Easy Hokkaido Cupcakes

Hokkaido Cupcakes are very popular now, because the texture is light and cottony.
Initially I thought it is hard to bake, so I grabbed the opportunity to learn at The Baking Studio. After the 2 hours workshop, I realized it is actually very easy to make, and now I know why it's called Hokkaido Cupcake. You want to know the answer?

Actually this cupcake is originally from Malaysia. Why Hokkaido? As this cupcake has cream filling and icing sugar topping, it signified ice mountain in Hokkaido.

To date, this is my third batch and always successful. This recipe is definitely a keeper.

Ingredients:
(A)
3 Egg Yolk
20g Sugar
Pitch of salt
35g Canola Oil or Corn oil
60g Skimmed Milk or Full Cream Milk (room temperature)

(B)
3 Egg White
1/4 tsp cream of Tartar
40g caster sugar

70g Cake Flour or Top Flour

(Topping/filling)
100g Whip Cream
Icing sugar

Method:
1. Preheat oven at 180 degree.
2. Combine A in a bowl. Mix well.
3. Whisk B till soft peak.
4. Sift cake flour into A mixture. Mix well.
5. Add 20% B to egg yolk mixture, fold well.
6. Pour egg yolk mixture to remaining egg white mixture. Fold well.
7. Pour batter into paper cups, 3/4 full.
8. Bake for 20-30 minutes till surface golden brown.
9. Cool the cakes.
10. Whisk cream and pipe into cakes. Sprinkle with icing sugar.

Steam Pandan Cupcakes with Palm Sugar

I have never steamed any cake in my entire life. Reason being: I always hear my mom said it is hard to steam a "笑"(top raise and open)steam cake. That is why it take me so long to steam any cake. This month, I finally pick up the courage, I tell myself: I must try at least once.

Last week, I steamed my first cake. It was, as expected, a failure. The cake didn't raise, and sink in at the centre. Guessed the main reason is I open the cover to check with a skewer, it did not come clear, so I let it steam for another 15 minutes, and the more I checked the worst it looked.

This time, I read more posts on how to steam cake, and pick up tips here and there. As usual, I modified to a simpler version. The recipe that I followed mainly from HERE.

Although this time, the cakes did not "笑", but they are all cooked. Texture is soft and spongy. I am quite happy with the result.

Ingredient: (make 5 cupcakes)
120g Self Raising Flour
50g sugar
100g hot water
1/2 tsp pandan paste
1/2 tsp baking powder
20g canola oil
1 egg
Some palm sugar

Method:
1. Add sugar to hot water. Stir to melt sugar. Let cool.
2. Add pandan paste to sugar water, stir well.
3. Sift flour and baking powder in a mixing bowl.
4. Add sugar mixture, oil and sieved beaten egg.
5. Mix till all incorporated.
6. Fill each cup 1/3 full, sprinkle some palm sugar, and top up to 3/4 full.
7. Steam over medium heat for 45 minutes.
8. Let cool and serve.

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #25 - Steaming Hot Cakes (November 2012) hosted by Miss B of Everybody Eats Well in Flanders.

Exclusive offer: Crabtree & Evelyn freebies!

Planning to shop for X'mas present? Why not get Crabtree & Evelyn gift set and products? You not only get something for someone, you will get some freebies for yourself!
Head down to any of the following 3 stores, simply quote "Blog Exclusive" to receive a Mini Body Care Gift Set(Bath Gel & Body Lotion) with any purchase!

Valid only at: Suntec City Mall #01-129/The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands #B2-16A/The Centrepoint #01-12A.
Limited to the first 100 customers per store, while stock last. Valid with in-store Gift with Purchase. Redemption is limited to one set per customer.

And if you and your little one like Hello Kitty, spend a minimum of $500 nett purchase in a single receipt, and you will receive Limited Edition Scented Rosewater & Iris Hello Kitty English Floral Princesses!

Promotion is from 14 to 18 Nov 2012 only! Redemption is limited to one set per customer. So hurry, be the first to have these cute hello kitty!

Crabtree & Evelyn X’mas Food Collections!

  

I always like Crabtree & Evelyn products, regardless of their hand creams or bath items. And during X'mas season, I will sometimes receive their food collection from friends. The packaging are always so pretty and value for money, no wander I always see shoppers queue outside their stores even way before X'mas season.

