Berry day ...

Teehee... I baked a cake today out of boredom!! I remembered buying a kilo of raspberry and blueberries in Perth so I decided to make use of them. Went in search for the perfect cake recipe for these berries and on Taste.com.au, I stumbled upon a Blueberry and Yoghurt cake recipe. 

Ingredients (serves 10)

• 125g butter
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 3/4 cup vanilla yoghurt 
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• Vanilla yoghurt, to serve

* I substituted the vanilla yoghurt for a mixed berry yoghurt (couldn't find any vanilla one's in the mart)*

* Delicious berries from my Aussie trip (I mix them with cereals and muesli as well) *

So, after all the measuring of ingredients, beating, mixing, greasing ...yaadaa..yaadaa...yaadaa... 

* Before baking (I added in some walnuts as well -leftover ones I found in the fridge!) *

Ohh... threw in some leftover chocolate chips as a bonus too!! Cake ain't the same with no chocolate ... Hehe!!

Upon 50 mins of baking in the oven at 350 F, tadaaaa.....(kitchen smells of berries,nuts and cake..Yummy!!) ..

* Mmmm...Couldn't help having a slice of the berrilicious cake!! *

I must admit, I am very pleased with the result of this recipe (kudos to Donna Boyle for the wonderful recipe). Hmmm... what shall I do next? Some cupcakes, maybe? .. 

Baking mania ..

Was on a roll today..tried out 2 different recipes today - Citrus Sour Cream Cake & Chocolate Brownies.

* Looks nice, ey? Used my mum's china for photography purpose ;P *

* The recipe *

* Upclose*

Did a bit of modification of my own, threw in some raisins along with some leftover hazelnuts. Am pretty satisfied with the texture of the cake. >.<

Next, the Chocolate Brownies, which I modified to Mocha Choc Brownies (added in a teaspoon of the aromatic Vietnamese coffee powder) and threw in some leftover macadamia nuts to replace the absence of pecan nuts. Plus, I added in some milk to give it more moisture 'coz brownies can be a bit dry at times.

* Ta da!!! *

Frennies are starting to think that I've gone berserk coz I'm baking everyday. *lolz* Some even thought that I am currently attending some baking class. Oh well! No one knew I had a domestic side until recently. To date, the brownies are my 7th recipe since I started the 'project'.

So, what's next? Carrot cake (for sis to bring back home) and muffins in attempt to use up the leftover ingredients in the refrigerator. Anyways, till then , gota get some beauty sleep...zzzZZz *snores*

P/S: Waist is definitely gaining an inch from all the gluttony indulgence!! @.@

Julie/Julia influence...

Guten tag!! The third week of my unemployment days was filled with a medley of food making sessions. Yes! Again!! Am so hyped with the results from last week's baking session. Mum suggested to try a recipe a day till I start working (not so soon I guess, am currently enjoying myself). Ehhmmm... she has an evil smile plastered on her face. Guess why? She gets to fill her tummy with the fruits of my current 'project' (Julie/Julia's is definite the culprit behind this. Love the book though.*smiles*).

Rambling aside, here are my achievements for the week:

1. Chocolate chip hazelnut cookies:

2. Homemade vanilla ice-cream + mango sorbet:

* Vanilla ice-cream batter *

* The machine (bought 12 years ago from Perth, shared property with my 3rd aunt) *

* Recipe books (think about all the homemade ice-cream at your fingertips) *

* Mango sorbet *

We managed to get a great bargain for the fresh mangoes at Tesco, RM 1 for a bag of 4 mangoes. What a steal, huh? We walloped the 4 remaining bags and hence, the sorbet!!

3. Sambal belacan (credits to yonig, aunt's maid for teaching us the perfect art of belacan making):

* Luv 'em *

4. Pizza, mediteranean style baked potatoes with dill + 'ikan bakar' :

* Homemade tomato base (can also be used for pasta) *

* The toppings - salami, mushrooms, veges, mozarella etc.. *

* The dough *

* Mediteranean-style baked potatoes with dill and cream - DELICIOUS!! *

* The 'ikan bakar' (grilled stingray) with belacan *

** Credits goes to my cousin, K (the chef) for showing us the art of making the perfect pizza dough and tomato base and my sister, for making the potatoes. Poor couzie, K who had two molar tooth removed few hours prior to our pizza making session, could not enjoy the delectable food we made. Still we enjoyed ourselves that night.

