Chicken Char Siu Bao

I saw a Char Siu Bao post on friend's time on Facebook, couple days ago and it got stuck in my head for a while. Then I saw this recipe online and thought, "oh what the heck! let's do this." It's not like I can go Yum Cha and ask for chicken bao. They will laugh their head off at me.

You would normally get this steamed or baked in pork, not chicken at Yum Chas. I don't like or eat pork, not really. I do like crispy bacon and smoked ham, only because they have been smoked, and they don't taste like pork and I don't see that shiny bouncy gel like fat shimmering at me. Argh!

So without further ado, the recipes are on the link above. I love Christine's website, she has a lot of easy Chinese recipes if you are a fan of Chinese food. For myself, I prefer Malay food, the spicier, the better.

Here are some of my photos of the making of the bao in my kitchen. Easy, right? Those of you who don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, can follow me.

1. Buy your ready made char siu from a Chinese grocer or shop; your choice of pork or chicken etc
2. Buy a bottle of charsiu sauce and sautee the veges with diced chicken and sauce. 
3. The dough on the other hand, no easy way out, you can't buy it, you have to follow the recipe to make your own. It's not hard. And it taste delicious!

Post by YummyStuffGoesHere.

Ta da.... all done!

Autumn Bliss in Japan Part 7 - Tokyo Tower and Meiji Shrine

Hi all, I just want to wrap up the year with my final photo blog post instalment of my Tokyo trip. Ever since I watched the Japanese drama series Tokyo Tower, I had always wanted to visit it.

It didn't matter that we only got to the Main Observatory as the Special Observatory was closed for maintenance. From Shinjuku, we went on the Tokyo Metro again, this time on the Oedo Line to Akabanebashi. Once there, it was just a five minute walk up the hill from the exit of the subway. It looked pretty awesome from the intersection.

How cute are these little Tokyo Tower lights? They are adorable. I wanted one but it wouldn't have fitted in my suitcase!

Once inside on the main floor, we could see that many people had bought those little wooden card to write down their wishes, hopes and dreams to hang it up. I didn't get one because my dream was already coming true with this trip to Japan. I spend my money on souvenirs instead. My Tokyo Tower soft toy is ever so cute!

You can see Tokyo in 360 degrees, in all directions when you walk around the Main Observatory. In one of my photos, you can see Rainbow Bridge. I imagined a night time view would be pretty spectacular!

Next stop, Meiji Shrine. On our last day we went Harajuku. From the station, we walked to the shrine and then back to Takeshita street for lunch. Just as well we stop there, I found Daiso and went a little berko with buying Japanese stuff. I bought some cutesy Japanese fabric pouches to put my camera lenses in it. Clever, no?

We were lucky enough to see so many Japanese families in traditional outfits visiting the shrine. I love their kimono fabrics. I haven't found any fabric shop yet which was disappointing.

Just after the entrance, a little walk along, we saw the famous sake barrel display. These were donated to the shrine from companies and large corporations. I guessed even big companies need a prayer or two, right?

Along the path, I read and took photos of the storyboard of Empress Shoken. It was quite interesting to read through the boards and I learned that she was truly a Queen of Hearts, loved by her people.

It truly is tranquil here. Emperor Meiji was not wrong. You would not believed that this part of land was still in Tokyo

And how happy was I, standing by those Sake barrels? My Tokyo trip came to an end and so I have to bid Japan, "Sayonara", but I shall return, again and again. After all, I had barely scratched the surface, the wonder of Japan.

Autumn Bliss in Japan Part 6 - Itadakimasu ;)

When I was in Japan, I said "Itadakimasu" lots of times, before my meals. It's like saying grace before you eat, that you humbly received the food with an exclamation of "Let's Eat!!"

I was truly grateful of my being able to visit this wonderful country and to eat the yummiest Japanese food on Earth! In true Japanese settings, you can't get this experience from a Japanese restaurant anywhere else. I ate from street stall, from Gourmet speciality shops and sushi bar and food courts.

Even though I had said it out aloud, in my mind, of course, it would be seconded by a nom nom nom noise! That is how much I appreciated the food there. I hummed after the noms.... it's quite hilarious! Darren would look at me with his horrified look, "Oh God, why is my mum so embarrassing?"



This is the shop at Nakamise Street before the Sensoji Temple. I bought a couple of bags of rice crackers "senbei" here. Definitely much nicer than your average Sakata crackers.

Japan is also vending machine heaven. Every where you go, there is sure to be a vending machine nearby.

Yum!!! Who wants steam buns? There's also freshly made tofu and matcha icecream. Don't even get me started on the Matcha. I was on a permanent Matcha diet. I drank Matcha Frappe, matcha tea, matcha latte, matcha icecream, pancakes with Matcha. I had squid balls with matcha powder flavouring in Arashiyama.

Pretty impressive Ramen for 800 yen, right? I wished I could buy a bowl from the display as a souvenir. Hahahaha. Better catch up to the boy, he has abandoned me as I am being "touristy" again.

These squid paste balls were delicious. OMG! I want some of these for dinner now. I shouldn't have posted this before dinner ;)

I met my Twitter friend Hyuna in Tokyo and we went to a sushi bar in Shinjuku for dinner. It was the best meal ever. I fell in love with Unagi sushi that night. The photo above is two types of green tea, the lighter one is with ground rice, the greener one is just plain matcha. However, there is nothing plain about it. I love matcha tea. I can't get enough of it!

And this is why, someone in Japan, needs to adopt me so I can live there! I am missing out on the best sushi in the world!

And then there was the snacks and the beers, so many different flavour beers and teas, not together of course. And French pastries, Japanese desserts and matcha icecreams... Oh Lordy! It was with a heavy heart and bottom that I had to come home.

Some of my followers on Instagram would have been drooling daily from my uploads. I am sharing a few food photos here. If you like to follow me, I am at:

YummyStuffGoesHere | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram |

Profiterols are yummy...

It was too hot to do anything today...outside is 35°C and so I lazed around watching movies and eating yummy stuff. Now, I didn't make this dessert, I picked her up from Woolies earlier today. Dinner is just going to be a prawn salad. I will post that photo another day.

Presenting a super yummy profiterols dessert with custard creme inside..I  topped it up with choc sauce and served with fresh strawberries.

Sponge Kisses

It's another day without my softbox so I had to make do with a makeshift studio...I learned that from LouManna.com on food photography...so anyway, I picked up this sponge kisses from the supermarket on the way home.

It looks a bit sad due to the heat... I didn't have any icing sugar in thehouse to dress her up... Anyway have a look at what a makeshift softbox does to food photo, what do you think of it? It's terrible... I want my softbox!!!! I have ordered it, was supposed to get it today...


Errr, somebody needs a hug, me thinks! Or maybe a couple of sponge kisses....NOM.... NOM.... NOM... ;)

Food blog and photography

Hi all, this starting of a food blog is very trying and it's killing me...why?

I have ideas spinning in my head constantly and I was wide awake in middle of the nite thinking about it..at 1am, I thought that I should probably go to bed...LOL.

I am still shopping around for a lighting and studio kit...it's a very exciting time of my life...

Tonite's dinner is presented by my son Darren. He is making mini pizza.It looks yummy and smells even more amazing.....Gotta go, must go and try out his home cooked pizza

Yummy stuff!;)

Coming soon

Under construction, be right back ;) Meanwhile, please visit my favourite food bloggers... see links.