Category: Melbourne

Kong Ba (Twice-Cooked Pork Belly)

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I have a weakness. Pork belly is my weakness. There’s just something about tender meat that melt-in-your-mouth the moment it touches your tongue. I never really use to like eating the fatty bits of the pork belly. I remember when I did marketing, I used to look for the piece that had less fat and more meat. But now, I look for equal proportions haha. The mr has changed me for the better. I didn’t know what I have been missing! And now when we are back in Singapore, we would meet Stephie for a meal of fatty pork! Can’t wait till the end of the year! (:

After the mr’s family went back, we had heaps of food left in the freezer and I needed to clear it or I won’t be able to buy other things! I opened the freezer and saw a container of sliced pork belly. Immediately, I knew what I wanted to cook – kong ba (twice-cooked pork belly). Nothing beats slow braised pork belly that is caramelised till the meat is soft and easily breaks apart. YUMS!

Traditionally, you would eat it with a soft steamed bun. But I was too lazy to head out to Springvale to get it and found some man tou in the fridge so I steamed that instead. Though it’s not as soft as the traditional buns, they worked well too! Plus, to off-set the unhealthy fatty bits, we had it with lettuce! This is the epitome of a balanced diet haha (:

Do note that usually, you would use a whole slab of pork belly and slice it up after, but mine was already sliced up. To me, there wasn’t much difference, in fact I think it works better and you don’t have to risk burning your fingers to slice them up later. But either way, you’ll have yummies in your tummies!

Kong Ba (adapted from  To Food With Love)

1kg pork belly (either whole or sliced)

1/2 tsp thick caramel black soy + 4 tbs extra

2 shallots, thinly sliced

5 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1/2 tsp five-spice powder

2 tbs light soy

1 tbs honey

2 tbs sugar

1/2 star anise

1 tsp sesame oil

2 cups water

bunch of coriander, roughly chopped and separate into 2 portions

ground white pepper

Vegetable oil, for deep frying

Steps :

1) Boil a large pot of water and boil the pork belly for 15-20 minutes. Remove and rinse the pork under cold water before patting them dry. Allow it to cool slightly and rub the skin with 1/2 tbs of thick caramel dark soy.

2) In a frying pan, heat enough vegetable oil on medium heat. Be careful not to heat it too high. Carefully lower the pork belly into the oil and fry till the skin is crisp (about 5 minutes). Do be very careful as there will be a very big splatter, use a splatter screen to avoid being burnt. Take the pork belly out carefully and drain off the excess oil using paper towel. (If you use a whole slab of pork belly, slice the pork belly to 1/2 inches thick after it has cooled down.)

3) In a large metal bowl, add the rest of the caramel thick dark soy, light soy, honey, sugar, star anise, five-spice powder, garlic, shallots and sesame oil and mix till well combined. Add the fried pork belly and marinade for at least 30 minutes.

4) In a medium sized pot, add 1 tbs vegetable oil and fry the pork belly until they are seared well. Add the rest of the marinade and top it with 2 cups of water. Cover the pot and bring it to a boil, then lower the heat to low and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add half of the coriander (including the stems) and continue to simmer for 1/2 hour. Check occasionally and turn the pork to make sure it is evenly covered in the sauce. The pork should be tender and the liquid should be reduced to a thicker consistency. Season with ground white pepper. Garnish with the rest of the coriander before serving with hot steamed buns and lettuce!

Enjoy! (:

Remember to always cook with love!

The Merrywell

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I’m late! I’m late! I’m very very late and I do sincerely apologise! But I really didn’t want to rush through this post cause it was a very exciting first experience for me. I got my very first invitation to a blogger’s lunch at The Merrywell a few months back and I could still remember how surprised I was when I read the email. I had to re-read again a few times just to make sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. haha Thankfully it was on the last day of my break so I could attend! Hurray!

The Merrywell

Address : Corner of Clarendon Street and Crown Riverside, Southbank Vic

Phone : (03) 9292 7468

Website : http://www.themerrywell.com.au/

The Merrywell is a relatively new restaurant situated at the corner of Clarendon Street and Crown Riverside. It features both a restaurant (at the upper level) and a burger bar (at the lower level). We were invited to try a whole range of food and drinks from the burger bar and we were definitely stuffed (with happiness) by the end of lunch! So let’s face it, we all love a good burger! The best I’ve had is at Huxtaburger and I was just really excited to be able to try another place out!

