Pandan Bread

Had some leftover coconut milk after making nasi lemak. So, I was thinking since what would happen if I were to mix coconut milk and some screwpine (pandan) paste in bread flour....well, the result was really awesome, although I never got to try the bread as I had to give it to a friend as a token of appreciation but the texture was smooth and the smell of the pandan was really something.

Red Bean Paste Buns

I came across this recipe at gracekitchencorner.com, and as usual my hands started to itch. Thought of trying it out for tea time.  As you can see, I guess it turned out good. But the next time I think I would try to slow down the oven timing as I noticed the bottom of the buns were starting to get a little darker than the top. Oh well, the taste and texture is pretty good.


Bun recipe:

(A) 200g bread flour / 20g plain flour / 25g sugar / 1/4 teaspoon salt / 1/2 tsp + 1/4 tsp yeast / 15g milk powder / 1 egg / 115g water / 15g butter

(B) 200g red bean paste (divide into 8 portions) / 20g white sesame

1. Mix ingredients (A) with bread machine for 30 minutes until it become a smooth and elastic dough.
2. Place the dough into a clean bowl and cover with cling wrap to proof for 60 minutes.
3. Divide the dough into 8 portions and round them into small balls. Then fill the doughs with red bean and shape it into a smooth balls. Let the dough proof for 15 minutes.
4. Slightly flatten each dough and use a scissor to cut the edges into 8 flower pedals. Continue to proof for 10 minutes.
5. Egg wash the doughs then top with some sesame. Bake at 190'C preheated oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.

Dosa @ Thosai

Today I decided to try blending on my newly bought blender by making dosa. Its turned out just like how my mother used to do it. I served it with coconut chutney and I had some leftover sardine curry.

Ingredients..

3 cups Uncooked rice (soak at least 8 hrs)

1 cup Urad dhall (soak at least 8 hrs)

3 tbsp cooked rice

Blend it all real smooth and let it ferment for about couple of hours. I prefer to leave it overnight.

Milky Loaf Bread

Got this amazing recipe from KitchenCorner. Its is very soft and tender, although I must say that it took me about 3 hrs to complete from start to finish but the effort was worthwhile.  Taste wise it was just like any ordinary bread but with butter and jam, it was really good.

Just made a marbled effect by dividing the dough into 3 and using cocoa powder for one, red food coloring for another. Made them into a braid and baked inside a loaf pan.

Swiss roll again

Tried to try my hands on another episode of swiss roll making. This time I tried to add color to the batter.  Probably would add more colors to it so that it would look like a real rainbow.

Sweet Buns

Today for tea time I made some sweet buns ( recipe frm Kitchen Corner).  Still in the learning process but it  tastes and smells yummy.

Pineapple Chiffon Cake

Had a dinner invitation at a friend's place and was wondering what to bring, when I thought I would try making a chiffon cake with pineapple. To my surprise it turned out wonderfully moist and delicious. I topped it up with some chopped pineapple stirred into a tub of whipped cream.

Recipe

4 eggs ( seperate) or an additional 1 egg white
110 gm cake flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp b.powder
60 gm sugar
1/4 tsp ovalette (optional) or 1/2 tsp of lemon juice
1/4 tsp tartar
60 gm vegetable oil
70 gm pineapple juice

Bake it for 45 min in a 7 in tube pan ( 350 degrees F)

Vegetable puff again..

Today I tried to make vegetable puffs but this time with Pepperidge farm puff pastry sheets. I think it turned out nice. To make things easier and less conplicated i decided to use a store bought Puff Pastry sheets. 


Ingredients for Filling.


Carrot
Cabbage ( couple of leaves)
Medium potato
Beans  
Onion, garlic, ginger
Chilli powder

Syeshua bday

My little boy turned 2 today (Dec 4th 2010). Well, I thought of getting him a cake and then again hmmm he is too small to complain or know what is best or wrong, so dear mommy made him a special dinosaur cake.  Hmmm it did not turn out as what I wanted it to be but its made out of love for my darling boy. Dont get me wrong, the cake and icing was really moist and nice. Just used Duncan Hines cake mix and buttercream icing.

Just wanted to also add in his 1st birthday cake which I made. Its an Elmo cupcake. 

Coconut milk appam

Well, its Saturday and thought would surprise my family by making a special breakfast so I made appam.  Its made with uncooked rice, cooked rice and yeast. Fermented and then add coconut milk to a thin consistency and cook.

Vegetable puff

Got this recipe for the filling from a dear friend who is in Colorado. This is so easy since it uses only the puff pastry but I just made a slight mistake by purchasing the phyllo pastry sheets but oh well.....the filling is superb.  This recipe is a keeper.

Recipe...

