工欲善其事,必先利其器

Finally I bought myself a KitchenAid Stand Mixer.  I believe 工欲善其事, 必先利其器.

Almond Flakes and Cream Cheese Cake Slice

Ingredients : 

A. cream cheese 125g, unsalted butter 50g, fresh milk 100g

B. self raising flour 35g, corn flour 15g, egg yolks 3

C. egg whites 3, caster sugar 50g, cream of tartar 1/8 teaspoon

Filling : 

A. cream cheese, icing sugar and thickened cream

B. lightly toasted almond flakes

桃花盛开

山鸟似欲啼往事 ; 桃花依旧笑春风

Chunky Peach Jam

Chunky Peach Jam with home made bread

Ingredients : home grown peaches, caster sugar and lemon juice

Thanks to Veronica Ng who gave me the peach trees that I transplanted in my back yard.

问苍天问大地

天地无终极, 人命若朝霞。-----曹植

Wholemeal Bread Loaves with chia seeds, rolled oats and black sesame

White Milk Loaves

Ingredients:

 Overnight sponge dough : 100g Bakers flour, 60g water and 1/4 teaspoon dried yeast ( Mix all ingredients and knead to form a dough. Proof for 30 minutes. Wrap with cling film and keep in the refrigerator overnight or up to 48 hours )

 Wholemeal bread loaf : 380g bakers flour, 150g wholemeal flour, 20g ground black sesame, 30g brown sugar, a good pinch of salt, 7g dried yeast, 120g overnight sponge dough, 350g cold water, 1/2 teaspoon honey and 40g butter 

 White Milk Loaf : 500g bakers flour, 70g sugar, a good pinch of salt, 7g dried yeast, 150g overnight sponge dough, 1 cold egg, 240g cold milk and 80g butter

Making bread is all about using your hands: to mix, knead and shape the dough and, finally, to test the baked loaf. Once you know how good it feels to handle a batch of dough and then watch as it is transformed into a crusty loaf that tastes as wonderful as it smells, you'll become hooked. ----The Great Australian Bake Off

Kumquat Marmalade

I got a big bagful of kumquats from Grant's wife Lisa. They have a kumquat tree which is so productive and they do not know what to do with them. Therefore I used these kumquats to make  Kumquat Marmalade.

 Kumquat Marmalade

Ingredients : Kumquats, sugar and lemon juice

Grant and Lisa's daughter Gracie

独乐乐

一个人的中午, 一个人的午餐 ..... 也挺惬意.

Turkish Pide with melted cheese and beetroot salad

Curried chicken with steamed rice

 Pan-fried chicken pieces with fresh vegetables

全手工制作面包

多年好友惠秀俗称x-siew WhatsApp 以下这段文字与我分享:

山有山的高度, 水有水的深度, 没必要攀比, 每个人都有自己的长处.

风有风的自由, 云有云的温柔, 没必要模仿, 每个人都有自己的个性.

依心而行, 无憾今生.

全手工制作黑白芝麻面包

Overnight sponge dough : 215g bakers flour, 125g cold milk and 1/2 tsp dry yeast

Main dough : 50g bakers flour, 40g wholemeal flour, 10g ground black sesame, 35g egg, 1tsp yeast, 1/2tsp salt, 40g caster sugar, 45g butter, and 2 - 4 tablespoons milk

全手工制作杂粮坚果面包

失散的誓言

元宵情人节 - 贴上我最爱的马卡龙

Pistachio Macarons with Cacao Spread

我们曾在田野里歌唱, 在冬季盼望, 却没能等到阳光下, 这秋天的景象, 就让失散的誓言飞舞吧, 随西风飘荡, 就像你柔软的长发, 曾芬芳我梦乡....... 李健, 风吹麦浪

Another hot day.....

This dish makes my summer shine .....

Pan-fried salmon with fresh salads 

Heat a non-stick frying pan over heat, brush the salmon fillets with oil, salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Cook each side or until cooked to your liking. Set aside.

To make dressing, combine the wholegrain mustard, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, dash of balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Place fresh salads on plate, spoon over the dressing.

Carrot Cup Cakes

Carrot cup cakes for kids aged 1 to 5 at my work place

Carrot Cup Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients : A)1/2 cup soft brown sugar, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup golden syrup, 3 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla essence, B)1 cup self raising flour, 1/2 cup plain flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and C)11/2 cups grated carrots

Method : 

1. Place sugar, oil, golden syrup and vanilla essence in the bowl and beat for 2 minutes, add eggs gradually and beat well. 

2. Sift flour, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon over the egg mixture. 

3. Add grated carrot and mix until combined.

4. Place mixture in a 12 hole muffin pan with cases.

5. Bake in a preheated oven at 170 degree C for about 20 minutes or until cooked.

For the cream cheese frosting : Beat cream cheese, pure icing sugar mixture and lemon juice until smooth. Spread frosting on the cooled cakes.

