Cheese Bundt Chiffon Cake

Would you believe me if I had told you this was a very easy cake?

And if like normal people, you're a cheese lover, you might want to go crazy on the topping.

This is the second best way to get kids to love you. The first would be crispy fried chicken. Yea, i know how to get me some of that lurvin.

This recipe might surprise you but it'll get you some of that velvety smooth, melt-in-the-mouth, overly-cheesy cheese cake!

Lurvin,

Jes

Ps: Ovalette is a stabiliser for chiffon cakes, you can substitute it with same amount of condensed milk. 

Cheese Loaf Bread - Birthday Post

You might be wondering. A bread for birthday? No, we had cakes but i baked bread and there were birthdays.

25th & 26th were both my girlfriends' birthdays. They are my special people and that's all needed to be said. So happy birthday, you two. After knowing you for 20 years, I believe i'll still strive my best to give you a surprise birthday!

I took the recipe from Clockwork Lemon (a recipe I have wanted to try for so long), used Cheese instead and voila.

Goldfish Crackers (Or are they Gingerbread man?)

It's raining heavily. I walked home from the groceries only to find a young man walking the same way in front of me. He had a silver shoe, a mid-long purple coat with a large belt tied around it. With a clear plastic umbrella and a pink bracelet, it was not difficult to figure out.

I walked faster, in hurry to reach a dry comfort that is my house. Then, I realized, he was walking faster too. I could see his face angled a little to the left, his complexion as pale as pearl, hair like a bieber gone worse and he was peeping back at me.

Suddenly, a car zoomed past leaving the both of us shocked. After recovering from the awkwardly high pitched squeak I thought impossible coming from a grown man, I walked even faster. Right there and then, it was obvious and I had to lay it out there.

I'm not fricking following you!

If you do that again, I'm going to follow you just to see if you cry.

Anyway, we all love Goldfish crackers. These are in cute Gingerbread man shapes. Some happy, some less happy, some evil.

Recipe from: Tasty Kitchen (makes about 75 - 100)

8 oz Red Sharp Cheddar

4 tbsp butter

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

3 tbsp cold water

1. Pulse everything together (except water) until it forms a bread crumb texture.

2. Add water and pulse until it forms a ball.

3. Gather the ball of dough in plastic and refrigerate for 20-40 minutes. Preheat oven to 175C/350F.

4. Roll out into 1/4 inch thick and start cutting them up.

5. On a lined baking pan, lay the pieces out making sure not to touch each other. 

6. Bake for 15-20 minutes each batch.

Not stalking material,

Jes

Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

It's Miss Wu's birthday. 

Although it was on the 16th of April, it's never too late to bake her a cake and have it all to myself?! As a present, I'm giving her my fat tummy!

Miss Wu brings people together with a simple wave of her magic wand, sexy-as-hell bodz and her cooking is crap-on-a-fricking-cracker-marvelous. Although currently living her life in London, failing to mail me a can of snow, I still love her very much!

Ms Wu always exaggerates my desserts and exaggerates me as a person. She even admitted that I make her life beautiful and special. How can I not be smittened. 

So, I baked her a Purple Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe from bon appetit at Epicurious, adapted by moi.

The cake is beautiful on its own. Cinnamon tackles the potatoey feel of the cake (feel free to use other spices). The color, enchanting, like yours truly. BUT lets take it up a notch! My go-to cream cheese frosting by Janni from Allrecipes, adapted by moi.

I finally found a full-fat tub of yoghurt. Big difference, please use full-fat.

So let's all wish a happy birthday to my dearest friend, Ms Wu!

Happy Birthday my dear,

Jesica

New York Cheesecake with Strawberry Glaze

What is your favorite cake?!

One sunny afternoon, the Mr asked me, “do you know what’s my most favorite cake?” I yelled in pride because “Doh! Brownies!!” I knew I was right! I knew it!

I wasn’t.

“That’s a bar, not a cake.” He chose one moment to be picky and I must say, very well chosen!

