Tag Archives: food blog

Choux Pastry Puffs 

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I was going to call these Cream Puffs, but my daughter insisted that these are cream sandwiches ! She said cream puffs should have a hole to fill the cream inside the puffs… OK, OK… So, now I call them Choux Pastry puffs ! Whatever it’s called, they look cute and are absolutely delicious ! (Actually I think Choux Pastry Puffs sounds fancier !) They will be a perfect dessert for your upcoming holiday dinners! 

Makes about 16 puffs 

  • 200 mL water
  • 90 g unsalted butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 30 g  granulated or vanilla sugar 
  • 120 g all-purpose flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons icing sugar, plus more for dusting, sifted 
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
  • 50 g semi-sweet chocolate (melted), for drizzling
    1. To prepare the whipped cream, place a mixing bowl into freezer for about 15 minutes 
    2. Using an electric mixer, whisk together whipping cream, 2 tablespoons of icing sugar and vanilla, in the cold mixing bowl, until stiff peak is formed 
    3. Refrigerate until use 
    4. To prepare the choux paste, heat together water, butter, salt and granulated or vanilla sugar in a pot over medium heat until just starting to boil
    5. Turn heat down to low, add flour all at once
    6. Stirring constantly, cook until a thin film of paste formed at the bottom of the pot, about 5 minutes
    7. Transfer paste to a heat-proofed mixing bowl and cool down
    8. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350ºF and prepare piping bag with desired piping tip
    9. Add eggs to paste, one at a time and mix well after each addition
    10. Transfer to piping bag and pipe into rounds on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, no bigger than 2 inches in diameter Choux Pastry Puffs
    11. Bake at 350ºF  for about 12-14 minutes until starting to brown, turn heat down to 325°F and bake for another 15 minutes until golden (if puffs are under baked, they will collapse after taken out)
    12. Turn heat off, leave puffs inside oven for about 15 -20 minutes with oven door ajar
    13. Take puffs out, let cool on baking sheets, then completely on rack Choux Pastry Puffs
    14. Cut puffs in halves, fill centres with whipped cream
    15. Drizzle with melted chocolate and dust with icing sugar, serve immediately Choux Pastry Puffs

Honey Cornmeal Muffins 

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My kids are growing up too fast, especially my son ! He turned 12 two months ago.  He is almost as tall and as heavy as I am, he eats twice as much and he beats me easily on arm wrestling ! I am happy but a little sad at the same time…..My baby is no longer a baby ! He is turning into a man ! I told him I have to kiss and hug him as much as I can because soon he won’t let me ! Looking after 2 active growing kids can be very busy, and often, I tend to forget about myself !  I made these little corn muffins the other day so I can just grab and eat quickly when I am in a rush.  You can have them for breakfast or serve them with a soup or a salad for lunch.   

  • 100 g cornmeal 
  • 180 g all-purpose flour, sifted 
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder 
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
  • Pinch of salt 
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice 
  • 120 mL milk 
  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten 
  • 4 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
  • 4 tablespoons honey 

Makes about 12 muffins 

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
  2. Put lemon juice into milk and let sit for a few minutes 
  3. Mix together all dry ingredients 
  4. Add eggs, milk with lemon juice, coconut oil and honey, mix until blended 
  5. Pour batter into slightly greased silicon or paper muffin cups and bake for about 20 minutes 
  6. Serve warm with butter 

Honey Cornmeal Muffins

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies 

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I was craving for some chocolate cookies yesterday. Not just a plain chocolate chip cookie. But the decadent kind that is loaded with chocolate, and all you want to say after taking a bite is Mmmmm…..Mmmmmm and Mmmmmm ! So here they are ! Rich, chocolaty and soft…. I had to quickly shoot a few photos before they were all gone !
This is my first time using coconut sugar. Its taste and sweetness are very similar to brown sugar. I do find it gives the cookies a slightly drier texture. The cranberries are optional, but I thought it’s nice to add some tanginess. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do ! 

Makes about 16 cookies

  • 150 g all-purpose flour
  • 25 g unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 100 g unsalted butter
  • 60 g coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
  • 60 g granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 50 g dark chocolate, 70%, (chopped into small chunks)
  • 50 g semi-sweet chocolate (chopped into small chunks)
  • 60 g dried cranberries
  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
  2. Sift together flour,cocoa powder, baking soda and salt, set aside
  3. Cream together butter and sugars using either an electric mixer with the paddle attachment or by hand with a wooden spoon (I just did it by hand)
  4. Add egg and vanilla, mix until blended
  5. Mix in flour mixture in two parts
  6. Stir in chocolate chunks and dried cranberries
  7. Drop about 1 tablespoon each of dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, about 2 inches apart
  8. Bake for about 12 minutes
  9. Cool on baking sheets for about 5 minutes, then completely on rack

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Matcha (Green Tea) Mochi 

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Mochi is one of my favourite desserts ! It’s sweet, soft, chewy….. just delicious. Traditionally, it is made by steaming a short-grain rice called mochigome, then it is mashed and pounded with wooden mallets in a mortar. I saw a video on YouTube on the fastest mochi maker in Japan. Wow !  It sure takes some serious skills and labour ! (Here is the link if you are interested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmSrULDVRPc).

