Dry Beef Noodles

Today i was sooooo craving beef noodles at The Banquet in Jurong Point. Its so awesome that i had to make it today. Of course its not even close in my opinions (im always critical of my own cooking) but the Hubs throughly enjoyed it ! But man the broth / beef brisket took 5 hours to cook! Don't be scared... 5 hours passes quickly if you started cooking other appetizers like I did ... :-)

For the broth,

1/2 chopped yellow onion

1 large shallot

1 tablespoon grated ginger

1 tablespoon chopped garlic 

Sauté the above ingredients in a bit of oil until fragrant.

1kg beef brisket or any part that you prefer - cut into 1 inch cubes 

Add the beef and sear all sides.

5 whole cloves of garlic

1 cinnamon stick

3 cloves 

2 star anise 

2 liters of beef broth / vegetable stock

1/2 cup chopped coriander

2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

Add the above ingredients and simmer for 5 hours, continuously adding more water to keep the water level above the beef. Once beef is really tender continue simmering until you get about 4 cups broth. Season with salt / pepper to taste 

For the gravy,

1 tablespoon garlic paste

1 tablespoon ginger paste

2 cups of beef broth

Sauté in oil until fragrant. Add the beef broth and let simmer. Add in the following seasonings.

2 tablespoon dark soya sauce

1 tablespoon light soya sauce

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tablespoon oyster sauce 

1 tsp pepper

1/2 cup cornstarch

1 cup water (mix)

Add the cornstarch water mixture into the simmering ingredients and pour over your noodles. I couldn't find the laksa noodles here in Jakarta or the flat kway teow but I found Fortune's Hong Kong Noodles and I used that! 

If you decide to use the same noodles I did, all you need is a pot of boiling water, blanch the noodles in and once cooked, rinse with water to remove the starch and then pour the gravy in.

I blanched some cai sim, added sliced spring onions, lettuce and fried shallots over the noodles with a side bowl of that delicious beef broth! Don't forget your chilli! I sprinkled chilli flakes for more heat!

Banana Chocolate Chips Muffins

Han loves this muffin! Actually this is the only muffin he´ll eat weirdly....
Really simple recipe and really moist and you don´t even need butter! 

Whisk the eggs and sugar for about 5 minutes on high speed until really foamy.

2ggs 
1/2 cup brown sugar 
3/4 cup sugar

Sift the dry ingredients and set aside

1 2/3 cups flour
1 tsp bicarbonate soda
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup oil
5 large bananas
1/4 cup cream 
1tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Once the egg mixture is frothy, drizzle the oil in bit by bit while whisking. Add the mashed riped bananas, vanilla & cream. Mix it well and fold in the dry ingredients. Add chocolate chips. Scoop into muffin cups and sprinkle with more chocolate chips. Bake for 25  minutes on 180 degrees until skewer comes out clean.

Chicken Pies

Yes! I´m a fan of doing things the shortcut way.. I´m not lazy but I have 2 rambunctious boys that require my attention. Being a stay-home mom is not all laze in bed all day you know!

If you´re in the mood, feel free to make your own puff pastry but mine was supermarket bought today .
I prepared the chicken filling last night so that all I needed to do was assemble it this morning and bake for breafast.

Filling:-

1 carrot chopped
1/2 onion (the big yellow ones) chopped
2 garlics chopped
1/2 potato chopped
2 chicken breasts chopped
3 large button mushrooms chopped
1/2 tin of campbell´s mushroom soup
1/2 cup water
salt / pepper
1 tsp garlic powder

See how simple? Everything is chopped! Just sautee the garlic, carrots, onions until soft and add in the mushrooms, potatoes and chicken. Sautee until chicken is cooked and add in the Campbell soup and water.. simmer to cook and season with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Let cool and then assemble.

I cut the puff pastry into rounds for the bottom and top and place the filling in the middle leaving about 5mm gap for pinching the pastry close. Cover with another pastry, use a fork and press down the edges.  Snip off about 2 hole at the top of the pastry and brush it with egg wash. Place a greaseproof paper on a tray, arrange your pies. Bake for about 20-25 minutes until pastry is golden.

