FOOD...LOVE...PASSION

Yu Sheng

2012-01-30T14:28:00.007+08:00

I love yusheng....besides the fact that it is a dish with lots of vegetables and salmon, which I normally use smoked salmon, the colours just it so appealing. Well I know about food colouring in them...but who cares....: ) Another thing I like about yusheng is its exquisite taste. It is a mixture of sweet and sour with a fragrant of lime leaves... (limau Pulot), all jumble up... what a delectable palate.

Armed with some knowledge from the food bloggers, I made a trip to Kwong Xiang Thai, a haven for all ingredients needed for chinese cuisine, With the help of the shop assistants there, I bought all the ingredients, sauces and condiments needed for yusheng. What I only prepared was shredded vegetables consisting of carrots, white & green radish. I also prepare the prepare peanut and sesame crumbs. Well these are such a chore having to be very careful not to shred the skin of my fingers into them ha ha....

According to the belief:

Carrots are added indicating blessings of good luck. 鸿运当头 Hong Yun Dang Tou meaning “Good luck is approaching”. Carrot (红萝卜) is used as the first character 鸿 also sound like the Chinese character for red.

Shredded green radish is placed symbolising eternal youth. 青春常驻 Qing Chun Chang Zhu meaning “Forever young”. Green radish is used as the first character 青 also sound like the Chinese character for green.

Shredded white radish is added - prosperity in business and promotion at work. 风生水起 Feng Sheng Shui Qi meaning “Progress at a fast pace” 步步高升 Bu Bu Gao Sheng meaning “Reaching higher level with each step”

Wishing all the best of fortune, health, prosperity and wealth.

Ryu - Moment

2012-01-28T00:28:00.003+08:00

Have been crazy over Ryu, the korean singer who sang winter sonata.... his voice is superb.... beautiful...so full of feeling...love....makes me think of J whenever I listen to his songs.... :)

Ngoh Hiang

2012-01-27T17:51:00.005+08:00

Ngoh Hiang. one of an auspicious Hokkien dish made of minced pork, with chestnuts, onions and chinese parsley finely chopped and seasoned with different seasoning of which five spice powder is the most important. To carry on this tradition at home, I decided to make ngoh hiang for my family this year.

Recipe goes this way:

1kg minced pork
250g prawns, shelled and diced
10 water chestnuts, diced
chinese parsley
1 small carrot, diced
1 teaspoon five-spice powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon white pepper
Sesame oil
1 tablespoon light soya sauce
1 tablespoon Chinese wine

1 beaten egg
1 large sheet bean curd skin

Method:
1. Mix the minced pork and diced prawns together. Add diced water chestnuts and carrot.
2. Blend sugar, salt and five-spice and sprinkle over the meat mixture. Add esame oil, soya sauce and the Chinese wine and egg. Stir vigorously in one direction until the mixture comes together as a ball.
3. Lay out bean curd skin and wipe it clean. Cut into 12 equal pieces. Spread meat filling along an outer edge and roll up tightly into sausages.
4. Steam the rolls over high heat for 10 minutes.
5. Let the rolls cool and pat dry with paper towels. Cut into small pieces.
6. Deep fry till golden.

Some Goodies For New Year

2012-01-27T17:47:00.004+08:00

On the eve of CNY, I went to the market nearby and have these photos taken....enjoy...

Kueh Bangkit - Who Can Resist the Mouth-In-The-Mouth Little Gems?

2012-01-27T17:35:00.004+08:00

Aunt Margaret told me once that Kueh Bangkit or Coconut Cookie, is originally used as an alter offering. They often come in a round shape to symbolize fortune and prosperity. Anyway people started to change the original round shape into flower, birds, butterfly etc shapes to mean fertility

I just love Kueh bangkit especially when these little fragrant gems just melt in your mouth when popped into the mouth...yummy yum well it goes well with my favourite green tea..

These are the kueh bangkit I have purchased:

Creative Home Baking's Kueh Bangkit

Ah Gek's Kueh Bangkit

Don't Forget

2012-01-21T17:33:00.006+08:00

A very touching song....Jeff, this song is for you

The song means:
Forget nothing!
Don't forget anything!
Don't forget me though I am not with you.
My love was near me at the beginning and is still near me, but I can't reach you.

I will protect you wherever you are.
I will protect you at any time.
Wait for me till I come to you.
I will restore everything back to the time when we met for the first time.
It may take time for me to come to you, but don't forget me.
Don't forget me till I reach you.

Horlicks Puppy Cookies

2012-01-20T09:54:00.006+08:00

I couldn't stop thinking of this beautiful little girl who just loves following me around the house when I was in J's apartment last December. Well she is J's little niece, Natalie, half vietnamese and half new zealander.... Guess what... J has just gotten permission from his sister to bring Little Natalie to Singapore.... yippee.. Oops...and I am going to play aunty cum mummy to her when she is here. Well this is not really a tough job since I am, hmm hmm, quite skillful with all my little nephews and nieces already. I am sure it is not a tough job for J either as he is really good with little kids... ha ha..

Last night I've decided to bake something cute for Little Natalie and have ended up with making these cute little horlick puppy cookies. They have different and distinctive characters.. so cute right? I am sure Little Natalie would love them...

The Recipe goes like that: (Taken from HHB's Website)

180g butter, soften at room temperature
80g Horlicks (original flavour)
200g top flour or cake flour
25g corn flour
25g milk powder
100g chocolate chips
some chocolate rice
some Koko Krunch

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 140deg C. Line baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
2. Sieve top flour, corn flour and milk powder.
3. Cream butter and Horlicks for about three minutes at low speed. Do not overbeat.
4. Put in top flour, cornflour and milk powder and beat for about one minute to form dough.
5. Divide dough into 10g each. Put three chocolate chips into each piece of dough and roll into balls.
6. Insert two pieces of Koko Krunch to form the 'ears', chocolate rice for the "eyes", and a chocolate chip in the centre for the 'nose'.
7. Bake at 140 deg C for about 25 minutes. Depending on your oven, it may take another 5 to 10 minutes more for the cookies to be ready.
8. Leave to cool on wire rack before storing in an airtight container.

Chinese New Year Fun Outing and Baking

2012-01-18T23:28:00.012+08:00

J flew over to spend his off-days with me last weekend and we went shopping in Chinatown. He has not been to Chinatown in Singapore and is mesmerised by the beautiful spring festival here. I brought him to a few shops and making sure he loaded himself with lots of chinese new year decorations and goodies to bring home to his parents. Ha ha... we behaved, or I should say, I behave like a tourist looking around curiously at the beautiful decorations... well we have a great time there.... Here are some of the beautiful shots both of us have captured in our iphone

On top of this, we spent some fun time in the kitchen baking away.... I wanted J to bring home big batches of delectable home-made goodies too...See what have we ended up with:

Cornflakes cookies:

Pineapple Tarts (Closed)

Pineapple Tarts (Opened) in the Container

J left on Sunday as he has to return to his hotel on Monday. He will be flying here again on the eve of CNY and I am driving him to Malaysia on the first day of new year..... well I hope with this guy coming along this year, my aunts are going to stop asking me why I have no boyfriend again....ha ha... .. Oh yeah.. a little note about J. He really resembles Bae Yoon Jun... tall and er I should say handsome...ha ha..some shopkeepers in Chinatown thought he was BaeYJ too... hee hee...

Jeff in His Concert 2012

2012-01-18T12:04:00.002+08:00

Valerie's Kueh Bangkit

2012-01-10T16:32:00.011+08:00

It has been a while since I last attended a baking workshop. Since I was free that day, I decided to accompany my friend to Valerie's Kueh Bangkit workshop in one of the the community centres. I heard from a few food bloggers that her cookies are so fantastic and melt in the mouth. Valerie taught the class that the coconut cream plays an important role in the melt in the mouth effect and she showed us how the cream should be cooked to get this effect. The cookies really look fantastic in the oven, puffing away.....

