Fletcher - Mums not cooking!: favourite Singaporean recipes for the near clueless or plain lazy

Copyright 2012 by Denise Fletcher

All rights reserved.
Published in Singapore by Epigram Books.
www.epigrambooks.sg

Cover design by Stefany
Illustrations by Kuan Teck Harn
Author's photograph by Sofjan S.

National Library Board, Singapore
Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Fletcher, Denise, 1967
Mums not cooking : favourite Singaporean recipes
for the near clueless or plain lazy / Denise Fletcher.
Singapore : Epigram Books, 2012.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN : 978-981-08-9732-1 (pbk.)
ISBN : 978-981-07-3250-9 (epub)

1. Cooking, Singaporean. 2. Quick and easy cooking. I. Title.

TX724.5.S55
641.595957 -- dc22 OCN745851647

First Edition

DEDICATED TO:

My three boys,

my mother,

Every mother, and every child,

Linda,

LQmy tiny Canuck,

Alikatt, Laz, Cameron and

Nadia.

As a mother of three boys, I understand the anxiety of letting go and watching from a distance. We think our children cannot get by without our care. It matters not, whether that child is seven or twenty-two. Our child remains our child and in our minds, helpless, even when they tower over us.

I remember as a newlywed, finding myself suddenly thrust into the role of keeper of all things and provider of nourishment for my husband, I was overwhelmed and didnt know where to begin! Vacuuming and laundry was one thing; putting entire meals on the table for my husband, whose culinary expectations I was just beginning to grasp, was another. I kept calling my mum at all and sometimes odd hours, asking how to select this ingredient or how to cook that dish. Bless her patience!

Spurred by these experiences, I wrote this book to allay the fears of parents, inspire confidence in students about to leave home and country and dive into independence, and guide newlyweds (or anyone else!) who want to cook our beloved local dishes, but havent a clue where to begin.

Its an exciting time, but it can also be a fearful one. Whatever you do, youll need to eat, so the recipes here are simple and clear, the ingredients easy to find and the results dependably delicious and, where possible, healthy. Many local favourites are here, simplified, so you can focus on the important stuffyour books, your future, your budding career, your shiny new marriage! If you start to miss home or mums cooking, I hope you will find a dependable resource and a fount of comfort, between the covers of this book.

Cooking, while often viewed as a lesser ability, is peerless in inspiring confidence, developing organisation, management and budgeting skills, and encouraging creativity and imagination. The ability to cook means you will be surrounded by friends, willing dish washers, and, you will never go hungry. The love for cooking will provide an invaluable outlet for busting stress, something that, unfortunately at this juncture, you will know only too well. Sure, theres always pizza delivery, McDonalds or Chinese take-out. But, seriously, how much pizza or take-out can you eat?

I hope this book will become your kitchen companion and a voice that reassures you as your mother might, when you have questions and doubts. Good luck on your journey of learning and living, and one last thing; dont forget to eat something every now and then!

DENISE FLETCHER

The kitchen can be an overwhelming and dangerous place. Know your paring knife from your peeler and navigate your way safely around the cooking hob and cutting board, so you will never need to worry if youre doing things right, or whos going to drive you to the A&E.

USING THIS BOOK

CUP measurements in this book refer to the standard 200 ml capacity (filled to the brim) tea cup found in most kitchens.

TSP measurements refer to the standard 5 ml teaspoon used in most kitchens for stirring sugar into your coffee or tea.

TBSP measurements refer to the standard 15 ml tablespoon used to eat your dinner with. These spoons are larger than conventional soup spoons.

Unless otherwise stated, all measurements are level.

LIGHT VEGETABLE OIL refers to any neutral tasting and smelling vegetable cooking oil like soy, sunflower seed, grape seed, canola or corn oil. Corn oil is slightly heavier in texture than the other oils mentioned. Olive oil (especially virgin and extra virgin olive oil), sesame oil and flavoured oils are primarily used as flavour accents and are not all-purpose cooking oils.

OVEN TEMPERATURES AND TIMES given work well for my own oven. All ovens differ to a degree and you may find it necessary to adjust the given times and/or temperatures for your own oven.

MICROWAVE-SAFE DISHES AND TRAYS

refer to non-metallic, silicone, plastic, glass, ceramic, stoneware or pottery ones that are marked microwave-safe by the manufacturer. Metal receptacles or receptacles with metallic paint decorations should never be used in the microwave oven as they create sparks, which can cause a fire in the microwave oven and short circuit it. While most plastics wont melt in the microwave, you should still only use microwave-safe plastic containers as these have been made from food grade plastics that wont leak out harmful chemicals into your food when they reach high temperatures.

OVEN PROOF DISHES AND TRAYS refer to metal or silicone, ceramic, glass, stoneware and pottery ones that are marked ovenproof by the manufacturer. This indication can usually be found on the base of the dish or tray. These are specifically manufactured to withstand the high temperatures required in baking, roasting and oven grilling.

KITTING OUT YOUR KITCHEN

THE BASICS

I dont expect that you will be rushing out to completely re-kit your kitchen or get specialist gadgets and equipment. Neither do I think that you should.

Its perfectly possible to cook effectively, economically, easily and enjoyably with a little improvisation and imagination.

The following are suggestions for items I find useful in the kitchen, but feel free to get as many or as few as you feel necessary or to add your own favourites.

GENERAL

Medium-sized Chinese wok (well seasoned cast iron or non-stick, preferably round bottomed)

Small- to medium-sized frying pan (you should be able to fry two eggs in it at once)

Small- to medium-sized deep lidded pot

Very tall lidded pot (for boiling pasta and blanching noodles)

Ladle

Fryer

Noodle blancher

Medium-sized steel mixing bowl

Large-sized steel mixing bowl

Easy to read kitchen scale (clearly marked in 10 g or 20 g graduations)

Medium-sized handheld balloon whisk

Medium-sized chefs knife (with a 20 cm long blade for almost any cutting/peeling/chopping job in the kitchen as its slightly curved blade edge makes it a very comfortable, versatile and efficient tool, unlike most other knives which are made for specific jobs)

Paring knife (for cutting/peeling fruit and small items of food)

Medium-sized chopper (parang)

Easy to use knife sharpener

Easy to use can/bottle cap opener

Easy to use vegetable peeler with stainless steel movable blade (for peeling fruits and vegetables that are too awkwardly shaped for the paring knife)

Medium-sized chopping board (for fruit, bread and ready to eat foods that require no further cooking)

Large-sized chopping board (for raw meat, vegetables and other foods that require further cooking)

Multi-use grater

Kitchen paper