my reCipes coLLection

Double chocolate chip cookies

2011-07-31T08:56:00.001-07:00

Recipes

Ingredients:
1¼ cups (175 grams) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (30 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 stick plus 3 tablespoons (11 tablespoons or 150 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3cup (120 grams) (packed) light brown sugar
¼ cup (50 grams) sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 ounces (150 grams) dark/milk chocolate, chopped into chips

Steps:
1. Sift the flour, cocoa and baking soda together. Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add both sugars, the salt and vanilla extract and beat for 2 minutes more.

2. Turn off the mixer. Pour in the flour. Drape a kitchen towel over the stand mixer to protect yourself and your kitchen from flying flour and pulse the mixer at low speed about 5 times, a second or two each time. Take a peek — if there is still a lot of flour on the surface of the dough, pulse a couple of times more; if not, remove the towel. Continuing at low speed, mix for about 30 seconds more, just until the flour disappears into the dough — for the best texture, work the dough as little as possible once the flour is added, and don’t be concerned if the dough looks a little crumbly. Toss in the chocolate pieces and mix only to incorporate.

3. Turn the dough out onto a work surface, gather it together and divide it in half. Working with one half at a time, shape the dough into logs that are 1½ inches in diameter. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 3 hours. (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. If you’ve frozen the dough, you needn’t defrost it before baking — just slice the logs into cookies and bake the cookies 1 minute longer.)

4. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.

5. Working with a sharp thin knife, slice the logs into rounds that are 1/2 inch thick. (The rounds are likely to crack as you’re cutting them — don’t be concerned, just squeeze the bits back onto each cookie.) Arrange the rounds on the baking sheets, leaving about one inch between them.

6. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time for 12 minutes — they won’t look done, nor will they be firm, but that’s just the way they should be. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and let the cookies rest until they are only just warm, at which point you can serve them or let them reach room temperature.

Siew Bao

2011-07-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
Pastry:
Water Dough:
1. 200 g all-purposed flour, sifted
2. 100 g water
3. 50 g shortening or lard
4. 50 g icing sugar

Oil Dough:
1. 200g plain flour
2. 100g lard

Filling:
1. 300 g BBQ pork (Char Siew), diced
2. 1 medium onion, finely chopped
3. 1/3 cup of green peas
4. 1 tbsp oyster sauce
5. 1 tbsp soy sauce
6. 1 tbsp water
7. 1/2 tbsp corn flour
8. 1/2 tbsp sugar

1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
sesame seeds

Methods:
Char siu filling
1. Add oyster sauce, soy sauce, water, corn flour and sugar in a small bowl and stir to mix well.
2. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a frying pan. Stir fry BBQ pork, onion and green peas until fragrant. Add the oyster sauce, soy sauce, water, corn flour and sugar mixture and stir well.

Skin
1. Put all the ingredients of water dough in a food processor and pulse until it forms a soft dough. Cover it in a bowl and let it rest for 30 minutes.
2. Repeat the same with oil dough.
3. Divide the water dough and oil dough into 18 equal portions.
4. Roll out a piece of the water dough into a flat circle.
5. Place a piece of the rounded oil dough in the centre of the flat circle.
6. Gather the outer edges of the water dough circle and wrap up the oil dough ball.
7. Pinch and seal the edges.
8. With the heel of your palm, gently press the dough down to flatten it lightly.
9. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into rectangle shape.
10. Roll up the dough Swiss-roll style.
11. Turn the rolled dough 90 degrees.
12. Repeat steps 9 and 10.
13. The pastry is now ready for filling and shaping.

Assemble
1. Preheat the oven to 180 degree C.
1. With the heel of your palm, gently press the pastry down to flatten it lightly.
2. Roll out the pastry into a flat circle.
3. Place 1 tbsp of filling in the centre.
4. Gather the outer edges of the dough circle and pleat and pinch to seal.
5. Brush egg wash on the surface and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
6. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Thai Seafood Noodle Soup

2009-12-05T10:42:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

1. 2 cm fresh root ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
2. 1-2 red chillies, seeds removed (optional), roughly chopped
3. 1-2 stalks lemongrass, tough outer layers removed, roughly chopped
4. 2-3 garlic cloves, peeled
5. 1 handful fresh coriander, a few sprigs reserved and chopped
6. 1 tbsp coriander seeds
7. 1-2 pinches ground turmeric
8. small jug vegetable stock
9. a couple of handfuls rice noodles
10. 400ml oz can coconut milk
11. 1 large handful raw peeled tiger prawns (the shells and heads can be reserved for making stock in another recipe)
12. a few splashes Thai fish sauce, to taste

Steps:

1. Blend the ginger, chilli, lemongrass, garlic and coriander in a food processor until quite finely chopped.

2. Add the paste to a large shallow pan and cook for a few minutes to release the aromas, stirring frequently. Roughly crush some coriander seeds with a pestle and mortar and add to the paste with a pinch or two of turmeric and the vegetable stock and simmer for a few minutes.

3. Meanwhile, pour some boiling water over the rice noodles in a bowl and let them sit until they have softened, about 4-5 minutes, then drain and set aside.

4. To soften the heat of the sauce, add the coconut milk to the pan and bring back to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes while you devein the prawns by cutting along the back of the prawn with a small sharp knife and removing the black 'thread' using the point of the knife. Add the prawns to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until pink and tender, finishing off with splashes of Thai fish sauce, to taste, and more chopped fresh coriander, to your taste.

Spiced Salmon Stir Fry

2009-07-14T05:16:00.000-07:00

Lovely salmon with potatoes and green beans

Here's the recipe:
Ingredients:

Steps:

Blueberry Muffins

2009-06-11T04:33:00.001-07:00

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
50g vegetable oil
250 g all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
pinch of salt
100g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
100g blueberries (more if you want)
125ml milk

Steps:
1. Heat the oven to 190C.
2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl, add caster sugar and stir through.
3.With a fork, beat together the eggs, vanilla extract, oil and milk in a second bowl.
4.Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the egg mixture, fold in with a biggest spatula (don't over mix) until it is a lumpy paste.
5. Set paper cases into the moulds, or grease the moulds well with a little extra oil or butter and using an icecream scoop, spoon in the mixture until almost full.
6.Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the muffins come away from the side of the pan when touched. Rest the muffin tray on a wire rack for five minutes then remove the muffins and leave on the rack for another five minutes before serving.

Cheese and Potato Bread Twists

2009-03-26T07:27:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:
1. 225g potatoes, diced
2. 225g strong white bread flour
3. 1 tsp dried yeast
4. 150ml lukewarm water
5. 175g grated cheese
6. 2 tsp olive oil, for greasing
7. salt

Methods:
1. Cook the potatoes in a large pan in plenty of lightly salted boiling water for about 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain through a colander and return to the pan. Mash the potato until smooth and set aside to cool.

2. Meanwhile, sift the flour into a large bowl and add the yeast and a good pinch of salt. Stir in the mashed potatoes and rub with your fingers to form a crumb consistency.

3. Make a well in the centre of the mixture and pour in the lukewarm water. Start by bringing the mixture together with your hands. turn out on to a well-floured surface and knead for 5 minutes. Return the dough to the bowl. Cover with a damp dishtowel and leave to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.

4. Turn the dough out and knock back the air bubbles. Knead again for a few seconds.

5. Divide the dough into 12 even pieces and shape into rounds.

6. Sprinkle the cheese over a baking sheet. take each ball of dough and roll it in the cheese.

7. Roll each cheese-covered on a dry surface to form a long sausage shape. Fold the two ends together and twist the bread. Lay the bread twists on an oiled baking sheet.