Lunch began with huge floats! There were both kid friendly and adult versions of floats available. I was sitting with 3 other girls and we all ordered a different float to try! I went old school and ordered a root beer float but I was very sure that if the mr was there, he would go for the guinness float which would be perfect for the beautiful sunny weather we’re having now! (: *slurps*

To be honest, I was already feeling a tad full half way through my float! But looking at the menu, we had lots of yummy food coming our way! I have to say, the amount of food that we were being served could easily feed double the number of people! There was so much! It was endless, just kept coming.

So we started off with the four entrees to be shared around the table : Caesar salad, mexican cobb salad, greek salad and grilled fish tacos!

The salads were all fresh and delicious but I had to only have a bit of each as we all had a burger each coming our way! In fact, the fish tacos came after our burgers did, so I had absolutely no room to fit it in my tummy! A pity though, as they looked really good! Have to save it for next time! hehe

So now the stars of the afternoon – the burgers! We were given a choice between 4 burgers. From the start, my eyes were set on the Merrywell burger, although I was intrigued by the Bistro burger that had fries stuffed in them! haha But I stuck to my decision and was so glad I did!

The Merrywell burger came wrapped beautifully with a side of fries! The fries were SO GOOD! Crispy and I love the fact its super crunchy! Not a single bit soggy. Unwrapping the burger was like opening a present! The moment you open it, the delicious smell of melted cheese and seared beef just fills the air. AMAZING!

The buns were soft, the meat was juicy and there was just enough melted cheese to tie everything together. Definitely a burger I recommend! I can just imagine myself having the burger, and gulping a beer while enjoying the sun with the view of the Yarra river! Doesn’t it sound picture perfect?

As Msihua doesn’t take beef, she chose the K.F.Club which had chicken, bacon, tomato, cheese and mayo. Definitely looked delicious! The Merrywell burger is the only one that came with fries, so of course, there was an extra side of fries and onion rings! Noms!

Yes. Golden fried onion rings. Couldn’t get any better!

Of course, the meal wouldn’t be complete without some sweets as Miss D would say! haha And we were presented with three jars! My eyes lit up as I have an obsession with desserts in jars, as you might know! They were all so beautiful and even though I was really stuffed, I had to give them all a try!

If you don’t already know, I LOVE chai. So when this was in front of me, I dived (okie, my spoon did haha) right into it! It had really in depth flavour of chai, and thick and creamy! But instead of the layer of burnt sugar, it had a layer of chocolate to crack into!

The chocolate mousse was highly recommended by the host of the event and I could tell why. It was not just chocolatey, it was luscious and just delicious! I wanted more even though my stomach was saying STOP!

Last but not the least, the lamington trifle! I have to admit, I never liked having lamingtons as I am not a big fan of desiccated coconut. But I couldn’t really taste much of the coconut in this! Love the soft cake with cream, vanilla custard and sweet berry sauce and strawberries! The colours of this dish was just so pretty!

Of course, you can only imagine how full I was by the end of the lunch but I was definitely satisfied! Was really happy to be able to meet new people over great food! Will definitely be returning to this place soon but just for their burgers this time so that my stomach won’t always be stretched! (: Definitely an experience I won’t forget! A big thank you to the team at Merrywell for the fantastic lunch!

For other reviews, do head over to :

I’m So Hungree

Sarah Cooks

Msihua

Disclaimer : I was invited to dine at the Merrywell with compliments to the restaurant and Crown Casino.

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Bread & Jam for Frances

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Bread & Jam for Frances

Add : 1/701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn (Enter via Linda Crescent or through Readings)

Tel : 03 9819 2122

Website : http://www.breadandjamforfrances.com.au/

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a fantastic weekend! Just want to share a new place we tried last weekend with the mr’s family (:

Whenever the Mr has weightlifting competitions at the Hawthorn Weightlifting club, we would drive past this small little cafe that has the cutest logo. It has been about 7-8 times that we drove past the place and as many times that I told myself that we have to give it a try. But cause the Mr had a strict routine he adheres to during competitions, we never got a chance to have it till recently when his family was here. YAY! (:

We were really lucky to head there a few minutes earlier than the crowd and didn’t need to wait for a table! Although there wasn’t any small tables left, fortunately there was still the communion table. The cafe, though small, was really cosy and everyone was really friendly. As it used to be an old dance hall, the ceilings were really high which allowed light to shine through making the whole place very welcoming. I couldn’t wait to order and have my brunch! (:

Not long after we ordered, our drinks were served. I ordered my usual favourite (and comfort) – chai soy latte. And what’s best about it is that they serve my favourite Bonsoy! Whee! Also, I love cafes that use chai leaves to brew their chai lattes. This was just spot on, and definitely a great start to the weekend.

