#FIRSTLOOK: “EASY-BAKE BATTLE: THE HOME COOKING COMPETITION”

Inspired by elements of the Easy-Bake Ovens we loved so much as a kid, EASY-BAKE-BATTLE: THE HOME COOKING COMPETITION comes soon to us on Netflix. Produced and hosted by Queer Eye‘s Antoni Porowksi, each of these eight x 30 minute episodes sees three Amateur Chefs battle to make quick-preparation meals, under time constraints and sometimes even without an oven! Though the title of this Competition Series is a little misleading – I genuinely thought they would be baking with Easy-Bake Ovens! – this doesn’t mean these challenges are fun and delicious!

Porowski is a knowledgeable and engaging Host and brings aboard some fascinating Guest Judges. Spoiler Alert: Kristen Kish of the latest season of Iron Chef, even makes an appearance! But the true stars of the Show are the Contestants who consistently have to be reminded to keep it simple and despite some of them possessing some impressive techniques, you see them using almost 25 ingredients in a dish, which defeats the concept of “easy”. One episode has the contestants cooking out of a coffee maker and with an iron. I don’t envy the Judges as we don’t quite know if some of these dishes are cooked properly even, but the results time and again are pretty amazing. Even with flops, Contestants are forced to improvise for a shot at a $25k prize each episode!

Truly a fun watch and should garner enough interest for a second season, we hope! EASY-BAKE BATTLE: THE HOME COOKING COMPETITION arrives October 12, 2022 on Netflix.

#FIRSTLOOK: “EASY-BAKE BATTLE: THE HOME COOKING COMPETITION”

We love Antoni Porowski and this finally is giving us full episodes of all him! EASY-BAKE BATTLE: THE HOME COOKING COMPETITION is coming soon to Netflix and the new Series sees home chefs duke it out in the kitchen under tight timelines to make simple, tasty creations!

Synopsis:

Life is complicated, but cooking doesn’t have to be! Enter Easy-Bake Battle, a new culinary competition series inspired by Hasbro’s iconic Easy-Bake Oven, featuring skilled and ultra clever home cooks, all with a ton of heart and soul, facing off and using their most ingenious kitchen hacks to prove who can make the easiest, fastest, and most delicious food.
Talent: Antoni Porowski
Executive Producers: Tara Long, Geno McDermott, Wes Kauble, Daniel Calin, and Antoni Porowski
Production Company: eOne
Format: 8 x 30 Minute episodes

EASY-BAKE BATTLE: THE HOME COOKING COMPETITION arrives October 12, 2022 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#COOKING: PANDAN CHIFFON CAKE RECIPE

PANDAN CHIFFON CAKE. Something green and lucky to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! This delight isn’t very easy to find in these parts, but is a adored in its native Singapore. I’ve adapted this spongey, fluffy cake for the common Baker, using accessible ingredients. For those who don’t know, Pandan is a fragrant tropical green leafy plant with a creamy, vanilla-like essence, found in Southeast Asia. It is irresistible.

The trick with this cake is gentle folding of the stiff egg whites, into your egg yolk, coconut and pandan batter before transferring to the pan. Ensure also you do not grease your pan as there are enough oils in this cake for it not to stick. And if you don’t have the standard Chiffon cake pan, a Bundt pan will do.

This is decadent and indulgent, but also airy, not overly-sweet. Have tried this a few times and finally got the right height and texture. Cannot wait to make this again! Don’t know where to find Pandan Extract or Powder? Try Amazon or your local Asian grocer.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp flour
5 eggs, separated at room temperature
100 ml Coconut Milk
2/3 cup Icing Sugar, divided in two
4 tbsps Vegetable Oil
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Pandan Extract
1 tsp Dried Pandan Powder