8. Cover with a damp cloth and leave the bread to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. Preheat the overn to 220 C. Bake the bread for 10-15 minutes.

Seafood Paella

2009-03-24T02:47:00.001-07:00

Ingredients

1 red pepper, finely diced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled
400g paella rice
125ml dry white wine
1 tsp smoked paprika
Generous pinch of saffron threads
1l hot vegetable stock
4 large prawns
4 prepared squid, approx 170g in total, sliced into rings
Handful flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 lemon cut into wedges
Olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

1. Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large paella pan or frying pan. Add the onion and cook out briefly.

2. Add the chopped pepper and crush in the garlic. Season with a little salt and pepper and cook until softened.

3. Sprinkle the smoked paprika and saffron into the pan. Follow with the rice and stir well so that each grain of rice is well coated in oil.

4. Add the wine and allow to evaporate before pouring in the hot stock.

5. Cover with a lid and leave to simmer gently for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking.

6. Five minutes before the end of cooking add the prawns and squid to the pan. Stir, and replace the lid to finish cooking.

7. Just before serving, mix through the chopped parsley and garnish with lemon wedges.

Add other seafood if you prefer

Marble Butter Cake

2009-03-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

Not enough chocolate powder.

This is the recipe:
Ingredients
250 gm butter
200 gm caster sugar
6 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
300 gm self-raising flour (sifted)
½ to 3/4 cup of evaporated milk

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C.
2. Beat the butter with the caster sugar until white and fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time and mix well. Then add is vanilla essence and evaporated milk and mix well.
3. Replace about 30g of flour with cocoa powder. After the flour is mixed into the butter mixture and mixed well, take out about 1/3 of the batter and add the cocoa powder into it. Place the white batter into tin and drop the chocolate batter into different spots and use a skewer or a chopstick to swirl it to make the marble effect and bake for about an hour.

Celebration ...

2009-02-09T10:24:00.000-08:00

Gong Xi Fa Chai ...

Thaipusam ...

Food .... fooD and moRe foOd

2009-02-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

Outside food...

Home cook food ... thanks to my aunt

How can I resist ~

2009-01-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

added into my collectionssssss ....

28 nOvembEr 20xx

2008-12-01T09:30:00.000-08:00

nIcEeee....

ChRistMas .....

2008-12-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

Just got our Christmas tree ....
Before deco...

Just added the lights.....
And now the final version....

Spicy Clams

2008-11-17T10:56:00.001-08:00

Ingredients:

500g clams

1 tsp chopped ginger

1 tsp chopped garlic

1 tbsp hot bean paste

2 tbsp shao xing wine

1/2 tsp sugar

chopped spring onions

2 tbsp oil

Method:

1. Heat oil, add in chopped ginger and chopped garlic. Saute until fragrant then add in hot bean paste.

2. Add in the clams and stir fry.

3. Add in the shao xing wine and cover the wok for 1 minute.

4. Uncover and check if the clams are heated through(do not overcook)

5. Add sugar to taste and spring onions.

Serve hot

Wantan Mee

2008-11-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

Another wan tan mee .... :D

Curry Puffs

2008-11-16T07:50:00.000-08:00

My lovely curry puffs!!!
:)

And the recipe:
Outer layer:

400 g flour
50 g margarine
1/3 tsp salt
1/2 egg
170 ml water

Inner Layer:
120 g flour
60 g lard/shortening

Filling:
150 g chicken meat
150 g onions
500 g potatoes
50 g shallots
2 tbsp oil
2 1/2 tbsp curry powder
1 1/2 tbsp freshly ground chilly (paste)
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
3/4 cup coconut milk

For the filling:
Cube the chicken. potatoes and onions slice shallors.
Boil the potaoes till soft.
Heat oil ,sweat the shallots and add in ground chilly(paste). Fry until fragrant then add curry powder.
Add in the cubed chicken, then onions. When chicken is no more pink add in coconut milk.
Simmer until filling thickens, season with salt and sugar.

Leave to cool.

Method:

For Wrapping:

Outer layer:
1. Boil margarine, water and salt. Pour into the flour. Add in egg. Knead well. Let dough rest for a while. Divide into 8 portions.

Inner layer:
2. Mix flour and lard/shortening together. Knead well and divide into 8 portions.
3. Wrap inner layer with outer layer. Flatten it and then roll it up like a swiss roll. Repeat twice and then divide into 2 portions.
4. With cut side on the table, roll dough into a circle and fill with a spoonful of curry filling. Wet the outer rim of circle and fold into half, seal the edges.
5. Remove several ladles of hot oil as the puffs are slightly brown, turn heat on to the highest and fry puffs until brown. This way will ensure that the puffs will not be soggy.
6. To fry the second batch, add in the slightly cool oil and put in the frozen puffs, frying the same way as no.5.
7. Put fried puffs in 250f oven to keep warm.

Updates

2008-09-24T03:37:00.000-07:00

Life been busy!
Bz bz bz......
So, here are a couple of ph0tos ...

(his favourite pork chop)

Instant!

Will definitely update more!

Winnie the Pooh's MugsSsss

2008-07-28T06:18:00.000-07:00

It was all because of the Disney Store sale!!
Hmm... or is it because CJ!! She was the one invited us to US. Then we went Disney World, then I was so addicted to Disney's stuff! See what I've got now!!

I've started off with only ONE, about 2 years ago...this one, 3D, very cute Pooh

Then, this! Well, this was Tigger's cup was because it was really cheap...I think it was less than £1... and of course I cant resist!

Then recently, bought this Piglet's big cup (with the excuse, I dont have Piglet's)
Then, then ...... we bought SIX at once yesterday!
So now, I've got lots and lots of mugs! Probably I do need a ROOM to store all these.

Coconut Tart

2008-07-20T03:23:00.000-07:00

Lovely coconut tart. Here's the receipe

Ingredients
Short crust pastry
180g plain flour
1/8 tsp salt
100g butter
1 tbsp icing sugar
1 tbsp egg yolk
1–2 tbsp ice-cold water

Filling
100g desiccated coconut
140g castor sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
30g butter
12g milk powder
1/8 tsp salt
5–6 tbsp water

Steps
1.Sift flour into a mixing bowl and add in salt and icing sugar. Cut butter into flour with a pastry cutter until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

2.Make a well in the centre and add egg yolk and water. Mix to form a dough. Wrap pastry in a plastic bag and chill for 30 minutes.

3.Roll out pastry and line tartlet cases with the short crust pastry. Prick the base and chill for 30 minutes.

4.Fill tart cases with prepared coconut filling up to the brim. Bake the tarts in a preheated oven at 200°C for 10–15 minutes or until the top of filling is lightly golden.

For the filling: Combine butter, sugar and egg in a bowl with a wooden spoon until well combined. Add in desiccated coconut, milk powder and salt to mix. Add water a little at a time and mix until well combined.

Mango Pudding

2008-07-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

Sooch ~ I've made mine!
Is your turn now... :)

Ingredients
100 gm blended mango (puree)
200 gm mango cubes
100 ml whipping cream
20 gm gelatine
80 gm sugar
300 ml water
250 gm of mango ice-cream

Steps
1. Mix water, sugar and gelatine in pan. Boil over slow fire until sugar and gelatine dissolve.
2. Leave the mixture to cool. When cool, add mango puree, mango cubes, whip cream and ice-cream.
3. Stir mixture until all ice-cream is melted. Pour into small cups and leave in fridge to set.

FREE CHERRY!!

2008-06-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

Found a cherry tree ... and so we stopped by and start picking!!
Niceee

Me to You 'mini family'

2008-06-25T03:22:00.000-07:00

and my collection continues...

:) I feel like I'm 3 years old!

