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.

Grateful 2011, Welcome 2012!

My colleagues and friends know i am into cooking and baking, so these are some related gifts that I got for this year christmas. Thanks to all my dear friends! ;)

Today is the last day of 2011 and I'm so looking forward to new year 2012! Let 2011 be bygone and welcome 2012! Happy new year to all that read my blog! Although this is a young blog but I get readers from all over the world and Thank you so much for your support!

You have made my days in 2011, and give me drive to be better in 2012. See you soon and hope to see you more in 2012 and wish you peace, health and happiness.

Merry X'mas! Chocolate and Raisin Cookies

Belated Merry X'mas and Happy New Year!! This is what I baked and gave to my colleagues and friends before Christmas. I baked cookies in three batches: first was with chocolate chips, second batch was with M & M(as nose or mouth) and raisins(as eyes) and third batch was using chocolate chips and raisins.

All these are using the recipe I posted earlier.

Besides cookies, I also baked and gave chocolate cupcakes. This time I used another easy chocolate cakes recipe. Will post the recipe later. Stay tune. :)

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

I know what to give to my dear colleagues but still tossing with what type of cookies to bake. As X'mas celebration is just in few days time, I need to look for something easy and quick to make. This recipe does not require mixer and is a one bowl formula!

I did not use wheat flour but self raising flour and it turned out pretty good for my first attempt! Just the right texture, not too hard nor soft. As I added orange zest, it did give a hint of refreshing orange flavor. Guessed my colleagues will like it! Very good recipe to adopt.

Ingredients: (make 44-45 cookies)
2/3 cup brown sugar (I used 1/3 cup)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I used olive oil)
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 large egg
1 cup self Raising flour (sifted-I omitted baking powder and salt)
70gm dark chocolate chips
Zest from 1/2 orange

Methods:
1. Preheat oven to 175 deg C. Lined with cooking sheet.
2. Mix together brown sugar, oil, vanilla essence and egg. When well mixed, add self raising flour and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and orange zest.
3. Scoop small teaspoon of soft dough onto cooking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.
4. Cookies is ready when edge turn slightly brown.
5. Cool on wire rack. Dust with icing sugar.

Although it's not very creative, but it's christmasy. Therefore I have submitted this post to very good recipes white Christmas challenge.

X'mas Orange Yogurt Cupcakes

Wanted to get my mom a X'mas present. Since she likes orange colour and likes to eat orange cake, I decided to make her orange cupcakes. As X'mas is around the corner, I need to look for a easy and fast to make, no mixer required orange cake recipe. Among all that I have searched, this Martha stewart's recipe post is one that fits my requirement:

Ingredients: (make 15 small cupcakes)
1 cup all purpose flour(I used 1/3 cup top flour + 2/3 cup cake flour)
1/2 cup 2 tsp caster sugar (I only used 1/2 cup)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup plain yogurt (equivalent to 1 cup of Meiji low fat plain yogurt)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Zest and juice from 1/2 orange
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla essence

1 orange (segmented)
Icing sugar for dusting

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 175 deg C.
2. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. Pour yogurt, oil, egg, vanilla essence, orange zest and juice in a bowl. Stir well with a whisk.
4. Add sifted dry ingredients gradually till well mixed.
5. Fill each cup 3/4 full. Top with orange segment.
6. Bake for 25 minutes, till skewer comes out clean.
7. Let cool on wire rack.
8. Dust cupcakes with icing sugar.

Verdict: this recipe is good for beginner like me. It did not fail me although it was my first attempt. I modified a little if you compared. I like the soft and moist texture. Will definitely bake this again next time. Hope my mom likes it too.

Although it's not very creative, but it's christmasy. Therefore I have submitted this post to Aspiring bakers: #14: Christmas creative bakes(dec 2011) hosted by hankerie and White Christmas by very good recipes.