Mixed Dried Fruit Cake

May 31^st, 2012 

The sky turn gloomy, and it started to rain heavily right after we heard the news.  We know this day will come but it is just hard to digest it when it had happened and this day has finally come.  And today, we had really felt it when we lost someone dear to all of us in the family.

Yes, my Big Bro has left us…….after battling with lung cancer and brain tumour. 

When there is life, there is death.  When a life is born, we cheers and smiles for the birth, but why when there is death, sorrow and tears we have to shed? 

And today, I would like to share with you this Fruit Cake.  Why Fruit Cake?  I remember many many years ago, my Big Bro called up to my mum and asked her about how to make the Fruit Cake that my mum used to baked. He asked for the ingredients and the steps how to go about it.  So I guess it is the Fruit Cake that he must have liked. 

We will miss you forever..... 

Here, this Fruit Cake is for you my Big Bro……

Sorry, no recipe to accompany....

Pandan Layer Cake

I thought I won't be baking this few days as one of my close family member is very sick and the thought of him just really sadden me.  Things at home has not been going very smoothly but I thought this is life.  We are bounds to go through life in ups and downs.

So instead of just sitting feeling depressed and stressed of family issues as well, I might as well brush off the thought from just feeling sad.  Hence, I go ahead to bake this Pandan Layer Cake as I have been studying learning how it be well baked and assemble.  I once again have to search  with others' recipes and my "Agnes Chang - I Can Bake" cookbook, and in the end I decided to use this as I have not bake any one of the recipe from her book.  

Actually this cake I have bookmarked it for quite some time because my niece Tiffany loves this Pandan Layer Cake very much.  So I have to start learning so that one day I can make this for her.

Tiffany, so for now, you just have to see but unable to taste it but one day M will bake it for you!  I promise.

Pandan Layer Cake

Adapted from Agnes Chang - I Can Bake cookbook with slight changes

Ingredients for the cake:
250 gm. Optima flour or sponge cake mix flour
4 eggs
3 Tbsp. Pandan juice
a little green pandan paste or green colouring  (I omit this)
3 Tbsp. Thick coconut milk (I omit this and replace with water)
1 1/2 Tbsp. cornoil

Ingredients for Pandan Kaya:
600 ml. Coconut milk

300ml pandan juice

9 Tbsp. Hoen kwee flour / green pea flour
1 Tbsp. Instant Jelly Powder
1/2 tsp. salt
a little green colouring  (I omit this)
a little pandan paste  (I omit this)
160 gm. sugar  (I still find it sweet, can omit to 140g)

50 gm. Dessicated coconut for covering cake

 

Method for the Sponge Cake:

1.  Beat sponge mix flour and eggs till light.

2.  Add pandan juice and continue to beat till fluffy.  Add in green colouring if necessary.

     Mix in water (or coconut milk) and corn oil till well combined.

    

3.  Pour into a lined and greased 9” round baking tin and bake in a preheated oven at

      170C for about 35-40 minutes, till cooked.

4.  Remove the cake from the oven and leave to cool.  Slice cake horizontally into 3 slices.

Method for the Pandan Kaya:

 1.  Put all the ingredients into a pot and mix well.

2.  Using medium heat, stir with wooden spatula and cook till mixture has slightly

      thickened.  Remove.

3.  Keep mixture hot by putting the pot in a pan of hot water to prevent it from setting

      too quickly.     

      (I have divided the kaya into 3 equal portions).

 

To Assemble :

1.  Place a 9” cake ring on a cake board, put 1 slice of cake into the cake ring, making sure

     there is space all around for the pandan kaya.

2.  Put one portion of the kaya to cover the cake and sides.  Repeat the same way till the

      Last layer is covered with pandan kaya.

3.  Leave aside to cool and set before chilling in the fridge for at least 4 hours, best over-

     night before removing the cake ring.

4.  Next day, decorate the sides and top of the cake with dessicated coconuts before

      serving.

Overall I am pleased with the result of this cake BUT one thing is when I assemble the cake, the cake ring is slight bigger than my 9" cake.  Actually I know of it but just doesn't want to spend extra $ to buy a cake ring for this purpose!  :-)  You can see the sides of the filling is more thicker than on the layer part.

