Strawberry Raisins Loaf

Almost everyday my daughter has been asking me to bake some bread for her. Yeah....she loves bread. Actually all members of my family love bread. Instead of buns now, i've been trying to bake a bread loaf for her this time. I can't remember when was the last time i baked bread loaf, cause everytime was a failure...:(
Well, i've came across an easy recipe from my favourite bread book, "Bake with Yen".
Its original recipe was just a plain raisins bread but my daughter wants some strawberry bread...hmm....really cracking my head. See, i'm a little nervous whenever i make bread..;p
So worry that i'll fail...haha!



Anyway to satisfy her, I'll try out something i never done before. I think all mothers out there will do whatever they can to please their love ones...;)
Then...here it goes...

Ingredients:
400g Bread flour
16g Milk powder
10g Instant yeast
55g Sugar
6g Salt
25g Egg
220g Cold water
60g Unsalted butter
300g Raisins
*Few drops of Strawberry Flavour

Method:
~ Mix all ingredients together except butter, raisins and strawberry flavour.
~ Knead the dough about 15 minutes until its smooth, then add butter
~ Continue to knead until gets a smooth and elastic dough. (about 15-20 minutes)
~ Add in raisins and knead gently making sure not to crush the raisins.
~ Transfer the dough into an airtight container and proof for 90 minutes.
~ Divide the dough into 2 portions, add a little of the strawberry flavour in one of the dough and knead gently.
~ Round up the dough and then press down and roll the dough with a rolling pin.
~ Put the strawberry dough on top of the plain raisins dough.
~ Roll it up like a swiss roll, and mould it firmly with your fingertips into a cylindrical shape the length of the baking tin.
~ Proff the dough again for another 90 minutes with the tin cover.
~ Remove the tin cover and brush with egg wash before baking
~ Bake at 200'C for 25-30 minutes until the top turns golden brown.

** The dough must be moulded tightly with an even pressure without damaging the gluten matrix.
** It should be placed in tins with the seam at the bottom to allow the dough to expand fully.

Note here my bread size is rather flat, heehee! This was because i just make half portion of the recipe. As i said i'm so worry that i'll fail...so just half portion for a try.

And the result...yummy! Another success!!

My Style...

Last Saturday we had a steamboat gathering at friends house....it was so fun and we ate alot! You know, alittle of this and a little of that, makes alot. As you can see the picture below....the table was full of food, and its only part of it... It seems there are no space for our serving bowls...heehee! Yes, there were 2 pots of soup...one was just chicken stock, and the other was 'tong yum'....;p As I sat right infront of the pot, what else can i do...haha! That will be EAT n EAT...;p


At the end of the dinner, we were too full and quite alot of food left. So each of us took some home...just to clear it off. I took quite alot of prawns home......until today, i finally came up with a recipe. Actually it was suppose to be 'Indian Rojak Dumpling' but i don't really like the bean sprouts in it. So i totally change the whole recipe into 'My Style'...heehee! Here it goes....

Ingredients:

(A)

200g Self-raising flour

1/2 tsp Baking powder

1/2 tbsp Custard powder

Salt to taste

Dash of Pepper

about 200ml Water (add slowly into the flour mixture till it becomes a thick batter)

(B)

Prawns - whole (removed shells)-amount as your wish

2 Onions (chopped)

1stalk Spring onions (chopped)

1 Red chillies (chopped)

Method:

~ Mix all the flour ingredients together, add in salt and pepper. Add in water slowly and stir well.

~ Pour in all chopped ingredients in (B) and mix well.

~ Heat oil for deep frying. Scoop in a spoonful of batter and pour into the hot oil.

~ Deep fry until golden brown on both sides, removed and cool on the rack.

~ Serve warm with prefered chilli sauce.

For my dipping sauce here....i tried with a little Thai Style, yet its not totally Thai...haha! Its my way.....

2tbsps Plum sauce

2-3 tbsps sugar

2 pips Garlic (minced)

2 Red chillies (chopped)

1 tbsp Lemon juice

** Add more sugar if you find its too sour

** Add more chilli or chilli padi if you want more hot and spicy sauce

Method:

~ Cook all ingredients together until the sauce alittle thickens.

All nicely packed for friends...;p..Hope they like it!

A Dream Comes True.....

Never dream of having awards in my blog. I've just started blogging for only 3 months plus, and i always find my blog is rather dull.....that was what my sister used to comment...;p
When my very dear friend, "honeybeesweets" awarded me with this "kreativ award", my reaction was...Oh My God!..stunt!! I'm very very nervous and at the same time very very happy...:)
So i take this apportunity to thank her.."Thank you so much BB, i'm really speechless and to thank you more, i'll bake/cook more for you and your family." And i hope my recipes are as interesting as yours...;p

Okay, it seems that i have to follow the rules here....

1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who has nominated you for the award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.

5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

7. Leave a comment on which of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated

About myself....

~ Born in Malaysia, grew up in a small town named Seremban.

~ Love to eat...that is the most important one. Love all kinds of food especially spicy ones.

~ I love music, most of them are classical, yes, i do play piano and alittle violin.

~ Love to travel. I'll go anywhere that i can afford to.

~ Like to talk...i can chat for hours...;p

~ Shopping..i can shop right from the shops open till it close!!

~ And baking / cooking....like to spend time in my kitchen...so i used to call it my "HQ".

About the blogs nomination....

Well, i don't really browse into other bloggers that often. But i do have a few in mind which i really admire...

* Elyse's Confectionery Creations.... ineteresting with the western recipes

* Baked Perfection.... all the cupcakes...love it!

* Tan Kitchen.... all the Thai Cruisines....

I hope i didn't break the rules here, since it said i have to nominate 7 other kreativ Bloggers.

I have only started blogging for that short period of time...so please forgive me!

Lastly, i'll like to thank "honeybeesweets" again for giving me this special award that i never dream of. It really makes "MY DREAM COMES TRUE".....

I really appreciate it...Thank you!