February 2, 2017

Orange Cream Cheese Cupcake


Ingredients:
1/2 cup AP flour (64g)
1 cup cake flour (130g)
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter (115g)
3/4 cup sugar (150g)
2 eggs
2 tsp orange zest
1/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup milk

Directions:
  1. Sieve together the dry ingredients in a medium bowl & set aside.
  2. In separate bowl, beat the butter until pale & creamy, then add in sugar & beat continuously.
  3. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring in between each addition & add the orange zest.
  4. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients into the batter & mix well.  Alternate with wet ingredients.
  5. Fill the cupcake liner (55g ea) & bake on preheated oven @ 180 deg. C for about 18-20 mins.


Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
4 oz cream cheese
4 oz butter
2 cup powder sugar (1kg)
1 tbsp heavy cream
2 tbsp orange juice
Orange food colouring

Directions:
  1. Cream together butter and cream cheese for about 7-8 mins on medium-high speed.
  2. Add in powdered sugar, orange juice & heavy cream.  Mix on low speed until blended the increase speed to medium for about 5 mins.
  3. Spread over cooled cupcakes immediately.

February 1, 2017

Rainbow Lapis Cake (Layer)

7" Pan
Ingredients:
400g butter ~ softened @ room temp
120g condense milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g plain flour
2 tsp rempah kueh
15 egg yolks
5 egg whites
200g caster sugar
Gel food coloring: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet

Directions:
  1. Beat egg yolks with 160g caster sugar until pale & creamy
  2. Mix butter & condense milk together until smooth.  When egg yolk mixture is ready, slowly mix in butter mixture.
  3. Sift flour & rempah kueh together & slowly add it into the mixture at low speed.  Stir in vanilla extract until just combined.
  4. In another mixing bowl, beat egg whites with remaining 40g sugar until stiff peaks & the fold into the mixture batter.
  5. Divide batter into 6 equal portions @200g each.  Add food coloring into each bowl of batter until the desired color is achieved.
  6. Grease the bottom & sides of 7" square pan with butter & line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
  7. Preheat oven to grill function at 220 deg C and place baking tray in the oven to preheat as well.
  8. Starting with the violet layer, spread 1st half (100g) of the batter on the bottom of the pan.  Grill until the surface is cooked & golden brown for about 5 mins.
  9. Remove pan from oven & press down the cooked layer with a flat tool to remove air pockets.  If there are huge air bubbles, poke the bubble with a skewer then press down to remove the air.
  10. Spread remaining violet batter on top of the first layer & grill for 5 mins.  Repeat steps until all the batters are used up.  For the final layer, change the oven function to fan & bake for 10 mins.
  11. Allow the cake to cool slightly, then loosen the sides of the cake with a knife & invert the cake onto a wire rack.  Leave the cake pan on to prevent the cake from drying out while it cools completely.
  12. Slice & serving or cling-wrap & store in the fridge.

January 6, 2017

Golden Fried Rice with Shrimp


Ingredients:
1 cup cooked white rice
1 egg yolk
5-6 prawns (marinate with cornstarch)
1 stalk spring onion ~ chopped
Salt & pepper

Directions
  1. Beat the egg yolk and soak with cooked white rice.  Make sure all the white rice cover with beaten egg yolk & set aside.
  2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Fry the marinated prawn for about 1-2mins & dish out; set aside.
  3. Remove the oil, add the soaked rice & cook for about 5 mins. Make sure all the eggs cook.
  4. Then add the cooked prawn and stir continuously.  Add chopped spring onion and season with salt & pepper.  Cook for another 2 mins.  Serve the fried rice while it is still warm.

Mini Octopus Corn Dog


Ingredients:
4 pcs hotdog ~ cut half
1/2 cup pancake mixture
1/4 cup fresh milk
1 tbsp tomato ketchup

Directions:
  1. Slits on the bottom half of the hotdog to make 4 legs.
  2. Combine pancake mix, milk and ketchup in a bowl & mix until smooth batter.
  3. Dip the smooth side of the hotdog into the batter & coat well.  Deep fry in hot oil until golden brown.

November 12, 2016

Paste For Fried Rice/Noodle India Style


Ingredients:
5 tbsp tomatoes puree / 1 can
3 tbsp grind chili paste
2 tbsp dark sweet soy (Kicap Manis)
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt

Directions:
  1. Heat oil in a saucepan, add the grind chili paste & saute for about 5-10 mins till the oil surface.
  2. Add the tomatoes puree & cook for another 5 mins till the water evaporate.
  3. Add sugar & salt; continue to stir the mixture well & cook till the mixture thicken.
  4. Store the mixture into a tight container for the future use.