Actually I think I can cut down more on the coconut milk to 600ml or to 700ml and add extra pandan juice in it.  Too much coconut milk is no good lol......

The smooth and velvety pandan kaya layer combined with the soft sponge cake make this cake an all time favourite among all, I guess.......

Little Butter Buns (also known as Roti Paun)

Sometimes looking at other food bloggers making bread and buns really urge me to try but I know I am not very good in making this as it needs a lot of kneading in order to make it into a soft texture.  I don't have a bread maker and sometimes wasn't sure how long it need to knead it in the mixer.

I have bookmarked this Little Butter Buns from the "Agnes Chang - I Can Bake" cookbook for quite awhile and one day I saw Sonia of NasiLemakLover post this recipe.  I was comparing both her recipes and Agnes Chang and decided to use Sonia's recipe because she used with the Gelatinised Dough.  So I thought I should try it.

Little Butter Buns

Adapted from Sonia's Blog with a little slight changes

Gelatinised dough
100g bread flour
70ml hot boiling water

1. Place flour in a mixing bowl.
2. Add hot boiling water and mix with wooden spoon to form a rough dough.
3. Cover bowl with cling film and leave dough to cool in the fridge for at least 1 hour, and up to 48 hours.

To prepare Basic sweet bread dough

300g bread flour
100g plain flour
80g sugar
1 tbsp instant yeast
½ tsp salt
175ml cold milk
1 cold grade A egg
60g cold butter, cubed

1. Combine flours, sugar, yeast and salt together in a mixing bowl.
2. Tear the gelatinized dough into pieces and add to the bowl along with the eggs
3. Using a stand electric mixer, mix on low speed, adding cold milk gradually.
4. Mix until dough is well combined and leave the sides of bowl.
5. Add in the cold butter cubes and mix on medium speed until dough is smooth.
6. Shape dough into a ball, leave to proof for 40mins or until doubled.

Butter filling                                                                   
100g butter, room temperature
40g icing sugar

1. Mix butter and sugar in a small bowl, stir to combine.
2. Place in the fridge (to harden) before use.

To assemble roti paun
1. Divide and shape bread dough into a small ball weighted 30g each.
2. Spoon 1tsp of butter filling and wrap inside the small dough ball.
3. Place dough ball in a greased 9” round cake tin (removable base).
4. Once completed, set aside to rest for 15mins.
5. Apply egg wash & sprinkle some sugar on top of the dough balls
6. Bake at preheated oven at 180c for 20-25 mins.

     (I baked at 160C).

  

   The butter filling went up on top instead in the middle!  Overall it is yummy when it is still 
    warm.

  When I remove it out from the oven, I brush the top with some "left over" butter which

   I melted to give the buns some shine on top.

Ham And Spinach Quiche

Tarts, pies and quiches are my favourites but I hardly make them because I always thought making the crust would takes up some time.    I remember the first quiche I have eaten was many many years ago when I was still working in Petaling Jaya. 

I have made a Crustless Tuna & Ham Quiche before somewhere  last year, but I was not happy with the outcome.  Probably I am still new in my cooking and baking.  

Since everyone at home loves to eat tarts, pies and quiches, why not I try to make it.   And for quiches, I can always add ingredients to suit our tastes instead to follow the same old ingredients.

Ham & Spinach Quiche

Adapted with slight changes from Rima of Bisous A Toi

Crust

190g flour

¼ tsp salt

120g butter

1 egg yolk

Filling

1 small onion, finely chopped

125g spinach, chopped

100g ham

3 eggs, beaten

200ml milk

200ml cream

75g grated cheddar cheese

1 tbsp olive oil

Salt & black pepper

1.  Place a baking tray in oven and preheat oven to 220C.

2.  To make pastry.

      Sieve flour and salt in food processor.  Cut butter in cubes, give it a few pulse till well

      Blended.  Add egg yolk and continue to pulse till it form smooth dough.  Remove and

      Knead on a lightly floured surface.  Shape dough in a ball and wrap in clingfilm and

      Chill in fridge for at least 30 minutes.

