HEART SHAPED KAYA ROLLS

Homemade rolls are easy to make especially if you use bread maker but mine are made by hand from start to finish.  With homemade rolls, you can easily customize the ingredients you are going to add for instance this Heart Shaped Kaya Rolls, you can omit egg or milk by substituting with soy or almond milk.


Really, you  can use any basic sweet bread recipe and varies the filling.  This time,  I used  kaya (coconut jam) or any other jam as the stuffing.  Be prepared to encounter messiness along the way. In fact my filling is overflowing at the time of rolling. as you can see from my photo below.

Nevertheless Heart Shaped Kaya Rolls turned out fabulous and  tasted awesome! The are no harder to make and are a great way to dress them up for special  occasion.

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MOIST BANANA MUFFIN

I had some overripe  bananas sitting on my kitchen counter so I decided that  my next project would be related to banana.

As usual, used only half cup of sugar instead of 3/4 cup since not keen to have over sweetened muffin.

Moist Banana Muffin  are  perfect  treat for breakfast  or great  for tea time too. Straightforward, simple and just like your favorite banana bread but in muffin form.

You can add  1/4 cup of chopped nuts to Moist Banana Muffin batter and no harm will come to the end result or you may want to add a little dried fruit to the mix. For more interesting flavor, add some finely grated orange or lemon zest or cinnamon instead of vanilla essence.

MARBLE CAKE

I baked this Marble Cake made from simple butter cake with a little twist.   Turned this into marble cake by adding two striking colors, red and green. The color combination is entirely up to you, use 2 or 4 colors if you want.

Accidentally add too much green color to the cake batter so it turns out darker deep tone luckily that doesn't alter its taste.

Cube the butter right after you have removed from the refrigerator.to speed up the creaming process.

In case you have self raising flour, use it  but omit the baking powder.

HONEY OAT BARS

Honey Oat  Bars are excellent for on the go breakfast or quick snack anytime of the day.

It was super easy and pretty quick to prepare.  Use your preferred combo like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds  or cranberries if you like. In fact the combination are endless.

Honey Oat Bars are free from wheat, dairy free and vegan   so they are good for those with food allergies.

I used chopped almond,. black sesame seeds and raisin for a total of 120 g.  Add 2 tablespoon of honey   if you want it sweeter.

MANDARIN ORANGE CROSTATA

One of my favorite citrus fruits is mandarin orange.  They are so popular during Lunar New Year celebration that bring luck and wealth.  Since I have them in stock,  decided to bake  this Mandarin Orange Crostata  or free form tart.

If you find baking a tart  a little intimidating, you can check  my tips  here. .

First of all, prepare the crust  as per the recipe below. While waiting for the crust to be chilled, peel the mandarin oranges, remove the white thread on the outer segment.  Using a sharp knife, cut crosswise into 1/4 in thick slices.  Remove  the seeds, carefully transfer onto a plate, sprinkle with some sugar. Refrigerate.

After rolling and filling, you suppose to brush the mandarin orange with apricot preserves but  omit this step since I don't have it.  Alternately, just sprinkle more sugar over the mandarin orange just before baking.

You can always buy a ready made pie crust  but nothing  beats a homemade one!

FRESH APPLE CAKE

Looking for a cake with fresh fruit?   Well  I  have just baked a  moist  and no-fail Fresh Apple Cake with perfect amount of sweetness plus large chunks of apple, this adds a great flavor and texture to this cake..

This Fresh Apple Cake uses fresh apple.  Mine is made of  granny smith but other varieties  such as gala, red delicious,  McIntosh or  combination of them  should  work too.   Don't use a food processor  to chop  the apples. It should be roughly chopped into 1/2 in chunk.

Use a simple drizzled glaze or  serve  it plain.  Prefer to omit the glaze since it  it well sweetened. already. You can also dust the cake with icing sugar.

