HYACINTHUS

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Act now to save our Mother Earth!

There are manufactured chemical-based products that are produced on the market and sold for people's household needs.

As the new season is coming (in 4 weeks time), Spring, and rain drops are replacing snow flakes, I thought of an idea to alter the chemical products I have been using. Nowadays, I am growing plants that give a good benefit for my health either flowering or non-flowering varieties. The non-flowering plants are very good in absorbing the radiation coming from the techno-gadgets apart from adding an extra tone at home. I am eager to grow flowering plants which produce scent that neutralizes unpleasant smell and produces a fragrance for the living areas especially in the toilet (This is particularly relevant if one of your family members ate rubbish foods... just a joke!). One of my favourites is the Hyancithus which flowers from a bulb in early Spring and has a pleasant sweet fragrance.

Saving our Earth is not just by recycling or separating the biodegradable to non-biodegradable waste at home. As gardening is one, too, which can be done even inside your place.

*Photo courtesy of www.pinterest.com

QUEEN VICTORIA'S COOKED BROWN RICE

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD
 

Asian's staple food that cannot be replaced in their daily lives is rice. A cereal grain from a monocot plant, Oryza sativa. The seeds of the rice are first milled using a rice huller to remove the chaff (the outer husks of the grain) and then the bran (hard outer layer of grain).

Are you one of these Asians whose daily meal is always complemented with cups of cooked rice or just having it on your table occasionally?

If you like this staple food of us, why not add more flavour into it when cooking. I am sure it will give an interesting sensation in your mouth.

This was just my experiment but the taste of the rice turned very appetising on my taste buds. Here are my ingredients before turning-on the rice cooker.

You will need 2 stalks of spring onions and cut according to your preference. Then, add the sliced spring onions into the rice with the additional ingredients, 2 tbsps. of olive oil, 1 tsp. of mixed herbs and spinach (frozen/fresh). On the other hand, to give it a spicy strength just sprinkle ground pepper/cayenne peper before mixing all ingredients. Cook and don't forget to stir before serving.

You will appreciate not just the aromatic smell but more importantly, the herbal flavour. I highly recommend the use of brown rice for weight conscious people or to those creating/adhering a strict diet regime!

QUEEN VICTORIA'S BAKED/GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

 

I like eating flavoured meat!

Cooking food at home is my magic wand. This is one of the reasons why I don't buy processed food or indulge myself to instant products when shopping. However, it doesn't mean I dislike them!

I have eaten grilled chicken breasts that was bought and made in the supermarket, in particular, garlic grilled chicken breasts. The taste was really scrumptious!

I bought a bag of frozen chicken breasts last time and challenged myself to cook my own baked/grilled garlic chicken breasts recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 pcs. of chicken breasts
• 3 cloves of garlic, crashed/sliced
• crashed ginger (optional) 
• 2 tbsps. of Extra Virgin oil 
• 1 tbsp. of sunflower oil
• 2 tsps. of honey
• a pinch of mixed herbs
• a pinch of salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and vegetable stock granules to taste
• 2 strands of spring onion, angled slices
• 4 cherry tomatoes, slice into 2

Sauce Preparation:

1. Mix the extra virgin oil, sunflower oil and honey in a bowl. Stir well.
2. Add the crashed ginger. Stir well again.
3. Once all mixed, just set it aside.

 

  (Baked Chicken Breasts and Grilled Chicken Breasts) 

Cooking Procedure:

1. Wash and rinse the chicken breasts (Thaw, if needed).
2. Prepare the chopping board and place the breasts on it. Use a sharp knife to scar on top and turn-over to do the same. Just set it aside.
3. Prepare your crashed/sliced garlic, then insert most of the slices in the created scars of the meat. Dont throw away the excess garlic just scatter and arrange evenly in the bottom of the pyrex glass covered with foil.
4. Rub the breasts with mixed herbs, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and vegetable stock granules for additional flavours.
5. Prepare your cooking dish (Pyrex-glass cooking dish is good) and lay the prepared breasts in the centre to create a well balanced art. Just set it aside.
6. Gradually, pour the sauce mixture you made (Sauce preparation) and make sure it is distributed evenly over the breasts.
7. Design it with angled slices of spring onions and slices of cherry tomatoes on top (Be Imaginative!). Then, cover the pyrex either with its excess foil or its lid.
8. Place it in a safe area and marinate it for 1 hour before placing it in the oven.
9. Preheat the oven to 150ºC under bake mode (electric). 
10. Place the cooking dish (with the marinated breasts) in the preheated oven, then bake it for 30 minutes. In 15 minutes time, glaze the breasts with its own sauce and be careful not to burn yourself.
11. After that, unfold the foil or removed the lid and then, change the Bake to Grill as well as adjust the temperature down to 120ºC. 
12. Place and grill it for 30 minutes. Check it every 10 minutes and glaze the breasts using its own sauce.

This is the perfect garlic chicken breasts to be served and eaten on the table with your loving family.