Panda Bread

My colleagues from work make very nice professional Italian bread, they bring me some to try every now and then, I am so impressed because they taste so much softer and fresher than those you buy from bakery shops. I thought it shouldnt be too difficult to make like those baking programs on tv, I was so curious to try to make my own, then I realized making bread do require some skills! it was very fun though with all sticky hands :-P especially I picked this cute panda bread recipe from Not Quite Nigella which I have been eyeing on for a while.

Recipe adapted from Not Quite Nigella 

Panda Bread

Ingredients: 

Makes approximately 600g/21ozs loaf (206mm x 108mm x100mm high)

270g/9.5ozs all purpose flour
30g/1oz cornflour
30g/1oz sugar
Milk + 1 egg yolk = 21 0g/7.4ozs
4.5g/0.18ozs salt
20g/0.7 ozs unsalted butter (I used 20g)
4g/0.14ozs yeast
8g/0.28ozs green tea powder dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling hot water
8g/0.28ozs cocoa powder dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling water

Method:

1. Heat up milk and yolk to temperature of 38℃/100F. (I beat the yolk lightly with milk and send it to the microwave on High for 30 seconds).

2. Place flours, salt, yeast, sugar in an electric mixer fitted with a Dough Hook and set on low setting to combine. Then add milk and egg mixture and softened butter and knead on low setting for 5-6 minutes until elastic.

3. Divide dough (about 560g or just over 1 pound) into 3 parts: 75g/2.64ozs for the chocolate, 210g/7.4ozs plain and the rest of the dough which is less than 280g/9.8ozs for the green tea.

4. Add chocolate to the 75g/2.64ozs dough and knead till the colour is even. Add green tea mixture to the 280g/9.8ozs dough and knead till colour is even. If you do these manually, make sure that your hands and bench space where you need are cleaned between kneading to avoid transferring the colours.

5. Prove all 3 pieces of doughs on separate greased plates covered loosely with oiled cling wrap for 30 – 40 minutes.

6. Punch air out of dough and prove for another 20 – 30 minutes.

7. Use 90g/3ozs plain dough for the face and 2 pieces of 27g/1oz chocolate dough for the eyes.

8. Fill the hollow of the eyes with 30g/1oz plain dough.

9. Roll remaining plain dough over the patterned dough.

10. Divide the remaining chocolate dough into 2 pieces (17.5g each/0.61ozs) for the ears.

11. Use 70g/2.47ozs of the green tea dough to fill up the hollow between the ears.

12. Wrap the rest of the green tea dough all around the patterned dough.

13. Place dough into a well-greased loaf pan and cover it with a lid and prove for 50 – 60 minutes in an enclosed are. As it’s cold here and we’re in the middle of Winter, I set the pan in a larger container filled with warm water and refreshed the water with hot water 3-4 times to make sure that it rose.

Carrot Cupcakes

My sister and I like carrot cakes, she said carrot cupcake would be the first thing she would like to have during her visit in London, no doubt I would make her some as they are so easy to make anyway :-P

Recipe adapted from BBCGoodFood

Carrot Cupcakes

Ingredients

300g plain flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
200g soft brown sugar
4 eggs
250ml oil
1 orange , zested
1 lemon , zested
200g carrots , finely grated
150g walnuts , chopped
227g tin pineapple pieces, well drained and chopped (optional)

Equipment

15-16 muffins trays lined with cupcake cases / 6-7 inches cake baking tin

For the cream chesse frosting

125g unsalted butter at room temperature
50g icing sugar
250g cream cheese

Method

1. Heat the oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2. Line a 20cm, 10cm deep cake tin. Sift the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda together and stir in the sugar. Beat the eggs with the oil and citrus zests. Stir in the carrots and fold everything into the flour mixture. Fold in the walnuts and pineapple if using. Spoon the mixture into the tin and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool.

2. For the frosting, beat the butter and icing sugar together until soft and then beat in the cream cheese. Chill the mixture until it's thick but spreadable. Spread a thick layer on top of the cake, making sure the side of the icing is flat and continues upwards from the side of the cake.

French Fraisier

I like picking the freshest fruits from markets to make my cakes/patisseries, strawberries have been in season in Britain, I have this recipe in mind I always wanted to try to make good use of the strawberries.

