Simple Beef Stew

Recipe:

Ingredients:
600 g beef (shin)  cut into 2.5 cm pieces
2 tablespoons plain flour
2 tablespoon cooking oil
1 big onions, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
3 big red tomatoes, coarsely chopped
2  carrots, cut into pieces (about 3 cm)
4 - 5  potatoes, cut each into 4 halves
5 celery sticks, cut into pieces
4 tablespoon tomato sauce
1 teaspoon pepper
*400 ml water
*1 cube chicken stock
125 ml (1/2 cup) red wine
3 dried bay leaves
chopped fresh parsley, to garnish

*note: may replace with beef stock

Method:
1)  Put the beef and flour in a plastic bag and shake to coat the beef with flour. Shake off any excess.
2)  Heat 1 tbsp oil in a deep heavy-based pan over medium heat.  Brown the meat well in batches, then remove the meat and set aside.
3) Add in the  remaining oil to the pan. Cook onions, garlic for few minutes, stirring frequently.  Return the meat and any juices to the pan with the tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, tomato sauce, water, chicken stock cube,, bay leaves, and red wine. Stir well, then cover and simmer over very low heat for 1.1/2 hours until meat softens . Season with salt and sugar if needed and serve garnished with parsley.

NOTE: if you prefer your sauce to be a little thicker, cook uncovered over high heat till the sauce thickens.

Creative Steamed Cupcake - 彩绘可爱蒸蛋糕

This is the latest  book written by a well-known Japan food blogger.  Ms. Junko-' Deco Steam Cake'. I am very inspired by how the Japanese present their food in such a beautiful manner.

Recipe: (Heart shape cupcake)
Ingredients:
100 g pancake mix flour (薄饼预拌粉)
1 medium size egg
30 g Castor sugar
30 g plain yoghurt
30 ml  fresh milk
15 g unsalted butter (melted)

1 teaspoon plain flour
edible red food colouring

Method:
1) Put sugar and egg in a mixing bowl, mix well with egg whisk.
2) Add in yoghurt and milk, mix well after each addition.
3) pour pancake flour, mix and blend well, then add in melted butter, mix until mixture is well combined
4) Take 2 teaspoon mixture from (3) into a small bowl, add in 1 teaspoon of  plain flour, a drop of red colouring, and mix well..Pour the batter into a small piping bag.
5) Pour the plain cupcake batter into muffin cups with cupcake liner until 70% full. Pipe the desired pattern you like on top of each cupcakes. Tap 3 -4 times  the bottom of the muffin cup to expel the air.
6)  Steam over medium low heat for 12- 15 minutes or until cooked.