Review of 2013 Bakes

As 2013 comes to a close, I reviewed my bakes and summarised my monthly favourites.
Happy 2014 and have more yummy bakes!

January -Hazelnut Chocolate Entremet (Flourless)

February - Chocolate & Coffee Layered Cake

March - Herbed Wholemeal Focaccia

April - Chuck's Pizza Base

May - Ham & Cheese Wholemeal Buns

June - Red Velvet Birthday Cake

July - Lemongrass Cake 香茅蛋糕

August - Classic Chocolate Chips Cookies

September - Durian Puffs

October - Tiramisu Birthday Cake

November - Pineapple & Coconut Cupcakes

December - Flourless Hazelnut Chocolate Cake

Baked Macaroni & Cheese

My  last attempt of baked pasta and cheese didn't turn out too moist. So I decided to try making Baked Macaroni & Cheese for a Christmas dinner with family friends. I know my friend's son loves my baked pasta (tomato based sauce). So this time, I decided to make Macaroni & Cheese instead. 

This time, the macaroni & cheese was moist and very cheesy too. My friends and their children loved it. Here's how I made the moist Baked Macaroni & Cheese.

Recipe for Baked Macaroni & Cheese
(Makes for 10 persons)

Ingredients:
500g Elbow pasta, cooked till al dente, drained and set aside
Some olive oil
2 cloves Garlic, chopped coarsely
300g Bacon, cooked till fragrant
1 can Button mushrooms, sliced
500g Cooking cream (20% fats)
350g Whole milk
Salt to taste
Some herbs, eg. Mixed herbs
300g Shredded Red Cheddar Cheese
300g Shredded White Cheddar Cheese
300g Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (for baking)
150g Shredded Red Cheddar Cheese (for baking)

Method:

1. Heat up a large wok. Add olive oil, followed by garlic to saute. 
2. Add in mushrooms and stir fried for a while before adding the cooked bacon to mix.
3. Add in cooking cream, followed by whole milk and stir to mix well. Add in salt and some mixed herbs if using.
4. Add in the elbow pastas. Mix well with the cream sauce.
5. Add in 300g of red cheddar cheese. Stir well to mix. Add in 300g of white cheddar cheese and mix well. It will become cheesy.

6. When all the cheese has melted and mix in, scoop them into baking dish. I used two glass baking dish of approximiately 9"x9" size. Or you may use one 9" x 13" baking dish.

7. Topped up the macaroni with the 150g shredded red cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese and spread them out well.

8. Bake in the preheated oven of 190C for 20-23mins or until the cheese on top turns brown.
9. Remove and serve immediately.

I'm submitting this to 'Baby Sumo's Christmas Recipes Collection 2013' hosted by Baby Sumo of  Eat Your Heart Out.

Honey Cinnamon Cookies

This post is sponsored by Liv butter. Try Liv today!

Christmas is round the corner. Ever since I started baking, I've been thinking what Christmas presents I should bake/make for my family and friends. As there are many people I wanted to give, I didn't want them to be too complicated. Even though I don't really like cookies, but I think cut-out cookies are really nice, especially when it's frosted. I have to admit, I'm not so diligent, nor am I a perfectionist. Hahaha... (did you hear excuses coming?)

With so many recipes online and from books and magazine, I finally decided on making Honey Cinnamon (Cutout) Cookies.

Recipe for Honey Cinnamon Cookies, modified from "Super Food Ideas", Dec2012/Jan2013 Issue.
(Makes approx. 46 cookies)

Ingredients:
250g LIV unsalted butter, chilled, cubed
3 cups Plain flour, sifted
3/4 cups Icing sugar, sifted
1 tsp Ground cinnamon
A pinch of Ground ginger
A pinch of Ground nutmeg
A pinch of Chili powder
1 Whole egg
2 tbsp Honey

Method:

1. Place butter, flour, powders and icing sugar into a large mixing bowl.
2. Rub in chilled butter until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. (You may use a food processor for this step if you have).

3. Add egg and honey. Stir until mixture comes together. (Continue to use food processor if you are using it.)
4. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead gently until smooth. Divide mixture into half.

