HOME » Ask a Chef » October 2010
Can I use any pancake recipe if I want to make pancakes for Peking Duck or is it important to use a traditional recipe?
Paul Lau says: The Peking Duck pancakes can be bought in supermarkets but the ones in Spring Moon are homemade. Our pancakes have a strong aroma of flour, it's very soft and fresh and most importantly does not contain preservatives. Below is a sesame pancake recipe.
Ingredients: 600gm wheat flour, 120gm glutinous rice flour, 40gm sesame, 1lt water, 180gm lard. Method: Mix both flours with sesame on a work surface. Separately bring the water and lard to the boil, then mix with flour. Knead well to smooth dough: portion dough into rectangles, pan-fry on both sides until it rises. Serve. The pancakes can be made in advance and steamed just before serving.
I need to pack my 8-year-old's lunch box every day. What do you suggest that is tasty to an 8-year-old and can be made a day in advance and reheated in a microwave?
Florian Trento says: Use food he/she likes, don't start new or unfamiliar meals. With proper planning, most dishes can be done, such as those they serve in airlines.
Sauce is essential, it's needed to add moisture, since the food can easily dry out. Therefore, use food items which are in sauces or stocks such as pasta, stews etc. Avoid larger/thicker pieces such as chicken breast as it takes longer to re-heat, which dries it out. Instead, slice the chicken breast and mix it with sauce. Cover meat or fish etc with sauce, during reheating, the sauce will keep the meat or fish moist. Make sure the starch you serve stays moist as well, perhaps add a bit of stock to it when packing (cold). Avoid green vegetables as they loose colour during reheating and look even less appetising to an 8-year old. Also, ensure all food is thoroughly cooked and chilled before packing to avoid any bacterial development.
I like to cook with seasonal ingredients, what vegetables are in season and what can I cook with those?
David Goodridge says: Vegetables now in season are tomatoes and Jerusalem artichokes. Tomatoes are sweet and full of flavour, you can make tomato soup, essence for pressed terrines or sorbets just like what we have in our Gaddi's menu. For Jerusalem artichokes, you can make custard soups and sauces.
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