5. Mango cheesecake:

Am pretty satisfied with the feedback I got for this cake (FYI, it's my first for cheesecake). Why mango again?? There was just too much leftover mangoes from our Tesco purchase. Loaned the baking tin from my aunt, aka Baking Queen of Nee Yan Garden, with a condition that she gets to try a piece of my mango cheesecake. Talk bout pressure *sweating*!! However, I got a nod of approval from her after she tried a piece of my cake. *jumps with joy* .. OOhhlala!! Not bad for a first timer, eh?

P/S: I did a teensy weensy bit of modification of the recipe by using self-raising flour instead of plain 'ol flour (ran out of it). *laughs*

6. Fruit jelly:

* Yes! It's mango again!!! LOLz *

* Longan jelly *

7. Chocolate chip banana drop scones:

After dinner last night, Mummy was flipping through one of the recipe books and she came across this (below). Ever since I started the food making 'Project', she has been constantly bugging me to make her some scones, which I hesitantly denied. Again! Last night, she actually summoned me to make her some Chocolate Chip Banana Drop Scones for her breakfast. Oh well! Since there were some leftover bananas (plus I was feeling a 'lil bored *grins*), I decided to grant Teh Mummy's wishes. Besides, this was the easiest recipe EVER!! Easy beezyy..Yeehaa!!!

* It's basically pancake!! *

Hmm..you know what? I am definitely enjoying the care-free days, travelling between KL and my hometown. Basically, I am seeking refuge at home (hometown) from the bustling and annoying construction opposite my KL home and when I'm starting to rot, I'll return to my pad in KL to chill and catch-up with frennies and ex-colleagues. I guess I'm actually leading a pretty healthy lifestyle currently - more relaxed compared to the strenuous life before unemployment. Gone are the days of late night partying (well, still do but toned down a lot) and alcohol consumption is at minimal (it's true!!).

^.^

^ Pratha Sunday ..

Waking up on a Sunday morning with period cramps isn't the best thing one looks forward to. After popping two doses of painkiller followed by a good rest, and a hot bath, I felt much better by tea time. Nothing can deter me from making my 'roti pratha' and red curry chicken *grins* . Yeap!! So, it's Indian for dinner..woot~

Btw, the curry was Thai-inspired though because I've been dying to try out the red curry paste, which I previously purchased in Bangkok. Ooo...the paste is just authentic.. Smoking hot!! I love it!! Will definitely be a "must-get" on my next Bangkok trip!! Both me and frennies were sniffing throughout dinner. (Trust me! Really hot!!)

* Red curry chicken *

The 'roti' was actually a ready made pack bought from the supermarket. Quite easy to handle, out from the freezer and into a pre-heated pan for 1 or 2 mins till its nicely done and crispy on the sides. Voila!!

* Roti pratha *

After dinner, Mr. Cramps hit me again (*Why do women have to bear all the pain????@#$%%*). So, I decided to curl up on my bed and finish my recent self-improvement reads, B2B Means Back to Basics by Bill Quain. Pretty insightful, I reckon! No long-winded, boring, granny-ish theories. Pretty direct and straight to the point. I even manage to get a few ideas for my up-coming 'Project'.

* Snitched from my bro's bookshelf ..lolz *

P/S: - Am watching Alice in Wonderland in 3D tomorrow afternoon.. Whoopeee dooo!! *jumps with joy*

Domestic side of me...

One of my recent reads, Julie & Julia (Julie Powell) left me deeply inspired and it struck upon me that I have not been baking for at least 8 or 9 years. Surprise? Yes! I do and know how to use an oven without setting the whole house on fire.