Plain white kueh bangkit before baking

Plain white kueh bangkit baking in the oven

Plain white kueh bangkit after baking

Gula Melaka Kueh Bangkit

Unfortunately I must comment that the end products are quite disappointing!! There are no melt in the mouth effect at all. The cookies are so hard. My friend felt that it was a complete waste of time. Anyway, taste wise I find them ok and acceptable. The gula melaka ones are tastier even though they are harder than the plain ones

A Beautiful Song by Jeff

2011-08-12T22:03:00.001+08:00

Cake for Marielle

2011-07-11T09:34:00.005+08:00

Yan was in town last week and I promised her and her friends a week of fun. Obviously I was off for the whole week to "entertain" my overseas friend. I've booked Mrs Fong from Creative Home Baking for a private session of Fondant Bear and Ribbon Hands-on Workshop. We had so much fun, kneading the fondant and moulding the bear and the ribbon. The bears made by us were so adorable, each having its own special character....However the most important thing we learnt from Mrs Fong is the technique to make the fondant bear and the ribbon.

Last Saturday, I made this cake again for my friend's daughter Marielle, 2nd birthday. I am still learning but I am glad Marielle was excited with it and always wanted to touch the bear...

jeff

2011-05-06T10:48:00.004+08:00

Jeff's "I Saw" Concert (May 2011)

2011-05-06T10:35:00.025+08:00

Char Siew Making (Step By Step)

2011-05-05T18:30:00.009+08:00

I am starting to have some really good adventures in my kitchen recently. I have always love char siew since young and this yummy treat and dish has not diminished from my tastebud as yet. I was reading Baking Mum's and Lily's blogs recently and realised that actually char siew could be made at the convenience of our home.... hee hee.. I adapted Baking Mum's recipe but I did some minor adjustment to the recipe too to suit my taste.

Recipe Goes this way:
500g pork or chicken
70g sugar
1tbsp light soya sauce
1tbsp dark soya sauce
dash of pepper
1tbsp rose wine
300ml water
3/4 tsp salt

The Steps
1. Marinate the pork or chicken with the rest of the ingredients overnight for the best result. Otherwise it should be marinated at least 4 hours in advance.
2. Pour the marinated sauce in the wok and boil the sauce till bubbling.

3. Place pork or chicken on the pot and continue to stir

4. As you stir the sauce will continue to get lesser and lesser

5. Finally you will see a lot of bubbles oozing from the sauce and pork as the sauce thicken.

6. Tada... yummy char siew has arrived :)

Chocolate Walnut Butter Cake

2011-05-03T17:26:00.005+08:00

I always love simple cake and butter cake is one of the best choice. I decided to make chocolate walnut cake as I have all the recipe I needed in my fridge.

Here is the Recipe:
250g unsalted butter
160g brown sugar
270g plain flour
1tsp baking powder
100g walnut chopped
100g chocolate rice
1tsp vanilla
4 eggs
6-7tbsp natural yogurt

The Steps:
1. Beat butter and sugar till fluffy.
2. Add in eggs one at a time, and then add in vanilla
3. Add walnut and chocolate rice in the flour and baking powder and mix well.
5. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture alternatively with yogurt
6. Pour mixture into a 7' square pan and bake for 1 hour at 180C

Rice Cooker Rice aka Claypot Rice

2011-05-03T09:35:00.002+08:00

What's dinner today for my little ones tonight? They are a little upset that holiday came to an end so fast and my siblings (their patents) are picking them very soon! To make them happy I cooked their favorite dish "claypot rice" in a rice cooker since I do not own a claypot ;). Guess it doesn't actually matters as both yield similar result- that's yummy yummy ;)

Recipe Adapted From Lily's Blog

2 cup of raw rice

3 cup chicken stock

2 chicken drumstick

6 Chinese mushroom (cubes)

1 pair of XO Chinese sausage

2' salted fish (mui heong)~lightly pan fried

1tbsp black soya sauce

4tbsp onion oil

Marinade

2tbsp light soya sauce

2tbsp oyster sauce

1tbsp Hwa Tiao Jiu

1tsp old Ginger juice

1tbsp sesame oil

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tbsp oil

Garnishing

Fried shallots

The Steps

1. Marinate chicken & mushroom

2. Wash and drain water and pour in water and cook in rice cooker

3. When it is half cooked (for my rice cooker around 23 mins later, place in the marinated ingredients and continue cooking.

4. When rice is ready, add in shallot oil and 1tbsp black sauce. Add in salted fish.

5. Serve with fried shallots

Moist Chocolate Butter Cake

2011-05-01T22:45:00.007+08:00

This evening I have a very request from the little ones who are 'camping' at my home! I promised them ice cream together with this cake. So I reduce the sugar to a very minimum and the cake can be rather bitter if u r a sweet tooth person.

Here's the recipe:
250g butter
160g organic sugar (you can use up to 225g)
210g plain flour
40g cocoa powder
1tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1tbsp vanilla
200g melted semisweet chocolate
4 eggs

1. Beat butter and sugar till fluffy. Add in egg one at a time beating well after each addition.
2. Add in vanilla n stir well.
3. Alternate flour mixture and chocolate mixing well after every addition.
4. Pour into a 7' square tin and bake at preheated oven of 180C for 1 hour.
5. Cool cake before slicing. Serve with ice-cream

Meat Ball Linguine

2011-05-01T18:25:00.010+08:00

Happy Labour Day to all. Today is going to be a great day as Jeff will be holding his new concert "I Saw" based on his new album "genesis" in Beijing tonight. It is such a pity that I cannot make it to Beijing to watch him but well Jeff will know that I am supporting him here in Singapore ;)

Today I have my little nephews n niece here. I brought them to the beach for bicycle ride and by the time they are done with their shower after their vigorous exercise, they were justas hungry as bears ;). Well I don't have much food stored in my fridge so the only meal I could storm up would be meat ball linguine.

Here is the recipe:
Meat Ball
300g minced chicken
5 water chestnut
Dash of salt
1tsp black pepper
2tbsp Cornflour

Marinate the meat for an hour.

Tomato based sauce
350g Prego Fresh Mushroom pasta sauce
Dash of salt
Dash of coarse black pepper
3tbsp sugar (this depends on the sweetness u want)
100-150g shredded cheddar cheese
1 bay leaf
120-150g water

The Steps
1. Roll the marinated meat into balls. Fry them till cooked.
2. Cook linguine till well done. Stir in some olive oil and leave aside.

3. Sauté some chopped garlic with olive oil and pour in pasta sauce, water and bay leaf. Let mixture boils. Once boil add in meat balls and cheddar cheese and seasoning. I added some hot dog slices as requested by the hotdog lovers.
4. Arrange linguine in plates and pour pasta mixture over linguine and serve with some chopped English parsley if you wish. Emm....yummy!

At that Moment 當時

2011-04-27T14:50:00.003+08:00

It is at this moment that I couldn't stop thinking of him....I just kept watching this over and over and over again...gosh...am I in love with him??

To Marry Or Not To Marry

2011-04-26T16:40:00.010+08:00

I have been so bothered by this.... mum kept pestering me almost every week I believe....well that is because I am the only one left at the rack (that's what mum always said).... Frankly speaking I am rather speechless cwhen coming to this topic.. Ha ha the thought of being an old maiden starts flashing to my mind..lol...
My point of view over this... I don’t think I would want to get marry for the time being...to me getting marry is an expensive affairs especially when one has to spend tons of money on party, dinner, wedding gowns..(long list of stuff) and when it is not getting the smooth sail, divorce is another expensive affair... Am I getting a little pessimistic and started to have take the gloomiest possible view in life... Hope I am not :(

Actually I am just happy as I am now..independent, happy go lucky and full of freedom..but I can’t deny the fact that sometimes I am very lonely...guess you can have the best of both worlds. When I told mum that I am going to just live with a man who I love and be happy with the relationship... I have to keep explaining to her that being married is just a paper certification and does not mean anything if both parties are full of quibbles, nitpicking all the time and pettifogging over trivialities...what’s the point..
Well this makes her almost fainted..”how can you possible do that. Cannot.. I won’t allow that! Your dad is going to get upset with you when you meet him in heaven...” wow wow.wow..I can’t say much at this point..Really dad is going to get extra upset with her girl being so liberal... Really I do not wish to upset my parents but I just have phobia over life after marriage...I have seen so many broken marriages, the sadness, the agony and the stress my friends and their kids have undergone and I always mutter of a prayer of thanks that I am still single :)

My thought over marriage might change as I get into my years, perhaps. But right now, just boyfriend and staying together is my plan. Nevermind if mum frowns and sulks over this thought, but I believe both mum and dad will agree with me one day...hopefully

Another Award

2011-04-25T15:03:00.001+08:00

I would like to thank my friend, Mei for sending this award to me

A Bunny, A Carrot Cake and HAPPY EASTER

2011-04-23T19:32:00.006+08:00

HAPPY EASTER....

