Here comes our favourite time of the year again! ⛄️❄️
It’s the time for fun and celebrations, catch up with our loved ones, and also to unwind from the busy year. Christmas can’t go without delicious food and feasting, and making food gives an extra touch of warmth and love. So, if you’re planning to get your hands dirty and do something special for your loved ones this year, we have 5 kitchen tips for you.
1. Toasting nuts
Toasting nuts heightens their aroma and flavour and creates a crunchy texture. To do this well, simply take out your frying pan, put it on medium heat, and flip it constantly to prevent burning. Another method is to bake the nuts in oven between temperatures of 160C to 180C for about 10 min (remember to toss them from time to time too to prevent burning). You can use these toasted nuts for cooking, baking or even eat them up by themselves.
You can use almonds 
Or cashew nuts 
We chose pine nuts! 
Tossin ’em on medium heat
2. Stuffed chicken
Stuffed chicken may be a Christmas tradition, but if handled improperly may pose a risk of food poisoning. When we think of making stuffed chicken usually think of putting vegetables into the chicken, and then cook them together in oven. However, this can lead to food contamination as the vegetables inside the chicken are at lukewarm temperature, whereas the chicken is at a higher one. It is better to cook the vegetables separately then stuff them inside the chicken later on for presentation.
3. Crunchy raw vegetables
Did you know that to make vegetables crispy you just have to rinse them in cold water and dry them (really dry)? Well, now you know! When you’re done, you can store them in fridge so they can remain fresh inside for 1-2 days.
Rinsing in ice water. Note: very little ice is needed 
Putting the veg into salad spinner 
Time to work those muscles! 
Important to remove all moisture to keep veg fresh 
We’re done!
4. Go for no-bake cakes
No-bake cakes is just simply the name it implies. It’s your go-to if you’re a beginner at making cakes this Christmas. Simply prepare the bottom crust with crackers, oil and sugar, seal it with quick baking (around 10 min at 160C), then top it up with an easy cream mix.
5. Make your own healthy drinks
Drinks can make you fat too! Alcohol, fruit juice and soft drinks are usually heaped with lots of sugar to give you the delicious taste and sensation in your mouth. Try healthier options – mixed fruit juice, mixed tea, brown sugar ginger tea, apple cider, and many more. There are so many alternatives out there, just waiting for you to explore! Here’s our favourite healthy drink – lemongrass tea.
Lemongrass Tea
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- Sugar/ actave nectar/ honey – to your own preference
- 4 lemongrass – slice thinly (only use the stem that has purple colour inside)
- Black tea – choosing this just for added layer of flavour
Steps:
- Boil water with lemongrass strips for about 10 min.
- Add in sugar. Do not overstir as this will recrystallise the sugar. Stop stirring once dissolved.
- Dip the tea bags and infuse the tea flavour into the drink
Cut away the roots 
Remove the first layer 
Cut into strips. Notice the purple circles in stem, we only want this part to make our drink 
Boiling the water 
Stirring 
Sieve and remove the lemongrass 
Add sugar and stir away! 
Towards the end, put in tea bags 
And there you go!
Special tips:
- The leftover lemongrass (stem without purple colour) can be boiled – this can help to remove grease in the kitchen and repel mosquitoes!
- The leftover stem can also be crushed lightly using knife and used as a brush for satays
Do you have any tips to share for cooking? Drop us a comment below, we would love to hear from you!
Here’s us wishing you a fabulous time with your family and friends, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ✨✨
Photos contribution: Chef Richard Ang
Ideas contribution: Chef Song Wong, Chef Richard Ang