Easy One Bowl Banana Marble Cake

My friends were invited to come to my house, and I was kind enough to ask her what cake she wanted to eat at my place. She requested for banana chocolate cake. So I searched around for recipes and tried to bake the week before they were here. It did not turned out well. So I searched around for easy to make banana cake again Before the actual day. After much research, I decided on this recipe. To play safe, I whisk sugar and egg till creamy first before adding the rest of ingredients, and I thought maybe I can add cocoa powder to one potion to create marble effect, in order to meet my friend's requirement: banana + chocolate cake. Hee!

Ingredients: (half the original recipe)
1/4 cup (60g) vegetable oil (I used canola oil)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp double action baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup (80g, original recipe asked for 1/2 cup-120g)icing sugar
3 medium size banana (mashed with fork)
1 cup(235g) top flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp cocoa powder

Method:
1. In a bowl, Whisk sugar and egg till pale and creamy.
2. Add oil, vanilla essence, mashed banana.
3. Sifted in flour, baking powder and baking soda, mix well with salt.
4. Pour half potion in a pan. Add cocoa powder in another potion, mixed well and pour in the pan.
5. Use a skewer to swirl the mixture to create marble effect.
6. Bake in preheated oven at 175deg C for 30-40 minutes.
7. Check using a skewer. If skewer come out clean, removed from oven and cool on rack.

Verdict: my friends liked it! texture is super fine and not dry. Soft and flavourful, will definitely bake it again! :)

Thai Style Pineapple Fried Rice

On the same day I baked banana cake, I also cooked pineapple fried rice for my friends. This is the recipe I get my inspiration from and modified from it.

Ingredients: (for 1 bowl)
2 Garlic (chopped)
3 shallot (chopped)
1 bowl of cooked rice
1 egg
2-3 rings of canned pineapple (cut to cubes)
1 lap cheong (Chinese sausage)
1/4 cup chicken stock
1 small box of raisin
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp fish sauce
Hao chi to taste
1 tbsp Pork floss

Method:
1. Fried garlic and shallot till fragrant.
2. Add sausage and fried till cooked. Push aside.
2. Fried egg, like fried scramble egg and push back garlic and sausage.
3. add stock, fish sauce. Stir well.
4. Add cooked rice, pineapple cubes, raisin and turmeric powder, stir fried for awhile till fragrant and dry.
5. Do tasting, if not enough, add 1/2 tsp Hao chi at a time till ready to serve.
6. Top with pork floss.

Crab Meat with Eggs

That day I bought a packet of crab meat. Initially wanted to cook with packet shark fin soup. But I forgot about the idea after looking through recipes for inspiration. This was the recipe I followed and it reminded me of this Chinese dish I had in Chinese restaurant. I omitted some ingredients and only used crab meat and eggs.

Ingredients:

150g Crab Meat
2 tsp Chinese Cooking Wine
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
3 Eggs
A dash of White Pepper
2 slices of Ginger, finely chopped or minced
3/4 cup Chicken Stock or Water + 1 tsp Corn Flour
1 tsp Sesame Oil
1-2 tsp Soy Sauce

Method:

1. Combine crab meat, Chinese cooking wine, salt, eggs and pepper. Lightly beaten and set aside for 10 minutes.
2. Heat oil on low to medium heat gently fry the egg mixture until lightly firm. set aside. (Do not brown the eggs)
2. Add oil and turn the heat on high, cook ginger briefly. Add chicken stock, soy sauce and sesame oil.
3. Bring sauce to boil and mix in the eggs. Continue cooking and let it simmer on a low heat for a minute.

Osaka Toast

I fell in love with okonomiyaki when I was in Osaka. I had it in a very small shop in a small alley in Osaka. The chef cooked okonomiyaki in front of us the tepannyaki way. The ingredients were fresh, the crust was crispy and the sauce was so flavourful. It was unforgettable. Recently I read a post by carol that replicate okonomiyaki on a toast and I was inspired to follow as I had all the ingredients(i didn't have bacon so i used prawn and I omitted seaweed). It was good but something was missing.. if add okonomiyaki sauce it will be superb! So if You are interested to try, do add the sauce. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients: (for 2 serving)
2 slices of bread
6-8 cooked prawn
60g cabbage (grated)
1 egg
1/4 tsp salt
50-60g mozzarella cheese
Some mayonnaise and bonito flakes

Method:
1. In a bowl put cooked prawn, grated cabbage, egg and salt and mix well.
2. Preheat oven at 200C deg.
3. Top bread with mixed ingredients and mozzarella.
4. Bake in oven for 10-12 minutes till cheese melted.
5. Remove from oven. Squeeze some mayo on top and top with bonito flakes. Ready to serve.

