Cheesecake Galore!

My favourite cake in the world, cheesecake!!

Perfect for breakfast, afternoon snack and after-meal dessert!


Strawberry mascarpone cheesecake


Green tea, vanilla and chocolate cheesecake


Boston cheesecake


Chiffon cheesecake


Coffee cheesecake on chocolate sponge


Marbled cheesecake

Recipes coming soon!

Chiffon Madness!

After countless failed attempts at the ludicrously easy chiffon cake, I've finally been able to churn out good output now. Why easy but failed many times, I can hear you ask? Ha, 1 input factor wrong, the whole thing will kaput! Like oven temperature too high, batter not fully incorporated, egg whites beaten wrongly so on and so on, all result in collapsed cake.


Green tea and red bean chiffon cake

Green tea and red bean swiss roll (filling is red bean mousse)

Coffee chiffon

I have also made other flavours like pandan, vanilla and chocolate.

Recipes are dime a dozen, however, I do have a favourite one. Coming soon!

Caramelised Nuts Medley

Caramelised walnut and almonds

Big King has been nagging at me to make this 'snack' for ages. Ok Ok nah give, one big bottle 食死你.

Get ready:

Walnuts, shelled and de-skinned

Almonds, de-skinned

Butter

Honey

Brown sugar

How to:

1. Lightly toast the nuts in the oven at 180 degree celcius for 10 minutes.

2. In a non-stick saucepan, melt butter, chuck in sugar and honey. Stir for a bit.

3. When sugar starts to melt, chuck in all the toasted nuts. Stir until well-coated and sugar has all melted.

4. Remove from pan and leave to cool on a sheet of aluminium foil for easy removal when cooled.

5. Store in an airtight jar.

Pretty in Pink

I have wanted a jewellery box for the longest time. There really aren't plenty around to choose from here in UK, they are either in boring dark wood or plain to death leather colour. I knew I have found the perfect one when I set my eyes on this beauty.

Aspinal of London's Paris Jewellery box

Stylishly small enough to travel around with and in the most pretty pink leather lined with suede. I even have it personalise.

While browsing also bought this pretty pink leather long wallet lined with suede and silk, all handmade. It doesn't come more luxurious than this, unless, of course you stud your's with diamond.........

Aspinal of London Ladies Long wallet

Big King said it's my mother's day and birthday present. My birthday is in September for god's sake!

Visit Aspinal's website to get your own. They deliver worldwide.

Curry puffs - a taste of home

I started my seconday school years in a government school. Before that I attended the only Chinese school in the capital. I always look forward to breaktime in the morning and would rush off to the tea hall as soon as the bell has rung.

Local snacks and tea/horlicks/milo and fruits awaited us in the hall (supplied by the school for free). A moment too late it will be all gone, limited supply versus whole school of about 300 girls (girls and boys has separate tea hall). We get one kind of snack each day and different for the rest of the week. Fruits were normally oranges and apples.

I always look forward to the day they serve curry puffs. I remembered the filling as fairly sweet and they only use potatoes (no meat) and the skin crunchy eventhough they had already gone cold. After eating, I would linger in the hall. When the queue has ended for the food and there is still some leftovers, I would ask makcik (malay for auntie) if I could have more. Normally I get to take home 4 or 5, haha.

This is my first ever attempt on making curry puffs. I used curry powder, chicken, potato and boiled egg as filling. Skin is just water and flour and a little butter. No recipe as everything was agak-agak (guesstimate). The moment I sink my teeth into one, those yesteryears memories came fooding back...........

Chocolate souffles from GU, a premium chocolate dessert manufacturer. Didn't rise like how souffle is supposed to rise. It tasted ok. Personnaly I don't really like souffle but souffle lover will like it. It's kind of a self-saucing souffle if you like. Make no mistake even if it did not rise much the batter came out nice and airy and springy and extremely light.


Yes, it looks like those melt-in-the-centre chocolate pud but the texture is really souffle-ish.

My favourite Italian pasta dish - Cannelloni

Tubes of pasta filled with ricotta cheese and spinach topped with bechemel sauce and tomato sauce.

What you need:
Cannelloni tubes (buy the no need to pre-cook type)
A bag of spinach (I like young leaf)
A tub of ricotta cheese (I use 250g enough to feed 2)
Bechemel sauce (make your own or buy ready-made in a jar)
Tomato sauce (make your own or buy those bottled pasta sauce)
Cheddar cheese

What you do:
1. Wilt spinach and squeeze out excess water, chopped finely. Add to ricotta cheese.
2. Put 1 in a piping bag and pipe into cannelloni tubes.
3. Take a oven proof dish and spread some tomato sauce just enough to coat the bottom (this is to prevent sticking).
4. Arrange piped tubes in the dish in a single layer then top with bechemael sauce followed by tomato sauce.
5. Sprinkle cheese on top and bake at 200 degree celcius for 35 minutes.

