Fresh homemade vegetable pasta by Foodies with Love

Look at these gorgeous colorful pasta! They are fresh homemade vegetable pasta. HOMEMADE.

Yes, they are lovingly made by Foodies with Love, a home-based baker and supermom!

Made from 50% pure vegetable puree.

NO artificial coloring and flavoring.

NO salt, sugar, oil, and egg (safe for babies 6 months to 1 year old).

List of flavors (vegetable puree in the pasta): pumpkin, green spinach, red spinach, french bean, broccoli, orange carrot, orange sweet potato, corn, purple carrot, beetroot, purple sweet potato, peas, wolfberry, red capsicum.

Pricing info can be found on this album by Foodies with Love.

Here's my recipe!

Homemade Vegetable Pasta with Cheesy Sauce

Ingredients:
(Serves 2)

1 cup mixed homemade vegetable pasta
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon unbleached plain flour
1 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded
1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup homemade chicken stock

How to:

Boil a pot of salted water over high heat. Add vegetable pasta into the boiling water and cook for about 5-8 minutes.

While the pasta is cooking, warm up milk in a pan over medium-low heat. Add flour and whisk until combined and the mixture thickens. Add in chicken breast, green peas, Cheddar cheese, and chicken stock. Stir continuously until the ingredients are coated with the sauce. Add some pasta water if the sauce is too thick.

Drain the cooked pasta and add into the pan. Mix well, then ladle into bowls and serve warm.

Can you see the colorful pasta peeking at you? They are neither too hard nor too soft. They are not mushy at all. That's how I like to eat my pasta.

Now, Foodies with Love also makes homemade vegetable spaghetti!

Aren't these little swirls of spaghetti pretty? The list of flavors is the same as the macaroni pasta above.

I love the rainbow colors of cooked spaghetti strands. Kids will really love these spaghetti as they are colorful and look very appealing.

Here's my recipe!

Homemade Vegetable Spaghetti with Egg Sauce

Ingredients:
(Serves 2)

1 cup mixed homemade vegetable spaghetti
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1 cup roasted chicken breast, shredded
2 cups English spinach

1 cup homemade chicken stock
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Salt to taste

How to:

Boil a pot of salted water over high heat. Add vegetable spaghetti into the boiling water and cook for about 5-8 minutes. 

While the pasta is cooking, heat up oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook chopped onion until translucent. Add chicken breast and spinach. Cook until spinach is wilted. Add chicken stock and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. Then, add in beaten egg in a stream and keep stirring for about 2 minutes until all ingredients are coated well with the sauce.

Drain spaghetti and scoop into bowls. Ladle egg sauce over the spaghetti. Serve warm.

For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/foodieswithlove

For orders and pickup locations, please contact Denise directly at 012-220 7265.

Announcement! 

Don't miss my previous blog post: Naturally leavened tri-flavor buns by Foodies with Love

Coming up next: Natural Leavened Hakka Xiban / Hei Ban / Steam Glutinous Bun


Foodies with Love is listed on Featured Mommypreneurs on joycescapade.com.

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Hotcakes with Strawberry Compote - #breakfastseries

Hotcakes with Strawberry Compote

This week at IHCC, we are cooking any Curtis Stone recipe that features fruits and the dish can be either sweet or savory.

Naturally, I make pancakes/hotcakes with fruit compote. These fluffy little round cakes make good breakfast choice without fail! I'm totally in love with making and eating pancakes.

Recipe slightly adapted from here.

Ingredients:
(Serves 2) 

For the hotcakes:
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
2 large eggs, separated
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon buttermilk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

For the strawberry compote:
1 cup fresh strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
Grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemon

To garnish:
Some fresh whole strawberries
Dollop of ricotta cheese

How to:

1. For the hotcakes: Whisk ricotta and egg yolks in a large bowl, then whisk in buttermilk. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into the ricotta mixture. Stir until just combined. Beat egg whites in another bowl with an electric mixer until stiff peak is formed. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter with a rubber spatula.