5. Shape into 2 discs. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 mins. (You can freeze the other half for up to one month. Thaw in the fridge overnight, stand at room temperature for 30 mins before continuing to cut out and bake.)
6. Preheat oven to 170C fan forced.
7. Roll 1 dough disc between 2 plastic sheets (or baking papers) until 5mm thick.

8. Using a cookie cutter of your choice, cut out the pattern from the dough. Re-rolling and cutting dough scraps.

9. Place on prepared baking trays, 1cm apart. Bake 1 tray at a time, for 13-14mins or until pale golden.

10. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Wrap it individually and give it as present.

Also to  'Baby Sumo's Christmas Recipes Collection 2013' hosted by Baby Sumo of  Eat Your Heart Out.
Wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2014!

Lavender Cream Cheese Pound Cake

This post is sponsored by Liv butter. Try Liv today!

Good as a gifts for Christmas. :)

Recipe for Lavender Cream Cheese Pound Cake, adapted from Honey Bee Sweets.
(Makes 3 small and 3 mini loaves)

Ingredients:
330g Plain Flour
340g LIV unsalted butter, room temperature
250g Cream cheese, room temperature
6 Whole eggs
240g Castor Sugar
1½ tbsp Rum
1 tsp Salt
1½ tsp Dried Lavender

Method:

1. Preheat fan oven to 160°C. With a k-beater, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar; beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in rum and lavender.
3. With mixer on low, add flour and salt in three additions, beating until just combined.
4. Pour batter into the prepared pans. Even the top with a spatula.
5. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out almost clean, approximately 40-43mins.
6. Cool them in the pan completely before serving.

I'm submitting this post to  Aspiring Bakers #38: Boozy-licious (December 2013) hosted by Jasline of Foodie Baker.

Also to  'Baby Sumo's Christmas Recipes Collection 2013' hosted by Baby Sumo of  Eat Your Heart Out.

Coconut & Lemongrass Rice

An accidental discovery I had when I ran out of pandan leaves one day while deciding to cook nasi lemak. In the end, I used lemongrass and the taste was fantastic! The first time my helper cooked, the coconut taste was not so prominent, but the coconut was very fragrant. The lemongrass smell was not prominent but there was a nice after taste. 

Then we did it again for a family dinner. This time, my helper cooked five cups of rice with 200g Kara coconut cream and a packet of 50g Santan Coconut powder with two stalks of lemongrass. It was very nice and well received by my family. Dad who initially took a little of the rice, decided to go for second helping. Some of us who usually didn't take rice, took some too! In the end, the rice wasn't enough and my helper had to cook another round. 

We bought some food for our Nasi Lemak, while the rest was cooked by my helper - Fried Selar fish, Fried Drumsticks, Fried eggs and Green vegetables. We also bought fishballs, beancurd fishcakes, otah, ikan bilis and sweet sambal chilli. Enjoy your nasi lemak with lots of dishes and chilli! Also to include cold Yuzu drinks to complete the meal. Sedap!

Flourless Hazelnut Chocolate Cake

My daughter requested for Chocolate Cake for her birthday celebration. I had actually decided to bake a Chocolate Fudge Cake, ensuring that I had evaporated milk. Then when I saw Ann's post on Flourless Chocolate Cake, I changed my mind and decided that a flourless cake will be more popular with my family members. True enough, this was hit with my family members. The cake was soft, and you can feel the grainy hazelnut texture. Coupled with the raspberry coulis, it was a perfect combination of taste and texture. This is a sure keeper for me!

