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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Banana Cake (Chef Zu)





Too much to do in too little time! That's how I am feeling at the moment. I declare, this week as a VERY BUSY WEEK for me. I guess by the end of this week, I'll be flat. At the same time, making duaas that next week will be a hassle free week for me or... I'll demand a vacation! Hahaha... Keep wishing...

Anyway, let's not waste time. I will slowly update on our surprise visit to Fatin's hostel yesterday and yes, I have awards to collect and 'assignments' to do before that. InsyaAllah, slowly but surely.... For today, I am going to post this cake recipe, taken from the ever so busy lady Mak Lang Azie who got it from Chef Zubaidah. Thank you to both ladies for sharing this lovely recipe with all of us. Allow me to translate and post it here....

Banana Cake Chef Zu

BANANA CAKE
Source : Chef Zubaidah

Ingredients :

200g flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
150g ripe bananas ~ mashed (I used 2 ripe bananas, medium size)
3 eggs
1 tablespoon ovallette
a few drops of banana essence (I added)
170g castor sugar
120g melted margarine
Enough chocolate rice/vermicelli ~ coat with a bit of flour

Method :

1. Sift flour, bicarbonate soda and baking powder. Set aside.
2. Beat eggs, ovalette and banana in a mixer over medium speed. Add in banana essence.
3. Add in sugar a little at a time. Continue beating. Pour in the melted margarine.
4. Fold in the sifted dry ingredients and the chocolate rice.
5. Pour into the prepared tins.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 C for 40 to 45 minutes. (Oven temperature and baking time may differ)

Banana Cake Chef Zu


Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Happy birthday Fatin honey bun sugar pop lollipop!


HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY FATIN!


WITH LOADS OF LOVE... from Ayah, Mama and Syahmi....
Moga kehidupan Along diberkati ALLAH SNT sepanjang detik dan ketika...

InsyaAllah if everything goes well, we'll pay her a surprise visit this evening. I had phoned the school on Monday, to inform them about this and the teacher in charged said it's not a problem. And I made him keep this secret as well.... Wonder how Fatin will re-act!! Hahaha...

I've made for her some cupcakes...
I know she doesn't quite favour these flowery designs, but sorrylah Along... this is what your mom is capable of doing with her limited skills. Better something than nothing huh! Hahaha....


Fatin's Birthday Cuppies

Speaking of Fatin's birthday, actually the date was chosen by me. She was a week overdue that time. And why did I pick 30th March? Because that date is the birthdate of my best friend in Malacca Girls' High School, Hafiza Abd Hamid. I am still trying to find her. Fiz, the daughter of Uncle Hamid and Aunty Kalthum and the younger sister of Puan Hamidah Abd Hamid. If any of Hafiza's friend or if Fiz is read this post, please contact me via my email.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY FIZ.... I never forget....


Sunday, March 28, 2010

Red Bean Cake



A very good morning to all of you! I hope everyone is keeping well...

Did you turn off the lights yesterday night from 8.30pm till 9.30pm? I turned off the lights at 8.25pm till a few minutes after 9.30pm. Why earlier? Because Akademi Fantasia 8 starts at 8.30pm and I am just too lazy to get up and off the switch once I am comfortably sitted right infront of my TV. Hahaha... And why a few minutes after 9.30pm mama? Hmmm... just! This year, there were less dark houses around my neighbourhood compared to last year's Earth Hour Campaign.

While in the dark, I watched AF8, alone. Hubby went upstairs to watch his golf and Syahmi, watching his own channel. The second AF8's concert was just so so to me. And my favourites are still Adira and Iwan.

Right, now for the recipe to share. I came across this recipe at Ayu's Blog. Fell in love at first sight with her cakes. If only it was daytime when I saw the recipe, I'm sure I would have tried it straight away. But because that was just before midnight, I don't want to wake the whole neighbourhood up with the sweet sound of my mixer! Hahaha... Thank you Ayu for sharing this lovely and soft recipe. I followed the recipe that she had altered and also made a few adjustments to her altered recipe. Allow me to post the recipe here for others to try. To those who wants the Malay version of this recipe, kindly visit Ayu's red bean cake entry.

