Oatmeal cookies

Oatmeal Cookies

· 125g top flour

· ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

· ½ tsp baking powder

· ½ tsp salt

· 1cup brown sugar

· 125g unsalted butter, room temperature

· 1 egg, lightly beaten

· ½ tsp vanilla essence

· ½ tsp kahlua

· 1 tsp ground cinnamon

· 100g raisins

· 160g rolled oats

· Chocolate chip (optional)

· Sesame seed (optional)

Methods:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line baking trays w baking paper.
2. Shift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon & salt.
3. Cream together sugar & butter. Add the egg, vanilla essence & kahlua gradually.
4. Stir in the sifted ingredients & mix well. Stir in the oatmeal & raisins.
5. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons about 2” apart onto the ungreased baking sheet.
6. Bake for 10mins or until light brown.
7. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack

Happy occassions

Yesterday was my birthday (11/03/06)
Yesterday was Tin Fong & Merlyn's wedding (11/03/06)
Yesterday was Terence & Ivy's wedding (11/03/06)
wohhhhh, yesterday was really a great day for celebration!

I was summoned to be one of the jie mei for Merlyn. She wanted us to reach her house by 0515hr as she needed to get out of her matrimonal house by 0630hr..She is a typical teochew thus followed the customs fairely closely..

Unfortunately, Audrey & HY who were supposed to fetch me was late. They couldn't wake up...........................It took lots of courage to decide to call her house, which is also in Sembawang. I was kinda worried because Audrey has never been late for any appointments especially for this important occassion. To my surprised, she was still asleep. Of course, she and HY became panic and did whatever they could in 15mins time. FYI, they were supposed to fetch me at 0450hr and I called them at 0500hr....... Well, with the speedy speedy car, we still reached Merlyn's house by 0600hr to block the guys...hehehe

Fun started>>>>>w negotiation
1st, TF was asked to guess mel's hand writting.........he was really blur... he didnt get it right...thus, we demanded ang bao....of cos unsatistactory

next, we threw a handful of paper underwear....they were summoned to wear....well, most couldnt fit well. Maybe it was toooo Big (according to the guy), u know what I meant
but in fact, they are too flabby

with the paper underwear on, TF had to start the ball rolling by doing pole dancing.........wasn't that an innovation ideas........thanks to the gals, they are real creative and whoever came out w this idea, kudo to them............Thereafter, all the guy would hold on to the 1 pole and start dnacing again....that was really funny

actuclly, I couldnt remember the amount of ang bao we got but I juz kept on demanding for more ang bao, isnt that like a beggar.........and boy, we were really like beggar & snatcher....hehe, simply grab whenever we could

we were given 15mins to play play so no choice lah, have to let TF in.....but the jie mei were not stupid, we dashed and locked Mel's room.......the guys were pretty rough, they almost bang the door down..........in the end, we let him in after the 5th ang bao........since all agreed & wouldn't want to delay any further

Mel was of cos happy to see TF after all the obstacles.........TF kneeled down to give the bouquet of baby pink roses.......he was trying to say something mushy to mel as an expression of love but I think he sounded funny leh....script like not very prepared

Finally, Mel was married out....time contraints, so mel & tf made a 3 round about then go back to matrimonal house...like 'hui niang jia'.....all of us headed to TF's house to wait for them....I was quite disappointed that TF' house was so quiet....It wasn't seemed like having wedding....there were so some ballons hanging near the doorway but it looked more like a children birthday party kind of decor.........

Only the parents came to entertain us.....Tong Fong & family were still at their L2 house until their father called them for tea ceremony........I was quite shocked but well, this is none of my business.

at 0930hr, all us headed for Sheraton Hotel for the soleminsation and lunch.....everyone looked tired but all of us have special roles to play...despite tireness, we didnt dare to slack

i will cont.............need to koon now

Chocolate Chiffon Cake

Finally, my chiffon cake was successful. There was no pix taken cos I was in a hurry to rush for my afternoon duty......Thus, I jux packed and go....

