Black Forest Yule Log for 2015 X'mas

Hi, I'm back (^^)"

Actually I'm here all the time, I'm still following the blogs I love dearly, reading my favourite blogger's posts whenever I have the time. 

Right, I'll like to post one of mine before it expired..haha! Yeah...2016 is just a few days ahead and my post today is the Christmas Yule Log that I've baked for our Christmas this year. 

Black Forest Yule Log

A black forest Swiss roll transformed into a log. Not much decoration this year, but I'm glad that everyone loves it.

The log..first coated with beaten whipping cream which mixed with some cocoa powder.
Then covered with a thick layer of chocolate ganache.....

Mixed some icing sugar with water and lemon juice to make some white frosting...slightly dripped some frosting here and there to look like melted snow.

Then decorated with some figurine (Santa) and others..all store bought...hehe!
Ta-Da...my Yule Log for this year's Christmas is done!!

A soft and fluffy log that everyone adored...yummy!!

Recipe for the Chocolate sponge:

6 egg yolks
20g fine sugar
60g fresh milk
45g corn oil
100g low gluten flour
15g corn flour
2 tbsps cocoa powder

6 egg whites
70g fine sugar

~ Beat egg yolks with 20g sugar until bubble forms
~ Add in oil and milk, mix well
~ Mix in both flours and cocoa powder and mix well. Set aside
~ Whisk egg whites wuth 70g sugar till form a soft peak
~ Mix the beaten egg whites with the egg yolks batter gently
~ Pour into a 10x14" lined tray
~ Bake at 180'C for 12-15 minutes
~ Remove from tray and remove the lined paper as well once the sponge is done
~ Cool the sponge completely and spread with prepared whipping cream, sprinkled some cocoa powder and placed pitted cherries
~ Gently roll the sponge up and let it stay at the shape for at least 10-15 minutes

**I've soaked the pitted cherries with some rum before I placed them on the sponge. This made the pitted cherries tastier if you like alcohol like me..haha!

&

2016

Sticky Rice （糯米饭）

On the fifteen day of the Chines New Year, Chap Goh Mei and also known as Chinese Valentine's Day, attracts singletons who throw oranges into the sea in hopes of finding their true soul mates. Anyway, I have never done it...haha! What about you??...^^"

We just used to cooked our favourite food and celebrate!!

What are you cooking today for the celebration? In our Chinese tradition, we used to eat the sticky rice ball (tang yuan) on this day but I've forgotten bout that and replaced it with this Sticky Rice instead.

One of my mom's recipe which I love so much!

Ingredients:

300g Glutinious rice (soaked for 1-2 hours and drained)

10 shallots (diced)

2 stalks chinese sausages (lap-cheong) (cut into small pieces)

6 chinese mushrooms (soaked, diced)

50g dried shrimps (soaked)

3 pieces dried beancurd (diced)

100ml water (may need more or less to just enough to cover the rice)

** rosted peanuts (garnished)

Seasoning:

1 tbsp oyster sauce

1 tbsps chicken stalk powder

little sugar and salt to taste

2 tsps light soy sauce

1 tbsp dark soy sauce

***Ingredients & seasoning are up to individual whether you prefer a stronger taste of mushrooms or chinese sausages.

Method:
~ Saute the shallots until fragnant then add in all the other ingredients (except the rice) and stir fry for awhile.
~ Add in the rice and seasoning and mix well under medium heat.
~ Add in 100ml water and mix well.
~ Transfer the rice into a round pan and steam at medium heat for 30 minutes.
** check if the rice are not well cook, may add alittle more water into the rice and continue to steam
~ Dish up and add some roasted peanuts and serve!!

What's more?! It's more than to serve my whole family as they love this dish so much!
This will only takes you 30 miutes to prepare and another 30 minutes to steam...easy and delicious.

Happy Chap Goh Mei!!

Wedding Cake & Valentine Chocolates

This was what I've been working for...a 3 tiers wedding cake for my dear cousin. Not quite satisfied with the final touched but it was all going quite well with the right taste..;p

The recipe of the cakes I've used here was my favourite Chocolate moist cake that is in my top list!

Please refer to the cake recipe here!

I've added fillings to the cake too (scroll down for the fillings recipe) Then the coating was just a simple Chocolate ganache ( Chocolate & cream)

 The flowers was done earlier and were packed (as shown below) for her to keep as souvenir.