Wan Tan meal

2008-06-25T03:09:00.000-07:00

Wan tan mee...

Wan tan soup...

Koay Teow T'ng & Chicken Wrap

2008-06-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

My lovely koay teow t'ng as our lunch, and small portion of chicken wrap as dinner..... healthy huh!

Souffle Cheesecake

2008-06-15T01:33:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
high cake tin

A.
Plain cream cheese 225g,
fresh cream 50ml,
milk 100ml,
butter 80g,

B.
Cornflour 25g,
milk 30ml
lemon juice 1 tbsp

C.
Egg white 150g,
cornflour 10g,
sugar 100g

D.
Egg yolks 138g,

Steps:
1. Melt A. over a pan of simmering water until the mixture liquefies (stir every 3 minutes), use spatula to stir the mixture well.
2. Mix B. until cornflour dissolves and pours into 1, stir until well-combined. Add in beaten yolks and strain the mixture.
3. Preheat oven to 150°C. Butter to cake thin with butter and some plain flour. If using loose bottom cake tin, cover the outside of the tin with 2 layers of aluminium foil.
4. In a clean bowl (make sure oil less and waterless), beat the egg whites till foamy and add in sugar and cornflour in 3 batches and beat until soft peak.
5. Take 1/3 egg white and stir into the cream cheese mixture to loosen the batter. Pour the remaining egg whites and using cut and fold method quickly fold in the egg whites, do not over fold or else the air in the egg whites will escape.
6. Pour batter into cake tin. Sit the cake thin in a bigger baking tray filled with boiling water. Bake in a bain-marie (water-bath). You should cover the cake tin with at least half of the boiling water.
7. Put in oven and bake for about 35 minutes or when top is brown, reduce the heat to 125°C, continue to bake for another 1 hour or until a cake skewer comes out clean.

Banana Muffins

2008-06-11T01:15:00.000-07:00

He wanted some banana like cakes, so I made muffins instead.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
50g vegetable oil
250 g all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
pinch of salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
115g/4oz caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large, ripe bananas
2 large eggs
125ml oz milk

Steps:
1. Heat the oven to 190C.
2. Mash the bananas well. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a large bowl, add caster sugar and stir through.
3.With a fork, beat together the eggs, vanilla extract, banana essence, oil and milk in a second bowl. Add the mashed banana and stir through.
4.Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the egg mixture, fold in with a biggest spatula (don't over mix) until it is a lumpy paste.
5. Set paper cases into the moulds, or grease the moulds well with a little extra oil or butter and using an icecream scoop, spoon in the mixture until almost full. Top each one with a walnut kernel if you like.
6.Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the muffins come away from the side of the pan when touched. Rest the muffin tray on a wire rack for five minutes then remove the muffins and leave on the rack for another five minutes before serving.

Spongecake Cups

2008-06-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

After like 2 trials, only I managed to get these!
I love it!

Ingredients:
75 gm plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
75 ml milk
4 egg yolks
5 egg white
80 castor sugar
1.5 tbsp corn oil
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
a pinch of salt
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp pandan paste (extract from pandan leaves)

Methods:
1. Cream egg yolks, 50 gm of sugar until it is creamy and thick.
2. Add in sifted flour and baking powder, vanilla essence, coconut cream/milk, corn oil, pandan paste into the egg yolk mixture.
3. In a clean dry bowl, beat eggwhite, remainder 30 gm of sugar, cream of tartar and a pinch of salt until stiff.
4. Mix the eggwhite into the flour mixture and mix it thoroughly using a spatula. Pour into the chiffon pan and bake in a preheated oven at 175C for 45 mins.
5. When cake is baked, invert it immediately to cool down for about 10 mins. After 10 mins, use a sharp knife to loosen the side and then the bottom to release the cake. Leave it on a wire rack to cool down further.

Chicken Teriyaki & Chicken Noodles

2008-05-15T02:21:00.000-07:00

Nicely marinated chicken breast with teriyaki sauce.
and 'ba kee'

Buffalo Chicken Wings

2008-05-15T02:19:00.000-07:00

So when we were out at Tesco, I bought this marinate sauce for 'Buffalo Chicken Wing'. Marinated those chicken wings over night and bake it the next day.

Is really juicy! And the tactic is by wrapping the wings with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Then open the foil and bake again for another 10 minutes. This way, not only you will have juicy chicken wings, but also crispy skin. Excellent! But one complain, 'Is not spicy enough'

Sushi time!

2008-05-15T02:12:00.000-07:00

Sushi time!! I looooooove sushi time! Why? Because he will be the one doing EVERYTHINg! So, is nice once in a while I say, 'Let's have sushi'. Which means, 'Hey, I dont want to cook today!'

Recently we met up with our friends. She was sort of 'part-time' transferred to Paris to work. So is quite hard to meet up with her and her 'future' husband. So the other day we met at one of her friend's house, is like 10 minutes away from here. Besides catching up , she gave me this lovely chocolate! The packing is so awesome right? Love it so much (hehe, the box more than the chocolate!). Thank you so much!!

And inside the box, lovely chocolate truffle! Is nice, very different, but very very nice. Not too sweet, just nice! Thanks again!

Then, couple of days later, I cant say 'Let's have sushi ' again cause he just made once this week. So we ended up in Tesco for ready made chickens! Look look!Heat it up, and is time to eat.
of course there must be some salad as side.

Dried bean curd with Soya Milk

2008-05-15T01:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, I havent been updating my blog...
What to do,....I dont even have time to *poo poo*!!
Oh well, *finger-cross* everything will end by this month....*pray hard*
So just a 'brief' update~~ Let's see, I've 'invented' (well probably there is someone that actually did this) soya milk with dried bean curd(fu chuk).

One day I was so craving for fu chuk. So instead of making the common eggs and fu chuk dessert, I thought of trying new dessert....Not sure what the taste was going to be, but....it turns out GOOD! Real good. We both are loving it!

So, as usual, the dried bean curd must be soaked in water until is fluffy. Then instead of putting it straight into the soya bean milk, I've boiled it in water until is 'broken into pieces' . Then only I heat the dried bean curd with soya milk together . Do not over boil the soya milk!! If you prefer it to be sweeter, just add some sugar.

And there goes, nicely done dried bean curd with soya milk dessert. Healthy!

iT was a LoooOOong week

2008-04-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

Being alone is not easy at all!!He was away to 'far far away land'... New Hamsphire...last week...THE WHOLE WEEK.

Well, he's now back ..... by my side.... :)
I've promised to pick him up from the airport (Saturday morning! early morning!)...
The airport is like, more than 100 miles away ... and to get there on time, I have to start driving at 7am!!! Haizzz...
Then, on Sat morning, once I woke up, turn on the PC, check the online timetable. *YessSs* the flight delay! (hmmm, I him to come back earlier, but I was so tired, just want to sleep!) And so, I just rest on my bed for another 2 hours!

*Drove for 2 hours, and there I was at the Airport.....waiting*

Sitting at the Starbuck, starring at the Arrival display monitor, waiting for him to come out from the arrival gate....time was ticking so **** slow! At last, he was out from the gate!! Yea~

Although one week = 7 days =168 hours = 10080 minutes =604800 seconds is not that lOoOooOOooOoong, but...you know....it is kinda long for me!!
Then when we were back at home, he started to open his luggage and 'pouring' out his little gifts!

He really bought me the thing that I've 'requested'
Niceeeeee

Along with this snack, he got me some other stuff.....*will upload the photos once is available*

And he was so proud of himself (shopping by himself!) and got me so many things. *yes, well done!*

So, to compensate the whole week without him, I will be here.....with him for the ONE WHOLE WEEK! (work from home konon~)

*and dont forget this beautifully wrapped dark chocolate, yummy yummy*

hapPy buFfdaY maMa

2008-04-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

Is the special day again! Is sad something to think that I havent really celebrate my mummy's birthday with her for more than THREE years!

