Cheese Tart and cheese cake?

Lemon Cheesecake


There are so many version of cheese cake recipes that we can find in the internet. The way of baking also might have slight differ to suits one needs or liking. I have tried few cheese cake recipes either from internet, books or friends just to find the best and as for me the easiest and the cheapest indeed.. Of all that I finally so called 'stick' to eat as it is easy, tasty and the most important is my kids love it..

I used this recipe to make 'old fashion' cheese cake that use cookie crumbs at the bottom or as filling for the tarts. I usually add blueberry, strawberry or lemon pie filling that can easily get from the baking shop to enhance the cheezy taste of cream cheese. I will make the cheese 'batter' and fill in a ready made tart shell according to customer's request or my kid's favourite.


For friends and whoever interested to taste my kinda creation, here they are...


If wanna make old fashion cheese cake, for the base:

200g graham / marie biscuits ( crushed)
100g butter (melted)


Position an oven shelf in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to fan 150Celc. Line the base of a 9inch springform cake tin with parchment paper. For the crust, melt the butter in a medium pan. Stir in the biscuit crumbs and sugar so the mixture is evenly moistened. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack while preparing the filling.

For the filling:

500g cream cheese ( I usually use Philadelphia & at room temp)
250g caster sugar
150g double cream
1 lemon
5 eggs

Method:

1. Beat cream cheese and sugar until well incorporated.
2. Add egg one at the time. Beating well after each addition.
3. Add in lemon juice and stir well.
4. Whip the cream and slowly stir into the mixture.
5. Pour into the tin with cookie base.
6. Bake using 'steam bath' techniques for 45-50 mins at 150 deg cels
7. Let it cool on the rack and once cooled, chill until it set ( about 8 hours or overnight)
8. Run a round-bladed knife around the sides of the tin to loosen any stuck edges. Unlock the side, slide the cheesecake off the bottom of the tin onto a plate, then slide the parchment paper out from underneath.







Note: Steam Bath is a techniques where the baking tin wrap with aluminium foil and put inside tray filled with hot water. Bake according to suggested time.





Mini Cheesetarts - lemon or blueberry



I use only the filling to be filled inside mini tart shells either alone or with a spoon of blueberry, strawberry or lemon pie filling.







Mini lemon Cheesetarts and with lemon filling on top



Another choices - strawberry, kiwi, lemon and blueberry filling...



As for tart shell recipe,


The ingredients

125g butter
50g icing sugar
2 eggs
250g flour

Method:

Beat butter and icing sugar until creamy.
Add in eggs and mix well. Fold in flour and mix to form dough.
Roll into thin skin and cut out small round shape skin.
Line onto small tart mold and press.

Bake at 170 degree Celsius for 15 minutes until light golden brown.
The shell can be kept for few weeks in airtight container for future use.

Caramel Puding Cake

My high school classmate, Marina Ismail has become my cooking buddy as well now since she's been 'in love' with cooking, in fact more advanced than I am.. This dessert recipe I recommend to all who love those simple not so sweet taste of soft caramel and cake in the same time after I have the oppotunity to try it out recently... For me the cake is a bit too sweet and I might reduce the quantity on my next attempt, and might change to chocolate sponge cake for different taste..

Caramel Pudding Cake

Ingredients:

• Caramel

• 60g sugar

• 1 tblspn water

• 2 tblspn water

• 
  

• Pudding

• 4 eggs

• 500ml fresh milk

• 70g sugar

• vanilla essence

• 
  

• Sponge Cake

• 70g flour

• 60g granulated sugar

• 2eggs

• 20g butter - melted

• 
  

Method:

1. Grease tin with butter. Preheat oven to 170 degC. Melt the butter and put aside.

2. To prepare the caramel: Mix the sugar with 1 tblspn of water. Heat them until brownish. Then add another 2 tblspn of water. Turn off the heat. Pour into the tin while it's hot.

