中秋节: first attempts for 2010
Labels:
mooncakes
·
And here's showcasing my first attempt at Suzhou style mooncakes, featuring a flaky crust developed from a method similar to making puff pastry. Filled with traditional lotus paste. As evidence shows, not exactly successful on all tiers but there's always a first time for everything yes? Better luck next time with the envelope folds!
Meantime, this marks the beginning of a spate of mooncake making trials for the year 2010. Took a year's break and now I'm back with a vengeance! (thoughts flowing back to the wasted packs of black sesame paste and mango paste, a result of my overzealous shopping spree and dwindled interests towards the end) See my previous attempts here, here and here!
the truth
·
.
.
.
and...
the man who lugged it all the way from La Maison Du Chocolat (HK) for me.
since we're on the topic of chocolates, allow me to indulge in a little tell-tale session of my partially 'clear as day' relationship with chocolate, tainted with a little 'hush-hush' nature.
When it comes to chocolates, the spectrum of my eating habits and preferences spread far and wide. You see, I believe that chocolates can cure many ailments, mainly emotional upheavals in my case. See a perpetual frown pasted on my stoned face, swizzle a bar of chocolate in my presence and your chance of catching a wide grin have just magically tripled at least.
My addiction to chocolate can come across as pretty alarming to some, and as much as I would like to proclaim my independence from this waist enhancer culprit; I flail my arms helplessly in the air. I'm a slave to chocolate.
I've tried many kinds, single estate chocolates with unique serial coding, honey comb chocolate, chocolate laced with ginormous nuggets of crystallised ginger. Roasted nuts, cookies and cream, filled with whisky, perfumed with gentle whiffs of tea. And if all else fails, you can count on the ever ready nutella jar and a spoon. You name it, I've tried it.
So when do I eat my chocolates? well, when I'm happy or extremely angry and during every mood category that falls in between. There's no stopping me. There are days where I keep going at it, consuming grotesque amounts of it so much so that there might as well be an intravenous tube with chocolate blood flowing through my veins. At the end of the day, my energy levels take a plunge from it's adrenaline driven drugged up ride to the peak to rock bottom and the melancholic nature of life takes its stab at my ribs again.
Solutions to my mad-crack addiction? There are none...but I've got a few alternatives up my sleeve...(to be continued.)
Anything Asian
Labels:
food,
korean,
restaurants
·
My first meal out of the realm of illness and painful bouts of retching. My only request... let it be Asian! A mouthful of cream laden pasta didn't seem to settle very well with my queasy stomach at that point of time and I yearned the homey taste of Asian spices. So Korean, we went.
Introducing Gaseng, my dining companion with oodles and oodles of interesting stories to tell amidst the rather uncomfortable meal boggled by frequent splitting headaches. At least he made the meal 'survivable'! 
We settled for Hansang Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant, an inferably new joint but noticably packed even at an early hour. Comfortable seated, we begin to chat ourselves into place before facing the inevitable with pressures coming from the hustle and bustle of the incoming crowds. Stuffing our noses into the extensive menu, we quickly evaluate the menu and make our choices.
In the end, it was a Beef Bibimbob ($15) for me and a Cholpan Nakji ($17) for him. No comments from the dinner companion but with regards to my dish, I felt that it was mediocre, perhaps a little lacklustre in quality and quantity. Then realised that it may have been neglect on the kitchen's part due to the more frequent BBQ meat orders that come around dinner time. Otherwise, the Bibimbob could have use a more generous serving of side ingredients and beef even. Kudos to the spicy bean sauce served on the side that was to be mixed in at the diner's own discretion. That was lovely and added that little oomph to the dish. Maybe it's me and my diluted taste buds, a result of the previous weeks' worth of poor appetite.
Hansang Korean Restaurant, seems to hold lots of potential with the full fledge crowds of people flying through its doors despite it's fresh arrival on the scene. Perhaps I'll be back to give their Korean BBQ a shot. *contemplates*
Hansang Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant
20 Lorong Mambong,
Holland Village
tel: 6464 5238
Eating out: Aappa Kadai
Labels:
dubai,
restaurants
·
and for my come-back post or rather.. very late to update post; I'm featuring Aappa Kadai, a lovely restaurant joint in Karama that I've come to know and love. Thanks to my friend Amir who happily showed me the roads, with an added flair of v-i-p treatment thrown in...*sniggers*
So what shall start the meal off with? Why.. without a doubt, give their appams a shot. With the commis chef at his make-shift cooking counter, five pans in line, you're guaranteed a entertaining evening, even if you've got the most boring date seated opposite you (no, that wasn't a hint). Watching him in action, in a sequential fluid movement, pouring the batter, circling the mini wok like pans, then popping the lids on, moving on to the next one and finally returning to the first one with no time to spare and releasing it from it's steaming mould, certainly leaves one wondering how long it takes to master this art.
