
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Indian Styled Potatoes

Saturday, December 27, 2008
Thank You Mrs Hockmeyer
"The best recipes come tried and true from friends who begged them from other friends and so on and so on.."I have to agree that it's pretty true! Furthermore, E vastly a recipe "travel" it just goes to show how lovely the recipe is! When Ovenhaven raved about this recipe, I knew I had to give it a try. Somehow It slipped my mind and when she blogged abt some other banana bread recipe, I obviously recovered from my amnesia :p I got my sister in law to buy some bananas and she bought a nice bunch of Delmonte! I realised that I already packed most of my pans and I didn't have a loaf pan! I had to double the recipe and bake it in a square cake pan. The smell coming from the oven was heavenly. E end result was a banana cake that is soooo flavourful, moist and absolutely lurvely. You really have to give this a try. The recipe is a charm and so many ppl have actually tried and loved it. Mrs Hockmeyer must be smiling up there :)

Ingredients
4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
Method
No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.
Friday, December 26, 2008
I guess I'm just bored. . .
So I was thinking, what should I do this weekend? Am planning to start packing my stuffs next monday so I should enjoy this weekend a bit! Yup, just a bit. I'm not a party animal you see. For me, fun is when Im surrounded with my cousins and super cool aunties and all of us are laughing away to some silly jokes. Hmm, I guess I should go shopping! Theres 2 very important birthdays coming up! Talking about shopping, I need to go to E bank! I have too much cash in hand! When I said too much cash, I'm not talking about tens and hundreds of thousands. I don't feel safe even with 1000 bucks in my wallet! Mom been telling me to pay all kinda bills via Ibanking and she gave me cash in return. And now my brother. I didn't get time to go to E bank during office hours. On 2 evenings, I went to the cash deposit machine and it was down! Apparently that thing has not been working for more than a week! *Gasp* And I was SO PROUD of E services and facilities offered in this country! Haizzz...Ok enough of rambling about non-food related stuff [FULLSTOP]
So I'm thinking, what should I bake this weekend? I wanna bake something different. Something I never tried baking....It has to be a First.
*Thinks hard*
*Thinking.....*
*Still thinking.......*
I know Nk gonna roll her eyes as she read this. She hates it when I start thinking! Haha!!!
I guess it's gonna be 1 of these....
- Banana Cake
- peanut butter cookies (ok its not a 1st, but I feel like munching some) :p
- Stollen
- Peach cobbler
Let's see!!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sex and E city cupcakes!
Jingle bells, jingle bells,jingle all the way!
Oh wat fun it is to ride in a
one horse open sleigh! :D
Merrie Xmas Every1! (",)
We are not having a party this year as Mom is away for holidays. Furthermore my eldest brother has to work. *Le sigh* Last year was fun! We had Turkey and lotsa Italian food! Oh well, am not complaining. Neeways, my nephew and niece do make things "fun" :p
So the little niece wanted vanilla cupcakes. I decided to give the infamous Magnolia Cupcakes a try. Since it is Xmas, we obviously had to dress up the cupcakes for Xmas!
Well, E frosting is way too sweet. I'm not saying it tasted bad coz it tasted good. You know, like those cotton candy/candy floss that is crazily sweet yet nice! The cake itself is really soft and E icing do complement E cake nicely. I would suggest that you just cut down the sugar proportions and it would be perfect!! These are E perfect cupcakes for a kid's party coz kids gonna really love 'em. My niece and nephew enjoyed 'em very much. They must have gobbled at least 5 cupcakes each! I liked it too. Somehow I feel that it tasted better after "resting" a bit for an hour or 2. And yah, go easy on E frosting allrite? A fairly thin layer is best unless you absolutely love your sugar and have no qualms about consuming a large amount of sugar! *why do I feel that it doesn't sound rite?* :p
Anyways, E recipe can be found here
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Just another day in paradise...