Red Bean Cake

RED BEAN CAKE
Source : Ayu

Ingredients :

15 floral baking tins
enough red bean paste (I used the readymade paste)
3 large eggs
220g sugar
2 tablespoons honey
350g plain flour
50g corn flour
25g ovalette
2 teaspoons baking powder
90ml water
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
100ml oil
50g almond slice (I substitute with almond nibs)
enough chocolate rice (I added)


Red Bean Cake

Method :

1. Grease each baking cup with a little margarine and flour.
2. Beat eggs, sugar and honey in a mixer for 2 minutes. Add in ovalette.
3. Add plain flour, corn flour and baking powder. Mix till fluffy.
4. Add water and vanilla essence. Mix well then remove from mixer.
5. Pour in 100ml oil and mix well using a wooden spoon.
6. Spoon1 tablespoon of mixture into the prepared cups. Top it with a bit of red bean paste and cover with mixture till 3/4 full.
7. Sprinkle with almond nibs and chocolate rice. on top.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 175C for 25 to 30 minutes.

Red Bean Cake



Saturday, March 27, 2010

KungFu Kue Tiau


Don't forget to turn off your lights, TONIGHT at 8.30pm.
And perhaps you can have a candle light dinner of Kue tiau Kungfu! *wink* *wink*


Kue Tiau KungFu




KUNGFU KUE TIAU
Source : Kak Liza's Cook Book

Ingredients A :

500g kue tiau
3 eggls ~ lightly beaten

Ingredients B :

150g chicken fillet ~ sliced
6 pieces fish balls ~ sliced
3 cloves garlic ~ chopped
100g cauliflower ~ cut to small pieces
100g carrots ~ sliced
2 tablespoons cooking oil
3 tablespoons cornflour mix with 1 1/2 cups water
1 chicken cube
enough water
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon white pepper
salt to taste

Method :

1. Heat oil and fry scrambled eggs.Add in kue tiau and fry till slightly crispy. Set aside.
2. Heat oil and add in garlic. Fry till fragrant. Add in chicken fillet and fish balls. Fry till chicken fillets are cooked.
3. Add in the chicken cube and enough water. Add pepper, oyster sauce, carrots and cauliflower. Let it boil.
4. Pour in cornflour mixture and stir to avoid the cornflour from being curdled.
5. Pour the soup ontop the kuetiau and serve immediately. Enjoy!


Friday, March 26, 2010

Bingka Ubi (CMG)


Jumaah Mubaraq to all....


Bingka Ubi


I wrote about Golfing in my previous entry and I think I'll write just a bit more about it today. Oh no... I am not a golfer...yet. I am still the loyal companion to my golfer hubby.

When hubby first started playing golf, he spent most of his weekends at the golf course.That's a norm because I think I would have done the same if I were in his shoes. It's proven actually because I still remember, when I just had the hang of baking better-than-before cakes, there will ALWAYS be cakes on the table! My poor family, had to suffer, eating my cakes! Hahaha....

Okay, back to the golf story, it was so boring to be cooped up at home during weekends. That time, I just don't have the guts to drive and we only had one car. That's when all these crazy thoughts came to mind... I often have this crazy thinking whenever I am so bored dan makan hati tak dapat pergi jalan-jalan.

"...I'll start learning to play golf from a pro at the club, without my hubby's knowledge. And I'll practise to be the best of the best...then I'll enter the same tournament that hubby's playing but will ask for a different flight, so as not to bump into him at the golf course... and wallah, at the end of the day, I am the champion of that tournament... During the price giving, hubby will get a shock of his life! My wife is a Pro golfer!!! No more Paula Kramer!

Hahahaha...does any other golfer's wife feel that way before? Please put up your keyboards!Hahaha... Well, all those crazy thoughts no longer exist. Nowadays I will persuade him to go golfing, at least to get the work stress out of his mind...............

