Simple dish: Corned Beef Whole Tomato Rice

We are into the last month of 2014! How did the time go by so fast? We are left with 29 days to complete our resolution for 2014. Are you ready to tick your resolution checklist?

I wanted a work-life balance when I started out 2014. I couldn't find that in the corporate world doing my old job so am glad I took the courage to do baking full-time from mid 2014. I have tried a number of new experiences this year... working in a cafe part-time, teaching baking courses and of course baking full-time. I have met new friends along the way who have kindly shared their experiences with me. It's not easy running your own business. I taught my 2nd baking class last Sunday and had good fun with the participants.

So last week was another busy week for me as I prepare for the class and the 1st birthday party for my little online bakery. My mind was full of baking and I did't really know what to cook for meals. I saw an FB post from a friend on Thursday morning on her cooking the whole Tomato rice and inspiration struck. I had watched the tutorial on whole Tomato rice a few weeks ago and knew it is the current hot favourite on the Internet in several countries but didn't get round to cooking it. It's a simple meal to prepare in your rice cooker and you can add whatever ingredients you have on hand.
I remembered I had a can of Libby's corned beef sitting in my pantry for a few months and thought it's time to cook it so I came up with this version of Corned beef Whole Tomato Rice.

Corned Beef Whole Tomato Rice (Serves 3-4)
1/2 can Corned Beef
1/2 white onion (diced)
1 large tomato (remove the top and bottom bits)
2 cups of washed uncooked Rice
1 tbsp Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

1) Heat up the rice cooker and add the Olive oil
2) Fry the onion till soft and transparent
3) Add the corned beef and fry till fragrant
4) Dish up the fried corned beef and set aside
5) Add the washed rice into the rice cooker and added water to the level indicated by the rice cooker.
6) Remove about 5-6 tbsp of water as the tomato contains water
7) Put tomato into the center of the pot and add salt and pepper to taste
8) Let the rice and tomato cook in the rice cooker as per norm
9) When the rice is done, stir the rice and the tomato and add in the fried corn beef.
10) Mix well and serve.

Below is the cooked rice from Friday before mixing in the fried corned beef. As my tomato was small, I added 2 tomatoes to the rice.

* Do remember to remove the water in step 6 otherwise your rice will be very soft and mushy. I made the mistake as I was in a hurry on Thursday. Cooked the dish again on Friday and remember this time to remove the water and it tastes so much better.

You can add different ingredients to the rice and try different combinations. Maybe one for each day of the week :)

Simple dish: Rice cooker claypot rice

When I was young, my mum loves to cook one dish meal as she finds it a bother to think  and cook 3 dishes and 1 soup which is typical for a Chinese meal. So my sis and I grew up on mee rebus, laksa, mee sian, fried rice, chicken rice..... etc. It wasn't till my secondary school days that I realised that meals in my family were different from my friends'. They were pretty envious that my weekend meals were so exciting! If only they knew, it was due to my mum's "laziness".

I had my mum to thank for being so adventurous in food... since young, she has exposed us to the different Asian cuisines in Singapore and Asia as she loves them and loves to travel. I have known of friends who have never tasted Singaporean Indian food except Roti Prata till they were earning their own money as their mums weren't as adventurous.

Since my overseas work stint in 2009, I have also learnt the beauty of one dish meals. They are simple and easy and just nice for 1 person or maybe 2. Most importantly, less to clean up and wash up! As you can tell, that's the part I dislike most about cooking and baking.

Last Friday, I cooked a simple claypot rice in rice cooker for lunch when a friend popped by to bake. Eating lunch at my nearby hawker centre was getting a little boring.

Rice Cooker Claypot rice (Serves 2)

1 cup uncooked Thai Rice
200g Chicken fillet, cubed
3 strips Turkey Bacon
3 dried Chinese Mushrooms, soaked
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp light soya sauce
1 tbsp dark soya sauce
white pepper
spring onions/coriander (garnish)

1) Marinate the chicken fillet with the sesame oil, oyster sauce, light soya sauce, dark soya sauce and pepper.
2) Slice the turkey bacon and the Chinese mushrooms
3) Wash the Thai rice
4) Add water to cook the rice following the marks on the rice cooker.
5) Add in the chicken fillet together with the marinade, turkey bacon and chinese mushrooms into the rice cooker and start the rice cooker.
6) When the claypot rice is cooked, add more dark soya sauce and seasame oil (if desired) to the rice.
7) Serve the claypot rice with chopped spring onions or coriander.

This is one of my favourite one dish meals and I make them whenever I have turkey bacon in the fridge.

I served the claypot rice with a spinach soup last Friday. I used the thermal pot to cook Ikan Bilis together with red dates for stock and added spinach and wolfberry just before serving.