(Rolls eyes) “What then?” already, I'm thinking it would be blueberry or chocolate.

Beep Boop! Wrong again. It’s well along the sides of strawberry, cheesecake and pie, or all the three in one! 

Anywho, the Mr loves cheesecakes but doesn’t like cheese. Smearing cheese on everything is “Eww”. As opposed to me, I want a cheese tower every occasion possible. Yes, a cheese tower. Ok, maybe just a cheese platter. (*hints)

So! I baked him a cheesecake. There’s no special occasion, yet no occasion more special than this. Simply thanking the man. Thank you, deer, so much for our similarities but... even more for our differences.

Homemade Cream Cheese

So, you know how expensive cream cheese can be? I mean, no wonder a slice of cheesecake is sold for  $7 - $10. That's Philadelphia diabolical plan! I have to solemnly admit that Philadelphia cream cheese is best as of cheesecake. HOWEVER, in an attempt to minimise Philadelphia's monopoly, hence, allowing prices to be manipulated by the ingenious company, let's make our own cream cheese.

This homemade Cream Cheese requires only 1 ingredient. And using this method, you will save $10 each time you bake a cheesecake. Instead of spending $29 for 5 blocks of Cream Cheese (8 oz are sold at $5.80), you're going to spend a maximum of $19 for enough yoghurt to produce the same amount of cream cheese. Assuming, then, that all of you love cheesecakes (I mean, who doesn't?), you will soon save hundreds of dollars. Meaning I get to buy an ice cream maker with that money.

Granpa sarcastic : "and i created an alcoholic hippo (referring to Homer)"

Homer angry : "you never showed it to me "

Granpa sarcastic : "a Stupid alcoholic hippo"

Homer whines : "i still wanna see it!"

Granpa groans : "there is no hippo!"

Homer mad: "then why did you say it?!"

Granpa shouts : "cuz you're the hippo!"

Homer folds hands : "are you just saying that cuz you don't want me to see the hippo?"

Granpa on the verge of giving up : "i don't have a hippooo...!"

Seriously, who wouldn't want a tray like this for a breakfast in bed? A tall mug of coffee, Cream Cheese and Crackers! Might throw 2 pieces of bacon in there too. This cream cheese has yet to be turned into its fateful state of a New York Cheesecake but it's good enough as a dip/spread. A little salt and pepper, you're ready to go.

Away with the norm,
Jes

PS: As mentioned by Anonymous, please do note that this is only a substitution. Actual Cream Cheese requires huge machines and what not. I'd still use this for my cheesecake. But Anonymous can't have any because he/she is a stick in the mud!

Two Type Rolls with Cinnabon-like Dough

I started reminiscing this morning. The days when "chilly" weather exists, when wearing a scarf was not "silly", when walking home is a leisure. Be glad that you've touched snow and made snowman and snow angels and snow bunnies!

Then I began thinking further back, the innocent years I've had. Mostly not really that long ago until I started waking up at 3 am only to find out that the public media isn't at all appropriate. Dem you channel 9, give me back my innocence!

Years having my family around, conned by my brother and his friend to a buy-2-get-1-free drink (yes, I paid for both, no, I wasn't trying to impress his friend, yes, I'm just an idiot.). Even in those days, I was not worry-less. Yet, we bring our asses to gather around the table to have a dinner together.

I return to those memories, though fading and blurred by hurts and mistakes, missing those few people who actually mattered. Gradually, nothing of the little disagreements mattered. This was a family. Blood is thicker than water. This is my family.

Indeed i would like to try a different approach in my future which i have yet to consult with the Mr who claims a proposal doesn't have to be done with a knee and a ring then presumes that silent means consent. I kid. No, really, we girls want rings! Holla if you agree (so that i'll get my ring).

Anyway, due to high demand in the house, this is my third "Cinnamon" roll. By now, you should gather that I love my variety, so I made two versions. In simple steps, make dough, make 2 filling, divide dough, roll, spread butter, sprinkle filling. Of course you can skip dividing the dough. However, garlic and bananas might not complement each other. 