No Fail Red Velvet Cupcakes - 1st attempt

Remembered the first time I had red velvet cupcakes, I thought it was made of cherry (by looking at the colour). From then on, I would choose the red velvet one whenever there were assortment of cupcakes in front of me.
Only recently when I wanted to make some for myself then I realized they are made of chocolate powder and red coloring. I was so wrong. Haha!
I was looking for easy to make and use only 1-2 eggs recipe and this is what I tried. I must say this is a no fail recipe, even though I use whisk instead of electric mixer and I mixed up some steps, the end result was still promising and satisfying-- fluffy and cottony and I liked it!
(below method is my version, see here for original recipe)

Ingredients: (make 7 cupcakes)
60g unsalted butter, room temperature (I used Margarine)
150gm caster sugar (I used 90-100gm)
1 egg
10g cocoa powder
20ml red coloring
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
120ml buttermilk (I used 100ml low fat milk with 1/2 tsp White vinegar, rest for 5 min or more)
1 & 1/2 tsp white vinegar
150gm plain flour (I used cake flour, sifted)
1/2 tsp salt (I omitted as I use margarine and not unsalted butter)
1/2 tsp baking soda

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 170 deg C.
2. Whisk margarine and sugar till slightly pale, creamy and light.
3. Add egg in and mix well.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together cocoa powder, red coloring, vanilla essence and some milk. Whisk till well mixed and no lumps.
5. Add to butter mixture and mix evenly and well colored.
6. Add remaining milk and alternate with cake flour. Mix till everything well incorporated.
7. Add baking soda and vinegar(and salt if you use unsalted butter), continue to stir till well mixed.
8. Fill each cup 3/4 full and bake in preheated oven for 25-30min.
9. Check if skewer inserted in centre come out clear. Once clear, remove from oven and cool on rack.

I am submitting this post to very good recipes-My valentine challenge.

Chicken Pie - 1st attempt

I remembered watching a cooking show in Food Network Channel showing how to make pie by using frozen puff pastry dough. Was amazed that i no need to make the dough from scratch(as i know that i can't master fluffy puff yet) and there's such a puff pastry dough selling in supermarket.
So I looked around for puff pastry dough. And indeed I found in NTUC. That saved me the trouble to make the dough, at the same time I want to know how the ready made dough taste like. After searching around for recipe, I finally decided on this one and modified on it:

Ingredients:
2 potatoes (diced)
50gm frozen mixed vegetable
1/2 chicken breast meat (diced)
1 big onion (diced)
1 can of Campbell Mushroom Potage
1 tsp white and black pepper
Salt for seasoning

Methods:
1. Heat oil and fried diced potatoes with 1/2 cup of water and salt. Fried till potatoes soften. Set aside.
2. Heat oil. Fried diced onion till fragrant and transparent.
3. Add diced chicken meat. Fried till can break up Chicken meat.
4. Add mixed vegetable, fried till well mixed and just soften.
5. Add cooked diced potatoes. add a can of Potage with 1 can of water. Stir constantly and Bring to boil.
6. Add pepper and salt for seasoning.
7. Cook till soup is thickened, set aside and cool.
8. leave overnight in fridge.
9. Thaw puff pastry dough for 2-3 hours.
10. Remove wrap and roll dough to ideal thickness, about 1cm.
11. Cut dough to fit the cupcake mold. Press lightly to fit the molds.
12. Use fork to poke holes on the base and place mixture in.
13. Brush corner with water. Cover with another piece of dough. Use fork to seal the corner.
14. Bake in preheated oven at 180 deg C for 40 minutes.
15. Bake till crust fluff up and golden brown.
16. Let it cool on rack for 5 to 10 minute before serving.

Verdict: this first attempt, to my surprise, turned out quite well! Although my pies are not very pretty, but it really taste quite similar to most chicken pie we had outside. The crust was fluffy too.
For the leftover mixture, I added about 1 cup of water, stirred constantly and bring to boil. And that became our potato and chicken soup for that day.

Green bean soup

Recently ate too much CNY goodies, had slight sore throat. Green bean soup can help to soothe the throat and have detox purpose. So last weekend I boiled green bean soup. Recipe is quite similar to red bean soup:

Ingredients:
90gm green bean (washed)
5 cups of water
70gm of rock sugar
Some pandan sago or pandan leaves (for slight pandan flavor)

Method:
1. Put green bean and water into rice cooker. Set to "cook" mode, Cover lid and simmer.
2. Simmer for 1 hour, Stir occasionally. Cook till green bean soften and break apart and soup turn greenish.
3. Add 1 cup of water and rinsed sago and rock sugar. Stir well and continue to boil till sugar dissolved and sago turn transparent.
4. Put to "warm" mode. Cover lid and continue to simmer.
5. After 15 minute it's ready to serve.

Ah-Balling 团团圆圆

As all know, 汤圆 symbolize 团团圆圆。 not only 冬至 is best to eat 汤圆，CNY is also the best time to have with family and friends.
I used to go Golden Mile Food Centre for Ah-Balling with peanut soup. That day i saw canned peanut soup in supermarket and i thought i can replicate the Ah-Balling I remembered. And with just 2 items, and easy steps, I actually can recreate and replicate this dessert. You can try at home too. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 can of peanut soup (see pic)
1 pkt of glutinous rice ball with black sesame filling(or any filling of your choice)

Method:
1. Boil glutinous rice balls in boiling water till expand and float on the surface. Set aside.
2. Heat peanut soup till boiled. Pour soup on the glutinous rice balls.
3. Ready to serve.

