If you are like me, you probably own more than a handful of cookbooks. I like to thumb through the pages to admire the pictures, read and get inspired by them. They are a joy to collect even in this digital day and age. A physical copy that I can hold, bring from place to place, share with friends, and place sticky notes on.
Today, I want to share a special cookbook with you. It is special because the author is a fellow blogger and a dear friend. She is Denise of Singapore Shiok! and her latest cookbook is entitled Mum’s Not Cooking launched in July of this year. It was number 1 on Kinokuniya Singapore’s bestselling cookbooks list immediately following the official launch and stayed in the top 10, two months after! I received my signed copy personally from Denise when I made a quick stop-over in Singapore en route home from Malaysia in June before the launch.
I also met up with the lovely Shirley of Welcome to Shirley’s Luxury Haven for the very first time. We had a delightful lunch of multi-colored xiao long baos (Shanghai dumplings) and noodles in downtown Orchard Road before proceeding to Denise’s home for dinner. Denise’s cooking is par excellence. Two of the dishes she made was Curry Devil and Sugee Cake. The recipe for Curry Devil (simplified version) is found in the cookbook and I have made it several times now. She posted the recipe for Sugee Cake on her blog. Thank you both, Denise and Shirley for your generous hospitality.
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Please do visit Denise at her blog, Singapore Shiok! for more delicious recipes and gorgeous photography. Shirley blogs at Welcome to Shirley’s Luxury Haven where she shares delicious homemade food, restaurant reviews, and beauty tips. There are also many wonderful giveaways happening on her blog.
And now, for today’s GIVEAWAY…
Since I got home in June I had not been able to obtain a copy of the cookbook as it was out of stock at Amazon. Thankfully, Ro-Ri San (hubby) had a scheduled business trip to Singapore in September and he managed to purchase a copy for me. I am offering this purchased copy (unsigned) as a GIVEAWAY to one lucky reader who leaves a comment on this post. Please state where you are from so I know where this book is headed for. This giveaway is open to everyone worldwide until 9:00pm US Central Standard Time, Sunday, November 18th, 2012. The winner will be selected using a random number generator and will be notified by email. An announcement will also be made on a post to be published on Monday, November 19th, 2012.
All the best!
I have really enjoyed this wonderful cookbook. There are 104 recipes divided into nine categories. The recipes have been written with the novice and seasoned cook in mind. They consist of Singaporean as well as Malaysian favorites simplified and demystified. The instructions are easy to follow and many of the recipes have notes on ingredients and substitutions which are really helpful. Denise shares useful kitchen tips in Kitchen 101. There is also a Fridge and Pantry List at the beginning of the book and a conversion table and index at the end. This handy little red cookbook is perfect for a student, newlywed, transplanted Singaporean or Malaysian like myself, or anyone curious about the food of that region.
Here is a popular recipe from the cookbook that I have adapted slightly to suit the taste of my family. This stew is warm and comforting, perfect for this time of the year. Usually served with rice, it can also be eaten with crusty bread. I have reduced the liquid and made it a thicker consistency for that purpose. All the ingredients including cinnamon and cloves are easily available here. With Denise’s permission, I have included the recipe here.
- 2 tbsp canola oil
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 6 cloves
- 1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 whole chicken (3 to 4 lbs/1.5kg), cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
- 5 small potatoes (1 lb/450g), peeled and quartered
- 2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
- ¼ head of cabbage (8 oz/225g)
- Heat canola oil in a large pot. Fry cinnamon and cloves for 1 minute to release its aroma. Add onions and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add chicken pieces and allow them to fry for 3 minutes. Throw in the carrots and continue to fry for another 2 minutes.
- Pour in 2 cups (480ml) water. Cover pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and allow it to simmer for 15 minutes. Skim off fat as much as possible.
- Add potatoes and tomatoes and let it cook for another 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and then add cabbage. Continue cooking for 3 to 5 minutes. Turn off heat.
- Serve with steamed white rice or crusty bread.
Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎
Hi Bee Ren,
Your stew looks yummy, will be making it this weekend for the family with your easy step by step instruction. WOuld love a copy of the the recipe books as it would definitely warm up my kitchen and the tummy as the recipes are sure comfort food especially in these rainy days.
Thanks Kristen! The cookbook is really easy to use. All the best! 🙂
The stew looks hearty and delicious.
hallo Denise, Shirley
Biren, your lovely casserole is completely stealing the thunder from my stew LOL Thank you for your warm and lovely words, your friendship and for generously hosting this giveaway. I hope we get to meet again in not too long and spend another wonderful day together.