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven at 340°F.
2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt and reserve in small bowl.
3. Place egg whites in one bowl, and egg yolks in another bowl.
4. Using Egg Beater, beat yolks and half of icing sugar till thick and creamy.
5. In a small bowl, mix coconut milk, pandan powder and extract, plus oil.
6. Pour coconut and pandan mixture into egg yolk mixture and beat till smooth. Add flour mixture in gradually, beating till smooth. Set aside.
7. Beat egg whites with Egg Beater, mixing-in Cream of Tartar and remaining Icing Sugar. You will be beating for about 5 minutes at medium-high speed minimum, or till egg whites can form stiff peaks.
8. Using spatula, gentle fold-in egg whites into egg yolk/pandan/coconut batter. Do not overmix.
9. Transfer batter into cake pan, gently doing an “S” motion till even. If you see little air bubbles, use a toothpick through the batter to pop these.
10. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or till toothpick is clean.
11. Cool upside-down for about an hour, allow ventilation. Using spatula, gently trace along edges of pan to let cake out of pan. Store at room temperature in air-tight container or bags for up to 3 days.

Gallery:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#COOKING: UNI PASTA X BULGOGI RECIPE

Uni Pasta x Bulgogi. One of my favourite things in the world to eat is Uni. While only available seasonally, Sea Urchin, as it better known, is decadent, thick, buttery and creamy. Infusing it into a creamy pasta sauce is the perfect way to get more out of it is sold in small portions. My favourite Pasta is Pappardelle, an Egg Noodle which works well with the creaminess of this dish. Pairing this together with Air-fried Bulgogi, Barbequed Korean Beef, is the perfect way to make Uni Pasta even more satisfying. A sumptuous balance of East meets West.

Fun fact: Maurizio Gucci‘s (the central subject in House of Gucci) favourite dish was Uni Pasta.

Ingredients:

1 large tray of Uni
16 oz Ribeye Steak, thinned in half
1/4 cup Korean BBQ Marinade
250g package of Pappardelle Pasta
1/3 cup Heavy Cream
1/4 cup Evaporated Milk
1/4 cup Korean BBQ Marinade
3 tbsp Unsalted Butter
1 tbsp Truffle Oil
5 bulbs garlic, minced

1 tbsp minced scallion
Furikake
Parmesan Cheese, grated
Sea salt, to taste

Instructions:

1. Marinate steak for minimum one hour in refrigerator. Leave at room temperature about 30 minutes before cooking.
2. Boil pasta till al dente and strain. Do not rinse. Set aside no longer than 20 minutes to avoid drying too much.
3. In large pan, sautée garlic in butter for a couple minutes. Do not over-brown.
4. Add-in cream, milk and truffle oil. Reduce heat to low and simmer a couple minutes. Season with salt, to taste. It’s fine if the sauce is slightly salty as it will balance out when it coats the Pappardelle.
5. Mix-in about 3/4 of the Uni, stirring occasionally till pieces are broken. Do not overcook.
6. Toss-in pasta gently and coat in cream sauce. Remove from heat.
7. Pre-heat Air Fryer at 400°F for three minutes.
8. Dividing steak into two batches, fry each batch for about 3-4 minutes. Do not overcook as these should be sliced thin so they will cook quickly. Set aside on platter and cut into small bite-size pieces.
9. Plate pasta twirling gently in ladle with a large serving fork. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Add portion of Bulgogi on the side.
10. Add pieces of Uni on-top and garnish with Furikake and scallions. Serves 4-6.

Gallery:

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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#COOKING: ANDES COOKIES RECIPE

Andes Cookies. Occasionally I get asked, what is an Andes? If you grew-up in the ’80s, you might remember these Crème de Menthe Chocolate Thins with three layers: two of which are milk chocolate and the center, a creamy mint filling. They are wrapped in a shimmery green slip and if you’ve ever been to an Olive Garden, they serve a similar one to you after your meal when you pay your bill. While I was at Target last month, I was delighted to see Andes Mint Chips in the baking section and had to grab a bag. I envisioned making big mounds of chunky cookies crammed with the Mint Chips but also stuffing them each with a larger Mint Thin. I’ve always been of the mindset that it’s better to make one jumbo cookie to save me from having to eat two or three!

