Chocolate chip & Sultana Cookies

I found this recipe in one of my cook books, but I have amended it just enough to make it mine.
I find with most sweet recipes, they have either too much fat, or sugar, so I always amend the recipe so it's not so sweet. (Plus it makes me think that they are healthier). We all really don't need the extra calories, especially when we also add chocolate chips!However, for savoury dishes, I always like adding more flavour & that usually works for me too.

I'm one of those people, who can't take a recipe word-for-word, but must make it my own by changing things. I hope you also do the same to my recipes.
That's what makes cookin' so fun!

Ingredients:
100g unsalted butter
1/2 cup soft brown sugar
1 tsn vanilla essence
1 egg beaten
1 tbsn milk
1 3/4 cup plain flour, sifted
1 tsn baking powder
1 cup chocolate chips (in this recipe I used both white & dark chocolate)

1/2 cup sultanas

Preheat oven to 180C & line baking tray with baking paper.
Cream butter & sugar with electric beaters in a large bowl. Mix in vanilla essence & egg, beating well. Stir in milk, flour & baking powder, then the chocolate & sultana bits.

Drop level tablespoons of the cookie dough onto the baking tray. Leave enough space between each cookie. Press lightly on each cookie with a floured fork. Bake for 15mis or until lightly golden. Cool on wire rack.

Family's secret Lamb Skewers

You've all heard about the 11 secret herbs & spices in KFC, but I can beat that & it's only got 3 herbs & spices! & tastes a-heck-of-a lot better!
I don't know whether I should be doing this, but I'm going to share the family's secret Lamb Skewers. You might have already heard about them in the Uyghur Restarant blog, but here's how you can cook them for yourself.
However, you do need to have Stainless Steel Skewers & a coal BBQ for authenticity.

Ingrediants:
500g Lamb
1 Onions
5 tbs Ground cumin (or more. The more the merrier!)
3 tbs Chilli flakes/powder
Salt

Instructions:
Cut up the lamb into 1 inch cubes. Dice the onions. Add at least 3tbs of cumin. Mix well. Adding any tenderising formula (i.e. milk, water, corn flour) is optional. Marinate overnight.

Skewer about 4-6 lamb cubes onto skewer. Discard the onions. Cook over coal flames for an authentic BBQ. While cooking, sprinkle more cumin, chilli flakes & salt over each skewer.
Everyone chats & eats straight off the BBQ.
Grab a skewer of lamb today!

However, if you're lacking the coal BBQ, you can still experience the taste, by frying the lamb in a pan including the onions. Add more cumin, chilli & salt to taste. This is just as great.

Simple Pancakes

Here's a Pancake recipe which even a toddler can make!

Makes 8 (12cm)

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/2 cup Self raising flour sifted
2 tbs caster sugar
1 tbs milk
3 drops of vanilla essence

Small amount of butter for frying

Instructions:
Mix everything together. Beat with electric mixer till smooth & has no lumps
Add more milk if you like it runny, or add more flour if you want it thicker.
Heat some butter on medium heat & pour mixture into pan. Turn pancakes over when bubbles appear.

I don't add a lot of sugar in my recipes, because you'll be adding Maple syrup or fruit to the Pancakes. It's not necessary to have them so sweet. Also, I've added lots of eggs, so at least the pancakes have more protein in them, which is better for kids.
Buy the real Maple syrup, as it's not as sweet & tastes better than the fake stuff.

Uyghur Restaurant

392 Prospect Rd. SA ph 8262 1400

This restaurant is far from being a fancy restaurant. Don't get turned off by the initial appearance. It still delivers what you came for; which is cheap, good, home-style cooking.

Tonight we had soupy pasta, lamb skewers and fried noodles. (It's called something better in Chinese, but you can easily point to the pictures in the menu). The hand-made pasta/noodles is freshly made & tastes better than any other pasta you've ever had before. I recommend any dish which has the pasta. Also you must get a serve of the lamb skewers as a side.









The soupy pasta isn't as good as my mother-in-law or Aunty-in-law, but I can't make them make it for me all the time : ) This place still serves as a great surrogate.

There are only a few dishes on the menu, but all of them traditional. You won't be disappointed.
If this is any indication; the restarant has only been open for less than 2 weeks. We have already eaten there 3 times.

Price range of dishes: $6-$20
Average cost to feed 2: $25
Child friendly but no high chairs yet
Service: still improving as it's a new shop

Do you know where Xin Jiang is?

Have you ever tried traditional food from Xin Jiang? Well you're just one of the lucky ones like me who have.

You may think, what is all the fuss about Xin Jiang food? Just sounds like any other Chinese food? Well it's not! Xin Jiang borders about 11 other countries including Tibet, Mongolia, Russia, India etc, it has many of those countries influences in the food. It is very far from the Sweet & sour pork, or Mongolian lamb, which you may think is Chinese food. It's probably closer to Turkish food than Chinese food.

I call myself fortunate as my Mother-in-law's family comes from that region and spoils us with that kind of traditional food whenever we request it!
But for all you "other" people, don't fret.. you also can enjoy this food @ Uyghur Restaurant 392 Prospect Rd, SA. ph 8262 1400.



Uyghur Restaurant
About Xin Jiang