Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts

Monday, August 16, 2010

Surprise! ...not

 
I promised in my previous post that I'll be back soon and I'm trying hard at keeping my promise! 

I've been back blog hopping these days and I must say, as usual, as with almost all food bloggers, there's simple TOO many recipes to try out. 

It was not until I saw Happyhomebaking's post that compelled me to try it out almost immediately! It was really heart-warming to see how she grabs every opportunity available to show her love, care and concern for her dear husband whom is working hard for the family overseas. Yet, it also jolted that guilt in me and reminded me to shower a little care for my darling D. 

Part of my long absence from baking and blogging stemmed from me starting work coupled with my lousy stamina and well, some unhappiness having to do something which I didn't exactly enjoy. It was only then I realised how pampered I was, when D would take time out almost every evening to pay me a visit and slog through the night baking and washing up for me. 

Amongst the many other commitments he's got, every other spare time he had, he spent it with me. I not only not show my appreciation but still, I complained at times. 

HHB's gesture dug out that guilty conscience in me and I thought what better way to start with something, simple, easy and tasty. Another guilty chord struck when HHB's post was on Oatmeal Cookies. If there was any favorite cookies D loved, it's be Oatmeal Raisin cookies. It's a shame that after all these years baking and doing all that fancy stuff, I neglected the simplest of all. 

Wouldn't then it be perfect to give a shot at an Oatmeal cookie recipe and make that a simple surprise? No. D surprised me instead when he sneaked into the kitchen just when I was scooping the balls of dough. Nonethless, when D peered over to see what was I up to, he broke into a HUGE grin as he recognised the rough looking textured heaps of dough on the baking tray and said "Oatmeal raisin cookies! My FAVORITE!!

When the cookies cooled off, he popped one into his mouth. After 2 of them, he went "I think I can finish off the whole tray soon.

Now, do you consider that a successful surprise?

The cookie yielded quite a special texture. Not quite crispy, yet not quite chewy either. But it tasted great nonethless, with the fragrant buttery aroma, coupled with healthy rolled oats, some chocolate chip, raisin and walnuts, a great tea-time, any-time snack in fact!

Here you go!


Chocolate Chip Raisin Walnut Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:
(makes about 32 cookies)

90g butter, softened at room temperature
25g raw sugar
25g brown sugar
1 egg (weights about 60g with shell), lightly beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
100g cake flour (or plain flour)
100g rolled oats
50g walnuts, coarsely chopped
35g raisins
75g chocolate chips


Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 190degC. Line baking trays with parchment paper.
  2. With manual whisk, cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until the mixture turns pale and fluffy (alternatively use an electric mixer if desired).
  3. Dribble in the egg gradually. Mix well after each addition. Add in salt and vanilla extract, mix to incorporate into the batter.
  4. Sift the flour over the batter, fold in with a spatula.
  5. Add rolled oats, walnuts and dried cranberries. Mix well with the spatula.
  6. Drop heaped teaspoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking tray. Leave some space between the cookies to allow for spreading (actually, they don't spread too much). Flatten each cookie dough slightly with the back of a fork, keeping the shape as even as possible.
  7. Bake for 8~10 mins or until golden (my oven took 12~15mins). If necessary, rotate the baking tray halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in air-tight containers.

    Recipe source: adapted from 好想为你亲手做出美味的甜点! 检见崎聡美
adapted from HHB with modifications in italics.

Enjoy!

Monday, August 9, 2010

I'm WOW-ed!

Before you think I'm back with more recipes, energised and ready to blog blog blog, well, you're not entirely wrong, but not quite right either. 

I'm WOW-ed and left speechless when I actually made it to attend the food blogger's party that Pei-Lin organised. It was almost like a dream come true, getting to meet this virtual friend whom I've know over the past 2 years. It felt almost unreal when Pei-Lin dropped an email sometime back asking for a meet-up. 

Well, I'm terribly guilty for my inactivity as I listened to the other bloggers chatting away. And I thought to myself, gosh! I've been away for SO long, I seriously have little idea of who and what they were referring to. But that enthusiasm and that same passion for baking, blogging, writing and taking pictures blew me away! I felt ashamed at some point in time for not being able to keep up with my blog which I started out with much passion and drive for. 

When I got home, I immediately started checking each and everyone's blog, to put a face to the blog and I must say, that knowing the face behind the blog skins makes reading that someone's blog feel so different. It's as if you've upped one level. 

Though I have no pictures to boast of, nor goodies I made to contribute my portion, I was blown away by each and everyone's warm and friendliness. Though it was just then that we met, but we chatted with so much in common. 

