Spanish Prawn Paella

Spanish Paella is one of my favourite foods. I did 2 versions: one with Ssusage and the other without sausages. 

Recipe source: Jas Schaap @ ICCS

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 diced onion

1 garlic crushed

2 tsp Sweet Paprika

1/4 tspturmeric 

2 ripe tomatoes, cut into chucks

1 red or yellow pepper. 

3 pcs Sausages ( optional )

150g peas

250g paella or risotto rice

1 litres chicken stock

16/20 large prawns

2 tbsp chopped parsley

Lemon wedges

Methods:

1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. 

2. Add the onion and garlic. Cook for 3 mins until soft. 

3. Lower the heat, allow the pan to cool. Now add the paprika and turmeric and stir for 2 mins or till aromatic. 

4. Add the sausages and cook for a few minutes. 

5. Add the peas and cook for 45 seconds.  

6. Add the rice and stir for a minute. Then change to medium heat and pour in the chicken stock, mixing occasionally. 

7. Cook for further 20 mins until rice is almost cooked, the season with salt and pepper to taste. 

8. Arrange the prawns on TOP of the rice and add the chunky tomatoes. 

9. Cover and cook for 5 mins it till prawns change colour. 

10. Sprinkle with the parsley, lemon wedges and serve. 

Baked Apple Roses

I have seen quite a number of friends baking this and so decide to try them too for a gathering. At first I thought it was difficult but after watching the video, it looks so simple. And it's also a great way to use up excess apples. 

Here's the link for the Bsked Apple Roses. 

http://Baked Apple Roses

Breads

Recently I have been practicing baking bread. It's feels good to have freshly baked bread for breakfast every morning. 

Peach Cupcakes

I love Peaches so decided to bake some Peaches Cupcakes for breakfast and also bring some to office to share with my colleagues. 

Egg Tart

I love having Egg Tarts but seldom bake them myself. My kneading is not so good but overall the texture and fillings are very satisfying. This is a last minute bake as I am craving for it. One of my favourite Dim Sum dishes that I will always order. The pictures are not well taken and the tarts are not pretty but the taste is good.

                                         

                       

Recipe source : christinesrecipes

Ingredients for crust: 

• 200g plain flour
• 25g cake flour
• 125g  butter
• 55g icing sugar
• 1 egg, whisked
• a dash of vanilla extract

Methods for making crust:

• Cream butter and sugar using medium speed till smooth, light and fluffy.
• Add in whisked egg slowly over low speed. Add vanilla extract and mix well.
• Sift in flour and combine well. Knead into dough.
• Roll the dough to 1/2cm thickness. Cut dough with a cookie cutter. Line dough in the middle of tart tins.Lightly press the dought with your thumbs. Trim away any excess dough.

Ingredients for Csutard:

• 2 eggs
• 70g caster sugar
• 150g hot water
• 75g evaporated milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method making custard: 

• Add sugar into hot water, mix until completely dissolved.
• Whisk egg with evaporated milk. Pour in sugar water. Mix well.
• Sift egg mixture to get rid of any foam into a tea pot. Carefully pour egg mixture into each tart shell.

Method baking tarts: 

• Preheat oven to 200C.
• Bake tarts for 10 to 15 mins till the edges are lightly brown. 
• Lower the heat to 180C. Keep an eye on them. Once you see the custard being puffed up a bit, pull the oven door open about 2 to 3 inches. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until the custard is cooked through. Just insert a toothpick into the custard. If it stands on its own, it’s done.

This post is linked to the Best Recipes for Everyone August 2015 Event (Theme: Dim Sum) organised by Fion （XuanHom's Mum Kitchen Diary) and

hosted by May (厨苑食谱 @ mayck-law.blogspot.com）.

Cheddar Cheese Bread

I love Sourdough Bread but hardly will do it myself. The time to ferment the starters are time consuming. I had wanted to bake this quite sometimes back but kept holding back till now I tell myself I have to do it. I am very satisfied with this bake and will keep on practicing and trying out other variants of bakes.

               

             

Chocolate Birthday Cake

This cake was done for my colleague birthday. She has been bugging me to bake for her after trying the Tiramisu cake that I baked for my the other colleague. How can I ignore her request when she has been helping us in our administrative work for my department. 

            

            

             

       

Recipe Source: Tintin 

Ingredients:

180g Butter
200g Brown Sugar
200g Full cream evaporated milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten with fork
100g Plain flour
50g cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp of rum (optional)

Methods:

- Combine brown sugar, evaporated milk, vanilla extract and butter in a sauce pan.
- Stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved and butter is melted.
- Turn off the fire and keep warm.
- Add the beaten eggs into the slightly cold evaporated milk mixture and stir till well mix.
- Sifth the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda into a large mixing bowel, then pour     the     egg mixture over the flour and stir till well mix. ( cake batter should be runny)
- Heat up the steamer.
- Lined and greased a 8 inch round baking pan.
- Pour the batter into the lined pand and place the pan into the steamer and cover the top of the pan             loosely with a piece of aluminium foil.
- Cover the steamer and steam over medium heat for 45 minutes.
- Cool the cake in pan before turning our for further decoration.

Chocolate glaze

70g Chocolate, chopped into small pieces
70g Whipping Cream
5 g Butter

Methods:

Scald the cream and pour it over the Semisweet Chocolate.
Add the butter and stir until smooth
Pour onto the cake and chill the cake.

Decoration:
Strawberry, Rasphberry, Black Berries

                                                   

This post is linked to the event Little Thumbs Up ~ August 2015

Event Theme : Brown Sugar and Molassses

organised by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids and Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY

and hosted by Jess of Bakericious