November 11, 2016

Fried Fish Noodle Soup


Ingredients:
2 tbsp vegetable oil
10 slices ginger
8 cloves garlic ~ finely sliced
250g ikan bilis ~ rinsed
6 litres water
2 tsp salt
2 tsp chicken stock powder
10g rock sugar
5 tbsp shaoxing wine
1 tsp white pepper
1 cup fresh milk

Fish Marinade:
1kg dory fillet (any fillet) ~ cut into 3cm pcs
2 tbsp Knorr Golden Salted Egg powder
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tsp chicken stock powder
2 tsp white pepper
2 tsp shaoxing wine

Coating:
1/4 cup rice flour
1/4 cup tapioca/corn flour

Vegetable oil for deep-frying
6 lettuce leaves ~ rounghly torn
3 tomatoes ~ cut into wedges

Directions:
  1. Heat a pot with the cooking oil, saute the ginger & garlic.  Then add Ikan Bilis & fry until dry & fragrant.  Add the boiling water & simmer for 20mins over low heat.
  2. Remove & discard the ikan bilis, ginger & garlic from the soup.  Mix in the rest of the soup ingredients & leaves to simmer.
  3. While the soup simmers, prepare the fish.  Mix the marinade in a large bowl.  Add the fish into the marinade & mix well.
  4. Heat the oil on high heat for deep-fry; dip each pieces of marinaded fish & coat with the mixture flour & deep-fry the fish for 4mins until golden brown.
  5. Serve the soup with the deep-fried fish & garnished with lettuces & tomatoes

August 26, 2016

Haddock over Walnut Rice


Ingredients:
1-1/2 cup vegetable stock or water
3/4 cup uncooked long grain brown rice
2 tbsp butter
1 medium onion ~ cut into ring slices 1/2" thick
1 lb haddock fillets
3 tbsp chopped walnuts
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
  1. In a medium saucepan bring vegetable stock to boiling.  Add rice, cover & simmer 35-45 mins or until rice is tender & liquid is absorbed
  2. Meanwhile, in a large non-stick skillet melt butter over medium heat.  Stir in onion slices.  Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 15 mins or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
  3. Season fillets with salt & pepper to taste.  Push onion slices to edge of pan; increase heat to medium-high.  Add fillets to skillet with onions; cook 5 mins per side.  Cover & cook over medium heat 6-8 mins more or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
  4. Fluff rice with a fork.  Stir in walnuts & parsley; season with salt & pepper to taste.  Serve fillets & onions over rice.



August 19, 2016

Rempeyek Ikan Bilis


Ingredients:
500g rice flour
1 tbsp corn flour
200ml coconut cream
750g water

1-1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1-1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1-1/2 tbsp coriander seeds
(Roughly pound/blend the above seeds)

1 egg ~ lightly beaten
2 tsp fine salt
1 tsp chicken powder
8 cloves garlic ~ blend to paste
1-2 tsp pepper (I used white pepper)

Anchovies aka ikan bilis

Directions:
  1. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients except the anchovies.  Mix well to incorporate into smooth batter.
  2. In a wok, fill with oil for deep fry on medium heat.  Once oil is hot, scoop the batter with small/medium ladle & add couple of anchovies; pour the batter on side of the wok slowly.  Fry till golden brown & crisp.
  3. Drain the oil on kitchen paper towel & let it cool down & store in air tight container.

July 14, 2016

Fishball Noodle Soup


Ingredients:
1 packet wet noodles (either yellow noodles/Bee Hoon/Kuey Teow)
16-20 fish balls
1-1/2 fish cakes ~ sliced
100g bean sprout ~ blanched
150g shrimps ~ blanched
50g dried anchovies
6 cloves garlic ~ crush
2 slice ginger ~ crush
1 ikan bilis cube
2 tbsp cooking oil
2 litres water
1 tbsp light soy sauce

Condiments:
Spring onion ~ chopped
Garlic oil (6-8 cloves garlic ~ chopped finely & fried with cooking oil)
3-4 bird's eye chilies ~ chopped
Light soy sauce

Directions:
  1. In a pot, heat oil & fried the anchovies, garlic & ginger till fragrance or till anchovies cook.  Then add water & bring to boil then reduce the heat to simmer for 30 mins
  2. After simmering, strain the broth & discard the anchovies, garlic & ginger.  With stock back & add the ikan bilis cube.  Continue to bring to boil.
  3. Then season light soy sauce & white pepper.  Add the fish balls & cook until it floated to the surface.
  4. To assemble, put a handful of noodle in a medium bowl, arrange sliced fish cake, bean sprouts & shrimps on top of the noodle.
  5. Then ladle the fish balls soup over the noodle; sprinkle chopped onion & drizzle some garlic oil.
  6. Serve immediately with chopped bird's eye chili together with light soy sauce.

