Banana yeasted waffles

Once again, Mother's day comes!

Today, I prepared a lovely breakfast for my good-cook-mother. For one special day, honouring the woman of the house, the least I can do is to prepare a hearty and delicious breakfast.

So, on the breakfast menu: Banana yeasted waffles and freshly squeezed orange juice. I also just wanted to ask, does anyone squirm at the taste of bottled orange juice like me? It tastes completely different, bitter and with an off kind of taste. I've always hated drinking orange juice at  my school camps, and I just can't comprehend how people drink this daily. Freshly squeezed orange juice is the way to go!

Magic custard cake

As like any other young child would be, I was fascinated by magic. How could one be chopped off in that box?

Afternoon tea for five

Oh my lordy, I've never had such an afternoon tea, where I'm so full, that I refuse to have another mini tart. I am after all, the dessert queen.

My oldest sister suggested to go for our Mother's day celebration, the week before the actual date, to beat the crowds.

The waiting room is a swanky, classy sort of bar-place that is near the lobby in the Crown. The lobby where all these posh cars line up, and I always wonder where the people are...lol. From what I've seen anyway! 

I've always had a good experience dining in Crown, like at Bistro Guillaume, Kitchen workshop and also when the Brasserie was still there. I'm pretty darn lucky to have sisters who know their food around Melbourne :)

 We had two tiers, one to be shared with three people and one to be shared with two people, since there was the five of us. We first started with scones on the top, then savoury and then back to sweet!

Apple brownies

You may be a tad confused about the title. And also why I'm referring to 'autumn' or 'fall' right now. Apple brownies? Where's the chocolate? Autumn? Isn't it spring?

First of all, let me clarify something. I live in Australia, which is in the Southern hemisphere. The way the seasons work here, compared to the Northern  hemisphere (a majority of places), is the complete opposite! So, while you guys are having a fun summer, with extremely long vacations and the best produce of fruit, I'm stuck with cold weather, and missing the strawberries and mangoes. While you guys have winter during Christmas, we're having summer. Yeah, we have a 'hot' summer, or 'Christmas in the sand' (reference to Colbie Caillat). If only Australia was in the northern hemisphere. I've always dreamed of a snowy white Christmas...

Apple tea cake

Apples remind me of autumn. I'm finally seeing the change of colour of the leaves, turning into a deep red and orange colour that always makes me happy. I really despised the hot, sticky weather that Melbourne had for the past summer. Would you agree that it is extremely hard for a high school student to concentrate in class on a 40 degree (104 F) day? When it was those extra long school days, I just could not stay attentive. All I could think about, was coming home and having an ice cold bath. And eating ice cream later. I think a good solution to the students-not-paying-attention-cause-it's-too-hot, is to give out some chocolate or ice cream.. Something sugary and COLD, to wake us up.

Pistachio macarons with chocolate malt buttercream

Oh the humble macaron..

To this day, I'm still the annoying one out of all my friends, who corrects the spelling and pronunciation of macarons. I exclaim "IT'S MACARON WITH ONE O NOT TWO O's" Macaroons are coconut kind of biscuit!

Sorry. I can be a tad obsessive and annoying sometimes.

I think I've finally managed to handle the macaron. The first time, I made it with my mum and my aunty, it completely failed. It was like 'Je ne comprend pas pourquoi!!'- I do not understand why. Why were there no pied (feet) in the macarons? Why did they just deflate when they came out of the oven?

But they say practice makes perfect! So, here's some little tips I have

The Baked brownie: with macadamias and walnuts

Is this another post about the Baked brownie? Why yes it is.

 The only difference? Better pictures and macadamia nuts and walnuts in the batter.... My killer, dangerous-to-have-around-the-house kind of brownie.

Junior Masterchef winner's lemon cupcakes

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I wonder how the kids in Junior Masterchef did it. Especially the winner, Isabella. How did she just suddenly think of a good lemon cupcake recipe in under an hour? I call her a 'cooking prodigy'.

If you haven't watched Junior Masterchef, you ought to! Some of them are honestly so cute, still missing some teeth, and I find myself falling off my chair, laughing when I see them using safety plastic knives. But the things they come up with... They're only 8 years old and they plate up incredible dishes! When I was 8, the most I could make was instant noodles.