The mr ordered his usual latte as well. and he said the coffee was really good. so coffee lovers out there, this is a place to try out! (:

My sis-in-law ordered the hot chocolate. It was quite a theme going. haha We all ordered our usual hot cuppa that morning and we were all very happy with what we had. By this time, I really couldn’t wait to have our food.

But let me first tell you a little about Bread & Jam for Frances. They are not only a place for brunch, but you could also head there to buy freshly baked artisan bread which they are known for! Their first home “Dench Bakers” was famous for their artisan breads and sandwiches. So of course their bread is something you would want have when you’re at Bread & Jam for Frances!

I browsed the menu and what caught my eye was this : avocado and feta with sweet chilli on toast, topped with salad. So I definitely wanted to have it. It was super good. With fresh toasted bread that was crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle, the rich avocado went so well with the saltiness and creaminess of the feta. BRAVO! My smile just got wider with every bite. I think I’ve found my new favourite combination. haha And what’s better than starting the day with something healthy? Or I would like to think! haha

My sister-in-law ordered the classic dish :  scrambled eggs on toast with a side of bacon. Everyone was ooh-ing and aah-ing when the dish arrived because it looked absolutely delicious and the portion size was huge! The eggs were so creamy and cooked perfectly. And nothing could be better than crispy bacon. She was one happy (and full) girl. hehe

My in-laws shared a ham, cheese and tomato croissant and a scone (that I didn’t get to snap, sorry!). Layers of crispy buttery goodness which my in-laws really enjoyed! I have to say, I too enjoy having ham & cheese croissant once in a while! There’s just something about the whole combination. First you have the crunch, then u have the melted oozy cheese! Mmmm! Feel like having one now! hehe

With the yummy food and friendly service, it is definitely save to say we will be coming back especially since the mr didn’t have anything to eat that day. The next time I’m back, I’m definitely going to try the cakes that they have to offer and buy a loaf of walnut bread! heh

Have a good week ahead and here’s to more good food to come! (:

Bread & Jam For Frances on Urbanspoon

Baked Eggs With Homemade Baked Beans

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Really sorry for the inactivity for the past two weeks! We had my mr’s family over for a holiday and I took the chance to have a break and just spend quality time with the family. (: But I’m back and this time with a brunch recipe as a form of my apology to share with everyone!

So it’s the weekend! One thing we love to do is have brunch. Be it having it out or home. A dish that I love to order when I head out for brunch with the mr is no doubt baked eggs. The best thing about it is when the yolk is still runny and combines with the tomatoey baked beans to become the perfect sauce for me to dip my bread into it and enjoy every single bite. mmmm! So I decided to try and make it for the mr (and more recently, his family) for brunch at home.

And to be a little over indulgent (as I always like to go all out with my meals haha) I love topping the baked eggs with some sauteed chanterelles, with a side of buttery croissant and some crispy bacon! PERFECT! (: I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Although I have to say, I always tend to get the eggs a bit overdone and only got it done perfectly once! So I have alot of respect for the cafes that always get it spot on! *bows*

I also got a bit adventurous and decided to make my own baked beans from scratch and it turned out easier than I thought! And trust me, once you try making them from scratch, you won’t really buy the tin ones anymore. Definitely worth the extra 20 mins! Also, you can layer your baked eggs with your favourite ingredients. The first time I made it, I added capsicum. The second time I made it, I added corn and spinach!

I found these beautiful baking dish that was perfect for making individual portions of baked eggs! But of course, you could always just bake them in any suitable baking dish. I used a 10″ quiche baking dish for the family and it looked really pretty too! (: So regardless of the size, I’m sure it will still satisfy your tummy! hehe

So here’s the basic recipe of the baked beans as well as the baked eggs. I will be sharing the recipe that will fill a 10″ quiche baking dish. For big eaters like the mr and I, we could polish that off quite quickly, but it could comfortable feed 3-4 people as well! Do remember that the recipe is really versatile, so you could add your favourite ingredients and it will be super yums!

