Pandan Cheese Sponge Slices

Another delicious treat for festive season!
Somehow I always link Christmas with red, green and white, I think everybody does :)

Recipe is from Ricke's site

What you need:

A
4 egg yolks
30g sugar
1 tsp ovalette
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp fresh milk

B
4 egg whites
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cream of tartar / lime juice
50g sugar

C
60g plain flour
15g corn flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
all mix and sieve

D
1 tsp pandan paste
60g butter, melted
mix both

Topping:
buttercream/whipping cream
grated cheddar cheese
maraschino cherries with stem

Preheat oven to 190degC
Grease square pan 24cm, line with parchment paper and grease again on top, set aside
For A:
Beat egg yolks, sugar, ovalette til thick and pale, add in vanilla and milk, mix well, set aside
For B:
Beat egg whites, salt and cream of tartar til frothy, add in sugar gradually while continuously beating til soft peak
Pour gradually A into B while beating in low speed til well mixed
Add in C, either fold in with spatula or beat with mixer in low speed
Mix 1/3 of the batter into D, mix well, and pour back to the remaining batter, fold in gently til well mixed
Pour into pan, bake approximately 15-20mins, tap the pan slowly before putting into the oven to release some air bubbles
Cool on the cooling rack, after cooled, spread whipping cream and sprinkle grated cheese, cut into squares
Decorate with maraschino cherries

Really delicious, especially if you're into pandan! And the texture of this cake is so pillowy soft!
Definitely can't stop at one! :)))

I'm submitting these slices to  Aspiring Bakers #14: Creative Christmas Bakes (December 2011) hosted by Hankerie

Also I'm posting this for Sweets For A Saturday #50

Christmas Tree Chocolate Buns (Gelatinized Dough)

I saw this at Angel's site and I bookmarked it immediately :)

I used different recipe though, it's basic sweet bread dough recipe from Alex Goh book, Magic Bread

What you need:

Gelatinised dough:
100g bread flour
70g hot boiling water

Place flour in a bowl, pour water, mix with wooden sppon to form rough dough
Cover bowl with clingwrap and leave dough to cool in the fridge for minimum 12 hours

For bread:
300g bread flour
100g plain flour
80g sugar
20g milk powder
1 tbsp instant yeast
1/2 tsp salt
175g cold water
1 cold large egg (grade A)
60g cold butter, cubed
gelatinised dough

Filling:
semi sweet chocolate chips

Tear gelatinised dough into pieces and mix with eggs
Using breadmaker, add in cold water, eggs mixed with gelatinised dough, followed by all dry ingredients
Choose dough function and let start kneading,  after 5 minutes, add in butter, and let the machine does the process, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes

After done, remove dough from the breadpan and put on a floured surface, knead for awhile to release the air bubbles,
Shape 11 dough balls @20g, rest for 10minutes
Flatten each dough, put a teaspoon of chocolate chips and wrap the dough, seal on top
Arrange like a christmas tree on a lightly greased baking pan (seal facing down), leave a little gap in between
Rest til doubled in size, approximately 30minutes
Before baking, put a small cut of dried cranberries in each gap

Bake in preheated oven of 175degC for approximately 10mins
Let cool on cooling rack and sprinkle sifted icing sugar before serving

I had some leftover dough and I made some pork floss buns
Shaped them into balls of 40g each, baked and brushed a little  moyannaise on top and sprinkle pork floss on top, lots of it :)

This sweet bread dough recipe is indeed a keeper, can stay soft til the next day

(I was not sure if it could stay soft til the third day cos all were gone within the second day LOL)

I'm submitting the christmas tree chocolate buns to Aspiring Bakers #14: Creative Christmas Bakes (December 2011) hosted by Hankerie

White Xmas Log Cake

This might not be the first swissroll I made but it's definitely the first log cake I did :)
Inside is a chocolate swiss roll with chocolate ganache filling
Whipping cream were used to frost the whole cake, scratched here and there using chopstick to make it similar to a log and then add a simple decoration on top
Definitely not the best log cake, but I am so glad I could do this year :)

Recipe is from Dida, one of talented cook and baker  from LBT

What you need:
(I only used half the recipe below)

6 eggs
100g sugar
75g plain flour
15g cornflour
10g milk powder
125g butter - melted
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
20ml fresh milk
1 tbsp ovalette (optional)
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp chocolate paste

Grease swiss roll pan with butter, line with baking paper and grease again, set aside
Preheat oven 200degC
Beat eggs and sugar til frothy on high speed, add in ovalette, continue to beat
Lower speed to low, add in sifted plain flour, cocoa powder, cornflour, milk powder
Followed by adding vanilla and chocolate paste, beat a while more
Add in fresh milk, mix well then change back to high speed and beat til ribbon stage, thick and creamy
Off mixer
Add in 1/4 of the batter into the melted butter and stir til evenly mixed and pour back into the remaining batter, fold in til mixed
Pour the batter into the pan and bake for approximately 12-15minutes
After  cooked, leave to cool and then spread with the desired filling, roll using baking paper and decorate

I'm submitting this log cake to  Aspiring Bakers #14: Creative Christmas Bakes (December 2011) hosted by Hankerie

Also, once again I'd like to participate in White Christmas Challenge organised by Very Good Recipes via Quay Po Cooks

White Christmas Challenge

on Very Good Recipes

Once again, Merry Christmas everybody...enjoy your holiday :)