Besides baking, I started to pick up a very interesting hobby... ie sewing...I have never loved sewing in my life and am a little surprise that I started to love sewing

My Humble Sewing Kit

One more leg to go.....

Where is my dress?

Almost done.....

Dress done up....

All Done Up FINALLY...

Then next come this carrot cake......topped with rich and lemon flavour cream cheese topping...

Recipe goes this way:
Dry Ingredients
350g grated carrots
100g sunflower seeds
180g plain flour
40g ground almond
1tsp baking soda
2tsp cinnamon powder
some lemon zest (about 1 heap tsp)

Wet Ingredients
4 eggs
150g brown sugar
1tsp vanilla
200g peanut oil
1tbsp lemon juice

Cream Cheese Topping
200g cream cheese
50g butter
20g icing suar
1tbsp lemon juice

The Steps:
1. Handwhisk all the wet ingredients together till well mixed.
2. Fold in dry ingredients and mix well.
3. Pour into a 7' square pan and bake at 180C for .......

Bon Appétit! ♥

Oreo Cheesecake - A Birthday Cake For My Little Nephew

2011-04-19T09:53:00.006+08:00

Being an oreo monster, my little darling nephew asked for oreo cheesecake for his birthday. I used the recipe which I have posted earlier and bake this special cake for him... He really loves it and guess what... he planted so many kisses on my cheeks... cheeky cheeky... hee hee...I've never been kissed by a guy (well this little) so many times at one time...ha ha...

NOTE: I am submitting my post to Aspiring Bakers #6: Say Cheese! (April 2011)
You can locate this in : http://needmorenoms.blogspot.com/2011/04/aspiring-bakers-6-say-cheese-april-2011.html

Yogurt Cranberries & Raisin Scones

2011-04-15T09:36:00.008+08:00

Aunty Mei just loves scones... she fell in love with the traditional scones I've made and keeps repeating her requests for more scones made of cranberries ( her favourite fruits)... I made them this morning so that she could have the scones with her family for supper tonight or breakfast tomorrow

(Scones before sending to the oven)

Recipe goes this way: (Recipes adapted from Blessed Home Baker)
(A)
240g Plain flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt

(B)
75g unsalted butter

(C)
1/2 cup dried raisins & cranberries (about 60g)

(D)
1 cup plain yogurt (set aside 2 TBSP for brushing) (about 230g)

The Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 200 C.
2. Place ingredients (A) in a bowl and mix.
3. Cut in butter until it resembles coarse meal.(At this point, you can freeze the mixture in a container for later.)
4. Add dried fruits. Mix.
5. Stir in yogurt (slowly and mixing it little by little) until it comes together in a shaggy ball. It will still have lots of loose, sandy pieces.
6. Place batter on a floured surface and roughly work it into a ball.
7. Use an ice cream scoop and scoop the dough into the baking pan.
8. Brush scones with some yogurt and send to bake for 15020mins

Lunch at 15 minutes

2011-04-15T09:22:00.007+08:00

The project we are working on currently had finally completed... hurray... this calls for a "grand celebration" hoo hoo... My project partner and I went to a very interesting cafe "15 minutes" for a good celebration..

Well I would consider myself quite "disciplined" as quoted by my friend....when I ordered a vegetable salad with only olive oil as dressing. This salad comes in a very interesting serving container....look here... what a creative way to serve salad...hmm

For my friend, she ordered her favourite "fish and chips"...

Yummy yum yum!!

Chocolate Yogurt Butter Cake

2011-04-14T09:30:00.008+08:00

I baked this cake yesterday. The photo did not turn out really great as the light in my kitchen is a little dim and the flash in my iphone is not strong enough.. hmm hmm... anyway this cake is really yummy and great. Worth trying;

Recipe goes this way:

250g SCS butter
175g organic sugar
4 eggs
50g mango yogurt (you can use plain yogurt too)
210g plain flour
40g cocoa powder (I use Valrhona cocoa powder)
1tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1tsp vanilla essence

The Steps:
1. Cream butter and sugar till fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time. Then add in vanilla essence.
2. Add in flour, baking powder, soda alternatively with mango yogurt.
3. Bake in a 7' square pan at 190C for 50 mins.

Morning Has Broken

2011-04-08T15:18:00.001+08:00

Baked Pasta

2011-04-06T11:01:00.009+08:00

I am so bored with the food I have eaten for the past few weeks... mainly soup, noodles, fish balls, tou foo etc... you know when you have to cook for just yourself, you would have the instant thought of "WHY BOTHER?" cause it is so cumbersome. The preparation can be a killer... ha ha...and finally the washing up yacks...many times I would settle my hungry tummy at the food court in the vicinity-where an array of food makes you just spoilt for choice....

well today I have a craving for pasta...friends invited me to join them in pasta mania after work but I turned them down coz i am in the mood to step into the kitchen. Well at least I bother to do it today (wink wink) Cooking pasta is one of my favourite activities during my uni days. So instead of heading towards to Pasta Mania... i headed to Cold Storage.. grabbed a roasted drumstick, a packet of pasta, sour cream, cream of mushroom, English parsley and off I whipped up this interesting baked pasta from my little humble kitchen.....

My simple note - Sometimes cooking at home is just so peaceful....

Mango Cheesecake

2011-04-05T09:51:00.015+08:00

I think I am suffering from cheese fever again... I couldn't stop thinking of cheesecake all day long.. In the end, I just couldn't resist myself any longer and started to walk into the supermarket to buy all the ingredients I needed to make this delectable mango cheesecake.
Would you believe me if I were to tell you that this is my own recipe... ha ha...I got my idea from food bloggers and cookbook before I gain confidence to start to start writing the recipe and then start baking it.. ha ha... it was really fun.. having to do a cross check here and there...

I couldn't help but to marvel at the smooth texture of this wonderful cheesecake... then it is not a perfect one, it does have something in it that makes it very comforting and creamy sitting on a biscuit base...

Eating this cake is such a treat... its richness and creaminess just entice you to keep indulging in them pieces after pieces... ha ha... hence forgetting about the expanding waistline in a few days' time.... ha ha

Here are some important notes if you want to bake your own cheesecake: (adapted from - about.com)

1. Bring all ingredients to room temperature before mixing. This usually takes thirty minutes.

2. To soften cream cheese in the microwave: place unwrapped 8 oz. cheese in a microwavable bowl and microwave on high for 15 seconds. Add 15 seconds for each additional bar of cheese.

3. Mix filling only until combined. Don't over mix.

4.Use a spring form pan so that the sides can be removed.

5. Butter sides or use a metal spatula around the edges immediately after removing the cheese cake from the oven.

6. Place spring form pan on a shallow pan, like a pizza pan , or cover bottom and up one inch around the sides with aluminum foil to avoid leaks in the oven.

7. Place a shallow pan of water in rack below cheesecake to keep oven moist.

8. Don't open oven door while baking.

9. A perfectly baked cheesecake will be puffed around the edges. When shaken, about an inch in diameter in the center should jiggle.

10. Cool slowly (about an hour) on a wire rack, away from any drafts.

11.Store in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for up to four days. The bottom of the pan can be removed from the cheesecake once the cake has firmed in the refrigerator. Use two spatulas to move cake to serving platter.

12. Garnishing a cheesecake should only be done within 1 to 3 hours of serving. Cheesecakes taste best when brought to room temperature. This takes about 30 minutes.

13. Securely wrap an already firm, about 4 hours in the refrigerator, cheesecake to be put in the freezer. Cheesecakes can be kept for up to 2 months in the freezer. Thaw frozen cheesecake overnight in the refrigerator.

Cranberry Almond Cake

2011-04-01T09:39:00.006+08:00

I was in the mood of baking something simple, I have this packet of ground almond lying in my fridge and whenever I open the fridge.. it stares at me and somehow I have got this funny thought that the ground almond is asking me "WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO USE ME?"... ha ha... too much imagination ha..ha...This recipe taken from "My Kitchen Snippets" just come in handy. I change the recipe slightly,...