Apple Fancy Cake

Whoever said that we bloggers had to be cool? Receiving a reward, "it's so nice of you". Hitting 50 comments, "Oooh thank you". And baking an awesome cake, "it wasn't easy but i did it". That's like pasting wings and a halo on a bull making it fly, singing "red bull gives you wiiiiiiiings". I'm the furthest person from cool.

You see, when i receive a reward, i dance my victory dance! And when i hit 50 comments, I sing my victory song! Oh and when I bake a pretty cake, I parade with it, wearing it on my head because it was hell of a hardwork! Well, that's the truth, folks... ok... My victory song and dance may have been the Hippo and Dog song... (weeeeeeeeeeee...we-um-um-um-a-weh) eherm*. But oh sweet mother of everything victorious, I'm never "cool" when hearing news!

So, I took the liberty of this awesome cake to ask for votes:
Pineapple Upside-down cake VS Apple etc etc etc cake, aka Apple Fancy Cake.
This does not mean I don't love pineapples, I love them. But this apple cake, oh boy, ooohhhh bu-oy..

Apple Fancy Cake

Chunky apples and cream cheese in a moist coffee and rum cake. The apples caramelized, with a hint of cinnamon and cooked to gooey perfection. The cake, light, moist but with rum. And for the final kick in the pants, cubes of Cream Cheese combining all the flavors together.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Vanilla And Chocolate Chips Cinnamon Muffins

I can see in the dark. I mean, I am trained to live in the dark. When the sun is down, I like to switch off all lights in the room and catch up on various TV series.This was difficult for everyone else. Seeing as I'm sharing my room and the constant need for people to come into the room in search for the stupidest things at the stupidest hours. Unlike me, they have not been trained to see in the dark feel in the dark. 

My long and constantly untidy black hair paired with my immediate "Hissss!" the moment a light is turned on, often leaves people in disarray. Ah, those shocked faces, always a pleasure.

That's how I'm able to eat in the dark, without leaving crumbs all over the place. This does not portray elegance or discipline of any sort, which I'm very much short of. But until you learn how to feel in the dark, sweetcakes, you are not allowed to bring food to the bed. Understood, Bambi?

Anyway, I chose to use a muffin recipe that is rated and reviewed by over 5,400 people. To Die for Blueberry muffins from All-recipes by Colleen. I adapted it to the following:

Pizza Dough - Baker's Apprentice by Peter Reinhart

Over the years, I've slaved more for cookbooks than clothes, make-ups and so on. It hasn't changed. However, I looked at the neatly lined array of books on the shelf. They're new yet so old, so dusty. I realized, I had bought them to look at their pretty pictures.

 My recent book-buy was Peter Reinhart's "The Baker's Apprentice". By "recent", I mean like 5 months ago (scoffs). The book was heavy, pictures weren't the most interesting, and so...many...words... ! Nevertheless, I've decided this I-bought-an-expensive-book-for-pictures-thing has to stop. I opened the book and started reading. Of course, it was an amazing book, why I bought it.

You know when it gets ridiculously hard to understand, your mind just reads through the sentences reading and reading but nothing gets through until you read a sentence that was ridiculously simple at which point you re-connect? Yea. That's a devil. I had to come back to each sentence to really understand Peter. That's persistence, ladies and gents, thank you very much.

Hence, I decided that I will no longer wait and finally use a recipe from the book.

I was never a big fan of the traditional thin crust pizza. I love myself a good thick carbohydrate. As awkward as this may sound, i went against the better judgement of Mr P and made myself some thick Napoletana pizzas. To my humour, it was great!  

Cream Cheese Infused Cinnamon Roll Dough, filled with Gula Merah (Dark Palm Sugar), Choc Chips and Apple Bits.

There are usually lots of things on my mind. Aside from being a female and as occupied as that already is, I tend to think even more. I think ahead and as far as that goes, i forget whats right in front. Hence, when someone told me that metabolism rate increases with the work of your brains (aka thoughts), I would have to politely scoff.