Baked Eggs with Homemade Baked Beans (a FoodMadeWithLove original recipe)

For the baked beans :

50g speck, diced into cubes (or bacon)

1/2 large onion, finely diced

1 tin diced tomatoes

1 tbs tomato paste

1 tin cannellini beans, drained

1 tsp dried chilli flakes (optional)

1 ts olive oil

1/2 tsp sugar

salt & pepper, season

For baked eggs :

4 eggs

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

3 tbs shaved parmesan

1 tsp dried parsley, for garnish

For the chanterelles : 

5g dried chanterelles*

10g salted butter

50ml hot water

1 tsp thickened cream

Garlic salt  & pepper, to season

Steps :

1) Place the chanterelles in a small bowl, and pour the hot water over it allowing it to re-hydrate while cooking the baked beans.

2) For the baked beans : In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil on medium heat and fry the speck till all sides are golden brown. Add the onions and fry till fragrant, continuously stirring it. Add the tomato paste and stir till combined with the onions. Add the tin diced tomatoes and allow it to come to a boil. Lower the heat to low and allow it to simmer for 10 mins. Add the cannellini beans, sugar and chilli flakes. Stir and allow it to simmer for another 5 mins. Pour the beans into the baking dish and set aside.

3) For the chanterelles (garnish) : Drain the chanterelles, reserving the water. Squeeze the chanterelles to make sure it’s dry. In another small saucepan, melt the butter and add the chanterelles. Fry till fragrant, then add the reserved water and thickened cream and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes, or until all the water has evaporated. Season with a pinch of salt (or garlic salt) and pepper.

4) For the baked eggs : Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celcius. Create 4 holes in the baked beans using a wooden spoon, and crack an egg into each of them. Top the eggs with shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese and bake for 10 mins, or until the egg white is cooked, remembering you would want the egg yolk to be runny!

5) Garnish with dried parsley and the chanterelles. Served with toast.

ENJOY! Have a great weekend!

*Note : Chanterelles could be purchased at Woolsworth in the fresh mushroom section! Of course, you could use other dried mushrooms, or the mixed forest mushrooms that you can purchase from specialty stores. 

Remember  to always cook with love (:

Salted Caramel Chocolate Lava Cake

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So it was my mr’s birthday yesterday and I really wanted to make him a cake especially since it’s his birthday I’m celebrating with him as his wife! (: So I have been thinking and thinking what would he like as his cake. As he loves salted caramel, I was inspired by Ms D’s cake  (the queen of desserts hehe) that she made for her mr’s birthday! So after much research, I found a perfect cake that the mr would love!

I was really nervous with how it would turn out cause I havent baked a lava cake for the longest time. And I was quite stressed when making it cause there was no turning back. I had no back up cake plan at all. haha You could definitely see the relief in my face when the cake came out cleanly from the ramekins and I found out there was a gooey molten middle! SUCCESS!

And it was definitely a hit with the mr! He has requested that I make him this cake every year on his birthday! hehe I have to say, nothing is sexier than having the luscious salted caramel oozing out of the cake the moment you cut your fork through! It just puts a really big smile on my face! And I could just see how happy and satisfied the mr was. To me, that was the most important part of the day – that he enjoyed what I made him. hehe

Salted Caramel Chocolate Lava Cake (adapted from The Endless Meal)

For the chocolate salted caramel : 

142 g dark chocolate

1 cup caster sugar

28 g unsalted butter

1 tsp fleur de sel, plus a bit more when layering dessert

2 tbs water

1/2 cup thickened cream

For the lava cake :

284g dark chocolate

113 g unsalted butter

3 large eggs

3 egg yolks

1/2 cup plain flour

1/2 cup icing sugar, and more for dusting

2 tbs cocoa powder

extra butter and cocoa powder for ramekins

Steps :

1) For chocolate salted caramel : Melt chocolate in a double boiler, over a small pot of boiling water.

2) In a large pot, add the sugar and water and heat over medium heat until sugar melts and turn dark amber. If you have a candy thermometer, it should reach 176 degrees celcius. Take it off the heat, and carefully add the thicken cream. (Do note that it will bubble vigorously, so do not stand too close.) Whisk the mixture until smooth, then add the melted chocolate. Once it’s mixed well, stir in the butter. Set aside.

3) For the cake : Prepare 6-8 ramekins (depending on the size), and butter them well before coating them with cocoa powder, turning them upside down to make sure there is no excess. Set aside.

4) Melt butter and chocolate in a heat proof bowl, over a mall pot of boiling water. Once melted, set aside allowing it to cool a little.

