All about food

All about food

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Most Fluffy Bread

 
I love this most fluffy bread which I adapted from 'Foodzizzles' and if you are interested to try it out, click this link here.

The photos which I am going to share below tells it all...

Ready for first proofing

It has doubled in size

Ready for second proofing

After second proofing

Done baking, brush top with melted butter

Breakfast is served!

Coffee Buns

This Coffee Buns or popularly known as Mexican Buns or Rotiboy in Malaysia, is one of my favorite.  I have attempted quite a number of times using different recipe source, including the Matcha one as well ~ smile ~

This recipe is the latest one that I try out... love the coffee aroma during the baking process, and not to mention the fabulous coffee taste of this buns.  If you are interested to try out this recipe, click this link here to get the full recipe.

For information of my readers, for the Buns recipe, I have to add more flour to the actual amount as specified in the recipe, as the dough is too wet and soft.  I added bit by bit of additional flour until the dough comes together.  For the Coffee Crust Topping, when I mix in all the ingredients together, it is also too soft, thus instead of following the steps in the recipe, I just transfer the coffee crust ingredients into a piping bag and pipe onto the top of the buns just before baking.

Let me share some photos of the process of baking this delicious Coffee Buns...

Ready for first proofing

After first proofing

It's time for second proofing

After second proofing

Done with topping

Baking in progress...

Spiral Cucumber Salad

 
Ingredients: (serves 2)

1 large Japanese cucumber

A pinch of salt

3 cloves garlic (peeled and chopped)

2 bird's eye chilis (sliced)

2 1/2 tbsp. cooking oil

1 tbsp. light soy sauce

2 tbsp. vinegar

1 tsp. sugar


Methods:

  1. Cut off the ends of the cucumber.  Place it between a pair of chopsticks, and thinly slice it from one end to the other.  Flip over.  At an angle, slice it again from one end to the other.
  2. Place the cucumber on a plate, and season them with salt.  Rest for 5 minutes.
  3. To make the sauce: in a bowl, add the garlic and chili, and set aside.
  4. In a small pan over high heat, add the cooking oil and heat it up until smoking hot.  Remove from heat and pour the hot oil over the garlic and chili.  Whisk.  Then, add in the light soy sauce, vinegar and sugar.  Mix well to combine.
  5. Transfer the cucumber to a serving plate, and drizzle the dressing over it.
  6. Enjoy!

I adapted this yummylicious recipe from 'cicili.tv' with a slight adjustments to suit my cooking preference.

Buttermilk Chicken

 
Ingredients:

2 chicken thighs (boneless) 

1/3 cup evaporated milk (add more if you want more sauce on the dish)

2 cloves garlic (peeled and thinly sliced)

1/2 onion (peeled and cubed)

3 tablespoon unsalted butter

2 sprigs curry leaves

3 bird's eye chili (cut into pieces)

Chicken stock granules (to taste, if needed)


Marinade for chicken:

2-3 plain flour

1 tbsp. curry powder

1 egg

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. water


Methods:

  1. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.  Add egg and salt, and mix to combine.  Add flour, curry powder and water.  Mix to coat the chicken well with the mixture.  Marinate for at least 30 minutes or more.
  2. To fry the chicken, add oil into a medium heated pot.  Fry the chicken in batches until golden, dish and set aside.
  3. To make the buttermilk, in a heated wok, add butter until melted.  Then add in garlic, chili and curry leaves; saute until fragrant.  Add in the milk and onion.  Give it a quick stir.  Then add in the fried chicken.  Stir and cook until the sauce has slightly thicken.  Taste for correct seasoning, add  chicken stock granules, if needed.
  4. Remove from heat onto a serving plate.  
  5. Serve immediately.
I adapted this delicious recipe from 'unclenublikumz' with a slight adjustment to suit my cooking preference.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Napa Cabbage Dumplings

 
Ingredients:

(1)  For the filling:

500 g. minced chicken

3 pieces dried shiitake mushrooms (minced)

1 sprig spring onion (chopped)

1 egg

1/2 tbsp. rice wine

2 tsp. chicken stock granules (to taste)

Pinch of ground white pepper

1/2 tbsp. sesame oil


(2)  For the dumplings:

7 large Napa cabbage leaves

7 small Napa cabbage leaves

7 pieces Chinese chives


(3)  For the sauce:

