Chocolate muffins and cookies

Sometimes, we all need a break from studying..

A really really long 2 hour break...

 The muffins were moist and super light, the cookies, crunchy and umm,,ran outta words

Anyway,

Chocolate muffins: 

200g butter, room temp 

3/4 cups sugar

a dash of vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups+1/4 cup flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 cup water

2 tablespoons coffee granules 

2 medium sized apples, grated

Dissolve coffee granules in water.

Cream the butter and sugar till frothy.

Beat in vanilla and eggs one at a time.

Sift in the flour+cocoa powder and mix in coffee mixture in alternates.

Mix in grated apple.

Spoon mixture into muffin cups.

Bake in a 180C oven for 25 minutes.

(You won't be able to taste the apple after it's baked)

Dhall

Dhalldhalldhalldhalldhalldhalldhall did I mention I love dhall? 

man I drink it like soup its so good so good

MMmmMM! 

onionsgarlicstaranicefenugreekchilliescurrypowdercorianderfennelandlentilswater are all it takes for a lovely pot of dhall..simple, nutritious and great for winter =) 

uuuugghh I want my roti canai!!! Counting down the months till december. Mamak, here I come!

Fish and chips, anyone?

Ok so just admit that you absolutely love fried food..no matter how healthy you claim to be, no matter how much you say you don't like fried stuff, deep down inside you do =) well, at least I do..

For the sake of self-comfort, fish and chips are'nt THAT bad if you make it yourself and use good oil.

So here it is

Fish and chips with a spinach and almond pesto

The fish, I used Basa fish because it has a really nice texture (fish and chips perfect). 

Wait till you see the "chips"

 

 Oh yeah

ooey gooey cheese incased potato sticks

 For these, I used mozarella cheese cos its just sooo good...

 These took some time to make but totally worth while

 I used Basa fish..its one of the cheaper types of fish but it has a really nice texture, perfect for this.

So the fish and "chips" were first dredged in flour, dipped in egg, covered in bread crumbs and then into the hot tub......of oil.

Spinach and almond pesto:

1/4 cups roasted whole almonds

250g baby spinach

4 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin)

1/2 tablespoon sesame oil 

Blend the almonds till they are roughly chopped.

Add in the spinach and blend till combined. 

Add in oils and a good pinch of salt. Blend it to combine.

To Rachel, with lots of love

Today was Rachel's birthday. And I still can't believe that we're overseas studying all on our own..How time flies..It seems like just yesterday we were tuition-ing with teacher zoran and cheryl. All the fun and laughs we had together still fresh in my mind=) I'll never forget the moments!

Anyway, Happy 18th Birthday Rachel! or should I say, Rachal..haha

I really hope you enjoyed my quiet company.

 Carrot cakes with a honey glaze and marzipan icing

 ..and just cause we're pigs..

Scones

2 am in tze morning and I'm up doing stupid HOI..can you believe it? well I decided that breaks are essential.

Tummy's full but mouth so itchy,

Recipe book's in front of me,

I turn tze page and scones I see,

  Fate it was,

so scones it is.

They rose pretty well, I thought.

Scones:

2 cups of flour

2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda

a pinch of salt

2 tablespoons of sugar

1/2 cup of milk

1/4 cup+ 2 tablespoons of water 

Preheat oven to 250 celcius

Sift flour and bicarb into a large bowl.

Mix in salt and sugar.

Make a well in the centre and pour in milk and water.

Mix with a fork until a dough is formed.

You may need to wet your hands a little IF THE MIXTURE IS TOO DRY.

Knead dough lightly for about 1 minute on a floured surface. Flatten slightly to about 3cm thick. 

Use a cookie cutter to cut out rounds and place the rounds in a lightly greased tin. 

They should be arranged like molecules of a solid (for those who do science) hehe..

Brush the top with milk. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool

Perfect with jam and cream..But that white stuff's actually yoghurt..I did'nt have any cream..hehe

Brunch

I was supposed to help in the gardening this morning but was just too lazy to bend my back..So I agreed to cook my brothers a brunch to get myself out of gardening=P

  Sweet paprika seared steak, buttered toast, avocado,

scrambled eggs, baby spinach and pear salad with pickled onion.

Gordon Ramsay was quite particular about how the perfect scrambled eggs 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU_B3QNu_Ks

In-te-res-ting..

I love onions but they make me tear whenever I eat them raw..it's just way too strong to have them raw in salads..However, these pickled onions are perfect for salads and it's the easiest thing in the world. 

Pickled onions: 

2 red onions

1 cup white vinegar

3 tablespoons of sugar

Slice the onions thinly. Put them in a jar. Add in sugar. Pour in the vinegar. Shake lightly. Leave to pickle for at least 30 minutes before use. Or refridgerate for up to a week or two. 

Bread, why are you so crunchy?

Bread is a staple in our house..it's not very asian, but it's just impossible to avoid buying that crusty, rustic-looking loaf of bread in the Italian deli that I love so much=) Tonight was ALL about tze bread..

                                      Crostinis

 Smoked salmon and baby spinach "roses" with basil sour cream

 Pea and mint pesto with avocado

 This one's really just an egg sandwich with avocado on top..

 the 3 different crostinis

 And since we were already having bread,it only made sense that we have dessert..

French toast, warm cinnamon pears and chocolate sauce

 life is good

 Oh yeah!