5) In a mixer, whisk the eggs and egg yolks until well combined. Add the cooled melted chocolate and butter mixture, and stir well. Combine the flour and icing sugar, making sure there are no lumps, then slowly add to the mixture. Mix until smooth.

6) Fill each ramekin half way. Then place a big teaspoon of chocolate salted caramel in the middle and sprinkle a little bit more fleur de sel, before covering with more cake batter until it’s 3/4 filled. (At this stage, you can either bake it straight away or keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.)

7) Preheat oven to 210 degrees celcius for 10 minutes. Place the ramekins in the middle rack of the oven, and bake for 15-20 minutes. If your ramekins are smaller, please reduce the baking time to ensure the gooey middle! Remove the ramekin from the oven, and run a palette knife through the sides to loosen the cake.

8) Carefully place a plate over the top of the ramekin and invert it. Carefully lift the ramekin up. Dust with icing sugar and serve with whipped vanilla bean cream if desired.

ENJOY! (:

So happy birthday my dearest hubs! So so glad you enjoyed the dinner after a 12 hours day at work! Thank you for working so so hard just to make sure we live comfortably. I couldn’t ask for more really. I love you! And I promise to make this for you every year on your birthday! hehe

{Quick & Easy} Salmon, Shiitake and Edamame Soba Noodles

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Part two of our jap themed dinner features a bowl of salmon, shiitake & edamame soba noodles! Remember my post on okonomiyaki? This goes really well with it! I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been a soba person, not so much udon. Maybe cause it makes me feel like I’m eating something healthier. hehe I do usually like the cold version, especially cause I get to dip it in the cold soba sauce and slurp it!

But I decided to try a hot version of it. And I was really glad with how it turned out! I could seriously have a bowl of it every night! hehe The addition of the edamame not only added freshness, but also added a vibrant colour to the dish!

And what’s more? I topped the soba noodles with supper yummy korean rice seasoning! If you haven’t had this before, I urge you to head to an asian supermarket to get one ASAP!! You could even top the okonomiyaki with it! So so good (: So here’s the recipe which I used for this delicious and healthy (in my opinion) soba noodles! And you can definitely get it cooked in less than 30 minutes! That’s a win-win in my books!

Salmon, Shiitake & Edamame Soba Noodles (adapted from Flying Fourchette)

300g skinless salmon fillet, cut into cubes

1 clove of garlic, finely chopped

6 fresh shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced

1/2 cup edamame, shelled

180g soba (buckwheat noodles)

2 tbs vegetable oil

 For sauce :

1 /3 cup water

1/3 cup light soy sauce

3 tsp korean hot pepper paste (gochujang)

1 tbs brown sugar

Steps :

1) For the sauce : Stir all the ingredients together until the sugar has completely dissolved. Set aside.

2) In a non-stick frying pan, add 1 tbs of vegetable oil and fry the cubes of salmon until all sides of the salmon is slightly brown. Set it aside. Add the rest of the vegetable oil, and fry the garlic till fragrant then add the shiitake. Fry for about 5 minutes, or until the shiitake is tender.

3) Add the salmon cubes back into the pan, and add half of the sauce and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes on low heat. Meanwhile, heat a pot of water and cook the soba noodles till just tender (about 7 minutes, depending on the instructions on the packet). Drain the noodles and run under cold water, to stop it from cooking further. Drain well and place in a large bowl.

4) Transfer the cooked salmon with the sauce into the large bowl and toss it lightly until the noodles are well coated. Add the edamame and give it another toss, careful not to mash the salmon. Put a few more teaspoons of sauce if desired.

5) Sprinkle with rice seasoning before serving. ENJOY!

Definitely something quick and satisfying after you’ve had a long day at work or school. So hopefully this would be something you’d like to give a try! (: Happy midweek!

Date Night : Snag Stand

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Due to work, the mr and I really treasure the nights and weekends we get to head out, relax and spend quality time together. It’s been a very long time since we watched a movie in the big screens, so we decided to head to the city on one of the Mondays a while back. We were going to catch The Dark Knight Rises at Melbourne Central so I decided to have hotdogs for dinner. I’ve been seeing heaps of pictures on the mouth-watering food from Snag Stand so I told the mr to meet me there after he finished tutoring at Uni.

