The process of creating new dishes

Where to begin. Honestly, it feels like a blank. Starting to post regularly after a long dry period is slightly tough. Of course, if I really wanted to, I would. However,  I feel like this is not where my focus should be, right now. This should explain my lack of posting. In saying this, though, I am doing really progress with my food journey. As mentioned in my last post, I am enthusiastically pursuing my culinary adventure, especially in the production classes. 

I will try to post at least once per month.This blog has really helped me in so many ways. When I had quiet time, this is where I used to fill the days. I would find myself sorting through endless photos to post. I can still vividly remember when I began this blog, it is when my real journey towards food became alive. I have always been mesmerised and drawn to the creative process behind food: to create dishes that are not only visually appealing, aesthetically soothing, but also taste wonderful, smells delicious and are super nutritious. It is such an intricate process to get the balance of flavours right, as well as the textures. I have slowly become familiar with ingredients combination, what goes well with what, like for example, lamb and rosemary, tomato and basil, apple and cinnamon. Something that I have become increasingly more accustomed to is making use of seasonal ingredients and what I have on hands. Letting the mind works and the creative processes loose.

Lately, I have started to try creating more dishes. I have finally managed to bridge the wide gap between reading a recipe and actually making it. You won't know until you try. I enjoy reading cookbooks, looking for recipes, but I would always end up with a massive collection of recipes, yet to be created. I will additionally watch countless of cooking shows without taking any action whatsoever. I am finally embracing the power of reproducing dishes, adding my own twist, plating up and of course, devouring the amazing food. The key is to getting started and you never know where it might lead you. So TRY, TRY, TRY........

Here are a few dishes that I put up along those lines during the past few weeks.

Steak with cauliflower puree, sauteed spinach and grilled cauliflower florets

Served with carrot soup

Spanakopita - spinach feta pie with lentil and roasted beetroot salad and charred onions

 

Pork fillet with onion puree, sweet potato and charred onions

Pulled pork

Pulled pork burger with coleslaw and oven roasted sweet potato chips

Pulled pork burger with parsnip chips

Pan-fried salmon with pea puree, sauteed spinach and pea and garlic bread

 

Chicken schnitzel with potato mash, braised red cabbage and salad dressed in light honey vinaigrette 

Pan-fried baramundi fillet with carrot fritter and carrot puree

Steamed fish with lemon sauce, sauteed spinach and asparagus

Enjoy the journey. 

Throwback Thursday

It's officially Spring! I cannot believe the last time I posted, we were in the middle of Winter. Rest assure, it is still cold, but I can feel the warmth coming along. I have been so busy- literally speaking. The good thing though is I have been managing quite well with everything (not including posting ;p). I'm so glad we made it through winter. I did get a sore throat last week, but it is easing up. I was so happy of not catching a cold and bam. I had plenty of honey and ginger tea. Yes, I am a ginger convert. 

Since I have been overwhelmed with work and what not, I have not been cooking a lot. I tried baking pork meatballs or had my hand a vegetable pickling- easy process. Other than that, I have started pastry classes and learning a few tricks here and there. 

As per usual, these are few snaps of meals I cooked last month.

Pan-fried salmon with minty pea puree and roasted cherry tomatoes

Steak with sweet potato and salad

Chunky vegetable and bean soup

Steak, polenta, asparagus and sweet potato chips

Steak with mushroom, sauteed spinach, sweet potato and garlic bread

Caesar salad

Vegetable pickling:

Carrot, white and purple cabbage and red radish.

Throwback to last year

Christmas Eve already. I realised that I have not really posted any of the dishes we ate last year for the Christmas and New year season. I have been really busy during that time. Hence I have not been posting a lot and neglecting this blog as a matter of fact. I am now redeeming myself by posting a few snaps of dishes we had. 

Sometimes you just get caught up with life. After watching The Little Prince (one of my favourite books ever), I can truly understand and reflect on how when we grow up, we keep forgetting (most often inadvertently) what is most important. We take too much time focusing on what is not essential, engrossed in our busy life. It's good sometimes to pause and reflect. It is a great step to cultivate and nourish yourself. I think this is a really good period of the year to renew yourself and recharge your batteries to positively shape your life for the coming year. So cheers to Thriving.

Beef steak, with asparagus, mushroom and yellow grape tomatoes

Beef patty burger with beetroot, tomato, salad and chips on the side

Chicken breast tender with sweet potato mash, mushroom, salad and cherry tomatoes

Chicken wrap with avocado, spinach and tomatoes

Green smoothie to detox

Banana bread

Tuna steak, sweet potato mash, avo, salad mix and grape tomato

Throwback Thursday (Japanese)

I just made some sushi at home and I thought of posting some few random photos of Japanese places I tried. Sushi is one of my favourite on-the-go food. They are not that cheap though, so I do not have it on a regular basis. I have seen some 'healthier' sushi options at some restaurants, using brown rice or quinoa instead of the white sushi rice. I personally think that this is a great offer as this brings more texture to the rice filling.

Sushi from Sushi sushi

Miso soup from Osaka Sushi

Spring roll and sea weed from Osaka Sushi

Some deepfry potato ball from Osaka Sushi

Chicken bento from Osaka Sushi

Teriyaki salmon bento from Osaka Sushi

Sushi Izu

Miso soup and sashimi from Taku Japanese Kitchen

Deluxe set from Taku Japanese Kitchen

Chicken katsu bento from Nagoya Sushi

Teriyaki beef bento from Nagoya sushi

Agedashi tofu from Taka

Teriyaki salmon bento from Zensaki

Teriyaki beef bento from Mayo Mayo Japanese Sushi