Little Butter Cookies

A cookie a day keeps the blues away!!!

 Orange Butter Cookies

Ingredients : 100g butter, 20g pure icing sugar, 70g bread flour, 25g rice flour, 1 tablespoon orange zest and 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice

Method:
1. Cream butter and sugar until creamy and pale
2. Add in sifted bread flour, rice flour, orange zest and orange juice
3. Pipe cookie dough into shape to your liking
4. Bake in a preheated oven at 150 to 160 deg C for about 15 to 20 minutes

Green Tea cookies

Despite making errors with the amount of ingredients I went ahead and made these cookies. However they still tasted good.....

世代相传花生饼

中式花生饼Vs西式花生饼

中式花生饼

Ingredients : 300g  crunchy/smooth peanut butter, 100g peanut oil/vegetable oil, 150g pure icing sugar, 430g plain flour, 100g roasted peanut and some for decoration, 1 egg yolk for glazing

Method:
1. Place peanut butter and oil in a bowl and mix well
2. Add icing sugar, sifted flour and chopped roasted peanut and mix till a soft dough forms
3. Refrigerate the dough for 20 minutes or until firm
4. Shape tablespoons of mixture into balls, place on baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper
5. Press top lightly with half a peanut
6. Lightly brush with egg wash and bake in a preheated 160 deg C oven for 20 minutes

西式花生饼

Ingredients: 125g butter, 80g crunchy/smooth peanut butter, 150g brown sugar, 1 egg, 225g plain flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and 125g chopped roasted peanut

Method:
1. cream butter, peanut butter and sugar until pale and creamy
2. add egg and beat well
3. add flour, baking powder and roasted chopped peanut, beat until a smooth dough forms
4. refrigerate the dough for 20 minutes or until firm
3. roll tablespoons of mixture into balls, place on baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper
4. press top lightly with a fork and sprinkle chopped roasted peanuts
5. bake in a preheated 180 deg C oven for about 20 minutes.

马年吉祥如意

天使蛋糕

只因为在人群中多看了你一眼 .....

如果你喜欢王菲的传奇, 我想你不应错过作曲兼原唱的李健.....

如果你喜欢梁静茹的可惜不是你, 我想你不应错过作曲兼原唱的曹轩宾.....

如果你喜欢戚风蛋糕, 我想你更不应错过松软的天使蛋糕.....

黑芝麻天使蛋糕

Ingredients : A) 40g vegetable oil, 90ml fresh milk, 7g ground black sesame, 70g self raising flour, pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon black sesame paste

B) 200g egg whites, 70g icing sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

香橙天使蛋糕

Ingredients : A) 40g vegetable oil, 75ml freshly squeezed orange juice, 10g fresh milk, a few drops of natural orange flavouring extract, 70g self raising flour and pinch of salt

B) 200g egg whites, 70g pure icing sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

烈日炎炎似火烧

Melting moment at 44 degree C heat for the past four days .....

Cooling and Refreshing Treats :

Vanilla Yoghurt with Blueberries, Muesli and Almonds

Wholemeal Pancakes with Blueberries and Honey

Blueberry, Banana, Fresh Milk and Vanilla Yoghurt Smoothie

  Sour Cream Cake with Blueberries

Ingredients : A)150g sour cream, 70g cream cheese, 45g melted butter, 4 egg yolks, 40g plain flour, 25g corn flour and 15g caster sugar

B) 4 egg whites, 60g caster sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 

Two Ways with Salmon Fillet

I used the left over grilled salmon to make this summer dish. It is a great way to make use of the salmon that I can not finish. All I need to do is to cook rice.

鲑鱼海苔三角饭团

Grilled Salmon with Cherry Tomatoes, Broad Beans and Seaweed

耳朵不听, 眼睛不看.....

你是我所有的回忆 ......

Fried Rice with Chilli oil

哀悼李泰祥.....

Creamy Mushroom Soup

A delicious creamy mushroom soup for the year 2014 ..... I went for second.

Mushroom Soup

Ingredients : onion, garlic, butter, olive oil, fresh mushrooms ( cup, flat, button or portabella ), plain flour, milk, sour cream, basil leaves, continental parsley, salt and pepper

Method :

1. Heat butter and olive oil in a saucepan over a medium heat, add diced onion and garlic,  cook for about 5 minutes or until soft.

2. Add sliced mushrooms and continue to cook until tender, stir in flour and cook the mix for about 1 minute.

3. Add chicken stock, bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer until soup is slightly thickened. Stir in milk and simmer.

4. Blend soup until smooth.

5. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

6. Serve soup with chopped parsley, basil leaves, sour cream and croutons.

愿2014如意吉祥