Brunei Eats Jan 2006 - Swensen's Cafe

Just opened recently when I went back to Brunei in January 2006. It occupied some corner units on 2nd floor of The Mall in Gadong. I brought my whole family there, mum, dad, 2 sis and youngest bro plus Big King and Princess and me. There were 8 of us altogether so we occupied 3 joint tables.


Starter - Fries with 2 dips

Tasty especially with the dips.

Starter - Breaded shiitake mushrooms

My favourite item of the night, mushrooms is delightfully crunchy, taste good with or without tartar sauce.


Starter - Buffalo wings

The size of the wings was dismally small. Taste is ok but not finger licking good.


Starter - Seafood chowder in sourdough bread

I ate it as my main. Soup is forgettable but the bread is very good. The bread has been toasted before soup is poured in so the skin is slightly crunchy and the inside is soft and chewy, That's how bread's supposed to be. Not hard as stone as those sold here or lifelessly soft like those sold in bakeries in Brunei which is just evident of too much bread improver in the dough. However of Swensen's bread, judging from the peforation of holes, there is still room for improvement.

Kid's meal - omelette

Tasteless ham and mushroom omelette which tasted like cardboard (not that I've ever chewed on one, haha) served with tinned fruit cocktail and alphabet potato fries. Tinned fruits and frozen fries from an upmarket restaurant, hello?? My bro only managed to swallow about half of the omelette. Then started eyeing the ice-cream cabinet.......


Baked rice - chicken and seafood

Tasteless stuff and the meat is so dry it's like eating ba kwa (chinese dry roast meat). Seafood is limp and obviously frozen, hello?? How cheap is seafood is Brunei and they use frozen stuff?? It could easily cost more than the real mccoy.


Spicy pasta with battered fish served with spicy sauce

This dish is indeed spicy and taste of nothing else. The battered fish was overcooked and the batter soggy. I can pop Bird Eye's frozen battered fish fillet in the oven and it will taste a million times better than their version.


Lamb chop with black pepper sauce

My dad had this. I kind of sweet-talked him into ordering it as some friends had told me it was tasty. I wanted to try mah. The chops came and my dad just sit there eating and diam-diam (silent). I asked him,"nice or not dad?" He asked me to try some. I obliged and invited my mum to taste it with me. To be honest, I had forgotten how it taste like, I just remembered chewing a piece of rather hard rubber, yikes! Even the smell reminded me of burnt rubber, maybe it's just my imagination. My mum ate a small piece and smiled,"aiyo your dad can cook so much better lamb chop yet you ask him to order lamb." Three lines above my head.......

2006 Chap Go Meh Dinner

Huh so long ago? Do you know the date now Rabbit? Knock knock the head.


Deep fried chicken and prawn fritters in coffee sauce

Coffee sauce comes pre-mixed in a packet. Big King loves to order coffee lamb chop in restaurant so I made an easier chicken version at home. Taste ok only. Prawn fritters my fav, all mine, all mine on the plate hee.....

Fish Maw and vegetable soup

Big King's favourite soup?? Well, he gets all excited when he knows I am making this, there.

Big King's Lunch Box

Take a peek......

Hee, it's only bread not body parts, haha.



Left: Hotdog roll (hotdog not seen in pic)

Right: Pork floss bun

I made these at home. Why? Cannot find here beh.

Only make them when I crave Chinese/Asian style bread so Big King only get to eat them when I feel like making ha......

Wat Tan Hor (with pictured ingredients and steps)

I had promised Lou to blog about the above titled, I am sorry it took so long but better late than never eh....

Ingredients:

Clockwise from top left: Char siew, choy sum, fish cake, egg and flat rice noodles (not pictured)

You can substitute char siew with seafood or any meat of your choice, I happen to have made char siew earlier that week...... In fact all the ingredients can be tuned to your liking except the noodles and egg of course.........

Steps:

1. Heat up a non-stick saucepan and stir-fry noodles till heated through. You can use a normal wok but remember to put in oil first. Transfer to a serving plate.

2. Using the same saucepan (that's the beauty of nonstick saucepan, saved me a lot of washing jobs), put in 1 tbsp of oil. When oil is heated, put in char siew followed by fish cake and then stir fry for a while. Add in vegetables, fry briefly to take the raw edge off the vege. Add in chicken stock or water (roughly 1 bowl per person). Check seasoning, add in salt if necessary.

3. While waiting for the broth to boil, make up some cornstarch solution. When broth is boiling stir the cornstarch solution in bit by bit until it has come to your desired consistency. Bring back to boil.

4. Turn off heat and stir in the lightly beaten egg.

5. Voila serve!

Brunei Eats Jan 2006 - 'Sweet Temptations' at Sheraton Utama Hotel

Just as I was leaving after our reunion dinner, I spied the above being advertised at the counter for only B$7.50 per person. Wah say so cheap, must come back and try! The promotion is only available monday to friday from 2 pm to 5pm.

Left: Boxing chicken
Right: Fried noodles

Both were yummy!! I had several rounds of both!

