6th birthday (Yellow Cake)

My baby celebrated his birthday by decorating his own birthday cake. It was a simple yellow cake with buttercream frosting and blackberry filling.

Source: Make Fabulous cakes

Ingredients

2 1/4 cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup butter
1/2 tsp salt
2 cup sugar
4 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup milk
4 egg white

Method


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and line with parchement 2 x 9 inch cake pans.

Sift cake flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

In a separate bowl cream butter and sugar till white. Add vanilla and egg yolks one at a time.

Sift the flour in alternatively with the milk. Scrape down the sides and beat for another minute.

Beat eggwhites in another bowl till soft to medium peaks form. Fold in the eggwhites into the egg yolk mixture slowly so that you do not deflate the air.  Pour batter into the cake pans and bake for about 45 minutes. Test with wooden skewer.

Let cool for about 10 minutes. Loosen the sides and invert onto a cooling rack.

Frost as desired.

His sketch on how the cake is going to be!

Kuih Lapis - updated

I tried this after many tries and I think I am going to stick to this recipe as it is soft and easy to peel apart.


Ingredients

400 ml water
400 ml coconut milk
100 gm sugar ( add more if needed)
2 pandan leaves, knotted
1/4 tsp salt

180 gm rice flour
120 gm tapioca flour
1 tb cornstarch

Food coloring

Method

Boil sugar, pandan leaves, water, coconut milk until sugar is dissolved. Turn heat off and let it cool completely.

Stir in the rice and tapioca flour until dissolved.  Strain and divide into 2 bowls.

Grease a 7inch pan and place the pan in a steamer and steam till hot.

Steam each layer for about 6 minutes.  The top layer has to be in dark color.  Once all done let the kueh cool down completely for about 2 hours.  Cut with a plastic knife.

Shawls

Claypot Cake

Made this cake for Easter party at my son's school.

Recipe is from Martha Stewart.  The chocolate cake is very dense but is moist.

Gumpaste

Soft and Fluffy Cinnamon Pecan Rolls

This was one of the most fluffiest and soft cinnamon rolls that I have made.  Its so easy and tastes great.
Dough Ingredients:
• 1 cup milk (I used 2%)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 envelope instant or ‘rapid rise’ yeast (approx. 2 1/4 tsp)
• 1 egg
Cinnamon-Sugar Filing Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter, (completely) softened
Cream Cheese Icing Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1-2 Tbsp. milk (if needed)
(Optional Substitution: Standard Icing Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/2 C powdered sugar
• 1-2 Tbsp. milk

Method

To Make The Dough & Filling:

Combine milk and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 1 minute, then remove and stir. Continue heating in 20 second intervals, pausing after each to stir, until the butter is melted and the milk is warm to the touch but not hot. If needed, let the milk mixture sit for a few minutes until it is warm but not hot.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour (not all of the flour), sugar and salt until combined.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add yeast and lukewarm milk mixture and stir by hand to combine. Add the flour mixture and egg, and beat on medium-low speed until combined. If the dough is sticking to the sides of the bowl, add the remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time, until the dough begins to form a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Continue beating for 5 minutes on medium-low speed. Remove the dough hook and cover the dough with a damp towel and let rest for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, make your filling by whisking together sugars and cinnamon in a bowl until combined.

When the dough is ready, turn it out onto a floured work surface. Then use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about 14 x 9 inches in size. (If you want all edges to be even, you can use a pizza slicer to cut the dough into a perfect rectangle.) Use a knife or pastry spatula to spread the softened 1/2 cup of butter out evenly over the entire surface of the dough. Then sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Beginning at the 14-inch edge, tightly roll up the dough. And then give the final seam a little pinch so that it seals. . Then cut the  dough into 11 or 12 equal pieces.

Place each of the cut cinnamon rolls into a greased pie plate or 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Then cover again with a damp towel, and leave the dish in a warm place to rise for 25 minutes. (I typically turn on my oven to 200 degrees, then turn it off and place the dish in the oven with the door cracked open. It's a great option if you don't have a vent or a warm window nearby.)

When the rolls have risen, uncover the dish. Then place on the center rack of the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or until the rolls are golden and cooked through. Remove and let cool on a wire rack for at least 5 minutes. Drizzle with your desired icing and serve.

To Make The Cream Cheese Icing:

Either in the bowl of an electric stand mixer, or a mixing bowl, whisk softened butter and cream cheese together until combined. Then whisk in powdered sugar until combined. If the icing is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of milk to thin.

Hubby Bday 2014

Heavenly white cake with  buttercream frosting. 

Random

I have been working on painting these days and not much on cooking. I guess i need to broaden my hobby, as if I need more work  to do. Well, I guess I had a hidden talent that i did not realize.  Oh, and yeah I am still working on my knitting too. Enjoy.

Hokkien Noodles

Ingredients

Japanese Udon Noodles

Garlic, minced

Onion. diced

Chicken, cubed small and marinate with a little cornstarch

Shrimp

Pork, optional

Napa Cabbage, cut into big chunks

Sweet soy sauce

Light soy sauce

Dark soy sauce

Oyster sauce

Pinch of Ajinomoto

Method

In a wok, add oil and saute the garlic and onion.  Add the chicken, pork and stir fry till no more pink. Add the shrimp and cabbage. Now add the sauce's and about 1/2 cup of water. 

Slowly add the noodles and let it cook for a bit till noodles soften. If water runs out and noodles are still hard, add more water. Check the seasoning.  Do not add salt as the oyster sauce and soy sauce has sufficient amount of salt.

Dish out and serve while still hot.

Hershey's Chocolate Cake for Valentine

I made this cake once again and again it was the most moist and wonderful chocolate cake. I just love how easy it is to put together and the frosting is so decadent and chocolaty.

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.