1 puff pastry
1 cabbage leave ( torn in big pieces)
1 potato ( cut into half)
1 carrot ( cubed)
6 beans ( cut into 6)
ginger garlic paste
onion, little mustard seed and plain chili powder

Put all the vegetables in a pressure cooker and cook till 5 whistle.  Drain out the water.
In a pan, saute in a little oil, mustard seed, onion, ginger garlic paste, and the chili powder. Add in the cooked vegetable, taste for salt and add little bit of sugar.
Take out and let it cool.  Thaw the pastry sheet, cut into 9 squares, put little filling and fold over. Bake as stated on the box.

Rice Porridge

I know its been sometime since I have posted something.  Just had a visit to the dentist to do my tooth grafting.  Oh what a day I had...it was horrible and I could not eat anything except soft food.  Well, so I decided to make rice porridge which is both easy and tasty.

Recepi..

Uncooked rice

Ginger (cut into thinly slice)

Taufu (cubed)

Chicken bouillion

cabbage 

Garnishing...some onion leaves / fried onion

Put all in a pot with water and cook till rice is soft and breaks apart. Add more water if necessary.

Tilapia

Since my little one is just out of surgery, I have been really busy with him so tonight made a very simple dish with tilapia fillet.  Dry rub it with little paprika, salt, garlic powder, and pan fry with some butter on both sides. Serve with hot rice and some stir fry vegetable.

Sushi

Tried another favorite of mine and my family's.....Sushi.  Well, for a starter I think I have done a good job with it.    Its pretty easy if you get the right type of rice and of course the rolling of the nori (seaweed).

Crab meat with mayonaise, spinach, pickle radish

Fish cake, radish, egg, carrot

Chicken Kurma with Ghee Rice

Its been a cold day today. So, I just headed to the kitchen and thought maybe a nice kurma chicken would be the answer.  I made some ghee rice to go along with it and of course with my cucumber pickle.

Kurma Chicken

Chicken

3 green chillies ( seeded)

cashewnuts

garlic, ginger, onion

cloves, cinnamon stick

kurma curry powder, meat curry powder, salt

Saute the cloves, cinnamon stick in little oil. Blend the onion, cashewnut, garlic ginger onion, green chillies. Add them in the oil.  Put in the cut chicken and the curry powder. Pour little water. Adjust seasoning.

Doughnuts

Thought of surprising my kids for snack time, decided to make one of their favorite....which is doughnuts.  Made my own version of it.  Glazed with chocolate glaze and sprinkle it with some jimmies.

Basic Doughnut Recepi


3 cups bread flour/all purpose flour
2 tsp yeast
3 tbsp shortening
3 tbsp milk powder
200 ml lukewarm water/milk
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp sugar

Mix the yeast and milk. Let it froth.

Add the flour little at a time, most of the time you would not need to use all of the flour. Knead till soft and let rise for 1/2 hour. Roll out and cutout into circle.  Fry it and drain in a paper towel.  Glaze with plain sugar or with frosting.  Enjoy......
Mix all ingredients and pour in the yeast mix.

Cucumber pickle/Fried Noodles

This is my take on one of my mother's favorite pickle dishes. Cucumber and carrot mixed with rice vinegar. Best eaten with chicken briyani or some kinda spicy dish.  Its so refreshing and tangy. Well, she makes it the traditional way and I thought I would do the semi-homemade which is also the easy way.

Cucumber/carrot pickle

1 cup of cucumber ( cut into strips)

1 cup of carrots (cut into strips)

2 red chillies (seeded and cut into strips)

shallots ( 2)

Plum sauce, rice vinegar, salt, sugar, Mae Ploy sweet chilli sauce, 1tsp chilli powder, 1/2 tsp yellow powder

1/2 tsp mustard seed

garlic (2 cloves)

Peanuts ( for the crunch)

Cut the vegetables and soak in a bowl with some salt.  Heat some oil, add mustard seed and let it pop, add the garlic. On low heat, add the chilli powder, yellow powder, rice vinegar, salt and sugar, plum sauce, sweet chilli sauce........taste it.  Finally strain the vegetables and press so all liquid drains out.  Add into the sauce mix. Turn off the fire.  Adjust the seasoning. 

Fried Wonton Noodles

Had some leftover wonton noodles, made a stir fry out it.  Just added some shrimp, fishballs, chives, chinese cabbage.  Well, the kids seem to enjoy it anytime when there is noodles in the house.

Murtabak

It has been a crazy weekend with Deepavali celebration and also school. I was not able to cook since I was too tired from all the running around last weekend but today gonna try making one of the famous hawker food that I love to eat. Its made with roti canai/popiah pastry and wrapped with meat filling and egg. It can be eaten with meat curry or onion pickle.Murtabak is Malaysian traditional kuih(for appetizer or dessert food).  This delicious murtabak can be eaten for breakfast or dinner. Murtabak can use chicken or beef as filling. The meat is cooked with spices and then mixed with egg before spreading it onto the murtabak skin. The traditional way of making murtabak is to wrap the  filling with homemade roti canai.