Luckily I have got a brother there, to 'do the job'!

This year, I've bought Cappucino Cake from an online company,

I havent actually try the cakes from this company myself, but this is the 2nd time I bought for my mama. Again, she said is niceeeee. As long as she likes it, that's the most important thing!!

HappY BirtHday again MAMA!

Night out @ Reading

2008-03-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

Had been busy and not cooking 'proper' food for him..~sorry~
But, he still get his favourite mee goreng ~ my style~

then, we had this red bean dessert ~ (just because the beans is expiring soon!)

Then, thanks to 'someone', we got 2 free entrances to preview the film, 'Drillbit Taylor'

And is funny!

Got Another Pair of Pillow Case

2008-03-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

Easter break!!
And it was snowing!!
Unbelievable~~ End of March, and yet, it was snowing for the past few days!
So, just stayed at home and played games and cook this cute little pie.

Oh oh! This is another pair of pillow cases. Very cute!? Of course!
And yes, this is a pillow case, not T-Shirt~

Little updates~

2008-03-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

Been busy, real busy!!
So nothing much, but simple sausage and mash~

We just got some 'furnitures', and I've bought this when I went back Malaysia~

Nyonya Chicken with Mango Salad

2008-03-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

Had our weekend in Birmingham...
Really enjoy the weekend...though was quite tired...
Went for a movie, bought a bookshelf, then to friend's house for dinner...
Was asked to cook a dish and so I chose crispy chicken with mango salad...
is something that he had asked me to make long time ago but ....(cant be bothereD!)
But, I've tried it last weekend, and everyone loves it! ...

These are the dishes that we had..
Seaweed soup....Rendang chicken....spinach + vege.....and of course the chicken with mango salad...
so much variety....so much to eat! and drink...

After the movie, came back and prepare for the chicken ...
Ingredients:
chicken breast
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 tsp minced ginger
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 egg
Tapioca starch for dusting chicken
Oil for deepfrying

Sauce:
2 tbsp oil
½ tsp garlic
1 small onion chopped
1 tbsp chopped lemon grass
1 tbsp lime juice
8 tbsp thai sweet chili sauce

Green mango salad:
1 large green mango, shredded
1 medium red onion, sliced
1 pc chilli padi, cut into small pieces (more if you want)

Method

1. Marinate chicken with garlic, oyster sauce and ginger for at least 2 hours or overnight. Before deepfrying the chicken, add in the egg and mix well. Dust chicken with flour and leave it aside for about 15 mins then deep fry until golden brown. Chopped up chicken into serving size.

2. Heat up some oil in a pan. Saute garlic and onion till fragrant, then add in the lemon grass, lime juice and Thai sweet chilli sauce. Bring to a boil and spoon over the chopped chicken.

3. Toss the salad ingredients together and top over the chicken. Serve immediately.

03 March xxxx

2008-03-04T03:41:00.000-08:00

It was his day! 3rd of March~ tried to make it special every year~ but still dont know what to get him .... Since he 'lost' his little gadget that I got him couple of years ago, I thought he might want this tiny little player~ Is reallly SMALL!

Dinner time~ Went over to The Ostrich (so called the third oldest inn in UK).
Started off with some wine~

Then, salad as starter~
Then I had this 'Wild boar'! Well, just PIG

He had fish pie~ *yummy yummy*

and lastly, our dessert, cheese cake with nutSsss! This is nice too!The place was alright. Quite nice I would say. Probably will go again!

Then, I took a day off~ Staying there~ made him lunch. :)
Panini Chicken breast... (I'm good at taking photos! :):))

Then, after lunch, since he doesnt want a cake, I thought of making some cup cakes~
This took me my WHOLE AFTERNOOON! I was so tired after that! But, I like it! :)
Is so cute that, we just kept it aside! Hahaha!

CNY festival~

2008-02-19T02:21:00.000-08:00

selling 'mouse' bread! Cute!
cute cute 'dim sum!'
Some IQ test~

Cool~

On 14th February 20xx

2008-02-19T01:54:00.000-08:00

6 in 1 Valentine Dinner~
Started with salmon and honey dew appertizer

with a glass of house champagne that taste like 7-up!!
then mushroom soup ~my main, prawn something something
his main, fillet something (like fish & chip!)

and lastly, chocolate mousse

Day trip to Ipoh

2008-02-19T01:16:00.000-08:00

On the way to Ipoh, we saw a temple and thought of stopping by and have a look.

and look at this!

Did tried almost all the food introduced by a magazine...
and pamelo~

Eat and Eat and Eat

2008-02-19T01:06:00.001-08:00

Some local food~ (from pasar~ hehe)

These are from Paddington Pancake!

He ordered a weird drink...what coffee with ice cream wor....look so cool....

after stirring....actually is only 'kopi peng'

This is special from Sake Sushi! Called Lovey Dovey....specially made for Valentine~

Home Sweet Home!

2008-02-19T01:00:00.000-08:00

Went back home for CNY...
niceeeee...
all the food!!
and do nothing at home..
excellent!
Besides going home, I have to go 'this forest'!
and this ~ :) Meow~

Nasi Lemak

2008-01-20T05:00:00.001-08:00

Ingredients:
Sambal (Blended)
10 shallots
2 cloves of garlic
1 cm of belacan
5 red chilies (more if you want it more spicy)
2 cm of ginger

Rice
2 pandan leaves
a few slices of ginger
coconut milk (depending on how much rice you are cooking)

Steps:
1. Wash your rice (like usual) and use coconut milk instead of water to cook your rice. Tie a knot with 2 pandan leaves and add into the rice cooker. Add along a few slices of ginger.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil and saute blended sambal until fragrant and oil is separated from the sambal. Add 2-3 tablespoons of sambal olek and stir until thoroughly. Taste with salt and sugar.
3. Serve it with roasted peanuts ,deep fried anchovies and slice cucumbers.

Seafood Salads

2008-01-17T00:27:00.001-08:00

How healthy!! I eat V E G E T A B L E!

Pandan Chiffon Cake

2008-01-02T05:32:00.000-08:00

First thing that I baked on 1st of January 2008, pandan chiffon cake.

Ingredients:
75 gm plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
75 ml milk
4 egg yolks
5 egg white
80 castor sugar
1.5 tbsp corn oil
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
a pinch of salt
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp pandan paste (extract from pandan leaves)

Methods:
1. Cream egg yolks, 50 gm of sugar until it is creamy and thick.
2. Add in sifted flour and baking powder, vanilla essence, coconut cream/milk, corn oil, pandan paste into the egg yolk mixture.
3. In a clean dry bowl, beat eggwhite, remainder 30 gm of sugar, cream of tartar and a pinch of salt until stiff.
4. Mix the eggwhite into the flour mixture and mix it thoroughly using a spatula. Pour into the chiffon pan and bake in a preheated oven at 175C for 45 mins.
5. When cake is baked, invert it immediately to cool down for about 10 mins. After 10 mins, use a sharp knife to loosen the side and then the bottom to release the cake. Leave it on a wire rack to cool down further.

