Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers (Vegetarian)

Bread Pudding

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:58:00 +0000

Do you have a finicky loved one who hates crusts on their sandwiches? Don't throw out the crusts! Turn them into a simple bread pudding. This I made with leftover crusts from a raisin bread and added craisins. Serving it warm is perfect on a cold winter's day.

Recipe
Soon to come

Fig Jam

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:49:00 +0000

There is this giant Fig tree in our backyard. Throughout the season, there's good pickings for months and months. The birds are also the frequent pickers, so have to get to them first. I pick some of them and put in the ziploc bag, store them in the freezer for future use. Now, making figs jam is easy. Just sugar, wine, vanilla extract and water and of course, figs.

Measurement:-
1/2 full 9" x 9" pot
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups Apple Cider
3 Tbsp Vanilla extract
1 cup White wine
Water to cover the whole figs

Methods:-
Just cook until the texture is like a jam. It is all about your preference, whether you like it thick or smooth or light or thin.

Apple Strudel Pie

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:51:00 +0000

I've made this pie before, but it's become one of my regular desserts to make. This time, I made it for our friend, Cecilia, in Boulder, Colorado when we were staying there. This, I promise you, will be a hit at any party.

5 am Coffee Cake and 5 am Scones

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:46:00 +0000

I call them 5 am coffee cake and scones, because I couldn't sleep one night, so just decided to get out of bed and start baking. It reminded me of the days when I was a baker and used to wake up early and make all the sweets for the customers who would soon be coming.

Recipe:
Soon to come

New Home, First Meal

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:42:00 +0000

I just wanted to share this picture with everyone. Gregg bought his first home, and I cooked him his first meal here. As you can see, we had no patio set, no tables, no chairs, so a $3 Home Depot bucket became our dining chair. I made my famous fried rice, and as you can see, Gregg was as happy as can be, :)

Summer Quench

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:34:00 +0000

This drink is good to quench your thirst in summer. Watermelon is one of the few fruit which really cure your thirst immediately. I blend the watermelon and cran-rasp juice together in a blender. Add some cubes of ice and wola........ enjoy the summer quench.

Sticky Rice (Jung)

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:01:00 +0000

My mom taught me how to do this recipe, over 25 years ago, so this is a tribute to you, Mom! It took me all day, but I was so excited and so proud that I could do this, remembering back from my childhood, and trying to do it just like Mom did.

Ingredients:-
Vietnamese or Thailand Sticky Rice
Bamboo leaves
Red beans
Black eye peas
Dry shitake mushroom
Green onions
Chinese 5 spice
Vegetable oil
Salt
Strings (for tying)

Methods:-
It takes some practise to get this done. However, it is fun to make Jung with friends, neighbours and family members.

Tofu Curry

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:58:00 +0000

Again, you see I'm doing a curry. A curry can be with anything: meat, chicken, vegetables. This time, since I was serving with other meat dishes, I balanced it out with a vegetarian curry.

Ingredients:-
1 can Coconut Milk
2 tablespoon Yellow Curry Paste (Thailand)
1/2 cup Chopped Onions
2 stalks smashed lemongrass
2 tablespoon Vegetable oil
Salt and Sugar to taste 1 packet Soft Tofu (cut into cubes)
1 bunch Asparagus
1 zuchini (cut into cubes)
few Cherry tomatoes (cut halves)

Method:-
1. Use a 8" pot or bigger to cook this curry and put medium heat.
2. Caramelised the chopped onions with the vegetable oil.
3. Add in curry paste and lemon grass together, stir fried a little until the oil changes its color to yellow.
4. Add zuchini, asparagus and tomatoes. Stir for a minute or two.
5. Add in the coconut milk, fish sauce and tofu. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes.
6. Add salt and sugar to taste, should be a little sweeter side but maintain the creaminess of the coconut milk. Garnish with cilantro.

Citrus Cabbage Salad

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:56:00 +0000

Again, balance out two different tastes. I wanted to add sour to a cabbage salad with lemon, so then add sugar to balance it out.

4 lemons
Lemon Rind
Mint
Cilantro
Peanuts
Sugar
Cabbage
Recipe
Soon to come

Homemade Beignnet

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:52:00 +0000

It was great going to New Orleans and trying the Creole and Cajun food. Everyone told me I had to go to Cafe Du Monde and have a beignnet and a cup of coffee. I thought, first of all, that it was very interesting, that it wasn't New Orleans natives that were working in the restaurant, actually everyone was Vietnamese. The beignnet was fluffy and full of powdered sugar. I knew instantly I could make my own. So this is my version:

Ingredients
Phyllo dough
Coconut flakes
Brown sugar
Powdered sugar

This is very simple very easy, so when you want a little taste of New Orleans, make a batch of these.

A Little Love

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:31:00 +0000

I HAVE FOUND IT! Well, actually I made this, but what I found is my signature dish! This is it! I'm calling it "A Little Love". It's called that, because you can just put a little of this delicous sweet spread on something, and you're going to be in love!