If you notice, my cookie recipes don’t contain a lot of sugar. That’s because the Mint Chips and Thin Mints have more than enough in them already. These came out wonderful and will bring these back out again next Holiday!

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
10 oz Andes Mint Baking Chips
10 Andes Chocolate Thin Mints
1/4 cup organic raw sugar
1/3 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/3 cup whole milk at room temperature
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsps organic vanilla extract
1 tsp freeze-dried coffee
1/2 tsp sea salt

Instructions:

1. In large bowl, mix flour, salt, baking powder and soda, plus coffee and Mint Chips.
2. In another large bowl, cream butter, vanilla and sugar. Add-in milk, ensuring it is room temperature and beat till blended.
3. Add dry mixture to wet mixture, mixing till just combined, into a dough.
4. On a lined tray, roll dough into 10 separate balls. On each ball, gently press-in one Thin Mint. Freeze for about an hour. This part is imperative as the chocolates will melt and the cookies will spread too much if you don’t freeze them!
5. Pre-heat oven at 350°F.
6. Bake about 12 minutes. These are meant to be a tad underdone, so best not to over-bake.
7. Transfer to cooling rack for 45 minutes and store in air-tight container. Will store for about 3 days. Freeze if not eating right away.

Gallery:

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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Andes Baking Cookies Mint Chip

#COOKING: SOBA NOODLE BOWL RECIPE

Soba Bowl. Soba are the perfect noodle. Made of Buckwheat, these nourishing noods cook just as fast as Instant Ramen. This Bowl is great when you are short on time or inspiration. Tangy, sweet, vegetarian and light, this is one dish is super-easy to make.

Ingredients:
2-3 handfuls of Soba Noodles
1/4 cup corn kernels
12 Edamame Pea Pods, shells removed
1/4 cup shredded Mozzarella

Kewpie Japanese Mayonnaise
Furakake

Soba Sauce:
5 tbsps Ketchup
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Oyster Sauce (available in vegetarian)
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

Ingredients:

1. 1. Boil Soba Noodles in salted water. Note these noodles cook quickly. Rinse and strain in colander.
2. 2. In shallow bowl, layer with a base of noodles. Add Edamame, corn, a dollop of em>Soba Sauce and cheese.
3. 3. Microwave for about 45 seconds on high till cheese melts.
4. 4. Drizzle Kewpie Mayonnaise on top.
5. 5. Add dash of Furukake.
6. 6. Serves 3-4. Mix well when eating.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#COOKING: HONEY BUTTER MOCHI RECIPE

Honey Butter Mochi.  I honestly have been non-stop busy for a while now so thought I’d de-stress with a little baking. Butter Mochi are all the rage. Visually, they’re not much to look at, but they are addictive. Think a Blondie, but super-chewy to the bite, the exterior is a thin, crispy crust. I love sweet but not too sweet, so this amount of sweetness is just right for me! Add more if you wish. Have fun with these – they’re super-easy to make!  If shopping for rice flour, ensure you are using Glutinous Rice Flour, versus standard Rice Flour which would give you an entirely different texture.

Ingredients:

1 400g bag of Glutinous Rice Flour

1/2 cup organic raw sugar

2 tsps baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 eggs

1/3 cup melted unsalted butter

1/4 cup honey

1 can of Coconut Milk

1 1/2 cups water

Vegetable Oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven at 375°F.

2. In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

3. In another large bowl, mix eggs, honey, water, coconut milk and butter.

4. Using hand mixer, combine wet and dry ingredients till smooth.

5..Grease a loaf pan lightly. Pour batter.into pan.

6. Bake one hour or till toothpick comes out smooth.

7. Allow to stand room temperature till cool and cut into squares.

8..Place in air-tight container lined with wax paper for about three days or freeze right away. If freezing, leave out at room temperature 30 minutes before heating in toaster oven. Allow to cool a bit before eating as these get hot.

