Friday, November 25, 2011

Mango Yogurt Chiffon Cupcake

It's almost time for me to travel...YEAH!!! And all these while my attention and my mood are all focus on my coming trips...LOL!! Pardon me...;p This year's trips are alittle different, that is I got to get away for few days with my dear hubby then another one with my dear daughter and cousins....Oh I just can't wait!!
Right, before I disappear next week, here's my last post for this November...^^....then I'll be back for the X'mas and New year posts!!

This was a cake that I wanted to bake so much since last 2 weeks but never got to do it until I read about Ann's (Anncoo Journal) post last 2 days. Mine was alittle different, but similar to a chiffon cake.

This cake was so fluffy and moist and I definitely will make it again. It shrink abit after cooling but the texture was still good. Have a look below while my cake was "growing" in the oven...:)

Recipe:
160g mango puree
40g fresh mango (cut into small cubes)
4 egg yolks
60ml plain yogurt
8 tsps corn oil
1/2 tsp mango essence
35g sugar
80g self raising flour

4 egg whites
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
75g sugar

Method:
~ Whisk egg yolk, essence and sugar until light, then add in corn oil and stir well.
~ Add in mango puree and mango chunks and mix well.
~ Mix in yogurt, mix well and fold in flour and mix well. Set aside.
~ Whisk egg white with cream of tartar until bubble forms. Gradually add in sugar, beating at high speed until frothy and stiff peaks form.
~ Gently fold in egg whites into egg yolk batter until well blended.
~ Spoon batter into prepared cupcake moulds and bake at preheated oven at 160'C for 30 minutes.
~ Remove from oven, invert cake until completely cooled.



Got to go...wish you guys have a wonderful year end holidays....Enjoy!!!

Friday, November 18, 2011

White Wine Cheese Cake

A special cheese cake for a special friend!! This was bake a day before the celebration, and I has been cracking my head for what cake to bake for my dear friend for her early birthday celebration. Then she requested a cake with alcohol...hmm, tiramisu? No no...not again! Then when I was searching through my recipe books, this cake just came to my mind! Yes!! a wine cake!!
I've baked this cake more than a decades ago for my dear vocal teacher, which I remembered that his comment was "GOOD"!!! So I've decided to bake this for the birthday gal...:)

Got a good quality white wine from the store nearby and got some fresh rapsberries for decoration. Well, not much decoration here, and I don't think a rich wine cheese cake will go well with cream or chocolate. So, lets just made it simple!

This recipe was actually founded from the web long time ago. (really more than a decade)
Here comes the recipe....

200g digestive biscuits
100g butter (melted)

~ Wrapped the 9" round ring pan with aluminium foil.
~ Crushed the biscuits and mix well with melted butter and press it formly onto a 9" round ring pan.
~ Leave it aside while prepare the cheese fillings.

500g cream cheese
2 eggs
90g sugar
2/3 cup plain yogurt
1&1/3 cup white wine (get the best one)
2 tbsps cake flour

~ Cream the cheese and sugar till light.
~ Add in eggs one at a time. Blend well.
~ Add in yougurt and wine and mix well then fold in the flour.
~ Pour into prepared tin with the biscuits base.
~ Bake at 170'C for 60-65 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool before chilling in the fridge overnight.
~ Remove from pan and decorate as desire.

The texture was really rich and if you like wine, this is the recipe you must try. Trust me, you'll love it!! So what are you waiting for, this is best to serve during X'mas gatherings after your turkey meals...hehe!



Cheers!!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Black Forest Swissroll (Schwarzwaldekirsch Torte)

It's been awhile since my last post. Its almost end of the year and I'm so lazy to do anything except shopping and counting down for my trips..haha! But when I checked my bookmarked to-do-lists,...Oh dear!! There are so many recipes I've marked and its getting longer and longer. What should I do??? Those are all wonderful recipes from other bloggers and wonderful books I borrowed from friends. Well, there are friends suggested I start with something easy and also alphabetically. Alright, it helps...and so here is it, I'll start with the letter "B" (since I don't have any starting with "A")

A modern approach of famous Black Forest Gateau adapted from my friend's book, "The Ultimate Mixer Cookbook" by Kay Halsey.