The Egg Appam (3 DHS each) was amazing. Crisp round the edges and holding a slightly runny egg in the center was an excellent base for dipping into the varied dips and curries offered by at the kitchen.
We also had the Mango Fish Curry, Butter vegetables and Vegetables Khorma.
The star that stole was definitely the Mango Fish Curry. Tangy, Spicy with that little ounce of heat to it, I was hooked on this dish and enjoyed both dipping the softer side of the appam into the luscious full-bodied curry, and chomping down a spoonful of rice drizzled in it's melodic sauce. Fruit curries.. ingenious I must say.
We rounded off the meal with a warm blast of freshly brewed masala tea (3 DHS each), seemingly more traditional than the usual cups of chai tea that one would indulge in at a Indian laborer's cafe here in Dubai. The Masala Tea's unique charm rested in it's strong blend of.. what else but Masala spice alone. Like bidding a warm goodbye, the tea sets off signals of delicious memories, good company and an urge for many more visits to come.
Aappa Kadai Restaurant - Karama
Delivery orders: 04-3848030
Opp. Lulu Centre; Other side of the park
humbled
·
Queen of attention to details, questioning my intentions each time I fail. I signed up for a great deal more than I can handle.
There are days
when I feel
The best of me
is ready to begin (the end)
Then there's (the) days
when I feel
I'm letting go
and soaring on the wind
'Cause I've learned in laughter or in pain
How to survive!
I get on my knees!
There I am before the Love
That changes me
See I don't know how
But there's power
When I'm on my knees
something to make you guys laugh. It sure brought a smile to my twack face. (click on image to enlarge)
I have a heart too.
·
I have a heart too
That can break and melt
Like everybody else
I have a heart too
That can be loved
That wants to be loved
By you
Can't believe I'm missing David Choi in action in Singapore. Sigh..
about banned red dyes
·
Here's my idea of entertainment.... pictures of an awesome springy and light zebra cake (Marty!!! ahh). Shame on me, given the many surrounding devote Muslims fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, hope that these photos won't prove to be too much of an irritanting temptation. No water or food the entire day.. I have to take my hat off to them surely. Furthermore, living in Islamic state would mean extra precautions have to be adhered too even as an expatriate. No chewing gum or drinking liquids in public, if not, a jail sentence looms ahead.
Back to my random style of penmanship. Bear with me...
Back to my random style of penmanship. Bear with me...
Adapted from Cake Keeper's Cakes by Lauren Chattsman, I can foresee this recipe being on the fore front of my 'featured recipes' column on Oven Heaven's website. With a tight crumb, fluffy texture and beautiful trails of introverted chocolate batter blending into it's vanilla flavored domain. I sure hope the rest of the readers would enjoy it as much as I do!
Moving on to updates regarding the business, all has been smooth and our current first shipment from Singapore has washed up ashore and been delivered safely to our warehouse! After all the hassle and back-breaking document chasing action from the separate parties involved, I am all but a little relieved that things have finally worked out. Our next shipment from the states provides it fair share of problems with many of it's constituent stock not being able to clear customs on Dubai side due to the presence of banned substances in its ingredients list. Thankfully I've learnt my lesson as to ensure all paperwork is cleared before preceding with the freight forwarding, or risk paying extra overhead charges for storage. As much as I would like to admit that importing food items into UAE is a tedious process, guess its because UAE lacks the IT infrastructure as that found in Singapore leading to inefficiency in it's services. But with practise and experience, things can only get better from there. *crosses fingers*
That should be enough small talk for the day. More pictures of our lovely zebra cake. My heart steals a glance at the page featuring a stellar looking cornmeal blueberry bundt cake. Should I?
Keep drinking coffee, stare me down across the table
While I look outside
So many things I’d say if only I were able
But I just keep quiet and count the cars that pass by
You’ve got opinions, man
We’re all entitled to ‘em, but I never asked
So let me thank you for your time, and try not to waste anymore of mine
And get out of here fast
I hate to break it to you babe, but I’m not drowning
There’s no one here to save
Who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?
You sound so innocent, all full of good intent
Swear you know best
But you expect me to jump up on board with you
And ride off into your delusional sunset
I’m not the one who’s lost with no direction
But you’ll never see
You’re so busy making maps with my name on them in all caps
You got the talking down, just not the listening
And who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?
All my life I’ve tried to make everybody happy
While I just hurt and hide
Waiting for someone to tell me it’s my turn to decide
Who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?
TWD: Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream
Having half the mind to infuse a spoonful of lavender for that whiff of floral scent or perhaps throw in a cinnamon stick together with a few rounds of crushed black peppercorns for a kick of subtle heat in the otherwise indulgent concoction, I gathered my devices and did the required contemplation. In the end, I hailed to the urge to stick to the original. Patronise the simple.