Above left: Apple pie - crust too thick, filling was gooey.....
Above right: Cheesecake - nothing phenomenal....
Below left: Chocolate mud cake - quite nice, chocolate strong and dark......
Below right: Carrot cake - Yikes, I hate carrot cakes!!

An assorment of breads, danish pastries, scones and biscuits

I didn't try any of these, too busy muching down the above.........

We also had yummy ice-cream (not pictured), I like to dress it with lots of custard and strawberry coulis, yum!

Brunei Eats Jan 2006 - Reunion dinner at Sheraton Utama Hotel

Reunion dinner with Big King's family took place at Tasek Brasserie, Sheraton Utama Hotel. MIL didn't want to cook....BIL had this Starwood card which allow special deal like 2 eat pay for 1. There were 6 of us (including 1 child) and ended up only paying for 4.

I had been busy the whole morning that day. Cooking up a storm in the kitchen for offerings to our ancestors all by myself. Worst of all there are only 2 hobs, @#$%*..... No pictures were taken, I was super busy and super knackered afterward to remember..........I cooked fried beehoon, steamed herbal chicken, shark's fin soup and braised sea cucumber with mushroom and baby abalone. OK enough, siao liam.

Entrance to Tasek Brasserie

Starters - Bread, soups, salad, cold meat

Nothing outstanding here but young niece liked the shark's fin soup. Personally I think too much MSG. SIL forbid the use of MSG at home but likes to eat out VERY often. Cheh.....Personally I think a little bit won't hurt.......

Mains - normal chinese fare like crispy duck, herbal chicken, prawns, mixed vege, yam basket and steamed garoupa

I ate quite a lot of prawn tempura (they are super salty but dun know how to cook well at home) and several pieces of the yam basket, I love yam! I did not touch the yee sang, didn't look fresh.........

Desserts - fruits, cakes, tarts, tau-fu fa, ice cream and a tray of dried sweet pickle that is Chinese New Year essential

In my opinion, Sheraton Brunei is one of two places in Brunei where you can find good breads and cakes (the other being Empire Hotel). And the freshly brewed coffee ain't half bad. All the desserts were above average standard that night except tau-fu fa which I didn't try as they didn't look particularly appetizing, Looked like it's been left there for days. I particularly enjoyed the lemon roll, chocolate mousse (nice dark and bitter and not too sweet) and of course their own home-made ice-cream. I liked the yam flavour best! In fact I liked the desserts so much I was back a few days later for it's 'Sweet Temptations' afternoon tea!

There were peanuts strewn across the table as decoration (weird...) and Princess was eager to get her hands on one. She's never seen or tasted them before. Popped it in her mouth shell and all and she frowned and spit it out. Haha, guess she didn't like the salty shell! Salt is never part of her diet.

Best Kolo Mee in Bandar Seri Begawan - Quarry Kolo Mee

Majority regard the kolo mee from Seria as the best in Brunei. After several cirit-birit (diarrhoea) episode after savouring them, I hate to say it is the WORST in my opinion.

Quarry kolo mee, as it is widely known, can actually be found in a 'hole in the wall' canteen at Bee Seng Quarry, Jalan Tutong. Having been around donkey years, I only ever discovered it recently like 2 or 3 years ago. Can't blame me, there is an equally delicious 'illegal' kolo mee vendor just within spitting distance of my house which has sadly been closed down after being reported in by jeolous competitor nearby.

Kolo mee is by no means hard to cook but to cook it well is another story 是一門大學問. My dad makes pretty decent kolo mee whereas I just cincai hantam haha.

I like having my fix with wantan, char siew and lots of pickled chilli那是一定要的啦!

Brunei Eats Jan 2006 - Lee Loi Fatt Foodstall

Lee Loi Fatt (LLF) in Kiulap (a commercial area about 5 minutes drive from city centre) is famous for it's rojak originated from Kuala Belait (a district in Brunei). I never visit it on purpose as there is better rojak elsewhere........

I decided to take my friends and cousin who had come back from overseas to LLF as these are the types of food they crave while away from Brunei.

We had

Mixed fried fritters (B$5)- prawn, yam and beancurd

Rojak (B$5) - ingredients include cuttlefish, turnip, pineapple and cucumber tossed in shrimp paste and garnished with crushed peanuts

As I hadn't had lunch, I also ordered laksa with prawn (B$3).

I always have three sour drink B$1.20 (lemon, lime and brined salted prunes), it's good for thirst-quenching and helps work up one's appetite.

Brunei Eats Jan 2006 - Reunion Dinner at Emperor's Court

I had reunion dinner with my family a day earlier at Emperor's Court, Hua Ho Mall at Jalan Muara. It was allegedly the best halal Chinese restaurant in town but I beg to differ...

Baked lobster in cheese sauce

Assorted hot and cold platter

Steamed Gui Hua (directly translated as jasmine) fish

Tender lamb chop in mandarin sauce

Braised duck with sea cucumber

Assorted vegetables in yam basket

Double mushroom with broccoli

Honeydew sago for pudding

I liked the fish, lam chop and sago pud the best :p