Recipe modified and adapted from Tony Wong

French Fraisier

Génoise (Sponge Cake)

Ingredients

4 eggs

120g caster sugar

3 tsp water 

120g cake flour

40g melted butter

Equipment

7-inch cake mould (circle or square)

electric mixer

Method

1. Place eggs and sugar into a metal bowl over a pan of hot water. 

2. Beat the batter on high speed for about 7 minutes until fluffy and thickened with an electric mixer. 

3. Sift and fold in flour.

4. Add and stir in the melted butter.

5. Pour the batter into the cake mould. Lift and drop the baking tin onto the table carefully to get rid of the excess air bubbles.

6. Bake at 180 degree for 20-25 minutes. Insert a skewer into the middle of the cake, the cake is done if the skewer comes out clean. Cool on the rack.

7. Cut the cake horizontally into 2 even slices for later use.

Vanilla Mousseline

Ingredients

500g milk

1 tbsp vanilla bean paste

150g granulated sugar

62.5g corn flour

120 egg yolk

250g butter

30-50 fresh strawberries

60g whipped cream for decoration (whip 60g whipping/double cream with 1-2 tbsp caster sugar)

Method

1. Bring milk and vanilla bean paste to boil, turn off heat, cover and infuse for 1 hour.

2. Mix corn flour with half portion (62.5g) sugar. Pour in 1/5 milk (about 100g) and stir. 

3. Stir or whisk until smooth.

4. Add in egg yolk and stir well.

5. Bring the remaining milk and half portion of sugar to boil.

6. Pour boiling milk mixture (from step 5) into egg yolk mixture (from step 4). Stir well and pour mixture back to saucepan. Bring to boil.

7. Keep stirring to light yellow thick paste.

8. Strain into a bowl over a pan of ice water, let cool to 60 degree.

9. Add and whisk in the unsalted butter until fully incorporated. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 3 hours.

Assemble

1. Place 1 slice of sponge cake at the bottom of the baking tin as the cake base. Spread a thin layer of Vanilla Mousseline on the cake slice. Line halfed strawberries evenly along the sides of the tin.

2. Place whole strawberries with same height into the tin. (Use clean cloth/kitchen paper to dry strawberries. Do not rinse. Wet strawberries do not stick with the Vanilla Mousseline, they fall out when the cake is sliced)

3. Pipe Vanilla Mousseline in between strawberries and on the surface until all strawberries are covered.

4. Top with another slice of sponge cake.

5. Spread the whipped cream on top of the cake and decorate.

Pierre Hermé Rose Macarons

I have been trying different macarons from different pâtisserie shops, I think you will also agree with me once you try Pierre Hermé's, his renowned macarons are simply top-notch! and definitley his pâtisseries too! I would love to make macarons that taste as nice as his :-d

Recipe adapted from Macarons by Pierre Hermé

Pierre Hermé Rose Macarons

Ingredients

For the macaron shells:

300g Ground Almonds

300g Icing Sugar

110g Egg Whites (aged in the fridge for a few days to a week)

5g Red Food Colouring

300g Granulated Sugar

75g Water

110 Egg Whites (aged in the fridge for a few days to a week)

For the Rose Buttercream

200g Granulated Sugar

75g Water

150g Eggs

90g Egg Yolks

400g Butter, very soft

4g Rose Essence 

50g Rose Syrup

Methods

Macaron Shells

1. Sieve the ground almonds and icing sugar into a bowl. Add the colouring into the first portion of egg whites, pour them into the sugar/almond mixture but do not stir.

2. Bring the water and sugar to boil to 118 degree in a saucepan. When the sugar syrup reaches 115 degree, start whisking the second portion of egg whites until soft peaks. Once the syrup reaches 118 degree, pour it over the egg whites take down the side of the bowl, continue to whisk on high speed until it cools down to 50 degree and turns glossy.

3. Pour all of the meringue to the bowl with the almond sugar mixture. Fold fold the mixture with a large spatula until it starts to shine and forms a visible ribbon.

4. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a plain nozzle and pipe rounds of 3.5cm with 2cm gaps apart from each other onto parchment paper. Set aside for about 30 minutes or until a skin forms that does not stick onto your finger.