We=my niece and nephew. I have been wanting to bake these cookies for ages now. I am surprise that these tasted absolutely yummy coz I had no expectations really. I just wanted to give it a try coz it was cute. I adjust E ingredients according to what I had at home. I used the koco krunch with dual flavours. Do give it a try! These are addictive!! My niece and nephew packed some home coz they wanted their MOM to try these cookies. I also "packed" some and they were asking as to whom those were for. I said my brother! *Who happens to be their father* It was a deliberate move coz they only remembered their mother! Hmmph! :p60g icing sugar
130g butter - cubed
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tbsp cold water
Sift together flour, milo and sugar. Add butter and rub in with fingers. Once the dough forms crumbs, sprinkle cold water and vanilla over the dough and knead lightly until a soft dough forms.
Let the dough rest at room temperature for about 10 mins.
Preheat oven to 325F.
To assemble cookies:
Chocolate chips
Koko Kruch
Pinch off about 1 teaspoonful of dough for each cookie. Embed 2 chocolate chips and 1 frosties flake in the center of the dough.
Place the ball of dough on the baking tray. Use 2 Koko Kruch cereal pieces to form the ears, chocolate rice for the eyes and a chocolate chip for the nose.
Bake at 325F for 20 mins until the cookies are light golden brown.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Cherry Oh Cherry!
Anyways, my day starts with me preparing breakfast from 'em. It's kinda fun actually coz me and mom hardly eat breakfast, so I don't get a chance to try breakfast thingy much. I wished I had bento boxes, so that I can serve 'em breakfast in bento! After breakfast, I would start doing the laundry, cook lunch and clean up the kitchenette. It's a good thing that most of E time my sister in law would do most of the housework before going to work. I then feed them lunch. They are 11 and 9 years of age btw. Whenever they come over, I used to feed 'em so they do insist that I feed 'em now. I find it weird though coz my sis in law does not practice that. The kids eat on their own all the time. Actually I don't mind at all. Feeding 'em would mean no mess+ saves time+ they eat more! It's a win2 situation anyways.
My niece wanted to learn how to make cupcakes, so we baked some cupcakes. We made 2 types of cupcakes actually. Cherry cupcakes and magnolia cupcakes. Oh ya, tht reminds me! I saw lots of cheap cherries and blueberries at the supermarket! Apparently they are in season again! Yeay! I luv cheap yet sweet berries! Go and grab a couple of punnets peeps! :)
Ok back to the cupcakes. I know I have been posting way too much cupcakes! I can't help it though. It's not by choice really. So the cherry cupcakes are basically sponge cakes. I sandwich 2 layer of sponge cake with some cream and fresh cherries. Drizzle with juices from the cherry and topped with fresh cream. I shall update the recipe soon and also a post on the magnolia aka sex and the city cupcakes. More laterz, we are off to the playground!
YUMMY cherry cupcakes!
Nurfa, E little ambassador - Dearest Nk, this is your competitor :p
Oh btw, doesn't she look just cute with this hairstyle?? I just cut her hair this morning! I can't bear to cut my waistline hair but I'm very happy to snip others hair! *Evil smile* :pPs: I have not been replying to emails for recipes request. Gimme a few days peeps. I shall mail out the recipes after Xmas. Thank u so much! :)
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Empire RED and the RED velvet.
Anyways, Red Velvet Cake has long been on my to-do list and when I bought a tub of cream cheese, it immediately ended up in my must-make-soon list! I had all E ingredients plus 4 guinea pigs to try the cakes, thus it was perfect! :p The cake turned out really lovely. Fluffy and delicious. The cake didn't turn out very red though as I wasn't very comfortable with E idea of using a LOT of colouring! Oh well, as long it won't affect its yumminess. I don't really mind. Usually, when I make cream cheese frosting, it's just cream cheese+icing sugar+vanilla. This time, I added some butter to the cream cheese. It made a WORLD of difference. The cake and frosting complement each other perfectly. It's the kinda cake that you don't actually have to stop at 1. It's refreshing and you just want more of it!


Want some?? :p
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Mousse de Chocolate
I had an opened tub of cream and I had to use it before it turns bad. I ransacked my brain a little and I came up with a mental list as to what I can make with 250ml of cream...- Creme brulee
- Scones
- Panna cotta
- Mousse
- Caramel custard
I was kinda lazy to on the oven and do some baking, so I decided to make some mousse instead.
It involves not much cleaning up either! Furthermore, this was my 1st attempt! Anyways, it turned out really lovely! I didn't use a lot of chocolate coz my fam members do not take much chocolate. For those of you who are hardcore chocoholics, do substitute the chocolate with dark chocolate to get a luxurious chocolatey mousse! I'm planning to try Nigella's white chocolate mousse next. Personally I feel that mousse is a great dessert to make if you have guests over coz it's not just pretty and classy looking, you can also make it a day ahead of time which is really helpful for parties!
Ingredients:
250ml Heavy cream
30g castor sugar
200g semi sweet/dark chocolate
2 Egg yolks
2 Egg whites
1 Tsp vanilla
Method:
Melt chocolate and cool slightly. Whisk in yolks, a little at a time. Add vanilla.
In another bowl, whisk egg white and sugar till frothy. Add in cream and whip till soft peaks.
Fold 1/3 of the egg white and cream mix into the chocolate. Add remaining cream
Pour in little cups/moulds and let it set in the fridge for a few hours
*I served mine with a dollop of cream and a sprinkle of cocoa.
Note: If you can't or don't consume raw eggs, use a Bain-marie to whisk the yolks and the whites.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Simplicity. . .

Sunday, December 14, 2008
Kheer on a Sunday...