Not only  is this Fresh Apple cake really yummy but it is also very easy to prepare.  So give this recipe a try and let us know if you think  this  cake is the best!

BRAIDED NUTELLA BRIOCHE

This is my first post for the year 2015 so I have chosen to bake a yeast bread.  It is a buttery bread called  Braided  Nutella  Brioche.

The dough was so soft like a baby's cheek and bit difficult to handle. I  made mine by hand.  There is a sense of satisfaction in working the dough  by hand and crafting such an attractive bread and it certainly will impress your guests.I didn't add any flour while shaping but if needed add one or two tablespoon  to the dough.

Braided Nutella Brioche requires double proofing but it worth the effort since bread turns amazingly soft and beautiful.  When I took my first bite,  feel like am eating a cake and not a bread!

Made this bread into a braid but you could shape it according to your liking. This is the softest and butteriest  bread I  have ever baked!

TOP 10 FAVORITE POST OF 2014

While embarking to a new year, this is a look back to my blogging activities for the past year.

These are the posts that gained the most attention chosen by my lovely readers.

Perhaps you  missed some of these posts or maybe you just want to have another look since it has been awhile.  Feel free of course to share them with your friends because each click tells me that you'd liked me to keep posting these sorts of recipe.

The first most viewed post of 2014 is actually one that I have posted way back in 2012.  Actually you just click on the title of each photo  to view full post.


10. Baked Yeast Doughnuts.

9.   Sotong Masak Hitam (Squid in Black Ink)l

SWEET CORN CAKE

It is a habit to check my pantry before any baking project.  From there,  will plan what I  want to bake next.  I found a can of whole kernel corn sitting in my cabinet.  So I have to make something out of this canned sweet corn.

Today I want share this  perfect Sweet Corn I have baked.  It turned  out great  with lovely texture and right amount of sweetness. Add about 1/4 cup more sugar if you like it sweeter.

Rinsed and drained well the corn before adding it to the batter. I squeezed out the water after putting it in a colander.

Turn this into muffin by baking them in a muffin pan but do not level the top.  Bake for  15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Actual baking time varies with each oven so watch closely.

MINI RAISIN BUN

I have not baked any bread for weeks  but  decided to bake  my son favorite Mini Raisin Bun this time.

If you're a bread baker, you will know that most of sweet bread using almost the same recipe with slight variations on ingredients or method.

Enjoy this tasty Mini Raisin Bun for breakfast or in between snack..  Love to serve them  in  bite size portion instead of regular one. Am using dark raisin but golden raisin can be added too.

You can also  turn the dough into a loaf by baking it in a loaf pan.

DRY FRUIT BUNDT CAKE

There are many variations of fruit cake,  including a version that require soaking of the fruit for days while another one  need you to boil the dry fruits and butter.

Am sharing with  you a  really quick and easy Dry Fruit Bundt Cake and  one of the ingredients was condensed milk.  Using condensed milk in a fruit cake is a new one for me but it always fun to try. Dry Fruit Bundt Cake  is also made without sugar.

If you need to avoid egg, you can substitute with plain yogurt or pureed fruit.

I find it easier to slice without it breaking so easily because the fruits remain soft and stick together. You can  easily increase the mixed fruit up to 1 cup if desired.

CHOCOLATE CRINKLE COOKIES

These Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are on my "to do" list for a long time. They are crisp on the outside
but  chewy in the center and ridiculously easy to make.

If you're a chocolate lover, you're going to love these cookies. They have deep chocolate flavor.

I suppose to  roll the cookies in confectioners sugar for that pretty crack on top but last minute, I could not find my powdered sugar so have coated them with fine sugar.

Make sure to place the rolled cookies 1 in apart, as they bake, they spread and the surface cracks.

You can turn the same recipe into Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies by adding a tablespoon of red food coloring to the flour mixture.

CHOCOLATE CRINKLE COOKIES
Yield  :  45 coolies

1 and 2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tablespoon buttermilk
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg or 1/4 cup yogurt
1 tsp vanilla essence
confectioners sugar for rolling

METHOD

Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl.