5. Bake the macarons in preheated oven between 160-180 degree for 12 mintues. Remove the macaron shells from the oven and tray, place the parchment onto the work surface and let cool completely before removing the shells.

Rose Buttercream

1. Boil the sugar and water in a saucepan until 120 degree. At the same time, whisk the eggs and egg yolks in a bowl until thickened and lightened in colour.

2. Pour the syrup down the side of the bowl and continue to whisk until cooled.

3. Cream butter in another bowl until thickened, add the egg mixture and whisk until smooth, then beat in the rose syrup and essence.

4. Sandwich macaron shells with the buttercream, chill for 24-48 hours to set before serving.

Strawberry Soufflé Roll Cake

Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are all in season, with the Jubilee atmosphere everywhere, I made this simple roll cake to join in the theme ;-)

Strawberry Soufflé Roll Cake

Ingredients:

For the Sponge Cake

3 egg

65g caster sugar

2 tablespoon milk 

45g plain flour

butter to grease

10g of dried crushed strawberries (optional, or you can substitute with cocoa or matcha powder)

a few drop of pink food colouring (optional)

For the Filling

200ml double cream

3 tablespoon caster sugar

200g strawberries (or fruits of your choice)

Equipment

9-inch square brownie pan

electric mixer

Method:

Sponge Cake

1. Line the brownie pan with greased parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 180C (350F).

2. Beat eggs and sugar with wire whisk in a metal bowl over a pan of hot water. 

3. Beat the batter on high speed for about 7 minutes until white and fluffy with an electric mixer. 

4. Add milk and fold together until combined.

5. Sift in flour, dried strawberries, pink colouring and whisk for about 3 minutes on low speed to incorporate.

6. Spread the batter in the brownie pan and drop the pan lightly on the counter to raise the air bubbles out of the batter.

7. Bake at 180C (350F) for 12 minutes till lightly brown. (cooking time may differ depend on the heat of the oven)

8. When it's done, drop the pan lightly to prevent shrinking. Remove the sponge cake from the pan by lifting the parchment paper and place it on a wire rack to cool. 

9. When it's cool enough, remove the parchment paper and place the sponge cake on the parchment paper with the brown side up.

Filling

1. Whisk double cream and sugar on high speed in a bowl until it forms a soft peak.

2. Dice the fruits of your choice.

3. Coat the surface of the sponge cake evenly with the cream. Line the fruits in the middle over the creamed surface.

4. Roll and wrap the cake in the parchment paper and put in a fridge for 30 minutes to set.

5. Decorate and enjoy!

Chestnut Mont Blanc

When I first tried this traditional french Chestnut Mont Blanc, it was from Laduree, disappointingly it was way too sweet for me and the chestnut cream was dry. I decided to make it myself for a less sweet version with chocolate cake as the base to give some depth.

Chestnut Mont Blanc

Ingredients:

For the 6 individuals Chocolate soufflé cakes
2 eggs

45g caster sugar

1.5 tablespoons of Milk

30g flour

7g cocoa powder

A knob of butter to grease

For the Crème Chantilly
300g Whipping cream
30g Sugar

For the Crème Marron Chantilly
400g/A can of chestnut puree
150g Crème Chantilly( from above)

For the Filling/Decoration

280g/A can of whole chestnuts ( around 6 crusted for the filling, 6 whole for decoration)
100g dark chocolate to drizzle

1 tablespoon of cocoa powder

For the Tool

6-cup Muffin Pan

Method:

Make the Chocolate soufflé cake

1.    Grease the muffin pan

2.    Beat eggs and sugar with wire whisk in a metal bowl over the pan of hot water on high speed for about 7 minutes until white and fluffy with an electric whisk.

3.    Add milk and mix, sift in flour and cocoa powder, fold till they are all well incorporated. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes to set the texture.

4.    Spoon the batter in the muffin pan and bake at 180C (350F) for 11-12 minutes till cooked

5.    Remove the individual cakes from the pan and place it on a wire rack to cool. 

Make the Crème Chantilly:

1.    Whip the whipping cream with sugar until stiff peaks form. Half the cream and save for Crème Marron Chantilly.

2.    Put the cream into piping bag and pipe the Crème Chantilly over the top of the individual cakes, place some crusted chestnut on top and drizzle a teaspoon of dark chocolate.

