Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Chocolate Genoise

On the go. Baking is still on the go? Looks like it, but perhaps sooner or later, most probably sooner I foresee I will be pulling the brakes to baking (Easy Banana Bread & Cocoa Butter Cake). Enough. I think enough of practice and trying to make perfect, and also putting some much of effort on baking. Done it and I am quite satisfied actually (Lemon Bars, Mandarin Orange Cake, Milo Cake & Sujee Cake). Pretty much satisfaction attained, but I thought I will still do one for the road and out came from the oven this Chocolate Genoise. The other side of the coin to Classic Genoise. Of course the intention was also for finishing up the box of cocoa (Chocolate Cheesecake & Cayenne Chocolate Cookies). Chocolate Genoise as you can see is an ultimate sweet delight right? And the technic to making? Remember, the folding must be done daintily and without rushing. Otherwise? You tell me please (Traditional Butter Cake). 
Ingredients
3 eggs (room temperature)
80g sugar
30g warm melted butter 
70g cake flour
15g cocoa powder
15g corn flour

Method
Create a double boiler (a bowl placed on top of a pan simmering with water)
Whisk eggs and sugar (on the bowl) till slightly warm and foamy.
Remove from heat.
Whisk to the ribbon stage (drop to see a line)
Combine/mix cake flour, corn flour and cocoa together. 
Sift the flour mixture over the egg mixture.
Carefully fold in. Do not over fold but ensure there's no lumps. 
Stream warm melted butter inside and fold in.
Tip cake mixture onto a greased baking pan (size depends on how thick or thin you prefer the cake)
Bake at 170C (preheated for 5 mins) for about 40 mins or until cooked.
(Note; adjust heat according to your oven and baking time, depending on the size of the pan).
Remove from oven, cool down and optional - dust some icing sugar atop. 









Monday, September 15, 2014

Bergen - Norway (Day 2 & 3)

Down to the last two days before curtains are permanently drawn on our Denmark and Norway tour. On this second last day, our sightseeing started at Bergen's waterfront port (Bergen Norway Day 1). Vessels, ships and boats, we actually had the chance to being nearest to the sea. I loved it. Honestly. I am crazy about anything that water "gotto" to do. Sea, river, waterfall or even ponds (Vossestrand, Gol, Fjord & Flam). Basically, I am a nature lover, nonetheless, I can also truly immerse myself in history (Oslo Norway). Undoubtedly, for keeping me wise as I grow older, in my book of knowledge. Already a few volumes, one which is close to my body, mind and soul for stirring me up in the most tantalising, teasing regards (Copenhagen Day 2, Copenhagen Day 1 Part 2 & Copenhagen Day 1 Part 1). Henceforth, at this Bergen port, I stood so close to the edge, I threw in me, my, myself moment of fun clowning, simultaneously I pictured for memory external drive.  

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Bergen, Norway (Day 1)

Bergen. The rainy city. Indeed. Rain trailed behind and in front of us. From the time we arrived till dinner, rain stubbornly followed us to the hotel too. Dinner definitely did wonders. Much looked forward since its been quite an action packed, exuberant and back to back seventh heaven day. Power adventurous, as well as tiring (Vossestrand, Gol, Fjord & Flam). In fact, by this day, tiredness had crushed us up much deeper (Oslo Norway, Copenhagen Day 2, Copenhagen Day 1 Part 2 & Copenhagen Day 1 Part 1). Therefore, most of us I think knocked off sound and safe throughout the whole night. Next morning, after the Norwegian buffet breakfast which by far was already up to my throat, I ate so little by the way, lazily we began our Bergen sightseeing. First stop at Bergen Aquarium in the messy wet weather. Shielded under the given umbrella, we walked within the compound for our animal loving moment. Penguins! Right there. Right in front. Penguins at once akin showered aplenty cheerfulness on me. I just so couldn't take my eyes off from these care free, black, grey and white beauties. Prettiness. In their own pride, prejudice they were too. Aha! Proud Penguins. 