Of course I don’t have those skills and tools. This recipe uses sweet rice flour and is very simple. The red bean paste matches so well with the green tea flavour.  With a cup of green tea, I feel like I am in Japan……I wish ! 

Makes about 8-10 pieces

  • 150 g sweet red bean paste (coarse or fine)
  • 180 g sweet rice flour (mochiko)  
  • 1 teaspoon matcha powder
  • 60 g granulated sugar 
  • 300 mL water
  • 1/4 cup potato starch (for dusting) 
  1. Scoop red bean paste with a teaspoon into small balls (about 1/2 inch) 
  2. Place in freezer for about 15 minutes 
  3. Mix together sweet rice flour, matcha powder and sugar in a large microwavable bowl 
  4. Add water, mix well 
  5. Microwave on high for 1+1/2 minutes, remove and stir, then microwave on high again for about one more minute (each microwave oven is different, you may need to adjust the time) 
  6. Cool slightly for about 5 minutes 
  7. Place a piece of parchment paper on work surface and dust generously with potato starch 
  8. When dough is still fairly warm, spoon about 1-2 tablespoons each onto dusted parchment paper (dough is very sticky)
  9. Put a red bean paste ball in the middle, wrap and seal by pinching the edges together 
  10. Dust with more potato starch if needed to prevent sticking (you can dust off the extra with a pastry brush when mochi is cooled
  11. Place seal side down on a tray lined with parchment paper  
  12. Cool and serve. You can keep them in an air-tight container for up to 2 days at room temperature 

Matcha (Green Tea) Mochi

 

Gingerbread Buttermilk Pancakes 

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It’s not Christmas yet, but I am already craving for gingerbread cookies !  Not the overly sweet icing or the candy decorations on top, but the actual cookies.  The spices, the molasses, they just taste so good.  But it seems a little too early to make Christmas cookies ?! So, to satisfy my craving, I put these wonderful flavours into pancakes ! And of course, I have to serve them with maple syrup ! With a cup of coffee, it’s the best breakfast on a cold windy day!

img_20161016_141313.jpg

I asked my daughter to draw me a gingerbread man and this is what she came up with……
Oh No ! Mr.Gingerbread Man is getting worried that he is going to be eaten soon !

Makes about 4-6 pancakes 

  • 180 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder 
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger 
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
  • Pinch of ground cloves 
  • Pinch of ground nutmeg 
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons fancy molasses 
  1. Sift and mix together all dry ingredients
  2. Whisk in egg and other wet ingredients, mix until blended
  3. Pour batter onto a lightly oiled non stick pan or griddle over low to medium heat
  4. Cook about 1-2 minutes until bubbles begin to form on top
  5. Flip pancake over and cook for about 1-2 more minutes until lightly brown
  6. Serve warm with butter and maple syrup 

 

Gingerbread Buttermilk Pancakes

Cinnamon Bites

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When I hear the words “comfort food”, I would somehow think of cinnamon buns ! Warm, sweet bread with ooey, gooey cream cheese icing……yum ! To no surprise, I found that they are originated from Sweden. (that’s why they sell them at Ikea?!) In Swedish they are called “kanelbulle”  which literally means “cinnamon buns” and October 4 is “Kanelbullens Dag” ,Cinnamon Roll Day. Wow, Swedish people must love their cinnamon buns !  I wish I can be there to taste the authentic flavour. Well, for now, I will comfort myself with these little cinnamon bites !  (I made them in bite-size pieces cause I often found the rolls too big) 

For the dough

    • 540 g (3 cups) bread flour
    • 1 cup warm whole milk
    • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
    • 4 g instant yeast
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 egg
    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the coating

  • 100 g unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

For the cream cheese icing

  • 180 g soft cream cheese
  • 6 tablespoons icing sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  1. Dissolve sugar in warm milk, add yeast and let sit for a few minutes until frothy
  2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together flour, salt, egg, vegetable oil and yeast mixture
  3. Stir with hand and mix until dough starting to form
  4. Transfer to a lightly floured surface
  5. Knead dough until smooth and stretchy
  6. Wrap with plastic wrap and let rise for about 60 minutes until double in size 
  7. Preheat oven to 350ºF
  8. When dough is ready, punch air out, cut dough into 4 parts
  9. Roll each part into a long log, about 12 inches long
  10. Cut each log into about 12 small pieces
  11. Grease two 8 inch round flat pans or pans of your choice
  12. Mix cinnamon and 1/2 cup of sugar together
  13. Dip each small piece into melted butter, then coat with cinnamon sugar
  14. Place in pans, about 24 pieces each
  15. Bake for about 20 minutes
  16. Meanwhile, prepare icing by beating cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla together until blended
  17. When bread bites are ready, serve warm with cream cheese frosting

Cinnamon Bites

 

 

No Bake Nutella Bites 

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Can’t believe September is here already ! Kids are back to school, routines are slowly getting back to normal, and I have to start making lunches and snacks. I made these little energy bites as an after school snack. They are like mini granola bars and are super easy to make. Keep them in the fridge and the kids can just grab them when they want. They come in handy before hockey practices too ! There can be many variations to the recipe.  I used Nutella, but you can also use peanut butter, cookie butter or sunflower butter. You can also choose other nuts, seeds and dried fruits. 