Hey Denise! I hope I did your recipe justice. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Mom also uses cinnamon in her stew but not cloves. The cabbage is new too.
It is my pleasure hosting this giveaway. I will try to swing by Singapore again the next time I visit my parents. It was so much fun catching up with you and Shirley. Thank you once again for your gracious hospitality. Please say “Hi” to your hubby for me.
Hi Angie, long time no see 😉 Hope you’re doing well!
Thanks Angie! 🙂
I remember this yummy chicken stew from Denise because her recipe and a picture of herself appear in the paper in September. I even cut out the paper as I also wanted to try this dish one day.
Do give it a try, Ann. It is really tasty. 🙂
Exactly the kind of comfort food I really need these days. Thanks, to you and Denise, for sharing it!
Hi Ruby, you’re welcome. Hope you try this – it was one of my grandmother’s signature dishes. Btw – thank you for the birthday wishes on FB 🙂
It is really easy to cook too. I think your family will enjoy it. 🙂
thanks for this giveaway!
The recipes look perfect for the cold winter days 🙂
Another good recipe to keep! Thanks for sharing, this is perfect for this time of the year…
What an interesting stew! Mine always have a can of chopped tomatoes and without the cabbage nor cinnamon and cloves. I must try this soon as I am looking for alternative non-tomato based stew recipes. I love the casserole dish, so pretty. That’s a lovely picture of you three ladies, I felt as if I know Denise already just from reading through her blog and the link to yours, Biren. Congrats, Denise! I am with you there, Biren, on having a hard copy of a cookbook, it’s a pleasure to thumb through pages of recipes and display.
I think you family will enjoy this stew DongXing. Like my mom, I do put cinnamon and tomatoes in my stew but not cloves and cabbage. The cabbage reminds me a little of corn beef and cabbage for St Patrick’s Day. Made it very sweet and tasty. Best of all, there are meat and veges all in one pot.
Yes, it is always nice to have a cookbook to browse. 🙂
Umm, the cinnamon cloves are a great idea. Can’t wait to try this!
Yay, thank you for the giveaway. The cook cover is so quirky, love it! I am sure this cookbook will come in handy too for my husband when me—his wife, is not cooking. 😛
Oh, and I’m a Malaysian that lives in San Francisco 🙂
The instructions in this cookbook is very easy to follow. I think you and your husband will enjoy it. All the best!
I’d love to get in this giveaway. I’m a Spaniard/American but I actually live not far from you, relatively speaking (in Minnesota).
Ahh…a Minnesotan! All the best! 🙂
I would love to be part of your giveaway! I have never cooked with chicken and cinnamon in the same recipe, so that would be something interesting to try. I am new to cooking and have found much needed help from the cookbook, “Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC KITCHEN 101: Secrets to Cooking Confidence” by author Holly Clegg. This a how to book on cooking, which includes tools, tips and recipes for anyone who wants to learn how to improve their cooking. http://www.hollyclegg.com
I will try the above recipe soon! I think Holly Clegg has given me enough confidence to try!
I think you will enjoy this cookbook as the instructions are very easy to follow. All the best!
Lovely comforting stew! Love that you had lunch with your foodie friends. Love the giveaway too. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend.
Wow I just stumbled upon your blog looking for a good recipe, tried yours and it was AMAZING! I just barely got married and it is hard to find good recipes with a picky husband. We live in California and on rainy days, it is great to have a nice stew or soup to warm up the day. Thanks!
Thanks for the compliment! I hope you visit often and enjoy the recipes. This cookbook is perfect for a newly wed. All the best!
The last time I left a comment on Denise’s blog, I was just one comment away from getting the prize giveaway. Fingers crossed this time, that the random number generator will stop at my comment number 😀
BTW, your casserole/ chix stew is gorgeous. YUM!
Thank you and all the best! Who knows, you may just be the winner! 😉
The stew looks delicious! It really is similar to the one my mom used to cook, and I cooked this at home too! My version has the addition of star anise. We love eating this stew with rice and have pounded sambal belacan as a condiment, yummilicious! The book sounds fantastic!
Have a great weekend, Biren!
Such a gorgeous stew! And I am sure that this latest book is just as wonderful as the previous! (Still waiting for my copy 😉
This is a really nice and hearty stew!
Thanx for stopping by my page. This stew looks really easy to mkae and i will definetely be trying it soon. Im writting from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. But im from Nairobi
It is always rainy here in Singapore these days. I would like to make this stew because it will be so comforting for this kind of weather!:)
Sure could use a cookbook like this- I have two medically challenged kids and am always seek easy recipe that doesn’t take time away from my busy schedule in caring for them. Thank you for the yummy stew recipe.