I have submitted this post to Aspiring Bakers #15: Auspicious dishes for CNY(Jan 2012) hosted by wen of Wen's Delight

Yam in red 红运（芋）当头

Every year, My sister will cook 罗汉斋(mixed vegetable) with red fermented beancurd(南乳) and my mom will always cook Braised lotus root with red fermented beancurd for me. So this CNY, I thought of using yam to cook with it. It is very easy to cook and it always taste good. I think the Chinese name is better and it's auspicious. This is the recipe:

Ingredient:
1 cube red fermented beancurd
1/3 yam (cut into chunks)
1 tsp garlic
1 cup chicken stock
100g mince meat
Sugar to taste (optional)

Method:
1. Heat pan with oil. Fried garlic to fragrant.
2. Add fermented beancurd cube and quickly smash it.
3. Add mince meat, cook and stir well.
4. Add yam and chicken stock, stir well. Lower heat and simmer till yam turn soft.
5. Sugar to taste. Ready to serve.

I have submitted this post to Aspiring Bakers #15: Auspicious dishes for CNY(Jan 2012) hosted by wen of Wen's Delight

Yam Rice 好芋（预）头饭

恭喜发财 to all! This is my first post in Feb that is with CNY recipe (Sorry if I have bored you with my emotional post earlier).
I cooked this dish the day before CNY eve for our reunion dinner. I learnt this dish from ”吃饭皇帝大”. This is a very easy, delicious and definitely auspicious dish that can substitute for white rice especially during CNY. Why? In Chinese, yam is 芋头(yu tou), same pronunciation as 预头(luck), so pls enjoy and try at home before and after 15th day of CNY, wish you all year good luck.

Ingredient:
1 & 1/2 cup white rice
1/3 yam (cut to cubes)
2 tbs dried shrimp(chopped lightly)
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 Chinese sausage (lap chiong)(cut to cubes)
2 tbs rice wine
1 tbs dark soy sauce
1 tsp fish sauce
A pitch of pepper

Method:
1. Cook rice in rice cooker.
2. Heat pan/wok. Fried yam (without oil) till golden brown. Set aside.
3. Add oil. Fried chopped garlic and dried shrimp till fragrant.
4. Add sausage cubes and fry well.
5. Add rice wine and stir well.
6. Add dark soy sauce, fish sauce and pepper and stir well.
7. Lastly add yam cubes and stir well.
8. Pour all cooked ingredients into rice cooker and stir immediately into the hot rice. Stir well.
9. Cover cooker lid and continue to warm rice in "warm" mode. After 15 minutes, it's ready to serve.

I have submitted this post to Aspiring Bakers #15: Auspicious dishes for CNY(Jan 2012) hosted by wen of Wen's Delight and very good recipes breakfast challenge.

Poll for 2012: what do you work for?

I have been thinking about my future in 2011.. 2012 keep me thinking about now.. What's next for me? What should I do next? And one question that comes into my mind is: "what do I work for?"
I remembered when I just graduated from school, I wanted to look for a job that I liked(for passion), then when I have my own flat I worked for my goal(earn CPF). Now I work for money to survive.. But do I want to continue this way? Maybe not. But to a few of my close friends out there, they believe that I should work for money and keep encouraging me to stay and work.. And I start to ponder, maybe this is really necessary..
I am looking for an answer .. Pls share with me if you work for: money, goal or passion? Pls participate in the poll on the right and let me know what's the majority. Maybe then I have a clearer picture of what should be my motivation for 2012.
As an appreciation, I will give to 3 lucky readers a box of handmade cookies. One condition: You must leave your comment so that i know you have participated in the poll. Hear from you soon ;)

New year New beginning

I recently subscribed to Food network channel. In most cooking programmes, I have seen all celebrity chefs used a knife-like grater to get orange or lemon zest. It looked so easy, unlike the many graters I bought from Daiso that were hard to get zest out and have to clean the trapped holes like hell.

So on the last day of 2011, few hours before 2012, on my way to Ivin's restaurant for new year gathering, I decided to drop by Tott and get myself this celebrity chef "must have" grater as a reward(no more cleaning like mad in 2012). I got it for $37.

I can't wait to try on 010112. Indeed, it was a breeze! It's so light! And the zest came out so easy and fast and so fine! And the best part is, it did not trap the zest. Just rinsed with water and it was all cleaned!

I am so happy with this new investment! What a good way to start 2012!

1st CNY goodies order.. And more to come

This is my first post in 2012. Goodbye 2011! It seems 2012 is a good year for me. I got more CNY goodies orders and I have a few good 贵人 to keep me positive.

I am very grateful for the good vibes that is coming and I am positive that I will be better in year 2012. better in terms of mood, energy, drive and luck. Hope you feel it too.