3.  Roll pastry out in a circle on a lightly flour surface and use a line 20cm greased tart tin.

4.  To make filling.

      Heat oil, fry onion till brown, add spinach and fry for 5 minutes over gentle heat in a

      non stick pan.  Spoon into the tart tin.  Add and scatter the ham over.  

5.  Using your mixer, beat the eggs, add in your milk and cream, then add most of the

      grated cheese with some salt and black pepper and beat again.  Pour mixture over to

      ham/spinach and scatter the remaining grated cheese on top.

6.  Bake for 10 minutes, then lower temperature to 190C and continue for 30-35 minutes.

Overall this quiche is delicious though the look of perfection is not to the standard.

Next time I will try to bake with other ingredients.

Pumpkin Fritters

I have bookmarked this recipe for quite awhile but only till now I managed to make it.  I don't usually cook food in deep fry way because I can get heaty very easily.

Pumpkin is a very healthy food and we can use pumpkin in many ways of our cooking, be in in sweet dessert or in savoury ways.  

Pumpkin Fritters

Adapted from Gourmand Recipes 

1 cup coarsely grated pumpkin  (I grated too fine)
½ tbsp salt

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp dried yeast

½ tsp sugar

2/3 cup milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

¼ cup, finely chopped coriander

1 red chilli, finely chopped

½ tsp ground black pepper

 

1.  Place grated pumpkin in a bowl and scatter with salt.  Cover and set aside

     For 30 mins.  (this step is to extract the moisture from the pumpkin).

     Squeeze extra liquid from the pumpkin and set aside.

2.  Combine the flour, baking powder, yeast and sugar in a large bowl.  Mix in the

      Milk and egg.  Stir in the pumpkin, coriander, chilli and ground black pepper.

3.  Cover and set aside in a warm place till double in size (about 1 hour).

4.  Heat oil in deep fryer (about 180C).  Deep fry 1 tablespoon full of the batter, in 

      batches, turning once until golden.

5.  Drain on paper.  Serve with your favourite dipping sauce.

 Indeed a delicious "afternoon snack" or out for a picnic!

Strawberry Cake...... Oh, not again!!

I wasn't prepared to post this Strawberry Cake..... must be bored of me keep making Strawberry Cake lately.  But anyway, still put it up to my blog here.

I loves the colour of this cake, rose red.  I was so impressed when I saw Grace post this Rose Bouquet Strawberry Birthday cake; of the piping out the rose frosting.  So beautiful.  Wish I can do that.....

Well, I just make it simple frosting on my cake.

Strawberry Cake

Adapted from Apron Of Grace

Ingredients

• 1 cup Butter(227g)
• 2 & 1/2 cups Sugar  (I used 330g only)
• 2 Egg Yolks
• 5 Egg Whites
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 teaspoon Red Food Coloring
• 1 & 1/4 cups Pureed Strawberries
• 3 cups Cake Flour, sifted (375g)
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• pinch Salt
• 1 cup Buttermilk

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C.  Grease and line 2  9" round cake pans.
2. In a medium bowl, beat butter with sugar for 3 minutes.
3. Add egg yolks one at a time, then the vanilla, food coloring and strawberries, beat for another 3 minutes.
4. Sift dry ingredients and add to butter/egg mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
5. Mix just till combined.
6. In another bowl and clean beaters, beat egg whites till stiff and add in an increment of 3 to cake batter, being sure to fold in thoroughly but gently.
7. Pour batter equally to the 2 cake pans.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or till skewer comes out clean. 

For the Frosting, I used the same frosting from my Red Velvet Cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting

125g cream cheese

50g unsalted butter

80g icing sugar

1 cup fresh cream, whipped until stiff

1.  Beat cream cheese with butter until soft.

2.  Turn mixer to low speed, add icing sugar a little at a time, whisk until well

      blended.

3.  Add whipped cream, stir through with a spatula.

Overall the cake is moist inside.  Well, this cake is very suitable for a birthday cake if you wish to bake for someone birthday!!

