Cookbook Challenge Week 11 - Mixed
I had no idea what this week’s challenge meant. Mixed as in fusion? The only thing that I was adamant was on the cookbook that I would use. I love Thai flavours and find it really hard to find seriously good Thai food in Melbourne. I guess my numerous trips to Thailand did not help the cause. The Thai food here is either too sweet or not spicy enough or just no flavour. Disappointing.
I can’t remember when I bought this cookbook. It’s The cook’s encyclopedia of Thai cooking by Judy Bastyra. The recipes in this book is easy to follow and it starts with an introduction of history of Thai street food, Thai spices, produce, condiments and basic cooking techniques.
Thai cookbook
Popcorn, choc tops and Coke is the usual junk food for cinema goers. But when I was a kid, it was kachang puteh that most cinema goers will be munching on. Ka chang puteh is simple roasted or fried nuts or beans. And so I got excited when I saw this recipe. The recipe uses only cashew nuts but since the theme was ‘Mixed’, it would be right if I used mixed nuts.
Ingredients:
- 45ml of peanut oil
- 600g of mixed nuts ( I used cashew, almond and pecans)
- 80ml of honey
- 150g of desiccated coconut flakes
- 3 small fresh chillies, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
- Salt and pepper
Mix nuts in pan with honey and hot oil
Method:
- Heat the oil and stir in the honey. Add the nuts and the coconut after 30secs and stir fry till they are golden brown
- Add the chillies with salt and pepper to taste. Toss all the ingredients until well mixed
Roasted coconut cashew nuts
I tore pages from old magazines and used them as paper cones. This was how ka chang puteh was served in the good old days. Not on glossy magazine paper but usually with old newspapers. It is a great party idea or just something to snack on at work 
This week’s list of everyone else recipes:
Ange from Vicious Ange – Lamb kibbeh with parsley & pomegranate salad; Beetroot & chocolate muffins
Rilsta from My Food Trail – Berry yoghurt muffins
Shellie from Iron Chef Shellie – Cherry ripe mud cake
Leigh from Chit Chat Chomp – English hot-pot of amazing summer greens & flaked gammon
Carolyn from Gluten Shmooten – The best winter veg coleslaw
Rizka from ini, itu – Mushroom & leek lasagne
Kate from Something by Kate – Lime & pistachio zucchini cake
Yours Truly from Atelier – Mixed vegetable soup (minestrone)
Agnes from Off the Spork – Persian jewelled rice with chicken
Yen from Food for Four – French toast with vanilla ricotta & berries
Maree from Melbourne Delectable – Raspberry & lemon tea
Sarah from The Sugar Junkie – Tomato couscous & salami salad
Bri from Bri Eats – Crispy risotto of marinated prawns with parmesan cheese & black olive tartare
Cherrie from Sweet Cherrie Pie – Mixed grill
What is your favourite cinema junk food? Do you bring your own?
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
I love it, such a great tasty snack mix
Love these nuts….sweet, saltish and spicy. I still love pop corns when go for movies.
.-= MaryMoh´s last blog ..Heart-Shaped Pikelets With Homemade Condensed Milk =-.
That’s so cool! Never heard of it before, but what a nice alternative to fattening buttered popcorn in a movie! I think I have to make this for my next movie night at home : )
.-= Trix´s last blog ..My Preserved Lemon Obsession, Part II: Tunisian Sandwich with Homemade Harissa =-.
what a great idea – looks delicious and probably a lot healthier than the usual choc top and pop corn!
That looks amazingly good. My go-to roasted nut recipe is the Union Square one with rosemary, cayenne, sugar, and salt, but this looks like a worthy adversary
And I tend to bring my own snacks to the cinema – some dark chocolate will do me nicely, thanks!
.-= Hannah´s last blog ..Chocopologie Bar with Burnt Caramel and Hawaiian Sea Salt =-.
Those nuts look really delicious! We always sneak in our own snacks, if feeling hungry. Nothing terribly exciting – mostly M&Ms.
.-= Y´s last blog ..Daring Bakers Challenge : Nanaimo Bars =-.
We have these roadside vendors who sell roasted peanuts in paper wraps just like that. I like this idea with spices and honey!
.-= Shirley´s last blog ..Sneak Preview =-.
I had no idea what it meant either
Looks fantastic though!!
