Foodie

Birthday Cupcakes

2009-01-04T02:12:00.000-08:00

Someone at work requested for birthday cupcakes. The alphabets were a pain to make actually.

Chocolate Pear Pudding

2008-12-29T00:38:00.000-08:00

Guess it was high time I used up my 2 tins of pears. I was a bit pissed initially coz I thought I burnt it. But when you cut it up, then you'll see that the insides are just the right consistency of chocolate gooey-ness. I wasn't too sure if Nigella used normal cocoa or unsweetened cocoa, so I used a bit of both. Though I was a tad generous with the latter. Hee. And an extra egg coz I thought the mixture was a bit thick. Serve it warm, paired with chocolate syrup & ice-cream. T'was a good chocolate fix. Guess I now have a favourite dessert for putlucks..!

Yes, I now own a copy of Nigella's book.. That explains the extra amount of time I've been spending in the kitchen.

Chocolate Mousse

2008-12-01T01:09:00.000-08:00

So, nothing exciting. Just me & my chocolate mousse, recipe courtesy of who else if not the great Nigella. Even my mum who's not really a chocolate fan says it's nice. Ok no more sweet stuff for me for a week..!

Just Desserts

2008-11-30T01:13:00.000-08:00

Remember the pavlova I wanted to whip up last weekend but didn't have the time to? Well, managed to make some today, the mini version. I didn't get it to be the shape they're suppose to be but oh heck, they taste good..And not to mention sweet..! The base is good on it's own albeit a tad overcooked..

And errrmmm cupcakes anyone..?

Cheesecake Recipe

2008-11-29T01:16:00.000-08:00

Here's the cheesecake recipe I whipped up a couple of days ago. It's actually a cherry cheesecake but I substitute it with blueberry jam..

INGREDIENTS

125g digestive biscuits

75g soft butter

300g cream cheese

60g icing sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

250ml double cream

1 jar Black Cherry Spread

METHOD


1.	Blitz the biscuits in a food processor until beginning to turn to crumbs, then add the butter and whiz again to make the mixture clump.
2.	Press this mixture into a 20cm springform tin; press a little up the sides to form a slight ridge.
3.	Beat together the cream cheese, icing sugar, vanilla extract and lemon juice in a bowl until smooth.
4.	Lightly whip the double cream, and then fold it into the cream cheese mixture.
5.	Spoon the cheesecake filling on top of the biscuit base and smooth with a spatula. Put it in the fridge for 3 hours or overnight.
6.	When you are ready to serve the cheesecake, unmould it and spread the black cherry over the top.

Note: Jam might be a tad sweet for some, so spread it sparingly. I also used whipping cream instead of double cream.

Dinner Date

2008-11-23T01:17:00.000-08:00

I went crazy since my mum & granma are not around & we had a really nice early dinner.

Of course my Aglio Olio,

Plus, Maple Chicken & Baked Potatoes with Sour Cream & Chives

Blueberry cheesecake for dessert

There was 1 more thing on the menu which I didn't get to whip up. Chocolate Pavlova. Tsk. I better do it soon before the raspberries turn bad.. Those pricey little things..! So, dinner was bloody good don't you agree... :)

Toblerone Cheesecake

2008-10-16T01:20:00.000-07:00

I had a hard time deciding which 1 to make. New York cheesecake or Toblerone cheesecake. Little did I realize the latter was an unbaked cheesecake..! I could have just made both..! 1 while the other is in the oven..! I got the recipe from a pack of philadelphia cream cheese.. It was so..nice, I'm so gonna make it again.

Apple Pie

2008-10-11T01:22:00.000-07:00

Let's just keep it short & sweet. Plans to go jalan raya was cancelled so I stayed home & baked. Something I've been wanting to try, apple pie.

T''was nice, sweet & would have tasted great with vanilla ice-cream..! Of course, getting 1 from McDonalds works too. Hehe.