Homemade Okonomiyaki

For the longest time since takoyaki made its way to our shores in the 90s i´ve loved it. The first time I tried it was at the Narita airport! But since I do not have that round metal grill, i shall stick to another Japanese snack favourite which is the Okonomiyaki... here in Jakarta they sell all sorts of fillings so feel free you add whatever you want.

Today I made prawn & tako okonomiyaki. You can also buy the okonomiyaki sauce at the store but being in Jakarta means I have to make everything from scratch unless I head down to Papaya which have sauce, katsuobushi & kewpie! 

Okonomiyaki Sauce

2 tablespoons Tomato puree 
2 tablespoons Ketchup 

1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce 3 tablespoons  Dark soy sauce 
1 teaspoon Sugar 100ml Dashi (bonito stock) - (didn´t have that so i used chicken stock)2 tablespoons Cornstarch - dissolved in 2 tablespoons Water 

Bring tomato puree, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, sugar and dashi to boil in saucepan over high heat. Add cornstarch mixture, a little at a time, and cook until thickened to the texture of ketchup. Cool before serving.

I tried another recipe for the sauce. Much easier too. Just mix the following .. So if u want it fuss - free... Use this instead :-)

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

2 teaspoon worchestershire sauce

2 tablespoon honey 

1 tablespoon tomato ketchup 

Batter

3/4 cup flour

1/4 cup corn flour
1 cup Dashi (I used chicken stock)
1 egg
A dash of pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
a pinch of salt

Mix everything and leave the batter aside for at least an hour to rest.

1 cup sliced cabbage

1/4 cup spring onions

1/2 carrot grated

6 prawns chopped

1/2 cup boiled, thinly sliced octopus 

Add the ingredients to the batter and pan fry with very little oil until each side is golden. Cut into small pieces and drizzle with mayonaise, okonomiyaki sauce and if you have katsuobushi, generously sprinkle on top!

Garlic Naan

This naan goes beautifully with masalas or butter chicken serve with a side of raita and mint chutney...less than 2 hours and its ready on the table .

1/2 cup warm water 

1/2 packet of Saf Instant dry yeast

2 tablespoons sugar 

Mix and set aside for 5 minutes until frothy.

1.5 tsp salt 

2 tablespoon milk

1 egg

Add the above ingredients to the yeast mixture and pour into the flour.

2 1/4 cups flour

Minced garlic (about 4 tablespoon)

Melted butter

Knead the mixture by hand for about 6 minutes until elastic . Oil the bowl and cover the dough and let rise for 1 hour. 

Add half the garlic to the dough and punch the dough down. Divide into 7 pieces. Make into round balls and let rise for another 30 minutes.

Heat the grill with a bit of oil and sprinkle some garlic on the dough. Roll the dough to flatten. Place onto the grill for about 2 minutes or until the brown grill marks can be seen. Brush the uncooked side with melted butter. Flip and brush the cooked side with melted butter. Naan is ready when the other side is browned. 

Totally enjoyed this soft naan! Yummy!!

Strawberry Mille-Feuille

Needed a simple but impressive dessert for our guests today so out came the puff pastry and in-the-cupboard ingredients... 

Custard cream

2 cups of milk (heated in a pot but do not let it boil )

1/2 cup flour

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar (I like it less sweet so a little less than 1/2 cup is good)

Pour the heated milk in while whisking so as not to cook the eggs. Pour back into the pot and heat, continue whisking until thicken. 

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 tsp grated orange zest

Add in the essence and zest and Set aside to cool in the fridge. You can make this overnight.

I used store bought puff pastry and cut into 6 pieces of 3 inches x 6 inches width pastry. Line with grease proof paper and lay the puff pastry and poke with a fork all the way through. Bake for 15-20 minutes on 180 degrees or until golden brown.

Once the puff pastry cool, layer each slice with cream and sliced strawberries. 