July 2, 2016

Caramelized Cashew Toffee Cake


Ingredients:
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp nescafe coffee
115g semi-sweet chocolate ~ chopped
1/4 cup / 60g vegetable oil
1/4 cup / 57g unsalted butter
1-1/4 cup / 150g AP flour
1 cup / 200g sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/4 cup / 65g plain yogurt
1 tsp vanilla

Topping
1-3/4 cup / 240g roasted cashew nuts ~ chopped roughly
1/4 cup / 65ml evaporate milk
1 tsp nescafe coffee
1/2 cup / 113g unsalted butter
3/4 cup / 150g sugar
3 tbsp AP flour
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 180 deg C.  Grease the side of sheetpan (19"x13") with oil/butter & line a bottom with parchment paper.
  2. In a small pot, add the water & coffee; stir over medium heat until mostly dissolved.  Add chocolate, oil, butter & stir until melted & smooth.  Remove from heat & set aside.
  3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients until there is no more clumps. In another bowl, whisk together all the wet ingredients.  
  4. Pour the chocolate mixture into the dry ingredients & stir with spatula until the flour is completely moistened.  Then add wet ingredients & whisk until smooth.  Once the batter is smooth, pour into the prepared pan & bake for 18-20 mins or until test pick inserted into the middle comes out clean.  Let cool while making the topping.
  5. Topping: In small pot set medium/low heat, stir together milk & coffee until dissolved.  Add butter & cook until it's melted.  Stir occasionally.
  6. While the butter is melting, whisk together flour & sugar well combined.  Then add dry mixture into the melted butter.  Constantly stir.
  7. Once boiled, turn off & add chopped cashew nuts.  Pour the topping over the cake & spread evenly to cover the entire cake.
  8. Turn oven broiler on "low" & broil for 3-5 mins until the topping has caramelized & browned.
  9. Once cooled, loosed the side of the cake.  Place a cutting board on top of the cake & flip upside down.  Cut & the cake use a knife with long blade to "mark" by cutting through & stop when the blade reaches cashews.
  10. Then use a sharp Chief knife, go into same cuts with one firm press.




June 19, 2016

Crispy Durian Rolls


Ingredients:
550g Durian meat
2-3 tbs sugar
3 tbsp fresh milk
Vietnamese rice paper
2 egg whites
Cornflour
Panko breadcrumb
Oil for frying

Direction:
  1. In a pot, add durian pulp, sugar & fresh milk on medium heat.  Mix together till smooth paste.
  2. Place rice paper onto a damp clean kitchen towel.  Wet rice paper further with water using finger.  A dollop of durian paste onto it & rolled like a spring roll.  Next add wet rice paper & do the same wrapping method.
  3. Then dust with cornflour; dip in egg white & finally panko breadcrumb.
  4. In a pan-fried, add a little oil & fried the coated roll till golden brown or crisp.  Serve hot or with an ice-cream.

June 14, 2016

Bubur Lambuk Daging aka Bubuk Masjid


Ingredients:
250g rice ~ wash & soak 30 mins
300g minced beef
30g dried prawn ~ soak & blend dry
8-10 shallots ~ thinly sliced
5-6 cloves garlic ~ thinly sliced
2" fresh ginger ~ thinly sliced
1 medium carrot ~ cut cubes
2 tbsp Ghee
3 btsp cooking oil
200ml coconut milk
1 tbsp chicken knorr powder
1 tsp salt

Spices
1 stick cinnamon
2 anise star
3 cardamon
5 clovers
1 tsp fennugreek seeds aka halba

Dried Seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds (jintan manis)
1 tsp fennel seeds (jintan putih)
1 tsp coriander seeds (ketumbar)
1 tsp white pepper seeds
1 tsp black pepper seeds
(Above blend into a fine powder)

Garnish
50g fried shallot
50g spring onion ~ chopped
50g coriander leaves ~ chopped