Since I am not good at making my own homemade roti canai, I need to find the substitute for this delicious murtabak skin. I am  using the popiah skin as the wrapper. Other name for this skin is lumpia as shown in the picture below or you can get the frozen roti canai at the asian grocery store.

Murtabak with onion pickle

Prawn Fritter and Rainbow Jelly

It seems I am going on a food race, well that is not too bad since I just love baking and cooking.  I attempted to overcome my utmost fear in making jelly/agar agar.  I just cant seem to get the right measurement. It always turns out too soft or hard but thank to My Kitchen Snipets website, I managed to make a beautiful rainbow jelly.  Wow, am I so proud of myself.  Also made prawn fritter, which is actually made out of flour, spring onion, b.powder, tempura flour, water and topped with prawns with shell on. Another achievement today.  Eventhough I feel so tired but whenever I look at the food that I have made, its gives me a sense of pleasure and fullness.

Prawn Fritter

Rainbow Jelly

Workout

Workout, workout, workout....thats what I did early this morning. Got up at 7.00 and went to the gym since I have been collecting calories by snacking all the cookies that I have been making.  Ooooh my bed was calling me to come and cuddle myself but I told myself no way..i have to go out and get myself toned little. Well, after heading back home, cooked lunch and then of course decided to make more cookies.....yippee. Thats the part I love most.."baking"

Pineapple tarts and Mama carries 

Dahlia biscuit

Getting ready for Deepavali

Since our Indian Festival of Lights is just around the corner, I thought I would start making all the wonderful cookies that my mother has thought me so that my kids would know what the festival is all about, hmmm not like I know much about it. All we used to do when we were small was just wait for mom to finish making her specialties and we would just indulge in them. Thinking back of all this has made me wonder, how did my mom do all this when she had all 4 of us running around.  She is a tough cookie.  Anyway, here we go, I made Muruku ( a fried snack which is done in a mould into little spirals), Pineapple tarts, Anthill cookies, Dahlia cookie, Beehive cake.  I guess I need to go clean up all the mess that I have done in the kitchen while doing all my cooking, so talk later.......

Ice cream cookie 

Anthill cookie

Muruku

Beehive cake

Some of my random pictures

These are some of my cakes that i made just randomly whenever I felt bored.

    

Pumpkin swiss roll                               

Made this cake for my daughter's 13th birthday .  White cake and whipped cream topping.

Sausage Bun

Coconut Chiffon Cake

Started the day with a parent teacher conference for my son, Sash.  All went well, thank the mighty Lord. It was always a big thing in the family when we have a parent teacher conference day.  Well, it did not end at that, infact I had my first facial cleaning done after almost many years at a friends spa, Alysim Spa.  It was like I was in the torture bed (like the one you see in the movie "SAW") tears was rolling down my eyes when she was poking and picking out all the blackheads.  Well, I can see that I look years younger now..lol.

Okay, after the long day out, I just could not sit still at home so I decided to make my 2nd try on chiffon cake.  Well, what do u know.....it turned out marvelous and super spongy and soft.  I just could not believe that I am starting to make the one thing that I feared most.....CHIFFON CAKES !  Tomorrow is going to be another big day for me. Going to start making some cookies for Deepavali ( Indian Festival). Trying to watch Deuce Bigalow and surf the net, wow me..! Catch up tomorrow...

Rock Drops

Found this recepi by accident at Jo's Deli website. I remember doing this cookie when I was in my cooking class at school.  Its brings back a lot of memories. This goes so well with a glass of milk !!

    200g butter, cold but not hard

    400g cake flour

    3 tsp baking powder

    75g brown sugar

    75g castor sugar

    150g sultanas

    2 eggs, lightly beaten

    4 tbsp milk   

   

METHOD:

1. Lightly grease or line baking tray with greaseproof paper. Preheat oven at 190 degC.
2. Sift cake flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl. Rub butter with your fingers or K-beater until mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
3. Stir in sugars and sultanas.
4. Add eggs and milk to the mixture and mix to form a dough.
5. Spoon mixture on to the prepared baking tray, spacing them well apart to prevent them from sticking together while baking.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
7. Remove rock drops from baking tray. Serve hot or let cool completely on a wire rack. Store in air tight container.

Pandan Chiffon Cake

I was wondering what I could make before the kids got home from school and came up with this beautiful spongy cake with the wonderful aroma of pandan....Well, I actually made this cake from scratch and followed the recipe from Diana's Dessert when I realised that i had actually used bread flour instead of regular flour. I was really surprised that the cake turned out to be the best.

Hey, I have just started this blog and I didn't realize how difficult it was going to be to get started with my first post. What do I write about !! Sure there are enough topics with my interest in cooking and baking and of course knitting....so I thought of starting this blog with just writing a few lines about me.  I have a 4 beautiful kids and a wonderful husband and a beautiful pet dog, Snickers. Whom has been with us since 2006. Will be posting more pictures of my family.