3. To prepare the Pudding. Heat up the milk and sugar until dissolved and turn off the heat.
   

4. Mix together eggs and vanilla essence in a bowl. Lightly beaten. Then gradually pour in hot milk and stir slowly
   

5. Sieve no.4 into caramel tin.
   

6. To prepare sponge cake. Separate the yolks from the whites. Beat the white eggs with half of the sugar until fluffy.
   

7. Beat the yolks with another half of sugar until creamy.
   

8. Mix together both egg mixtures. Stir well until incorporated.
   

9. Sift the flour into no.8. Fold in the flour slowly.
   

10. Finally add in melted butter. Stir well.

11. Pour cake mixture into pudding tin. Add water into oven tray.(steam bath techniques ) Bake for 40 mins. ( This cake mixture will floating on the surface of pudding mixture. So no need to steam up or bake the pudding earlier)
    

12. Let cool in the tin before remove the pudding/ cake from the tin.

cappucino cheesecake

My girls and I always love cheesecake..(forget about the calories being gain by having a slices..not to mention the whole half kg!!) We had late lunch today with my nephews; Lie and Mie after sending blueberry cheese tarts to their mom at Islamic International University earlier. We went to secret recipes and really enjoyed our late lunch cause we were really hungry (it's almost 2.30 pm!!) After satisfied with the meals my girls ordered oreo cheesecake and cappuccino cheesecake a slice each. After tried them both, all of us agreed that cappuccino cheesecake is the best and because of that my girls asked me to find the recipe and try it out for this coming aidil adha. After searching and browsing finally I found this recipe and give a try..

Cappuccino Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 8 whole graham crackers, crushed
• 5 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 4 teaspoons instant espresso powder or instant coffee powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• chocolate, shaved into curls (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Mix crackers, butter and 1/4 cup sugar in medium bowl; press onto bottom (not sides) of a 9-inch springform pan with 2 3/4-inch high sides.
3. Bake crust 10 minutes.
4. Cool.
5. Maintain oven temperature.
6. Combine cream, espresso powder or coffee and vanilla in small bowl; set aside.
7. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until smooth.
8. Gradually beat in remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar, then eggs 1 at a time.
9. Beat in flour.
10. Stir espresso mixture until power dissolves, beat into cream cheese mixture.
11. Stir in chocolate chips.
12. Pour batter over crust.
13. Bake cake until edges are puffed and beginning to crack and center is just set, about 1 hour 5 minutes.
14. Cool on rack for 30 minutes; chill, uncovered for 6 hours.
15. Cut around cake to loosen.
16. Release pan sides.
17. Top with chocolate curls, if desired.

I always love green apple especially Granny Smith. It's not too sour but not as sweet as red apple. I love the crunchy, juicy and I can eat them raw, make it a juice or even add in the cooking. I have never tried before this recipe and wanna give a try..and yes I like the taste exactly. The sour taste of the applesauce reduced the sweetness of the cake. Its a healthy cake as well because I used brown sugar instead of white sugar and also honey. For those who love apples and not-so-sweet cake, you will like this cake as much as I am. Should give it a try..

Applesauce Cake


3 cups flour-spooned and leveled
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 cup butter (room temp)
2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 large eggs
2 cups basic applesauce

1. Preheat oven to 180deg celcs. Whisk together dry ingredients. Set aside.

2. In another bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar and honey until light and fluffy. Add egg, one at a time, beating until combined. With mixer on low speed gradually add dry ingredients. Beat until just combined. Beat in appplesauce.

3. Grease 9" tube pan or any of your choice. Spoon batter into pan, smooth top and arrange apple slices on top. Bake 45-50 mins or until tooth pick inserted in the middle comes out clean.



4. Cool on wire rack.


Basic applesauce
2 lb apples( peel, core and cut into thin slices)
1 cinnamon stick
3-4 tblspn sugar
3/ cup water
2 tsp freshly squeesed lemon juice

In a large saucepan, combine apples with cinnamon stick, sugar and water. With a medium heat, bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer. Stirring occasionally, until apples tender. 30-35 mins.( IF sauce begins to stick to the bottomof the pan, add 2-3 tblspn more water)

Remove from heat. Discard cinnamon stick. Stir in lemon juice.

oreo butter cake

Oreo Butter Cake

225g cake flour

1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
85g unsalted butter, cut into pieces
170g sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup(240ml) nonfat unsweetened yogurt
1 tsp vanilla essence
80g Oreo cookies, roughly crushed
Whole Oreo cookies for decorating

1) Preheat oven to 180C and grease or line a 8-inch round tin.
2) Sift together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3) Cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Dribble in eggs slowly, about 1 tbsp at a time, beating constantly for about 2 mins.
4) On LOW speed, beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture until just combined. Beat in ½ of the yogurt. Then beat in 1/2 of the remaining flour mixture, followed by the remaining yogurt, and vanilla extract. Finally beat in the remaining flour mixture.
5) Lastly, fold in the crushed cookies.
6) Pour into prepared tin, arrange whole Oreos on top and bake for about 40 - 50 mins till skewer inserted comes out clean.
7) Cool in pan for 5 mins. Unmold and cool completely.