INGREDIENTS

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.
Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work of crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

Sarang Semut

2008-09-22T01:23:00.000-07:00

Cookie production this year has been terribly slow. Most of it ended up in a small container meant for the kids. Although I was pleased at how my sarang semut turned out.

Carbonara

2008-08-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

I always avoid keeping heavy cream for too long. I had more then half a carton left after the Tiramisu & making a cake frosting on a weekday was just not appealing. My search resulted in this. Carbonara. There was no capsicum or whatsoever in the fridge so I just tossed in a few fillet of fish. Very creamy & not too cheesy...

INGREDIENTS

1 (16 ounce) package mostaccioli
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

DIRECTIONS

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Combine heavy cream and butter in a Dutch oven or large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Heat until butter melts, stirring occasionally; be careful not to bring mixture to a boil. Stir in Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Toss with cooked pasta and serve immediately.

Tiramisu

2008-08-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

Well the tiramisu was done & it was goood.. A tad sweet though, and what I like about this recipe is, unlike most tiramisu recipe, the eggs are cooked.

I put it in the fridge to set & somehow something landed on it, hence the crack. Pppfftt..!

Roast Chicken & Blueberry Muffins

2008-08-13T01:32:00.000-07:00

Being on mc gives me plenty of time to raid the kitchen. Bought half a chicken on the way back from the clinic yesterday. Just so I can make use up some herbs & spices which are expiring soon.. Roasted chicken & potatoes for the kids..

And these are fresh from the oven.. Blueberry muffin. I thought it looked a bit burnt but it's just the sugar & cinnamon topping. Crunchy topping & soft insides makes a very good combination.

Chicken Pie

2008-08-12T01:33:00.000-07:00

About time I use up that pack of pastry margerine. Sent some over to his mum & she liked it a lot. Even suggested that I make some for future gatherings. *gulps* Cannot say no right..? Wait kena minus points.. Heheh. Rough puff pastry is such a hassle to make..!

Cupcakes

2008-05-16T01:35:00.000-07:00

So, it was my last day in the office. I'm taking this transfer quite well I must say. I'm gonna miss some people in the current office, I think. They requested cupcakes on my last day so.. what the heck... Besides, I have this peppermint extract I've been dying to use. Hehe.

Chocolate Torte

2008-05-11T01:38:00.000-07:00

Ok, so plans to have a big Mother's Day lunch cook-out was scraped since I had no time to go marketing. But I did make a cake though. My brownie torte turned out good. A bit hard at the top but good, with ice-cream.

Fishball Noodle

2008-04-18T01:39:00.000-07:00

One should never underestimate fishball noodle. It's so simple to make, comforting & all it takes is a spoonfull of really good chilli & you're in heaven.

It took me about 30-45mins to whip this up. My so called "emergency" meal.

I really like those stuffed DODO fishballs. Ok, I like fishballs, period.

Ingredients
Noodles - whichever type you prefer.
1.5L water
1 medium onion
1 clove garlic
1 chicken cube & 1ikan bilis cube
fishballs
fishcake, sliced
pepper to taste
local lettuce/chye sim or whatever you fancy and fried shallots for garnishing

Method
1. Blend onion and garlic into paste
2. Boil water and add onion/garlic paste and the stock cubes
3. Let the soup boil for 15-20mins and make sure that the cubes are dissolved
4. Add fishballs and sliced fishcakes and continue simmer for about 10min
5. Add pepper to taste
6. Blanch noodles and lay lettuce in the bowl
7. Place the noodles on the lettuce and scoop the soup over with fishballs and fishcakes
8. Sprinkle fried shallots and sliced chilli and serve hot

Note: I just crushed the onion & garlic a bit coz I had no time to blend. Heh

Peanut Butter Pie

2008-04-10T01:52:00.000-07:00

Just 1 word... S.W.E.E.T..!!! I made it just so I can use up my carton of whipping cream before it goes bad. It's not bad but I'm not a peanut butter fan so... hhmmm.. I don't know.. But it looks pretty though..