Recipe for Flourless Hazelnut Chocolate Cake, adapted from Anncoo.
(Makes a 8" cake)

Ingredients:
100g Dark chocolate buttons (66%)
100g LIV unsalted butter, cubed
80g Caster sugar
2 tbsp Kahlua liqueur
100g Ground hazelnuts
1 tbsp Instant coffee granules with 1 tbsp hot water
4 Eggs (approx 55g each), separated

Raspberry coulis
120g Fresh raspberries
50g Water
40g Caster sugar

Method:

1. Preheat fan oven to 150C. Grease deep 8" round cake pan and line base.
2. Melt chocolate and butter in mixing bowl over a pot of simmering water, stirring until mixture is combined and chocolates melted.
3. Combine chocolate mixture with sugar, kahlua, ground hazelnuts and coffee. Add in egg yolks, one at a time. Stir well to mix.
4. Whisk egg whites with electric mixer until peak forms (not too stiff); gently fold into chocolate mixture in two batches.
5. Pour mixture into pan; bake for 35 minutes or skewer inserted into cake comes out clean. Cool cake in pan.
6. In a small pot boil raspberries, sugar and water together and stir over medium heat.
7. Reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes, mash raspberries with a spatula. Leave aside to cool totally.
8. Decorate with some raspberries on top of the cake and raspberry coulis before serving.

I'm submitting this post to  Aspiring Bakers #38: Boozy-licious (December 2013) hosted by Jasline of Foodie Baker.

Also to  'Baby Sumo's Christmas Recipes Collection 2013' hosted by Baby Sumo of  Eat Your Heart Out.

Chocolate Chips Cheesecake

How time flies! It's already into December, the last month of the year. I've always like December period. It's a month full of celebrations and feasting. And the weather is usually cooling, which makes one less temperamental and more happy. December is also the month where three of my children celebrate their birthdays, starting from my eldest son.

Baking a birthday cake for my eldest son is not so difficult. Every year, it's Oreo cheesecake, or some sort of cheesecake. He likes cheesecakes. So this year, we celebrated his birthday earlier together with his maternal grandparents, aunties and cousins. I baked a Chocolate Chips Cheesecake for him and he like it.

Happy birthday to my beloved son! Hope you'll be matured and successful in your endeavours!

Recipe for Chocolate Chips Cheesecake, modified from "Fantastic Cheesecake" by Alex Goh.

(Makes a 8" square cake)

Ingredients:

Cake base

2 x 120g Horlicks Biscuits, crushed finely

15g Cocoa powder

40g LIV unsalted butter, room temperature

Filling

500g Cream cheese

100g Caster sugar

20g Plain flour

2 Whole eggs

1 tbsp Lemon juice

1 Lemon zest, grated (I omitted this)

200g Whipping cream

100g Chocolate chips

Topping

200g Dark Chocolate, 55%, chopped coarsely (or use buttons)

200g Whipping Cream

Method:

1. Prepare an 8" (minimum 3" high) cake ring. Place baking paper below and secure it with a string. Put it on a baking tray.
2. Cake base: Mix all the ingredients well together and press them onto the bottom of the cake ring. Refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Filling: Cream cheese, sugar and flour until light. Add eggs one by one and cream until smooth.
4. Add lemon juice and lemon zest and cream till well combined.
5. Add whipping cream and mix well.
6. Fold in the chocolate chips.
7. Pour the cheese filling onto the prepared biscuit base.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 150C for 55mins, or until almost set at the centre and slightly browned on top.
9. When it's baked, leave the oven door ajar and let it cool completely (overnight).
10. Topping: Heat whipping cream in a saucepan over low heat. Keep stirring until almost boil.
11. Then pour it over the dark chocolate in a mixing bowl. Let it sit for 1 min.
12. Stir and mix well, ensure all chocolates are melted.
13. Pour the ganache on the cooled cheesecake. Refrigerate immediately (for at least 6 hours).
14. Remove the cake from the cake ring using a spatula. Smooth the sides, and serve.

Our annual bloggers gathering

A few of us would initiate a food bloggers' gathering once a year. This year, I've decided to initiate one, and to held it at my place. As it was year end and school holidays, the turn out wasn't very good. However, that didn't dampen our mood. We proceeded with our plan.

Being food bloggers means our potluck dishes were homemade. In fact, many of us had already knew one another. The gathering was a time to catch up and share our foods.

Have a good festive season my friends!