You can use it on a warm roll, or a piece of toast, or add on a cinnamon roll.

It's better than butter! It's a little love.

Watch for it soon on sale at http://www.angelnet.com/

So the recipe will be my secret recipe.

But I will tell you this.

It is made with love.

I hope you all enjoy, and have a little love!

Pear Cobbler

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:28:00 +0000

If you have a pear tree that's dropping pears faster than you and your neighbors can eat them, make this recipe. It's soooo good warm with some ice cream or better yet, I served it with some warm coconut cream and drizzled it on top.

Ingredients

8 pears, cored and sliced

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 stick butter

3 eggs

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup flour

Recipe

Layer the pears in a glass or ceramic pan
Stir together the sugar, butter and eggs
Then add in water and oil
Finally stir in the flour
Pour this mixture all over the layered pears
Bake at 350 until brown, and a little crisp, about 40 minutes

Baking is easy as pie, well, in this case, easy as pear cobbler, :)

Soft Shortbread cookies

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:25:00 +0000

Usually shortbread is so hard, I like this recipe because the shortbread comes out nice and soft. The secret is not to overbake it. If you like things soft, always underbake it, that's why Mrs. Field's was so successful. I like it this way.

Ingredients
- 1 cup cold butter, cubed
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- salt
- 1 tbsp cold water
- 1 tsp vanilla

Recipe
Mix the ingredients together
Knead with your hands
Cover in saran wrap
Put in fridge for 1 hour
Take out of fridge
Roll out with rolling pin
Cut whatever shape you want
Bake 325 for 15 minutes

After cools down, spread filling like an oreo, and create a shortbread sandwich!
(I used my apple strudel filling. Note that this is used in so many of my recipes. You can make a batch, and put it in the freezer, and just take out what you need and use in countless dishes)

Crunchy Croutons

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:23:00 +0000

Croutons are probably the most basic, common, simplest leftover anyone can do. DON'T THROW AWAY THE OLD BREAD. Yes, it might be a little harder than you like. That's fine, it's time for croutons.

Cut into cubes, drizzle with olive oil, add some garlic salt and toast in a baking tray in an oven for a few minutes or even your toaster oven. You can now save for days in a zip loc bag and serve them on your favorite salad.

Fennel Salad

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:21:00 +0000

Salads can be scrumptious, and in fact be a whole meal. This fennel capsicum salad is healthy, delicious and will seem truly gourmet to whoever you serve it to.
Ingredients

1 Bell Pepper (Capsicum)
1 Fennel
6 Cherry tomatos
1 Avocado
1/2 teaspoon crushed peanuts
1/4 orange, slices
3 tbsp orange juice
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp honey mustard bourbon sauce

Simply chop the solid ingredients above, add the orange juice, slices, salts, and a honey mustard bourbon sauce (can even find this in Safeway), serve and enjoy!

Coffee Cake with Apple Strudel Topping

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:17:00 +0000

My tip here is if you don't have sour cream, DON'T RUN TO THE STORE. If a recipe calls for sour cream, simply add some vinegar to some milk, and stir until it curdles. Then add it to the recipe, and you have just added sour cream. Here I used for a coffee cake I made, and added my apple strudel recipe on top.

Orange Truffle Salad

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:30:00 +0000

The beauty of this dressing is you don't see any dressing. A clear dressing is something different, where you see the beauty of each food through a transparent glossy glaze. What makes this recipe luxurious is the Truffle Oil. If you can find a reasonable truffle oil, it's worth it. It can last a long, long time in many different recipes. The freshness of the orange juice, the richness of the truffle oil, the sensuality of the orange slices, makes this salad come together in one explosive taste sensation!

Ingredients:
Butter Lettuce - 1 head
Truffle Oil - 1 tsp
Olive Oil - 1 1/2 tbsp
Garlic Salt - 1 tsp
Orange - 2 sectioned
Orange Juice - 3 tbsp
BBQ Seasoning - 1/4 tsp
Candied (Glazed) pecans - 2 tbsp (You can buy this in a store, or make homemade)

Recipe
Mix all ingredients together
Toss

Plate it, eat it, and you're in heaven!

It's Good to Go Green

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:53:00 +0000

I don't know how brussel sprouts got their bad reputation. I love brussel sprouts. Make them like this recipe for your loved ones, and you'll change brussel sprout's reputation, one person at a time.

Ingredients:
Dried shrimps - 1 tbsp
Brussel sprouts - 3 cups julienned, shredded or chopped
Olive Oil - 2 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Curry powder (optional) 1 tsp

Recipe

Heat the oil on medium heat

Put the shrimp in (You might have to go to an asian market to get this, BUT GO! You'll find so many things - get some fish sauce, oyster sauce, hot sauce, greens, live seafood. You'll find a world of new tastes for a great price)

Fry the shrimp for a few seconds until it's brown

Add the brussel sprouts and stirfry until some is brown, for that great caramelized taste

Add salt and curry powder (if you'd like a little kick)

Stirfry again for another few seconds until well mixed

Serve with some rice, and brussel sprouts might become your new favorite veggie dish.