Spicy Pork Chops with Mango Salsa 31st December 2007

2008-01-02T05:18:00.000-08:00

Our 'last meal' before year 2008

Instead of eating out, we thought of cooking TOGETHER. Yes, he helped! :)

For the salsa:
1 ripe mango, pitted, peeled, and cut into small dice
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and cut into small dice
1/4 cup small-diced red onion
2 scallions (white and light- green parts), thinly sliced
3/4 cup loosely packed, roughly chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp. Tabasco
Kosher salt
1 Tbs. peanut or canola oil

For the pork:
1 Tbs. cumin seeds
1 Tbs. freshly cracked coriander seeds
1 Tbs. ground dried chile (chipotle is good, but ancho or New Mexico will work, as will a mild chili powder)
1 Tbs. kosher salt
1 Tbs. freshly cracked black pepper
4 bone-in center-cut pork chops (1 to 1-1/2 inches thick)
2 Tbs. olive oil; more if needed

Steps:
Salsa:

In a small bowl, combine the mango, tomatoes, onion, scallions, cilantro, orange juice, lime juice, and Tabasco. Toss gently to combine. Season with salt to taste. Drizzle with the oil and gently toss again.

Pork Chop:

1. Combine the cumin, coriander, ground dried chile, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels and rub each side evenly with the spice mixture.
2. Heat the olive oil in a very large sauté pan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. (If you don't have a sauté pan large enough to fit the chops without crowding, use two smaller sauté pans, heat 1-1/2 Tbs. olive oil in each, and cook two chops in each.)
3. Cook the chops until well browned on one side, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn and cook the other side until the meat is done, 2 to 4 min. (If they start to burn, turn down the heat slightly.)
4. To check for doneness, make a small cut near the bone and look inside—the pork should have a hint of pinkness. If it's still red, cook for another minute and check again. Transfer the chops to a plate, tent with foil, and let rest for 3 to 5 min. before serving with the salsa.

Christmas pressie~ shopping!

2008-01-02T04:42:00.000-08:00

One of my christmas pressie~ Thanks!

After christmas meal, of course shopping!

On the way to shopping outlet~

Wah!! ShopSssSsss ~ *poor him*

and the christmas shopping continues~

Christmas preparation

2007-12-23T09:43:00.000-08:00

'Unique' Christmas Gingerbread Cookies

Ready Mix Mince Pie ... :)

Chocolate Banana Cake

2007-12-09T11:36:00.000-08:00

One of my mom's favourite! Since I will be going back for CNY, I thought I should start trying and make the best Chocolate Banana Cake for her!
This is my first trial...and we totally love it! (well probably a bit more cream next time!)

Ingredients:
Chocolate cake:
1/2 cup cocoa powder, sifted
3/4 cup strong espresso
2 tsp vanilla essence
300g self-raising flour
75g plain flour
1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
185g unsalted butter, softened
200g caster sugar
3 eggs
180g chocolate, melted and cooled

Banana and cream filling:
300ml whipping cream
3 ripe bananas

Chocolate topping:
284ml double cream
200g dark chocolate

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 160C, and grease an 8 inch baking pan
2. Mix cocoa powder, coffee, vanilla essence and 1/2 cup cold water in a bowl and whisk.
3. Sift flour , bicarbonate of soda and a pinch of salt together.
4. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well each time.
Stir in melted chocolate into egg mixture.
5. Add the flour and cocoa mixture alternatively into egg mixture.
6. Pour into pan and bake till set (approximately 1 - 1 1/2 hours).
7. Whip the whipping cream until thick. Cut the cake into 3 layers and spread the cream on each layer. Place the banana on each layer and cover it with the remaining cream.
8. Stack the cake back together. Heat the chocolate with double cream and pour it onto the combined cake. Let it cool for probably an hour in the fridge.

Creme Brulee

2007-12-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

I was craving for this yesterday....
So we had this as our 'midnight' dessert ....

Ingredients:
300ml whipping cream
2 egg yolks
50g sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
extra sugar for topping

Steps:
1. Pre-heat oven at 150⁰C. Pour the cream into a bowl and place over saucepan of gently simmering water. Heat gently but do not allow to boil.
2.Meanwhile whisk together the egg yolks, 50g of caster sugar and the vanilla essence. When the cream is warm, pour it over the egg mixture briskly whisking until it is mixed completely.
3. Pour into 4 individual ramekin dishes and place in a roasting tin.
4. Fill the tin with sufficient water to come halfway up the sides of the dishes.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour, or until the puddings are set. (first image)
6. Remove the puddings from the roasting tin and allow to cool. Chill in the refrigerator, preferably overnight.
7. Sprinkle the sugar over the top of each dish and use blow torches to brown the sugar. (second image)

"Chocolate chip oat-cookies with hazelnut"

2007-12-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

I wonder if anyone heard the story of 'Famous Amos Hawaiian nut cookies'. I've received the email like couple of months ago but never really tried it. First because I do not know how is the taste of the Famous Amos cookies, second, I haven't got the time! Anyway, I did try it today and this is what I've got.

There are some changes that I've made....
1. less sugar!!
2. baked for 14 minutes with 200⁰C
3. less chocolate chips and less nuts

We like it ~ whether or not the cookies taste like whatever Famous Amos~

Here's the recipe that I've used

Ingredients:
1 cups butter
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cups granulated sugar
1 cups brown sugar
2 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal & blend in blender to a fine powder)
150g chocolate chips
1/2 tsp. salt
150g chocolate bar (grated)
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder
150g chopped nuts (your choice)
1 tsp. vanilla

Steps:
1. Cream the butter and both the sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix together with flour, blended oatmeal, salt, baking powder and soda.
2. Add chocolate chips, grated chocolate and nuts.
3. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 14 minutes at 200⁰C.

28th November xxxx

2007-11-29T07:14:00.000-08:00

My birthday! What a surprise! He came back ~~ and took a week off just to accompany..... aghhh...how sweet~~

So my surprise starts at 27th November ~ 9pm....he appeared from no where~
then I had my birthday cake! Look gorgeous~ Taste excellent!

The next morning, he made me breakfast ~

Then ... at night, we went to this good rating restaurant ....
Excellent service, ok food, nice atmosphere~
Started with this 'free' starter,

Then, we had our 'real' starter, something with scallops~

Then, our main course... I had 'Organic cod fillet', while he ordered something with the duck ...
Lastly, as the birthday girl, I was given this ~

MiNe~ aLL mIne!

2007-11-20T13:36:00.000-08:00

Crab dinner

2007-11-12T01:05:00.001-08:00

Nice nice nice??
And of course there must be some vege~ -_-

Claypot Chicken Wings

2007-11-12T00:59:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

3 chicken wings

2 stalks spring onions, cut into sections

1cm ginger, sliced thinly

5 chinese mushrooms, soaked till soft and quatered

3 tbsp cooking oil

Seasoning:

1 tbsp shao xing wine

3 tbsp oyster sauce

pepper to taset

1/4 cup water

Extra 1 stalk of spring onions, cut into sections

Method:

Cut the chicken wings into pieces (at the joint)
Heat the claypot until smoking hot. Heat the cooking oil and fry both spring onions and ginger until fragrant. Add chicken wings and mushrooms. Add shao xing wine and continue to fry.
Add water and the remaining seasoning, except the extra spring onions. Bring to a boil. Cover claypot and simmer over low heat until chicken wings are tender.
Before serving, add extra cut spring onions. Stir well and serve while still hot.

mY 'heater' rePlaceMent

2007-11-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

We got this when we went shopping over at Bluewater~ How cute~ Love it so mucH~

Swirl Chocolate Cheesecake

2007-11-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

I think I had this recipe for 2-3 years already. Found it on the website one day when I actually started baking. Several of my friends tried it and think is excellent (easy to bake!). One day when I was watching some shows, suddenly I've got this craving for cheesecake. The very next day, we went to supermarket and get some mascarporne cheese and all the ingredients, and you are!

