Bel learns to bake 1 - Brownies

Bel is interested to bake Brownies, she wants the fudgy type. She gave me one YouTube link and I felt it was too much fat. So I googled another source. We gave it a few tries and here are the results.

Bel's original Video Link :-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIb_741_dIw

Science of Fudgy and Cakey Brownies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIonKbKM-tE

Fudgy Brownies 

4 Oz (113 gram)   Butter (melted)
6 Oz                      Cooking Chocolate
1 1/2 Cup              Sugar (reduced to 3/4 Cup)
3                            Eggs
1/2 Cup + 2 Tbsp  All Purpose Flour
1/4 Cup                 Cocoa Powder
 Pinch                    Salt

180 C  30 minutes

Cakey Brownies 

2 Oz (56 gram)     Butter (melted)
4 Oz                      Cooking Chocolate
1 1/2 Cup              Sugar (reduced to 3/4 Cup)
3                            Eggs
1/2 Cup + 2 Tbsp  All Purpose Flour
1/4 Cup                 Cocoa Powder ?
Pinch                     Salt
1/4 tsp                   Baking Powder

180 C  35-40 minutes

Take # 1 (23 Oct 2017)

We tried the Cakey Brownies (by accident) on 23 October 2017 as we did not have enough Cocoa Powder and it was replaced by flour (too much).

The difference between Cakey and Fudgy are actually the Butter and Cooking Chocolate portion (more for fudgy Brownies). 

The Best Fudgy Brownies Servings: 9 INGREDIENTS 8 ounces good-quality chocolate ¾ cup butter, melted 1¼ cups sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla ¾ cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon salt PREPARATION Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Chop the chocolate into chunks. Melt half, then save the other half for later. Mix the butter and the sugar, then beat in the eggs and vanilla for 1-2 minutes until the mixture has become fluffy and light in color. Whisk in the reserved melted chocolate (make sure the chocolate is not too hot or else the eggs will cook), then sift in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, being careful not to overmix as this will cause the brownies to be more cake-like in texture. Fold in the chocolate chunks, then transfer the batter into a parchment paper-lined square baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes, depending on how fudgy you like your brownies, then cool completely. Slice, then serve with a nice cold glass of milk! Check us out on Facebook! - facebook.com/buzzfeedtasty Credits: https://www.buzzfeed.com/bfmp/videos/...

Chicken Burgers - Tai's Style

Chicken Burgers - Tai's Style

1 Kg Minced Meat

2 Tbsp Yoghurt

1 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce

1 Tbsp Garlic Powder

1 Tbsp Parsley Chopped or powder

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

1 tsp Paprika 

1 Egg

2 pieces Bread Cubes

1-2 Tbsp Corn Starch

3 pieces Diced Mushrooms (round)

Optional :-
Few shoots Fried Shallots red onions, spring onions, 

3 Tbsp Black Fungus diced

Roast 180 C 20 mins (May need to cover with foil at the end)

Crystal Skin Mooncakes

I have wanted to learn how to make mooncakes for a long time! Every year, I would find more recipes and yet could not find the courage or the time to make them. I was afraid of failure. Three years ago, Wendy taught in our GB meeting Crystal Skin Mooncakes, I was happy to test them and ate them up. I asked for the recipe and bought a pack of Koh Flour and I procrastinated and the Mid-Autumn Festival was gone and the flour unused.

Finally, three years later, I told her that I must make them this year but I did not buy the Koh Flour until I was ready. It turned out that she has discovered an improved recipe and she changed it based on her experiences too. Here is the recipe she taught me.

Crystal Skin

100 gm Koh Flour
 50 gm  Icing Sugar
 40 gm Shortening
120 ml Water

For flavour, pour that into the water before mixing in. On the first day, she showed me how to do it, I immediately added the following:-

Pandan Green for pandan flavour (Pandan Green Essence put into water)
Chocolate flavour (Put Chocolate into the mixture), possible to add Coffee Essence
Macha Green Tea flavour (Pour Macha powder into the mixture), the flavour is a bit weak.