Now let's move on to reality.... I've tried this recipe quite sometime ago. Came across it at the ever famous Cik Mat Gebu's Blog and decided to give it a try. Made half the recipe. I didn't bake the Bingka in a tray but I used the silicone ring trays and also the small cupcake casings, just to give it a different look. At least, if I can't snap a good photo as Mat's, I will be satisfied as how my Bingka looks! Hahaha... sorry Mat, bukan nak lawan tokey ye... hahaha... When I gave mak to taste, she had asked me, what was it that I am serving. When I said it's Bingka Ubi, she said, why does it look different! I said, it's a modern version! Hihihihi..... Thank you so much Mat for sharing this nice recipe with all of us and allow me to repost it here.....

Bingka Ubi

BINGKA UBI
Source : Mr. Mat Gebu

Ingredients :

1kg tapioca ~ grated finely
650 ml coconut milk
100g palm sugar/jaggeri/gula melaka ~ sliced
2/3 cup sugar
2 screwpine leaves ~ knotted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ghee
a few drops of brown coloring (optional)

Method :

1. In a pot, place the coconut milk, jaggeri, sugar, salt and screwpine leaves. Place the pot on the stove on low heat and keep stiring till sugar dissolves (the mixture doesn't have to be boiling). Add in the ghee and remove from heat. Set aside to cool.
2. Place the grated tapioca on a muslin cloth. Squeeze the grated tapioca. Keep the juice for 20 minutes to seperate the tapioca sagoo and water. Keep the sagoo and discard the water.
3. Heat the oven to 180 C. Grease the baking tin with margarine and line the tray with foil. Since I used the silicone trays, I only grease the whole tray and it works just lovely!
4. Mix the tapioca sagoo with the tapioca. Pour the coconut milk mixture through a sieve, into the tapioca mixture. Mix well. Add in brown coloring.
5. Pour the mixture into the prepared tins and bake for 1 1/2 hour, depending on the size of your trays. Enjoy!


Have a safe and great weekend ahead..... keep well...

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Korokke (Meat Croquette)


My apologies to all my visitors for letting this blog go on silent mode for quite sometime. This time, I have a reason infact 2 reasonable reasons to give. Firstly, I find it hard to update during weekends especially when hubby is around because everywhere he goes, he wants me to accompany him, which I will gladly follow. And recently, he has the habit of asking me to go with him when he goes to the driving range to 'whack' a basketful of golf balls. Don't be surprised if all of a sudden, mama declares herself a golfer! Hahahaha... I don't think so! I think I'll stick to my hobby in the kitchen. But then again, when I see him whacking the balls, I feel like doing it as well, who knows it might help me let out the stress, if any.... hahaha...

Secondly, our modem went dead. There was a heavy rain with very very loud thunder and of course lightning. I guess the modem got struck by the lightning. The sound of the thunder was just deafening. In my mind, I was thinking, is this the end of the world? And guess what, Kak Ana thought the same. I had never experienced that situation before and was really scared! Not only me, but mak and Syahmi were scared too. The three of us just sat at the couch in the hall, far from the windows. The main power switch tripped and our fax machine went kaput!

Enough of the reasons, let's move on to my report. Last Sunday, I had tried this recipe which I came across at Lesley's Asian Kitchen. It looks simple and yummy that I just had to try it out myself. It was the right choice. It's simply delicious. Most enjoyed by my visitors and my children.To tell you frankly, I only managed to taste just half the Korokke. Please read and pronounce carefully...it is K.O.R.O.K.K.E and not KARAOKE or whatsoever ya... hahaha...
So Les, thank you so much for sharing the recipe. My apologies to you for altering your recipe, slightly, to suit my taste... and allow me to post the recipe here, to share with my visitors. Thank you so much.....