I used a piping bag and piped 3 lines of custard (less messy)

My puff pastry turned out too high so I sliced into halves and made 3 layers. You can do 4 layers if you like amazingly high desserts :-) dust with icing sugar and serve! I prefer it chilled so if you can resist, keep it in the freezer for an hour and then devour!!

Basic Bread Recipe

I could never resist bread... I especially love crusty bread fresh out of the oven slathered with lots of salted butter! Yes salted!! Ha ha 

Last night I was feeling peckish and the shops were closed so I had to make my own bread to appease my cravings ! Just 5 ingredients . That's it!

310ml warm water

14g instant dried yeast 

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 tsp salt

Mix all of the above in a jug and let it froth for 5-8 minutes.

500g flour (you can use bread flour, wholemeal but I just used plain old flour)

Make a well in the middle of the flour and pour the yeast mixture and slowly incorporate the flour and knead for about 5 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. Try not to dust the dough with too much flour but instead dip your hands in flour if it gets sticky. Dust the sides of the bowl and the top of the dough with flour, cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, punch the dough and knead, roll and shape your dough just enough to fit into your baking tin. Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes.

Bake at 190 degrees for 30 minutes or until a hollow sound can be heard when you tap the bread.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll Ups

Thinking of what to make on a daily basis can be exhausting (especially if you have a soon to be 11 year old who loves his food!)

Today I decided to make cream cheese roll ups..(just because I has cream cheese in the fridge! Lol)

250g cream cheese
3/4 cup icing sugar

Put everything in a mixer and blend untill smooth.

Sandwich bread
Melted butter (100g)
Sugar
Cinnamon

Place the bread on a cutting board, (I tried some with and without crust), flatten it with a rolling pin and spread about a tablespoon of cream cheese over it. Roll it up and dip in melted butter and roll onto the cinnamon sugar (place sugar on a plate and sprinkle cinnamon according to your preference )

Place on baking tray and bake for 20 minutes at 170 degrees until crisp and golden. I love that the butter and sugar turns into a crispy crust! Enjoy!

Soufflé Pancakes with Pear and Plum Compote

Bored with your usual pancakes and waffles? Try making this Really Easy but stunning looking breakfast!

Pear and Golden Plum Compote

4 pears skinned and sliced into wedges
3 golden plum skinned and sliced into wedges
1 raspberry tea bag (I used Ahmad Tea)
2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 small cinnamon stick

Simmer all the above until all the fruits are tender and the liquid turns into a nice syrup.

You can make the compote way ahead or substitute the plums with apples or any fruit of your choice.

Soufflé Batter

5 medium eggs
3 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tsp orange zest

1 cup flour

Pour all the about ingredients except the flour in a blender until well mixed. Pour the flour in and blend until smooth and no lumps appear.

I heated 2 (6 inches) cake tins with about 2 tablespoon of melted butter in the oven. Once butter is hot and bubbly, pour equal amounts of batter into the tins and bake for 20 minutes on 190 degrees until soufflé has nicely risen .

Serve with compote, dust with icing sugar and whipped cream.

Quiche Lorraine (Lazy Version)

Okay everyone loves a good Quiche ... I use Julia Child's quiche sauce but a very lazy version to put everything together. The thing I dread in the morning is to make the short pastry for the base.... especially when you're already starving ! Ohhhhh the wait!!

I'll post the recipe for the short pastry too but in this particular one all I did was layer sliced bread at the base and toast it a little. Remember to butter your pie dish first! Or a casserole dish like I used.

6 sliced bread (I managed to arrange 4 at the base and I cut the rest into strips to cover the sides)

Bake in 170 degree oven for 5 minutes to toast it slightly.

1 onion (chopped)
1 garlic (chopped)
Few rashes of bacon or ham (I used turkey ham)
1 potato (chopped into small cubes)

Sautée the onion and garlic until soft, add the potatoes and ham and season with salt & pepper. Pour over the bread.