Beat butter and sugar until well blended, mix in buttermilk, egg/ yogurt and vanilla essence.

Add in butter mixture into dry ingredients, mix to form into soft dough.

Cover and refrigerate for an hour.

Place confectioners sugar in a plate.   Start rolling the mixture into 1 in balls.

Roll these balls in confectioners sugar and place them in 1 in apart on baking sheet.  Preheat oven @ 180 C.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until slightly firm.  Let sit in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them onto rack to cool.

This post was featured on Dec 15th, 2014 for Best of the Best is at  Epic  Mommy Adventures

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HOW TO MAKE ROTI CANAI

Roti  Canai  is one of most loved hawker food. This crispy and flaky prata  is available through out the day for breakfast, lunch or dinner. While some like it with just a sprinkle of granulated sugar but I like it served with a spicy curry.

There are several variations, either served plain or with eggs,  Our hawkers here have came up with their own variations which now include anything from cheese, banana, honey to chocolate and ice cream.

After forming into soft dough, it is coated with oil and kept covered for several hours. Another important  part is  flipping the dough in the air in a circular motion  to get that see through dough. Flipping the prata takes skill which come from years of practice. In my case, I got  that  paper thin dough  by pulling the edges slowly. The more you flip, the thinner  it gets so that when you fold it you get more layers. The perfect  Roti Canai  should be thin and crispy.


My Roti  Canai  is slightly bigger than what you get from those shop but if you want it smaller, divide the dough into 8  instead of 6 balls.

HOW TO MAKE ROTI  CANAI
Makes 6-8  roti

3 cup  wheat flour
5 tablespoon oil
1 tsp salt
2  tablespoon condensed milk
1 cup + 2 tablespoon water
extra oil for coating/frying
1 egg (optional)

* If adding  an egg, reduce the quantity of water

METHOD

1. In a bowl, combine salt, condensed milk and water.

2. Add flour and oil to the water mixture, forms into soft dough.

3. Knead the dough until smooth for 5 minutes, divide dough into  6-8 balls.

4. Coat each ball with oil and let stand for at least 5 hours or overnight.

5.  Oil your work top, flatten each ball with your oiled palms, Pulling the edges until you get a see through dough (professionals do it by flipping the dough in the air in a circular motion). Coil it up like a sea shell. 

6. Flatten the dough using your hand into round shape. Rest 10 minutes.

7. Fry on flat pan until both side turn golden brown, drizzle with oil as you fry.

8. Serve hot with curry or sugar.

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CHOCOLATE CAKE W/ CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Am so excited to share my  first experience making this Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting. This is a wonderful recipe made from scratch and  truly easy to put together.

Chocolate cake w/Chocolate Frosting can be made with or without egg.  Besides sour cream as an egg substitution, you can use banana or pureed fruit.

Please check the cake after 40 minutes of baking since  the oven varies from one another. I have used an easy chocolate frosting that you can prepare  really quickly but chocolate ganache  or  butter cream work too.

CHOCOLATE CAKE W/CHOCOLATE FROSTING
Serves  :  8

1 3/4 cup plain flour
1/2 cup melted butter
3 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 cup milk
1 egg or 1/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla essence

CHOCOLATE FROSTING

3/4   cup condensed milk
2 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder

Melt the butter in small saucepan, using medium heat, add in condensed milk and cocoa powder.  Stir until thick  remove from heat

METHOD

Preheat oven  @ 180 C and great 8 in cake tin.

Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda.

Mix in sugar, make a well in the center, stir in melted butter, milk, lightly beaten sour cream or egg and vanilla, stir until well incorporated.

Spoon  batter onto prepared pan an bake for 40-50 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Sit in pan for  10  minutes before transferring onto rack to cool.

Place cake on a plate, pour the  chocolate frosting over the cake. Enjoy...