2. For the strawberry compote: Combine strawberries, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a pot over medium-low heat. Cook until sugar dissolves and the mixture is thick and syrupy. Remove from heat and keep warm. 

3. Melt butter in a frying pan over medium-low heat. Ladle batter into the hot pan and cook until bubbles form. Flip and cook the other side for another minute or so. Repeat until batter is used up.

4. Transfer and stack the hotcakes on plates. Spoon warm strawberry compote over the hotcakes, and top with fresh strawberries and a dollop of ricotta cheese.

I use local strawberries grown in Cameron Highlands, they are less sweet and more tart compared to their imported friends but are definitely more budget-friendly.

Strawberries and ricotta cheese. Yummy! Perhaps I shall try whipped cream the next round. :D

I'm linking this post with I Heart Cooking Clubs (IHCC) for this week's theme, Fresh & Fruity!

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Rotelle Pasta with Chorizo

Rotelle Pasta with Chorizo

This week at IHCC, we are cooking any Curtis Stone recipe that features either surf (fish and seafood) and/or turf (meat, poultry, and vegetables). I'm new to the term surf and turf so I did a quick search.

From Wikipedia, surf and turf or surf 'n' turf is a main course which combines seafood and red meat. The seafood used may be lobster, prawns, or shrimp, which may be steamed, grilled or breaded and fried. The meat is typically beefsteak, although others may be used.

Unfortunately, I don't cook seafood because my husband is allergic to shellfish. Lobsters, prawns, and shrimps are a definite no-no. So, I will have to choose a 'turf' recipe by Curtis Stone. :)

Coincidentally, my in-laws just came back from Europe and they brought back chorizo! So, I looked up Curtis Stone's recipes with chorizo. Well, he has quite a few and I settled with pasta with chorizo. He used bowtie but I changed mine to rotelle.

Recipe slightly adapted from here.

Ingredients:
(Serves 2) 

2 cups uncooked rotelle pasta
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup dried chorizo, cut into 1cm pieces
1 cup brown button mushroom, sliced
1 yellow onion, sliced
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut into halves
1/4 cup fresh cheese
1/2 cup baby rocket

How to:

1. Boil a pot of salted water and cook pasta until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water.

2. Heat up oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until hot. Add chorizo and cook until brown. Reduce heat to medium. Add mushroom and onion and cook until tender. Add cherry tomatoes and stir until combined. Off the heat.

3. Add drained pasta, reserved pasta water, fresh cheese, and baby rocket. Toss until well combined. Season with salt and pepper if necessary. Serve warm.

This bowl of pasta is so flavorful! But, I think I will reduce the amount of chorizo next round for a more balanced overall taste.

My toddler says, "Mama, wheels pasta!" He's absolutely right! :D

I'm linking this post with I Heart Cooking Clubs (IHCC) for this week's theme, Surf and/or Turf!

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Naturally leavened tri-flavor buns by Foodies with Love

If you're looking for delicious, non-commercial, home-baked buns made with natural ingredients and lots of love, I highly recommend this set of naturally leavened tri-flavor buns by Foodies with Love.

Denise, mommy of two little ones and also the founder of Foodies with Love, explains that her naturally leavened buns are made from natural yeast and they are 100% free from commercial yeast or other leavening agents.

When I first gotten my hands on a bag of these freshly baked buns, I was a bit taken aback by its weight. These buns were surprisingly weighty! I was expecting something light, you know, like those buns sold at commercial bakeries that you can sweep off a few packs off the shelf with one hand easily.

But no, don't be deceived by these buns' unassuming look. They are heavyweight champions in terms of weight, flavor, and taste. I'm forever a supporter of homemade food because they win in terms of zero preservatives and other harmful ingredients, and definitely highly nutritious for both kids and adults.

Let's see the flavors that we have here.

Photo above: This bun is made from black sesame, sprinkled with white sesame seeds.