1L milk full cream milk (I used fresh milk)
1/2 can (200 gms) sweetened condensed milk
1/4 tsp cardamom powder (I dropped 2 cardamom in the milk since I liked it mild)
1/4-1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup Basmati rice
50 gms almonds blanched and slivered - roast the almonds or saute lightly with a knob of butter or ghee.
A few strands of saffron (I didn't have this. I used a few drops of rosewater instead)
Method:
Wash rice and keep aside.
Put the milk, condensed milk and sugar in a deep, thick-bottomed pan and boil. When the milk comes to a boil, add the rice and simmer.
Cook till the milk thickens and reduces to half its original volume.
Add the almonds and cardamom and cook for 5 more minutes.
Turn off the fire and add the saffron/rosewater. Stir well.
Allow the kheer to cool, then chill.
Serve cold or hot if you prefer.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
A dream come true!!

So I opened up the box...
Shed a tear or 2 in my heart and cut up the cake.
I cut up E back of E cake, so at least I can still admire E front view for a day
or two....*Silly smile*
Random-ly
Classic Chocolate n Tiramisu Cups
Strawberries 'n' Cream
Oreo Cheese(cup)cakes
Shepherd n Cottage Pies
She goes thru all my stuffs. From my costume accessories to my make up! She
knows where 1 should apply a mascara!
Playing with some cookie dough...
She could do these just by watching me. When I was 4...I only knew how to eat!!
:p
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Picture-less...
This guy melted many hearts with his smile. (I know I should have posted a pic of him smiling....but I ended up showing a pic of his new-found body instead!! *sheepish grin*)

So now, he is Datuk Shahrukh Khan! Awwwwwwww! Look at him in baju kurung n samping! *melts* Dashing!! (Yes2, I know...hes looking older and stuff. But oh well, he's still charming!! Ask E 20,000 screaming fans at Sg Zee carnival!!)

Anyways. I'm happy for him. Don't care what about other notions. He deserved it! ;)
Monday, December 8, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Yummy treats...

It was my niece b'day last week. I promised that I would bake a cake for her. I asked her what flavour she wanted....she said " vanilla or strawberry. If not chocolate also can" She love strawberries so I decided on making a vanilla spongecake with lots of strawberries between the layers and top with more strawberries.

Just bake your favourite sponge cake. cut it into 3.
Brush E cake with
a little sugar syrup. Top with freshly whipped cream and
drop chopped
strawberries.
Repeat! Frost and top with more strawberries. Glaze the
berries. I just used some jello.I had some cake left and I cut them into little rounds. Savoured these with my brother and sis in law. We only got to eat 1 each (which was not enough) :p I got to make this again sometime. It's really fresh and I love it!
A fun filled week!
E funny thing was, despite having a nice shelter to relax, most of us wanted to be near E pit, under E canvas! It was so more fun at that side :P E guys were all there and they are all nutcases! My 2 brothers included :P You wonder, why only 2 when I have 3 brothers? Well my 2nd brother was more interested in E food...hee3 :P My cousins aka Nor kept taking little showers in E rain and he husband said "you are not getting in E car like this...." Her reply was "its ok, I walk home!" Haha! :p Anyways, even he started playing in E rain and I told 'em that both of them can walk home together while I drive their car back! *I guess, i didnt realise I dont ve a license* :D
Anyways, we had Black pepper beef for lunch!
My cousins....
Izzy curi2 pose for E cam instead of helping her sisters! Muahaha! (I made her do it:p)
After some huffing and puffing, its done!
My extra cool aunty...!
I told her to give a pose with E prawns and she came up with this spontaneous pose :P
My niece....
Awwww! Daughters of E 2 immortals. E 1 on the left love to pose, E right 1 just cant be bothered :P
I prepared most of E food for E bbq. I made abt 500 sticks of satay (with E help of E 3 sisters), 150 sticks of black pepper beef with capsicum and mushrooms, 40 packets of stingray sambal, 35 packets of sambal sotong, about 100 sticks of prawns, 8kg tandoori chicken wings. I also made strawberry pudding, shepherd pie and salad. Sk made chicken chop and grilled bananas with chocolate. We had corn and sausages too! There were TOO much food for about 30+ ppl.
Really spacious!
E kitchen is fabz. Besides a spacious 2 door fridge, there's another big freezer by the side. I think large freezers are so important coz we need to keep all the meat and seafood for the Bbq.
Outside the bungalow, there's 2 large bb pits. You can karaoke, play pool, bowl...etc2.
I'm so in love with this place! It's so clean thus you feel so at home there. :D Oh ya, theres net connection too!!
Well, E frosting is way too sweet. I'm not saying it tasted bad coz it tasted good. You know, like those cotton candy/candy floss that is crazily sweet yet nice! The cake itself is really soft and E icing do complement E cake nicely. I would suggest that you just cut down the sugar proportions and it would be perfect!! These are E perfect cupcakes for a kid's party coz kids gonna really love 'em. My niece and nephew enjoyed 'em very much. They must have gobbled at least 5 cupcakes each! I liked it too. Somehow I feel that it tasted better after "resting" a bit for an hour or 2. And yah, go easy on E frosting allrite? A fairly thin layer is best unless you absolutely love your sugar and have no qualms about consuming a large amount of sugar! *why do I feel that it doesn't sound rite?* :p