Queer Dada

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:51:00 +0000

It's really called Kueh Dada, but this was for dessert at a gay party, so the name stuck. It's a Malaysian dessert, the place where I'm from, so it was fun introducing it to my friends. It's sweet and coconutty, so if you like both of those, you'll love this.

Recipe:
To Come

"No More Orida" French Fries

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:47:00 +0000

Money can be tight. Don't buy frozen french fries, when you can make them for pennies. It's so easy to make french fries. And bake them, they're even healthier!

Peel a couple potatos
Cut them in julienne slices
Put them right on the cookie sheet
Add a little olive oil, salt and pepper
Mix everything together
Put evenly on the cookie sheet
Bake in oven at 375 degrees until brown

Healthy...Simple....Inexpensive...Delicious!

Soft Gingerbread Cookies

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:11:00 +0000

You know what I'm talking about - those storebought gingerbread cookies are hard as a rock. I made this recipe up an hour before meeting my boyfriend's family for Thanksgiving, because I wanted to give everyone a little treat. We didn't even have cookie cutters, that's ok! We drew out a gingerbread pattern from online, made a wax paper template, and cut them out ourselves from the dough!

2 Eggs
butter - softened- 1 1/2 sticks
Vanilla extract - 1 tbsp
Brown sugar - 1 cup
white sugar - 1 cup
ginger powder - 2 tbsp
maple syrup (leftover from a friend in Canadawho gave me a souveneir)
- 1/4 cup
baking soda - 1 1/2 tsp
all purpose flour - 2 cups
wheat flour - 1/2 cup

Beat butter,brown and white sugar, and syrup until well mixed
Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat on medium until slightly fluffy
Then add the flour and baking soda, and mix well for a few seconds
cool the dough a little in the fridge, roll out, put on a sheet pan, bake at 375 for 10 minutes or less until the edge is a little brown.

Then take out and cut into gingerbread shapes, and add quick frosting touches. You'll have a soft homemade gingerbread cookie that everyone will be talking about!

Simple Salsa

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:07:00 +0000

Salsa's a very healthy snack that you can whip up in under two minutes. Again, here I added my leftovers - I had some extra golden raisins and believe it or not, some cocktail onions that were at the back of my fridge. I chopped some fresh tomatos and garlic, took out my favorite Sun Chips and sat down and enjoyed a little tv with my healthy salsa snack. Go ahead, take a load off, rest your feet on your table, and crunch away!

"Don't Throw The Pumpkin Out!" Soup

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:03:00 +0000

I know. That pumpkin's been sitting around decorating your place all through November. Maybe you're tired of looking at it, but "Don't Throw The Pumpkin Out!" Use two ingredients and turn it into a perfect pumpkin soup

Cut it into four slices, scoop out the seeds, put on a baking sheet and bake in the oven. Bake for an hour
Saute some brown mushrooms
Add the pumpkin insides to the brown mushrooms, add some water and simmer until the sauce thickens
Puree everything. Put back into the pot, warm up and serve.

It's perfect as is, but if you have a little truffle oil, add a drizzle, and it's divine!

Haka Mom Soup

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:51:00 +0000

This is a tribute to my Mom. My mom always used to make this very delicious and nutritious soup for me. We would have it on special occassions. Now I make it for my friends on my special occassions. It's fun for parties, because you can set out on the table each ingredient in different bowls, and then everyone just adds their favorites to make their own unique soup!

Recipe
Cooked rice

Chopped long beans
peanuts
fresh dill
onions
cabbage
pickled radish
chinese brocolli
chives
broth - chinese oolong tea, or dark tea, sauteed spinach, mint or basil

Spoon some rice into a bowl, add any of the ingredients above, add a small amount of broth, and enjoy!

Creative Cookies

luv2luv3g@yahoo.com (Chef Chong's Leftover Makeovers) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:02:00 +0000

Don't make "not knowing a good recipe" stop you from baking creatively. You don't need any recipe to cook. All you need to do is create what you feel like. For example, my boyfriend felt like having some cookies. I just looked in the cabinets, saw that we had chocolate chips and went from there. Don't know the perfect amounts of each item? That's ok! Cooking is always an experiment, and that's how some of the best recipes come to be, by just trying to create something! So here I blended together eggs and butter and sugar and brown sugar. Then I added some vanilla, some baking soda and the chocolate chips. To add a little more flavor I tossed in some milk chocolate toffee chips. Within 10 minutes, without thinking, the smell of chocolate chip cookies were in the air. And there's nothing like a warm chocolate chip cookie in the winter!