Exciting news

Term 1 holidays have flown by just like that! Tomorrow, I'm back to 7 AM mornings. It's autumn now, and I'm bringing out my knit sweaters and scarves from my closet.. I'm honestly loving the weather, because with our new lounge (that is missing a a rug) at the front, I have the most perfect spot to read with the lamp on. It's taken my family far too long to re-do this lounge at the front, we've nearly been living in this house for 8 years at the front has always looked atrocious.

The couch is ultra comfty, I've been curling up with a blanket during those cold, gloomy days.

Strawberry cheesecake ice cream with Graham cracker crumbs

Are you a fan of Ben and Jerry's strawberry cheesecake or any of the other flavours ? I've had it in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hong Kong (thanks to my dear uncle from Penang, Ku Zhang who was with us for dinner and treated my sister and I), and back here in Melb, with an ultra mini tub I indulged in, given for my birthday.

It is my all time favourite flavour, because
1. Strawberries are my favourite berries. Don't get me wrong, I love all kinds of blueberries and raspberries, but strawberries? It's on a whole new level. Plus, did you hear that strawberries can be used to give you pearly white teeth?
2. Cheesecake. I've told you my profound love for cheesecake, and I swoon over the thought of cream cheese.
3. When something combines my two favourites like cream cheese brownies, I fall head over heels.

Gozleme with spinach and cheese filling

So I have something to say; I have a serious obsession with flatbread. More specifically, Turkish flatbread.












Have you had that certain type of food that you tried for the very first time, something foreign and new to you? And the memory still sticks with your heart? Well, I'll never forget the first time I had a bite of chewy and warm flatbread in Bosnia (The Ottoman empire conquered Bosnia for a period of time). Then when there was a perpetual amount of flatbread given every single day during my trip in Turkey, my dream came true! I didn't like the food I had in Turkey though, because the tour gave us the exact same meal everyday, lunch and dinner: lentil soup, kebab with flatbread and some Turkish syrup-y cake. The only thing I really liked was the flatbread and the range of dips we were given. Next time I visit, I'll be sure to try the gems I've read about. Turkey is a magical country.

Berry Greek yoghurt parfait

On an early morning, at 7 o'clock, you'd hear me munching down granola with Greek yoghurt and berries. It's my breakfast before school, pretty much every single day.

Granola has become way too addictive. I even eat it by itself. I wouldn't mind if anyone handed me a box of granola to munch on in a movie theatre. There is nothing better than munching on extra crunchy, nutty granola.

I wouldn't really call this a 'recipe', but I wanted to post a simple everyday parfait you can make. No, you don't have to create your own parfait in a cup like I did. No fuss, layer however you want, you can just simply throw everything together in a bowl!

 If any of you have good crunchy home-made granola recipes, I would love to see them! I'm trying to look for a crunchy granola recipe (as healthy as possible pretty please?).

For me, this is a breakfast for champs, especially since I went for an 8 km run today. I would've loved to reach 10, but I don't know why I felt so tired and so slow! I think that's probably due to me sleeping late, since it's the holidays. Oh well, this really cheered me up when I got back.

Berry Greek yoghurt parfait

Ingredients
6-7 tbsp of Greek or plain yoghurt, depending on how much you want to make
1/2 tsp honey
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2/3 cup of raspberry or your favourite berry puree (frozen or fresh, blend and then pass through a sieve)
1/3 cup of blackberries and blueberries (frozen or fresh. If frozen, defrost in a microwave)
Few tablespoons of roasted strawberries (refer to this recipe for roasted strawberries)
5-6 tablespoons of your favourite granola, home-made or store bought

Method
1. Mix yoghurt with honey and cinnamon. Start your layering by layering 2 tablespoons of yoghurt for the base.
2. Put a few tablespoons of the raspberry puree for the next layer.
3. Add a couple of the blackberries, blueberries and strawberries.
4. Layer with 2 tablespoons of granola.
5. Layer again with yoghurt, and layer again as stated in the couple of steps above.
6. Finish with a couple of berries on top and sprinkle with granola.

Roasted strawberry muffins

My parents bought 15 boxes of strawberries.. I've been going through at least one or two boxes a day (they say I eat quick!), but who could blame me? The strawberries are so juicy and sweet. And of course, I was going to whip up something with baking :P

I've been eyeing on this recipe for far too long, I'm a huge fan of White on rice couple. Todd and Diane take the most beautiful photos (I must learn, these photos aren't up to my liking) and come up with delicious things.

Brown butter snickerdoodles

My friends know that I have a crazy cinnamon obsession. I sprinkle a teaspoon of cinnamon on my Greek yoghurt, sprinkle in my pancake, waffle, oatmeal batter, and I love apple pie with a good dose of cinnamon. Oh, did I also tell you that I absolutely love cinnamon sugar donuts?