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CINNAMON ROLLS

My family really  missed my yeast bread that I have regularly served during weekend. Although have baked all type of yeast bread but not this Cinnamon Rolls made from scratch.

This is no fail recipe, it can be made with or without egg.  If you prefer them with egg, reduce the milk to 3/4 cup and add an egg.  The rest, follow the same recipe below.

You can add more to the dough like nuts,  raisins or just leave them simple. Feel free to ice these Cinnamon Rolls but we love them without it.

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

Am craving to eat a cake and first thing to do is to check what I have in my pantry.  Found a can of pineapple cubes so this is the time to bake Pineapple Upside Down Cake.

This cake looks complicated but actually it was super easy.  In fact you can use any of your favorite plain cake.  Preferred my cake to be less sweet since it has a sweet topping.

Normally Pineapple Upside Down Cake uses pineapple ring but  I made  it using pineapple cubes and really happy it turned out fantastic without sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Reserve 1/4 cup of the syrup before draining.   After draining the pineapple,  use a paper towel the squeeze out the excessive liquid

NUTELLA POPSICLES

One of the frozen  treats that the kid will  enjoy is popsicle.  Making them in your own home was so much fun especially  when you get your kid involves in this activity.

There are tons of recipes for pospsicle to choose from, whether you want egg free, without ice cream maker, fruity or  no cook types.  For the start this Nutella Popsicles  is my choice, only 3 ingredients and egg free.

The preparation was super easy, just dump all ingredients in a blender, process until smooth.  In case you do not have a blender, make use of a whisk to blend.

I made mine without popsicle mould by pouring the mixture onto  a goblet and covet top with plastic wrap.  The quantity  can easily  be doubled or tripled as per your requirement..

NUTELLA POPSICLES
Serves   3

3/4  cup cold milk
1/4  cup condensed  milk
2 tablespoon nutella spread

METHOD

1.  Place milk, condensed milk and nutella in a blender.   Process  until  well  mixed.

2.  Pour mixture onto popsicle mould / other suitable container and freeze for  4-6  hours or overnight.

3.  Cover top with plastic wrap if you do not have a lid before freezing.

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ROCK CAKES

It has been more than 2 decades  I have eaten these Rock Cakes, made them in my Home Economics class.   Using basic ingredients of butter, sugar, flour and raisin you can transform these into your favorite by adding chocolate chips,  other dried fruit, nuts, spices or zest  but  I prefer to stick to the basic recipe

In the past we used the rubbing in method but now I change the way you prepare these  Rock Cakes by  mixing  the  melted butter in the dough.

My house was filled with fantastic aroma while baking these  little treats.  They are crunchy outside but soft inside

FRUIT COCKTAIL PUDDING

My son has  been bugging  me to  prepare   this super easy Fruit Cocktail Pudding made with agar agar powder and canned fruit cocktail.

Some might like to make use of the sugar  syrup after draining the fruit cocktail  but prefer to throw it away. Make sure the water and sugar syrup combined do not exceed 5 cups. .

To jazz it up, added a few drops of  yellow food coloring.  This step is required if you choose colorless agar agar powder.  You can use any flavor,/color/fruit you prefer. I just happened to have fruit cocktail on hand.

After the agar agar powder has been boiled, pour this mixture into small mold or into one large bowl/container.

If you want something that tastes great and not fattening, this Fruit Cocktail is for you!

FRUIT COCKTAIL PUDDING
Serves  12

10 g  white/colored agar agar powder
5 cups water
250 g sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 can 836 g fruit cocktail drained

METHOD

Dissolve agar agar powder in  deep pot containing 5 cups water.

Add sugar, bring to boil using low heat, stirring continuously.

Add food coloring of your choice if using white and evaporated milk, bring to boil again. Remove from heat.  Mix in drained fruit cocktail, stir well.

Rinse the agar agar  mold, pour the mixture into one large container or use the small one.

Let cool to room temperature, refrigerate until ready to serve.

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