Recipe for the cake fillings:
4 tbsps cornflour
1.5 cups evaporated milk
1 cup condensed milk
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tbps butter

~ Cook the above ingredients in a pot over double boiler till spreading consistency.My next project,,,,tthe Valentine Chocolates for friends!!

Googled this recipe and I love it so much! It's so simple and it can be done even though you don't even know how to cook!!

Fillings:
100g icing sugar
2 tbsps rapsberry flavors (any flavors you desire)
1 tbsp butter
~ Mix all ingredients together and make into small little balls, set aside.

Coating:
~ Melt 300g good quality dark chocolates over double boiler (I used Beryl's dark chocolate)

Making the Chocolates:
~ Brush alittle melted chocolate at the bottom of each mold to avoid any bubbles.
~ Spoon a small amount of melted chocolate into the mould then put the fillings in the middle
~ Spoon more melted chocolate to cover the mould.
~ Keep in the fridge for about 10-15 mins. Remove the set chocolates from the mould and you'll have a pretty yummy chocolates!!

Happy Valentine!!!

My Christmas Bakes

Hi! Christmas is around the corner, and this year I've baked some cookies and cakes that my family requested to celebrate with. What's more....the most delicious homemade Chocolate Bars and my not-to-miss Brandy Fruit Cakes!! These 2 recipes are the MUST in the menu. With only 2 recipes are not enough to serve my wonderful guess this year so I've added a cut-out Icing Cookies from Nigella Lawson and a simple yet yummy cooling Beer look alike Apple Juice Jelly from Anncoo Journal. Thanks Ann for sharing this simple and yummy dessert..:))

First, the cut-out Cookies (Recipe by Nigella Lawson) Here I've posted for my own reference.

 Ingredients for cookies dough:
90g butter
100g castor sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
200g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp fine salt

 Ingredients for icing:
150g icing sugar
food colouring
1-2 tbsps warm water

Method:
~ Cream butter and sugar together until light and pale
~ Add in egg and vanilla and beat well.
~ Add in flour, baking powder and salt and form into a soft dough.
(If dough is too sticky, may add alittle more flour but take note that too much flour may cause the dough tough)
~ Wrap with clingfilm and fridge for at least 1 hour.
~ Sprinkle some flour on surface and roll out dough to a thickness about 0.5cm
~ Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter and place them on to the prepared tin lined with parchment paper.
~ Bake at 180'C for 8-12 mins or until the edge of the cookies turn alittle brown.
~ Cool the cookies completely on a wire rack.
~ Add 1 -2 tbsps water slowly (may not need all) to the icing sugar and mix well until gets a thick paste.
~ Add in desire colour and mix well. Pipe onto cooled cookies and let it set.

I've used colour paste instead of liquid for the icing, for it has mentioned that paste colours don't dilute the icing as they tint.

Secondly, the Brandy Fruit Cake that I've always baked for the Chinese New Year. Please find the recipe here.

It has been my must-bake recipe every year. You can always ignore the brandy if you don't take alchohol.

It's such a wonderful gift for friends and relatives during any festive. And it can be kept in the fridge for few months if wrap properly with aluminium foil and store in an airtight container.

Third, the Chocolate and Nuts Bars. It has been quite some time since I made this. This is 1 of the top recipes in my list. Want it, get it here.

This bars can be kept in the fridge for many months but I'm sure they cannot stay long in your fridge..haha!

Last but not least, the bear look alike Apple Juice Jelly (recipe from Anncoo Journal)
please refer to her blog for recipes.
Thank you again, Ann, for this wonderful recipe!

They do look like beer and I've fooled my sister when she came visit just now..LOL!!
They are so tasty and my daughter has requested it again on Christmas day..:))

Cheers!

Super Moist Chocolate Cake

Back to my cake post...;p

If you are a chocolate lover, this is a good one for you. Smooth and rich with chocolate cream...VOILA! A super moist chocolate cake for the beginning of the week. 

A fudge cake covered with chocolate cream and mouth watering moist texture of the cake, this is so far a good one after all the chocolate cake I've tried.

It has occupied the first position in my top 10 best chocolate cake now!

 Ingredients for the cake:

1 1/3 cups warm water
3/4 cup Belgium cocoa powder

1 3/4 cup cake flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/4 tsp fine salt

3/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cup castor sugar
3 eggs (size B)

Method:
~ Combine cocoa powder with warm water. Set aside.
~ Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
~ Beat butter and sugar till light and fluffy.
~ Add in eggs, one at a time.
~ Add dry ingredients mixture alternately with cocoa mixture. Always start and end with dry ingredients.
~ Pour into prepared tin. (3 small rectangular loaf tins or a 9" round pan)
~ Bake at 180'C for 30 minutes or until done.