With that amount of brain-work, comfort food, dessert bingeing and random tubs of ice cream nights are mostly necessary rather than an inability to control (maybe not but its a good excuse). The only problem is when these cravings necessities affect the people around you.

Because, sweeties from all around the globe, when you're on your baking experiments, (and seeing as how delicious your works of art are) people eat. When people eat, they gain weight. When they gain weight, they blame people. Who else to blame but the person who thinks "hmm, chocolate with chocolate would taste great" (they are a match made in heaven by the way). 

You might then question yourself, "but we eat the same goodies as well or even more". Good news for all of us, we may have gotten used to it! Yay! So, let's get down to business. 

Recently, as much a craze I have for chocolate, I have been addicted to using Dark Palm Sugar or Gula Merah (translation for Red Sugar in Bahasa Indonesia). This sugar easily melts at body temperature. When baked, it turns into a nice browned crisp with a gooey inside and of course, the smell is just intoxicating. Surprisingly, unlike how it seems, it is  not as sweet as our usual white sugar. 

I added plenty amounts of dark chocolate chips just to give it that bitter cocoa bite. I have apple bits in there as well, after all, they're cinnamon's best friend. However, i keep the fillings to personal choice. Instead, I'm here to introduce this amazing Cream Cheese infused Cinnamon Roll Dough by Joy the Baker

For clearer instructions, please visit her link, they're much better looking as well.

Tuna Casserole topped with Crispy Hash Browns

Its coming to the end of November. It's getting colder in the states, hotter in Australia and same ol' humid in Asia. This pronounces holiday season, we would gain a few pounds, know a few more people, learn a few new things and 2011 would pass. 

Having Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years in mind, I started to crave for Casseroles. Rustic, Sticky Crispy Carbo casseroles. Being too lazy to head out for groceries, I had to think up a way to combine the ingredients at hand. I was recently gifted with some chinese sausages. For those who has no idea what that is, the closest I could describe is a sweet chorizo. I had a spicy can of tuna and handfuls of Macaroni, Spaghetti, Egg Noodles and Hash Browns.

So, here we have, 

Cheddar Cheese Cookies

There are always a few recipes which would remind you of old times. Today, I'd like to share with you one of mine. As a kid, I was the odd one out to pursue kitchen-work. Hence, my baking endeavours were limited to cornflake cookies, chocolate cheese mousse cups, checkerboard cake, ice cream cake and failed Sacher torte. (Ambitious much, at 13 years of age?) - Nobody told me to start out with the basics.

It was difficult, when the environment I was in do not support baked goods or western cakes. Hence, baking was seen as a pile of cleaning rather than an anticipation. Fortunately, when I was in Australia, I stayed with a family who appreciated baked-goods and the friends around me are always amazed by that little ability i have.

Thus, I baked, day and night, midnight and ungodly hours, I baked. Soon, little paper pouches with ribbons, cupcake moulds and fancy containers were often received well. Then, these treats came. The first time I baked these was @ 3 am for an early class. 

I made 4 -5 pouches and was shockingly received well. Ever since, my girl friends and the family I was staying with would occasionally ask me when I would bake them again. However, due to the heavy kneading labour required, (not to forget we all hate repeating the same recipe over & over again) I seldom baked these cookies.

Ham (Smoked Turkey) and Cheese (Cheddar and mimolette) Muffin

For a long time, about 5 minutes, my head was revolved around one simple question. Who dislikes Ham & Cheese? Speak your mind now, or forever hold your cheese peace. I'm serious! Don't you think they are born to be soul mates, perfect complements for each other, etc etc.

I often caught myself going into a trance with that droopy look and salivating mouth whenever someone mentions "Ham & Cheese". So I was walking back home (I lied, I was on the bus being pushed and squeezed by 60 year old ladies), I had a thought in mind, Ham & Cheese....

Then, comes the -Drools- Homer's Style.