Coffee on coffee: coffee cupcakes with coffee buttercream

I like coffee flavoured things, coffee frosting, coffee lollies, but not coffee itself. It's like when I was 8, I didn't like to eat raw tomatoes, but I loved tomato sauce. Note: tomato sauce is what Australians use for the word ketchup. I know it might be obvious, but I went to McDs in San Francisco on the first day of my Californian trip in '08, and I asked for tomato sauce, and the cashier looked at me, flabbergasted and simply responded "We only have ketchup."

I can't stop myself from eating...

I can't stop myself from eating banana bread, especially when warmed, smeared with butter or peanut butter. While some people have the itch to do some compulsive shopping, I have the urge of having a thick slice of banana bread for afternoon tea.

Back in middle school, my friends and I were addicted to the banana bread in the new cafeteria. It was full of chocolate chips, with a crackly top and a glaze, that I was always looking forward to. I bought it every few days, after I would finish my sandwich. Now, after I've made several banana breads, I know my school's one will never be as good as home-made ones.

Home-made banana bread is the best. And if you aren't baking it, get your butt off the computer and bake this one. Not only is it a cinch making your own, but it is also cheaper and much more tastier.

It's funny to think that some people in society (or in that case, people around my age) believe that any sort of cake or bread automatically becomes 'healthy', when there are fruits or vegetables involved.  A classic example of this is carrot cake. I made a 2 layer carrot cake, smothered with a load of cream cheese for my friend's birthday, and brought it to school not too long ago. My friends enjoyed it, and when they were offering it to some other people they said "Do you want some? It's really good! It's healthy too!" I was secretly laughing inside ;)

This is a healthier banana bread, but not the healthiest. If you want a banana bread that is even healthier than this (it uses oat flour!), then head to this recipe. This recipe uses apple sauce to replace the oil and butter and makes it quite moist. I honestly don't miss the butter or the oil in a lot of the 'healthier' banana bread recipes.  I added some chopped walnuts which is always essential for my own banana breads. I always need a little crunch!

I also put 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour, just to get a little bit more fibre.

As the my term 1 holidays are starting, I have a plan to work out everyday, and attempt to limit myself from eating too many slices of this. I'm on my way to learning how to have the willpower to limit my portions. I will only have one slice next time. But today I had two or three slices.. It was my breakfast.

Like they all say: Tomorrow is always a new day. 

Applesauce banana bread 
Yields 1 loaf, or 2 mini loaves

Ingredients
3 large ripe bananas (I used four medium sized ripe bananas because that's what I had)
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sugar, increase to 3/4 or 1 cup depending on your liking
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup apple sauce (home-made or store bought)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F), grease sides of the loaf pan and line the base with parchment paper (or grease the whole pan).
2. Mash bananas with a potato masher or a fork, put aside.
3. Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda in a medium bowl.
4. Add apple sauce, eggs, vanilla and bananas (and nuts if using) to flour mixture, and mix with a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon until just combined. Do not over mix.
5. Pour batter into the loaf pan, and bake for 50-60 minutes, until the an inserted tooth pick comes out clean.
6. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then cool bread on cooling rack.

Slightly adapted from Kitchen Runway

Double chocolate hot cross buns

This recipe was sort of an accident. As in, it was sort of an accident to make these double chocolate hot cross buns...

My original intention was to have a plain hot cross bun with chocolate chips.However, I added the chocolate chips too soon after all the melted butter + warm milk, and it COMPLETELY mixed into the dough. I think the warm weather is also to blame for.

Hot cross buns

Hot cross buns

Hot cross buns

One a penny 

Two a penny

Hot cross buns

I played that on my recorder in primary school. For those of you who may not know what a recorder is, it is a flute-like instrument, except it does not sound as graceful as the flute and my sisters told me to stop playing when they were studying for exams, during their uni days. It was a compulsory thing to have a recorder in my primary school!

Sixteen years young and reflections

I just turned sixteen.

Yes, I'm holding a knife in a 'I'm going to kill you' way.

 I am eligible to start driving this year, though I might postpone that because I predict that I will crash the car.

I felt that I wanted to take some time, and reflect in this post. I don't know whether it's because I've reached the age of 16, but it's starting to hit me that, everything is starting to get more serious. I'm going to be entering into the adult world within a few years, where I'd be fully independent with a whole life ahead of me. It's really scary.