The chocolate chiffon cake was modified based on Florence's recipe (http://wlteef.blogspot.com/2005_04_01_wlteef_archive.html ) . My cake was able to raise and the texture is no longer like a piece of rock

Verdict from most colleagues: soft and really nice

Chocolate Chiffon Cake

Ingredients:

(A)

3 egg yolks

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp rum or kirsch

30g castor sugar

(B)

20g cocoa powder

60ml warm corn oil

(C)

100ml warm water

(D)

70g self-raising flour

1/2tsp baking powder

(E)

3 egg whites

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

40g castor sugar

Method :

1. Mix ingredients (A) well with a hand whisk.

2. Stir cocoa powder in warmed oil until dissolved and pour into yolk mixture.

3. Stir (C) into yolk mixture.

4. Sieve ingredient (D) and stir it into yolk mixture.

5. Whip egg whites in a clean mixing bowl until big bubbles are formed. Add in the cream of tartar and whip until white in colour. Add in sugar over 3 times and whip until egg whites is stiff.

6. Pour 1/2 white into yolk mixture and blend well.

7. Pour yolk mixture into the remaining egg white mixture and blend well.

8. Pour batter into clean baking pan and bake at 170C for 45 minutes or until cooked.

Almond Macaroons

Now, I am hooked to bakery. Yesterday, I went to the library and borrowed a bakery book. I came across this recipe which looks simple and appealing. Thus, decided to give a try.

The orignal name is 'Chocolate Macaroons'. It is supposed to be crisp on the outside and moist inside. And indeed, its true.............

I made some changes in order to adjust to my shortcoming (cos short of ingredients). I didnt put the chocolate. Instead, I put ½ tsp coco powder and trim the sugar to 75g to make it less guilty

Chocolate Macaroons

Ingredients:

50g chocolate

2 egg whites

100g caster sugar

125g ground almonds

½ tsp coco powder

some chocolate chips

Methods:

• Preheat oven 180°C
• Line baking sheet with non-stick baking parchment.
• Whisk the egg whites until stiff. Gradually whisk in the sugar until the mixture is thick and glossy. Gently fold in the ground almonds and coco powder.
• Put the mixture in a large piping bag fitted with a large nozzle and pip small rounds abt 4cm in dia on the baking sheet. Alternatively, place small teaspoonfuls on the baking sheet
• Press a chocolate chip into the center of each macaroon then bake, until slightly risen and just firm. Leave the macaroons on the paper to cool.

Pandan Cake for Lily

Asked Lily what type of cake she likes..maybe she was giving me chance, so replied pandan cake.....then I was like huh....my failure cake :(.....I told her that I was not confident, better to made butter cake

On my way to Phoon Huat Sembawang, I decided to buy a 17cm ring mould for pandan cake together w a box........Told myself, I shall try again " Bake the Pandan Cake"

This is the outcome....................
Looks is not a matter for novice, most importantly, it must be tasty..
I shall check w Lily before I know my success..........kekeke

Basic Butter Cake

Ingredients:

125g reduced salt butter

¼+¼+⅛ cup of caster sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla essence

2 cups self-rising flour

½ cup low fat milk

Methods:

1. Preheat oven @ 180°C. Brush a deep, 20cm round cake tin w melted butter or oil, line base & side w grease paper.
2. Beat butter & sugar in a small mixing bowl using an electric beater until light & creamy.
3. Add the eggs gradually, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add essence; beat until combined.
4. Shift the flour into the batter, alternately w the milk. Stir until just combined & the mixture is almost smooth.
5. Spoon mixture into the prepared tin; smooth surface. Bake for 45mins or until skewer comes out clean when inserted in center of cake. Cool the cake on the wire rack for 10mins before turning.

Note:

1. I set the temperature at abt 170°C for fearing of burnt cake again.
2. ¾ of the baking time, I placed a foil on top of the cake…again, for the same reason of the above
3. I reduced the sugar from ¾cup to ¼+¼+⅛ cup to reduce the sweetness..

Ref:

No author (1996). Cakes- step by step. Singapore: Periplus

Walnut & Chocolate Chips Cookies

This is the 1st time I made cookies...It was quite successful and I modified the recipe from Jo's Deli & Bakery..I found that the indicated baking time is too long resulting 1/3 of the batch burnt..Thus, to prevent that, I reduce the baking time to about 13 minutes..Indeed, the cookies turned out nice and chunchy..AM gonna share with my fellow colleagues tomorrow..

