Gingerbread Babies

My very 1st gingerbread man made his debut almost 10yrs ago at my 1st company(SGH) Christmas party...I packed them as door gifts. It made very deep impression from my colleagues to my managers to even my director. Back then gingerbread man wasn't as common in bakeries as compared to recent years...

Last year, I had the opportunity to conduct classes for my gingerbread cookies(can still remember how the guys were better then the ladies =D ). It was stressful and fun at the same time as I have never in my life thought that I would be doing this. I was pretty worried that I could not answer questions posted by students or my teaching method was not conducive. My 2nd class was definitely better than the 1st....with my new found confident I definitely would like to do more of this if opportunity arises.

Over the years my gingerbread cutters has grown in collection from mini to big and even those with snow caps(boys & girls). Others include stars, xmas tree, bell, angel, house. Some I bought them myself, some my sis got from Thailand and a friend bought a set for me from the US. But I still prefer to have them in the shape of the men as they are named.

This year I made the mini couple to give to my SGH colleagues as a surprise from their secret angel (they will play a game call angel & mortal every year)...but my angel helper Irene said those who know me knew they were from me (good to know that my gingerbread men n me are well remembered =] but then no suspense huh)....

It's heartbreaking for the motherly Mala to hear how others find pure joy in choosing the parts to sacrifice 1st (I can imagine her reactions)...For me, as long as it brings joy and festive mood to the receiver, I have achieved my purpose (even if they are too soft-hearted to eat them and decided to keep them for the eyes only).

Cheers to a joyous Christmas everyone!

Coconut Gelato

Oh I forgot to blog about my very first homemade gelato using Yochanna's recipe and it doesn't require any ice cream maker. I found the recipe slightly overwhelmed with sweetness otherwise velvety. Not sure why my gelato melts extremely fast...it's so fast that I can't even get a nice pic of it. In the end this is the only photo I did not delete from my album....Will definitely attempt other flavours soon....

Chilled Cream-O Cheesecake

Made a chilled Cream-O cheesecake for my hubby's friend birthday which falls on 12 Dec. He invited us to the house so I decided to make a cake for him. Not sure if it's Phoon Huat Gelatine, the cheesecake turned out pretty soft thou I followed the recipe. Previously when I used it for my tiramisu it didn't harden much as well. Nope they have not expired....Looks like I better get the bake king brand next time.
 
Cream-O is similar to Oreo(still the best)....under the same brand they have another range call Dewberry which had raspberry and blueberry flavour. I love them.....the cookies have a savoury taste and when eaten with the jam it is just so addictive. You gotta try it...they are easily available now even in those ABC shop which tends to sell them slightly cheaper.

Besan Thosai & French Toast

Wow it's been almost a month since my last blog....

Reason for my absence was my mum had an ops and I was there for about 2 weeks to look after her and when I was back home I kind of lost my momentum to do anything (including housework =p)

Last week I found this recipe for Besan Thosai...if you remember i bought the besan flour for ladoo and used it for dohkla too. Besan thosai is not found in eateries here and those who tried it (myself, hubby and his fellow worker) love it very much....with his worker persistently saying it's very nice and asking what it is.

This eaten as it is is already very tasty but if you want more flavour and variety you can try to add tomato and cheese or eat it with yoghurt etc...hubby love it with my curry chicken.

Here's the recipe:

1 cup besan flour (easily available in mustafa)

1/4 cup rice flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 cup shredded cucumber

3/4 cup water

Just mix everything to a smooth batter. Put a scoop into a hot pan w/o oil and immediately use the ladle to spread it out. Drizzle some oil onto the thosai and flip it over once the sides the bottom is nicely browned.

Today I made French toast for breakfast since I have a few slices of bread left. Then I remember I had picnic ham so I put them in for added flavour.

This is simple to make and yet tasty. All you need is eggs, milk and sugar (i didn't bother with exact measurements). Mix till sugar dissolve, dip the bread in and pan fry.

