Sunday, November 25, 2007

Chocolate Butter Cookies

Does this remind you of the chips in a Casino?
Since it's the childcare centre closure day tomorrow, I think it's better to have some healthy snacks for them at home!
This is the same Butter Cookie recipe that I always use with addition of 1/4 cup of cocoa powder.

Brownie

It is really a long break since I last made brownie! I have decided to add some chopped walnut since I have a pack in the storeroom for quit sometime, however, I did not add all into the mixture, but to sprinkle the walnut on top of the mixture. Since my girl does not like the walnut version, I had left some parts empty!
This is for my girl and she will add some chocolate syrup to eat with the brownie.


Garlic Bread

This is my 2nd attempt to make Garlic bread. This time, the bread yeilds much better, after confirming that I should really wait till the bread is fully proof then cut the top and add the garlic spread, chopped garlic and sesame seeds on it. I have used a 8 inch round baking pan to bake this bread, hence, you could see the round shaped and I think it looks like a big rose, except the centre 'bun' is a little shrink when I tried to take out the bread from the pan.

After trying, I noticed that I did not bake it long enough and it's not fully cooked, however, it did not affect the taste so much. I decided to put it into the oven for another 10 mins. This is a little disappointing! :(

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Cranberries Cupcakes Vs Oreo Cupcakes

I chance upon this website own by Su. I was captivated by the way she decorated her cupcakes which is for different occasions. She has finally write up something about her cupcakes. I have some oreo cookies and some cranberries, hence, good to be used in this recipe.


Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Another Green Bread!

Since, we have finishes our greentea bread, my helper tried another Green bread, this time she uses 1 tsp of Pandan Flavoured Green Paste from 'Red Man'. I like the colour of this loaf. Taste is fantastic!!

As the bread is already about 80% filled to the Pullman tin, I decided not to cover the bread and let it developed a dome shape instead!
Look! How soft the bread is!!

Easy Chocolate Muffins

Made these in 2 batches using same recipe, but, different cocoa powder & different vinegar! You will notice the difference in the colour, they are both wonderful, yet, easy to make. I only used 45mins in total from starting to measure the ingredients till the muffins are ready to be eaten!






This is the 1st batch made using Hershey's cocoa powder and Apple Cidar Vinegar!


This is the 2nd batch, using 'Red Man' Cocoa Powder with White Vinegar!

Monday, November 19, 2007

GreenTea Milk Bread

1 tablespoon of Green Tea powder into Milk Bread combination =

This loaf of bread is made by my helper.. She is now my official Breadmaker for the household!
Tasted it, taste is wonderful!

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Mixed Berries Yoghurt Muffins

I must be crazy today! Made 3 types of bread, mini donuts and now: muffins!
While browsing Happy Hombaker's blog, MIL asked if the muffins were made by me? I said no, somehow, I can make some too, very easy. Hence, here's what I got! Get into baking again..
Using balance of plain yoghurt from making mini donuts, add half cup Mixed Berries Yoghurt, add some lemon juice....
Presenting my creation of Mixed Berries Yoghurt Muffins.


I am too eagle to try this creation, so, peel open before it's cooled. The crust is crispy, taste yummy, with a little sour, fruity, sweetness is just right.
Ingredients (makes 12 medium size muffins):

  • 200gm Top Flour
  • 2tsp baking powder
  • 4tsp lemon juice
  • 50gm plain yoghurt
  • 100gm mixed berries yoghurt
  • 100gm brown sugar
  • 100gm butter
  • 2 eggs

How I do it:

  1. Melt butter and sugar in double boiler, stir with hand whisk till well blend. Cool slightly.
  2. Add yoghurt, lemon juice, eggs into the butter mixture, stir till combine.
  3. Add sifted flour and baking powder and fold lightly.
  4. Spoon into muffins tray lay with muffin cups till 2/3 full. Bake at 180deg C for 25mins or until the skewer comes out clean.
  5. Cool on wire rack.

Baked Mini Donuts

After making 3 loaf of bread for breakfast. It's about time for tea!
Hence, show my mother-in-law how to make this easy to bake Mini Donuts.
With the previous bad experience of dusting the chocolate, this time, I simply melt eddible chocolate bars with microwave and dip the donuts into them. MIL helped to dip the chocolate rice.
This is so much neater and less messy!


Wholemeal Bread

This is my usual breakfast!
This loaf will last me a week as there is no one in the family will share this super healthy bread with me. I will normally eat them with some margerine!

I could not wait till it's cooled before slicing them.. This is very soft and it's not easily sliced.