Directions:
  1. In a big pot, cook the rice together with screwpine leave & chicken knorr powder like how you prepare your porridge.
  2. In a wok, heat ghee & cooking oil; saute the lemongrass, sliced shallots, garlic & ginger till fragrant.  Then add the spices, blended dried seeds, dried prawn & continue to cook till the oil surface.
  3. Once the rice becomes porridge, add the minced beef, cube the carrots & pour in all the sauteed ingredients.  Keep stirring for 5-8 mins on a low fire.
  4. Add coconut milk slowly & continuously stir.  Add salt to taste.
  5. Lastly, add the chop spring onion, coriander leaves & fried shallot.  Mix well, then off the heat.  Serve immediately.

May 25, 2016

Ally's Trio Velvet Cupcakes


Ingredients:
320g AP flour
200g sugar
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
220g canola oil
240g buttermilk
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla

Food coloring
1 tsp Noel Red
1 tsp Sky Blue
1 tsp Green leaf

Directions:
  1. In a large bowl, sift all the dry ingredients together & set aside.
  2. In a measuring jug, mix all the wet liquid together.  Whisk to incorporate.
  3. Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture.  Whisk together till all the dry mixture well incorporate.
  4. Divide the batter into 3 equal portion batter (ea 350-370g).  Then add the food coloring into the individual batter.
  5. Preheat the oven to 180 deg. C.  Line a cupcake liner in a cupcake pan.
  6. Scoop 1 tbsp (Blue) into each cupcake liner & bake for 4 mins.  Then the next top with 1 tbsp (Green) batter evenly & bake for 4 mins.  Last layer, scoop 1 tbsp (Red) batter evenly & bake for 15 mins or until insert toothpicks in the middle comes clean.


Cream Cheese Frosting
250g Philadelphia cream cheese
125g butter
125g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Direction:

Beat the cream cheese and butter till creamy.  Then add the icing sugar & vanilla & beat again till well incorporated.

May 24, 2016

Korean Beef Short Ribs with Ginger


Ingredients:
1 lb beef short ribs ~ rinse & pat dry

Marinade
1/3 cup canola oil
3 tbsp granulated sugar / brown sugar
3 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 tbsp grated garlic

Directions:
  1. Put the ribs in a ziplock bag, pour the marinade sauce & carefully toss to coat ribs.  Allow marinating for about 30 mins.
  2. Preheat the oven on grill/broil for 550 Fahrenheit or 280 deg C.  Line aluminum sheet on the tray & place the wire rack on aluminum sheet.  Then lay the ribs in a single layer.
  3. Broil/grill for 2 mins per side. 
PS:  I add 1/4 cup of coke in the marinade to tenderize the beef.

Kangkong Belacan


Ingredients:
1 lb kangkong aka water spinach
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1-1/2 tsp sugar
Salt

Blended Paste
2 tbsp dried shrimp ~ soak in hot water
3 tbsp chili paste ~ I used sambal belacan
6 shallots
4 cloves garlic
2 tsp belacan

Directions:
  1. Heat wok on high, add the vegetable oil & stir-fry the blended paste for about 2 mins.  Reduce the heat; cook until quite toasted & turn a shade darker (careful not to burn)
  2. Add the kangkong, sugar & salt (if necessary).  Stir-fry on high heat for about 2-3 mins.
  3. Dish onto a serving dish while it is still quite crisp & serve hot immediately.

May 22, 2016

Sweet Sukiyaki Beef


Ingredients:
1 packet Frozen Sukiyaki beef
5 tbsp sweet soy sauce aka Kecap Manis
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp honey
3 cloves garlic ~ mince
2" fresh ginger ~ mince
1 yellow onion ~ sliced
2 green onion ~ chopped
2 tbsp toasted sesame seed
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Salt & pepper ~ taste

Directions:
  1. Whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl except beef & sliced onions.
  2. Add beef & massage the marinade into each sliced.  Cover & refrigerate for an hour.
  3. Heat oil on pan-fries, add the marinade beef & let it cook halfway through; add sliced onions & continue to cook until the meat cooked.
  4. Dish out the cooked beef, sprinkle toasted sesame seed & chopped green onion.  Serve with steamed jasmine rice & egg.