Note:
I use a stand mixer for this, which can ‘fold in’ the flour and yogurt gently on its lowest speed. If you cream the butter manually or with a hand-held mixer, after the eggs have been incorporated, use a spatula to gently fold in the flour and yogurt.

Seafood Quiche

Seafood Quiche

For pastry

500g all purpose flour
pinch of salt
1 tsp fish curry powder
1 tblspn corriander leaves- thinly sliced
230g cold butter- diced
cold water

1. Put all dry ingredients in a bowl
2. Rub cold butter until form a crumbs
3. Gradually pour in water until form a dough
4. Flat the dough into 9inch greased pie mould or aluminium foil mould




5. Poke with fork and blind bake for 10mins


For seafood filling

3 tblspn oil - for saute
4 onion - diced
3 green chilli - diced
3 red chilli - diced
1 tblspn fish curry powder
150g prawn
150g squid
50g button mushroom
50g mixed vege
parsli
salt and pepper to taste
5 eggs - slightly beaten
1 1/2 cup heavy cream or fresh milk plus 1 tsp cornflour
1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Heat up oil in a pot. Saute onion until golden brown. Add in chillies, stir. Add fish curry powder, then prawn, squid, mushroom, mixed vege and stir well. Add salt and pepper.Turn off the heat. In separate bowl lightly beat eggs and add in cream. Pour into the half-cooked pastry. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and bake for another 15-20 mins or until brown.

Brownies

Walnut and Chocolate Chip Brownies

Ingredients


680g semi or bittersweet chocolate
226g butter- diced
6 large eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tblspn vanilla extract
210g flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 170 degC.Place the rack in the centre of the oven. Grease a 9" x 13" (23cm x 33cm) pan and line bottom of pan with parchment paper.

Melt the chocolate and butter in a stainless steel bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove from heatand set aside.

In large bowl whisk (use hand mixer) together the eggs and sugar. Fold in melted chocolate mixture and vanilla extract.

In separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Then fold into the chocolate and sugar mixture until well combined.

Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 40-45 mins.





Brownies 2

150g semisweet chocolate, chopped
120ml sunflower oil
215g light brown sugar
2 eggs
5ml vanilla essence
65g self-raising flour
4 tablespoon cocoa powder (unsweetened)
4 tablespoon milk chocolate chips
75g chopped walnuts

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degC. Lightly grease a shallow 19cm/7.5 inch square pan.


2. Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water.


3. With an electric mixer, beat together oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla essence in a mixing bowl.


4. Stir in the melted chocolate then beat well until evenly mixed.


5. Sift the flour and cocoa powder into the batter. With a spatula, fold thoroughly until all the flour mixture incorporates into the batter.


6. Stir in walnuts and chocolate chips. Mix well.


7. Pour the mixture into the prepared square tin. Spread the mixture evenly to the edges. (The mixture is rather sticky and gooey.)


8. Bake for about 30 ~ 35 mins until the top is firm and crusty. Cool in the pan before cutting into squares.

MY FAV SAVOURY RECIPES

Savoury dishes always been everyone's favourite like noodles, pies, baked macaroni and of course beef and chicken traditional malay cuisines like rendang, asam pedas etc. I like simple and easy recipe...but tasty. Here are some of them...

I gave this recipe to my friend in Manchester, Kay recently and glad she likes it. Even busy architect like her love cooking and I think people changed when you have your own 'fan' and in her case Iman ( her only son..am I right Kay?..) My family love this recipe especially my chubby hubby as he could continue having them with bread after had them for lunch or dinner... And if people ask me how I 'glued' him to be at home for his main meal, the answer is my cooking indeed. It may not suit others but for sure did an excellent job for mine..







RENDANG BABU
..( my mom named it..don't really know why)


Ingredients:

1 kg beef ( small and thin slice)
100g chilli paste ( from abt 30g dried chilli, 1 medium onion, 3-4 clove of garlic and 3cm ginger-blend together)
1 cinnamon stick
100ml evaporated milk
50g tomato puree
salt and sugar to your taste
1/2 cup vege oil

Method:

1. Heat up oil in a heavy base saucepan or a pressure cooker
2. Firstly put in cinnamon stick for few minutes and pour in chilli paste until aromatic. Add tomato puree and milk. Stir constantly until all blended well. Add beef and let simmer until it tender or if using pressure cooker let it cook under pressure for about 15 minutes.