And it was rewarding, in the most lucid manner. One spoonful of this brings back memories of the tubs of wall brand ice cream safely tucked away at the back of the freezer awaiting a rare treat on night where our parents deemed me and my brothers exhibitors of good behavior during the day. We would then proceed to curl up on the leather couch in front of the tele scooping eagerly at the chilled dessert while laughing uproariously at the screened program. This ice cream, as simple as it was, had a feel good factor to it. I smile, sigh and lingered.
Chosen by Katrina of Baking And Boys for this week's TWD. Try this recipe for a sumptuous and neat treat!
Updates: I'm about to enter my first Ramadan in an Islamic State. With so many stringent rules ahead and threats of heavy penalties and jail sentences, I am anxious to the max.
Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream
adapted from Dorie Greenspan
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
4 large egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
- Put the chocolate in a 2-quart liquid measuring cup or a large heatproof bowl. Bring ¾ cup of the cream to a boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate and let it sit a minute, then using a rubber spatula and starting in the center of the mixture, slowly stir the cream into the chocolate in ever-widening concentric circles. When the ganache is smooth, set it aside.
- Bring the milk and the remaining ¾ cup cream to a boil in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the yolks and sugar together until well blended and just slightly thickened. Still whisking, drizzle in about one third of the hot liquid—this will temper, or warm, the yolks so they won’t curdle. Whisking all the while, slowly pour in the remaining liquid. Pour the custard back into the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring without stopping, until the custard thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon; if you run your finger down the bowl of the spoon, the custard should not run into the track. The custard should reach at least 170 degrees F, but no more than 180 degrees F, on an instant-read thermometer. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and slowly and gently stir the custard into the ganache.
- Refrigerate the custard until chilled before churning it into ice cream.
- Scrape the chilled custard into the bowl of an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Pack the ice cream into the container and freeze it for at least 2 hours, until it is firm enough to scoop. Makes about 1 quart.
Nibble on this TWD: Gingered Carrot Cookie
With carrots being a constant stock item in our pantry; this recipe was a breeze to pull off. Bless my laziness that comes hand in hand with summer, heading out in the heat of day to round up ingredients at the supermarket isn't exactly first thing on my list of agendas. Hence I'm grateful for this round. Easy breezy Carrot cake cookies (omitted the ginger hence the revamped name)
These cookies came out crunchy with the occasional surprise of smokey bursts of flavor from the toasted pecans within. However, they didn't stay that way very long perhaps because of the moistness of the plumped raisins. So my advice would be to make a small batch and consume it hot and fresh off the rack! For carrot cake lovers, this cookie is a great substitute for the real deal itself and constantly tickles it's consumer with the sneaky bits of bright orange that peeks out from underneath its brown surface.
Carrot Cake Cookies
adapted from Dorie Greenspan's Gingered Carrot Cookie recipe
makes 25 cookies
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
82g unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/6 cup white sugar
1/2 large egg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup moist plump raisins
1/4 cup toasted and chopped pecans
- Preheat the oven to 190 degrees celsius, line baking trays with baking parchment or silicon baking sheets.
- Cream the butter till creamy and light. Add in sugars and beat for 2 mins.
- Add in the egg and beat for 2 mins.
- Beat in the vanilla extract.
- Whisk the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
- Beat the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar mixture just till flour mixture is no longer visible.
- Fold in the remaining ingredients. Make sure not to over mix.
- Scoop out your cookie dough onto the baking sheets and bake for 14-16mins.
- Allow the cookies to rest on the tray for a good 10mins before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Enjoy your lovely carrot cake cookies with a good glass of fresh milk!
And one more shot of the cookies, just because I can't resist it.
Eating out: Al Marhabani
Labels:
dubai,
food,
restaurants
·
Making a strategic expansion from the disarrayed area between Dubai and Sharjah, Al Marhabani has emerged with a spanking new outlet along Jumeirah Beach Road. Much to the delight of patrons around the region who are more than willing to put in that extra dollar (significant increment in price in this outlet in comparison to the original outlet) to indulge in this humble yet tasty Yemeni cuisine.
Specialising in Mandi, a traditional Yemeni dish of meat (lamb or chicken), basmati rice and a mixture of spices. The meat is usually cooked in a tandoor, suspended above charcoal and cooked till tender.
Being Singaporean, I would make the general connection of mandi to our popular Indian dish of Biryani (ahh.. fond memories of junior college and the frequent early lunch break escapades to lay our hands on Mutton Biryani seeps in); it's almost similar in structure and taste albeit less sinful given it's slightly moister rice, reminiscent of more stock added in comparison to the Indian version laden with good ole' fats. Nonetheless, Mandi despite it's healthier stance, does not compromise in terms of flavor and I was smitten by it's addictive combination of marinated roast meats and brightly colored rice.
Try the mixed grill should you feel a little more on the carnivorous side. Otherwise, the mandi dishes are a safe bet and a fantastic option to feed huge rowdy bunches of relatively hungry people. Passing huge dinner plates around the table can be a fun sport sometimes.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