1 tsp. oyster sauce

1 tsp. cornflour

1 tbsp. water


Methods:

  1. To prepare the cabbage and chives: In a pot of water over high heat, bring it to boil, and blanch the cabbage leaves for 30 seconds, and also the chives.  Gently remove them and place in cold water to stop cooking. Discard the water and drain.
  2. To make the filling: In a mixing bowl, add minced chicken, shiitake mushrooms, spring onion, rice wine, chicken stock granules, white pepper, sesame oil and egg.  Thoroughly combine.
  3. To assemble: On a flat plate, place a large Napa cabbage leaf on the bottom, and a small piece on top.  Add about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the filling in the center.  Gather the cabbage leaves together.  Wrap a piece of chive around it and tie a knot.  Trim off the extra length.  Place the dumplings on a steaming plate, and continue with the rest.
  4. To steam: In a steamer over high heat, bring water to a boil, and transfer the plate of Napa cabbage dumplings into the steamer.  Cover the lid and steam until completely cooked through for about 10 minutes.  Carefully remove the steaming plate.
  5. To serve:  In a small pan over medium heat, pour the extra liquid from the plate of steamed dumplings.  Bring to a simmer, and add 1 teaspoon of oyster sauce, then add the cornflour mixture (1 teaspoon of cornflour and 1 tablespoon of water).  Stir until thickened.  Drizzle the sauce over the cabbage dumplings.  Serve and enjoy hot!
Ready for steaming

Done steaming

Ready to serve!

I serve these Napa cabbage dumplings as a dish with rice and a must-have condiment of homemade Thai Sweet Chili Sauce.

There is still balance of the filling, so I place it in airtight container in the freezer for later use.

I adapted this recipe from 'cicili.tv' with slight adjustment to suit my cooking preference.

Monday, September 16, 2024

Coffee Chocolate Pound Cake

With leftover cocoa powder and chocolate (milk and dark) in my pantry, I am happy to come across this yummylicious recipe online. It's so rich and moist! As usual I reduce the amount of sugar so that it is not overly sweet.


Ingredients:

2 eggs (room temperature)

90 g. caster sugar

140 g. Naturel Blend Canola & Sunflower Oil

140 ml. hot water

15 g. Instant coffee powder

180 g. plain flour 

13 g. baking powder 

30 g. cocoa powder 

140 g. semi-dark chocolate, cut into chunks (for coating)


Methods:

  1. In a small bowl, add hot water to the Instant coffee powder, stir to mix well, and set aside.
  2. In another bowl, lightly mix the dry ingredients:  plain flour, baking powder and cocoa powder, and set aside.
  3. In a bowl of a stand mixer, add 2 eggs and beat until well beaten.  Add caster sugar and oil, and continue to beat until mixture is smooth and silky.
  4. Pour the coffee mixture into the egg mixture and beat on low until well combined.
  5. Sift the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in thirds.  Whisk the dry ingredients in until mixed in the batter before adding the next batch, this way you will have an easy way of mixing the batter with no lumps.
  6. Pour the batter into a lined cake pan.  Gently tap the pan on the counter to remove air bubbles that may be in the batter.
  7. Bake in a preheated oven of 176 degree Celsius for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  8. Set aside the cake to cool down completely before frosting it.
  9. To prepare the chocolate coating; put the chocolate chunks into a medium heat-proof bowl and place over a pot of simmering water.  Do not let the water touch the bottom of the bowl.  Continue to stir until all the chocolate has melted.  Remove from heat.
  10. Pour the melted chocolate over the cake and serve.  I prefer the chocolate to harden a bit than dripping, so I put the cake into the fridge until the chocolate has set, slice and enjoy!

Image of the pound cake before the chocolate topping...


This recipe is adapted from 'kitchencookbook.net' with slight adjustment to suit my baking preference.

Soft and Fluffy Dinner Rolls/Buns

 
This is another Dinner rolls or buns recipe which I tried out recently.  Thumbs Up!  Love the bread texture and it's soft and fluffy.  We had it for breakfast after our morning walk.  We just spread it with our favorite butter and kaya... YUMMY!

If you are interested in baking this delicious Rolls/Buns, click the link here for the full written recipe.

As usual I am sharing some photos which I captured during my process of baking this Dinner Rolls/Buns.

Ready for first proofing

After first proofing

Rolled them into balls, ready for second proofing

Ready for egg wash & baking

Baking in progress