Siew Pau (Flaky BBQ Pork Bun)

I have been craving for this "Seremban Siew Pau" eversince few months back, when my brother-in-law's friends came to visit and brought us a box the famous Seremban Siew Pau!  So instead of going all the way to Seremban to buy this delicious Siew Pau (Flaky BBQ Pork Bun), I guess I have to make it myself!

I searched for the recipe through the websites and finally found one and bookmarked it.  I've been studying it for weeks on how to knead and roll the water and oil dough together to get the flaky type.  And also watching this Video Pleating Pau for umpteen times to learn how to pleat the pau.

And, finally I spend almost 2 and half hour completing this Siew Pau though wasn't to my satisfaction of the pleating of the pau.

Seremban Siew Pau (Flaky BBQ Pork Buns)
Adapted from The Waitakere Redneck's Kitchen

Makes about 9 paus

Ingredients
Water dough
60g all purpose flour
60g bread/high grade flour
40g cooking oil
18g sugar
½ tsp golden syrup
60g water (minus 1 Tbsp)

Oil dough
62g all purpose flour
37g vegetable shortening

Method
1. Water dough
    Rub oil with flour until it looks like breadcrumbs.
    Dissolve sugar and syrup in water and add to the above. Mix together to form a smooth dough. Cover

    and rest for 15 mins.
    Divide dough into 9 pieces.
2. Oil Dough
    Rub shortening gradually into the flour to form a soft dough. Cover to rest for 15 minutes.
    Divide dough into 9 pieces.
3. Wrap oil dough into water dough and flatten.
4. Roll out into a longish flat piece. Roll up like a swiss roll.
5. Turn 90deg., and repeat .

Please go to Waitakere Redneck's Kitchen's site to learn the step by step on how to roll the dough here.

6. Press dough with palm and lightly roll out into a circle.
7. Place filling in the center (do not put too much filling in), wrap and pleat into a pau shape. Place on a 

    greaseproof paper.
8. Brush pie with egg wash and bake at 190C for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Filling For Siew Pau

Ingredients
125 gm "Char Siew" (bbq pork) (chopped into small pieces)
5 Tbsp frozen peas
chives or spring onions (optional)
2 tsp oil

Seasonings
3 Tbsp water
¼ tsp sesame oil
1½ tsp oyster sauce
2 tsp sugar

3/4 tsp dark soy sauce
½ tsp cornflour
1½ tsp peanut butter
dash of pepper
dash of chinese wine

Method
1. Mix seasoning together
2. Heat oil, add seasoning and simmer till gravy thickens.
3. Add bbq pork and the rest of the ingredients. Mix well
4. Remove and leave to cool before using as filling.

Note : Leftover filling can be eaten with rice or frozen for future pau making.

The video which I have viewed umpteen times looks easy on the pleating but once I'm on hand to do it, it was difficult for me.  The pau still open its mouth when half way baking.

 Can you see some of the pau opened its wide mouth?

Though my pleating isn't perfect, the overall of this Siew Pau is very very delicious.  See the flaky part....

Making pau and bread is not my specialty as I know I still have a lot of room to improve to make it perfect.  Well, at least I have tried..........  Give me some praise please...............

Strawberry Cake

I have three big punnets of strawberries stocking inside my fridge for a week now and calling out for me to do something with it or it will go rotten soon.....

I searched into Martha Stewart's website as I always loves recipes from her site and hence this simple Strawberry Cake is baked.

And Mother's Day is coming soon this Sunday, just wondering what would my favourite fellow bloggers going to bake for their mother.  Maybe I should bake another Strawberry Cake for my beloved mother. 

Strawberry Cake

adapted from Martha Stewart's site

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pie plate
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 170C. Butter a 10-inch pie plate (I used a 7" x 10" baking dish). Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl.
2. Put butter and 1 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low; mix in egg, milk, and vanilla.
3. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture. Transfer batter to buttered pie plate. Arrange strawberries on top of batter, cut sides down and as close together as possible. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries.
4. Bake cake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 160C. Bake until cake is golden brown and firm to the touch, about 35 minutes. Let cool in pie plate on a wire rack. Cut into wedges. Cake can be stored at room temperature, loosely covered, up to 2 days.
 

 Have a slice with a cup of tea..... moist and yummy..