It's the first time I made a swissroll without any flour and oil. Its like eating a meringue actually but its good. And it was so good to go with a cup of hot long black...yum!!

Here come the recipe:
175g dark chocolate
6 tbsps brandy (I used rum coz no brandy at home...;p)
210g sugar
5 medium eggs, separated
300ml whipping cream
2-3 tbsps icing sugar
300g fresh cherries (I used canned coz no fresh cherries were found near my area..haha!)

Method:
~ Preheat oven at 180'C. Lined a swissroll tin. (12x10")
~ Break chocolate, melt at double boil with 4 tbsps of brandy.
~ Melt till smooth and remove from heat.
~ Beat sugar and egg yolks till creamy and add in the melted chocolate.
~ Whisk egg whites until stiff.
~ Fold egg whites into chocolate mixture gently.
~ Stir lightly, do not over mix.
~ Pour into prepared tin and level the surface.
~ Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top set.
~ Remove from oven and cover with a damp sheet of greaseproof paper and a tea towel.
~ Leave overnight or at least 8 hours to stand.
~ Whipped whipping cream and stir in remaining brandy. Mix well.
~ Sprinkle a large sheet of greaseproof paper with icing sugar and invert the cooked cake on it.
~ Remove the tin and discard the lining paper.
~ Spread with prepared whipped cream and top with cherries.
~ Carefully roll up and deco as desire with extra cherries or icing sugar.


"Tips: Use fresh cherries if possible! " This was stated in the book, the taste must be better I guess with those fresh cherries. I'll make this again when I can get some fresh ones...:)

Well, mine turns out almost the same as the picture shown in the book..hehe! Guess I got it right!

Cheers!!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Double Chocolate Muffins @ Flower pots

It's November..Yeah! Very excited that school is going to have the term breaks in 2 weeks time and our holidays will begin soon....:)
Well, when I was so excited counting down something happened yesterday and it ruined my coming weekend plans! (Don't ask me why....hopefully everything will be over since then) No mood for anything since yesterday but luckily my dear daughter cheers me up! She did some good improvement for her exams, and I'm glad that she did!
She has been asking for some fondant play and we had this plan since before her school exams start. So, with the promise, we did it this morning!


I've baked this muffins for her last night for her and her friend for the "fondant play" this morning. Scroll down then you'll see what they did.....not a pretty one but glad they enjoy it so much!!...^^


A double chocolate muffin adapted from the book "100 Desserts" (西式甜品) by Winnie 姐. Haven't try eating it yet but it smells good and when I cut it for my photo taking, the texture was soft and moist...:) It'll be my tea break later!!

Recipe with alittle changes:
120g dark chocolate
225g self raising flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
120g brown sugar
75g butter (melted)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 cup thick cream
1/2 cup chocolate chips


** Prepare alittle chocolate ganache if desire to serve with the muffins.

Method:
~ Finely chop the dark chocolate. Melt it over a pot of simmering water.
~ Sift flour with baking powder together and set aside.
~ In a mixing bowl, beat well brown sugar, melted butter, eggs, vanilla essence, cream and melted chocolate together.
~ Add in flour mixture and fold well.
~ Add in chocolate chips and mix well.
~ Spoon into 4oz paper cupcake moulds to 3/4 full and bake at 180'C preheated oven for 25 minutes.


Then.....here comes the girl's work!!
First they cream a thin layer of the chocolate ganache to the sides of the muffins. Then covered with orange fondant to form a flower pot, then follow by some flowers and butterflies to stick on the lollipop stick for decorations.

Top with their favourited "Kit Kat" chocolate balls.......

....and pooked the prepared flowers and butterflies on to the pots!!
These are really untidy and ugly...haha! But they enjoy the whole process of it.....^^ and even asked to do it again tomorrow....haha!
Well, we'll do something else I promised...hehe!
This idea was actually inspired my daughter's favourite TV Programm..."Finger tips"!!


Cheers!