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These also translate beautifully into muffins. Depending on how deep your muffin pans are, you can bake these for about 35-40 minutes. Remember to grease your pans well!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: WHAT TO WATCH – AUGUST 2021: “ANNETTE”, “COOKING WITH PARIS”, “THE WHITE LOTUS”

We’ve been spending our time enjoying the quirky, odd and funny of late and we’re happy to share some of our streaming recommendations for you this month!

COOKING WITH PARIS (NETFLIX)

One thing’s for certain. Paris Hilton could read us a children’s book and our eyes would probably be glued to the screen. The Empire Maker from an Empire’s latest venture is six-episode Netflix series COOKING WITH PARIS where we see her team-up with friends in her kitchen, challenging herself with new themes each episode. Among those who join-in on the fun are Kim Kardashian-West, Demi Lovato, Nikki Glaser, Whitney Cummings and more. From glittery unicorn Cannoli to Holiday Turkey with glitter, part of the fun is watching her flop, but surprisingly some things still manage to turn-out fine despite her lackadaisical approach which sees eggs cracked improperly, pasta dough over-oiled, and dairy left out at room temperature. Nonetheless, Hilton knows exactly what her brand is and we keep coming back and through the candor with her friends, she does manage to reveal interesting anecdotes about herself and her guests in an intimate way. COOKING WITH PARIS streams now on Netflix.

THE WHITE LOTUS (HBOMAX/CRAVE)

Mike White has built a brand for his quirky creations and this is his latest, six-episode Limited Series THE WHITE LOTUS is exactly that. The Series centers on various hotel guests and its staff at the titular Hawaiian resort and while the backdrop is a sunny one, these characters all are on the verge of some things dark being uncovered about themselves. Shane (Jake Lacy) and Rachel (Alexandra Daddario) are a newlywed couple who married after a year together and Shane is obsessed with having been given the wrong suite at the hotel to the point it becomes a point of contention in their thus far, trouble-free relationship. Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge in a career-best performance) carries her mother’s ashes on the trip, still grieving the recent loss. Natasha Rothwell plays spa owner Belinda getting a chance to shine and show range as her character questions entitlement among White clientele. Nicole (Connie Britton) is a successful businesswoman who brings her family on vacation. Her husband Mark (Steve Zahn) is convinced he has Cancer, their daughter Olivia (Sydney Sweeney) is outright mean and son Quinn (Fred Hechinger) is awkward and in his old world playing video games. Then we have hotel manager Armond (Murray Bartlett), a recovering addict who is a bit aloof to what’s going on around him. This is an odd yet perfect storm of elements and characters which will grab your interest by intrigue and we can’t wait to see where the Series takes us on these characters’ journeys and growth as their paths cross and stories become intertwined. New episodes of THE WHITE LOTUS arrive Sunday nights on Crave in Canada 9 PM ET.

ANNETTE (AMAZON PRIME VIDEO/MK2 | MILE END)

French Filmmaker Leos Carax makes his English-language debut in ANNETTE, a quirky story of a Comedian named Henry (Adam Driver) who falls in love with famed Opera singer Ann (Marion Cotillard). Their world is turned upside-down with the birth of their daughter Annette played partly by a wooden marionette and also Devyn McDowell. Clocking-in at two hours and twenty minutes, the Film takes us a real journey as we see Henry and Ann go through a fallout as he takes care of their baby, while Ann continues to experience great success. The Film is driven by emotional extremes and lines between reality and fantasy often are blurred in this Musical where we are transfixed by Henry‘s tragic unravelling. Driver exercises some of those theatrical muscles we got glimpses of in Marriage Story, but really gets a challenge here exploring the world of someone who is complicated and flawed. We have never seen anything quite like ANNETTE, it is stylish, provocative, very strange and in ways cathartic. MK2 | MILE END release ANNETTE in select theatres now, arriving on Amazon Prime Video August 20, 2021.