Snag Stand

Address : Corner La Trobe and Swanston Street, Melbourne Vic 3000

Website : http://www.snagstand.com.au

The Snag Stand is conveniently located in the middle of the city and would be a perfect place to head to when the weather is nice and warm! It kinda reminds me of those hotdog carts you always see in movies, where you can buy and have it on the go. Of course you can stand or sit around their round bar tables, and just savour every single bite. Don’t get me wrong, their hotdogs are by no means ordinary. They have a huge range of sausages, stuffed in a variety of bread rolls, and the toppings they have just makes their hotdogs super yummy!

When I was browsing the menu, I just wanted to have an order of everything. haha Cause I couldn’t decide on what I should have! So I waited for the mr to help me in the decision-making. What I really like is that they cater to different dietary requirements! They even have vegetarian options, which is awesome! (:

So after some time, we decided on a couple of ‘haute dogs’ and a side of chilli cheese fries! Mmmm !

The first one we chose was the Wagyu Beef that is served up in a rustic roll, with butter and garlic mash, herbed gravy and topped with crispy fried onions! I know it’s like a carb overload with bread and mash! But it was so good! The wagyu beef sausage was juicy & tasty and went really well with the fluffy mash!

Of course, I only had 1/3 and the mr had to finish the rest. hehe I’m really lucky the mr can eat! hehe (: I had to leave some stomach space for the other two dishes!

Our second choice was the Spicy Spanish Chorizo sausage that was grilled with semi-dried tomatoes, chipotle mayo, baby rocket, shredded spanish goat’s cheese on a brioche roll. I was set on this dish when I saw that it was served on a brioche roll! I just couldn’t resist a soft and delicious brioche! I have to say though, I was a bit worried about how strong the goat’s cheese was going to be, cause I have always been reserved with the pungent smell and strong taste of goat’s or sheep’s cheese. Thankfully it was quite mild and went really well with the spicy chorizo sausage! PHEW!

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the ultimate comfort food : chilli cheese fries! What could be better than crispy fries, with a layer of chilli con carne, topped with a layer of cheese! YUMMEH! I could just eat this all day. I don’t usually say this, but this could compete with the Canadian fries from Lord of The Fries! Sinful, yes. Delicious, definitely. So I think deliciousness conquers all sins! 😛

We both definitely enjoyed every single bite of our haute dogs and the chilli cheese fries. Can’t wait to head back and try the other flavours and combinations! Especially since the weather is turning warmer (cause it’s Spring, yay!) it would be perfect to have a haute dog or two!

Definitely a successful date night! (: Can’t wait for more nights like this!

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Lemony Blessings

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I always considered our lives very blessed. We always get what we want and we have constant love, care and support from our family. What more can we ask for? But God is amazing. I came home one day after work and found a few bright yellow round things in our garden. My first thought was : someone has been throwing tennis balls into our backyard? haha But when I got a closer look, they were lemons that fell off our neighbour’s lemon tree! (: The winds and rain were so strong, the lemons flew into our backyard! What blessings! Showers of blessings indeed!

So what do you do when you suddenly have a whole bunch of lemons? Make lemon meringue cupcakes filled with luciuus and tangy lemon curd, of course! It’s been a cupcake I have been wanting to make for the longest time. Ever since the first Junior Masterchef when Isabella made her beautiful cupcakes for the Mystery Box challenge! So I decided to make the curd a day before, and wake up early on a Saturday morning to make these gorgeous small cakes.

I started bright and early, so much so that I could try two cake recipes! I was drawn to the recipe on Gourmet Traveller (September 2011 Issue) that was from the Rockpool Bar & Grill. So I couldn’t resist making them. I just had to make both cakes. They were very different. Not just in the type of ingredients used, the way it’s made and also the texture. The cakes using Isabella’s recipe turned out soft and fluffy. But the ones from the Rockpool’s recipe turned out slightly denser and gooey-er (see above). I really couldn’t choose between the two! Both were delicious!

What I really like about Isabella’s recipe is that she didn’t use butter in her cupcakes, so you could practically whip it up really quickly! You don’t have to wait for the butter to soften, which is definitely a plus! And I would like to say that it is healthier. MAYBE. haha But well, regardless. They were both delicious! Just depends on what texture you like more. So I’m going to share both recipes, and you can decide which you like more! (:

*Note : I used the same lemon curd and Italian meringue for both cupcakes and the recipes below are more than enough for all the 24 cupcakes made (12 from each cupcake recipe). 

