Elaine's Tender Loving Cakes

Thursday, August 6, 2015

HARI RAYA OPEN HOUSE 2015

6/8/2015
THURSDAY

Marble Cheesecake before baking

after "bathing" an hour in the oven.. the cake was baked bain marie at 160C and it took so long to set.

I was waiting for it to cool before chilling it in the fridge overnight.

Hokkaido Vanilla Cupcakes...

Food glorious food... some catered for like Ayam Merah, Nasi Tomato, Bergedil, Korma Daging, dhal and goreng hati... while some were homecooked by the staff: Rendang Ayam, Mongolian Chicken, Spaghetti Carbonara; Sayur Lontong, Chappati and dhal, Ketupat etc.

the ladies behind the organisation... they have been busy since Monday.

They did all the decorations and the placards for the food, getting ready all the utensils and cutlery and Kakak also spend the whole day helping with the arrangement and cleaning.

More cakes bought by the male staffs

This is my favourite... Bubur kacang... sweet mung beans soup with gula melaka.

the pretty youngest new member of our firm

A big applause for the ladies and Thank You very much everyone for making it a happy time together.

For old times sake..

A though just came to me... though some of us have been working together for 30 years, do we know each other well - our likes, our dislikes and our family? The answer is I don't think so. But one thing I know, we do understand each other character/behaviour after all we are together for at least 8 hours an day!.

Happy weekend

Monday, August 3, 2015

PRESS TO FEEL THE PAIN

26/7/2015
SUNDAY

Baked Char Siew Paus

I like to experiment and cook and bake and therefore am happy to share with people my homecooked food and baked items etc.even though they may not be perfect 10 (after all my blog has already said it) but it is and has always been made with tender loving care and it always with good intentions to share and nothing else, don't get mistaken.

So since I will be going to for a workshop in the afternoon at the yoga center, I decided to bake something to bring along.

Look at those layers of pastry and the char siew.

Used the remaining of the char siew, diced them and sauted with more thick dark soya sauce, sugar, tossed in some fried shallots, spring onions and sesame seed.

The Bake-Along theme was Devil Food Cupcakes with frosting. So I followed their recipe and baked some too as its time to use up some of the chocolate in my fridge.

The Devil Food cupcake with chocolate ganache.

I did made the frosting but instead of sour cream (as I did not have) I added whipping cream and the result was a creamy mousse(ice-cream?). Quickly I made some Chocolate ganache instead. The recipe for the cupcake was easy to mix and the texture was so fudgy... yum.

Original Point Workshop with yoga instructor, Mr. Gan (seated front row centre)

Yuan Shin Dian Medicine. Origin Point Medicine. You can read up on their website www.origin-point-medicine.org.

Learnt some basice facts.....This therapy was started by a Taiwanese TCM practioner as a result of experiences of his dying wife. Our body is the healer itself. These origin points refer to the initial points of pain through the meridian points of the body. They are indications of which or where the sickness come from (ie which organs etc) Our bodies are "cold" by nature and we are encourage to drink hot ginger tea and also apply heat packs on the pain points.

Mr. Gan explaining where to find the origin points along our bodies.

We then find partners to practise on each other... but don't let go your stress or anger on your partners by pressing harder, you have to keep asking whether she can tolerate the pain!

Mr Gan also advise us to drink hot ginger tea and he recommended using dried ginger instead of powdered or fresh ginger. Make the dried ginger by sun-drying sliced ginger in the sun for 4 days at least and then roast-dry (low heat frying) till thoroughly dried. I must say that the dried ginger tea is very fragrant indeed, with that smoky aroma.

Refreshment time, the yoga center also provided some curry puffs and doughnuts.

Each of us were given a free massage stick or 2 bottles of dried ginger to take home.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

MORE BLACK POWER

25/7/2015
SATURDAY

Another tea-time.. ... homemade brewed matcha latte, Black Sesame Mantou and Black Sesame Bun with Red Bean paste filling

After that failed attempt, I am not giving up yet.

As there is still another half portion of the pre-fermented dough in the fridge, I decided to make some buns this time. Took my Red Bean Paste from the freezer which I had made earlier from the recipe from JustOneCookbook.com.

I used the same method of making the dough only this time using the machine instead of manually and after the 1st proof, was ready to shape them. I divided the dough into 65 gm each and filled them with a rounded tablespoon of the filling.

waiting for the 2nd proof

Ready for the oven, egg wash and sprinkle some black sesame seed on top.

soft golden buns

Going full force into a black streak now, decided to make some Black Sesame Mantou. This is a straightforward method using pau flour.