It was REALLY pleasant meeting everyone there and I'm SO glad I managed to make it there in time to enjoy the company. 

For more pictures, blogposts and a glimpse of who made it there, hop on over to:
 I'm WOW-ed! That I CAN'T wait to write this post! 

A big thanks to everyone whom I met that made this meet-up so lovely!

I'll be back...
  

Thursday, March 5, 2009

chewy milk chocolate and macademia nut cookies

Apologies for the lack of pictures on this post, the cookies were gone before I could snap pictures of it. I finally finally managed to get some decent chewy cookies. yes! like the subway kind, in case you were wondering. I like these better because:

1. you can put anything you like in it. choc chips, nuts, raisins, whatever you like
2. they're much less sweeter than the subway ones. (well i find those at subway annoyingly sweet!!! it's not that they aren't nice, but you kinda have to stop after 1)

I'm not entitled to post the recipe here but to make some of these yummilicious cookies, why not sign up for Anna's cookies workshop today?

p.s.: in case you were wondering, nope! I'm not paid to advertise for Anna's classes. Just a personal recommendation =p

Sunday, February 8, 2009

a short break..

Quite a self-explanatory post title..yes..gonna have to take a short break soon with all the mid-term tests and CAs coming up..

As much as i dream eat sleep baking, i've gotta fix my grades and get it going for the last sem! Yay!!

So..i hope to be back baking soon while i try my best at studying hard!

wish me luck!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

cny cookies try-out

I've been baking quite a fair bit of pineapple tarts, almond cookies and kueh lapis. That's why the lack of pictures and posts since they're always the same things.

I didn't take a picture of the kueh lapis as I mentioned in an earlier post is was a practice bake for me. It was baked a little too brown but still taste good. Not too pretty for a photoshoot, so i skipped taking photos of the overly-browned kueh lapis =p I think I might also up the spice to make it more fragrant. hmm..

As a result, i don't have much time to play around and try out other cny cookie recipes =( and after baking batches of pineapple tarts and almond cookies, i've yet to bake any for my family! =X hopefully i'd have enough pineapple paste to go around..

I hope after completing all the 'orders', i'd have time to bake and try out more cny cookies! *fingers crossed*

Monday, January 12, 2009

new toy


presenting...my new kenwood kMix! I was supposed to bake kueh lapis today and was fretting over the process. I had to whip the egg yolks till thick and creamy and also the egg whites to stiff peaks.

I wasn't sure if i could leave the egg yolk mixture out for a while, while i wash up the mixing bowl and wire whisk to whip up the egg whites. I have a hand mixer and i know that would solve the problem. However, it's kinda spoilt and i'm not really inclined to use it.

Just then, i got D to come along to help me out with the kueh lapis. and guess what? He bought me a kMix!! I was looking at it quite some time ago and really liked the 'cool' design but it was really a little pricey. Thank you D! A very very nice, pleasant surprise indeed.

On the other hand, while proceeding with cracking and separating the eggs, we discovered half were expired and spoilt! and my goodness! it was so so so smelly =XX so..no kueh lapis today =(

Despite the fact that i didn't get to bake my kueh lapis, i was really excited and happy and elated and etc etc that i got a new hand mixer. Hmm, will i start abandoning my kitchen aid? not likely i suppose =p

happy! =D

Monday, January 5, 2009

my first pineapple tart order..

I have just receive an order for 60pcs of open top pineapple tarts, 60pcs of wrapped up ones and 1 6" by 6" kueh lapis. I am really really thankful and grateful to have receive quite a "huge" first order.

I'm not sure how many have been reading my blog. I mentioned somewhere in my kueh bangkit post that a friend of mine requested that i make some pineapple tarts this cny. this is also largely why i baked those pineapple tarts, just so i could let her taste some.

I am really thankful and grateful to her for placing her cny goodies orders with me which makes me a little apprehensive as well. After all, this is my very FIRST order. I have baked many many things and given them away. Although many people commented that i should sell some stuff, but i guess that wasn't really my intention. I just really enjoy the process of baking and seeing that my friends and relatives enjoy the bakes makes me really happy =)

She turned down my request for me to turn her orders into my gifts to her instead and insisted that she does it as a proper business transaction. I just want to let her know how much i appreciate and thank her for her kind gesture. thank you sally! =DD

I am somewhat glad to have receive this order in that i hope that i will have learnt something from this process. i.e. managing my time, packaging the bakes and etc.

wish me luck! and once again, a BIG thank you to sally! =D
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