I like arranging some sliced tomatoes on top before pouring the sauce, unless I'm making beef quiche. Then ill leave it as it is. Or you can skip it all together. Whatever floats your boat :-)

Quiche Sauce (Julia Childs recipe)

5 eggs
1 cup cream
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
Ground pepper
A dash of Nutmeg

Pour the sauce over the ham and then sprinkle with cheese. Whatever you have on hand. Bake at 170 degrees for 30 minutes until the sauce sets and is firm to the touch. Serve with a side of salad.

Short Crust Recipe

2 cups flour
110g butter (chopped into small cubes)
3 tablespoon shortening
1/2 tsp salt
A pinch sugar
5-6 tablespoon cold water

Do the rubbing in method for this. Dry ingredients in a bowl and cut the butter into the dry ingredient to make a coarse crumb.. Then add the water bit by bit until you get a soft pliable dough. Let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes and roll out on your pie dish. Poke with a fork. Blind bake for 5-8 minutes before putting in your quiche ingredients.

Bon Appetit!

Homemade Croissants (Danish Pastry)

Actually making these soft croissants are as simple as making bread rolls . Gotta try and refresh my skills as its been 17 years since I've actually made croissants! (The convenience of buying 5 pieces for $2.40 does that).

Now that I'm moving to Jakarta and getting a croissant means I have to grab a cab and end up spending more than I should has motivate me to start making my own stuff again. For convenience sake ...

1/4 cup warm water

1/2 cup warm milk

1 tablespoon yeast (7g)

1 tsp sugar

In a jug, add the yeast to warm milk, sugar and water and let it bubble up for 5-10 minutes.

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar

1 egg

220g butter (cut into small cubed pieces)

Egg wash (1 egg with 2 tablespoon milk)

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and then add egg and yeast mixture. Pour all the butter in and use 2 spatulas to combine the ingredients together. DO NOT OVERMIX. You still want lots of chunky butter in the dough.

Refrigerate overnight or a minimum of 2 hours for the dough to rest.

Cut the dough into 2equal portion. This recipe is good of 16 croissants so its better to work with half a dough at each time so that the butter stays nice and chunky.

Roll out into a floured surface and then fold into thirds like you would fold a letter. Roll out again and fold into thirds. Do this about 5 times. This creates the lovely layers in the croissants. Making sure that you dust the dough with flour each time.

Finally roll into a big square / rectangle and divide into 8 triangles . Roll from the longer length to the pointy tip. Glaze with egg wash and let it rise for 30 minutes before baking for another 30 minutes at 170 degrees oven.

I did a mixture of plain and ham with cheese and smoked salmon croissants. You could do chocolate au pain or cream cheese with these Danish pastry if you want too!

Bread and Butter Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

Family get-togethers are so much fun! Especially if a menu is given... Less headache ! So one of the request was for bread and butter pudding from my heavily pregnant cousin .. Ive had this recipe forever from when i worked at the pastry kitchen in one of the hotels back then. The recipe is yields a 6X6 casserole dish.

2 croissants
2 white bread
2 wholemeal bread
(You can use all white bread or whatever leftovers you have if, but I like the combination and texture of all three)

100g melted butter (I like salted)
1/2 cup raisins

4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup cream
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cut the bread into bite size pieces and drizzle 3/4 of the melted butter over the bread so that each bite of the pudding is nice and buttery, make sure to leave some for the topping. Sprinkle raisin over. I use both golden and normal.

Mix the rest of the ingredients in a jug and whisk until well mixed. Pour over the bread and press down with a spoon gently to make sure every bread is soaked through. Drizzle the melted butter over. I like sprinkling more raisins and a wee bit more cinnamon on top.

Bake for 30-35 minutes on 180 degrees until the pudding is set and not wobbly .