Ingredients:
1. 500g mascarporne cheese
2. digestive biscuits
3. 75g condensed milk
4. chocolate powder
5. 2-3 tbsp butter
6. 2 eggs
7. 1 tsp vanila essense

Steps:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 1800C.
2. Smash digestive until very fine and mix the crumbs with butter. Transfer crumbs to a cake tin (about 8 inch loose bottom) and press firmly over base. Bake the crumbs for about 5 minutes and let it cool.
2. Beat mascarporne cheese until creamy and pale. Gradually add in the condensed milk and continue beating. Add in the eggs and vanilla essense.
3. Take 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture and add with chocolate powder.
4. On the biscuit base, spoon a couple of chocolate cream cheese mixture. Spoon a couple of cream cheese mixture on the biscuit base as well. Using a fork, simply mix the chocolate and vanila cream cheese.
5. Bake for about 30 minutes until centre is cook. Keep it in the fridge for about 3 hours before serving.

Dinner

2007-11-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

Well I think I can consider myself as 'carnivore'. I only eat a few types of vegetables, such as, broccoli, lettuce, okra (lady fingers) and probably belacan kangkung (Water Spinach). So, we went and get this kangkung at one of the chinese grocery shop and had it as our dinner~

and this too~~

Zebra/Marble Cake

2007-10-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

I always like to make this cake (not because I like to eat, but because of the look!). Anyway, here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
1. 125g butter
2. 150g caster sugar
3. 1 tsp vanilla essence
4. 3 eggs
5. 20g milk powder
6. 100ml water
7. 225g self-raising flour
8. 1.5 tbsp cocoa powder

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 180⁰C. Dissolve milk powder in water.
2. Cream softened butter with sugar until pale and creamy. Beat in vanilla essence.
3. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Fold in about half the sifted flour and then half the milk. Continue until both flour and milk finish.
5. Bake for 45 minutes.

and this is what I've got~nice color huh?

Prawn Seafood Spaghetti

2007-10-22T14:26:00.000-07:00

We tried this at one of the restaurant over at our friend's place the other. He said is nice, so I thought of trying to create it last weekend. Anyway, the recipe is really simple, and it taste really good (although it doesn't look that nice!).

Ingredients:
1. Spaghetti (I've used about 100gm)
2. Small prawns (I've used about 100gm)
3. King prawns (I've used only 8)
4. Fresh thymes
5. 1/2 tbsp olive oil
6. half a cube of fish stock
7. 2 tbsp of butter
8. 5 cloves of garlic
9. Half cup of water

Steps:
1. Boil the spaghetti until is ready.
2. Heat frying pan and melt butter. Saute garlic until fragrant, then cook the small prawns. Add in the king prawns.
3. Once the king prawns are cook, take it out to avoid the prawns shrink.
4. Dissolve the fish stock in the garlic prawns mixture. Pour in about half a cup of water.
5. Simmer for about 7-10 minutes, then pour it on top of the spaghetti. Sprinkle some fresh chopped thymes.

Ready

Hot Dog Buns

2007-10-17T02:32:00.000-07:00

Tried this recipe a few times, very interesting and of course very delicious too!

Ingredients
A)
1. 240 gm bread flour
2. 60 gm plain flour
3. 50 gm castor sugar
4. 20 gm milk powder
5. 2 tsp instant yeast

(B)
1. about half an egg
2. 150 ml cold water

(C)
1. 30 gm unsalted butter
2. <5 gm salt

(D)
1. Hotdogs (about 12)

Steps:
1. Mix (A) till well blended. Add (B) to form a dough. Add in (C) and knead until dough is smooth.
2. Gather dought and form a ball. Let it rest in a bowl and cover it with cling film/wet towel for about 50-60 minutes or double in size.
3. Divide dough into 12 portions (depending on you, how big or small you want your buns to be). Shape them into balls and leave it to rest for about 10 mins.
4. Roll out dough and wrap with hot dogs. Design as you like. :)
5. Let it proof(expand) on greased baking tray for another 50-60 mins or until dough is double in size.
6. Apply egg wash (1 beaten egg) on dough and sprinkle some shredded cheese on it. Bake dough at 180-190ºC for abt 12 mins. So this is what I get in the end.

Latest news: my Chili Plants!

2007-10-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? After so many months ... I've got only 3 chili from a plant. The rest, still .... Haiz...
Well, I'm still very SATISFIED! :)

Chocolate Mousse Cake

2007-10-07T08:23:00.000-07:00

On 7th October 2007, HE booked for a dinner at one of the restaurants in St Paul Square. The dinner was quite good and these are what we had. Salmon with mash sweet potatoes on the left and monkfish and mussels on the right.

I was trying to decorate the mousse cake with some chocolate. So I went and turn on the microwave to the maximum heat and place some chocolate chunks in a bowl. I was in hurry to pick HIM up from the train station so I left the bowl in the microwave and went up and changed.The next minute, I smell something burnt! Gosh, again, I blew up my microwave. The whole kitchen stick again! Haiz...So, BECAREFUL!

Anyway, I would like to share this super easy recipe with excellent taste chocolate mousse..

This is the recipe that I've used:
Ingredients:
1. 20 ladyfingers, split
2. 1 packet of chocolate chunk
3. 1 cups of coffee
4. 400 ml whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks

Steps:
1. Line bottom and side of a loosebase cake tin with split ladyfingers.
2. Make a cup of coffee. Place half a packet of chocolate chunks on a bowl and start melting them with the coffee. The amount of coffee and chocolate depends on your taste (how sweet you want and how much coffee essence you want). I've used the a cup of coffee and half a packet of chocolate chunk.
3. Stir until all the chocolate melt. Fold whipped cream into the chocolate coffee mixture until no white streaks remain.
4. Pour 1/3 of mousse mixture into prepared cake tin. Place a layer of split ladyfingers over mousse layer. Then pour another 1/3 of mousse mixture over ladyfingers. Repeat with remaining mousse mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Just melt some chocolate and decorate as you like on the 'surface'.

This is what I've got ...

In 'return', I've got this from HIM. Guess what is this ...

Tau Sar Piah

2007-09-29T10:04:00.001-07:00

This is something I would buy everytime go back to Malaysia. Well, I thought I want to give it a try and see the outcome. It turns out quite alright but the filling was a bit tasteless, because of SOMEONE that starts complaining when SOMEONE saw the amount of sugar that I have to put in! So an advice, DO NOT make the filling when your SOMEONE is besides you! :)

Here goes, the recipe:
Pastry:
Water Dough:
1. 100g bread flour
2. 100g plain flour
3. 70g lard, softened
4. 20g icing sugar
5. 100ml water

Oil Dough:
1. 120g plain flour
2. 60g lard, softened

Mung Bean Filling
1. 300g skinless, split mung beans.
2. 75g lard, corn oil
3. 1/2 cup shallots (or 8-10 shallots)
4. 1/2 tsp sesame oil
5. 1/2 tsp five-spice powder
6. 150g white sugar (I think I've 'managed' to use only less than 100g sugar!)
7. salt to taste

Glaze
1. 1 egg, lightly beanten for eggwash

For Mung Bean Paste filling
1. Soak mung beans into water for a least 2-3 hours.
2. When the beans are ready, drain and place it in a large plate that can fit into a steamer/wok. Steam the beans until soft, about 30 minutes.
3. Remove the beans from steamer and start to smash it like mash potatoes. (Shown in picture below)
4. Heat up a work with lard/oil and add sliced shallots. Cook over low heat until golden brown and aromatic (it takes a while).
5. Remove the goldn brown shallots and use the oil to cook the rest of the ingredients.
6. Add sesame oil and five-spice powder and cook over low heat until aromatic. Add in the bean paste with sugar and salt. Continue to stir the mixture with higher heat until thick. (Shown in picture below). Let it cool.