Noel Nutballs

These cookies were baked by my sis, with some help from me
It's surprising that holiday season can tickle her baking mood, in fact as far as I know, this was the first time she baked cookies :)

This is actually such a delicious cookies if not for the pecan nuts used

This was the first time for me, in fact for my family eating pecan, and apparently we didn't enjoy so much

Those who love pecan, this is a must try :)

I will definitely bake these cookies again next time but using different kind of nuts, perhaps cashew or walnuts

Recipe is from Martha Stewart

What you need:

2 1/4 cups plain flour - sifted

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup icing sugar - sifted

2 tbsp honey

1 tsp bourbon / rum / for non alcoholic version : orange juice

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1 cup soft unsalted butter

Beat butter and honey til fluffy, in high speed

Change to low speed and add in bourbon, followed by salt, sugar and flour, mix well

Add in pecan, mix well

Shape dough into ball and lightly flatten, wrap in clingwrap

Refrigerate for at least 3 hours (we did overnight)

Cut the dough into small squares, roll each square into ball shape, bake for 10-12minutes in preheated oven of 175degC

Keep cookies in airtight container

I'm submitting these snowy look cookies to  Aspiring Bakers #14: Creative Christmas Bakes (December 2011) hosted by Hankerie

Also, I'd like to participate in  White Christmas Challenge organised by Very Good Recipes via Quay Po Cooks

White Christmas Challenge

on Very Good Recipes

And lastly, I'm submitting these Xmas cookies to Sweets For A Saturday #49 

Last but not least, I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas

May God bless you abundantly



Cream Corn Soup

A nice and hearty soup, great for a delicious starter
I still find it weird though, everytime I see DH and the kids eat this soup with rice :)

What you need:

250g chicken breast - diced

4 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 medium onion, chopped

100g shredded cooked crab meat

2 cans corn kernel

2 cans cream of corn

5 eggs, beaten

a big pot of water

salt, pepper, sugar, ground nutmeg

cornflour mixed with water as thickening

Bring a pot of water to boil on medium fire

Meanwhile, sautee garlic and onion with margarine til fragrant and soft

Add in diced chicken, and crab, stir well

Pour the chicken mixture into the boiling water, stir well

Add in corn kernel, cream of corn, season with salt, pepper, sugar and ground nutmeg

Stir well and let it boil again

On low fire, slowly pour beaten eggs through sieve slowly and at the same time keep stirring the soup

Adjust the taste

Add thickener to desired consistency

To me, the perfect companion for this soup is fried noodle :)

Mixed Fruits Slices

When I saw Ann posted Apricot Slice, I was literally salivating looking at the pictures
It's really my kind of Christmas fruit cake, I just do not fancy the usual fruit cakes people usually bake and many bakeries sell during Christmas season

So, here it is, with a little modification
I used cake flour instead, and besides chopped dried apricots, I used dried mixed fruits too

Pretty isn't it? And it's yummy too :) Perfect treat for Christmas gathering :)

I am submitting these slices to  Aspiring Bakers #14: Creative Christmas Bakes (December 2011) hosted by Hankerie

Happy Holidays!

My kids are out of school for two weeks and we have family coming into town for the holidays. I have decided to take a break from blogging - I am going to kick back, hang out with my kids, relax in my new home, eat old recipes (that don't need to be photographed or written down), and celebrate the holidays with my family. I hope you all, my amazing readers, have a Merry Christmas; Happy Hanukkah; and/or Happy Kwanzaa; and a very Happy New Year!!!!  

I'll be back in a couple of weeks... here are a few recipes to keep you busy until I return:

Breakfast:

 Neapolitan Pancakes

 Herb Baked Eggs Over Toast

 Banana Pancakes

Peasant Omelette 

German Pancake with Raspberries & Lemon

Cookies:

White Chocolate & Semi Sweet Chocolate Swirl, Coconut, and Pecan Cookies

Mint Chocolate Pixies

Peanut Butter Chocolate Kiss Cookies

White Chocolate, Pecan, and Craisin Cookies

Triple Chocolate Cookies

Italian Food:

Pepperoni Pizza Cups

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Chicken Parmesan

Gemelli with Turkey Italian Sausage & Roasted Vegetables in a Parmesan Cream Sauce

Beef and Mushroom Ragu over Rigatoni

Mexican Food:

Shredded Beef & Caramelized Onion Enchiladas

Arroz con Pollo

Pork Tenderloin, Caramelized Onion, & Monterey Jack Baked Flautas

Mexican Lasagna

Taco Salad

Side Dishes:

Tomatoes, Squash, and Feta Gratin

Greek Quinoa

Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

Zucchini Spears with Lemon Vinaigrette

Scored Baby Potatoes

Soups:

Cheese and Potato Soup

Oyster Stew

Roasted Tomato Soup with Poblanos, Oregano, & Cotija Cheese

Taco Soup

Chicken with Basil Dumplings

Baked French Toast With Banana & Chocolate

Saw this at Min's blog and I knew I had to make this! So I did finally...

It's really good indeed! I mean it, it's really really good!

You have to try this, eay to make too :)

I followed the recipe to the dot except that I used semi sweet chocolate chips instead since that's what's available in my fridge and brown sugar instead of demerara sugar

Another superb way to make full use of leftover bread... Yummilicious!

Also submitting this delicious treat to Sweets For A Saturday #48