Vanilla Sauce 1 (Proper Sauce Recipe)

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoon butter
A pinch of salt
A dash of cinnamon
2 cm vanilla pod
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and heat over really low heat. Use a small whisk and continual stirring until mixture is thicken and coats the back of a spoon. Serve with the pudding

Vanilla Sauce 2 (A cheat's version)

300ml milk

2 tablespoon Bird's Custard Powder

1-2 tablespoon sugar (depending on the sweetness you desire)

1 teaspoon vanilla essence 

1/2 vanilla pod 

A tiny pinch of salt

Ok there are times when I am too lazy to make vanilla sauce from scratch so what I do is mix 1 tablespoon of sugar, custard powder and a tiny amount of milk to mix it into a smooth paste. Add into milk and simmer while stirring constantly.

Add your essence and scrape off half a pod of vanilla and mix well. Add 1 more tablespoon of sugar if your sauce is not sweet enough or add more milk of the sauce is too thick. Remember the sauce will thicken when cool. 

Batik Cake / Kek Batik (Asian version of Kalter Hund)

I've made this countless times and its always a hit! The best part is no baking is required... easy, simple and yummy.... this is a new post because I realize the last post was ages ago and its difficult to find! The german version uses butter cookies and requires zero cooking so it melts faster! Don´t worry if the mixture looks curdled or lumpy. Once you press down the biscuits everything will set nicely and it doesn´t melt or becomes a gooey mess in room temperature.

Ingredients

1/2 cup Milo powder

1/2 cup Cocoa Powder

1/2 boiling water

3/4 cup butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup condensed milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

5 eggs (beaten)

250g Marie Biscuits or even Graham Biscuits. (its lighter than butter cookies)

Directions

1. Pour cocoa powder, milo and boiling water in a pot and stir. On low heat, add butter, sugar, vanilla, eggs and condensed milk to the cocoa mixture and stir until mixture thickens. Roughly it will take about 20 minutes of stirring to get a custard-like consistency. Break biscuits into quarters and stir into the custard mixture
2. In the meantime, prepare any container you prefer. I use 6" X 6" square container. You can line the container with parchment paper for easy removal but i usually don't.
3. Pour the mixture into the container and press down. Refrigerate for about 3-5 hours but i like to keep it overnight in the freezer so that the custard sets properly.
4. Cut into slices and serve!

Malasada Portugese Doughnuts

Say what??? Malasada is a Portugese doughnut which is usually eaten during Mardi Gras... It actually means "mal-assada" which is "lightly roasted"
These doughnuts are also popular in Hawaii!

Today I made the traditional ones without any filling . Just icing sugar with cinnamon .... Heavenly....

This recipe makes about 18-24 doughnuts depending on your spoon or scoop. For a first timer, you may want to halve the recipe. 

Firstly, mix the yeast with the warm water and sugar, stir and set aside for about 5 minutes.

1 tablespoon instant yeast (half packet 6g)
1/8 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar

In another bowl, mix the dry ingredients

3 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
A pinch of salt

In another bowl mix the wet ingredients

1/8 cup melted butter
1/2 + 1/4 cup water
3/4 evaporated milk
3 eggs

Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add all the wet ingredients except that 1/4 cup. Slowly fold in until well mixed. If the dough is too "hard" add the extra 1/4 cup water. It's should be a wet dough. (See pic)

Cover and set aside for 30 minutes until doubled the volume.

Fold the dough over and let rise another 10 minute. Dough will be light and yeasty.

Drop about a large tablespoonful of dough in the oil. Deep fry until both sides are golden brown. Roll in icing sugar and sprinkle cinnamon over. You could use castor sugar but I find it nicer with icing as it sticks to the dough.

Hamburger Buns

Honestly I wished I had never been so lazy! Everytime I crave making burgers, I procrastinate because I had to go to the supermarket for the buns! Wished I hadn't been so doozy!! Here is an amazingly simple recipe for burger buns.. In fact I think it's awesome for dinner rolls and hotdog buns too! Fresh baked buns in under 40 mins!

1 cup + 1/4 cup warm water
1 packet instant yeast (11g)

Pour the yeast into the warm water and stir. Add the following and rest for 5 minutes.

1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup oil

After the yeast bubbles up, add the rest of the ingredients and mix until smooth for about 3 minutes.