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

Lemon Curd (adapted from Gourmet Traveller – Rockpool Bar & Grill)

5 eggs

155ml lemon juice

1 tbs lemon zest

180g caster sugar

150g butter

*Cupcake 1 (adapted from Gourmet Traveller – Rockpool Bar & Grill)

155g caster sugar

155g butter

155g self-raising flour

1 tbs lemon zest

1 tsp vanilla paste

75ml milk

Italian Meringue (adapted from Gourmet Traveller – Rockpool Bar & Grill)

200g caster sugar

80ml water

140g egg whites

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Steps :

1) For the lemon curd : Whisk the eggs in a large bowl, then strain them through a sieve. In a heavy-based saucepan, add the butter, lemon juice, sugar and zest. Stir until the butter is melted and sugar is fully dissolved. Add a little of the lemon mixture to the eggs to warm it up, then gradually add it back into the saucepan, stirring continuously.

2) Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring continuously and scraping the base of the saucepan until it thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon. This will take about 8 minutes and make sure the mixture doesnt boil or else it will curdle. Allow the mixture to cool completely, before covering it and put it in the fridge until it is chilled. (At least an hour, but I prefer to make it a day before, and let it chill overnight). This is enough for the 24 cupcakes I made, and leftovers could be kept in an airtight container in a fridge, up to 2 weeks.

3) For cupcakes* : Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius, and line a 12-cupcake tray with liners. In a mixer, beat the butter on medium speed for a couple of minutes, before adding the sugar. Beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix until the mixture is smooth. Add the lemon zest and vanilla paste and mix it for another 2 minutes. On low speed, add the flour and milk (alternately) until just combined. Careful not to overbeat the mixture. Divide the mixture evenly into the cupcake liners and smooth the top out. Bake the cupcakes for 15-20 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. Turn them out onto a wire rack and allow them to cool completely. (For Isabella’s recipe, please see below)

4) For the Italian meringue : Combine the caster sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat and sitr the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved. Increase the heat to medium-high, and allow the sugar mixture to reach a soft-boil stage, without stirring (about 121 degrees celcius on a candy thermometer).

5) In a mixer, whisk the egg whites with the cream of tar tar until soft peaks form. On medium speed, slowly and carefully pour the hot sugar syrup into the whipped egg whites. Continue to whisk the mixture on medium speed until the mixing bowl feels cool, and the egg whites are thick and glossy. Fill a pipping bag and use immediately.

6) To assemble : Cut a whole in the middle of the cupcakes, big enough to fill 2 tsp of lemon curd. Fill a pipping back with the lemon curd and gently fill the holes up. Pipe the Italian meringue onto each cupcake, making sure you cover the curd completely. Using a kitchen blowtorch, carefully brown the meringue before serving.

*Cupcake 2 (adapted from Junior Masterchef – Isabella’s Recipe)

1 cup thickened cream

3/4 cup caster sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 1/2 cups self-raising flour

1 tbs lemon zest

Steps : 

1) For cupcakes* : Place cream, sugar and eggs in a mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Gradually add the flour (1/2 cup at a time) and zest and continue to whisk until thick and smooth. Spoon the mixture into the cupcake liners and bake for 15-18 minutes. Turn over on a wire rack and allow it to cool completely before filling them up with the lemon curd and topping with the Italian meringue (recipe and steps as stated above).

ENJOY!

Lychee Cheesecake In A Jar

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I’ve been wanting to do this for the longest time. Making a dessert in a jar that is. I’ve been really amused by the whole concept and also totally in love with how the desserts turn out. You don’t even need to decorate it much, just place a ribbon around the mouth of the jar and place it with a spoon, viola! (: You have a beautiful looking dessert on the table. Perfect for a dinner party or even gifts for friends!

I had a block of cream cheese sitting in my fridge for the longest time, and have been wanting to make something with it. I wanted to make some japanese cheesecake, but decided to make something new instead. So searching my pantry, I found a tin of lychees and decided to use them!

Lychees are definitely one of my favourite fruits. But it’s so difficult to find the fresh version here, even if they sell it, it’s so crazy expensive! haha So I always have a tin of lychees sitting in my pantry. (: I have to admit, i’ve not had cream cheese with lychees before, but I suppose, it should go well with a sweet fruit puree. Right? hehe So here goes nothing!

I did a bit of research and found a recipe that sounded easy and the product looked absolutely gorgeous, so I just had to give it a try. The only downside to this recipe? Is that I have to wait for the cheesecake to set, before being able to indulge in them! haha But I am a firm believer of delayed gratification! This is one dessert that is definitely worth the wait! (:

Oh yes! I did add a bit of lychee liquor, which I always have in my pantry, just to make it a little boozy! hehe But definitely not enough to taste it. hehe Almost no effect at all.