Monday, September 8, 2014

Mathi Achar

Mathi Achar. Kerala Sardine Fish Achar or Kerala Sardine Fish Pickle. Says it all. Me and my love for fish achar (Nyonya Acar Fish) or even salted fish pickle (Pada Salt Fish Pickle & Salted Fish Pickle). And so, you think I would have had major kitchen struggle in making Mathi Achar? I don't think so because I have to some extent, mastered my cooking skills towards Kerala cuisine (Nadan Meen Curry, Fish Puttu, Tuna Thoran & Malabar Fish Curry & Kerala Fish Fry). Of course, I must admit I did refer to a couple of recipes, but at the end of it all, I decided I will stay true to my own Mathi Achar cooking invention and fish by themselves, do I have to repeat myself again and again (Fish Ball Noodle Soup, Malu Kirata/Sri Lankan Fish Coconut Stew, Indonesian Fish Balado, Mauritian Fish Curry & Ikan Masak Kicap)? Moreover, sardines are not only a popularity in Kerala, but here in Malaysia too. So, sardines they were. Masala enhanced fried sardines tipped into a spicy and full of utmost power packed vinaigrette. Oh-My! What a fish pleasure. Made ahead and having Mathi Achar as you wish whenever you yearn for, for your rice meals (Sardine Masak Lemak).

Friday, September 5, 2014

Norway - Vossestrand, Gol, Fjord & Flam

Throwback Norway and Denmark (Oslo Norway, Copenhagen Day 2, Copenhagen Part 2 & Copenhagen Part 1). Consecutively, a morning kick jump start all the way to Vossestrand. Of course, must be interlinked alongside comfort breaks. First brekkie at one of the road side cafes for easing and hot coffee, some preferred ice cream which they believe will keep them warm during winter. Beats me though. Back on the road, at about, roughly 1pm, we lunched in Solstad Hotel, Gol. Salmon alongside potatoes and veggies rated as okay, for me nonetheless, nothing is a meal unless its rice and spicy dishes. Regardless, tummy filling was essential and then, as we walked before hopping into the coach and also, while journeying, there was no short of crystal clear view of Gol. In fact, all the way from where we started, Norway by itself, from any angle you look at, even from this side is sensual. Calm and serene, non pressured life, albeit service with a smile is yet to be affirmed, but, our driver, who hardly spoke, was totally nature free with his smile.   

Monday, September 1, 2014

FIsh Ball Noodle Soup

Fish Ball Noodle Soup. No, no. Not market bought fish balls, but made from a scratch, home made fish balls. Yes. Indeed. I made fish balls for a change. Can you believe it? For someone like me who is, if not always, sometimes taking the door to ready made ingredients (Hong Kong Wonton Noodle Soup, Sichuan Noodle Soup &  Bee Hoon Soup), I actually did it for these fish balls in noodles and soup. Why, are you asking me? Well, what should I tell you? Maybe because I wanted fish broth (Cambodian Sour Fish Soup & Vietnamese Fish Soup) from the bones after carefully stripping away fish flesh (Yong Tau Foo) for fish balls. Not bad right? I know. In fact, we had a ball of a time over this Fish Ball Noodle Soup. Really bouncy and no smell soft fish balls, and as I have already told you, fish bones and skin simmered for extracting the broth (Nyonya Spicy Fish Noodle Soup, Salted Fish Bone SoupThai Fish Noodle Soup & Penang Assam Laksa). Next? Hand crafted and hand rolled fish balls cooked in the broth till they floated atop and together with the broth, generously poured over noodles, garnished with fried shallots and fried basil leaves atop just my invention at the spur of the moment from the basil leaves grown in my garden. Of course, you can use spring onion or even coriander leaves. Conclusively, Fish Ball Noodle Soup, wouldn't you agree is making your hungry right now and imagine, what a feeling when tucked in during and after rain has fallen down from the sky (Hokkien Hae Mee, Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup & Chinese Vegetable Noodle Soup)?

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Oslo, Norway

We made it, Hallelujah!! We made it even earlier for our overnight cruise to Oslo (Copenhagen Day 2, Copenhagen Day 1 Part 2 & Copenhagen Day 1 Part 1). Nothing! Literally nothing to do neither to see, of course  you can stare at the sea for the longest time. Into our tiny, basic and well maintained cabin for putting our things aside, thereafter, pretty much an earlier dinner. Aplenty seafood, obviously you can eat till you drop buffet in the wide dining area, it will be nice if you sit near the windows for the sea view while tucking in. And then what? As I have already said, nothing much, maybe most to most 30 minutes of walking the ship. Even then, it is back to doomed. Boredom. Henceforth, I decided to shower and practically forced sleep on me, whereas other half-half got together with the guys for poker and some drinks. Don't know what time he returned because surprisingly, I slept like a log of wood, every now and then, I did feel as though I was sea floating. A tiny bit of rock and roll which I don't think got to me. Thank god. Our morning was broken with, before anything else, showering, prior to tucking into breakfast, subsequently, clearing our room and awaited for an hour for safe landing in Oslo. Right off, sightseeing started.

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