Dhokla

I had bought a packet of Besan flour to make besan ladoo earlier. On the packet it says can be used to make Dhokla. Dhokla?! I have never eaten or come across one before so do my hubby. As usual, using the capability of internet I found a decent recipe with step by step photo(don't we love all these bloggers for being so kind ^_^).

The internet link was sitting in my phone bookmark for a while and this morning it suddenly strike my mind to make this. Straightaway went to get all the ingredients ready and in a matter of 2hrs(need to let the batter rise for an hour)...TADA....my very 1st Dhokla was done!

I can't wait to taste it....the texture looks like a sponge cake but the moment i put it into my mouth it literally melts away....and the seasonings were just nice. Not too sweet, not too sour and not too salty. With a little hint of spiciness from the green chilies it just made the Dhokla very addictive. Can't wait for my hubby to wake up and try....not to say for others to praise it....What a wonderful Sunday....ahhhhhh =9

*Added: He kept eating and saying it's very nice but he just can't get the name right....hahahhaha

Tiramisu & Banana Cakes

Today a secondary school friend of mine, Karen, decided to drop by our house as she has yet to see the baby (ermmm....supposed to come a year ago). It was a last minute decision so I wasn't able to plan for a full dinner like what I did for Christine 2 days back but I had ingredients for a Tiramisu. I had wanted to make Tiramisu way back but hasn't got the right reason to do so every time.

This is my 1st attempt making a Tiramisu and I replaced mascarpone cheese with cream cheese (for those who wants to save some money this is an option, most will not be able to tell the difference). Guess I should have used more gelatin to make the cheese firmer. It's still soft after 5 hrs in the fridge.

After making the Tiramisu (which only took me half an hour), I was glad there's still time for ironing as I had postponed my ironing task for a week....reason(s) being - last weekend was Deepavali so I told myself I will do it on Monday. But I was busy with the Fest chocolate cake, then Tuesday I was cleaning the house as Christine coming on Wednesday and Wednesday I was cooking and baking the cheesecake, Thursday I clean the house again and had to visit my mum in hospital.

Finally, today I was able to do it. While ironing I heard some loud noises in my house but I can't figure out where they came from...till I went to the kitchen...the bananas had peeled off from the stem leaving only 1. I had to do something about them immediately even thou it's already 5p.m. Straight away I took out my recipe book and my handphone and made 2 different recipes (the last banana fell shortly) since I had so much banana.

I baked our favourite banana tea-bread with wheat bran and tried out steamed banana cake. The tea-bread was made into muffins so they bake faster and its easier to distribute while the steamed banana cake was made into 1 small and 1 mini loaf. The steamed banana cake turned out nice with a chewy texture. All done within an hour and before Karen arrives....phew <3....

Dinner was simple Aglio Olio with salmon and we had the tiramisu for dessert. My girl had a whole banana muffin as I can't feed her tiramisu (contains Kahlua).

I gave the mini banana loaf to my faithful Vitagen lady Shirley and Karen packed the small loaf together with 3 muffins. The recipients were happy so was the giver =]

Indian Dishes & New York Cheesecake

Christine and I got to know each other in a SGH course and from then onwards we really hit it off and have since been good buddy...I even signed for her marriage(what great honour). Today she wanted to drop by the house to pass me 2 boxes of green tea she got during her recent Korea trip and some herbal medicine....I love green tea , thanks Christine!

I decided to whip up an Indian dinner as Deepavali was just last week and also because I have yet to cook Indian food for her to try...I made curry chicken, fried cabbage, sambal egg, raita, and a special basmati rice which is based on no recipe (i just add the spices which i have seen in briyani rice before)...

Oh what we almost missed out was the poppadom/ appalam....it was a good dinner. My girl finished a big bowl of rice and hubby enjoyed it too..everything was wiped out leaving just 3 pcs of chicken (I cooked the whole chicken and Christine packed for her hubby to try).

I had warned Christine to leave some space for dessert as I have made her favourite New York Cheesecake...This pic shows the upside down NY cheesecake as we flip the cake out from the souffle cup. She likes it and ask to pack 1 for her hubby too =9

The one in the white cup has blueberries popped into it....