3. Once the gravy has thicken,add salt and sugar to taste. Let it cook for about 10 minutes more.
4.Remove from heat and serve. Can be served with rice or bread.

Almond Cookies 2

120g butter
80g caster sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
60g ground almond
200g flour
Flake almond and egg yolk for decoration

1. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy
2. Add yolk and vanilla
3. Add in ground almond and flour. Fold all ingredients to form smooth dough.
4. Roll out dough until its about 8mm thick. Cut with your desired cookie cutter

5. Put almond flake on top and brush with egg yolk


6.Bake for 10 mins at 180 deg cels or until golden brown

CARROT CAKE

Another recipe by Marina Ismail. Good for my mom-in-law as she is diebetic patient because the cake is not sweet at all and high in fibre too.

Ingredients

4 eggs (beat on medium speed for about 1 min to mix)

2 cups of grated carrots

3 cups of plain flour

1 cup of walnut (coarsely chopped)

1 cup of canned pineapple (diced)

1 1/3 cups of castor sugar

1 1/2 cups of olive oil

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of salt

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

Method

1. Pre-heat oven at 180 deg C. Line a 9-inch round pan with parchment paper.

2. Sift flour into a large bowl. Add baking powder

3. Add all ingredients into the bowl, except for eggs and walnut.

4. Fold beaten eggs into the mixture until incorporated

5. Add chopped walnut, and mix well.

6. Pour mixture into the cake pan

7. Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean


BUTTERCREAM RECIPE

(courtesy of friend; Marina Ismail..tq)

1 kg krimwell
125g butter
3 tblsn shortening
sugar water
few drop of lemon extract

Beat krimwell, butter and shortening until soft peak. Boil sugar and water ( make sure water and sugar at the same level ) Once boiled put drop of lemon extract. Add the syrup gradually according to your taste. Can be stored in the fridge if there is balance after decorating.

Chocolate Layer Cake

Ingredients
(A)
20 egg yolks
8 egg white
250 gm. sugar
200 gm. Hong Kong flour or cake flour
1 Tbsp. Ovalette

(B)
450 gm. Butter
6 Tbsp. Condensed Milk

(C)

1 orange skin - grated
1/2 tsp. orange emulco
2 tsp. coffee paste
1 Tbsp. Chocolate paste
3 Tbsp. Dark cooking chocolate - melted

Method:

(1) Beat ingredients (A) till thick and fluffy.
(2) Cream ingredients (B) till creamy.
(3) Fold ingredients (A) and (B) together and mix evenly.
(4) Divide mixture into 3 portions. Two portions add in grated orange and orange paste. The other portion add in coffee paste, chocolate paste and melted chocolate.
(5) Spoon 4 to 5 Tabsp. of orange batter into 8" x 8" sq tin and bake till half cook then turn to grill mode and bake till golden brown. Continue baking layer by layer till orange portion finish.
(6) Continue the same process with the chocolate portion and bake till batter finish.
(7) Continue the same process again with the orange portion and bake till finish.
(8) For the last layer, change back to oven temperature of 175C and bake a further 15 to 20 mins.
(9) Remove from oven and leave to cool before slicing.

Note: You can leave l layer portion of chocolate batter for the uppermost layer.

PRUNE LAPIS

Ingredients:

300 gm. butter
25 egg yolks
3 egg white
220 gm. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla essence
1 Tbsp. ovalette
160 gm. cake flour
450 gm. seedless prunes
1 Tbsp. rum
2 Tbsp. condense milk

Method:

(1) Cream butter till creamy and pale in colour. Add in rum and condense milk.
(2) Whisk egg yolks, egg white, sugar and vanilla essence together , then add in ovalette and flour. Whisk till double in volume.
(3) Fold in the beaten butter, rum and condensed milk.
(3) Prepare a 8" X 8" Sq. tray - lined at the bottom.
(4) Grill the cake layer by layer with prunes on alternate layers.
(5) Use a skewer to prick every layer and press lightly with a lapis pree to flatten each layer.
(6) When finish frilling, bake the cake at 180C for about 15 mins.

