A short trip to Penang

It was a really short trip. My youngest sister nak register for her final semester, takde orang nak temankan, so hubby took an EL for two days and drove us to Penang.

Our mission : Jalan2 cari makan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cream puffs

Aku memang sangat suka makan creampuffs. Tapi nak cari yang sedap memang susah. Normally the custard will be too thick and sweet pastu ada after taste. Memang tak sedap. Hari tu aku pegi Nabe Cafe and makan their cream puffs. Sedap sangat2. I love their custard yg gooey tu.

Semalam aku google cream puffs recipe and decided to buat joyofbaking punya recipe.

Ingredients
Choux Pastry:
1/2 cup (65 grams) all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon granulated white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt (I omitted this coz I used salted butter)
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) (57 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup (120 ml) water
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Instructions:

Choux Pastry: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly butter or spray the pan with a non stick vegetable spray.

In a bowl sift or whisk together the flour, sugar and salt.Place the butter and water in a heavy saucepan over medium high heat and bring to a boil. (Make sure that the butter melts before the water boils to reduce the amount of evaporation.) Remove from heat and, with a wooden spoon, add the flour mixture, all at once, and stir until combined. Return saucepan to the heat and stir constantly until the dough comes away from the sides of the pan and forms a thick smooth ball (about 1-2 minutes).

Transfer the dough to your electric mixer, or use a hand mixer, and beat on low speed to release the steam from the dough (about a minute). Once the dough is lukewarm start adding the lightly beaten eggs (dough will separate and then come together) and continue to mix until you have a smooth thick paste (dough will fall from a spoon in a thick ribbon).

Spoon or pipe 12 small mounds of dough onto the baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches (5 cm) apart. With a pastry brush, gently brush the tops of the dough with a lightly beaten egg.Bake for 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) until the shells are a nice amber color and when split, are almost dry inside. Cool on a cooling rack.

Custard filling
200ml heavy cream
4-5tbs sugar
1tsp vanilla
2 egg yolk
1 tbs custard powder

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, cook using double broiler until the custard thickened. The custard will be gooey. Let it cool

To Assemble: Poke a hole at the bottom of the cream puffs and pipe the custard filling.

Ps : I didnt split the cream puffs.

Verdict : the girls love it so much. Memang sgt sedap. Alhamdulillah :)

 

 

Gadis dan bunga

 

 

A Trip To Penang

Fatin is studying in Penang. MIL wanted to go and visit her. So we spent our raya haji in Penang. I never like Penang but that changed. Penang memang best!! We had breakfast at Taman Tun Sardon which is just 5 minutes drive from USM guest house.

The Baked Brownie

Iman baked this and it tasted really good.

THE BAKED BROWNIE
By BrownEyedBaker

INGREDIENTS:

1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons dark unsweetened cocoa powder
11 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (I used nescafe)
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
5 eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the sides and bottom of a 9x13-inch glass or light-colored baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and cocoa powder together.

3. Put the chocolate, butter and instant espresso powder in a large bowl and set it over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth. Turn off the heat, but keep the bowl over the water and add the sugars. Whisk until completely combined, then remove the bowl from the pan. The mixture should be room temperature.

4. Add 3 eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Add the remaining eggs and whisk until combined. Add the vanilla and stir until combined. Do not overbeat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey.

5. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate mixture. Using a rubber spatula (not a whisk), fold the flour mixture into the chocolate until just a bit of the flour mixture is visible.

6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out with a few moist crumbs sticking to it. Let the brownies cool completely, then lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into squares and serve.

7. Store at room temperature in an airtight container or wrap with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.(Recipe adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking)

French Pastry

I love this pastry recipe. It is good for almost everything, chicken potpie, apple pie and whatever pie you can think of.

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 cup shortening ( approx 225gm)
1 egg
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
5 tbs of water

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and sugar. Mix well, then cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal.

In a small bowl, combine egg, vinegar, and 4 tablespoons of water. Whisk together, then add gradually to flour mixture, stirring with a fork. Mix until dough forms a ball. Add one more tablespoon of water if necessary.

Allow dough to rest in refrigerator 10 minutes before rolling out.

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
500gm of frozen mixed veges
1/2 cup sliced celery
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup chopped onion
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
3 cups chicken broth (I used water + chicken stock cubes)
1 1/3 cup milk
2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.)

In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Add chicken, cook it until slightly brown.  Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Add mixed veges and celery. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.

Cover the pie dish with bottom crust. Pour hot liquid mixture into pie dish. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits on the top to allow steam to escape.Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Verdict : memang sangat sedap. Last week alone aku bakar this pie 3 kali!!

Grandma Hier's Carrot Cake

Verdict : sangat sedap and very moist too. I have made changes as suggested by reviewers on foodnetwork. This recipe is by Paula Deen. My daughter Iman baked this cake. I helped to whisk the topping and frost the cake. 

Grandma Hier Carrot Cake

Ingredients

Butter, for pans
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup coarse sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3 cups grated carrots
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans ( I used walnuts) optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) round pans;

Line bottom of the pans with parchment paper.In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

Add eggs and vegetable oil. Using a hand mixer, blend until combined. Add carrots and pecans, if using.Pour into pans.

Bake for approximately 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes.

Remove from pans, place on waxed paper and allow to cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:
500gm of cream cheese, room temperature
250gm salted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans

For the frosting:

Add all ingredients, except nuts, into a medium bowl and beat until fluffy using a hand mixer. Stir in the nuts. Spread frosting on top of each cake layer. Stack the cakes on a serving plate and serve.

