Good Morning!

Today will be a busy day for me as we are celebrating my little niece's fullmoon.....Yay! Party Time!

So today I'm up to quick and easy meal (and preferably mess-free cooking) and I decided to cook something quick and delicious for my darling son's breakfast with the help of my super Philips Pressure Cooker!

Everything gets done in just one pot.

Pumpkin & Broccoli Porridge is a complete and wholesome meal for the little ones as this porridge is packed with many nutrients and most importantly it is going to be delicious. I have added Ikan Bilis Powder, Dried Scallops, Dried Conch, Pumpkin, Broccoli and onion to this porridge yummy for the little ones to enjoy.

PS: This is the improvised version of Hearty Vegetable Porridge with Pumpkin, Broccoli, Carrot and Onion

Pumpking & Broccoli Porridge

200gm Pumpkin
150gm Broccoli
20gm Dried Scallops & Conch
1 medium Onion (I used Red Onion) 
2 tbsp Homemade Ikan Bilis Powder
2/3 cup Wholegrain Rice (pre-soaked and pre-frozen)
2 cups Water

Sesame Oil (for sauteing)

Directions:

• Cut pumpkin, broccoli and onion to your prefer size (Tips: smaller and thinner chunks for babies and toddlers). 
   
  
• Turn on the Philips Pressure Cooker and set to Chop mode. While the pan is heating up, pour in some Sesame oil. 
  
• Add onion and let it saute for 2-3 minutes until softened. Then add pumpkin and broccoli.
   
   
  
• Add the ikan bilis powder, dried scallops and dried conch and continue to saute for another minute. 
  
• Then add in the rice and water.
• Close the lid securely and position the valve to Seal position. 
• Turn off the Chop mode. Switch it to Porridge mode and adjust the Keeping Pressure Time (KPT) to 20 minutes, press and hold on the Start button to activate cooking. 
   
   
   
  

Today I decided to cook meatless but veggie-loaded porridge for my darling boy's lunch. Hearty meal that is packed with so many vitamins and also high in fiber - a perfect meal! He happily ate his lunch and even asked for more!

People always asked is my boy picky when it comes to eating veggie?
He's never picky when it comes to veggie instead it is one of his favorite food especially steamed broccoli (plain). He grew up eating veggie and it is one of the early food I introduced to him so I guess this must have helped him not to be shocked and avoid veggie at any cause...LOL!

Hearty Vegetable Porridge with Pumpkin, Broccoli, Carrot and Onion

1 small Carrot (sliced)

1/2 cup Broccoli (roughly chopped)

1 medium Onion (chopped)

1/2 cup Pumpkin (chopped)

2 tbsp Homemade Ikan Bilis Powder (Anchovies Powder) *click here for the recipe*

1/2 cup Wholegrain Rice (pre-soaked and pre-frozen)

2 cups Water

Directions:

• In a medium pot, add all the ingredients except broccoli and bring it boil with high heat. 
  
• Turn the heat to low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
• Then add broccoli and continue to let it simmer for another 10 minutes. Don't forget to stir to avoid clumping at the bottom of the pot.
• You can continue to let it simmer until it reaches the porridge consistency of your choice.
  

A very simple and nutritious lunch for my darling boy - Wholegrain Porridge with Spinach and AirBBQ Chicken Char Siu.

I was over the moon when he said "Good" after taking the first bite and he finishes the bowl of porridge and the AirBBQ Chicken Char Siu all by himself!

I used ecoBrown's Gold Wholegrain Rice in making the porridge. Prior to cooking the rice grains I usually soaked it for about 8 hours (after washing) and then pop the soaked rice grains into the freezer. Few hours before cooking the porridge, you just have to defrost the rice grain and then you can continue to cook porridge the usual way (I used a little bit more water for this rice grains).

Now you might wonder why I soaked my rice grains before cooking.
Soaking makes grains more digestible as it breaks down some of the trickier proteins and neutralizes things called phytates, which inhibit the absortion of other important nutrients like calcium, iron and magnesium, to name a few..LOL!
And by freezing the soaked rice grains will help the grains to expand and it cooks quicker too!

And here is the recipe to the AirBBQ Chicken Char Siu .

 

Of lately I saw many mommies in HFMB talking about cooking with a Zojirushi food jar. Since I don't have Zojirushi food jar but a Tiger food jar so I decided to give it a try with my Tiger. 

Here is how I do it with my Tiger:

• Pre-heat the food jar with hot water for 10 minutes
• Discard the water and add the ingredients: brown rice, dried scallops and goji berries 
• Pour the hot boiling water and close tightly with the lid. 
• Shake the jar to mix the ingredients
• Allow the food to set for a minimum of 3 hours and up to 6 hours

*if cooking with carrots, potato, onion, etc, be sure to cut the ingredients into smaller pieces to ensure thorough cooking*

Result: Very smooth and soft goji berries and dried scallops porridge.

 

This will be a perfect way to prepare a hot and warm meal for little ones when travelling!