(I live in Northern Cali.)
Looking good Biren, wholesome and simple dishes is great for busy folks like me!:D Would be great to have this cookbook so I can experiment in my new kitchen when it is ready:)
What an exciting giveaway!! Love the stew recipe! I have to admit that I hesitate adding cinnamon to chicken dishes. I don’t know why, but I do. However, since I’ve seen it used a lot in Asian dishes, it’s definitely something I need to get over. thanks for the great giveaway!
Hello Biren, thks for the link-up & these pix reminds me of our wonderful meet-up. Awesome Giveaway here & it’s generating a lot of response 🙂 Love the pretty presentation, as always!
Hi Denise, congrats on your cookbook hitting the chart! You efforts are well paid-off & you must be ecstatic. Don’t work too hard, dear!
Good luck to all!
great giveaway! The cookbook looks and sounds fantastic and that stew- boy am i wishing I was having it for dinner tonight! Rich and exotic and delicious
Im from Michigan. I love cookbooks and love to try new food.
I’d love to meet you and Denise one day. That would be totally awesome! Does either of you have a plan to visit Washington, DC any time soon?
I would love to meet you too, Hyosun. Will contact if I am in the vicinity. 🙂
Hi Biren,
Love ur blog. I’m a fellow Malaysian but currently residing in Singapore…
Thanks for the recipe, it looks amazing and definitely a must try on a cold winter’s night!!
I am a Singaporean living in Australia and I just read a sneak peek of Denise’s book and saw her recipe for yew char kway. My day has been made as I contemplate making it today! Thanks to you and Denise for helping us home cooks by giving us amazing Asian recipes to follow!
My pleasure Chandini! I think you will love Denise’s cookbook.
I live in California. I love your blog and for all your Asian dishes. I love to try different recipes.
Thank you for the kind words. 🙂
This stew looks so yummy, I think I am going to fix this for the family tomorrow night.. I live in Oklahoma and haven’t had anything like this before..
Love your recipes, from Paris France!
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Biren, was looking for chicken recipes and landed on your site. It’s such a delight to see your posting on AFC channel..
I grew up in Manila but i am now working in jakarta and i get to enjoy english recipes from the net.. but indeed a real cookbook is nice to go through over and over again.
I’ll try this recipe as i self appointed myself LOL to cook lunch for my friends who just like to eat .
cheers!
melanie from jakarta
Thank you for your kind words, Melanie. All the best with the cookout! 🙂
A interesting recipe for a hearty stew AND a cookbook giveaway? What fun! I’m in Tennessee where these hearty dishes can be appreciated on cold nights. This looks like a good one to share with friends.
I love a good stew. This looks so yummy … From Anaheim, CA
I’ve never made a stew with cabbage in it, will definitely try your chicken stew… it looks yummy! As we’re getting quite cold here in Vancouver,Canada…comfort food like your good hearty chicken stew is a blessing. Thank you, Biren.
Hello from Germany!
This recipe is on my list to try, very interesting for me to add cinnamon to chicken! I love the step-by-step description and the professional pictures. The cover of the cookbook looks very nice!
Have a nice weekend! Irene
Oh my gosh, this stew looks wonderful! We are trying to eat meals from every country and this one will be on my list. I live in Virginia, but have traveled in America and Europe, my favorite things to do is try new foods.
My birthday is on Novembe 18th – so I would love to win this book as a birthday present!
I am going to follow your blog, everything looks so good.
Thank you for your kind words. Wishing you a Happy Birthday! 🙂
Love the title! LOL Looks like a great book, and that recipe looks tasty too!
Hi from North Queensland Australia.
Yum yum! I’ve wanted to make Eurasian chicken stew for along time now I have the perfect recipe! Thanks for your blog Biren I love reading it.
Good to know you enjoy the blog. Thanks you! 🙂
Biren, your chicken stew looks amazingly good and so comforting! I love all the wonderful ingredients!
Good to see you here Marie. Thanks for visiting. The stew was delicious. Will be making it again soon.
Awesome post, very simple and comforting 🙂
The chicken stew looks wonderful! Love trying new recipes!
This giveaway is now CLOSED! Thank you to all who participated. 🙂
I accidentally stumbled on your receipe and am excitedly waiting to try it tomorrow. Can you tell me how I can and where I can purchase the book. I live in Kuala Lumpur.
You may want to try Kinokuniya in Suria, KLCC.