Korokke

KOROKKE (MEAT CROQUETTE)
Source : Lesley of Beachlovers

Ingredients :

500g potatoes ~ peeled,boiled and mashed
1/2 large onion ~ peeled and diced
1 stalk spring onion ~ washed and cut small
salt to taste
ground white pepper to taste
200g minced meat
5 pieces canned button mushroom ~ diced small
1 cup panko(Japanese bread crumb) ~ I used normal bread crumbs
1 egg ~ lightly beaten
1/2 cup rice flour
enough oil for frying


Korokke


Method :

1. Saute minced meat and onion in skillet for 5 minutes.
2. Place mashed potatoes in a large bowl.Combine salt, ground pepper,cooked minced meat, diced button mushrooms and spring onions together, mix well.
2. Shape potatoes mixture into small balls, slightly press the potatoe balls into a cylinder or disk shape. If the potatoes are too soft, place the shaped potatoes into fridge for 30 minutes or longer.
3. Roll shaped potato balls onto rice flour, then dip into egg mixture before coating with breadcrumbs.
4. Prepare fryer or deep skillet at medium heat with oil. Place the coated croquettes into the hot oil. Fry croquette both side until golden brown.
5. Remove the fried croquettes from fryer and place on kitchen towel to drain off the excess oil.
6. Serve warm as snack or with meal.


Korokke


Friday, March 19, 2010

Butter Cookies (Ayu)


Jumaa Mubarak to all of you, my treasured visitors....

Mmm what did I do yesterday that I didn't update my blog? Oh yes, I wasn't THAT busy but it's just the internet line wasn't so good. Hubby had moved the modem or whatever you called it, to another spot, which makes my internet line downstairs like the Chipsmore cookies...now you see it now you don't! That puts me off but I am not complaining. It's better to have a chipsmore line than not having at all. Alhamdulillah syukur...

I didn't cook lunch yesterday but took mak and Syahmi out for a treat at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Fatin didn't want to tag along as she wanted to enjoy the comfort of her room before she goes back to boarding. So we just bought for her to enjoy it at home. Mak and Syahmi really enjoyed their meals. I didn't eat because I just had some leftovers Roti John from the pasar malam the day before.

In the evening, I made some tart casings for Friday's order and tried this cookies recipe as well. When I read how Ayu's kids enjoyed the cookies, I just thought I had to try it out myself. Alhamdulillah, my family likes them and mak's comment was... the cookies are nice and crunchy! So thanks a bunch to Ayu for sharing this recipe with us and allow me to re-post the recipe here for my future reference and for the reading pleasure of my visitors...




Butter Cookies Ayu

BUTTER COOKIES

Ingredients :

75g butter
50g castor sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
150g cake flour (remove 1 tablespoon)
a pinch of baking powder (I used 1/8 teaspoon)
1 tablespoon milk powder

1 egg white
Dry Demerara sugar for sprinkling (I don't have this, instead, I used colored sugar. Please check Note #4)

Method :

1. Cream butter, sugar and salt till pale and fluffy.
2. Add in egg yolk and vanilla. Beat till well incorporated.
3. Sieve in the flour, baking powder and milk powder into the creamed mixture till well combined. Mixture will be breadcrumbs like and will form dough easily. Put dough into a plastic bag and roll it into a flat sheet. Chill in the fridge till harden before cutting out the cookie.
4. Cut out the cookie with cutter.
5. Brush on some egg white and sprinkle dry demerara sugar on the surface.
6. Bake on a lined tray at 180C for 10 minutes. (I used fan oven and baked the cookies at 150 C for 20 minutes.


Butter Cookies Ayu


Notes:-
1. The sprinkling of the dry demerara sugar is optional. If you omit this step, please increase sugar to 60g.
2. Please really only use a pinch of baking powder as you dont want the cookie to be out of shape when it is baking in the oven.
3. Chill the dough again if it is too soft to be cut out
4. For the colored sugar, I placed a spoonful of coarse sugar into a small container. Drop a tint of color onto it. Place the lid and shake.




The cutter that I had used. I bought mine when we went to South Africa long time ago.


Try visiting Gina's Online Shoppe and see what she has in her store. I thought I saw this similar cookie cutter there. If it's out of stock, perhaps you could place and order. All the best!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Prosperity Burger


Muli bwanji... that's the greetings that I'll get every morning when I still have a helper at home, back in Malawi. Though I don't understand Chichewa that much, but the least, I know how to greet and answer greetings. Come to think about it, I should have learnt to speak Chichewa... being 7 years in Malawi. What a waste.... anyway, it's history now... a history full of lovely memories.....