Ingredients cater for 1 loaf tin:
125gm bread flour
125gm whole wheat flour
50gm WholeGrain Toppings from RedMan
40gm butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup water
40gm brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp instant dry yeast

How I do it:
1. Mix water, sugar, egg, dry yeast in a large bowl. Beat at low speed until well blended. Add the flour, change to medium speed until well the dough is smooth. Cut in the butter at low speen until well mixed. Again change to medium speed and mix until the dough can be stretched into a thin sheet.
2. Remove from mixer and place in a greased bowl, cover with damp cloth and let rise for 90mins.
3. Divide the dough into 3 portion, knead dough into ball and let rest on the working table for 10mins. Use rolling pin to roll up each portion place dough on a greased baking sheet to rest for 15 to 20mins.
4. With a rolling pin, roll each dough into square piece and roll up tightly. Place them into the baking tin, cover with damp cloth and let it rise till abt 90% of the tin.
5. Sprinkle some WholeGrain Toppings on the top and place them in the oven (preheat to 170deg c) and bake for 25 to 30mins (or golden brown).

Garlic Bread

My hubby likes to eat Garlic buns from a bakery shop near my parents place. So, I decided to make the bread using the Hokkaido Milky Loaf recipe topped with garlic spread, fresh garlic and saseme seeds.
I do not know when to cut the bread to add the spread and garlic, so I have them added before the 2nd proofing. This result the big messy toppings and I could not get the bun that I wanted. Hence, this has become garlic loaf instead!

I like the texture of the Milky Loaf!


Friday, November 9, 2007

Tiramisu in cups!

It's a long time since I made my last Tiramisu. I bought a variety of cups during my recent trip to Daiso, so decided to make something in them and the 1st thing I have in mind is Tiramisu.
I have only make half of my usual recipe and I further divide them into 2 flavours: GreenTea and Original.


I like this cup, it's round with 3 tiny 'legs'.
This GreenTea Tiramisu has no alcahol and has a very refreshing taste.


Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Onion-Liap Cheong Twist and Bun Varieties

I had only wanted to make about 250gm of bread flour which will only be enough for some small buns, but somehow, ended up with 750gm of bread flour in my dough! Hence, decided to make 1 loaf of bread and some small buns in different varieties!


Something must be wrong with me today! Either because I am not feeling well or ...
Look at the size.. all different. This is the 1st time I try modelling the dough to other shapes! This is the 1st pc I made & I think it's the best of all!
Take a look at other models I made. Somehow, cannot get the same result as the 1st one.

These are other buns I shaped today, I had never made a perfect oblong shape, after the proofing time, the dough sure become 'round'. Below are the results after long hours of waiting.
This is the planned bun that I have wanted to make for tmr's breakfast.
'Onion-Liap Cheong Twist Buns' Last minute decision to make Pork Floss Buns, these buns simply dun raise! Don't know what went wrong, I made them together with the Nutella buns.
Nutella buns, requested by my girl!
Wrong choice to wrap the nutella inside the buns, it becomes hard.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Panna Cotta

I happened to try this creamy Italian puddings months ago and had wanted to make it one day. Panna Cotta literally translates as "cooked cream' in Italian. These softly set and creamy Italian puddings are so silky-smooth they slip down beautifully at the end of a meal. Perfect served with fresh berries or fruits according to the season. They are also perfect for dinner parties because they can be made a day or two in advance and kept refrigerated until ready to be served.
This is the 1st time I use this silicon muffin cup!

Panna Cotta is supposed to be served inverted & topped with fruits! This is my version!
I find eating straight from the muffin cup is so much more convenient!

Recipe as follows:
2tsp gelatin
1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar
2tsp vanilla essence
1 cup thicken cream
1 cup sour cream
1/2 milk

Method:

  1. In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over 1/2 cup milk; let stand until the gelatin is softened, about 5mins.
  2. In a large saucepan, combine the rest of the ingredients. Bring cream just to simmer (do not let it boil), whisking occasionally until sugar has completely dissolved; remove from heat.
  3. Add the softened gelatin mixture and whisk to completely dissolve the gelatin.
  4. Strain hot cream mixture into large glass measuring cup with a pouring spout; pour into ramekins or custard cups (I used silicon muffin cups). NOTE: Don't skip the straining step as it removes any bits of undissolved gelatin and insures a nice smooth dessert. Also, don't let the cream mixture cool before straining.
  5. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
  6. To unmold and serve, carefully dip bottom of each ramekin in a baking pan of hot water briefly. Run a thin knife around edge of each ramekin to loosen it from the inside of the bowl. Wipe the outside of the mold dry and place on individual chilled serving plate (topside down). Invert the custard onto the plate and carefully lift off ramekin (shake gently to release).
  7. Garnish with berries or fruit of your choice.

Ingredients for Toppings:
Strawberries, sliced
2 tbsp apple vinegar plus 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1tbsp sugar

Method:
Blend all ingredients, chilled. Spoon onto Puddings before serve.