Lychee Cheesecake in a Jar (adapted from Honest Vanilla)

For the base :

100g digestive biscuits

40g short bread

60g butter, melted

For the lychee cheese layer :

500g cream cheese

300g thicken cream

240g lychees, drained and reserve syrup

100ml lychee syrup

1 tbs lychee liquor

50g sugar

3 tsp powdered gelatine

Steps : 

This recipe is enough for 6 jars and a 6-inch springform pan.

1) Break the digestive biscuits and the shortbread by sealing them in a ziplock bag and crushing them using a rolling pin. Make sure you get them quite finely.

2) Pour the crushed biscuits in a bowl, and pour the melted butter over them evenly. Combine both butter and  biscuits are well combined and press them evenly at the bottom of the jars and springform pan. Set and chill in the fridge while preparing the lychee cheese layer.

3) In a small pot, heat the lychee syrup till it just comes to a boil. Take it off the heat and add the gelatine. Stir until it dissolves completely. Set aside to cool.

4) Puree the lychees in a blender until there are less visible chunks. Add the lychee liquor and mix it well.

5) Whisk the cream cheese in a mixing bowl with the sugar until smooth, then add the lychee puree. In another bowl, whip the cream to a soft peak and gently fold it into the cream cheese and lychee mixture.

6) Once it’s well combined and smooth, add the gelatine mixture and fill a piping bag with the lychee cheese mixture. Slowly pipe it into the jars. Pour the rest of the mixture into the springform pan. Set to chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours. (I recommend leaving it in the fridge overnight.) 

7) To serve, top it with a bit more buttered crumbs, and a lychee. I added half a strawberry for more crunch and texture! Also, pour 1 tsp of lychee syrup on top just before serving for extra sweetness!

ENJOY!

Note to self : Definitely add a little bit more next time! hehe Of course, you can leave it out if you want a kid-friendly version! hehe

Won’t Be Crying Over This… Spilt Milk

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Ever since we moved, we have been trying to look for a brunch/breakfast place that is nearer to our house. So going through my super long list, I realise there is one that is relatively nearby and has the cutest name : Spilt Milk !

Spilt Milk is a boutique cafe specialising in coffee that newly opened in May this year. It’s a super cosy place and when you walk through the doors, you are greeted by the friendliest people ever! While we were there, many people came in just to take away their coffees, even when it was pouring outside! So it definitely says alot of good things about their coffee aye? hehe *SLURPS*

Love all the wooden decors in the cafe with shelves of baked goods and sandwiches! Everything just looks so good!

When we were all comfortably seated, we ordered some hot drinks to warm our tummies up while deciding what we want to eat. The dishes were named after animals! So interesting and cute! I couldn’t really decide what I wanted to have. hehe

I was so happy that they had bonsoy and their chai is made from powder. Not those syrup things. hehe So I just had to order it! The mr had a long black that morning because he had a competition in the afternoon and was trying to make sure he would make his weight category. So he decided to skip the milk that morning. hehe He’s a funny one (:

We decided on three animals that morning :

Kong Seng ordered the Sheep – Baked free range eggs served in a pan with sundried tomatoes, spinach, fetta on sour dough and chilli jam. He was given the choice of runny yolks and of course he took it! hehe

I ordered the Zebra because I was craving for some avocado hehe it includes  two slices of olive sourdough smeared with avocado and ricotto with onion jam and baked bacon

The mr order the Donkey – Poached eggs om sourdough, bacon, spinach and spiced capsicum aioli. He requested for them to leave the bread out (trying to reduce the amount of carbs he takes for comp! haha) but they forgot about it and it came with bread. Half way through the meal, they came to apologise for their mistake but we were totally fine with it! hehe Kong Seng had the bread for the mr in the end. hehe so all good! Besides, it would look quite funny without the bread don’t you think? hehe much prettier with. hehe But it was really nice of them!

To our surprise and delight, a plate of yummy brownies were placed on our table and it was on the house! AWESOME! hehe and of course, these brownies had an animal name too : Squirrel ! hehe How cute! They were super fudgy, just the way I love my brownies! and every mouthful were full of walnuts. Yummos!

So with awesome coffee, great food, super cute names of dishes and the friendliest service, do head there the next time you are around Carnegie! (: We will definitely be back for more (the lunch menu is super tempting! hehe)

Happy midweek everyone! (: Just 3 more days till the weekend!

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