Makes about 25-30 

  • 1 cup quick oats
  • 1 cup rice crispy cereal 
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds 
  • 2 tablespoons ground flax seed 
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 
  • 1/2 cup Nutella spread 
  • 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil 
  • 2 tablespoons honey 
  1. Mix all dry ingredients together 
  2. Add Nutella, coconut oil and honey, mix until blended 
  3. With the help of a melon scooper or spoon, roll mixtures into small balls
  4. Refrigerate until firm
  5. Keep in refrigerator 

No Bake Nutella Bites

Pineapple Coconut Cake

8 Replies

My family took a vacation to Hawaii last week. Both kids and adults had a lot of fun. We swam, snorkeled, paddled even parasailed ! To be honest, parasailing at 300 feet high was a little scary, but it was really fun ! My daughter had absolutely no fear and she just loved it ! We enjoyed the food too. There were garlic shrimps, fruits, desserts of course. Their Japanese food was also really good. Food is always the best part of my vacation ! To reminisce some of these wonderful flavours, I baked this Pineapple and Coconut Cake yesterday. I used canned pineapple as I was too lazy to chop one up, you can definitely use a fresh one.  I guess I am still in holiday mode !  🙂  

Makes one loaf (I used a 4.5″ x 8.5″ loaf pan)  

For the cake

  • 225 g cake and pastry flour 
  • 1 +1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 120 g unsalted butter, softened 
  • 120 g cup granulated sugar  
  • 2 eggs
  • 100 g canned pineapple tidbits 
  • 25 g shredded coconut 
  • 60 mL canned coconut milk 
  • 90 mL pineapple juice 
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

For the glaze

  • 150 icing sugar 
  • 45mL pineapple juice 
  • 1 tablespoon shredded coconut 
  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
  2. Drain pineapples well, pat dry with paper towel and save the juice 
  3. To make the cake, sift together flour,baking power, baking soda and salt, set aside 
  4. Using an electric mixer, with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy 
  5. Add eggs, vanilla and coconut milk 
  6. Add half of the flour mixture and pineapple juice, mix until blended
  7. Add remaining of the flour mixture
  8. Fold in pineapples and shredded coconut 
  9. Pour batter into a lightly greased and floured loaf pan
  10. Bake for about 45 minutes
  11. To make the glaze, whisk together icing sugar, pineapple juice and shredded coconut
  12. When the cake is cooled, drizzle glaze on top 

Pineapple Coconut Cake

 

Caramelized Figs with Yoghurt and Granola 

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My uncle has a green fig tree in his backyard. Every summer, he would give us a generous portion of his harvest. We like to eat them fresh, but I also like making them into desserts. This recipe is fairly simple and is a good way to use up figs that are starting to get too ripe.  You can serve them with yoghurt and honey like I did or eat them with ice cream, even in a salad ! I made some granola the other day, so I added them for extra crunchiness. 

Makes about 4-6 servings

  • 6 fresh figs
  • 15 g unsalted butter 
  • 30 g demerara or brown sugar 
  • 300 g plain Greek yoghurt 
  • 60 mL honey 
  • 1 cup homemade granola 
  1. Cut figs in halves, coat with brown sugar 
  2. Melt butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat 
  3. Add figs, cut sides down
  4. Cook for about 3-4 minutes (be careful not to burn the sugar)
  5. Flip figs over, remove from heat 
  6. Serve warm with yoghurt, honey and granola

Caramelized Figs with Yoghurt and Granola

 

 

Bran Frozen Yoghurt Cups

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During the summer, when my kids are at home, they are always hungry, especially my son. I feel like I am feeding him constantly ! So, I like healthy snacks that are easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time. This recipe is really simple, even the kids can do it ! You probably already have all the ingredients at home and what I’ve made is very basic. You can choose your cereal, yoghurt and fruits. I am sure the kids would enjoy making and eating them ! I eat them after my workouts too !

Makes about 12 mini cups 

  • 50 g bran flakes 
  • 1 tablespoon honey (depends how sweet your cereal is)
  • 1+1/2 tablespoons melted coconut oil 
  • 250 g vanilla-flavoured Greek yoghurt 
  • 50-100 g fresh or frozen fruits (I used fresh strawberries, blueberries and kiwi)
  1. Crush bran flakes into small pieces 
  2. Mix in honey and coconut oil 
  3. Spoon about 1-2 teaspoons into each small silicone cup and press down firmly to form base 
  4. Place in freezer for about 20 minutes to harden
  5. Spoon in yoghurt, then top with fresh fruits
  6. Freeze until set