Cooking Rib Eye Fillet Steaks

I always buy steak but I am not really sure how to cook them so I always braised them. Though one would think that's ruining a perfectly good steak by boiling. Oh there are many recipes available online. One just have to find to her liking. But this tip is really helpful. I'll definitely do this as I have already fried the steak and will freeze them. Will put in the oven when it's time to eat them. This is a compromise for one has to cook enmasse on the weekend to cater for the weekdays. We enjoy some nice steak cook just before eating them at times (just like tumbling composter).

Cooking the Perfect Steak
For best results, remove the steak from the refrigerator about an hour before cooking. This will allow the steak to get to room temperature. This is really important if you are going to cook the steak blue, rare or medium rare.

I’d recommend using a grill plate with bars, or a char grill on a BBQ heat as they will give you the best results. Turn the heat to high, as it enables the natural juices to be sealed inside the steak.

Season the steak with sea salt, black pepper and macadamia nut oil, then place on the hot grill. Leave for 3 minutes and then turn 90 degrees, this will give you the char grill marks or criss-cross effect. Cook for a further 3 minutes then turn the steak over and repeat on the other side. At that point remove the steak and finish in the oven.

If you are able to finish the steak in an oven, do so, otherwise finish on the grill to the desired doneness. Rare to medium rare will just be a few minutes longer on the grill, where as medium and medium well will see a small pool of juice come up out the top of the steak after a few minutes.

The key to the perfect steak, is allow the steak to rest after cooking. Simply remove the steak from the grill or oven, place on a plate in a warm place for a ¼ of the cooking time. The reason you need to rest the steak is because the meat is all tensed up from the heat of the cooking and you need to allow the meat to relax.

Credits

*****

It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

Read More

Manners and Kids

Some really helpful tips in instilling manners to our kids from bodyandsoul.com.au.

Five manners all kids should learn

Saying "please" and "thank you": Eighty five per cent of people surveyed in a US poll a few years ago said they felt the world would be a better place if we just said "please" and "thank you" more often. And they may just be words, but throwing in a "please" or "thank you" can soften a command, or make a response sound friendly and respectful.
Eating like civilised humans: The subject of table manners could fill pages. But learning some basic politeness like not talking with a mouthful, not reaching in front of others and not burping, passing wind or talking about disgusting topics in public can take kids a long way.
Respecting others' voice space: If someone is talking – whether an adult or one of their friends – kids should learn it's impolite to interrupt. While teaching them to say "excuse me" is good, kids also need to know that saying it over the top of other is not polite.
Don't use rude or disrespectful language: Kids, like all of us, need to learn how speak politely to others and not use rude or inappropriate language and put-downs. This is not about swearing – some non-swear words can hurt a lot more – but continuing the theme of treating others courteously and with respect.
Respect differences: We live in a diverse society now with lots of different cultures, nationalities and traditions. Teach kids to embrace and accept diversity in others.

As parents, we are the first teacher and however the kids interact outside our house have at great time, something to do with how we have brought them up. And hope for the best that what we have instilled in them will live long and carry on (much like bearings).

*****

It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

Read More

Cold or Flu

I felt the onset Friday morning. My right nostril was clogged with a mild headache. I took paracetamol - the symptoms were manageable. I was alright - just a bit tired. We dropped by the chemist on the way to the supermarket to pick-up cold and flu medicine. I bought the generic one as I was told they are the same as that of the branded. It doesn't matter. But it's the third day now, and I don't feel any better. Last night, Mcj told me that the medication I bought is milder compared to that of the branded stuff. So today, I am taking the branded ones. Hopefully, I'll get better to go to work tomorrow.

But I wonder, what do I really feel. Cold or flu. I have been using them interchangeably without really knowing what is what. Thanks to about.com, I'm about to find out.

What is the difference between the cold and flu?

The common cold and the flu are both respiratory illnesses with similar symptoms. So how can you differentiate between the two?

The main difference between the common cold and the flu (influenza) is the severity of the symptoms.

Flu symptoms generally:
Come on quickly and severely.
Include fever, which tend to be higher and last longer (3 to 4 days) than the occasional low-grade fever that may accompany a cold.
Include body aches and severe tiredness or fatigue.

Common cold symptoms:

Gradually get worse over a few days.
Are more likely to include runny or stuffy nose than the flu.
Often include a sore throat, while flu rarely does.
May cause tiredness, but it is much less severe than the exhaustion that comes with the flu.
Do not usually result in serious health problems and hospitalizations.

Now, I know that I have common cold as although I don't wish anyone to have what I got (that's why no trip to the commercial playground equipment), it's not that severe. I reckon, plenty of rest and food with medication will do me good.

*****

It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

Read More

Bite Size

cup cakes, that is.

We've been buying the woolworths mud cupcakes but for the big day of The Tatapilla, he requested these iced cupcakes - along with the mud cupcakes and pirate cake. It was a hit. A co-worker commented that it isn't bad. You know, woolies stuff, I reckon sometimes are too commecialised but I am happy that we didn't ordered the cake and cupcakes from these so called independent overpriced bakery - as you know, in birthday parties.. kids are already too full to gobble up nice cakes.

Now onto presents received from friends who went to the party (no best doormats this time) but lots of really nice toys.

*****

It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

Read More

Going Mexican

Change is as good as a holiday. Yes, that's what we need in our meals at home. I've been cooking these days and sometimes, I ran out of ideas of what to cook. Mcj's favourite is (along the lines of htc smart phone as well) mexican - more on enchiladas and tacos.

