Wake Up and Smell the Cake

 This is so yummy! Also a good cookie, as the name suggests, the best chewy brown butter chocolate chip cookie. Also nailed the baking timing cos the cookie doesn't harden upon cooling. This shall be the go-to for chewy chocolate chip cookies from now on. 140g butter 215g all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 145g packed light brown sugar 65g granulated sugar 5ml vanilla essence 1 large egg at room temperature 15ml milk Semisweet chocolate chips Brown the butter. Once it bubbles and milk solids form, take note not to wait too long. Once it browns slightly, take it off the heat. Too long and the butter will burn. I weighed the dough (without chocolate chips) at 40g each, and then added choc chips. Bake at 190 degrees Celsius for 9 minutes.

I failed the first time I made sushi bake, so I was kinda apprehensive about this. Added surimi or imitation crab meat since the kids may not want a fully tuna sushi bake, plus it gives a smoother texture.  The recipe uses full tuna and avocado, so I used this recipe lightly to tweak to my own. Tuna Sushi Bake 1 1/2 cups sushi rice Sushi vinegar as per the bottle's instructions 3 chunky tuna cans (Ayam brand) 1 packet of imitation crab meat, boiled and shredded 5 tbsp Japanese mayo 1 tbsp sriracha sauce 3 tbsp mentaiko mayo Teriyaki Chicken Sushi Bake 1 1/2 cups sushi rice Sushi vinegar as per the bottle's instructions 500g chicken boneless thigh, cut into small pieces 1 inch ginger, pound Teriyaki sauce for marinate and for frying Season the top with furikake, sliced seaweed, Japanese mayo and mentaiko mayo. These are a must. Broil or grill for about 8 minutes. These turn out yummy! All the Japanese ingredients were bought on Shopee, from a Malaysian provider.

Husband wanted Swedish meatballs cos we were going Ikea, so meatballs for dinner it is. Bought the jam from Ikea though cos there's no way I'm making that from scratch. These turned out super soft and yummy! The sauce and the mashed potatoes though, required more tweaking cos honestly, I didn't follow the recipe properly. Swedish Meatballs 1 yellow onion, grated 600g ground beef (mince) 3 tbsp breadcrumbs 1 egg 1/4 tsp cumin powder 1/4 tsp coriander powder 1/4 tsp black pepper 3/4 tsp salt 1 tbsp oil Gravy (by right la) 40g / 3 tbsp butter , unsalted 3 tbsp flour 2 cups chicken broth/stock (salt reduced) 1/2 cup heavy / thickened cream The onions should be grated, but it was such a hassle to hold and it also irritated my eyes so I put it in the chopper. I probably put too much butter, then too much flour and it all became so thick.  Also, no proper pictures cos I didn't try to take one.

 This is a mix and match of recipes, partly to use whatever I have in the pantry. Butter chicken recipe is loosely adapted from here , and cheese naan is from here .  Was an okay first attempt, but could do better. I marinated the chicken the night before using whatever spices there was, especially the chicken spice mix from Istanbul and since that smelt somewhat like tandoori, just adding lemon juice, chili powder, salt and yoghurt did the trick. Pan fried them until the sauce was dry, and then make the butter chicken sauce before adding the chicken in. For the butter chicken, I used the following: 2 tbsp butter 1 cinnamon stick 4 cloves 4 cardamoms 1 tbsp garlic paste 1 tbsp ginger paste 1 tbsp garam masala 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tbsp chili powder Blended ingredients: 1 tomato, 1 cup tomato pesto, 24 cashews 1/2 cup heavy cream Was supposed to use tomato puree or real tomatoes and cook it down, or tomato paste, but I had tomato pesto to finish and only 1...

Got this off Instagram and I've made it before but didn't post here. Recording the recipe for future reference! Chicken 1kg boneless thigh skinless  (I increased to 1.5kg it's fine) 1/2 cup yoghurt 1/4 cup olive oil 4 cloves garlic minced Juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp chili powder (I added) 1 tbsp salt (Recipe calls for 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp cardamom, 1 ground tumeric and 1 tsp all spices but I didn't have those so I omitted. Still sedap) Garlic Sauce 1/2 cup yoghurt 1/4 cup mayonnaise 2 cloves garlic pounded 1 tbsp lemon juice Pinch of smoked paprika Salt and pepper to taste Yellow Rice 3 cups jasmine rice 3 cups chicken stock (i.e. 2 cubes chicken stock?) 2 tbsp oil 2 tbsp butter 1 tsp tumeric 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp cumin Marinate chicken for at least 3 hours. Bake the chicken at 220 deg Celsius for 20 to 30 min depending on chicken size. Serve with salad greens and...