For Pastry
Water Dough:
1. Rub lard into the flours and add the remaining ingredients and mix to form a soft dough. The amount of water needed may be different. Please adjust according to your needs. Knead until smooth. Then wrap with clign film and set aside for about 15-20 minutes before using.

Oil Dough:
1. Rub lard into flour and knead until the dough is smooth.

Tau Sar Piah skin:
1. Divide both water dough and oil dough to 20 equal potions.
2. To make the skin, take one portion of water dough and roll flat. Then take one portion of oil dough and wrap it with the flat water dough. Roll the combined dough into a thin flat sheet using a rolling pin. With your fingers, roll the thin sheet up like swiss-roll style. Turn the rolled dough 90⁰ and roll it flat again. Repeat the action twice. Lastly, round the roll-up dough piece into a ball and set it aside. Repeat the steps with the rest of the dough pieces. (Shown in figure below)3. Preheat the oven to 200⁰C. Divide the filling into 20 equal portions.
4. Press each combined dough into a flat round disc. Wrap each portion of mung bean past with one combined flat dough. Seal it up tigthly by pressing the edges together to enclose the filling. Place the puff seal side down on a baking sheet. Repeat the until finished.
5. Before these go inside the oven, glaze the puffs with eggwash. Sprinkle some sesame seeds if you like. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden color. (This is what I've got out from my oven!)

Yam Cake (Malaysian style?)

2007-09-27T02:21:00.000-07:00

This had always been our favourite! After we've tried from one of our friends, he was so in-love with it. And of course, I HAVE to get the recipe and learn from my friend.

Anyway, you can try it and let me know if there's any 'smell' that you don't like.

Now, here's the recipe.

Ingredients (A)

Rice flour – 225g
Glutinous flour – 3 tbsp
water – 825 g
salt – 2 ¾ tsp
sugar – 3tsp
white pepper – ½ tsp
chicken stock – ¾ tsp

Ingredients (B)

yam – 600g
dried shrimp – 120 g
spring onions – 2
shallots – 10
red chilies (shredded)

Steps

Heat 5-6 tbsp oil, mix the sliced shallots with corn flour and sauté the shallots until golden brown.
Soak the dried shrimps in a bowl of hot water. Blend all the dried shrimps. Scoop all the cooked shallots and use the oil to fry the blended dried shrimps. When it is ready, it will have bubbles. Stir it again, and let it cooked again (wait for another bubbles)
Scoop about 60% of the fried blended dried shrimps and cook the yams with the remaining oil and blended dried shrimps. Stir fry until about 70 - 80% cook. Depends on individual, stir fry until about 50-60% if you want the yam to be crunchy.
Mix all ingredients (A) in a bowl.
When the yam is about cook, stir in (4). Keep stirring until the mixture is thicken. Taste the mixture, add additional salt and pepper if necessary.
Once ready, scoop the mixture into a square(or round like mine) bowl. Flatten the mixture with the back of a spoon. Steam in medium fire for 40-45 minutes.
When is done, sprinkle cut spring onions, fried shallots and shredded red chilies before serve.

For the chili

Ingredients

Red chilies – 50 to 60g
Vinegar – 2 tbsp
Salt – 1 tsp
Water – 10 tbsp

Steps

Cut the red chilies into pieces and blend it with the water.
Heat a frying pan and pour the chili mixture into it.
Add some cornflour if you want it to be thicken.

Coca - cola Chicken

2007-09-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

Another easy recipe to be shared. Saw this recipe on the newspaper one day and thought of giving it a try. All I can say about this recipe is délicieux! :D

Now,

Ingredients:
1. 5 chicken wings
2. 1 tbsp light soy sauce
3. 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
4. 1/2 tbsp sugar
5. salt and pepper to taste
6. 1 can of coca-cola
7. Oil for deep frying.

Steps:
1. Clean the chicken wings and marinate them with light and dark soy sauce, sugar, salt and pepper. Best to marinate them for about 2-3 hours but usually I do it for at least half an hour.
2. Once they are ready, heat the wok and enough oil for deep frying. Fry those chicken wings until about 70% cook.
3. Take it out of the wok and drain it with kitchen towel.
4. Heat the wok, put the chicken back in the wok and pour coca-cola into the wok just enough to cover all the chicken wings.
5. With medium heat, continue to stir until sauce thicken.
6. Serve when it is warm.

Oreo cheese cake

2007-09-21T00:32:00.000-07:00

At last! I've managed to find this picture! This is non-bake oreo cheesecake that I made for him and his colleague. Tell you what, the appearance was so eye-catching that everyone was waiting for the dessert time! (hehe, I'm so proud of myself)

Anyway, I thought this is pretty simple and easy recipe that I would like to share with you...

Oreo Cheesecake
Ingredients:

Oreo Crust
16-20 oreo cookies, cream removed
100g butter

Filling
3 tsp gelatine, dissolved in 60ml water
About 80ml lemon juice
500g cream cheese, softened (I've always use mascarpone cheese)
130g castor sugar
240ml whipping cream

Steps:
1. Melt butter over medium heat and set aside.
2. Squash the oreo biscuits until finely crushed (you can try it on food processor), then transfer to a bowl. Add the melted butter and stir until the crumbs are moistened by butter. Transfer crumbs to a cake tin (about 8 inch loose bottom) and press firmly over base and refrigerate it for about 30 -40 minutes.
3. In a bowl, dissolve gelatine with 60ml water. Then add lemon juice into the gelatine and heat the mixture over a pot of simmering hot water until gelatin is totally dissolved. Set aside and let it cool.
4. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy and pale. Add in whipping cream and continue to beat for another 3 minutes (to whip the whipping cream up).
5. Then, add the gelatine mixture and blend with mixer until just blended.
6. Get the base from the fridge and pour the cream cheese mixture over the base and chill overnight (preferably) or about 3-4 hours (until firm).
7. Once it is ready, remove the cake from the cake tin and start decorating your cheese cake with chocolate biscuit roll, melted chocolate and of course some bit and pieces of oreo biscuit!

Egg Tart

2007-09-16T12:12:00.001-07:00

I've tried this before and I think this is excellent recipe. So I would like to share with everyone here...

Ingredients:
Pastry
Short dough
1. 100g plain flour
2. 100g lard/ghee

Water dough
1. 100g plain flour
2. 5g custard powder
3. 5g milk powder
4. a pinch of salt
5. 1 egg yolk
6. 10g lard/ghee
7. 12 icing sugar
8. 40ml water

Filling
Sugar syrup
1. 150g white sugar (I've used only about 120g of sugar because of HIM)
2. 200ml water

Custard
1. 2 eggs
2. 50ml evaporated milk
3. 150ml sugar syrup

Steps:
1. Make the custard filling first by making the sugar syrup and cool. Then use only 150ml of the sugar syrup and mix with eggs and evaporated milk. Sieve this custard mixture and set aside.
2. Mix all the water dough ingredient and gradually add the water until soft. Once the dough is formed, covers it with the cling film and chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes. While waiting for the water dough, mix the short dough and covers it with cling film and chill in the fridge to harden slightly.
3. For the egg tart shells, flour your work surface. Roll the water dough into square shape (big enough to cover the short dough). Then, start rolling and folding the dough mixture for several times (you should see several layers start to form).
4. Once you are satisfied with the layers, roll the dough flat and use pastry cutter to cut out the circles (shown in the picture below).

5. Because I do not have any egg tart moulds, I've used shallow muffin tray to make my lovely egg tarts. The dimension of the pastry cutter that I've used is 55 mm and that fits exactly into my muffin tray.