250g butter (original recipe 226 gram/2 sticks/1 cup butter)
180 gram sugar
5 eggs
170 gram ground almond
150 gram flour
¼ tsp salt (I omitted this)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla (I used rum)
50 ml milk
1 cup (100g) dried cranberries (original recipe 1 cup Red Raspberries)

How do you do it (as adapted by The Kitchen Snippets)

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line and grease a 9 x 5” loaf pan or two small loaves pan with some butter.
2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Add in the ground almond and set it aside.
3. Beat soft butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Add in eggs one at a time until well incorporated into the butter. Add in vanilla and mix well.
4. Slow down the mixer and in the flour mixture and milk. Lastly fold in the raspberries by hand.
5. Pour into the loaf pan and bake until skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool on pan for 10 minute before turning it into the cooling rack.

Verdict:
Fantastic cake... whole kitchen filled with the fragrant of a mixture of butter and almond...

One Lovely Blog Award

2011-03-31T09:46:00.000+08:00

Thank you Tested & Tasted for this wonderful award. I really appreciate it. Thanks.

Traditional Raisin Scones

2011-03-31T09:33:00.000+08:00

Raisin scones have never been part of my to-do list neither am I yearning for scones until I tasted them during breakfast while I was in The Legend Resort, Cherating, Malaysia. I must say it is the most comforting food I ever had throughout my stay in Malaysia...
(Scones before sending to Oven)

While working especially not in the comfort of your own office, I always yearn for something comforting, something near to the heart...something that makes you think of home (gosh I guess I was homesick...tho' I was just away for a week hee hee)... I must thank the chefs of The Legend Resort for making my days....with these simple and yet so comforting traditional Raisin Scones......

Recipe goes this way:

280g Self Raising Flour
1tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
40g semi-hard butter
15g sugar
150ml milk plus 1tbsp for brushing
50g or slightly more raisins (soak wif 2tbsp rum)
1/2 tsp lemon zest
Beaten egg for glazing

How to do it:
1. Put all the dry ingredient (except raisins) together in a bowl. Cut in butter till the mixture resembles breadcrumbs
2. Add in all the wet ingredients. Pat the dough (do not over knead) to a thickness of 2cm and use a round cutter to cut scones.
3. Glaze scones with beaten eggs and bake at 220C for 12-15 mins

Blueberry Crumble Pie

2011-03-29T15:17:00.000+08:00

These cakes are really yummy... I couldn't help staring at them and hope that I could try each and everyone of them without putting on more weight... ha ha... This in fact has inspired me to bake more before I embark on my next project where I would have less time for baking....The most wonderful pie I have tasted so far was the Blueberry Crumble Pie.

I was in fact very happy to see a very yummy recipe from AnnCoo's blog and without hesitation, I rushed out to the supermarket to buy a can of blueberry pie filling... so impulse huh...never want to waste the ingredients...(i have the habit of purchasing ingredients and later forget to use them or just place them one side hoping to use them), I decided I should not put this can of blueberry pie filling on the shelf anymore.. so I made this pie

Recipe goes this way (Adapted from AnnCoo's Blog)

Lined a 9" flan ring
1 can Blueberry filling

Crumble Topping
100g Plain flour
30g Brown sugar
40g Soft butter

Mix all crumble ingredients together with your finger tips and put in the fridge for later use.

Sweet Short Crust pastry
200g Plain flour
20g Milk powder
110g Butter, cut cubes
35g Icing sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
3 tbsp Ice water
1 egg (I added for the extra fragrant)

How To Do it:
Sift flour, milk powder and icing sugar, salt in a bowl, mix well. Add cold butter and rub with your finger tips till mixture becomes sandy.
Add in ice water and knead mixture to form dough. (if the dough becomes too wet, you'll need to add more flour or add little water if dough is too dry)
Shape it into ball and wrap it with foil then store in freezer for 20 mins.

Take out dough from freezer after 20 minutes, roll out the pastry in between two plastic sheets to the size of about 12 inches in diameter.
Place pastry on to the ring, pressing it to fit the bottom and sides so that no air bubbles lurk under the pastry, but taking care not to stretch it.
Roll across the top of the ring with the rolling pin. This rolls away any overhanging pastry.
Prick the pastry at the bottom of the case with a fork.
Return the pastry dough to the freezer for another 15 mins or you can keep the pastry dough until next day or up to a week.

Take out pastry from freezer and quickly line it with aluminum foil and blind bake with pie weights or dry beans, to keep the bottom flat. Bake at preheated oven at 175C for 20 mins. Remove pie weights and foil immediately after baked.
Cool down the pastry and spread in blueberry filling (not too much, as the blueberry filling is very sweet). Then sprinkle the crumbles evenly on top and bake for another 35 mins.
Serve warm or chill the blueberry pie with some fresh blueberries on top.

L'Opera Cake - HAPPY Birthday Jeff (生日快乐,阿哲)

2011-03-26T22:07:00.000+08:00

According to Wikipedia, an Opera Cake is a type of French cake. It is made with layers of almond sponge cake (known as Joconde in French) soaked in coffee syrup, layered with ganache and coffee buttercream, and covered in a chocolate glaze. According to Larousse Gastronomique "Opéra gateau is an elaborate almond sponge cake with a coffee and chocolate filling and icing."[1] The cake was popularized by the French pâtisserie house Dalloyau

I never imagine myself making this wonderful cake.... I promised Jeff of a wonderful cake on his birthday but was a little apprehensive and worried that fulfilling this promise would be a No No. To be a little "kiasu", I took about a week researching on opera cake, how it is made, the problems that some food bloggers encountered on their way. I stumbled upon different food bloggers like Bitter Sweet Flavours, Kitchen Experiments, Alpine Berry, The Splendid Table, Adventures in Shaw, Tastespotting reading about their personal experiences while baking and assembling the cake. Finally I produce my one and only opera cake... YIPPEE HURRAY! I must say I am very proud to present this cake to Jeff.... tho' not very perfect (more practices needed but hmm not really too bad after all :)

My warmest birthday wishes to Jeff, my dearest:

A birthday is just the 1st day of the rest of 364 days, Enjoy the trip....
Hoping that your day will be as special as you are
May this day brings you all things that make you smile,,,,,Blessed Birthday Jeff

Oreo Cheesecake

2011-03-26T22:05:00.003+08:00

I am extremely happy today...well it is a great day and most important of all, it is Jeff's birthday :) I bought a birthday card and have thought of a very meaningful gift for him. (Sorry my little secret) I am sure Jeff would like the gift.

I baked another cake...oreo cheesecake...A very wonderful cheesecake and I think it does make a great cheesecake especially when you feel like Twisting the cookies, lick the cream, dunk it in a glass of milk. Well for this cheesecake, you can twist the cookies crumbs into the cream cheese, lick the cream cheese and have a piece of oreo cheesecake with a glass of milk :)

For the Base
180g oreo biscuits, finely crushed
4 tbsp butter, melted

For the filling:
500g cream cheese
200g sour cream
8tbsp sugar
2tbsp corn flour
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
6 oreo biscuits, ground (with cream)

Topping
Finely ground 8 pieces of oreo cookies

(In all, I used two rolls of oreo cookies)

How to Do it:
1. Prepare the base by mixing the crushed cookies with butter and then place them in a 7' square tin and press and compress the crumbs onto the base of the pan. Refrigerate and prepare the filling.

2. For the filling- Cream cream cheese, vanilla with sugar till no cheese is light and fluffy. Add in eggs one at time. Then add in sour cream and corn flour. Finally add in the ground oreo cookies

3. Pour mixture into the prepared pan. Then sprinkle topping on the cheese batter. Press the cookie crumbs lightly onto the cheese mixture. Do not exert too much strength,

4. Steam bake or bain marie the cake at 160-170C for 45 mins.

5. Leave cake in the oven for 1 hour with oven door ajar. After which leave in the fridge to rest overnight preferably.

6. Ta....da... here is the oreo cheesecake ready for slicing :)

NOTE: I am submitting my post to Aspiring Bakers #6: Say Cheese! (April 2011)
You can locate this in : http://needmorenoms.blogspot.com/2011/04/aspiring-bakers-6-say-cheese-april-2011.html

Sour Cream Blueberries Muffins

2011-03-10T05:38:00.001+08:00

These muffins are really yummy n worth trying as they are easy to make.