Lemon Madeleines by David Le Bovitz

Yummy!! The recipe can be found here
I omitted the lemon glaze. ♥

Salam Aidilfitri

May Allah accept from us and from you. That was what a sahabah used to say to another sahabah. Eid Mubarak everyone!!

Portmeirion for Sale

Assalamualaikum,

As promised to Fara, my junior masa kat Tasmania dulu, I will up photos of Portmeirion for Sale. Sorry Fara, lambat upload the photos. Susah sangat nak duduk depan PC. Too busy.. Those interested, boleh email Fara kat famoh276@gmail.com. Fara lives in UK, so InsyaAllah the price of the pottery will be competitive. :)

Gooey Butter Cake

Finally, my pc dah pulih seperti sediakala, alhamdulillah. Punya la lama tak duduk berfacebook or berblogging on pc. Eh! actually blogging on ipod pun dah jarang2. *sigh*.. I know.. I have been a very bad blogger..  I might disappear again.. hehe.. but not without posting a recipe first. By the way, this cake is really really yummy. Why? coz I received orders for this cake from my friends. Not that I intend to bake and sell it. hehe..

Gooey Butter Cake - best eaten while it's still hot :)

Gooey Butter Cake

Adapted from Taste & Paula Deen

For the butter cake

Ingredients

250g butter, softened

1 cup caster sugar (I reduced the sugar to 3/4 cup)

2 teaspoons vanilla essence

3 eggs (large)

2 1/2 cups self-raising flour

2/3 cup milk

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease and line an 8cm-deep, 19cm (base) square cake pan with baking paper.
2. Using an electric mixer, cream butter, caster sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating to combine. Add half the flour. Stir to combine. Add half the milk. Stir to combine. Repeat with remaining flour and milk.
4. Spread mixture into prepared pan.
   
   Filling:
   250gm cream cheese, softened
   2 eggs
   1 teaspoon vanilla
   8 tablespoons butter, melted
   500gm powdered sugar (I used only 1 cup of icing sugar)
   
   In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter and beat together. 
   Next, add the powdered sugar and mix well.  Spread over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.  Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey.

Chocolate Madeleines

Lama sungguh aku peram this recipe. Recipe ni sangat simple dan sedap. Bear in mind, madeleines sedap makan masa panas. Kalau dah simpan overnight, dah tak sedap.

The recipe is from Martha Stewart

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup, plus 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened, for buttering madeleine molds
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons packed dark-brown sugar
• 1 cup cake flour (not self-rising)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-processed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Brush madeleine pans well with 4 tablespoons softened butter; refrigerate 5 minutes.
2. In a small heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt remaining 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. Continue to cook until butter turns golden brown, being careful not to let the butter burn. Remove from heat and strain through a fine mesh sieve into a small bowl; set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip eggs with granulated and brown sugars until light and thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt, and stir on low speed until combined. Add vanilla and reserved browned butter; mix just until blended.
4. Insert a 1/2-inch plain tip into a pastry bag and fill with batter. Pipe mounds of batter into prepared pans until each mold is full, mounding batter in the center of the molds but not filling to the edge. Alternatively, you can use a teaspoon to fill the molds with batter. Bake until madeleines are firm and a little mound is puffed up in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes. Madeleines are best eaten the same day they are baked.

Marble cake

Jap aku pikir, why did I baked this cake. Erm.. Oh ya!! Aku baked this for hubby to bring to his friend's house. His friend is teaching him how perform umrah, maka, sebagai tanda penghargaan, isteri mithali ni, buatkan kek marble. Hehe.. patut buatla rainbow cake ke kan? Bercinta bila pikir nak duduk depan oven berjam2 baking rainbow cake.

This is my favourite marble cake recipe. I baked this using nordic bundt pan. Lawa kan? And it's perfect too! Nordic never failed me so far.. Alhamdulillah

Marble Cake. Recipe can be found here

Cottage pie

Aku managed to get australian minced meat at 50% off kat Jusco. So, instead of paying RM29.90 perkg, I paid RM14.85 only! Yay!! murah sangat2. Aku tak suka makan minced meat ramly sebab sangat banyak lemak. The Aussie minced meat, almost fat free. Of course la, kalau takde lemak langsung, tak sedap la kan? 

Before masuk oven

Rupa wise, memang tak anggun, tapi rasa wise, peh!! memang sedap!! Jadi rebutan kawan2 iman and iffah during recess :)

Cottage Pie

Adapted from bbcgoodfood

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1¼ kg beef mince
• 3 onions , finely chopped
• 3 carrots , chopped coarsely
• 3 celery sticks, chopped coarsely
• 2 garlic cloves , finely chopped
• 3 tbsp plain flour
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 850ml beef stock (I used 3 ketul beef stock knor, campur dengan air)
• 4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• few thyme sprigs (I omitted this)
• 2 bay leaves
• salt

For the Mash

For Mash, ikut creativity dan selera masing2, below is my version

• 2kg potatoes
• 300 ml milk
• 100g butter
• 200g strong cheddar , grated

Methods (has been changed to suit me)

1. Panaskan minyak, brown the meat. Bila meat dah brown, add garlic and onion, goreng sampai onion tu brown. Then add carrots, celery, bay leaves, tomato puree, worcestershire sauce, beef stock and flour.

2. Biarkan merenih until the sauce thickened ie likat.

3. To assemble. Masukkan mixture daging dalam baking dish, ratakan. Then masukkan mash potatoes, ratakan atas daging. Sprinkle with mozarella cheese (I used cheddar).

4. Bakar 20-30 minutes dalam oven 200 degree celcius.