Rambles about diet and brown butter oatmeal cookies

I am one of those bakers who have not tried browning butter until now. All I can say is Oh my word. These cookies are seriously addictive. You can't just have one, instead you find yourself reaching for more.

 After I browned the butter, I could inhale the deep, rich, toffee smell. I could really use a scented candle that smells like toffee. 

 I decided not to go down the road of the raisin and walnut oatmeal cookie, but rather create something a bit sneaky and totally not diet-friendly. I added some dark, milk and white chocolate chips.  But hey, half of it is whole wheat flour.. ;)

Green tea ice cream

When I was exploring around Japan, I had an authentic, and interesting food journey there. Although it was on a tour, and there were set menus, the food was still pretty darn good. I loved the miso soup, the tempura, green tea Kit Kat (I am dying to find some in Melbourne!) and all these interesting foods.I even had a 'cherry-blossom' flavour ice cream.

I would go back to Japan in a heartbeat. There's something about the politeness of the Japanese that makes me feel welcome. And also how it is a seriously cool country (music and warm seat options for a toilet?!?!) But anyway, back on to green tea ice cream. I made this recipe by David Lebovitz last year for Christmas, and while I liked it, I felt that it was a bit too rich and creamy for my liking for green tea ice cream. I recently went to eat at Takumi in the city, and I ate some magical green tea ice cream (pictures later), that had the perfect consistency of it being not too creamy, but not too icy either. And the green tea flavour was just the spot. 

Perfect chocolate cupcakes

The flavours of chocolate shortbread dance around, once the taste hits my tongue. A buttery biscuit, with a little hint of espresso, and a perfect crunch. Combine that together with some perfect chocolate buttercream, and the best chocolate cake I've ever made, you have yourself  'Perfect chocolate cupcakes'. Chocolate on chocolate on chocolate. Triple chocolate: this is truly a chocoholic's dream. 
 The texture of the chocolate cake is really incredible. It has a sort of spongy, moist texture. The balance with the chocolate and sugar is pretty good too. I've made chocolate cake before where the cocoa definitely took over the sweetness, and people find that too bitter.

Healthy banana bread

 Banana bread can be healthy. It really can. Just take a look at my Greek yoghurt banana bread. But hey, this is even a more healthy recipe! There is absolutely no butter, oil or refined sugar. It uses applesauce and honey. Honey can replace white sugar or brown sugar in banana bread quite well, in my opinion. It's all good.

My oldest sister really enjoyed this banana bread. I quote her "This does not taste healthy at all!"

Flourless chocolate cake

Flourless chocolate cakes are really good. Like really, really good. Especially with some ice cream.

I achieved a very moist, spongy texture from this, and it certainly wasn't too sweet. I loved the contrast of the raspberries with the chocolate. It cuts through the dark chocolate.  The coffee flavour is also there, and in my opinion, essential in a good chocolate cake. It's not too obvious, but my piano teacher commented that there was a lovely 'after-taste' of the coffee. Am I the only one who has found chocolate cakes creates a bit more depth with the taste if you put some coffee in?

Sprinkle with icing sugar (to cover the cracks), top with some berries and eat with some whipped cream. Oh, and if you're feeling a little bit more indulgent, eat it with some ice cream.

Flourless chocolate cake
Slightly adapted from Taste

*Serves 8-12 people

Ingredients:
125 g almond meal
125 g unsalted butter, chopped
3-4 tablespoons strongly brewed black coffee
200 g (1 bar) good quality dark chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/3-1/2 cup sugar, depending on your preference. Leave about 4-5 tablespoons of sugar for the egg whites.
5 eggs, separated
*Optional: Chopped raspberries

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 F). Grease the sides of a springform cake pan (6 cm deep, 23 cm base) with some butter and line the base with parchment paper.
2. Combine butter, coffee and chocolate in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in intervals, for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every minute until smooth.
3. Add cocoa, sugar, egg yolks and almond meal. Combine well.
4. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks. Add the sugar, 1 table spoon at a time. You should be able to lift a spoonful of egg white, without it falling over.
5. Fold the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture until just combined. At this point, add the chopped raspberries or any other mix ins. Just be careful not to overdo your mix ins!
6. Bake for about 40-45 minutes (I baked for 40), until a skewer inserted into the centre has moist crumbs clinging.
7. Cool completely in the pan. Release side and transfer to a plate. Dust with icing sugar or cocoa, top with fresh berries and serve with whipped cream.