bread pudding

hmm i thought this has to do with bread so, here goes:

4 eggs
1 bottle of milk
1 packet of cream
butter
170g sugar
icing sugar
and of course...bread

first, glaze the surface of a bowl with butter. this prevents the bread pudding from sticking to the sides.
next, into another bowl add the eggs, milk, cream and sugar into the bowl and whisk/stir the ingredients.
then, dip the sliced bread in that mixture and transfer into another bowl for baking. pour the remaining pudding mixture into the bowl, stop when you have almost covered the top layer of bread.
sprinkle icing sugar on the surface of the bread pudding, then put to bake in the over at 160 C for 30-40 minutes.

serve while hot

the amazing cheesecake

well, this is another idea from my all-time favourite culinary show on Astro TV - Made To Order.

if i remembered correctly, it involves using cheesecake then rolling it into tiny ball-like sizes. (it could be just cheeseballs, improvise! )
after that, coat the cheeseballs with a layer of crushed nuts.
arrange on a plate and sprinkle with a mixture of green tea powder and icing sugar
simple. bingo. lovely dessert

p/s: anybody knows the name for the method of cooking with acid, as in that from lime or other citrus fruits?

coffee with soda

another whacky go on how to enjoy your espresso

you'll need a cup of 'double espresso', and also sugar syrup.

you can make your own sugar syrup by mixing equal parts of sugar and water, then heat the mixture and stir till homogeneous. you can add flavours like vanilla or cinnamon by adding them while cooking the sugar syrup. after you get a homogeneous solution, remove from heat and chill till needed.

as for the coffee with soda, into a cup filled with ice cubes( cup size about 300-400ml):
first add the double espresso
next, add about 30ml of sugar syrup
finally, top up with soda
give it a light stir and voila!

there's another idea using this same similar concept - sweetened coffee with vodka
to make the sweetened coffee, well, it's just adding sugar to a strong-flavoured coffee, and stir. leave to chill.
(there's an extra step to coat the drinking tip of the glass with sugar and a pinch of ground coffee..just for kicks)

into a glass, pour the sweetened cofee in first till about two thirds the final amount of the drink. then, pour in the vodka using the "layering" method. you simpy don't pour vodka into the coffee directly but instead, pour onto the back of a spoon and control it such that it flows in from the walls of the glass. you should see a distinct black and transparent layer. =)

sinful, ain't it?

mushroom tarts

this sounds like the simplest yet most creative idea for a starter cum CNY. hehe.

the concept:

imagine an egg tart
instead of egg, you stir-fry some mushrooms and serve it using the tart pastry
just put small portions into each tartlet

this is going to be whacky... CNY in one month's time! i should think of more ideas

when coffee and mangoes meet

this idea totally blew me off my seat when i watched it on tv. all you need is:
half a mango
double shot espresso or any coffee of choice
ice cubes
one chilli (make it a red hot one)

you only need about one 'shot glass' ( i don't know the correct name) of espresso. pour into cocktail glass.
then, into the blender, add the ice, mango, and chopped chilli. mix the contents. the amount of ice needed is about that to fill up the cocktail glass.
once this is done, pour contents of blender into the glass with the espresso.
pour with the direction of container facing yourself.

honestly, i am totally amazed by this combination. really whacky and best of all, really easy!

chocolate sauce

chocolate bars/chunk (1 bar...about 300g?)
butter (about 100g)
icing sugar (about 100g)
4 teaspoons of milk

mix all ingredients into a bowl.
heat over boiling water (you know..like a boiling water bath set-up)
after about 1 minute, remove bowl and stir contents.
repeat till you get a smooth sauce
do not heat too long or the cocoa will 'split'

pina colada

thought that this cocktail is simple yet interesting enough

pineapple juice
rum/whisky
cream of coconut (santan)
sweetened condensed milk

blend the above ingredients with ice.
serve with cherry =)

baking bread with a microwave

first, add 75 ml of milk and 8g of unsalted butter to a alarge heat-resistant mixing bowl
microwave it on high for 30 seconds
Next, whisk until completely blended

Add salt, sugar, and bread flour
mix well and add the remaining flour (65g)
mix well and put into microwave for 30 seconds
With this, the first fermentation is complete

Next place it on the chopping board and divide it
Cover the dough with cooking paper and a wet cloth,
and leave it for 10 minutes

Press with your fingers, and put in microwave for 30 seconds on low
Sprinkle it with sesame seeds, cover with the cooking paper and wet cloth, and let it rise.
With this the second fermentation is complete
Next, just bake it at 200C in the oven

With this, it's complete!

Japan #2 - baking with a electronic rice cooker

courtesy of Yaktate! Japan
How to make Japan #2

Ingredients
Bread Flour 350g
Butter 21g
Sugar 21g
Milk 35cc
Water 180cc
Dry yeast 5g
Salt 6.5g

1. mix ingredients in cooking container
2. knead the ingredients
3. then add the butter
4. knead it some more, thoroughly
5. when it no longer feels sticky, shape it so that it's round
6. leave it in a warm place for 60 minutes (primary fermentation)
7. then the dough will 'rise'. next, you have to get rid of the extra gas.
( don't grind it with your fist! all you need to do is drop it from a height of 50cm)
8. once you've released the gas, start the secondary fermentation. leave it for 60 minutes
9. then, switch on the button on the rice cooker. now, you're finally baking it.
10. after about 60 minutes in the rice cooker, one side will be baked. turn it over, and cook it again.

then, once that's done, turn it over once more and cook it once again.
after 3 rounds, you're done!

just a little work and you can have a freshly baked, fluffy fluffy Japan #2!
adding eggs or green tea to suit your taste isn't a bad idea too!

durban curry

something i picked up from watching Floyd on Discovery Travel & Living

1. to a big pot, add oil and throw in loads of diced onions/shallots =)
2. next add in the mutton
3. add lots of diced tomatoes
4. add 1 bowl each of diced/minced garlic and ginger
5. add the curry powder. you decide how hot you want your curry to be
6. throw in some cinnamon bark/sticks
7. allow ingredients to simmer in closed pot for 30 minutes
8. add potatoes, coriander and curry leaves. cook for another 5 minutes
9. food is served

note that no water is required for the entire process... the curry sauce is made from the juices of the tomatoes and the mutton

Bon appetit!

baking music

this is a side project revolving around food and music and how it affects my daily life
look forward to yummy days ahead =)