STEP BY STEP

FRUITTY NUTTY SLICES

This treats is chewy like slices for one who likes taste of fruits, cornflakes and almond. Its a quick and easy to make. A healthy one too because the ingredients used are rich in fibre and vitamins as well. Enjoy them with hi tea or have them during your break time.




200g butter
1/2 cup honey

3 cups cornflakes- coarsely crunched
1 1/2 cup mixed fruits
1 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup cereal (nestum)
1 cup sliced almond
1 cup milk powder
1/2 cup green cherries
1/2 cup red cherries
4 eggs - lightly beaten

method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 deg celcius. Line 10.5 x 14.5 inch tin with aluminium foil.


2. In a medium bowl, mix together dry ingredients and set aside.



3. Heat butter and honey in a pot. Once melted add all dry ingredients and then eggs. Stir until just incorporated.



4. Transfer mixture into lined pan, smooth evenly with spatula.




5. Bake for 12-18 mins or until golden brown.



6. Once cooled cut into pieces or you can use cutter like this to cut evenly.



7. Put on paper cup and bake another 10 minutes. Let them cool before storing.

Lemon Cupcakes
~20 cupcakes

1-1/2 cups flour (cake if you have it, otherwise all-purpose)
3/4 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup grape seed oil or vegetable oil
4 egg yolks (approximately 3 ounces)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon extract, all natural
grated rind from 1 lemon
1 teaspoon bitters
5 egg whites (approximately 5 ounces)
1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter
1/4 cup sugar

1. Sift flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder into the bowl of a standing mixer.
2. In a medium bowl, combine oil, egg yolks, lemon juice, lemon extract, lemon rind, and bitters. Stir to combine.
3. On a low setting, start to beat the dry mixture and slowly add the wet. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until incorporated.
4. Transfer mixture to another bowl. Wash and dry mixer bowl.
5. Whip egg whites with whip attachment on medium-high speed until foamy. With the mixer on medium speed, add cream of tarter and slowly add sugar. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form.
6. Scoop a cupful of the stiff egg whites into the batter and stir to combine. This should lighten up the batter.
7. Transfer the batter to the egg whites and gently fold until there are no more streaks of egg white.
8. Scoop into cupcake cups about 2/3s full and bake at 350 F for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

MOIST CHOCOLATE CAKES

My kids love chocolate and everything that have chocolate in it. I have been baking and tried so many chocolate cake recipes either from internet or family and friends BUT this recipe is so easy and because the taste is yummy as well. Try it yourself and give me some feed back..tq

2 cups sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa Hershey's
2 tsp baking soda
2 large eggs
1 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup Mazola Oil
1 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 cup boiling water

Preheat oven 180 deg celc
Grease 9" x 9" mould.
Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir until combined.
Pour into the mould and bake 1 hour
Once cooled, decorate with chocolate ganache

Chocolate Fudge

1 can evaporated milk
1 cup water
1 cup cocoa powder
4 egg yolks
4 tblspn cornflour
1 1/2 cup caster sugar
250g butter
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Put all ingredients in a heavy saucepan on medium heat. Stir constantly until thicken. Let it cool before spread it onto the chocolate cake.

Petit Four Candies

Yield: 84

It's always nice to serve a variety of candies.

Ingredients:

Almond Crunchies

• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 cup sugar
• dash fine salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1 cup corn flakes
• 1/2 cup chopped dates
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• Icing sugar for coating

Peanut Crispy Squares

• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup golden corn syrup
• 1 cup chopped peanuts
• 4 cups crisped rice cereal
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Chocolate Banana Slices

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 5 tbsp honey
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/4 cup dried banana chips, lightly crushed
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 tbsp coconut
• 1 cup salted pretzels, lightly crushed
• 1 1/2 cups banana crunch cereal (or honey crunch cereal)
• 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp vegetable shortening

Directions:

Almond Crunchies

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. Whip egg white with electric beaters until foamy, then slowly add sugar and whip until white holds a stiff peak. Fold in salt, vanilla and almond extracts, and then fold in corn flakes, dates and almonds. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared tray and bake for 30 minutes. Once cooled, roll in icing sugar and store in an airtight container. Yield: makes about 18 almond crunchies.