Photo above: This bun is made from pumpkin, sprinkled with pumpkin seeds.

Photo above: This bun contains dried cranberries.

One morning, during breakfast, my toddler explored a bun with much curiosity.

"Mama, I think this bread can eat."

And he took a big bite!

Tip: To retain the freshness of the buns, keep them in the freezer. They can be kept in the freezer up to a month. Just steam or toast them lightly before serving. If you decide to leave them on the kitchen table, they are best eaten on the same day or latest, the next day.

For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/foodieswithlove

For orders and pickup locations, please contact Denise directly at 012-220 7265.

Announcement! 

Don't miss my next post whereby I will blog about recipes I cook with her bestseller: homemade vegetables pasta (elbow) and spaghetti! Woohoo!


Foodies with Love is listed on Featured Mommypreneurs on joycescapade.com.

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Four Cow Farm's Baby Care Range - 100% Natural and Organic Ingredients

In photo: Four Cow Farm's Baby Care Range (Baby Lotion, Baby Oil, Nappy Cream, Baby Wash, Calendula Remedy, Tea Tree Remedy)

Heard of Four Cow Farm? I did, about a year ago or so if I remembered correctly. But first, there are so many organic baby care and skincare players - both international and locally handcrafted - in the market. I have always been wondering how do we as mothers make our choices regarding which brand or range to buy for our kids and family?

Here's how I make my decision:

Research: Yes, I do research. There are plenty of information (reviews etc) online for international brands. For locally handcrafted brands, I try to meet the founder(s) personally to understand why and how they start making their own range.

Word of mouth: This can be a rather good indicator regarding how well received the brand is by consumers and vice versa.

Read the list of ingredients: The moment I spot an ingredient on the ingredients list that I can't pronounce at one glance, sorry, I won't buy.

Instinct / Gut feeling: As a mother, our maternal instinct is usually accurate, even if it's borderline paranoia. Lol. Hey, it's better to be safe than sorry, right? If I become doubtful just by reading the list of ingredients, I will put away that particular product, sometimes the entire range.

Having said that, now let's see why Four Cow Farm is worth the try.



In photo: My toddler likes Four Cow Farm's Baby Lotion. He says, "This makes my skin smooth." LOL.

Let's take Four Cow Farm's Baby Care Range for example. The whole range is made from premium food-grade ingredients, preservatives and emulsifiers. They never contain any parabens, propylene glycol, sulphates (SLS/SLES/ALS), cocamidopropyl betaine, artificial fragrances/colors, synthetic detergents, petrochemicals, mineral oils, lanolin, chlorinated water, phthalates.

Bold claim they have there, but if they dare to say so, I'm convinced to try. More information to digest on Four Cow Farm's Our Approach webpage.


Four Cow Farm's Baby Care Range
 

Baby Wash

- 100% Pure Castile Soap Baby Wash
- Made ONLY from Premium Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil, with NO palm or coconut oils
- Infused with Organic Echinacea Extract (soothes and calms dry and irritated skin)
- Free from foaming additives, fragrances and preservatives
- Excellent for babies, children, and adults as an all-over hair, face, and body wash
- Suitable for irritated skin, dry hair or scalp or those sensitive to chemicals
- May be used on skin affected by hives or eczema

More info on Four Cow Farm's website.

My verdict: It is almost impossible to find 100% Pure Castile Soap in Malaysia. Pure castile soap only contains olive oil and no other oils. This makes castile soap the gentlest form of soap to be used safely on our skin, especially for babies.

The no-foam feel takes some time to get used to it if you have been using foaming body wash for a long time and this is the first time you use castile soap. No worries, you will love it. I will definitely use this baby wash for my next baby.