Why all of a sudden mama is writing about Malawi... one of the answers will be I miss Malawi! Secondly, yesterday while google-ing, I stumbled upon a blog about Malawi which makes all the memories came rushing back to mind. And as if, on the right flow, when hubby came back from work, he asked me about Malawi photos that we've taken. Sad to say, some of the photos can't be saved when Fatin's laptop went kaput! But My Fotopages is my saviour. I am glad I had it when we were abroad. At least, I have those chosen photos to treasure, together with the story to go with. Hubby was glued to the Malawi entries and the breathtakingly beauty of Malawi's nature.... I guess, I'll join him soon......

Back to the present.... here's the recipe that I had experimented and served for my kids' dinner yesterday night. Saw it in a few blogs and just can't help to try out the recipe myself. And I have no regrets. Thank you to the owner of the recipe and the line of beautiful ladies who had helped promoting this recipe.


PROSPERITY BURGER

Main ingredients :


Burger rolls
Beef burger or Chicken Burger
Onion ~ sliced
Tomato ~ sliced
Lettuce ~ sliced



Blackpepper Sauce

2 cups chicken stock (I just add water and chicken cube)
1/4 cup fresh milk
1 - 2 tablespoons blackpepper ~ coarsely crushed
1/2 onion ~ diced
2 tablespoons sweet soya sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon margarine
3 tablespoons cornflour ~ mix with a bit of water
salt and sugar ~ if necessary

Method :

1. Heat oil and add in diced onion. Fry till fragrant. Add in the chicken stock and let it boil.
2. Add in crushed black pepper, sweet soya sauce, margarine, oyster sauce and sugar.
3. Finally pour in the cornflour mixture, a little at a time till you get the desired thickness.
4. Place the beef/chicken burger on a non stick pan and fry till cooked, without oil.
5. Dip the cooked burger into the sauce then take it out and place it on the rolls, layered with lettuce, tomato and onion.
6. Enjoy....



Have a nice day!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Chicken Luncheon Rolls

"Mama mana?"

That will be hubby's first question when he enters the house after giving salaam, if I am not the one who greets him at the door when he comes back from work or anywhere. Kinda like it because at least I know, he still remembers me... hahaha... as if he'll forget his cuddly teddy bear! Hahaha....

Besides him, is there anybody out there who has the same question lingering in their minds? Well if there is, then my answer will be, I'm still pretty tight up. Now, not so much with orders but trying to put the house back into a better shape than before! Hahaha.... For a start, I have a room full of clothes to be sorted out. What's to be ironed, what's to be disposed off and bla bla bla....

Anyway, here's the latest attempt from me. Kak Fatimah had ordered a cake for her daughter's ENGAGEMENT! My oh my, that's a big occassion to me. Told her that I am not good in decorating a cake. Cupcakes, are not so much of a problem as the space to cover is less hence any defects will not be so obvious. But nevertheless, I told her, I'll give it a try. Alhamdulillah I am quite happy with my attempt though I know, I have loads of practises to do in order to get a better result. Thank you Kak Fatimah for your trust in me....


Kek Kak Fatimah


Kek Kak Fatimah


Let's move on to the recipe to share. Tried this sometimes back...Thanks Ayin for sharing the recipe with us. I wonder, what happened to Ayin's blog as it is no longer accessible. Whatever it is, I wish Ayin and family, all the best....