WALNUT & CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Ingredients:

Makes approx. 30pcs

125g butter

75g brown sugar

1 eggs, lightly beaten

180g cake flour

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp cocoa powder

50g walnuts, toasted and chopped into chocolate chip size chunks

75g dark chocolate chips

Method:

1. Sift cake flour, baking soda and cocoa powder into a mixing bowl. Set aside.

2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Turn mixer to medium speed and add in egg gradually, beating well after each addition.

4. Fold in flour mixture, walnuts and chocolate chips.

5. Place tablespoon of the mixture a little apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake in preheated oven at 180 degC for abt 13 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool before storing

My 1st Pandan Cake

I bought an oven today. Actually, I have an interest in cooking and bakery.. There is no special reason to it but it is just an interest..Yesterday, I was in CK Tang watching some demostrations on cooking and baking..There were like 5-6 promoters trying to promote their woks, each saying their is the best and listed 101 advantges of the woks..Of cause, it's their job as a promoter..I was only interested in the recipe

Guess I am not the only audiance for the purpose.. It's the live demostration that catches everybody's attention..I managed to key in the ingredients into my hp (Pandan cake).

I paid $64.90 for this oven by the brand of Cornell from Courts at Causeway Point. The shop is having some promotions so I thot it's the best time to grab one..This oven has the basic function like any other oven except that it has no convection function.. Thus, because of this, I think the temperature is quite high that my cake turned char on the top layer..Instead of the recommended 190 deg, I think I should reduce it to 170 deg

Its ok, I shall try it again

Its a shit day

There was a whipple's procedure schduled for today's listing.
Thus, I was kinda prepared to take the case since I am one of the considered junior staff in dat OR....
I wouldnt mind to scrub for dat case since this surgeon is quite alright in nature
But, i rather circulate cos i really need to learn fast........circulate is more impt than scrubbing.....haiz
Well, due to unforseem circumstance, the case was cancelled & postpone to next week.........

So, we thot we could have a lazy day.........
Then another surgeon shot 3 cases to our OR but end up done 1 case.....................
After my lunch, EOT shot a shit case to us...
bo bian, I have to scrub cos I finished duty at 5.30pm

It was an anterior resection surgery
Damn smelly+++++ esp during the decompression of the colon
all the shit just spurred like a fountain with some undigested stuffs (maybe)
huh, the created stoma looks like a full bloom rose........so swollen....
Poor pt, must have suffered a lot

Anyway, pls enjoy life without thinking so much
Life is so short to think toooooo much, ok!

BooBii Claypot Rice

Its dinner time and am gonna invent something again...

BooBii Claypot Rice
Serve 1

Ingredient:

• 1cup rice (I use pearl rice)
• water (enough to cook the rice)
• ½ tsp Maggi chicken seasoning
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp canola oil
• pinch of salt
• Cabbage
• Sweat pea
• Ikan asim (salted fish)

Marinate

• 100g chicken breast (cut into cube-bite size)
• 2tsp yakiniku sauce
• dash of pepper

Direction:

1. Marinate the chicken for at least 15mins
2. Cook rice in a claypot. The water level should be 2cm above the rice. When the rice is half cooked, mix the marinated chicken followed by the vegetable, and then cover the claypot.
3. After abt 5mins or when the rice is almost dry, place the ikan asim. Leave the claypot over a low fire until the rice is cooked.
4. Garnish with fried shallots and parsley if desired. Serve hot with sambal balacan

Verdict: Not too bad except that the rice was abit moist but I dun mind..........
Last month, my mum-in-law brought some ikan asim from Indonesia.....She personally goreng it herself and its really nice. She brought along some limes which taste and smell different from the local one... I used it with my mum's sambal balcan (with a bit of sugar and vinegar)......wah, really "no horse run"............................

Boo & Bii

Today is the 3rd day of CNY 06..Since I am not working (although on standby in case of emergency), I decided to set up a blog site for those who care to view.. To start off, I decided to share some pix of my bao bei (Boo & Bii)..JUst a short intro for those unware, Boo & Bii are our Miniature Schnauzers..Boo is female, 4yr old and salt & pepper, whereas Bii is male, 6 mths old and white..Hubby said Boo is too lonely esp when he is always not at home (due to job nature) and I work irregular hour, it would be good to give Boo a companion..Bii's arrival thus add life to this family..Although he is naughty, everybody loves him just like they love Boo