All the ingredients are in the pantry now but we don't have the time to have some. But for inspiration, here's a recipe from taste.com.au.

Ingredients (serves 8)

2 long green chillies, deseeded, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon chilli powder
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
600g pork fillets
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 corn tortillas
1/2 small iceberg lettuce, thinly shredded
2 large tomatoes, thinly sliced
2 small avocadoes, thinly sliced
toppings, to serve (see note)

Add above ingredients to your shopping list
Method

Place chopped chillies, garlic, oregano, chilli powder and vinegar in a food processor. Process until almost smooth. Pour into a large, ceramic dish.

Add pork. Turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate, turning occasionally, for 4 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan-forced. Heat oil in a frying pan over high heat. Add pork. Cook, turning, for 5 minutes or until browned. Place pork on a greased baking tray. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until just cooked through. Stand for 10 minutes. Thinly slice.

Meanwhile, wrap tortillas in foil. Place on a baking tray. Bake for 10 minutes or until heated through.

Place tortillas on a plate. Cover with foil to keep warm. Serve tortillas with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, pork and toppings.

*****

It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

Read More

What's For Dinner?

Weekend dinners are usually easy to cook food like sausages, fish or left overs. If not, just frozen pastries and meat. Tonight, it not different. We had sausages and instead of having sausage rolls, I bought burger buns so we made do. Toss in some green salad and cheese. This dinner is a little bit too much for me - Mcj would soon put up plaques for me for the person with eyes bigger than her stomach. Simple dinner shared with my family. Priceless.

*****

It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

Read More

Cake or Pudding

This is my first try of making mud cake. I bought the chocolate on impulse and found that the recipe at the back is really easy so I made it last night. It looked quite nice before i put in the oven but it had colapsed when it was cooked as I have to leave it longer as required because the inside wasn't cooked quickly. This is all because of using gluten-free flour. I haven't found a secret recipe or tip yet when baking using gluten-free flour. There might be one as I have found that the cake cooks slower or longer than usual. Sometimes, it is moist or dry. Oh well, I just have to persevere and reward myself with funny t shirts when I have perfected a recipe.

*****

It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

Read More

Fibre-rich

This is probably for me as I seem to think that I don't eat as much fibre as I should. Well, actually I think that I dont eat as much as I should but I can only so much.

From bodyandsoul.com.au:

Here are four ways to get more fibre in your diet
1
Choose vegetables over salad

Salad vegetables such as lettuce, rocket and radicchio are delicious and aer rich in vitamin K, C, beta-carotene and iron. However, as a vegetable, they are low fibre choices. Enjoy your salads, but add fibre-rich vegetables to your diet daily such as cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots, beans and peas.
2
Replace fruit and vegetable juice with fruit and vegetables

If you have ever used a juicer, you will have seen the pulp left behind after extracting the juice. This pulp is fibre. Fruit juice, in particular, is high in sugar and low on the valuable fibre that fruit in its unprocessed form offers.
3
Less processed is best

When possible choose the least processed food option. For instance, eat brown rice over white rice and go for 100 per cent wholemeal bread over white or even multigrain. Whole grains contain double the fibre of their refined cousins. Taking this unprocessed concept further: eat potatoes with the skin on (even in mashed potato) or bake pumpkin with the skin – even the seeds too. With fruit, don't peel apples, pears or even grapes. Enjoy them: seeds, peel and all.
4
Brekkie fibre recipe

This recipe is a brilliant way of starting the say with enough fibre. Sprinkle a dessertspoon on your cereal; add it to smoothies or even yoghurt. Store in a sealed container in the fridge.

Mix together

1 cup ground LSA (linseeds, sunflower seeds, almonds) available from supermarkets
1 cup slippery elm powder
1 cup rice bran
1 cup desiccated coconut
1/2 cup psyllium husks
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp acidophilus powder

Well, at least I eat as much veggies and fruit as I can. I am not fond of drinking juice or eating dried fruit or anything that go through the barcode scanner individually. I like them in packs of greens, that is.

*****

It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

Read More

Strawberry Cake

Jens and I have just made a strawberry cake for the first time - checking up trade show accessories will come later. He's been wanting strawberry cake for almost two weeks. It's winter so it was possible as strawberries are in season though as of last Friday, they were still a bit dear.

The photo is available here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=226112864084901&set=a.168782609817927.42612.100000585667996&type=1&theater

We got the recipe from bestrecipes.com.
Ingredients:
Butter
Caster Sugar
Eggs
Self-raising flour (we used gluten-free)
a punnet of strawberries
milk
vanilla

The recipe is similar to banana cake except using strawberries instead of bananas. It was a hit - not too sweet and the strawberries balanced the flavour.

*****

It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

Read More

Tea-like :)

You Are Apple Cinnamon Tea

You are a warm and friendly person. You have a compassionate heart, and it shows. You are naturally sweet and kind. Your spirit of generosity is far reaching. You love to be cozy and comfortable. You are a natural homebody. And while you like to be at home, you're not a hermit. You love it when your friends make themselves at home at your place.

What Herbal Tea Are You?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes and 3 Stupid Ones

I am not a tea drinker so I cant really say what does cinnamon tea taste like.. Uh duh, cinnamon of course. I only drink tea if I have to.

I'd consider myself a homebody these days. I am already out 5 days in a week so I'd rather spend time at home with my family (could be playing with monster rc trucks) cooking, baking.. or simply have fun at home.

*****

It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

Read More