Peanut Crispy Squares

1. Grease a 13-x-9-inch pan and set aside.
2. Stir peanut butter, brown sugar and corn syrup over medium heat in a saucepot until smooth and just begins to bubble. Stir in peanuts and cereal and press into prepared pan (dip your spatula or hand in cool water for easier spreading). Allow to cool.
3. Melt chocolate chips and spread over squares. Allow to set completely before cutting. Cut into 48 squares. Yield: 48 squares.

Chocolate Banana Slices

1. Grease an 8 inch or 9 inch square pan, line with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Melt butter, honey and vanilla together until it just begins to bubble. Stir in oats, banana chips, raisins and coconut to coat and soften for 1 minute. Stir in pretzels and cereal to coat and remove from heat. Alternatively, pulse ingredients to combine and lightly crush in food processor.
3. With lightly greased hands, press evenly into prepared pan. Let cool. Cut into 9 squares. Cut each square in half to make 2 triangles.
4. Stir white chocolate chips with vegetable shortening in a bowl over a pot of gently simmering water until melted. Dip the candies partway in chocolate, gently shake off excess and place on baking tray to set. Drizzle tops of candies with remaining chocolate. Store in an airtight container. Yield: makes 18.

Almond Nougat

Yield: 12

Ingredients:

Almond Nougat

• 1 cup blanched hazelnuts
• 2 x 4 1/2 oz packages blanched whole almonds
• 1/2 cup ground almonds
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 egg whites
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1/4 cup butter, softened

Directions:

Almond Nougat

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Add hazelnuts and whole almonds to cookie sheet. Toast until golden, about 10 minutes.
3. Add sugar, corn syrup, honey, salt and water in a heavy bottomed saucepot (3 quart). Over medium heat, stir mixture until sugar dissolves. Continue cooking, without stirring until syrup reaches the hard ball stage, reading 252 degrees F. on a candy thermometer.
4. Meanwhile, in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites at high speed until stiff peaks form.
5. While mixer is on, in a thin steady stream, pour ¼ cup of hot syrup over egg whites, beating at high speed until mixture is stiff enough to hold its shape, about 5 minutes.
6. Continue to cook the remaining syrup to brittle threads, reading 315 to 318 degrees F. on a candy thermometer.
7. While mixer is on, in a thin steady stream, pour remaining hot syrup over egg whites, beating at high speed until mixture is stiff enough to hold its shape. Add vanilla extract, almond extract and butter, beating again for about 5 minutes. Stir in toasted nuts and ground almonds with a wooden spoon. Transfer mixture to a buttered 11 x 7 x 1 ¼-inch pan. Smooth the mixture evenly with a spatula. If it is a particularly humid day, refrigerate until firm.
8. Loosen edges of candy with a knife. Invert nougat on cutting board. Cut into pieces. Store in airtight container.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS COOKIES

Ingredients

1/2	pound	butter
1	cup	brown sugar	light, packed
1	cup	sugar
3	large	eggs
3	cups	biscuit baking mix (bisquick)
1	cup	cornstarch
1/2	cup	milk, skim, (non fat) powder	non-fat
2	tablespoons	coffee	powdered
1	tablespoon	cocoa powder	unsweetened
1	tablespoon	vanilla extract
12	ounces	chocolate pieces	semi-sweet
4	ounces	pecans	chopped

Directions

With electric mixer, high speed, cream butter until light and fluffy.

Beat in sugars, beating until very creamy.

Beat in eggs, then each remaining ingredient, except chips and pecan.

When dough is smooth, work in chips and pecans with spoon.

Make grape-sized pieces of dough for each cookie, placing 1 inch apart on ungreased sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 14 minutes or until golden brown.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS COOKIES 3

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies

3/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup canola oil
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
2. Grind oats in a blender or food processor. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla; beat until smooth and creamy. With the mixer running, add the dry ingredients, beating on low speed until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Drop the dough by heaping teaspoonfuls, at least 1 inch apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until firm around the edges and golden on top, about 15 minutes. Cool the cookies for 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

TIP: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Cheese Stick


Ingredients:

120 gm. Butter
80 gm. Sugar
3 gm. Salt
50 gm. lightly beaten egg
40 gm. ground almonds
180 gm. plain flour
80 gm. Kraft Cheddar cheese - grated
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Method:

(1) Cream butter, salt and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs gradually till finished. Mix well.
(2) Add in vanilla essence, grated cheddar cheese, ground almonds and plain flour. Mix till a dough is formed . It will be a soft dough. Chill the dough in the fridge for at least 1 hour so that it will be easy to handle.
(3) Roll out dough between two pastic sheets and cut into strips of 2 1/2" x 3/4". If dough is too soft to lift, place into the freezer and let is harden a little so that you can lift it up easily. Brush with egg glaze, grate some cheddar cheese on top of cookies. Lay onto baking tray and bake at 170C for about 15 mins. then lower then temperature to 160C and continue baking till golden brown and crispy.
(4) Cool before storing in containers.