Recipe goes this way:
Dry Ingredients:
145g Self Raising Flour
125g fresh blueberries

Wet Ingredients:
1 egg
55g sugar
60g melted butter
130g sour cream
1/2 tsp vanilla or orange essence

What are the steps:
1. Mix dry ingredients well.
2. Melt butter and put in sugar. Mix well. Cool n then add rest of wet ingredients. Still to mix well. Then mix this mixture into the dry ingrients and stir. Do not overmix. Mixture will be lumpy.
3. Spoon into muffin cups and bake 15-20 mins in a preheated oven of 200c

Note:
For those with sweet tooth, you may wish to add 10g more of sugar... 55g is just nice for me

Rich Cheesecake

2011-03-09T18:04:00.000+08:00

I was marveling at the cheesecakes made by My Kitchen Snippets and have a sudden crave for a piece... so I decided to make it...trying my best to do it... I must say it is a very nice cheesecake.

Ingredients : (for 6" to 7" cake pan)
Biscuit Base:
80g digestive biscuits
40g melted butter

Filling :
250g cream cheese
4 tbsp of sour cream
4 tbsp of sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp of vanilla extract
4 tbsp of light cream

Method :
1. Prepare a spring form pan and greased it with some butter. Pre-heat oven to 160 degree.
2. Blend the oreo cookies finely in a food processor and add in melted butter. Press firmly to the baking pan and set aside. (I used roller to crush the oreo)
3. Mix all the filling ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour the filling on top of the crust.
4. Bake in the pre-heated oven at 170C for 50-60 minutes or until the center of the filling set.

Almond Bundt Cake

2011-03-04T09:48:00.000+08:00

Friday is the day I am looking forward to as my girlfriend (literally a tai tai at a very young age) will be coming over for tea. It has been a long time since we both met (about 10 years ago). I bumped into her while I was running an errand in Orchard and she looked so gorgeous... Still so pretty and slim..glad she is happily married and she is now a pretty mum with a young prince. I promised her a good cake and a good cuppa at my place.

I baked her an almond bundt cake... This bundt pan is a Christmas present from my brother and I have never “Open Ceremony” it yet.... So I am a little apprehensive using it, worrying that it might burn the cake or the cake might not raise high enough... Well all my worries are unfounded.. The cake is so fabulous and yummy.

Recipe goes this way:

250g unsalted butter
180g caster sugar
4 eggs
50g plain yogurt
225g plain flour
1tsp baking powder
90g ground almond

Method
Whisk butter and sugar till fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time and then stir in yogurt.
Add in flour, ground almond and baking powder
Pour into a 7’ bundt pan and bake at 170C for 45mins – 1 hour.

Pineapple Balls

2011-02-25T16:34:00.000+08:00

Pineapple Open Tarts, Nuggets, Pillow, balls, rose.... pineapple tarts, in different shape and sizes... are just another must have in CNY... well why only CNY heh? I am going to make this exceptional here... I am going to make them again this weekend.. my next mission ha ha... I was surfing and happened to bump onto the blog of Bitter Sweet Flavour (www.bittersweetflavours.blogspot.com). I have seen very positive comments and obviously this recipe is worth trying....Here are my pineapple balls.... Thanks Bitter Sweet Flavour for this wonderful recipe:

Sis and all my little nephews and nieces - you will have a share of these wonderful balls:

Recipe goes this way:
Pastry
310g plain flour
40g corn flour

250g salted butter
40g icing sugar
50g milk powder
10g custard powder
1 egg yolk

1 beaten egg yolk with some water, for egg wash

Filling
500g pineapple jam

What are the Steps:
1. Beat all ingredients for pastry. Refrigerate it for about 30 mins.
2. Divide them into balls of 8g each. Place 6g of filling in it and roll into balls again
3. Bake in preheated oven at 175C for 15-20mins, or until the surface turns golden brown.
4. Let it cool on baking tray before storing.

An Art Work - An Aborigine Face

2011-02-24T10:06:00.000+08:00

My nephew was a little upset when he showed at my door two days ago because he was tasked to do an art piece (collage) and he had to use scraps of paper to do up an artwork entitled "Face". My sis, who is an accountant, has no idea how to do it...and immediately she suggested to his son to see me, the aunty who has the arty flair... hee hee

Well it is not a really difficult thing to do...really (ha ha I am not bragging)... and here it is the final work...a combination of our hard work...

A Farewell Chocolate Cake

2011-02-23T22:47:00.000+08:00

My colleague,Chillyl, told me this morning that she tendered her resignation last month and would be leaving end of this week after all her leave offset. I was a little shock upon hearing the news n at the same saddened by it. On the other hand I am happy that she has decided to move on to a greater responsibility and of course her career path. It is just a mixed feeling all jumble up like 'rojak'. I told myself that I have to get Chillyl a farewell gift and to pass it to her by tomorrow. I have the slightest idea of any perfect gift at all until on my way home-A Cake will be the best since Chillyl always sing praises of my butter cakes to her other colleagues.

This evening I started baking a vanilla sponge cake and took out whatever ingredients I have in the fridge to decide how to decorate it. I cheated a little by googling for a nice cake decoration but somehow given up since many of those require some decorative items or ingredients which I do not have on hand. Somehow I managed to do up quite a decent and presentable cake at last. Hippy.... Here it is. All the best to u Chillyl in your future endeavour.

A Valentine Chocolate Cake for My Love

2011-02-21T17:38:00.001+08:00

On 13 February, my nephew and nieces came over to my place (as usual) for their weekend gathering, and started posing me this question – What Does Valentine mean to you? I was taken aback for a moment not because it is a very difficult question to answer but a little surprise that have not given this question a serious thought at all. In return, I cheekily asked them what it meant and their responses ranges from buying gifts to show you care, buying your girlfriend or boyfriend something they always wanted to the funniest...it is a time where daddy and mummy have the time to hug and kiss each other...ha ha..

Frankly speaking, I do agreed with their responses, but somehow I am wondering why loved ones are given roses, gifts, hugs and kisses only on valentine day? Anyway I believe it is a good day for couples, who have always taken each other for granted, to realise that they are indeed being loved and cared by their other half.

Valentine is all about love and romance hee hee... Perhaps as years go by, Valentine Day brings about a different meaning in me. I used to sulk and got upset when I didn't get a date or a bouquet during valentine...well no longer now... Why? Perhaps valentine day is just another ordinary day and life still goes on without much interruptions!! This year He and Me are not spending valentine day together due to work commitment. However, we know that we have each other in our hearts and we know love is still burning in our heart.. Well it sounded a little cheesey and mushy... Ha ha... Nevermind... I know it is way past valentine day now but to me everyday is valentine day because my heart grows fonder and fonder of him each day.. ... I believe he knows it... I did not send anything special over to him this year. He always said not to waste money buying things for him as he would get them when he needs them... I do agreed with him somehow... So this valentine day, I bake him a chocolate mud cake... He did not get a chance to taste it now (how I hope I could just freight over this lovely cake) but I knew he would be very touched by this simple act..I am sure... So here is my cake to you...my dearest

Recipe goes this way:
For the Cake
210g dark chocolate (I used 70% cocoa strength)
170g butter (I used SCS)
82g caster sugar
150g Self Raising Flour
1/2 tsp Baking soda
25g cocoa powder
2 eggs
1tbsp coffee liquor (I used Kahlua)
1tbsp vanilla paste

For the Frosting
130g butter
160g chocolate (60% of cocoa strength)

How to go about doing it:
1. Melt butter and chocolate together. Once melted, add in kahlua and vanilla essence. Let it cooled till lukewarm.
2. Mix flour, soda and cocoa powder together using a handwhisk. Then add in melted chocolate mixture and mix well. Do not be alarmed if you see the mixture is a little grainy and lumpy.
3. Whisk eggs and sugar till fluffy. Add into the flour mixture in No. 2 and whisk till smooth.
4. Pour into a 7' heart shape pan and bake 1 hour at 150C
5. For Frosting - Melt butter and chocolate. Cool slightly and refrigerate for about 10 mins till it is thick enough to spread.
5. Once the cake is cooled down, slice horizontally and sandwich with frosting and decorate cake

Note:
1. Make sure that the eggs are beaten till fluffy before adding to chocolate mixture
2. I made a mistake in separating the cake into 2 pieces. I made some reading on this cake and found out that this step has to be done very carefully as the cake is very fragile...Since this cake is already very rich, there is no necessity to actually enhance its richness :)
3. Overall the cake is just heaven... Yummy Yummy :0)

I have submitted this post to "Aspiring Bakers #4: Love In The Air! (Feb 2011)", hosted by (Cuisine Paradise) at this link HERE

Jeff's Concert in War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco 14 February 2011

2011-02-21T16:00:00.000+08:00

Jeff and Roberta sang two beautiful love songs together - Tonight I Celebrate My love for you" and "The Closer I Get to You in the concert...

