Drink of Summer

Sorry for the sudden absence, I was busy with alot of house moving and a little travelling.

Anyhow, recently I've been drinking alot of lemon lime bitters because the weather has been really hot and whilst drinking I realised I never drank much lemon lime bitters in Singapore despite it being even hotter all the time.

I read up on the drink and realised LLB is actually a Australian Invention!

According to the Angostura Bitters website, this is the way to make it and I totally agree.

1. Rim the inside of a glass with 5-6 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters

2. Add ice and swirl until the glass is evenly coated with Angostura aromatic bitters

3. Fill glass with lemonade or Sprite and a shot (15 ml) of lime cordial or fresh lime juice. For a low-cal version fill glass with soda

4. Garnish with a slice of lemon or lime

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

An update on my index finger on my left hand.

This finger has been producing really itchy blisters that keep appearing and disappearing at different areas on this finger ONLY.

I went to see a dermatologist ,after having seen 3 GP's who have not been able to find a cure, last friday. She took some blood, some scrapings and swabbed my nose. ( I really don't understand the nose swab because my finger and nose are quite far away from each other) And my next appointment was to be in 6 weeks time.

But, today she called and said she needed to see me earlier, this Friday, because I have an infection. Will keep the blog posted on what's happening.

An afternoon at Watsons Bay

Here are some photos taken with out newly bought Panasonic FZ7. I really like it so far. As a beginner, I find it really easy to use and a great camera on which to learn the basics. Click on the link above if you are interested.

Yes Julius, we finally bought a new camera, a megazoom camera.

Bananas are Back!

Cyclone Larry in Queensland on March 2006 caused $1 Billion in damages.

To many Australians, the real impact was a shortage of bananas due to destruction of many banana plantations. The price of bananas went up to nearly $25/kg from $2/kg.

A fruit deli at Bondi showed their excitement as bananas started creeping back into the market. How funny.

By the way, J and myself have been eating banana and oats every morning ever since.

The Week Gone By 2

White Bread, Crusty Rolls, Soft Rolls, Wholemeal Bread & Pepita Bread

Easy Peasy Sponge Cake

This is a very easy to make sponge cake that you can use as a base for a myriad of desserts. As sponge fingers for a tiramisu, for a durian cake or for a simple victoria sponge cake with jam and cream.

I made it for my Uncle's birthday, layered it with hazelnut crunch and coated it with chocolate ganache. I made it a day before and the crunch was not really crunch anymore, it ended up chewy, which was a disappointment but the sponge was brillant.


This is all you need.

INGREDIENTS
4 eggs
½ cup castor sugar
2 tbsp custard powder
¾ cup cornflour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp cream of tartar

METHOD
· Preheat oven to 175C.

· Whisk the eggs and sugar together until thick. (As picture above.)

· Sieve the dry ingredients together 3 or 4 times.

· Gently fold the dry ingredients into the whisked egg base using a fork.

· Pour into prepared cake tin/s (buttered and floured, or paper-lined).

· Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

I took this while waiting for my cake. Two things I can't live without, my kitchenaid and my oven!

Trivia

Do you remember those machines at arcades where you put a token in and you press the buttons left, right, up and down to position a claw that grabs soft toys?
Well, I havent been to arcades in ages, the other day I was walking by one and I saw this....



It's giganticous! The toys are as big as a toddler and the claw could probably rip my head off. Plus, I could live in that plastic tank and be very comfortable, its about the size of my toilet.

We walked further along George Street, pass a computer shop. I saw all these very stealth, very black, very man-ly computer towers. As we walked in for a closer look.... I noticed they are named iCute!



For the next one, have a good look, this is the shop window of a camping store. Is there something that doesn't belong?



If you look at the bottom right, there is a BABY! ...Why?
Imagine a few blokes, camping by the billabong, drinking their tea having some damper rolls and sharpening their swiss army knifes with a baby in their lap.

Steam Tofu & Veges

Here's a very easy and healthy meal you can make in half an hour.


Steamed Tofu with Minced Pork and Salted Egg Yolk

Ingredients:
Tofu
Minced Pork
Salted Egg Yolk
Egg White
Light Soy
Chinese Cooking Wine
Sesame Oil
Cornflour
Salt and Pepper

Season the mince with light soy, sesame oil, chinese wine, cornflour and salt & Pepper.