We can’t wait for Amazon Prime Video‘s NINE PERFECT STRANGERS starring Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy, arriving August 20th!

Check-out our Team’s latest theatrical releases here including: FREE GUY, THE SUICIDE SQUAD, STILLWATER, THE GREEN KNIGHT, Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE and more!

(Photo/video credit: Amazon Prime Video/Netflix/HBO Max)

#FIRSTLOOK: TRAILER FOR “COOKING WITH PARIS”

That’s hot. Literally. You know how much we love Paris Hilton. Check-out this new Trailer from her star-studded new Cooking Show on Netflix, COOKING WITH PARIS.

Synopsis:  Paris Hilton can cook…kind of. And she’s turning the traditional cooking show upside down. She’s not a trained chef and she’s not trying to be. With the help of her celebrity friends, she navigates new ingredients, new recipes and exotic kitchen appliances. Inspired by her viral YouTube video, Paris will take us from the grocery store to the finished table spread – and she might actually learn her way around the kitchen.Guest Stars: Kim Kardashian West, Demi Lovato, Nikki Glaser, Saweetie, Lele Pons, Nicky & Kathy Hilton.

All six episodes of COOKING WITH PARIS arrive August 4, 2021 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#COOKING: LIVER & ONIONS WITH ROASTED POTATOES RECIPE

Liver & Onions with Roasted Potatoes. I mark a Diner by how good its Liver & Onions are and chances are if they are serving a rubbery, tough rendition of this classic, they likely aren’t treating their other dishes with love and care. A Diner like this isn’t worth your time. I could be at a fancy restaurant downtown like Cluny – who do an amazing Liver & Onions and have many amazing options, but if I see Liver on a menu, I am always intrigued and will migrate right to it.

Liver is misunderstood and often people in their childhood have been repulsed by it, when the reality is it likely wasn’t prepared well. Liver like beef, shouldn’t be overcooked. It should be served just done or slightly-underdone. Equally important is the sauce you serve it with, which should be brown and savoury, absorbing the brown bits and juices from your skillet and giving you lots of flavour to sop-up. Hence, serving Liver with a starch like bread, potatoes or rice is always a good idea. Our Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes are an even better idea!

I realize this is a tough-sell for many, and some of you will never be onboard, but Liver done right can be something mesmerizing that gives you as much pleasure as any of the other more conventional cuts of Beef.

 

Liver
350g Beef Liver
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 small white onion, sliced into thin rings
3 tbsps soy sauce
2 tbsps tapioca/corn starch
1 tbsp Maggi sauce
1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
1 tbsp raw sugar
1/4 tsp Marmite
1/2 cup water

Sea salt and pepper
Olive oil

Potatoes
1 lb miniature potatoes
2 tbsps olive oil
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
Pepper

Instructions:
1. Season liver in salt and pepper and refrigerate for two hours. Bring back out at room temperature about 40 minutes before cooking.

2. Soak potatoes in water for 10 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels and coat in seasonings and olive oil.

3. Heat Air Fryer at 390°F for three minutes.

4. Air fry potatoes for about 13-15 minutes, shaking/flipping potatoes halfway through.

5. In large skillet on medium-high heat, heat oil and sautée onions and garlic till slightly caramelized. Shift to side of skillet.

6. Add a bit more oil to skillet and sear liver about two minutes till browned and flip. Do not overcook it.

7. In bowl, mix soy, Maggi, Oyster sauces and Marmite. Add sugar, starch and water. Mix till smooth.

8. Pour sauce into skillet and reduce to low heat, stirring with spatula. Once sauce thickens and bubbles, turn off heat. Liver should be browned, and it is okay if just a little bloody, as this means it will be tender and juicy.

9. Transfer liver to serving plate. You can reduce the sauce down by cooking a bit further. Once you’ve reached desired thickness, ladle sauce and onions over top of liver and serve with potatoes.

Gallery:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)