Fruit Platter Cake

2011-02-21T11:58:00.000+08:00

I was tasked to bake a cake filled with lots of fruits for my brother in law's colleague. I only knew that this guy loves fruits and could have only fruits for lunch sometimes... well sis teased me that he would be a perfect guy for me since I also shared his passion... hee hee... well I would be introduced to him one day... my brother in law promised me this in spite of my strong resistance... anyway, for the sake to make someone happy... especially on his birthday, I put my heart and soul to do it...

Well what are the difficulties I encountered in the midst of baking and decorating the cake... actually it is the spreading of fresh cream on the cake... i am not good at it as yet... but it is still manageable. Sponge cake making is easy.. i just bought the ready made sponge mix and bake accordingly. For the border decoration, I just keep practising on the wall of the cake board a few times till I am confident before I transfer this confidence onto the perimeter of the cake hee hee...Well a little imagination and creativity is all one need in decorating this cake....ta da... here it is:

Kueh Lapis Leggit

2011-02-21T11:42:00.000+08:00

I'm always fascinated by all the bakes from Rose Kitchen... in fact the sugee almond cake which I have tried baking had already earned me so many praises which I have never failed baking over and over again. This gave me more courage to try the ever difficult and exhausting lapis leggit. I would say making a good lapis leggit would require a very good spice powder (or lapis powder). I bought mine from Ailin Bakery in Geylang as sis told me their lapis powder is the best amongst the rest ;)... But the cake is too rich for me... and guess what? I have given most part of it to my nephews and nieces who are great fan of lapis leggit... and for me ...well I only ate 2 small slices to try out the taste... my comment on this cake.... yummy, rich and above all... fantastic... if you have the time... try baking it... you will never be disappointed :)

Recipe goes this way (Taken from Rose Kitchen)
25 egg yolks
5 egg whites
500 gm butter (yes it is that much...don't reduce it)
200 gm sugar
1 tin condensed milk
170 gm plain flour
2 tbsp golden syrup
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp mixed spices

How To Start:
1. Cream butter with condensed milk, vanilla essence, golden syrup & mixed spices till well mixed and set aside.
2. Beat egg yolks with sugar until thick and creamy.
3. Add beaten egg yolk mixture to the creamed butter mixture and mix well. Fold in sieved flour.
4. Beat egg whites with a pinch of cream of tartar till stiff and fold in the mixture.
5. Grease and line an 8″ square tin and preheat tin.
6. For first layer, spread 2 tbsps of mixture in tin and bake in oven 180 degree C for 10-15 mins.
7. For subsequent layers, grill each layer for about 3 mins.
8. When top most layer is completed, cover with a metal tray or a piece of foil and bake for a further 5 mins. It will take longer if the sides are still wet.
9. Turn cake out onto a metal grid and let cool completely before cutting.

Jeff's Concert in Melbourne 05 February 2011

2011-02-16T16:55:00.001+08:00

Pineapple Tarts (Closed)

2011-02-09T12:21:00.000+08:00

I was in the mood of making more pineapple tarts today. I google last night looking for a trial and tested recipe and bingo... i got hold of one from www.kpswbb.blogspot.com.

Recipe goes this way:

250g butter
340g plain flour
20g custard powder
1/2 tsp salt (I omitted)
3tbsp sugar (I forget to add :)
2 egg yolk
1tsp vanilla essence

1. Beat all ingredients together to form a dough,
2. Roll into balls and wrap pineapple paste ball into each ball.
3. Egg wash (1 egg) and then bake 175C for 20 mins

All About Chinese New Year

2011-02-09T10:37:00.001+08:00

Chinese New Year Cookies & Butter Cake

2011-01-31T22:07:00.000+08:00

Chinese New Year somehow spurs me into baking cookies again and again. Baking cookies are the easiest and the most fun things to do especially if you have time to do something useful n meaningful. It is also another wonderful time to send someone a gift from your own kitchen. It is personal and so rewarding after seeing smiles n smiles over these gems you have placed your heart n soul over them.

This time round I intend to make different types of cookies to send as CNY gifts to my aunties and cousins in Malacca. Here are the cookies I have made so far:

Kuih Makmur
Pastry
250g QBB Ghee
100g butter
45g caster sugar
1 egg
480g plain flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Pandan Paste (optional)

Filling
300g roasted peanut and grind coarsely
70g caster sugar
45g peanut butter

For Rolling
Icing sugar or snow powder

How do you do it:
1. Beat all pastry ingredients together till a dough is formed. Do not overbeat. Rest in the fridge for 1 hour
2. Roll small ball and place in filling and then shaped into a leaf shape and pinch the pattern in the form of a leaf. Place in paper cups.
3. Bake 175C for about 15 mins. Cool for about 8 mins then roll them into icing sugar or snow powder.

For Filling
Mix all ingredients together and form into small balls.

Flower Cookies (Pandan Semprit Cookies)
This recipe is from Y3 Magazine

130g butter
70g shortening
100g icing sugar
2 eggs
1tsp pandan paste
260g plain flour
1/4tsp baking powder
40g hoen kueh flour
20g custard powder
20g coconut powder

some red dried cherries (diced)

How do you do it:
1. Preheat oven to 170C.
2. Beat all ingredients together.
3. Spoon mixture into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle.
4. Pipe into small paper cup and press a red dried cherry on top.
5. Arrange it on baking tray and bake in a preheated oven for 15-20mins.

Cashew Nut Cookies (Half Moon)
250g butter
140g castor sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 egg
100g grounded cashew nuts (toasted and grind)
360g plain flour
20g cornflour
1/2 tsp baking powder

Decoration
1 egg for egg wash
136 halved cashew nuts

How do you do it:
1. Preheat oven to 170C.
2. Beat all ingredients together. Roll dough into about 3/4' thick.
3. Use a half moon cutter to cut the cookies. Egg wash cookies
4. Press half cashew nut onto cookies and egg wash nuts.
5. Arrange it on baking tray and bake in a preheated oven for 15mins.

These are my famous Prune Lapis.....

and

Pineapple Tarts & Rabbit Pineapple Cookies

and the popular

Horlick Doggie Cookies

& lastly....chocolate rice butter cake

Here is Olivia... wishing all GONG HEI FATT CHOY NIE NIE YA YU

HELLO.... I have not Forgotten you .....

2010-12-03T17:41:00.001+08:00

The Smile on Your Face

2010-11-02T18:08:00.000+08:00

It's amazing
How you can speak
Right to my heart
Without saying a word,
You can light up the dark
Try as I may
I could never explain
What I hear when
You don't say a thing

The smile on your face
Lets me know
That you need me
There's a truth
In your eyes
Saying you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says
You'll catch me
Whenever I fall
You say it best
When you say
Nothing at all

All day long
I can hear people
Talking out loud
But when you hold me near
You drown out the crowd
(The crowd)
Try as they may
They could never define
What's been said
Between your
Heart and mine

空位

2010-11-02T10:57:00.001+08:00

Meeting Jeff Again....

2010-11-01T11:27:00.001+08:00

Would just love to attend this wonderful event but I was high up in the sky (well in the plane) while this wonderful moment was happening. Nevertheless I was at the same time feeling very excited and couldn’t wait for my plane to land in Changi Airport because I will meeting him..... It is just a mixture of anxiety, nervous, excitement...(no words could just describe this feeling within me) and I could hear my heart beating non-stop... for a moment, I thought my heart beat skips a beat or two.. Hee hee... finally I met my handsome prince again around 7pm in a very seclusive café...He is just so handsome... So wonderful...so gentle... & special in a way. I couldn’t get my eyes off him.. He is just so charming...

933 Awards - October 2010

2010-11-01T11:25:00.000+08:00

Finally Jeff is back to Singapore again. This time it was a really fruitful comeback as he clutched the 933 award in his wonderful duet with Olivia Ong. Very beautiful song indeed. Congratulations Jeff and Olivia

A Long-lasting Love 真爱一生

2010-09-27T15:02:00.000+08:00

A Beautiful Song indeed.....

This makes me wonder if long-lasting love ever exists?