Fried Pumkin Bee Hoon & Oriental Salad - Jane
Cheese & Ham puffs & Falalel - Veronica
Fried Radish Cake and Kong Bak Bao - Meg
Maple Pork Balls and Fruit tarts - Bee Bee
Apom berkuah - Alan
Osmanthus jelly - Annie
Chicken Wings & Japanese mochi - Rei

Banana Cinnamon Cake

On my previous post, I mentioned about too much fruits at home, especially when my spouse was out for his business trip. Knowing that he was coming back on Friday, I thought I'd better quickly finished up some of the fruits, else he will start nagging why I didn't feed the children the fruits.

With some ripen bananas, I decided on baking a Banana Cake. Somehow, I just felt like adding cinnamon to it. The cinnamon overwhelmed the banana a little. Will try this again next time with lesser cinnamon, and maybe add some nutmeg or so.

Recipe for Banana Cinnamon Cake, adapted from Nigella.
(Makes a 9" square cake. Can use a 8" round cake pan to be taller.)

Ingredients:
100g LIV Unsalted butter, soften
80g Caster sugar
¼ tsp Salt
2 Whole eggs, room temperature
1 lemon zest (I omitted this)
1 tablespoon rum (optional)
400g Bananas (overipe - mashed. I used only 330g (4 med) and it was a bit dry)
1 tbsp Lemon juice
300g Plain flour
¼ tsp Cinnamon powder (optional) (I used ½ tsp and I think it overwhelmed the banana)
2 ½ tsp Baking powder
4 tbsp Whole milk (optional)

Method:

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together.
2. Add the eggs and mix well. Add the lemon zest, if using.
3. Add the bananas, rum and the lemon juice. Once the bananas are mixed in, you might notice the mix looks curdled. Don't worry, just continue mixing.
4. Sift flour, cinnamon powder and baking powder together. Add to the egg-flour-banana mix and combine. If the dough/batter seems too heavy, add milk. (If you don't have enough bananas like me, the batter will be very thick. Add more milk to make it smoother.) 
5. Butter the tin and pour the batter in.
6. Bake it at preheated fan oven of 160°C for 45mins or when it turned brown and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Note:

• This is a simple, but yet delicious cake.
• There must sufficient bananas to make it moist, even though the cake was light and fluffy.
• Original recipe includes 100g raisins soaked in rum and 150g nuts which you may want to add. 
• If you use a smaller pan, bake it for 60mins.

Pineapple & Coconut Cupcakes

My spouse likes to buy fruits to feed the family. Then he will made everyone eat. It's a good thing because by forcing my children to eat, it really build up their immunity. I must say, my children are quite healthy. They don't get sick very easily, thanks to their daddy.

This week, we bought a lot of fruits, but he were away for business trip. There were so much fruits at home - watermelon, apple, honeydew, pineapples, jackfruits and bananas! Gosh, we could not finish them within a week! So I decided to bake Pineapple & Coconut Cupcakes. The cupcakes were creamy, soft and fluffy. It's really nice, and I think it can be used as a basic cupcake recipe.

Recipe for Pineapple & Coconut Cupcakes, adapted from the hummingbird bakery cookbook.
(Makes 12 regular cupcakes)

Ingredients:
120g Plain flour
80g Caster sugar
1 1/2 tsp Baking powder
A pinch of salt
40g LIV unsalted butter, room temperature
120g Whipping cream
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tsp Coconut oil (optional)
1 Whole egg
2 slices Pineapple (fresh or canned), cut into small pieces
Some Desiccated honey coconut

Method:

1. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a mixing bowl.
2. Using a whisk, mix until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined.

3. Mix the cream and the vanilla extract in a separate bowl, then beat into the flour mixture until combined.

4. Add in the coconut oil, followed by egg and beat well. Scrape down the sides and mix well.

5. Divide the chopped pineapples between the paper cases.
6. Spoon the cupcake mixture on top until two-thirds full. Sprinkle desiccated coconut on top.

7. Bake in the preheated fan oven of 160C for 20mins, or until golden.
8. Leave the cupcakes to cool slightly in the tray before turning out onto the wire cooling rack to cool completely.