Chicken Luncheon Rolls


CHICKEN LUNCHEON ROLLS
Adapted from Ayin's Roti Ham Keju

Ingredients :

250 g high protein flour (I used all purpose flour and added a bit more)
30 g sugar
20 g milk powder
6 g instant dried yeast (1 1/2 teaspoons)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon bread softener
2 egg yolks
130 ml fresh milk
30 g butter
3 pieces Chicken Luncheon ~ cut to small pieces
Mozzarella cheese ~ grated

Method : (Breadmaker method)

1. Pour fresh milk into the breadmaker pan. Add in salt, sugar and egg yolks
2. Top it with sifted flour, dry yeast, milk powder and dough softener.
3. Set the Breadmaker to Dough function.
4. Once the dough is just combined, add in butter and leave the Breadmaker to continue doing it's job. This process will take about 1 1/2 hour including prooving.
5. Remove dough from BM and punch down to release the air. Cut the dough to 2portions.
6. Roll the dough flat. Sprinkle with cheese and chicken luncheon. Then roll like swiss roll. Slice to the thickness of 1/2 inch. Arrange on the baking tray sprinkled with a bit of flour. Repeat the same procedure with the other portion.
7. Leave to proof till double the size.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 C for 30 minutes or so.
9. Once out of the oven, brush with butter.


How to prepare Chicken Luncheon Rolls


Friday, March 12, 2010

What kept me busy....

Jumaa Mubaraq to all of you....

"Wahai Tuhan, aku tak layak ke syurgaMu ...namun tak pula aku sanggup ke NerakaMu....kami lah hamba yang mengharap belas darimu.
Ya Allah jadikan lah kami hamba2 Mu yang bertaqwa..ampunkan dosa2 kami .kedua ibubapa kami, dosa semua umat-umat Islam yang masih hidup mahupun yang telah meninggal dunia"

Amin amin ya rabbal alamin.....

As promised yesterday, these were what kept me busy these couple of days....

.... order from Huda. Thanks Huda ....

.... for our grand daughter's (hubby's nephew's daughter) aqiqah ....


.... ordered by hubby's cousin's wife, Sis Nona ....


.... Mimie's sister requested these ....


.... from Intan and Me for Erna. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ....


.... ordered by AnitaSabrina. Thank you so much dear for your continuous support ....





.... ordered by Erna for her office ....


A really adhoc order which I have doubt whether I am capable of doing a good job or not. I think, I NEED lots and lots of practise. Order came in around 11am. The cake was ready for collection around 7pm, same day. In between, had to rush to Lea Oven to get the edible image printed, went to Giant and also to send and fetch Syahmi from tuition. Yes... MamaFaMi BOLEH! Hahahaha... sorry all, I am just motivating myself ya.... To Erna... lain kali, SELALU SELALU la buat ma kalut ye! Sabor je la!!!!

Have a nice and safe weekend everyone....take care!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Egg Paratha Rolls

Hi everyone... I've been missing in action lately.. Not that there's no action whatsoever, in fact, there are just too much action going on, that I don't have much time to spend infront of the laptop. But alhamdulillah, all missions, whether possible or 'impossible made possible' had been carried out.... successfully or not, is up to those who had given me the missions to judge! Will upload all the photos, insyaAllah by tomorrow....

For today, let me just share with you this lovely recipe that I've made for dinner a few weeks back. Made them with cheese and without cheese... Verdict : Syahmi prefered the one with cheese though he's not really a Cheese guy. Thanks to Gert and Ummi for sharing and promoting this simple yet lovely recipe for others to try. Allow me to re-post it here.


EGG PARATHA ROLLS
Source : Gert

Ingredients:

3 pcs of frozen paratha (I used Kawan brand)
3 eggs
1/2 onion – slice thinly
1 spring onion – cut small
Salt and pepper to taste

Method :

1. In a bowl beat the eggs, add in salt, pepper, onion and spring onion. Mix well and set it aside.
2. In a non stick pan over medium heat cook the parathas (without oil) until lightly brown on both sides. Remove and set it aside.
3. In the same pan, heat up a bit of olive oil. Pour 1/3 of the eggs mixture into the pan, let it cook for 10 second then place the cooked paratha on top of the omelet.
4. Let the egg set before turning it over to cook through.
5. Remove from pan and place the paratha, with the omelet side up on a board. Arrange the cheese and roll up the paratha like a Swiss roll. Do the same to the other two parathas.
6. Cut the paratha about 3/4 inches thick and you can serve it with some curry.