Ingredients for the frosting:
110g Hersley's cooking chocolate bar (semi-sweet with 65% cocoa)
4 tbsps cornflour
1 tbsp condensed milk
1 1/2 cup fresh milk
2 tbsps butter

Method:
~ Mix the above ingredients in a saucepan and cook over a double boiler till spreading consistency.

Cool the cake and cover with frosting. Best serve with a cup of long black (my favourite)..haha!
Don't worry about the sugar or the condensed milk used here, the sweetness of the cake is just nice.

Cheers!

Butter Banana Cake

Hey there, how are everyone doing? We are facing a seriously hazy weather in Malaysia. Hope everyone is alright and take care, especially the young kids, old folks and expected mothers. Drink more water, take more fruits and vegetables and stay indoors as you can.

Bake some simple yummy cakes for tea or breakfast like what I just did.....^^

A buttery banana cake!!

Ingredients:
250g butter
180g sugar
3 eggs
300g bananas (mashed)
1tbsp lime juice
300g self raising flour
4 tbsps milk powder

Method:
- Mix the flour and milk powder together.
- Beat butter and sugar till light and pale.
- Add in eges one at a time.
- Add in masged bananas , mix well.
- Add in lime juice follow by the flour mixture at low speed.
- Pour mixture into a 9" ring pan and bake at 160'C for 45 minutes.

 Texture was very good, it stays soft up to 3 days. I like this so much compare to those with cornoil.
My family loves this recipe and they even ask me to bake again!!

From the pictures above you can see the texture clearly, soft and fluffy right?
Oh...the side was crispy too, of course getting softer another day but it still good!
Hope you all like this too!!

Cheers!!

Chilled Oreo Cheese Cake

It's a great day with good mood because my stress has finally over!!!..haha!! Why?! Maybe you'll say I'm crazy....:p It was a "stress off" day just because my daughter's school exam has finally over...LOL!! It seems like I'm the one who is sitting for the exam huh!! Anyways, all done and I can relax and start to bake alittle more and go shopping!!

Here the first cake after the stressful days....an Oreo Cheese Cake for a dear friend's son's birthday.

We had a simple but a very happy and relax celebration for the boy....:))

Very creamy and delicious, and most of the kids asked me whether it's an ice-cream cake!! So you can imagine how's it taste like. It does taste exactly like the McDonald's Oreo Mcfluffy!! The kids love it!!

Here'e the recipe,

Ingredients for the crust:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup fine sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 egg (size B)
3/4 cup plain flour
1/3 cup wholemeal flour
3 tbps ground oreo biscuits
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

- Beat butter, sugar and vanilla essence together till well mix.
- Add in egg and mix well.
- Add in the rest of the ingredients and beat well.
- Press into a 6" round ring pan.
- Bake at 180'C for 20-25 miunutes or till done. Set aside till cool.

Ingredients for the filling:
1 tbsp gelatine + 1/4 cuphot water
375g cream cheese
1/2 cup condensed milk
1 cup dairy cream
3 tbsps ground oreo biscuits

- Mix gelatine with water then bring to double boil until the gelatine are all well melted. Set aside.
- Beat cream cheese, condensed milk and cream till smooth.
- Add cooled gelatine and beat in ground oreo biscuits.
- Pour into the cooled crust and refrigerate till firm.
- Decorate with oreo biscuits at the side and top as you desire.

The picture of the sliced cake was not too clear and it was almost melted by the time we cut the cake. So it is the best to serve right after taking out from the fridge. Hope you guys like it ya!

Cheers!!

The Wedding Cakes

Hi everyone..I'll like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and good health in this "U-LA-LA" snake year...^^

I've been missing since last November...LOL, busy with the holidays and now busy with my daughter's school scedule and Chinese New Year cookies. Bet everyone are facing the same stress here...huh!! What cookies to bake this year, things are not ready and time has been running out...gosh! Anyway, after these busy weeks, we'll have a fun holiday again and when that comes, time flies...happy moments are always too short...;p

Alright now, before any cookies (btw, I'm only going to make some old traditional cookies like last year) here are two different wedding cakes I've done last December.

