Brown Sugar Banana Bread 黑糖香蕉面包

I seem to have a habit of buying recipe books and not "using" them. So I left clear instructions to the kids NOT to eat the last banana left. I need the last one to try out a new recipe from my newly bought bread maker book (麵包機新手的第一本書).

The original recipe was for a sandwich loaf. But I was feeling a little creative that afternoon, so I made the recipe into little individual bear buns instead. I was on the fence on whether to add fillings to the buns or not. But since there's banana and brown sugar inside, I decided to just make it plain.

The recipe is so easy to make and the bear was so cute! But I would definitely skip the egg wash the next time as it turned out too brown!

90g Milk
90g Banana Puree
20g Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
230g Bread Flour
20g Wholewheat Flour
20g Unsalted Butter
3/4 tsp Instant Yeast
black food colouring

1. Put all ingredients in to the bread making machine and select "DOUGH" mode. This will mix, knead and proof the dough for you. If you don't have a bread maker: 
• Make sure all ingredients are in room temperature. 
• Mix the yeast with the milk and wait for a few minutes until the yeast blooms. 
• Put all ingredients except butter into a mixer with a paddler attachment and mix it all up. 
• Once the ingredients are well mixed, add in the butter. Switch to the hook attachment and knead the dough in medium speed for about 10-15min. 
• Remove the hook and cover up the bowl with cling flim and proof until the dough double in size.
2. When the dough is ready knock out all the air and weight it. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces.
3. From each piece cut out about 5 grams and cut it into 2 pieces for the ears.
4. Roll all the dough into balls. Place them into muffin tins, add the ears. 
5. Cover the muffin tin with a clean tea towel and let it rise again for about 20 minutes.
6. Using a toothpick and black food colouring, draw eyes and nose on the bears.
7. Bake in preheated oven at 180 degress celsius for 15 minutes.
8. Cool on a wire rack before eating!

The next morning, I toasted the bears a little and spread a little peanut butter for the kids. They loved it! For me, I'm a Nutella fan, and Nutella on banana buns was SO DIVINE! Maybe next time I'll wrap it inside the buns.

Braised Fish with Leeks

I learned this dish from my Mother-in-law, and in turn I think she learned it from her Mother too. I like recipes like these. But like most "Mama's recipe", nothing is written down. You learn by tasting the dish, asking questions and watching them cook. After that, good luck and try not to screw up.

I guess when it comes to cooking, there is no hard and fast rules. Most importantly is to:
1. BUY FRESH INGREDIENTS (especially FISH)
2. GET THE TIMING RIGHT

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the freshness of the fish. I've learnt the lesson the hard way and the dish had came out tasting fishy and horrible. If you are cooking the dish today, buy the fish this morning. The wonderful taste of the fresh fish makes up to 60% of the dish!

The timing part, I don't know how to teach you except to use your eyes and experience. The bigger the fish, the longer it takes. I have cooked so many undercooked, overcooked fishes myself! Check every so often if you are new to this and as time goes by, your experience will guide you through.

So important notes aside, let's go to the recipe

Fish (mine was about 600-700g)
2 tbsp Cornflour
1 tsp salt
a dash of pepper

3 stalks Leeks
100g pork
1 tomato
1 slice of ginger

water or soup stock
1 tsp soya sauce
1 tsp sugar

Preparation:

• Cut pork into thin slices and marinate in a little soya sauce. 
• Peel away the outer layer of leek. Slice leeks diagonally and only use the lighter colour part of the stalk. Wash thoroughly. 
• Slice tomatoes and remove seeds. 
• Make cuts on the fish. 

1. Mix cornflour, salt and pepper together and rub all over the fish. 
2. Heat up oil and fry the fish for only 2-3 minutes on each side. (We don't want to cook the fish, just fry the outside) Set aside. 
3. Heat up wok with a tablespoon of oil and stir fry ginger, pork and leeks for a minute. (careful they burn easily, lower heat if the edges started to char) 
4. Add water or soup stock till the ingredients are covered. Add 1 teaspoon soya sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar and bring to boil. 
5. When sauce is boiling, add fish and tomato slices. Put on the lid and cook in low heat for 4 minutes. 
6. After 4 minutes, check if the fish is cooked all the way to the bone. If cooked, dish up. If not cooked yet, gently flip the fish over and cook for another 4 minutes. Done!