*Sweet Valentine’s Treat* Coconut Marshmallow Fudge

Ingredients (Yield: 12 bite-size pieces)

1 cup Mini Marshmallows

1 cup Desiccated Coconut, Unsweetened

3 tbsp Milk

1 tbsp Butter, or Soft Margarine

½ tsp Vanilla Extract

¼ tsp Cocoa Powder

    Red Food Coloring

3 tbsp Sugar (Optional)

How To

     1.      Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray.

    2.      Heat milk in a small sauce pan on med-low heat till warm (add sugar at this point if preferred). Stir in marshmallows. Whisk constantly to avoid sticking to the bottom.

    3.      When all the marshmallows are melted, add the desiccated coconut and vanilla extract. Turn off the heat. Whisk till well blended.

    4.      Divide the mixture into two equal parts and tint half with cocoa powder and the other half with red food coloring. Make sure to add a drop at a time to reach the desired shade. I used about 2 drops of my gel food color to produce the color in the pictures. Gel food colors tend to give more vibrant colors than liquid food colors. Paste food colors are give the most intense colors and should be use with caution.

    5.      Pack the colored mixtures into the loaf pan. Layer one color at a time.

    6.      Be creative and decorate as you wish! (heart sprinkles would be cute)

    7.      Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set.

8. Remove from the pan. Cut into bite-size pieces with your favorite cutter.

9.    Pack into cute treat bags/gift boxes for your sweetheart~

This “fudge” recipe is quick and simple. If you skip the sugar, these are not too sweet. Great for health-conscious sweethearts. I’m sure Valentine’s treats need not to be too sweet because your thoughtful hearts are the sweetest gift after all. Have a wonderful Valentine's~xoxo

Rice Rolls with Homemade Peanut Sauce

     This recipe is so addictive but healthy and nutritious at the same time. It will give you an energy boost because of the iron and protein you are getting. No guilt to indulge.

      1. Dice the vegetables of your choice into equal size pieces

What are these? The magic to create tasty and nutritious peanut sauce. From left to right:
Oyster Sauce, Sesame Paste, Honey and Creamy PB

2.   Add 2 tbsp of creamy peanut butter, 1 tbsp of  oyster sauce, 1/2 tbsp of sesame paste, and about 1 tsp of honey into a measuring cup, whisk together and dilute with water till the sauce reach about 1 cup volume

    3. Preheat 2 tbsp olive oil in the pan and cook the rice rolls on med heat for about 3-5 min and pour in the sauce, cover and simmer on low heat (my stove setting between 2-3) for about 10 min

  4. Mix in the vegetables and cook for another 5 min till all the sauce is absorbed and vegetables become tender

  5. Decorate as you wish and enjoy~

Quick and Healthy Yam Dessert

Craving for sweets? These cute yam bears are perfect for a healthy snack, light dessert or lunch boxes~

Ingredients (yield about 5 bite-size bears):

1 Medium purple yam (or sweet potato)

1 tbsp Butter (or soft margarine spread)

1 tsp Honey (optional)

How-to:

1.      Clean and skin your yam or sweet potato, cut into equal size pieces, steam for about 15-20min till thoroughly cooked (when you can poke through the largest chunk easily).

2.      While hot, add 1 tbsp of butter or soft margarine spread, mash all the pieces till they become a creamy paste consistency. You can add some honey at this point if you prefer sweeter bears. Honey will make the paste stickier so they hold shape better.

3.      Fun Part. Shape the paste with any moulding tool you have. I made them into bears, but they can might as well be bunnies or hearts or anything you want them to be J

4.      There you have it! Cute desserts that might be too cute to eat~

*CREAMLESS" Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Step 1: Prep your ingredients

• Remove leaves and stems of  one head of cauliflower. Cut into equal size pieces.
• Dice onions and garlic cloves
• Slice mushrooms

Step 2: Sauté Vegetables

• Melt soft margarine and add onion and garlic
• Sauté till aromatic on med-low heat
• Add cauliflowers and stir till all the ingredients are coated with the soft margarine            

Step 3: Simmer

• Add in broth (vegetable broth works, too) and bring to a boil  
• Simmer on low-heat for about 20 min
• When make sure the cauliflower is softly cooked, season with salt and pepper, toss in mushroom slices and cover the lid for about 10 min till the soup has cooled and mushroom slices are cooked

Step 4: Blend  purée till  smooth          

                     

Stuffed Tofu Pockets-Vegetarian Variation #1

• Slice open tofu pockets, remove the inside and reserve for later

• finely chop carrots and celery

• Add soft-boiled taro chunks with the inside of the tofu

• Add Olive oil mayonnaise and mix well

• Stuff it all in~

• Completes the nutritious lunch with vegetables and rice
• Sprinkle sesame seeds for decoration :)