After the 1st proof, divided pau dough into 50 gm. Roll out into oval shape and brushed with some corn oil and then smeared on some black sesame paste (I mixed black sesame powder with icing sugar). Using a sharp knife cut strips lengthwise but without cutting through the ends.

Lift the dough up and lightly shake off extra black sesame powder.

Holding both ends start to twist it into a roll and then into a bun, tucking the ends under.

Resting the 2nd time. Meanwhile prepare your steamer of boiling water.

Steam for 15-18 minutes and its done!

Contentment at last. The girls were home and we had another tea-time together.

Monday, July 27, 2015

GOODNESS IN THAT TINY BLACK SEED

19/7/2015
SUNDAY

Since I have tasted the Black Sesame Porridge in Seoul, I wanted to duplicate it. So I bought this Black Sesame Powder. Among the many health benefits of taking black sesame seeds are: first and foremost, anti-aging especially graying hair and blurry vision due to rich Vitamin B and iron; healthy skin and bones (calcium, zinc and Vitamin E); helps to lower cholestrol and reduce blood pressure etc. Seems a lot of goodness in that small black seed.

However over the weekend, instead of cooking the porridge, I baked this Black Sesame Bread. Recipe was adopted from the blog of Honey Bee Sweets.

The recipe for pre-fermented dough yielded around 200 gm and I used only one portion (100gm) for the loaf and kept the other portion in the fridge. The dough is very sticky and wet and I kneaded it for almost half hour to get to the window-pane stage (manually)

The dough is shaped and let to proof 2nd time.

After the 2nd proofing ...... see the tear on the left because I close the lid while waiting for it to rise and did not realise that the dough has almost reach the top of the tin. It had brown and reached the rim of the tin after 35 minutes. Then, the only mistake I did was that I took it out too soon. It slid out of the tin alright, but at the sight of the pale colour, I knew it was not baked through. True enough, the bread collapsed and bent... urgh... all my efforts!!!So angry with myself that I did not want to take a photo.!!!

While waiting for the bread to proof, I baked a Black Sesame Chiffon Cake.

While stirring in the egg white, I realised that I should have added 5 tablespoon of oil instead of just 3!

Anyway, too late, so just went ahead to finish combining the batter and bake!

a quick shot of the cake out from the oven before turning it over to cool...

The texture of the cake was light and soft and does not taste dry even though 2 tablespoon less of the oil. However I would prefer more sesame aroma, so the next time I will add more. Thank God that this chiffon cake saved my sanity for the day!

this morning boiled this sweet herbal soup

White fungus, dried longan, red dates and egg. I added 2-3 slices of ginger and candied wintermelon instead of rock sugar for just a hint of sweetness.

Friday, July 24, 2015

TEA-TIME

18/7/2015
SATURDAY

Warm Scones with homemade fig jam and Greek yogurt-

Instead of an overload of calories with the whipping cream or clotted cream, Sarah used Greek yogurt to serve with the scones for a healthy version. It was delicious... thick and creamy, that both of us keeping eating and left behind only 2!

It was definitely a marvelous chance for me to sit and relax while someone does the baking and washing up.

Sarah said that she did not have the time to take me for Devonshire scones and tea in one of the popular cafe in Cardiff, so she baked them for me in KL now.

She made them all by herself.... see the notty Toto waiting .......

He always likes to watch us, greedily if I may say so, whenever we are baking and at the blink of an eye he could licked up any crumbs that fall. And we keep tripping over him as we move around, we have to chase him out of the kitchen..

Earlier this morning, Sarah took me for brunch at Third Wave in Nexus Bangsar. While outside the mall was quiet, inside the cafe was a lively hum of clinking glasses, conversation and laughter.

long black with nice latte art.

milky and strong matcha latte... according to menu, they used imported Japanese Matcha... good

Retro Scotch Eggs..... hard boiled eggs wrapped with mashed sweet potatoes and rolled with black sesame seeds before frying. Served with a mushroom barley risotto

Gorgeous Portobello mushroom stuffed with potatoes and tomatoes served with a sunny side egg.

the mushroom were meaty and aromatic but I would prefer a bit of sauce for the stuffing?

My sister had raved about their Tofu Cheesecake but we were both full so we did not have any desserts.
Overall service was quick and quiet and there are various vegetarian options in the menu.

Have a wonderful weekend folks!