1) Sieve Icing sugar and Koh flour
2) Add in shortening and pour in water (flavoured)
3) Mix well until becoming a dough.

Wrap in plastic bag and put aside for at least 20 minutes before use. Possible to keep in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

Filling (chocolate)

2 Tbsp Milk
1 Tbsp Irish Bailey
50 gm Icing Sugar
180-200 gm Cooking Chocolate

2 Egg Yolk
1 Tbsp Milk
1 Tbsp Custard Powder

1) Double boil Milk, Irish Bailey, Icing Sugar and then remove from fire, add in chopped Cooking Chocolates.
2) Whisk lightly Egg Yolk, Milk, Custard Powder and pour into the melted chocolate. Stir until thick Stir until thicken. Keep for 2 hours before use.
3) Possible to mix chocolate filling with red bean paste.
I would measure and roll dough and also use the ratio of 35 gm skin and 25 gm fillings.

Choice of Filling paste 

1. Purple Sweet potatoes - best method is to add condensed milk into the potaotes mixture and stir to the right consistency.  
2. Chocolate fillings. 

• 2 Tbsp Milk
• 1 Tbsp Irish Bailey
• 50 gm Icing Sugar
• 2 Egg Yolk
• 1 Tbsp Milk
• 1 Tbsp Custard powder

Measurement :-

For every 100 gm of Koh Flour, it can make 8 Mini small mooncakes. Each mooncake skin is 25 - 30 gm, the filling is 10 gm lesser than the skin. So I was using 35 gm for crystal skin and 25 gm for filling. For filling, I use 10 gm lesser, 25 gm of filling and roll them up.

Finally, success! And Success is Sweet! Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival ! 

BBQ Party Prepartion

Here is a record of how I prepared for a BBQ Dinner party for about 40 pax. I always plan for more meat, any extra, we could put them aside for family meals. This happens to be Elliot's 21st Birthday on 3 September 2017, we have a few good recipes and have been tried out before.


Guest List :-

1) Our family - 7
2) Tai family - 12 + Grand-Aunt Cecilia
3) Heng family - 11
4) Annie family - 6
5) Aisha - 2
6) Elliot's friends - 6
7) Rekast friends - 6

Total :- 51 (about 7 kids)

Menu :-

1) Spaghetti Mee & Bolognaise Sauce
2) Tea Eggs
3) Chicken Wings -  6 Kg
4) Lamb Shoulders (Bone & Meatless) - 4 Kg
5) Hot Dogs - 8 packs
6) Sweet Potatoes
7) Mashed Potatoes
8) Macaroni Cheese
9) Coleslaw
10) Green Salad

Desserts :-

1) Tiramisu
2) Red Velvet Cake
3) Iced Lemon Tea
4) Beer

The night before, I ready :-

1) Tiramisu
2) Tea Egg Mixture
3) Cake

The Lord watches over us

Psalm 127:1(NIV) 
Unless the LORD builds the house, 
the builders labor in vain. 
Unless the LORD watches over the city, 
the guards stand watch in vain.

Numbers 6:24-26(NIV) 
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you   
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.

We give thanks to God, for His faithful protection to our house, over and over again and despite our carelessness in leaving the main gate open during numerous midnights till early morning and sometimes the main wooden door unlocked. But early this morning, the gate was closed, the doors all locked, the thief came inside the compound, the dogs were barking non-stop (as they would over strayed cats on the fence), he attacked 3 of our doors and destroyed 2 of our locks and damaged half of our main wooden door. He almost succeeded to get into the house. He hit with the iron rod 7 times. 

I have a habit to check the outside before I go up to sleep. Sometimes, I even open the door just to peek at outside.

A little special weekend routine

A little special weekend routine 

One weekend in rainy July 2017

Few family members have been under the weather, coughing for more than two weeks. 

After a few hours of slow cooker, it is done. 

Motivation Talks by Jim Rohn - Personal Development

Create Your Best Life Ever (Full Length)

BREAK YOUR BAD HABITS

Coming Back From Failure

Self Discipline

Best Motivational Speech Use Your Own Mind, Think, 

& Make Good Decisions!