Baby Lotion

- Made from:

• Pure Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Sweet Almond Oil (calming and anti-inflammatory effects)
• Pure Cold Pressed Apricot Kernel Oil (high Vitamin E content and skin-softening properties)

- Infused with Rosemary Leaf Extract (soothing effects)
- For daily use on delicate baby skin or normal/sensitive adult or children skins
- For regular, all-over face and body use to seal in moisture and protect from dry or chapped skin
- Excellent for soothing skin prone to redness and irritation

More info on Four Cow Farm's website.

My verdict: I'm not a lotion person because I don't like the sticky feeling on my skin or my baby's skin after applying. But this lotion is different. The moment it's absorbed, you can't feel a thing except for a silky smooth feel. Even my toddler can tell me how smooth his skin feels.

Baby Oil

- Made from:

• Pure Cold Pressed Apricot Kernel Oil (nourishes and protects with essential fatty acids and Vitamins A, D & E)
• Pure Cold Pressed Sweet Almond Extra Virgin Oil (nourishes and protects with essential fatty acids and Vitamins A, D & E)
• Pure Cold Pressed Macadamia Oil (absorbs to moisturize and restore)
• Organic Chamomile (calms and relieves skin)
• Rosemary Leaf Extract (soothes and freshens)

- A calming, soothing massage oil for babies or as a gentle moisturizer and cleanser for face and body
- May be used to soothe dry or irritated skin or skin affected by cradle cap

More info on Four Cow Farm's website.

My verdict: This baby oil will be a life saver for my next baby if ever he/she has cradle cap. My toddler had it all over his head and eyebrows when he was a baby. We had to hunt everywhere to get something to soothe his skin because I didn't want to use commercialized baby oil that contains mineral oils.

Nappy Cream

- Made from:

• Castor Oil (anti-inflammatory properties)
• Sunflower Seed Oil (moisturizing and safeguarding actions)
• Soy Lecithin (nourishing and strengthening anti-oxidants benefits)
• Zinc Oxide (protective qualities)

- A light, soothing daily barrier cream on baby's most sensitive skin
- For regular use after each nappy change, helps to protect skin and prevent the occurrence of nappy rash

More info on Four Cow Farm's website.

My verdict: Yay, no more chemical-laden tube-style nappy cream! I love this bottle because it comes with a pump! Last time those nappy cream in tubes were such a pain to use. It took a ton of patience and skill to maneuver the tube (unscrewing the cap and squeezing the right amount) and a wriggly baby. What a nightmare for first-time mom like me!

Tea Tree Remedy

- Made from:

• Beeswax
• Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Castor Oil (anti-inflammatory actions)
• Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Macadamia Oil (rich and moisturizing properties)
• Organic Tea Tree Pure Essential Oil (natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties)

- An effective and gentle all-natural salve for soothing and protecting skin affected by nappy rash, mosquito bites, scrapes, cuts and bruises

More info on Four Cow Farm's website.

My verdict: Every household needs at least one tub of this salve. Good for traveling too. Thanks Four Cow Farm for formulating this excellent chemical-free emergency balm!

Calendula Remedy

- Made from:

• 80% Organic Calendula-Infused Olive Oil (antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties)
• Vitamin E
• Organic Roman Chamomile

- A rich, emollient balm for soothing and calming inflamed or irritated skin
- Can be used on skin affected by eczema, hives, bites or contact dermatitis or for calming minor cuts, scrapes or bruises

More info on Four Cow Farm's website.

My verdict: I have never tried calendula salve before. But I'm really happy to learn that this balm is good to be used on skin affected by eczema and contact dermatitis. I'm allergic to cat's hair and I'll get contact dermatitis when in contact with it (e.g. on sofa, carpet, etc). Thank you for Calendula Remedy! I will bring it along with me when I'm traveling.

Learn more

Four Cow Farm website

Four Cow Farm Facebook page
Four Cow Farm Instagram page

   
Note: Free delivery within Malaysia when you order more than RM120 off the Four Cow Farm Malaysia store!
 

Disclaimer: Four Cow Farm Malaysia has kindly sponsored the Baby Care Range products, but opinions on this blog post are my own.

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