Cupcakes

CUPCAKES - cute, little creation that everyone loves it..

Vanilla Cupcakes
20 regular cupcakes

3/4 cup (1-1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1-2/3 cups vanilla sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2-2/3 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out

1. Beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until well combined.
3. Measure the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
4. Measure out the milk and vanilla and stir to combine.
5. Add about a third of the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar and beat to combine. Add about a half of the milk/vanilla and beat to combine. Continue adding, alternating between dry and wet and finishing with the dry.
6. Scoop batter into cupcake cups about 2/3’s full. Turn oven down to 350 degrees and bake cupcakes for about 22-25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Vanilla Bean Frosting

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 package (8 ounces) philly cream cheese
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out
-4-5 cups powdered sugar

1. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter at medium speed until creamy.
2. Add the cream cheese and beat until combined.
3. Add the vanilla extract, vanilla seeds, and 3 cups of powdered sugar and beat at low speed, occasionally stopping to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, until light and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar to arrive at the consistency and sweetness you like.

Assemble
1. Frost each cooled cupcake with a healthy mound of frosting.
2. Top with vanilla seat salt or whatever you so desire.

For the cupcakes:

• 3 cups of all purpose flour
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 225g butter, softened and at room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup full fat milk, at room temperature
• 2 cups caster sugar

For the icing:

• 5 tbsp butter, softened and at room temperature
• 6 cups of icing sugar
• 7 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
• 3 tbsp Cointreau
• tiny pinch of salt
• 1 tbsp very finely grated orange zest

How to make Vanilla Cupcakes with Orange Frosting

I think what everyone loves most about cupcakes is the frosting, and I'm no exception. However, because frostings are usually sooo sweet, I prefer to have a very mild tasting cake base. The base I've used here is a very simple vanilla-infused sponge, and I think it goes really well with the slightly tangy orange frosting, which was a nice change from the usual lemony icings. (Makes about 36 medium cupcakes, and there should be enough frosting to generously frost all of them.)

Cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 175°C and line a cupcake tray with cups.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together in the large bowl of your standing mixer on medium speed - about 5-8 minutes - until pale and fluffy. Add in the egg yolks, and mix for another 2 minutes. Add in the vanilla essence, and mix well.
3. Combine the salt, baking powder and flour in a bowl, and add it in 4 batches, alternating with a quarter of the milk each time. Mix until fully incorporated.
4. In a clean mixing bowl, and with a clean and dry whisk, whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Carefully, but quickly, fold the egg whites into the batter, taking care not to lose all the air.
5. Spoon the batter into the cupcake cups, so that it comes about halfway up the side of the cups. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted to the middle comes out clean.
6. Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack completely before frosting.

Frosting & Decoration:

1. While the cupcakes are cooking, place the butter into a medium bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer, and combine the orange juice and orange essence/ paste.
   

COOKIES

Cornflakes Cookies

125g butter
1 large egg
170g self rising flour
1 orange peel
90g caster sugar
cornflakes for coating - crunch slightly
sliced cherry for decoration

Method:

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and mix well. mix in orange peel and lastly sifted flour. Mix until incorporate. Spoon one teaspooon of batter and coat it with cornflakes and put cherry on top of it.

Bake for 10-12 mins at 170 deg celc. Cool on wire rack.


Almond Cookies

3 egg white
100 gm. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla essence
200 gm. whole almonds
120 gm. plain flour

Method:

(1) Whisk egg white with sugar and salt till thick.
(2) Fold in flour and almoinds.
(3) Pour into a 7" sq. tray.
(4) Bake at 170C for about 25 mins. until light brown.
(5) Remove and place onto a cooling rack to cool.
(6) Wrap cake with aluminium foil and keep in the fridge for a couple of hours.
(7) Slice the cake into thin slices and lay onto a baking tray.
(8) Bake in oven at 160C for about 15 mins. or until it's crispy.
(9) Cool and store in cookie containers.