1 egg
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups flour

IMMEDIATELY divide dough into 12 equal portions. DO NOT let it rest until AFTER you shape your buns. Knead the dough in a circular manner with floured hands. I find it easier kneading it into rounds with hands than on the board. Place buns about 2 inches apart or 6 buns per tray. Let it rest for 15-20 mins until double the size.

Brush with egg yolk mix with a bit of water, and sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional). Bake for 12 minutes on 190 degrees.

Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits

Noooooo... not biscuits as in cookies you dummy!! Its the American biscuits.... similar to scones... whats the different you ask? Actually not much..

Biscuits vs. Scones

Q. What's the Difference between biscuits and scones?

A. Biscuits and scones are pretty similar but there are subtle differences that set them apart. Think you can tell what is what? Check out these facts about biscuits and scones:

• Both are quick breads leavened with baking soda or baking powder.
• Each uses the same basic technique of cutting fat into flour to create a dough.
• Scones are often sweeter and richer, although biscuits can be sweet and scones savory.
• Scones are often cut into triangles; biscuits are usually round.
• Biscuits are often associated with the southern United States; scones are Scottish.
• Biscuits are served as a side dish with breakfast or dinner, while scones are more likely to be served with tea, for brunch or as a base for dessert sauce.
• Both are best eaten hot from the oven.

Then again.... now there´s so many variations of sweet biscuits now..so its practically the same thing! The key to making these flaky babies is to stop man-handling the dough! Use very little force and as little energy as possible... 

In a bowl, mix all the dry ingredients

2 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

70g of chilled butter cut into small pieces (rub into the dry ingredients until a coarse meal is achieved)

3/4 cups buttermilk (or 3/4 cups milk mixed with 1 teaspoon lemon juice)

3 tablespoon honey

Make a well in the centre of the mix and pour the buttermilk mix. Once roughly mixed (remember DO NOT overmix it), pour onto floured surface. Just press down lightly and fold the dough like you are folding a letter. Press down again and fold again. Do it 3 times. This is the key to achieving those flaky layers. Press lightly about 1 inch thickness and use your biscuit cutter. Egg wash the top. Bake for 15 minutes on 190 degrees. I managed about 1 dozen small biscuits. Lay them out on a clean cloth to cool...Perfect with jam & clotted cream too... actually it was awesome with honey drizzle at the top too...

Basic Doughnut Recipe

I always dread making doughnuts because all the recipe I found online always gives huge quantity!! These made around 16 doughnuts which was perfect! 

Basic Doughnut Recipe

1 sachet instant yeast (11g)

1/4 cup water (lukewarm)

3/4 cup warm milk (pop in the microwave for a bit)

Stir yeast in the milk / water mixture and let it bubble up for about 5 minutes

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

40g shortening (slightly less than 1/4 cup)

2 1/2 cups flour (pour only 2 cups first)

Add the above ingredients in and beat with a paddle attachement until well mixed. If dough is still sticky, add in the extra 1/2 cup flour. Change to hook attachment and knead for about 3 minutes on medium scraping the sides every now and then. Remove from mixer and let dough rest until doubled the amount. It was a warm day today so it doubled around 45 minutes. 

Roll the dough on a well floured surface and cut into circles with a round cutter. Use the smallest cutter to cut the holes in the middle. Arrange cut dough on a floured tray and let rise for another 10 minutes. Heat oil and fry the doughnuts until golden. Sprinkle icing sugar or you can make some browned butter glaze with it (in the previous post) http://www.narny.blogspot.sg/2013/04/browned-butter-glazed-doughnuts.html

Browned Butter Glazed Doughnuts

Ok these are seriously good.... SO GOOD that I just wanna lick my screen....okay....so good that I´ll consider to stop buying  KK ever again.