Chicken Wrap & Oreo Agar-Agar

2008-03-31T01:56:00.000-07:00

The only good thing that happened over the weekend were these.

Chicken Wrap

Ingredients
1-2 chicken fillet cut into strips
2 medium garlic, chopped
shredded cabbage or other vegetables that you like
1 bottle salsa
6 tortillas
shredded cheddar cheese
handful of basil or cilantro
1-2 tbsp olive oil

Method
1. Heat oil in a pan and stir fry chopped garlic till fragrant
2. Add chicken strips and fry till cooked
3. Pour salsa onto the chicken and mix till all the chicken are well coated with the sauce
4. Add cabbage and basil and stir till all the vege are cooked
5. Turn off the heat and let it cool
6. Pre-heat oven to 180 degree celcius
7. Take one tortilla and put some of the chicken salsa on the wrap
8. Sprinkle shredded cheese on the salsa mix and roll the wrap like springroll

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& cocoa oreo agar-agar.

Ingredients
1 packet agar-agar powder (Rose brand)
1 litre water
250g sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
100ml whipping cream (dairy or non-dairy)
3 tbsp cocoa powder
3-4 tbsp hot water
crushed oreos (abt 10-12 pcs or more)

Method
1. Combine water, agar-agar powder and sugar into a pot and heat it over the stove
2. When agar-agar powder and sugar have dissolved, add evaporated milk and leave it to boil, stirring occassionally with a balloon whisk
3. Add hot water to cocoa powder 1 tbsp at a time, mix it till well blend and put the cocoa mixture aside
4. Whip whipping cream till soft peak and put it aside
5. Once agar-agar mixture boils, remove it from the heat and stir and let it cool slightly
6. Add whipped cream slowly at the same time stirring the mixture, then add cocoa mixture and stir till well blend
7. Pour half of the mixture into the agar-agar mould and let it set for about 5-10 minutes
8. Sprinkle generously the crushed oreos and slowly pour the other half of the mixture into the mould
9. Let the agar-agar cool before keeping it in the fridge
10.Serve chilled

Chocolate Fruit Tarts

2008-03-31T01:54:00.000-07:00

I saw this fruit tart recipe & I've been dying to try it ever since. Instead of the usual custard base, it uses white chocolate BUT I ended up burning my white chocolate. Accidents happens ok. So, improvise & use semi-sweet chocolate. Turned out ok but maybe next time I'll try using normal chocolate chips.

Aglio Olio

2007-12-02T01:58:00.000-08:00

I've always loved simple pasta. Nothing too rich.. Something that's easy to whip up & taste good. Something like... Pasta Olio.. Just nice, a tad spicy.. but very versatile.. You can experiment with different vegetable & seafood... You can never go wrong with prawns.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound spaghetti
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup melted butter

DIRECTIONS

In a large pot with boiling salted water cook spaghetti pasta until al dente. Drain.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet over low heat saute garlic, parsley, and red pepper flakes with olive oil . Cook until garlic turns golden in color, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Toss pasta with garlic mixture and butter or margarine. Serve warm.

PS: The recipe didn't ask for salt but I added just a pinch. I also used chilli flakes instead of cayenne pepper plus a dash of italian seasoning.

Beef Lasagna

2007-09-18T01:59:00.000-07:00

And yet another cooking episode... I made Lasagna & everyone liked it so I guess it was good..

INGREDIENTS

1 pound lean ground beef
1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
32 ounces cottage cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons dried parsley
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
9 lasagna noodles
1/2 cup water

DIRECTIONS

In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef. Drain the grease. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
In a large bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, eggs, half of the grated Parmesan cheese, dried parsley, salt and ground black pepper.
To assemble, in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish evenly spread 3/4 cup of the sauce mixture. Cover with 3 uncooked lasagna noodles, 1 3/4 cup of the cheese mixture, and 1/4 cup sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with 3 noodles, remaining sauce, remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Add 1/2 water to the edges of the pan. Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree F(175 degrees C) oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.