Polly Pumpkin

I've been baking non stop since last Sunday for Shalom's birthday picnic. Reason I've been baking is that I really would like Shalom and her friends to have some home made wholesome goodness minus the preservatives, colouring & flavouring. And of course since I'm making them myself, I've also been using organic as much as I can.

Well after last night I think I want to bake something that Shalom has not tasted before. So far for the birthday party pack (all of which are her regular treats at home), we've made:
• Flea Busters
• Peanut Butter Banana Squares
• Salmon Bombs
• Italian Sweethearts
* I say "we" cause hubby helps out. Not in the kitchen but I can count to ferry me around to pick up the ingredients needed from all over town:D

So I've decided to come out with something new based on my previous ingredients and experience of baking over 6 years for my diva. And I shall call this Polly Pumpkin. Why Polly? I don't know. It just came into my mind:P

Ingredients:
• 150g Oats
• 150g pumpkin
• 150ml yoghurt
• 1 egg
• cold water (use as needed to create a slightly sticky consistency)
• 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• Dash of Italian herbs or cinnamon or garlic (whichever tickles your fancy)

Mix all ingredients together until you get a sticky mix. Add or use less water as needed to get the consistency.

Then grease your baking pan lightly. Place the balls on it and pressed it with a fork or spoon. I like to use forks because i can make patterns with it:D

Bake at 160C for 20-25 minutes until light brown (monitor this closely as different ovens behave differently)

The results will be a slightly chewy cookie because of the oats. If you like the crunchier, just leave them in the oven another 15-30 minutes when you're done baking. I normally make 2 pans so Shalom gets both chewy and crunchy ones.

Dogs love the natural sweetness of pumpkin and its filled with vitamins & minerals.

And if you like to adapt the above for humans, well you can add cinnamon and use sugar to taste. Adding some sunflower seeds into it gives it an added crunch and oomph!

Quinoa, Marmite & Cod Fish

Had ulam quinoa for dinner last night at Country Farm Organics in Bangsar Village. So it wasn't half strange that I dreamt of it last night and obviously woke up thinking of quinoa. However, it was strange that the dream was vividly with Marmite and cod fish.

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I love quinoa for its nutty & beany taste. But more so because it is a complete protein source under the plant category (great on my vegetarian days). Its easy to cook - cook it like rice or I learnt yesterday that we can steam it too. Having tasted the steamed variant at Country Farm Organics I would say, steam taste much better.

I obviously twittered my thoughts and Marsha asked for the recipe. Hence this blog thoughts today. And I'll have to cook it quite soon least it occupies my mind non stop. And in case you want to try it, please don't kill me if it does not come out the way you anticipated. The following is from my memory of the recipe rather than the actual which I have stashed somewhere.

Ingredients:

• 2 pcs of Cod fish (of course since I only cook for hubby and I)

• Grounded black pepper

• Fresh rosemary (dry is acceptable though the fresh ones pack more ooopmh)

• 2 tbsp Marmite

• Sugar (optional)

(1) Marinade cod fish with rosemary and Marmite for 10-20 minutes.

(2) Pan fry cod fish.

(3) When cod is almost ready, add the rest of Marmite with black pepper with 3 tablespoon of water to make sauce. Sugar gives the final dish a slightly caramelised feel.

(4) Add into cod fish and cook till done.

Serve the above with mash potatoes and salad. Of course now that quinoa came into my dreams, I'll be serving the Marmite cod fish over a bed of Quinoa mixed with some cashew nuts with a salad on the side:D

And in case you're looking for Quinoa, you can grab them at Country Farm Organics in Bangsar Village or any good grocer. Add a little extra extra virgin olive oil  or flaxseed oil for flavour. 

What I will be doing one of these days will be to steam the quinoa till it looks like this:

Then add some flaxseed or extra virgin olive oil to it. Toss in some roasted cashew nuts. I can almost visualise what the dish will look like with a side dish of salad. Yummy. I promise I will upload pics of the finished dish as soon as I cook it.

Bon appetite:D