Christmas preparation

'Unique' Christmas Gingerbread Cookies

Ready Mix Mince Pie ... :)

Chocolate Banana Cake

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

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"

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.