Devil's Food Cupcake/Cake


Ingredients:
260g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
60g cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
340g fine sugar

200ml hot coffee (1 tsp Nescafe + hot water)
200ml vegetable oil
200ml buttermilk (1 tbsp white vinegar + full cream milk)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Direction:
  1. Preheat oven to 165 deg C for cake or 175 deg C for cupcakes.  Grease & line 9" baking pan two 9" baking pan or three 8" pan.
  2. In a large bowl whisk together dry ingredients.
  3. In a measuring jug, mix all wet ingredients except coffee.  Pour the wet mixture into dry ingredients & mix thoroughly.  Add hot coffee & mix until fully combined.  (Note: Batter should be very runny)
  4. Pour batter into prepared pans  & bake for 30 mins or cupcake liner (eg 50-55g) bake for 20 mins.
  5. Remove from oven, let cake/cupcake cool completely.
Marshamallow Cream Cheese Frosting
250g cream cheese
125g butter ~ room temp
1 cup icing sugar ~ shifted
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g marshamallow ~ melted
A drop of rose essence

Directions:
Beat cream cheese & butter until creamy, add the icing sugar, vanilla & lemon juice.  Beat again till well incorporated.  Add the melted marshmallow at the end of the cream cheese



Hubby request Vanilla Buttercream Frosting on his cupcakes

May 21, 2016

Chicken Enchiladas


Ingredients:
6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
3 cups enchilada sauce
1/2 medium yellow onion ~ diced
1 (4oz) can green chilies
8 (10") tortillas
12oz Monterrey Jack cheese ~ grated
2 green onions ~ chopped

Directions:
  1. In a slow cooker, add the chicken & 2 cups of enchilada sauce over the chicken.  Cook on high setting for 4 hours or low setting for 8 hours.
  2. Dish the chicken out of the slow cooker & shred with a fork.  Drain green chilies & add to the chicken along with the diced onion.  Mix well to combine.
  3. Preheat oven to 170 deg C.  Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  4. Spoon chicken mixture into the center of each flour tortilla.  Top with about 1/2 cup grated cheese & fold two ends of tortilla over the filled center.  Place the tortilla seam side down into the baking dish.  Repeat until all tortillas have been filled.
  5. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over the assembled tortillas.  Top with grated cheese.  Place in oven & bake for about 20 mins or until cheese has melted thoroughly & has become bubbly.
  6. Garnish with green onions or cilantro.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Source: Emeril Lagasse
Ingredients:
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp flour
1/4 cup chili powder
2 cup chicken stock
10oz tomato paste
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt ~ for taste

Directions:
  1. In medium saucepan heat oil, add flour, smoothing & stirring with a wooden spoon.  Cook for 1 min.
  2. Add chili powder & cook for 30 sec.  Then add chicken stock, tomato paste & all the ingredients except salt.
  3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low & cook for 15 mins.  The sauce will thicken & smooth out.  Adjust the seasoning (salt).
  4. Serve atop your favorite enchiladas

May 20, 2016

Prawn Noodles Soup (Slower Cooker)


Ingredients:
1kg yellow noodle
500g beef ribs
1kgs large prawns ~ peel & shells set aside
A bunch of Kangkong aka morning glory ~ washed & cut 5 cm
100g bean sprouts
4 tbsp oil
4 cloves garlic ~ sliced/minced
2 star anise
5 cloves
50-80g ikan bilis aka anchovies
3 tbsp brown sugar
2-2.5 litres boiling water
2 tbsp white peppercorns
30g rock sugar
1 tbsp fish sauce
1/4 tsp white pepper powder
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp salt ~ adjust to taste

Garnish
chili powder
fried shallots

Directions:
  1. Scald the beef ribs with hot water & set aside.
  2. In a pot add 4 tbsp oil, saute the sliced/minced garlic till fragrant.  Add prawn shells & stir fry till it turns pink.
  3. Add star anise, cloves, Ikan Bilis & brown sugar to mix evenly.  Then add boiling water, blanched beef ribs, white peppercorns, rock sugar, fish sauce, white pepper powder & dark soy sauce.  Bring to boil.
  4. Transfer all the ingredients to slow cooker & let it cook on low for about 4 hours.
  5. Remove & drain stock, pick out the beef ribs & set aside.  Skim & top layer of stock.  Blanch prawns in the stock for 2-3 mins.  Adjust seasoning of stock add 1 tbsp salt (according to taste)
  6. Blanch yellow noodles, bean sprouts & a handful of kangkong.  Put in a bowl, add beef ribs, prawns to noodle & fill a bowl with hot stock.  Sprinkle of chili powder & 1 tbsp of fried shallots as a garnish.