.-= Iron Chef Shellie´s last blog ..Eating Out: The Boathouse =-.
I usually have popcorn for movies. This is a great alternative. Love the mix of flavors in here. Yum.
.-= Divina´s last blog ..Ten in 10 Challenge: Week Five =-.
Oh Penny, these look perfect! Btw, I have an award for you. Please feel free to drop by and collect the button. Have a wonderful day!
.-= kristy´s last blog ..Black Pepper Cheese Stick =-.
Adorable and now I’m really homesick for KL thanks =op Favourite cinema food? Something involving nuts, chocolates, preferably both! Or sweet popcorn. Why can I only find salty popcorn in Melbourne??
Ahh really interesting cinema food! I noticed that Imax now has roasted nuts among their offerings although these look much better!
.-= Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella´s last blog ..Whisk & Pin Cafe & Shop, Medlow Bath, The Blue Mountains =-.
love that beautiful glaze and with the chiles, these must be an awesome combination
.-= Drick´s last blog ..Making a good Roux =-.
I love the cone you made from magazine/newspapers. It reminds me of how the indian street vendors used to serve the kacang puteh in them back home.
.-= Ellie´s last blog ..Bourke Street Bakery’s Carrot Cake =-.
Savoury nuts! In paper cones! Oh I loves em!
Yep I’m a tightarse and bring my own snacks in. Natural Confectionery Company Party Mix is always a goodie, as are assortments of chocolate coated things. I have to admit though, it’s hard to go past a choc-top at the cinema, and I wouldn’t like to try sneaking one of those in from home.
.-= Conor @ HoldtheBeef´s last blog ..Daring Bakers hit the Olympic snowfields =-.
LOL, love the presentation! Very kacang putih-like
Sounds pretty tasty too. I miss the caramel popcorn we used to get at the movies in M’sia – I can’t warm to the salty version here!
.-= shaz´s last blog ..Malaysian Monday 23: Pineapple Tarts =-.
I am imagining how flavorful they are, spicy, sweet with fragrance of coconut … great to have some now.
.-= TasteHongKong´s last blog ..Double Cooked Pork Slices =-.
What a creative display with an even more unique recipe. Great job ~Mary
.-= Foodo´s last blog ..Brown Beer-Braised Pulled Pork =-.
Isn’t it sad when you’re used to eating a certain level of quality and authentic food but you can’t seem to get your fix anymore? I used to live in LA where Mexican, Thai and Vietnamese food were in abundance. Still struggling to find them here in Manhattan.
But the good thing about this situation is that it forces all of us foodies to get in the kitchen and make it ourselves! But don’t forget to use oven mitts when removing hot things from the oven
.-= Dhale´s last blog ..Buttermilk Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes & Lemon Curd =-.
Even in the old tored mag pages, the nust look so gourmet…yum:)
Ya, homemade kacang puteh! Hey, you can set up stall and I’m sure your business will thrive!
.-= Cheah´s last blog ..Coriander Chicken =-.
These are just beautiful Penny – I always forget how easy it is to make your own snack mixes like this – you've inspired me to give it a try soon!
.-= Mardi @eatlivetravelwrite´s last blog ..Old and new favourites =-.
Ooh, so this is what you brought along to the potluck party as well!
Looks delish – I missed out on trying some!
.-= Rilsta @ My Food Trail´s last blog ..USA here I come!! =-.
Can't go past a good choc top at the movies — unfortunately, a "good" one is hard to find these days. The ones at the Nova are the shiz.
My tight-arse movie snack tip: if you can handle the Melbourne Central cinema, go downstairs to the food/station level, where there's a really excellent Asian grocery store creatively named "Central Grocery". They have aisles and aisles full of cheap and crazy Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, etc chips, lollies, soft drinks. It's a zillion times cheaper than the candy bar, with the added fun of trying new/weird/delicious things. Mochi, krupuk, taro chips, wasabi peas, Vietnamese peanut candy, gummies…mmm. You could also hit Vic Gardens via Victoria St, too.
.-= Ruth´s last blog ..The youngest food blogger in Melbourne? =-.
Yes I know that place. I love all the naughty snacks. I am a big fan!
wow. So simple to make and looks so delish.
.-= Cherrie´s last blog ..The Cook Book Challenge – Week 11 : Mixed =-.
{ 2 trackbacks }