Jeff's 张信哲 New Album

2010-09-02T17:05:00.000+08:00

幸福的力量

最初

悲伤的嗜好

空位

Jeff's Happiness Choice World Concert - Singapore (幸福觉哲新加坡站)

2010-08-16T12:05:00.000+08:00

Overview of Concert in China

Concert in Singapore

Simply in LoVe with YoU :)

2010-08-04T11:42:00.001+08:00

Strawberry Butter Cake

2010-07-28T06:57:00.000+08:00

Made this strawberry butter cake over the weekend for an afternoon tea before I left for Yunan. Here is it:

Sad Memories

2010-07-13T22:30:00.001+08:00

All of a sudden I just remember Him and could not help thinking of Him this lonely evening... whenever I miss you I break down like that.....Even though I tried to forget but I can't just do it...

Unforgettable Smile

2010-07-09T17:28:00.000+08:00

MiSsiNg OuT

2010-06-28T11:32:00.000+08:00

..although this is not the first. Please pardon my long absence. My life has recently been full of activities and I just simply have much time to move myself to taking and editing photos and also I found out that I have less time to update this precious blog of mine as regularly as I used to do so.

Well don't get me wrong - I am not going to simply just tuck this blog aside and leave it in the cold storage. Nope absolutely not! It is just that I would do so whenever I find the time to update my blog, In fact I am a little guilty already... I've actually spent lesser and lesser time in the kitchen... although I have so many wish-list. So sad... :(

On a happier note, I've managed to meet up with some good friends in London and Malaysia whom I have not met for a couple of years. We had great time together gossiping, having tea, laughing, crying etc. I'll be spending more time overseas in the next two to three months and hopefully I would be able to spend some time baking and cooking in the apartment I have rented.

Coming forward with more updates.......

More of JeFf

2010-06-28T10:33:00.000+08:00

Miss Ya....

2010-04-23T11:11:00.000+08:00

Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire

Happiness

2010-04-22T07:52:00.001+08:00

I am Real - 我是真的

2010-04-22T07:34:00.000+08:00

FoR jEfF......

2010-04-21T10:09:00.000+08:00

I've learned that I will forget what you said, I will forget what you did, but I will never forget how you made me feel

Opera Cake

2010-04-12T17:32:00.000+08:00

Was extremely busy and couldn't eat much... Had this little opera cake with coffee in Hanis Cafe. This cake is beautiful especially if you are dying for some sweet stuff..

Sesame Street Cupcake Fun

2010-04-09T18:51:00.000+08:00

Being a great fan of Sesame Street, I decided to go for this workshop organised by Creative Home Baking... I have a great time decorating my favourite characters.... they are all so cute... here are the cupcakes....

Almond Chocolate Chips Cookies

2010-04-09T07:31:00.000+08:00

Was in the mood to bake a batch of Almond and chocolate chips cookies .... brought them to my colleagues and they immediately become great fans of these cookies

Recipe goes this way:

240g butter
180g brown sugar
1 egg
300g plain flour
1tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
300g plain flour
1/2 tsp soda
100g chocolate chips
100g chopped almonds
1tsp vanilla essence

1. Beat butter, vanilla essence and brown sugar till fluffy. Add in egg and salt. Then mix well. Add in flour, soda powder and lastly chocolate chips and almonds.

2. Spoon them onto a greased cookie tray and bake cookies for 12 - 15 mins at 180 degree Celsius.

PIneapple Tarts

2010-04-07T07:28:00.001+08:00

I have been so busy lately and hardly find time to bake... Over last weekend, sister bought a packet of pineapple tarts filling and urged me to bake pineapple tarts together with her.... here you go..our wonderful pineapple tarts..

Recipe goes this way:
250g butter
465g plain flour
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2tbsp cold water

1. Cream butter till fluffy and add in flour and mix till well combined. Add in egg and water and mix well.
2. Shape into desired pattern and put pineapple tarts filling.
3. Brush with egg yolk mixture and bake pineapple tarts for 15 - 20 mins at 180C

For Brushing
1 egg yolk + 1tsp milk

HaPpY bIrThDaY jEfF

2010-04-05T10:57:00.000+08:00

Just wish to send you my warmest birthday wishes.....may our Good God bless you... BLESSED BIRTHDAY JEFF

You Raise Me Up... Thank God

2010-02-20T00:38:00.000+08:00

What a beautiful song indeed...the song has actually helped me pull through a rather difficult moment.... breaking off with Ming was a very difficult decision to make but somehow something should just stay this way. My heart was burdened and stormy... full of sadness.. but after hearing this song (at least 20 times), I decided to pull myself up again...Coz I know I will always have a shoulder there to lean on... thank God for bringing this song to me when I was down.. I am ending this chapter of relationship and I am ready to start my new chapter again....here is the beautiful lyrics:

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

Beautiful Photos From My Trip....

2010-02-04T02:07:00.001+08:00

Our Simple Christmas Buffet Spread

2010-02-04T00:09:00.001+08:00

I returned to Singapore on the 23 December after a long trip to Australia, Phuket, Koh Samui and then KL. It was really exhausting having to work in between play : ) Nevertheless I really had a great time catching up with friends... and of course am very honored to be able to witness the marriage of my dear friend, Kim.

I've promised my mum her favourite roast turkey, strawberry birthday cake and honey baked ham before I left for my trip. I thought it was just impossible to accomplish this mission... when I arrived on 23 December. Luckily sis was with me and together we managed to storm up a rather reasonable buffet dinner. We really had a good time dipping into yummy food, and getting together again, chatting and chatting away. To tell you the truth, I actually missed them while I was away... hee hee...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.... I AM BACK FINALLY

2010-01-08T10:41:00.001+08:00

It has been a long time since I last logged into my blog. Have been so busy with projects after projects and meeting deadlines after deadlines. I've so much to write here but somehow I do not know where to start now : ( Probably I will need a little more time to think about this ... nevertheless.. i am glad to be able to blog again...

Will be sharing with you some new holiday stuff I've made and shots I've taken during my holiday...

Jeff's Appearance in Yellow Box Magazine

2009-12-11T18:21:00.000+08:00

肩膀

2009-11-06T16:11:00.000+08:00

The Best Time - Jeff Zhang's World Tour Concert Hanzhou 30 October 2009

2009-11-03T14:52:00.000+08:00

The Best Time - Jeff Zhang's World Tour Concert (Medan-Indonesia) 17 October 2009

2009-10-27T10:46:00.001+08:00

Durian Butter Cake

2009-10-19T17:25:00.000+08:00

I did the most wonderful thing yesterday evening... I baked a durian butter cake and guess what... my whole house is perfumed by its fragrant... wondered what and how my neighbours, who do not like durian at all, would feel... Anyway they can't penalise me for the fragrant emerging from my oven... : )

Recipe goes this way:
250g Butter
260g Plain Flour
160g Caster Sugar
5 Eggs
1tsp Double Action Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Sodium Bicarbonate
200g durian flesh

1. Beat butter and sugar till fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time. Add in durian puree and then add in flour, baking powder, sodium bicarbonate.

2. Bake in a 9' cake pan for 45 mins - 1 hour

Morning....

2009-10-16T07:46:00.000+08:00

I went for a brisk walk at the beach this morning around 5.15am... The air was so fresh and so cooling... I really love the sweetness of the air..and the quietness.. My walk was so beautiful especially when it was accompanied with beautiful ballads sang by my love... I could fill his closeness..it was a wonderful feeling...

This morning was another beautiful day...

Moist Chocolate Cake

2009-10-16T07:29:00.000+08:00

I was craving for moist chocolate cake which is not sweet but bursting with the richness of chocolate last night. I rummaged through my bookshelf in search of a good recipe to satisfy my crave...I wanted something that is not too difficult to prepare and most importantly, the ingredients that go to the cake must be something I have in stock at home... :) I tried this recipe taken from a recipe given by a friend. Surprisingly this cake is really moist and very yummy even without any frosting... Just perfect for breakfast or tea.

Recipe goes this way:
180g Golden Churn Butter
180g Brown Sugar
40g caster sugar
3 eggs
1tsp coffee powder + 1tbsp hot water
1tsp vanilla
200g water
240g cake flour
75g cocoa powder (Hershey)
1tsp baking powder
1tsp bicarbonate of soda

1. Beat butter and sugar till fluffy. Add in eggs one a t time beating well each time.
2. Add coffee mixture to water and still well. Add in coffee mixture alternatively with sifted flour, baking powder, soda powder and cocoa powder. Blend well and turn into a prepare tin.. I used a 9' X 5' pan.
Bake 175C for 1 hour.

