Gougère

Gougères is a French cuisine know as French Cheese Puff. It is a simple recipe made from choux dough mixed with cheese. I used parmesan cheese for the pastry and cheddar for topping.  I did not have fresh thyme so I just sprinkle some parsley flakes. As for the nutmeg, I used powdered one instead of a freshly grated one.

These Gougères are best served warm

Here is the original recipe (without amendments)

120ml water

120ml milk

113gm unsalted butter

Large pinch of salt (omit if using salted butter)

128gm all-purpose flour

4 large eggs

100gm shredded Gruyère cheese, plus more for sprinkling

Freshly ground pepper / paprika

Some fresh thyme OR

Freshly grated nutmeg

ü  Preheat oven to 180’C. Grease 2 baking tray.

ü  In a pan bring to boil the water, milk, butter and salt. Reduce the heat and add the flour. Stir till smooth dough is formed.  The dough should pull away from the pan

ü  Place the dough in a mixing bowl and let cook for a couple of minutes.

ü  Beat the eggs into the dough 1 at a time. Make sure each egg is fully incorporated into the dough before adding the next.

ü  Add in the cheese, pepper and nutmeg / thyme.

ü  Transfer the dough to a piping bag and ½ inch round tip. Pipe tablespoon size mounds onto the baking tray. The mounds should not be too near each other.

ü  Bake for at least 25minutes or till puffed and golden brown

Note:  Baked Gougères can be kept several months in the freezer.

Eggless Chocolate Cake

It’s been sometime since my last post as I was busy with festive orders and cupcakes project. Recently I came across and eggless chocolate cake recipe. This cake is super moist and super soft. And it’s also super fast to prepare.

This recipe here is just nice for a small loaf pan. You may want to double it for a bigger cake.

Ingredients:

192gm all purpose flour

35gm cocoa powder

6gm bicarbonate of soda

4gm salt

170gm sugar

120ml vegetable oil

240ml water / black coffee ( I mix 1/2tsp Nescafe with water)

2tsp vanilla essence

14gm (2tbs) vinegar

Method:

1.       Pre-heat oven to 170’C

2.       In mixing a bowl, whisk / sieve together the four, cocoa powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt and sugar

3.       In a separate bowl mix together the oil, water & essence. Give it a quick whisk

4.       Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir till smooth

5.       Add in the vinegar and stir till the vinegar has been distributed evenly in the batter.

6.       Pour into a cake tin and bake for 30 – 35 minutes or till a tooth pick inserted comes out clean.

Semolina Baked Delicacy (Kuih Bakar Suji)

Ingredients:

 

180gm of semolina

50 gm of flour

¼ tsp salt

1 cup sugar (brown / white)

3 eggs

100 ml pandan juice (screwpine)

600 ml coconut milk

100 gm butter (melted)

7 inch round cake pan

Method:

·         Beat the eggs and sugar till blended

·         In a wok, place the coconut milk, pandan juice, flour , salt and semolina

·         Bring to a simmer and add in the eggs mixture while stirring. Continue to stir till become thick almost like a dough

·         Off the fire and add in the melted butter. Mix well.

·         Transfer to the prepared tin , flatten it and bake for 1 hr 15 minutes at 180’C

Durian Rice Dessert

Durian season is back. There are so many delicacies from the king of fruits.Here is one of them. This sweet creamy dessert is best served chilled.

What u need:

600gm of durian flesh

1 tbs sugar (optional)

Pinch of salt

200 / 250 ml whipping cream

1 tin evaporated milk

4 cups of cooked rice (must be soft & cool)

How you do it:

·        Place the durian flesh in the blender together with salt, sugar, cream and half the milk

·        Blend till creamy. If too thick, add more of the milk

·        Place the rice in a large bowl and add in the blended item. Add in the milk and stir well.

·        Keep refrigerated for a few hours before serving.

**Note : Rice can be replaced with glutinous rice (pulut) 

Onion Rolls

Ingredient A

300gm high protein flour

12gm sugar

½ tsp salt

1 egg

15gm milk powder

6gm instant yeast

Ingredient B:

25gm butter

50gm fried onion / shallots

Ingredient C

Tomato sauce

Frankfurter  / Ham (diced)

Shredded Cheese

Method:

~ Mix ingredient A together. Add in the fried onion and the butter

~ Knead till dough is elastic. Let it proof for  an hour.

~ Roll out the dough flat on a floored board.

~Spread the tomato sauce on it, and sprinkle the frankfurter on it

~ Roll it up like a swiss roll. Cut it about 1 ½ inch thick and place it in a muffin cup

~ Let it rise for another hour and then brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle some cheese on it.

~ Bake at 180’C at 15 minutes

Raisin Cheese Buns

Ingredients:

500gm high protein flour

25gm milk powder

75gm sugar

10gm yeast

1 egg           

½ tsp salt

250ml water

75gm butter / marjerine

Some raisin (40gm)

Shredded cheese
Parsley flakes

Method:

·         With a stand mixer or your hand mix all the first 6 ingredients together.

·         When incorporated, add in the water

·         When mixture has become a dough, add in the butter and continue to knead till the dough become elastic. Add in the raisins

·         Oil a bowl and place the dough inside and flip it so the oiled bottom is on top. Let it prove about 1 hour.

·         Cut the dough and shape it into small balls (golf ball size)

·         Place them on a greased tray half inch apart. Let it prove for another hour.

·         Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle some shredded cheese and parsley on it

·         Bake for 15-20 minutes at 170’C

Sweet Crispy Chicken Wings

There's not many post for the past month if you notice. I have been busy completing this blog (business part). Being the Baker, the Writer and the Photographer at the same time is really time consuming, but fun in a way.
I expect it to be completed by next month (insya-allah).

Well, here is a chicken recipe which goes well for those who love sweet stuff. I cant remember the source of this recipe. When I come across a recipe that interest me, I just copy it for future use which normally will be a long time to come. By then I just forgot where I got it from.

1 dozen chicken wings (clean and cut as desired) and marinate for 2 hrs (min)

Marinate

¾ tsp salt

3 tbs chili paste

1 tsp ginger powder or paste

Coating

1 egg

3tbs all purpose flour

2tbs corn flour

Sauce

½ cup water

1 -2 tbs brown sugar

2 tbs honey

1 tsp grated ginger

2 tbs soy sauce

1 tbs vinegar

Some toasted sesame ( did not toast mine)

Ø  Once the chicken has been marinated for 2 hours.  Add in the egg to the chicken and whisk the 2 flours briskly and add to the chicken. Use hand to rub in till all chicken is fully coated

Ø  Heat oil on wok and deep fry the chicken. Use medium heat. The chicken pcs should not be too near each other when frying so that it will turn crispy evenly.

Ø  In the meantime, prepare the sauce. In a large wok add all the ingredients for the sauce and bring to boil till thick (like syrup).

Ø  Place the chicken in the wok and stir till evenly coated. Garnish with sesame seeds