumplings by Andrea Nguyen
    Asian Dumplings by Andrea Nguyen
    Asian Recipes

    I love Yum Cha. I especially love dumplings. The thought of it makes me hungry even on a full stomach. They are similar to cupcakes in a way, small, single serving, pretty and you could possibly fit an entire morsel into one bite. Whilst browsing amazon, I noticed that an Asian Dumpling book was being released by Andrea Nguyen. I know her quite well from her blogs on vietnamese food. After reading early reviews for the new cookbook, I preordered my copy. I was very excited when it arrived in the mail. It was better than expected! Andrea Nguyen shares her best techniques for shaping, filling, cooking and serving each kind dumpling. The chapters are arranged according to type, (filled pastas, thin skins, stuffed buns, rich pastries etc) and includes recipes from China, Japan, Vietnam, Nepal, Thailand, India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Tibet and Phillipines. There is also a chapter dedicated…

  • Fattouch with a twist
    Fattouch with a twist
    Cheap Eats Recipes

    In an attempt at being a little more healthy I converted one of my all-time favourite salads to include a wholegrain and less fat. I went on an accidental healthfood shopping spree with a friend and I picked up a packet of the ancient grain, quinoa, which seems to have suddenly taken the health-conscience western world by storm. It was simple to prepare and its addition did not seem to interfere with the true essence of the recipe. Instead of deep-fried flatbread, I used toasted, leftover sourdough bread. I must confess, the inclusion of these croutons was more out of frugality than mere health concerns. We had a remaining half a loaf from the previous nights delicious beef bourguignon. I couldn't bear to see it go to waste. It toasted up a treat and I added it in at the very moment I was ready to consume this superfood salad.…

  • Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes
    Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes
    American Recipes

    It's been a while since my last post. I've been busy re-designing my blog layout and house-hunting. Both tasks are proving to be a big challenge, but I will soldier on and not give up. I am too determined to have the blog layout of my dreams and a humble abode. One thing is for sure I have a bad habit of diving into the deep end of things without a crash helmet. There are some important lessons that I have learnt: Firstly, patience and understanding is a virtue. My poor sister has to put up with my nonsense explanations, multiple emails, random phone calls and constant questions. She really is a gem for doing this probono. Secondly, don't listen to anyone (except your mortgage broker) when it comes to advice about home loans and real estate. It is currently an unstable/unpredictable economic climate where legislation and laws change almost…