TikTok (and the husband) made me do this, and I love it. So so good to pair with aglio olio or butter chili oil spaghetti (I tried with both!). Recipe from here . Creamy Mushroom Chicken 500g boneless thigh chicken Salt & pepper to season Cornstarch 2 tbsp butter 1 onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 200g sliced shitake mushrooms 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cube chicken stock 1/3 cup pasta water 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1/2 tsp dill 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp parsley Season the chicken with salt and pepper and coat with cornstarch (shake off excess). Pan fry the chicken until cooked and golden brown. Remove chicken but not the oils. Add butter. Fry in onion until cooked, then add garlic and mushrooms. Add heavy cream, chicken stock and pasta water. Once mixed, add chicken and all the spices and cheese.

All in one pot cooking, what's not to love!  Got this off tiktok, but I figured the chicken and mushroom in the recipe isn't enough. Wasn't really one pot cooking cos I cooked half of the chicken on a pan then added it later after the rice cooker was done. Rice Cooker Claypot Chicken marinade: 600g boneless thigh, cut into cubes 6 garlic, pound 2 inch ginger, pound 6 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp oyster sauce 4 tbsp sweet soy sauce Rice: Half of the chicken marinade above 2 1/2 cups rice 2 1/2 cups water 3 tbsp sesame oil 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 1/2 chicken cube (maybe 2 also can) 300g shitake mushrooms Coriander leaves, cut Spring onions, cut Marinate the chicken and leave it for about 30 min. Wash the rice. Add half the chicken marinade and all other ingredients into the rice cooker and mix well Cook using rice cooker. I cooked the remaining chicken over the stove and added the chicken, juices and all, into the rice cooker when it was just about done and needed a few minutes to set. M...

This is the result of being extra, searching for a recipe when you already have a simple curry using curry powder and ready made beef balls at hand. But nope. You decide to search for Indian meatball curry from scratch, and that includes making your own meatballs. The outcome was unexpected, it was like one of those curries you have at a north Indian restaurant. Not too much heat. It is creamy, tangy and full of flavour. The only downside to this is how to make the meatballs soft. I probably mixed it too much, or boiled too long. The family loves it! Big win when my kids say it's yummy. Cos these fellas are not generous with their compliments. I got the recipe here , with simple spices you'd already have in your pantry.  Indian Meatball Curry For the meatballs: 500g minced beef 1 tsp grated garlic (I think I added a bit more) 1 tsp grated ginger 1/2 tsp garam masala 1/4 tsp smoked paprika 1/4 tsp tumeric powder 1 tsp coriander powder 1/2 tsp cumin powder 2 tbsp breadcrumbs 1 eg...

Hello I am back. Haha. Although I have kabsa spice mix in the pantry, somehow I was afraid to cook it. Even today, I went to the supermarket and stocked up on ingredients for briyani but realised that I ran out of briyani spices. Sad. The kabsa mix has instructions on the packet but is so minimal, like how a mother explains a recipe. Came across this recipe , which is for chicken and now as I'm typing this, I actually visited the mutton version from the same website but didn't follow. I should've since there's more spices! Pfft. Oh wells next time then. Mutton Kabsa Rice 1kg mutton (some with bone) 3 bay leaves 1 tbsp coriander powder 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp black pepper 1/3 cup butter 2 red onions, thinly sliced 6 cloves garlic, finely minced 1 inch ginger, finely minced 2 tomatoes, diced 1 tbsp tomato paste 3 tbsp Kabsa spice mix Lemon zest (cos I don't have dried lime) 2 cups basmati rice (should be 4 but who's gonna finish it) 4 tsp salt Tomato Salsa 1 lar...

 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 m...