3.    Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Make the Crème Marron Chantilly:

1.  Whip the chestnut puree until fluffy.

2.    Fold in the Crème Chantilly and whip until combine.

3.    Put the cream into piping bag fit with 3mm nozzle, and pipe the cream over the Crème Chantilly.

4.  To decorate, sift some cocoa powder, pipe little Crème Chantilly and place a whole chestnut on top. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight and enjoy!

Flan De Leche (Creme Caramel)

I dont like wasting food, I always want to use up the egg yorks after separating the egg whites to make macarons, I find a simple recipe to make this creamy dessert.

Recipe adapted from Cafe Munchkin

Flan De Leche (Creme Caramel)                                                                                                           

Ingredients:                                                                       

8 large egg yolks

1 can evaporated milk

1 can condensed milk

1 cup sugar and just enough water to give the sugar the consistency of wet sand for the caramel

a 8-inch round cake pan (I used 8 heart-shaped mould)

Method:

1.  Caramelize the sugar on a heavy-bottomed stainless steel pan.  Once you’ve got the sugar caramelized to a nice golden amber, coat the bottom and a portion of the sides as well of an 8-inch round pan with the caramel. Set aside.

2.  In a bowl, gently whisk the eggs.  Then add the condensed milk and evaporated milk.

3.  Whisk some more until the ingredients are well blended.  Do not overmix to avoid bubbles.

4.  Strain the mixture then transfer to the pan with caramelized sugar.

5.  Cover the pan/mould with aluminum foil and place  in a steamer.

6.  Steam for 45-60 minutes, testing for doneness with a toothpick.  Alternatively, you can cook your leche flan in the oven.  Place the pan on a water bath and bake at 350F.  Test for doneness at 45 minutes.  This may take a wee bit longer.

7.  When it’s done, let cool then chill in the refrigerator.

Tiramisu Cupcakes

I was wondering if I could incorporate a dessert into a cupcake to make it more interesting, tiramisu would be a great one, and I found a recipe that does actually what I want - with mascarpone cheese filling!

Recipe adapted from beckysbaking

Tiramisu Cupcakes

(Makes 24 cupcakes)

Cupcake

* 1 (18 1/4 ounce) package white cake mix prepared as directed on box. I used Duncan Hines extra moist french vanilla cake mix.

Liquid Coffee Layer

* 2/3 cup water, boiling
* 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
* 1 1/2 tablespoons instant coffee

Mascarpone Filling

* 1 cup mascarpone cheese (from tub)
* 3 tablespoons Kahlua (or coffee extract)
* 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
* 1 (8 ounce) container french vanilla cool whip or regular cool whip with some vanilla extract added in.

Frosting (double this if you are going to be piping the frosting on top)

* 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 2 cups confectioners' sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* chocolate shavings or cocoa powder (to garnish)

Directions

1. Make Mascarpone filling mix first & allow to chill 4-6 hours or overnight.

2. Mascarpone filling: Beat mascarpone, Kahlua and condensed milk until well blended. Fold in cool whip. Chill 4-6 hours.

3. Prepare cupcakes as directed on box of white cake mix & bake accordingly. While these are baking prepare the liquid coffee as below.

4. Liquid Coffee: Boil 2/3 cup water in microwave (or boil on stove) and stir in instant coffee then powdered sugar & allow to cool to tepid.. Once cooled, use a fork to poke holes into cupcakes so that they will absorb the liquid coffee & then brush liquid coffee onto each cupcake using silicone baking brush.

5. Fill pastry/icing bag with Mascarpone filling & inject about 1 spoonful via bag directly into top-center of each cupcake.

6. Prepare Cream Cheese/Buttercream Frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese until creamy with hand mixer on low. Slowly add powdered sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add vanilla and increase mixer to medium. Blend until frosting is fluffy.

7. Frost each cupcake with frosting & garnish with chocolate shavings (use dark chocolate bar & cheese grater).

Chocolate and Matcha (Green Tea) Fondants

Sometimes I like to bake something simple to have an early Sunday night. I stocked up some matcha chocolate when I went back to Hong Kong in xmas, they were very difficult to find, I have been saving them to make fondants.