Slice tofu, use spoon to dig a hole in the middle, fill with a lump of meat.

Top off with salted egg yolk.

Place tofu pieces on dish, fill dish with egg white till around 1cm thick.

Steam for around 20mins-30mins on a low flame.


Snow Pea Sprouts

Ingredients:
Snow Pea Sprouts
Salted Egg White
Oyster Sauce
Cooking Oil

Heat oil in pan, add pea sprouts. Fry till soft and cooked add salted egg whites and season with oyster sauce. Make sure you taste as the egg white is quite salty, you might not have to add much seasoning.

Enjoy!

The Week Gone By

All Berry Fruit Tart


Tarte Aux Pommes


Marble Cake coated with Chocolate Ganache


Cookies

Fool-Proof Roast Chicken with Potatoes

Ingredients:
1 Chicken

Marinade
3/4 Cup Chinese cooking wine (shaoxing)
2 tbsp honey
3 tbsp light soy
1 tbsp sugar
salt and white pepper

3-4 potatoes


Method:
Mix all ingredients for marinade and soak chicken in marinade overnight. If you are in a hurry, 1 hour should suffice but baste the chicken more often.

Preheat oven to 180˚c.

Peel potatoes, cut into cubes, fill a pot with cold water, add potatoes and bring to boil. Once boiling, drain potatoes and dry them.

Place potatoes in a baking tray, season. Cover potatoes with a grill and place chicken on top. This allows the fat from the chicken to coat potatoes with flavoursome goodness.

I covered my chicken with a layer of spring onion and prosciutto. This is optional, I did it because I had them in my fridge and they add flavour.

Bake in oven for 45mins-1 hr, depending on size of chicken.

Take chicken out. Drain excess fat from potatoes, turn oven to 200˚c, place potatoes back in while chicken rests. This allows potatoes to get a nice golden crust.

Enjoy.

beau

The History of My Index Finger on My Left Hand *Graphic Content*

This is when it all started and it has since gone downhill.


June 13th 2006
I almost halved my finger with a knifepen.


October 31st 2006
My fingernail decided to go wonky on me.


January 2007
I cut my finger on the part that was cut off a few months ago...I call it a cut on a cut, other people call it stupidity.

I will keep you posted on the fate of the index finger of my left hand.

My Top Five Picks from Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is the capital city of Sabah, Malaysia.
I recently spent two weeks there, soaking in the sunshine on one of their many islands and eating till my hearts content.



I love the food there for its simplicity. They dont use much ingredients in a dish, always use fresh and produce food that is wholesome and flavourful.



Here's my top 5 picks (it was tough picking 5 because I loved it all) not in any particular order.




Freshly steamed Tamparuli Zhu Yok Bao (Pork Buns)



Foh Sang Ngao Chap
Beef slices and beef ball soup with kon loh maifun.



Friendly fish head

This restaurant is situated in an industrial estate where at night is creeply dark and the restaurant is the only shop thats lit. You wouldn't expect a restaurant there but the fish head is mightyly good.

They also serve a very delightful four angle bean stir fried with chai poh.



Hilltop Tom Yum
What makes this special is the addition of evaporated milk to the traditional tom yum. All i can say is YUM.



Kedai Kopi 288 (Coffee shop 288) at Damai
Very healthy fish soup served with Kon Loh Maifun and a killer chilli sauce.

Madeleines, Financiers & More Scones

Madeleines

'seashell cake so strictly pleated outside and so sensual inside'

Marcel Proust

Madeleines are a small cake shaped like a rounded shell, made with sugar, flour, melted butter, and eggs. Traditionally flavoured with lemon or orange-flower water. The mixture is cooked in ribbed oval moulds which give the cakes their shell-like appearance.

Fruit Scones and Cheese Scones

In an earlier post about scones, I mentioned they come in many flavours, these are fruit and cheese scones.

I will not say more because unfortunately I am so sick of scones, if you hand me one now, I will throw it at the nearest wall.



Financiers

A cake made from a sponge mixture made with ground almonds and whisked egg whites. Small financiers are oval or rectangular in shape. I often add fresh blueberries to my mixture, they are de-lish.