Made the fluffiest marble cake ever, with the help of ovalette. Didn't know it's such an amazing leavener! Got the recipe from here , which uses 8 eggs too for the normal use of butter, sugar and flour. The result is a fluffy, not too sweet cake. Marble Cake 250g butter, melted 250g caster sugar 250g flour 1 tbsp ovalette 8 eggs 4 tbsp cocoa powder Vanilla essence Sift flour into a mixing bowl.  Add sugar, eggs and ovalette. Using a whisk attachment, mix till incorporated on low, then for about 3 min on medium speed till volume increases. Slowly pour in melted butter with mixer speed on low. Split batter in half for the chocolate version with the cocoa powder. I baked in a 10 inch circle pan for 35 min at 170°C. Out of the oven with minimal cracks! My marbling effect needs improving.

Once again, making something out of items that have gone past 'best before' dates! Goes to show I stock up yet never stocktake. HAHA.  Trying another recipe where the cheese is double (or quadruple, for some) the amount than previous attempts, cos cheesecake layer is equally important as brownies. This makes two 8x8 pans even though the recipe said one 9x9. Must be a thick 9x9 then, but then it won't be brownies eh? Recipe from here .  226g unsalted butter, melted 1 1/3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips (I used Valrhona choc so I eyeballed instead of measuring) 3/4 cup Dutch processed cocoa powder 1 cup caster sugar 1 cup light brown sugar 2 eggs (recipe added 1 more yolk but I didn't) 1 cup flour 1 tsp salt Splash of milk 16oz cream cheese (two blocks), room temperature 2 eggs 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence A pinch of salt Melt the butter, salt, then chocolate, cocoa powder, sugar. Add in the eggs and flour and milk. You need to use a mixer cos I used a whisk by han...

I know I've tried oatmeal cookies before, but I wanted one with the most oatmeal used and that's it. Cos I: (a) have oatmeal that should be wayyy past the best before date (haha but still edible though!); (b) am in need of cookies; and (c) should be making healthier alternatives. This is a no frills oatmeal cookie, no raisins, no chocolate chips, no fancy chips, no nuts. Just oatmeal. And that was sufficient. I made large ones, since it was just me eating them (but later my family wanted too). Recipe from here .  190g butter  1/2 tsp salt 1 cup caster sugar 1/4 light brown sugar 1 large egg 1 tsp vanilla essence 1 cup flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 3/4 tsp baking powder 2 1/2 cups quick cooking oats (recipe calls for rolled oats) Recipe calls for 226g butter but I had 190g so 190g it is. Cream it with the vanilla, salt and sugars. Add the egg and cream. Mix in the flour and leavening agents, and finally the oats.  Drop tablespoonfuls on baking paper, flatten it to about a cm t...

This is the most decadent dessert EVER. So many egg yolks, so much cream, and then there's Mao Shang Wang durian. It's perfect. So perfect that it will definitely lift your mood, especially with the torching and all. I got the recipe from Singapore's Masterchef contestant, @sharmeee .  This was for a special occasion, and I went all out to get the flesh and blowtorch too. Really had fun doing this, and glad that it made many happy. Made two batches but still have some flesh left, might just repeat this again! Tried thinking of other combinations of durian desserts but this seems the best.  Mao Shang Wang durian flesh at Phoon Huat is not cheap! Or maybe it's not cheap anywhere , but wellsss special occasion so why not :) 6 egg yolks 240g durian puree 70g caster sugar 460g heavy cream Brown sugar for sprinkling Mix the egg yolks and durian puree in a big bowl.  In a saucepan, add sugar and cream. Heat till bubbles form at the side and sugar is all melted.  Let it cool...

Goat meat is expensive. I got a kilo from Mustafa at almost $40. But I was told that it's worth it, so here goes. Decided to make rogan josh out of it. As with any Indian recipe, there's so many variations to it. I chose this version , and here's my tweaks. There are some things I missed out cos I don't have them (mace, Kashmiri chili powder) or I totally forgot until I am typing this (8 cloves, 2 tsp ground tumeric), and some things I cut short like grinding alllll spices altogether instead of having some in powder form, some not. I also added fennel seeds cos what's curry without fennel right? Hahaha Rogan Josh 1kg goat meat 250ml yoghurt (I used greek) 4 medium onions 1 tbsp minced garlic 1 tbsp minced ginger 2 star anise 12 cardamom pods 2 tbsp black peppercorns 1 tsp cumin seeds 2 tsp coriander seeds 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp fennel seeds 2 tbsp chili paste 1 small tin of tomato puree (or 4 tbsp) Marinate the meat in yoghurt overnight. Slice onions thinly. For the d...