During my high school years, I used to bake occasionally, especially during the festive season. Mum was busy working so I decided to bake my own CNY cakes and cookies back then. Furthermore, most of the time I was alone at home (sis was studying overseas and bro was in college). I guess after that, I was too absorbed into life after high school and work that I pushed this domestic side of me aside.

So, few days ago, I was chilling at home, my sis popped a suggestion out of the blue.."Why don't we bake some cookies and cakes of our own?". Psyched at the thought of a 'project' (or better yet, something to do rather than eating and sleeping), we were flipping through Mum's recipe books at the speed of light (my Mama has a knack for buying tonnes of recipe books just for the fun of it. BUT she never cooks or bakes though she knows how to..*laughs*..that's my mum!).

Hence, recipes of choice (a chocolate cake) - my FAV!!!! and (cookie) - cheddar pennies! :-

Since I saw there were some leftover walnuts, modified the recipe a 'lil by adding in walnuts - Chocolate Walnut Fudge!!

* Spent the morning cracking open these nutties! *

* Main ingredients - eggs, sugar, flour *

* Chocolate & butter melted together *

* Oven preheated at moderate heat (350 Fahrenheit) *

* Voila!! *

Next, cookies time. Another simple recipe - Cheddar Pennies!!

* The recipe *

* Luv 'em! *

Decided to throw in a pic of my Green Curry Prawns (my dinner)..*lolz*... Don't you just love unemployment days? Stress-free, relax, do-wat-u-want days... I love it!!!

Care for a Bobalicious?

I came across this delectable smoothie kiosk, Bobalicious Smoothies (1st Floor, Tropicana City Mall) on my way to catch the movie - Percy Jackson, The Lightening Thief (modernized version movie based on ancient Greek mythology) at GSC cinema. Since we had time on hand, we decided to give it a try.

* CNY Special *

As we were queueing up, I noticed a promotional sign indicating a collaboration with GSC. GSC movie tickets holders are entitled to purchase either a smoothie at a promotional price of RM6 or 2 for RM 10. Not bad, ey? The original price was RM 7 or 8 for a standard flavour Bobalicious. Initial choice was to try out the Tiger special but it was not applicable for the current promotion (Promotion period til 18th March if not mistaken). Hence, I had the Soursop de Guava while ex-coll, Mr J, had Mango Passionfruit.

* Mango Passionfruit *

* Soursop de Guava *

A healthy indulgence, I reckon! You can have the choice of low fat milk or fresh milk, with/ without cream, boba (black pearls) or Nate de Coco. Basically, it's like the ever popular Taiwanese black pearl tea in smoothie form. Thumbs up!!

Btw, managed to grab some books from Borders - Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman and Julie & Julia by Julie Powell (can't wait to watch the movie).

* Buy 1 get 2nd book at 50%*

Made some pasta for dinner - Black Pepper Spaghetti. Stayed in for the night to catch up on my reading. So, that's how I spent my 1st official day of freedom..Whoopee doo!! Feeling - ecstatic and undeniably relaxed. Am kissing goodbye to the daunting tasks of reporting, sales targets, pigeon-brained managements and whacko dr's. Yippeee.... *does the jiggle*..

Beware! Super hotties ~

These super hot babies from Vietnam, are one hell of a killer. Totally perfect for those who have a knack for extremely hot chillies. And I, for one, can NOT live without chillies, belacan, spicy foods.. due to my background.

Many may not know this, the fact that I actually am from a Nyonya descendant. Basically, my grandma's (maternal side) mother is a pure Nyonya, which makes my granny a half, my mummy a quarter and me ..whatever that comes after a quarter. *LOLz* I remember growing up with plenty 'cili padi' trees growing at our gardens and granny's mini-orchard.

And boy! These hotties do last longer compared to our normal chillies; I brought them back on early Jan and till know, they're still crisp and fresh. Very much to my surprise! 'Coz our normal chillies wilt in about a week even after being kept in the fridge. Cheers to that!!

* Salted fish fried rice (to be eaten with the hotties) *