The first one here are was 5 tiers wedding cake for a good friend (she's a local artist). All were styrofoam covered with white vanilla fondant and 99 gumpaste purple tone roses. This cake was delivered to the beach which took me almost two hours to reach and was too heavy for me to carry...haha! Anyway, it was delivered in good condition...No CRACKS!!.."phew"

The second one, this was only a small 8" butter cake covered with vanilla white fondant and  two cute chinese wedding couple sitting on the cake. Simple one, for my dearest cousin brother's wedding. Yeah, they love it!!
My finishing was still very rough, guess I still need alot lot more practice.

The idea of these two couples came from my friends, my dear old school mates, whom now doing their home bake business in Australia. Thanks my dear friends!!

Now, I'll like to end here, and wish everyone has a wonderful Chinese New Year celebration!!

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Cheers!!

Cakes for him.....Pandan Layered Cake & Tiramisu

It was my husband's birthday 2 days ago, and we had a great celebrations on his big day. I've made 2 different birthday cakes for him...one "Pandan Layered Cake" for the family celebration in the morning and another "Tiramisu" to celebrate with his friends at night. Both cake were well received and they were gone on the day itself..:)

First, the Pandan Layered Cake. It was my first attempt and I had a good praise by my hubby. He loves the cake and took 2 big pieces right away. It was not that difficult as I thought though...^^

 The recipe:
(A)
2 egg yolks
60g cake flour
35g sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 pandan essence
1/2 tsp baking powder
40ml thick coconut milk
1/4 cup corn oil

(B)
2 egg whites
35g sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar

(C)
500g thick coconut milk
35g brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 egg
50g Hun Kwee flour
1 tsp agar agar powder

~ Cook till thicken!

Method:
~ Mix ingredients (A) together with a whisk and keep aside.
~ Beat ingredients (B) till fluffy and firm.
~ Gently fold in (B) into (A). Mix well.
~ Bake in and ungreased 7" round tin at 180'C for 25-30 minutes.
~ Sliced cake into 3 to 4 layers and topping each layer with hot frosting (C)
~ Cover the whole cake with the hot frosting (C) and sprinkle with some desiccated coconut.
~ Chilled the cake before serving.

I didn't do a good job slicing the cake properly. So you can see the thickness of each cake was uneven here.
Anyway, he didn't notice that...LOL!!

Then I was told that he'll be celebrating with his friends at night too. Without any hesitation, a Tiramisu was the most simple one to bake...hehe! So the cake was completed in 2 hours time and I'm off to the hair saloon to beautify myself for the night...hahaha!!!
If you like this Tiramisu, please refer to my older post here.

Cheers!!

Let's Celebrate!!

It's my friend's son's 2nd birthday, and I'm so glad that I have the chance to bake him some cakes!

I actually have this opportunity to bake him birthday cakes since he was born..how lucky I am!!Yes...I've baked him 3 times birthday cakes and I admit only the 2nd and the last one were nice...;p

Here's the 1st one....a Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Cake. A not so nice cake which is alittle dry and the piping...oh dear...it was so ugly! When I was doing this I was so frustrated and feel like throwing the cake away...LOL!! Since it was not that nice, so I'm not posting the recipe here.

Anyway the cream was wonderful! I've made this Swiss Meringue Buttercream for the piping which was strongly recomended by dear Wendy (table for 2). Thanks Wendy!!

 Have a look at the cake...it was rough and dry..:(
I'll make some changes when I bake this again, and I'll definitely with share the recipe if it's good.

 The 2nd one...some Valrhona Chocolate cupcakes for him to celebrate with his school mates.
Not much decorations, just some fondant animals cut out from my cookie cutters..:)

 These were well received by his teachers and friends!! I'm glad with that..^^

 The 3rd...this was GOOD!! This was made for his actual birthday which we celebrated at his house. Everybody likes it so much and I'm so happy with all the compliments.
It's a Valrhona Chocolate sponge + Plain yogurt sponge cake sandwiched with fresh strawberry cream and a very very simple decoration!

 For the sponges recipe, please refer to my old sponge cakes recipes. I just twist and turn the recipe and added different kind of flavours in it.
I've blended some fresh strawberries and added into the dairy whipping cream for the cake. Then covered the whole cake with the plain whipped cream.

 It was 5 layers and alittle too tall...haha! So the cake was brought to his house without any boxes...;p
Soft sponges with not so sweet texture...yummy!!

 Have a look inside the cake, don't it look soft and fluffy?.....^^
I'll make this again for my daughter coming birthday, hope she won't complain why there's no castle or princess on the cake this year...hehehe!

 I actually wanted to make a nice fondant cake for his 3rd celebration, but my friend said she prefered a simple sponge cake instead. So this cake were made by her request.

Happy Birthday Royden!!