What can i whip up within 1 hour and still have enough time to shower and take a slow trip down the "see but no eat" lane until I start to fall sleepy.  

"Challenge Accepted!"- Barney from HIMYM.

So, I went to the Groceries, bought some decadent smoked honey Turkey ( I know, I know, why Turkey? Well, you would be surprised but it's delicious! and that honey taste is just... Okay, it was on sale!) and some Mimolette cheese.

Red Velvet Cupcake

When did cupcakes become the craze of every town? It's not McDonald's every 2 steps of the way down the street. It's no longer 3 Tiered cakes baked a month in advance laid out in a wedding ceremony. Those Beautifully adorned, colorful, soft and yummy to-an-extent cupcakes that has taken over the era, terrorizing the village, BoomBaDaBoom.

It has evolved into the perfect gift for a sick friend, a valentine's present for the cute boyfriend, a welcome back party dessert, or just the occasional binge solution. Of course, it all started with Red Velvet Cupcakes (it is the most popular one, and never would a cupcake store fail to include one in their inconclusive number of flavors to pick from). 

Would a cupcake taste better than a comprehensive slice of the original recipe? No. It is adding different flavors to the same batter to barely tap on the richness of the actual creation. Why is it then, such a crowd pleaser? One small box could contain four flavors of different cakes. Who would not cut such a deal?

I would have to say, I've fallen for the trick first hand. Hence, many many bakers try to incorporate as much of the originality to every cup, discerning stores that stand out from stores that do not. Beautifully, Red Velvet is one of those that do not fall far from the cake itself. After all, it is simple and red.

Japanese (Osaka) Cotton Cheesecake

This is how it works, you yearn for some cheese, you yearn for a guiltless afternoon, and that's how you   have to have a slice of this. Its like the combination of Angel food cake and New York Cheesecake. Sit in a laid back summer chair, enjoy the breeze and watch the white curtain floating. Then, you'd know, that minute, that moment, you didn't miss anything better.

From the way i described this, you should know by now, how little amount of butter this cake contains. Imagine the woman in the painting, wearing her retro yellow lemon dress, curly red hair and a basket of white daisies. We all wish we were her.

As a matter of fact, this is my third Japanese cheesecake. Third time is a charm, as they always pronounced. However, i will always fight for an even better cheesecake, until i get that texture i've long remembered. The first time i had this cake and I could never forget that feeling. 

The secret to all these fluffy, heavenly cakes, is stiffen egg whites (and lots of research). Do not ever be discouraged by them, i remember my first time with these egg whites. I cried. I perspired. I worried. The only thing to look after is dry dry utensils, room temperature eggs and a pinch of salt. Voila. 

Japanese Cotton Cheesecake

adapted from Diana's Desserts

Ingredients:

140g/5 oz. fine granulated sugar  6 egg whites  6 egg yolks  50g/2 oz. butter  250g/9 oz. cream cheese  100 ml/3 fluid oz. fresh milk  1 tbsp. lemon juice  60g/2 oz. cake flour /superfine flour  20g/1 oz. cornflour (cornstarch)  1/4 tsp. salt or cream of tartar

Instructions: 1. Melt cream cheese, butter and milk over a double boiler. Cool the mixture. Fold in the flour, the cornflour, egg yolks, lemon juice and mix well.  2. Whisk egg whites with cream of tartar (or salt) until foamy. Add in the sugar and whisk until soft peaks form.  3. Add the cheese mixture to the egg white mixture and mix well. Pour into a 8-inch round cake pan (Lightly grease and line the bottom and sides of the pan with greaseproof baking paper or parchment paper).  4. Bake cheesecake in a water bath for 1 hours 10 minutes or until set and golden brown at 160 degrees C (325 degrees F).  Makes 1 (8-inch) cheesecake, 12 servings.

One tip before pushing the tray into the oven is to tap it onto the table a few times. This is so that you wouldn't end up with bubbles as you can see in my cakes. (Honest, these pictures do not give enough credit to the actual texture of the cake.)

Enjoy, 

Jes