All you need is some basic doughnut recipe as follows:-

1 sachet instant yeast (11g)
1/4 cup water (lukewarm)
3/4 cup warm milk (pop in the microwave for a bit)

Stir yeast in the milk / water mixture and let it bubble up for about 5 minutes

1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
40g shortening (slightly less than 1/4 cup)
2 1/2 cups flour (pour only 2 cups first)

Add the above ingredients in and beat with a paddle attachement until well mixed. If dough is still sticky, add in the extra 1/2 cup flour. Change to hook attachment and knead for about 3 minutes on medium scraping the sides every now and then. Remove from mixer and let dough rest until doubled the amount. It was a warm day today so it doubled around 45 minutes.

Roll the dough on a well floured surface and cut into circles with a round cutter. Use the smallest cutter to cut the holes in the middle. Arrange cut dough on a floured tray and let rise for another 10 minutes. Heat oil and fry the doughnuts until golden.

You need to glaze the doughnuts while its still warm to get that glazy look. So prepare the glaze while waiting for the doughnuts to rise.

Browned Butter Glaze

4 tablespoons butter
1 cup icing sugar
4 tablespoons cream

Sounds simple ? Well all you do is melt the butter in the pan until its really browned. Yes I was scared shitless at ruining my good butter too but heck... its meant to be that way. You will see all these yucky looking sediment in the melted butter. Pour the butter slowly in a bowl so that the sediment does not follow or you can use a strainer. Add the icing sugar and continue to add the cream until you get a nice creamy texture. Remember... multitask and start glazing your doughnuts while its still warm!!

After that be patient and let it sit for a while to ¨set¨.... honesty in our weather its almost impossible to get that crunchy crust unless you live in a completely air conditioned home... Just be happy it looks and taste great!

Cheesy Broccoli Bites

I´m addicted to broccoli.... ya weird right but I love a good broccoli mash with lots of butter and I find it so comforting that I fed my kids that as a baby! I also love a good stirfry, in casserole and lately, Yotam Ottolengi´s Chargrilled Broccoli with Chilli & Garlic.

Today I was craving for a cheesy nibble... so there broccoli bites... I made my own breadcrumbs but if you have a pre-packaged one use that. All I did was toast 2 slices of bread slightly, cut it in small pieces and put it in a food processor. It makes about 1 cup. So just combine all the ingredients and place spoonfuls on a greased tray (DON´T FORGET TO GREASE!)

Ingredients to mix

1 head of broccoli
2 garlics (chopped)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used red and white cheddar)
1 cup breadcrumbs
2 eggs

Bake these little bites on 160 degrees for 15 mins and flip over for another 15 minutes. Serve with your favourite dipping like ranch or chilli mayo.

Breakfast Casserole

Okay I was bored with the usual breakfast spread and with the kids at home sick today I just wanted something fast, filling but hearty at the same time. Plus I had half a loaf of bread thats expiring tomorrow! What to do? What to do? (Thats the question I ask myself every morning at 6am!)

So breakfast casserole it it! Its like a quiche / bread pudding sort of feel but with all the savoury goodness. The options for the fillings are endless.. I basically dumped everything I could find in the fridge. First of all I buttered my dish and layered with my sandwich bread. Why butter and not oil?? Do you butter your toast with butter or oil? Dumb question!

Then I top the bread layer with sauteed ham / sausage filling as follows

1 onions (chopped)
1 garlic (chopped)
3 turkey hams (small cubes)
2 sausages (small cubes)
1 pack of enoki mushrooms (1 inch lengths)
pepper
butter (for sauteeing)

2 hashbrowns (cubed)
baked beans
more bread (cubed)

I also found hashbrowns and baked beans which I 'sprinkled' over the fillings. I also chopped more bread and added on top. Then I sprinkled it with cheese.

quiche sauce 

3 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup cream
2 tablespoon flour
salt / pepper

Tomatoes (sliced)

Whisk all the above in a jug and pour over the fillings. Press down to make sure the bread are soaked through. Arrange tomatoes over the top. Sprinkle more cheese on top. I just like the taste of baked tomatoes when its dried up. Yummy!! Bake for 30-35 minutes on 160 degrees until its golden brown and the quiche sauce is firm. Slice into squares and serve!