More Pineapple Tarts

2009-10-07T23:07:00.000+08:00

My brother-in-law ordered pineapple tarts from me to bring to his colleagues in Switzerland... Spent almost three hours producing about 300 pieces of pineapple tarts over the weekend...

Playing with Fondant - Mr Men Characters

2009-10-07T22:54:00.001+08:00

I have been experimenting with fondant after seeing so many of my blogger friends making wonderful designs using fondant... here are my Mr Men's Characters... and also a little 3D snail.. I really have fun making and moulding them.. but too bad, I do not have time to make cupcakes to put these little darlings on them...

My Feelings....

2009-09-18T11:19:00.001+08:00

This is exactly how I feel...all sang in the song.

Ma Lai Ko (Brown)

2009-09-12T10:32:00.001+08:00

This is another challenge I have taken up after the first Wo Ku Kueh.. ma lai ko. I have always wanted to put my hands on it but is always put off by the amount of waiting time. Nevertheless I did it at last and was really happy with the result... took the recipe from a book called Nonya Kuih Passions by Andrew Kow. The entire kueh took about 17 hours (fermenting + steaming) to prepare.

The kueh is really nice not too sweet but a little bit oily. Overall really good and yummy.. so if I were to make it again, I will reduce the oil.

Here is the pipping hot and fragrant Ma Lai Ko:
See the beehive lines at the bottom of the kueh?

Recipe goes this way:
150g plain flour
35g sugar
100ml warm water
2tsp instant yeast

1. Mix all ingredients and set aside for 12 hours

50g flour
50g custard powder
20g milk powder
120g sugar
130g brown sugar
5 eggs
150g oil
2tsp alkaline water

2. Mix the above ingredients well and add into No. 1 and set aside for 5 hours

1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1tsp bicarbonate soda
150g oil

3. Mix the above ingredients to Number 2 and stir to mix well.
4. Pour mixture intoa 8' round bamboo basket lined with patchment paper. Steam on high fire for 45 mins.

The Break of Dawn

2009-09-12T10:23:00.001+08:00

What a beautiful morning... Took this photo when I was doing my morning walk at the beach... enjoy the peaceful and beautiful morning.. How I wish Jeff is by my side to enjoy this remarkable morning scene....Thank you God for bringing yet another wonderful day..

Wa Ku Kueh

2009-09-03T14:26:00.000+08:00

I am so proud that I am able to make these wonderful gems. Surprisingly they were made with rice and Jiu Bing (Wine Biscuit) mixed togethere and then prove for about 48 hours. The ingredients are simple... rice, jiu bing, rice flour, sugar and pandan leaves. The biggest challenge is of course, the waiting time (altogether I waited for 51 hours and 15 mins to get the "Blooming" effect from the cake.

I just love the taste and colour of the wa ku kueh... I remember I used to have them with my sister and I often dipped them with lots of orange sugar and my sister would love to dip them in white shredded coconut and orange sugar.

Here is the picture of the Wa Ku Kueh I have made:

The Best Time - Jeff Zhang's World Tour Concert (Hong Kong) 29 August

2009-08-31T18:37:00.001+08:00

My favourite song

My GF, Desline, is now in Hong Kong. She attended Jeff's Concert last Saturday and would be back with more photos... will share with you soon....

Two Unforgettable Songs by Michael Jackson

2009-08-29T21:55:00.001+08:00

Heal the World

You Are Not Alone

I love these two songs by Michael Jackson. Heal the World always has a special place in my heart. Whenever I listen to this song, I could recall the sufferings, the tortures and the cries in the gallery I have been to in Vietnam. They become so vivid to me all of a sudden. I couldn't help myself from feeling sad and heartache for the innocent. Inhumanity and Sufferings should be stopped. It is time to make the world a better place to live.

As for You are Not Alone, I love the tune. It is so beautiful.

Thank you Michael for bringing these songs to me.

Mini Swiss Roll from Polar

2009-08-27T10:10:00.000+08:00

Yummy treat from yesterday's meeting.... delicious mini swiss roll from Polar..

Jeff's Concert in Hong Kong 28 August

2009-08-27T09:43:00.000+08:00

Jeff will be holding his concert in Hong Kong this Saturday. One of my girlfriends will be there.... how nice.. How I hope I could be there to meet him... Good luck to your concert...

Char Siew Pau

2009-08-25T00:57:00.000+08:00

Life has been a little retarded for me... Been hovering around, doing not much work and my lazy bug has gotten and bitten me all over. Somehow I felt that I should not be carrying on laziness and yet complaining no time... So I decided to try something challenging... Making Pau...

Have always wanted to try making paus but can't figure how to do so... the plaiting of the pau is the hardest among them all. Cooking the ingredients was not at all a chore.. but plaiting them was the worst.... I could not help laughing when my paus were ready. They just look so "monsterous" ha ha... Taste wise... hmm really good. Anyway I would have to say that "Never Judge A Pau by its Skin"...

Here are my ugly-looking but devilish yummy char siew paus:

Soft Cotton-like Taiwanese Cheesecake

2009-08-25T00:50:00.000+08:00

This taiwanese cheesecake is so soft and yummy. The texture resembles the Japanese cheesecake. Simply love it...Thanks Ming for baking this cake for me... It really makes my day...

I Love Your Blog Award

2009-08-15T00:12:00.000+08:00

I would like to dedicate this award to Happy Flour. I really like her blog. So interesting. It has become one of my inspiration. Thanks Happy Flour for sharing the wonderful recipe with us.

Buttercream Frosting

2009-08-06T03:36:00.000+08:00

Ming shared with me a very interesting website. Enjoy....

Beautiful Marble Cake

2009-08-04T07:53:00.000+08:00

I have gotten a wonderful recipe from My Kitchen Snippets. The cake that she made is so beautiful, soft and moist. I tried this recipe (in fact I baked two - one for my friend and the other one for my afternoon tea :) this morning. Yes I do agreed with her that the cake is very fun to make. I would like to thank My Kitchen Snippets for this wonderful recipe.

Recipe goes this way:
226 grm butter (2 stick)
220 grm sugar
5 eggs
260 grm flour
4 tbsp of milk
1 tsp of baking powder
¼ tsp salt
Food coloring – pink and green
Flavoring – mint/pandan, strawberry and Vanilla

1. Prepared a baking pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper and greased with some butter. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time and beat until well combined.
2. Sift flour with baking powder and salt. Slow down the speed of the mixer and slowly add in the flour. Lastly add in the milk.
3. Divide batter into 3 portions. Add one portion with mint or pandan flavor and add a few drop of green coloring. In another portion add a few drop of strawberry flavor and some pink coloring. The last portion just leave it plain and add a few drop of vanilla to it. Stir well.
4. The most important part is assembling the batter in the baking pan. Drop about 3 tbsp of the better to the middle of the baking pan. Follow by the other color mix on top of each other. Proceed to do the same to the rest of the batter. Do not stir, swirl or shake the pan. The batter will spread on it own.
5. Bake the cake in a pre-heated 350 degree F oven for an hour or until golden brown. Stand cake 10 mins. in pan then tun onto wire rack to cool.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

2009-08-03T07:36:00.000+08:00

I made myself this simple dish to go with piping hot rice.A really good recipe which I think I would make it again for my family especially my nephews and niece who are so fond of anything that is sweet and sour... Read this recipe in a magazine and managed to copy down in my recipe book.

Take a look at this wonderful dish:

Recipe goes this way:
3 chicken thigh, deboned and cut into cubes
2 red chilli (I omitted)
10 shallots cut into chunks

Marinade:
1/2tsp salt
dash of pepper
1 egg white

Batter:
2 eggs
1tsp salt
6tbsp plain flour
1tbsp rice flour
2tbsp corn flour
6tbsp water

Sauce:
6tbsp tomoto sauce
2tsp sugar
3tbsp plum paste
100ml water

1. Marinade chicken with the ingredients for at least 30 mins. I marinated it for about 3 hours.
2. Mix batter ingredients together.
3.Heat up oil for deep frying and dip chicken into batter and deep fry till golden brown. Dish and drain.
4. Bring sauce to boil and add in fried chicken. Mix well and dish up.