This is the matcha chocolate I used, I want to find more of it :-0 because matcha fondants taste so rich and nice, I prefer matcha flavour over chocolate flavour foundants.

Recipe adapted from bbcgoodfood

(I halfed the amount to make both chocolate and matcha fondants)

Chocolate Fondants

Ingredients:

50g melted butter , for brushing

cocoa powder , for dusting

200g good-quality dark chocolate, chopped (substitute with matcha chocolate for matcha fondants)200g butter , in small pieces

200g golden caster sugar

4 eggs and 4 yolks

200g plain flour

Vanilla ice cream, to serve

Method:

1. First get your moulds ready. Using upward strokes, heavily brush the melted butter all over the inside of the pudding mould. Place the mould in the fridge or freezer. Brush more melted butter over the chilled butter, then add a good spoonful of cocoa powder into the mould. Tip the mould so the powder completely coats the butter. Tap any excess cocoa back into the jar, then repeat with 1 the next mould.

2. Place a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, then slowly melt the chocolate and butter together. Remove bowl from the heat and stir until smooth. Leave to cool for about 10 mins.

3. In a separate bowl whisk the eggs and yolks together with the sugar until thick and pale and the whisk leaves a trail; use an electric whisk if you want. Sift the flour into the eggs, then beat together.

4. Pour the melted chocolate into the egg mixture in thirds, beating well between each addition, until all the chocolate is added and the mixture is completely combined to a loose cake batter.

5. Tip the fondant batter into a jug, then evenly divide between the moulds. The fondants can now be frozen for up to a month and cooked from frozen. Chill for at least 20 mins or up to the night before. To bake from frozen, simply carry on as stated, adding 5 mins more to the cooking time.

6. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Place the fondants on a baking tray, then cook for 10-12 mins until the tops have formed a crust and they are starting to come away from the sides of their moulds. Remove from the oven, then leave to sit for 1 min before turning out.

7. Loosen the fondants by moving the tops very gently so they come away from the sides, easing them out of the moulds. Tip each fondant slightly onto your hand so you know it has come away, then tip back into the mould ready to plate up.

8. Starting from the middle of each plate, squeeze a spiral of caramel sauce - do all the plates you need before you go on to the next stage.

9. Sit a fondant in the middle of each plate. Using a large spoon dipped in hot water, scoop a 'quenelle' of ice cream.

10. Carefully place the ice cream on top of the fondant, then serve immediately. Repeat with the rest of the fondants.

Madeleines

I couldn't resist buying this baking mould when I saw it in Morocco, it has these cute shell, heart and bear shapes ♪ I used it immediately to make these Madeleines once I came back from holiday.

Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com

Madeleines 

Ingredients:

2 eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used vanilla paste for more intense flavour)
1/8 teaspoon salt
65 g white sugar
60 g all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lemon zest (I skipped the zest)
55 g butter
65 g granulated sugar for decoration

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Butter and flour 12 (3 inch) madeleine molds; set aside.
2. Melt butter and let cool to room temperature.
3. In a small mixing bowl, beat eggs, vanilla and salt at high speed until light.
4. Beating constantly, gradually add sugar; and continue beating at high speed until mixture is thick and pale and ribbons form in bowl when beaters are lifted, 5 to 10 minutes.
6. Sift flour into egg mixture 1/3 at a time, gently folding after each addition.
7. Add lemon zest and pour melted butter around edge of batter. Quickly but gently fold butter into batter.
8. Spoon batter into molds; it will mound slightly above tops.
9. Bake 14 to 17 minutes, or until cakes are golden and the tops spring back when gently pressed with your fingertip.
10. Use the tip of the knife to loosen madeleines from pan; invert onto rack. Immediately sprinkle warm cookies with granulated sugar. Madeleines are best eaten the day they're baked. Leftover madeleines are wonderful when dunked into coffee or tea.
Variation: Chocolate Madeleines: Omit lemon zest. Increase sugar to 1/2 cup. Substitute 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder for 2 tablespoons of the flour; sift into batter with flour.