Every year, Crabtree & Evelyn will launch their limited edition X'mas collections, from food to personal care gift ideas. This year, if you are looking for some food items to give, I would like to suggest the following:

- Musical Tin with Mini Jelly Babies, $35 (top centre)
I always like musical box and I like the idea of musical tin. This 2 in 1 gift tin, not only give your sweet tooth friends or little one something to munch, and the Xmas jingles also set them in a joyful mood, not just during the season but all year round. I am going to buy one for myself! ;)

- Mini Biscuits, $60 (top right)
If you like their cookies, you can buy this 6 different cookies in 1 box gift box for yourself and serve your visitors! If you have many foodie friends, you can give each of them 1 tin of cookies! Or if you have gift exchange party, you can take out 2-3 tins of cookies for gift exchange! Each box consists of Double Chocolate Chip Biscuits, Traditional Shortbread, White Chocolate & Raspberry Biscuits, Strawberries & Cream Biscuits, Chocolate Chip Shortbread and Lemon & White Chocolate Biscuits, each tin 100g.

If you are Crabtree & Evelyn VIP, get ready to go down to any of their stores on 14 to 15 Nov 2012, to be the first to preview the sets and enjoy 30% off on all regular-priced items.
If you are not their VIP, you can also enjoy 20% off on all regular-priced items if you go down to any of their stores on 16-18 Nov 2012.
On top of that, there will also be special deals on selected items during the X'mas 2012 preview!
So, do plan early, get ready to queue and get what you want to buy for X'mas!

P.S: check out HERE for some suggestion on their X'mas personal care collection. The Christmas 2012 Collection will be available for sale from mid-November 2012 onwards.

Review: 1128 and Nassim Hill

If you like your beer fresh, I strongly recommend you to have it in 1128 and Nassim Hill(Tanglin Post Office building). 1128 is world first flagship Grimbergen Bar, serves 3 style of Grimbergen beer on tap: Blanche, Blonde and Ambree. Why 1128? That was when the Belgium beer was founded.

I especially like the Blanche(6% alcohol content), very light and fresh and chill at the right temperature. $10 nett, 250ml.
And it's best to go with the finger food here! Forget about French fries and nachos but please say yes to crispy chicken skin($10) and chicken liver stir-fry($12 nett) here.
I know they are sinful and fattening but I can't help eating them non-stop.
The crispy chicken skin reminded me of Popeye fried chicken minus the meat, so crispy, seems "fat-free"(trying to console myself) and so addictive!
The chicken liver is my all time favourite! It reminded me of the 沙煲猪肝, minus the gravy. The ginger sweet sauce give a nice taste and aroma, and its so irresistible.
The beer also play a big part in the "enjoying" process, as it helped to wash down the greasiness and sinfulness.

If you want to have a proper meal, you can proceed to Nassim Hill for nice lunch or dinner. Here also serve Grimbergen Beer, plus nice bread and western food.
I recommended Nonya beef Tenderloin Curry($20nett), serve with baguette.

Address: 56 Tanglin Post Office. Tel: 68341128
Opening Hour for 1128: Tues-Sunday 4pm-1am. Closed on Monday.

Simple and Easy Butter Cake

Last week, we visited my brother's family in Brunei. I wanted to bake cake for them (as they have not tried my cake yet), and my sis in law requested butter cake. So I quickly looked for a easy to make cake recipe that require basic ingredients and go to their supermarket to buy the ingredients.

During the making process, my nephew was there to help and eagerly waiting for the cake to be ready. He complaint that the cakes that he baked was always not successful. I was very happy that he share the same interest, and was with me throughout the making process.

He was so happy when he saw that the cake was raised nicely and it was warm and soft inside and crispy outside when he had the first bite after removed the cake from the oven. Other family members like it too, including my mom.

He said that he's proud to be part of it and he will bake for us next time when we meet. :)

Ingredients:

75g butter, softened

60g sugar

1 egg

1 cups self-raising flour (or all-purpose and add 4 tsp baking powder)

1/2 cup milk

Method:

1. Cream the butter and sugar.
2. Add egg and beat.
3. Add flour and mix. Then some milk. Then some flour. Then some milk. Lastly add the remaining flour.
4. Bake on 180 deg C for approx 30 - 35 mins. 

I baked this in 1 loaf tin. You can bake them in cupcakes too.