Emergency Blender Chocolate Cupcakes & Two Years Blog Anniversary

I have been really interested in trying this recipe, it's really a good decision
So easy to make, and it turned out to be a moist and tasted really good

One mistake I did, I only took pictures the day after, taken out from the fridge, the chocolate frosting was wet with condensation and I dabbed it with tissue paper, hence the pattern on top LOL

I made one recipe, and out of curiousity, I baked half with muffin tray, and steamed half with 20cm round pan
The result was totally different

The baked ones tasted like soft, quite fluffy and moist cake

The steamed one tasted more like a dense, rich, chocolaty yet soft pudding cake

I and my brother prefer the baked one, and the kids, too. DH and my sister, also my mum love the steamed one
So, it's good. Everybody gets a fair share :)

Recipe is from the book The Weekend Baker by Abigail Johnson Dodge

What you need:
(I reduced the sugar by 1/4 cup)

1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup hot water
1/2 cup canola oil
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 190 degC
2. Line muffin tray with cupcake liners
3. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a blender. Blend on medium speed covered
4. Add in water, oil, egg and vanilla. Cover and blenf on medium high speed til smooth and well belnded, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides
5. Pour into muffin cups 2/3 high, bake on medium rack for 20 minutes or til tester skewer comes out clean, let cool
6. (For steaming, preheat steamer and pour batter in a lined round pan and steam over medium heat for 45 minutes til tester skewer comes out clean, let cool)

Fudgy frosting:
(I reduced the sweetener quite a bit cos I used semi sweet chocolate instead)
8 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
8tbsp unsalted butter
1/8 cup light corn syrup
3tbsp condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt

1. Melt together chocolate chips and unsalted butter (double boiled or in microwave)
2. Add in condensed milk, corn syrup, vanilla and salt. Whisk til well blended. It will thicken as it cools
3. After completely cooled, cover with plastic wrap til ready to use

When the cake is completely cooled, spread a dollop of the frosting on top

Btw, today is my second blog anniversary! :)

(pic courtesy of spicytunas.com)

Time flies, really!
So far, I am still so glad that I started blogging two years back, one of the best decision I ever made!
I got to know many new friends with the same passion, got to experience cooking and baking things I never thought I would do too!
Blogging has become one of my hobby and I'm still hooked til now, more than ever!

I'm a self taught cook and baker at home which never attended even one cooking and/or baking class, blogging has given me priceless knowledge for me to improve even more :)
Not only that, I (try) to pick up skills in taking snaps of my food by looking at georgeous pictures I always find in all blogs
I learnt too that even though the subject is our passion - food, but basically blogging brings out our very own character in our writing, which I enjoy very much
And for those things, many thanks to you all, my dearest friends :)

This time, I have some giveaways to share my joy for blogging
I will reveal in my post tomorrow okie... Need to zzzz now, it's 12.30am now :)
Good night!

Homemade Chicken Balls Soup & One Year Blog Anniversary Giveaway

Ok, now my unpacking is done, nomore sick family member, but for the past one week was still busy - a big group of relatives came in town and was out whole day for almost the whole week - fun and tiring at the same time :P
Been absent from blogging world for few weeks - feel like a lifetime! I guess now I can get back on track :)

Ok, this is one dish I've made quite sometime back - yummy homemade chicken balls - it's a keeper :)

Recipe is from HERE

What you need:

500 gm chicken breast, cut to smaller pieces

½ cup (125ml) icy cold water
1 tbsp fish sauce
½ tsp salt
½ tbsp sugar
½ tbsp oil
2 tbsp cornflour
1¼ tsp baking powder

dash of white pepper

Mince the meat in a food processor until a paste is form. Add 5 tbsp water (a tbsp of water at a time) to get a smooth paste

In a separate cup, mix together the remaining water, fish sauce, salt, sugar, oil, cornflour and baking powder
Remove the chicken paste from the food processor and put in a big bowl. Pour the liquid mix to the paste and stir well slowly until the liquid is absorbed into the paste (use either your hand or a fork)
For the taste test...microwave or boil a teaspoon of the paste. Season to taste with more salt or sugar
Cover bowl with clingwrap and place in the freezer for 30 minutes
Boil a pot of water. Once the water has boiled, remove the pot from the heat
Add pepper to the paste and stir to combine. Scoop the paste onto your wet hand. Push the paste through your thumb and 2nd finger by making a fist. Use a wet spoon to scoop and drop it into the hot water. To prevent the paste from sticking to your hand and spoon, wet the spoon and hand with water
Continue until the chicken balls form a layer in the water. Now turn on the heat but do not let it boil. Just simmer slowly without bubble....if not your chicken balls will not have 'bounce'

While cooking the chicken balls, any leftover paste should be kept in the freezer

Fill a big basin with icy cold water. When the chicken balls starts to float, leave for a few more seconds

(Cut one in half to see if it is cook. The inside should not be pink). Scoop out and let it cool in the cold water

After the chicken balls have cooled, use as required or freeze

Note:

* Further boiling after this stage will not affect its bounciness

* Squeeze test : when the meatballs start floating, get one out of the hot water and give it a squeeze between the fingers. When it is ready it will be 'springy' between your fingers. If it hasn't got a good bounce yet, put it back into the water. Try another

Now, the chicken balls are ready

Time to make the soup...

Easy peasy....boil chicken bone and a pot of water, discard all the floating waste

Add in sauteed garlic (in a little oil), salt, pepper

After boiling, lower the heat and simmer

Add in hard boiled peeled quail eggs, cut carrots, and cut xiao pek chye

Add in boiled bean vermicelli (tanghoon) just before eating

What a hearty meal :)

Ok, now, I was so surprised to realize that two days ago on 27 August, it was the first anniversary of my this humble blog! I was so busy I only remember today! :(

Well, it's still better to be late than never to share to all of you how glad I am having decided to start this blog one year ago - no turning back but keep moving on instead!

For the past one year, I have learnt a great deal from other bloggers I met online, and really look forward to meeting even more - will never get tired of learning too!

For the past one year, I have enjoyed experiencing cooking and baking with more confidence and with some hiccups occassionally, I now have more knowledge than ever!

For the past one year, I have seen myself and yes, it's so true that cooking and baking is my passion which I finally acknowledge - as well as my family!

I love, I cook, I bake - indeed! :)

I feel so grateful with all the experience for the past one year - many more to come! :)

To share my thankfulness, I have little giveaways :P

Two sets of cookie cutters with different animal shapes for two winners

Set A

Set B

To participate, please write in the comment box anything you'd like to share with me your opinion about my blog - anything related to it, the layout, content, cooking, baking, picture...anything - constructive suggestions are mostly welcomed! :)

Closing date will be on Sunday 4 Sep 23.59

My lil girl Abby will random choose 1 winner, and my lil boy Ian will choose another 1 winner and I''ll announce the winners on Monday 5 Sep

Really look forward to your participation! ;)