3 DAYS RECOOK CHALLENGE

Hello there!

Been for a while since my last post. A few days ago, I wonder why am I so demotivated lately. With the baking orders on my business is getting slower these past weeks, I think I need a challenge to wake me up from my lazy sleep and make me cheer up again. 

So I warm up with this easy 3 days challenge, where I have to recook or recreate to fit the condition here, a lunch recipe for each day, from chefs or wellknown food bloggers. 

After doing some readings, I chose one recipe from smittenkitchen.com, one from Jamie Oliver's blog and for the last day, I did a recipe from thestayathomechef.com. 

I did read some other blog made by professional chefs and food bloggers. But I find those 3 are quite easy to replicate with my own ingredients. 

DAY 1

For my day 1, I prefer to go with an easy recipe that I found on SmittenKitchen. I actually has been reading their blogs since my early days blogging, more than 10 years ago. When I do only blog for fun, never check out my page views or so wkwk. 

I started my challenge making CHICKEN SPAGHETTI SOUP, as my version of SmittenKitchen's CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP. 

Actually, I changed the noodle to spaghetti cause I've just realized that I haven't refill my groceries and I'm outta noodle haha, yes, even the instant one. Note to my calendar, doing grocery shopping later!

And too bad I'm outta celery too 😭 so sad. Soup won't be complete without it actually. 

So I just use onions, salt and pepper, mushrooms powder, carrot, chicken, spaghetti and napa cabbage to give more veggie feels to it hahaha. 

Almost like what we know as mie kuah ya 😂 but it's more soupy. Like it! Actually it's more practical for lunch because I don't need to cook rice 😆😆 One carb is enough! Haha.

DAY 2

For day 2, I thought something from Jamie Oliver's blog would be perfect. I always love his cooking since it is mostly simple, fast and nutritious. He is also concern about how food waste becomes a big problem today, so he's doing this campaign on fighting the food waste through his shows, books and blog recipes. 

I personally love this idea and trying to do a less waste cooking too. 

Anyway, for this day, I took Jamie Oliver's Soy Baked Trout recipe and turn it into Soy Baked Patin, to localize the recipe haha.

In the original recipe, we need: 

Trout, ginger, spring onion, chili, coriander, lime, soy sauce and mirin.

For my sauce, I mostly do the way Jamie Oliver does, grated the ginger and I'm mix it with the white part of the spring onion, chili, coriander stocks and soy sauce. But of course, I skip the mirin. I changed it by using both sweet soy sauce and salty soy sauce + a bit sesame oil + mushrooms powder. 

And it turns out sooo yummy too! The kids really love it! They even scoop more rice to eat it with. 

Don't forget to eat the greens with rice and the fish + sweet soy sauce!

DAY 3

The last day. After seeking some recipes from chefs and bloggers, I think this recipe from thestayathomechef.com would be perfect. It is called MOM’S CHICKEN CACCIATORE. 

Of course, I made it with some adjustments since I do recook with what's on my fridge hehe. 

And these are my adjustments:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (me; cooking oil)

1 tablespoon salted butter (me; margarine)

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (me; about 400 gr diced chicken breast)

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 small white onion diced

1 red bell pepper sliced (skip)

1 yellow bell pepper sliced (skip)

8 ounces mushrooms sliced

6 ounces tomato paste (me; 2 large tomatoes, blended)

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (me; oregano)

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional (skip)

1/2 cup cooking wine (me; water)

1/4 cup heavy cream (me; milk)

15 ounces crushed tomatoes

8 ounces tomato sauce

2 tablespoons fresh or dried parsley for garnish

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (skip)

First, roll the chicken on the flour that has been seasoned, fry it til golden. 

Then cook the sauce. Onions, tomatoes, sauces, herbs, water and milk, seasoned. Pour the chicken onto the sauce and cook well. 

I actually love the taste. Tomato and italian herbs will never go wrong! The kids love it too! And it is very easy to do! I only spent less than 30 mins to do it all. I really do love simple yet tasty recipe like this one. 

Aaah, the challenge is over but I think I'm gonna stick to do more recook new recipe for lunches and dinners at home so we won't get bored with the same menu hahaha. Hopefully you can also take something good from my challenge and try to make it your own just to spice things up at home and give variations for the kids. Till next time!