6. Preheat the oven to 240⁰C. Fill up to about 3/4 full with the custard fillings.

7. Put the tray of filled egg tart pastry into the oven and immediately turn the temperature down to 200⁰C. Bake for 10 minutes and then lower down the temperature to 180⁰C and bake for another 10 minutes.

This is what you should expect:

my 'day Off'

2007-09-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

I had my 'day off' yesterday...unbelievable...I was not asked to cook even an instant noodle ...

We had Indomee as our branch. Then after about an hour, we went out for lunch with his friend at one of the chinese restaurant in town. We had nasi lemak and ho fun.
Then even dinner, HE made me one ... while I'm having 'evening' nap.. :)
This is what he made me ...
some garlic breads, cajun wedges, and paprika pork... what can I say.... Thank you!

Curry Chicken

2007-09-14T00:39:00.000-07:00

Now, this is my favorite! This dish was actually taught by one of my colleague long long time ago (well probably 2 years). He always complains that my curry chicken is too spicy for him...and yesterday, he complains that the curry is SWEET... what can I say, MEN ....

Anyway, this is the recipe:
Ingredients:
1. Chicken portions
2. 1 potato
3. 2 tomatoes
4. 1 cm of ginger
5. 1 onions
6. 5-6 tbsp milk/coconut milk
7. 3 cloves of garlic
8. 4-5 curry leaves
9. 3/4 tbsp of curry powder
10. 1/2 tbsp of turmeric powder
11. 2 tbsp of oil
12. Light soy sauce
13. Salt & pepper to taste

Steps:
1. Cut the potato and tomatoes into cubes, smash the ginger and garlic and slice the onion.
2. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pot. When it is ready, saute the sliced onions until fragrant. Before it is brown, fry along with ginger, garlic and curry leaves.
3. Add in the chicken potions and slightly stir it with the onions. Then, add the curry powder and turmeric powder and stir well. Add in the potatoes cubes and tomatoes wedges.
4. Pour in the milk/coconut milk and cover the pot with low fire for about 15-20 minutes until the chicken portions are cook.
5. Before dishing out, season it with salt and pepper.

p/s: Superb easy dish and lovely

Spring roll

2007-09-12T05:26:00.000-07:00

What can I say, this is one of his favorite food. Every now and then, HE would ask me to make this dish for him. When he asked me to make it yesterday, I have got no prawns, no sesame oil and some other ingredients.

So I've used whatever I can find from his fridge to make him this before he comes back from work.

Ingredients:
1. Mince pork (1/4 of 500g)
2. half a carrot
3. 2 mushrooms
4. 2 cloves of garlic
5. light soya sauce (~1 tablespoon)
6. sugar (1/2 tablespoon)
7. salt and pepper to taste
8. spring roll pastry

Steps:
1. Chop the carrot and mushroom into pieces and mix them with mince pork. Do the same for garlic as well. Marinate the mixture with soy sauce, sugar, salt and pepper.
2. Instead of deep frying the spring rolls, I've used oven to grill the rolls. No oils = less fat! So, to I've fry the mixture first before rolling them with the spring roll pastry.
3. Heat the frying pan with 1 tablespoon of oil, and stir fry the minced garlic. Once the garlic start to burn, pour in the meat mixture and continue to fry. Turn off the fire, when the mince meat is no longer pinkish color. The result should look like this.

4. Let it cool before wrapping it with the pastry.
5. I've used this spring roll skin(bought one from china town)
6. After wrapping...

7. Heat up the oven to about 180C before placing wrapped spring roll inside. When the oven is ready, grill the rolls for about 10-15 minutes for each side. It should be ready when it looks brownish.

Haha...this is what we had for our dinner with a plate of fried bee hoon.

and even gardening...

2007-09-11T01:06:00.000-07:00

Bird eye chili(chili padi) had always been a 'must buy' ingredient whenever we do our grocery shopping. So one day HE took an unused peanut butter plastic bottle, filled it up with soil and 'throw' some bird eye chili seeds into it.

I was not so keen about gardening as I thought this is a hobby for someone who is retired and has got nothing to do. For the first few weeks, HE was the one that did all the watering, taking it in and out so that it has got enough 'sunlight'. I was surprised that it managed to grow! Because we do not know which seeds will actually grow, so whenever we used the chili padi, we 'throw' those seeds into the 'pot'. Never know most of them grow! Not only we have to get more pots to transplant them, we need more space to make sure they have got enough sunlight. In the end, I think we have got about 12 chili plants (errr, I don't know which species are they). We did get rid of some of them by giving them away to people...

Since HE moved away from the house, I was the one that 'took care' of all the plants. Seeing them grow everyday is really awesome. Watering them everyday....putting them by the side of my window before I leave the house .... I would think is a 'cute' hobby. Now we have got about 5 plants that has got flower and 1 plant is growing the chili! I really cant wait to try them... hehe

Googling for some chili padi's plant photos,...I've found this...

My aim: Hope that all my chili plants will grow like this...

BUT.... until today, my plants are like this..
I am very proud of myself .... hehe .... cause I was so patient to wait for the plant to grow from this....

a biT of mySelf

2007-09-10T07:32:00.000-07:00

I am 18 this year (and every year!) :) ...
who met up with 'The One' two years ago ...
and managed to 'transform' into a LADy ...
his appearance not only made me know how to cook and bake ...
I've even started knitting and cross - stitching...
though this is a huge 'transformation' for me, but I really appreciate it.... appreciate him...
appreciate what he brought into my life ..
what can I say, you complete my jigsaw puzzle...
:D

so the purpose of this blog is ... to share my recipes ... with anyone else that needs them...

my reCipes coLLection

Double chocolate chip cookies

Siew Bao

Thai Seafood Noodle Soup

Spiced Salmon Stir Fry

Blueberry Muffins

Cheese and Potato Bread Twists

Seafood Paella

Ingredients

Marble Butter Cake

Celebration ...

Food .... fooD and moRe foOd

How can I resist ~

28 nOvembEr 20xx

ChRistMas .....

Spicy Clams

Wantan Mee

Curry Puffs

Updates

Winnie the Pooh's MugsSsss

Coconut Tart

Mango Pudding

FREE CHERRY!!

Me to You 'mini family'

Wan Tan meal

Koay Teow T'ng & Chicken Wrap

Souffle Cheesecake

Banana Muffins

Spongecake Cups

Chicken Teriyaki & Chicken Noodles

Buffalo Chicken Wings

Sushi time!

Dried bean curd with Soya Milk

iT was a LoooOOong week

hapPy buFfdaY maMa

Night out @ Reading

Got Another Pair of Pillow Case

Little updates~

Nyonya Chicken with Mango Salad

03 March xxxx

CNY festival~

On 14th February 20xx

Day trip to Ipoh

Eat and Eat and Eat

Home Sweet Home!

Nasi Lemak

Seafood Salads

Pandan Chiffon Cake

Spicy Pork Chops with Mango Salsa 31st December 2007

Steps:Salsa:

Christmas pressie~ shopping!

Christmas preparation

Chocolate Banana Cake

Creme Brulee

"Chocolate chip oat-cookies with hazelnut"

28th November xxxx

MiNe~ aLL mIne!

Crab dinner

Claypot Chicken Wings

mY 'heater' rePlaceMent

Swirl Chocolate Cheesecake

Dinner

Zebra/Marble Cake

Prawn Seafood Spaghetti

Hot Dog Buns

Latest news: my Chili Plants!

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Tau Sar Piah

Yam Cake (Malaysian style?)

Coca - cola Chicken

Oreo cheese cake

Egg Tart

my 'day Off'

Curry Chicken

Spring roll

and even gardening...

a biT of mySelf

Steps:
Salsa: