Wake Up and Smell the Cake

 I love these! It's like a blondie but to make me feel less guilty, there's oatmeal. Was supposed to make these and freeze for easy morning breakfasts, but seems like they ran out pretty quickly that it didn't require that much freezing. Original recipe here . I made these almost three months ago and I still think about making these again and again. White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Bars 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats 2 cups flour 1 1/2 cups brown sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon vanilla 2 large eggs 1 1/4 cups butter melted 1 cups white chocolate chips 1 cup dried cranberries This is like one bowl mix so anything goes. Spread batter in two 8x8 square tins, bake for 22 min at 180 degrees Celsius. 

Did a quick meal cos while I plan to cook a proper one (not that this wasn't proper), but just that even Sundays are so packed that I can't even find time?! So this was the quick meal as requested by Husband, recipe adapted from a website but here's what I used. A week ago I tried something to this effect but didn't have the leaves and I added carrot instead. Also, the choice of chicken part makes a difference. The fillet/breast absorbs more sauce.  Say hello to my new Cosmic Cookware pan! Thai Basil Chicken 3 packets of chicken fillet/breasts, about 700g chicken? 1 tbsp oyster sauce 1 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp fish sauce 1 heapful tbsp brown sugar 1 onion, sliced thinly 6 garlic, minced 5 chili padi A whole bunch of thai basil leaves, sliced All sauces into a bowl and mix, typical stir-fry and add leaves last. Cheap, good and yummy! Serve with a sunny side up and rice. [I realise I have made this before, with a simpler recipe here . But this is a better version!]  

Finally made this! Have been wanting to do so cos this porridge has loads of nuts. Not exactly a healthy porridge though since there's coconut milk. I already have most of the ingredients and had the time, so why not! I realise there's different types of bubur Asyura but I settled for the one closest to us, the Johor version . There's a lottt of ingredients, so I'll list in order of which goes into the pot first. I also boiled the mutton a day earlier so I can collect and throw away the fat from the stock. Bubur Asyura Saute: 1 stalk lemongrass 1 cinnamon stick 1 star anise 3 cardamoms 5 cloves 2 big onions, sliced 1 inch ginger, sliced 3 garlic, sliced 10 cups water (half is mutton stock, half water) 1 cup rice, washed 300g mutton, already cooked and shredded 1 tbsp soto powder 1/3 cup dhal, soaked in water for 10 min 1/3 cup peanuts, washed 1 1/2 carrots, diced 1 can chickpeas, washed 1 can kacang pool, washed 1/2 can sweet corn, washed 1 small box coconut milk Heat o

First time making sambal belado to clear out ingredients in the fridge. Bought chili to make nasi goreng kampung but there's not enough leftover rice, but there's lime and tomatoes. I don't have a food processor (this goes into the long list of household appliances I need to get but aren't that urgent) so I had to use my blender and add a little water. Also didn't manage to get the rough cut of chili. But the taste is good! Recipe adapted from here . Sambal Belado 2 large onions 200g red chilis 5 cloves garlic 2 large tomatoes Juice from 6 limes/ limau kasturi Blend all of those stuff together except the lime juice. Fry it all in oil until reduced and fragrant. Add sugar (about 4 tbsp? or to taste) and salt (about 1 tsp) Add lime last, after sambal is almost done. I ate with fried chicken, and in another occasion tossed it with leftover pasta and greens. Awesome.

We were each given 2kg worth of dates that I know will go to waste cos we don't eat dates unless it's made into something else.  It also looks gross packed like that. Tried two recipes, one is a date cake and another is an energy bar of sorts. Many said try sticky date pudding but I am lazy to make the toffee sauce. The energy bar was basically dates, oats and nuts packed together and baked and I froze them for quick breakfasts. Not something I'd repeat, but the date cake is worth making over and over! Original recipe from here , but as usual I don't measure properly. Date Cake 2 cups pitted dates (original calls for 1 1/2 cups) 1 1/2 cups water 1 tsp baking soda 113g butter, softened 1 tsp vanilla essence 120g sugar (original calls for 150g) 2 large eggs 1 1/2 cup flour 2 tsp baking powder Boil the pitted dates in water until the dates are mush and forms a thick paste, about 5 minutes. Add baking soda, mix well (it'll bubble!) and set aside. Cream butter and sugar

Volunteered to make tiramisu for department lunch but haven't made tiramisu before. Very clever. The recipe I followed was good but was still doubting myself along the way. How much coffee to make, how to even make coffee?! and how much cream to put! How many layers! This is a no-egg version, less sinful I suppose? Also easier to make. Safe to say now I have nailed it after trying this twice! Haha. Pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Tiramisu 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream (35% fat) 8 oz mascarpone cream (that 1 container) 1/3 cup caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence 1 1/2 cups cold espresso (no sugar) 1 packet lady fingers, Savoiardi brand Cocoa powder for dusting Whip cold whipping cream with a whisk attachment on high for a few minutes until volume increases. Slowly add vanilla and sugar. Whisk further until stiff peaks form.  Add mascarpone cream and whisk for a while only until combined. Make coffee! I used espresso powder. Didn't realise need to filter still. Just ma