Chocolate Meringue Cookies

I was rather playful, I piped letters instead of 'droop' shape.

Chocolate Meringue Cookies

Ingredients

·         3 egg whites

·         1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

·         1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

·         2/3 cup white sugar

·         1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

·         1/4 tsp salt

·         1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

·       

·        

Directions

1.   Preheat oven to 120°C.

2.   Combine egg whites, cream of tartar, salt and vanilla. Beat at high speed until the mixture is firm. Gradually add in sugar; beat until stiff peaks form, and mixture becomes glossy. Fold in cocoa and chocolate chips.

3.   Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls on to a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. After 25 minutes turn the oven off, but leave the meringue in there  and let them cool down, let the door slightly open, by doing this would give you best meringue. 

Christmas Log Cake

I'm using 'Chocolate Swiss roll with blueberries filling' recipe. Make a 11" X 9" Swiss roll

Log Cake ingredients
63g egg yolk  (3 egg yolks)
19.5g caster sugar
2 tsp cocoa powder

94.5g egg white (3 egg whites)
47g caster sugar
35g cake flour
1/8 cream of tartar
19.5g unsalted butter, melted

Filling
Blueberries filling
Non-dairy whipped cream (I used devonshire cream)

Method
1. Whisk egg yolks and sugar over a pot of hot water till thicken and pale in color.
2. Add cocoa powder into egg yolk mixture, stir well and set aside.
3. In another clean bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until foamy, gradually add in sugar and beat till glossy and soft peaks form.
4. Take one-third of egg whites mixture to mix with the egg yolk mixture using a hand whisk. Then fold in the remaining egg white using a spatula until well combined.
5. Gently fold the sifted flour (in 3 batches) into the batter.  Add in melted butter and gently combine well.
6. Pour the batter into baking tray lined with baking paper. Spread evenly with a scraper. Gently knock the tray on tabletop to remove air bubbles trapped in the batter. 
7. Bake in preheated oven at 180C for around 13mins.
8. When cake is done, remove from pan and place on a wire rack and put in a big plastic bag to cool.
9. To assemble Swiss roll, turned cooled sponge onto a clean work surface. Peel off parchment paper, spread evenly layer of whipping cream over top of sponge. Follow by spread a layer of blueberries filling.
10. Gently roll up (How to roll up Swiss Roll?) the sponge to make a Swiss roll. Wrap with cling wrap and chill in the fridge to allow the Swiss roll to set. Slice to serve.



Chocolate Buttercream Frosting ingredients
This measurement  for 11"X9" Swiss roll 
1/2 cup /113g unsalted butter, softened (but not melted) 
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp table salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp milk or heavy cream

Instructions

        Cream butter for a few minutes in a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Turn off the mixer. Sift 3 cups powdered sugar and cocoa into the mixing bowl. Turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the dry ingredients do not blow everywhere) until the sugar and cocoa are absorbed by the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add a little more sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add additional milk 1 tablespoon at a time.

I didn't sift in cocoa powder, as I need some for piping, therefore I wait till the sugar is done, scoop out 1/4 cup of the mixture before adding in cocoa powder.

Crispy Onion Rings

Crispy Onion Rings


Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2. 1/4 cup cornstarch 
3. 2 tbsp instant mashed potatoes
4. Add pinch of salt to taste
5. big pinch of chili powder (cayenne) for colouring
6. 1 cup cold water + 2 tbsp Eno fruit salt (original flavour)
7. 2-3 cups breadcrumbs
8. Vegetable oil for frying
9. 2-3 yellow onions, cut into 1/4" rings (not any thicker than that)
10. Mayonnaise + chili sauce + tomato sauce for the dipping. 

In a bowl, mix all dried ingredients all-purpose flour, cornstarch, instant mashed potatoes, salt and chili powder, pour Eno water in the mixture to make onion ring batter.

Pour breadcrumbs in another bowl.

Cut yellow onions into rings, dip into onion ring batter, use a fork to move onion to a thorough coating, toss it to breadcrumbs pool, use another fork to move onion rings to a thorough coating before frying. 

This recipe really make crispy onion rings, enjoy! 

Tears of missing him

A few days ago, my sis-in-law told me that she is going to save a copy of Gab's young time videos, I haven't owned a camera that time, missed most of his time when he was born.

These videos were taken where most of his time with Alycia and Bryan. 3 of them were learning to pick up vocabulary and forming sentences.

Something out of my control while watching those videos, tears pouring unexpectedly, and uncontrollably, I don't know why, Alycia kept asking me why did I cry, was I sad? No, I was not, I'm overwhelmed that I still can see Gab at 2, I miss him........ yeah, perhaps, this should be called tears of missing him.

Homemade Candy

It's a recipe of Candy Cane, a very fun holiday project for kids.

Ingredient:

• 2 cups sugar
• ½  cups light corn syrup
• ½ cups water
• ¼  tsp cream of tartar
• ¾  tsp peppermint extract

Method:

Put sugar, corn syrup, water and cream of tartar to a very hard boil till sugar melt totally without stirring. 

Remove from heat and add peppermint. Add food colouring as you wish. 

Tips:
Pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees, you might need to keep the sugar warm later.

Grease table top (stainless steel or marble top) and utensil, also put some on your hands or gloves if you are using. It's really hot, do give a minute of cooling to the right temparature before using hands. Kids really have fun making their own shapes of lollipop. 

To make white lollipop, pull sugar quickly and fold it back on itself for many times, it will turn the sugar to beautiful pearly colour before turning into white. By doing this, it's also adds air to it so the candy is 'crisp' instead of hard. 

Homemade Mochi

Mum just learned this from Auntie Tan during her help in SCF Youth Mission Training. She made us this one, and surprise to know how easy is to make this from home.

Ingredients:

Peanut coating
2 cups of fine ground nut (rosted before put into food processor)
1/2 cups of castor sugar (vary to suite your tast)

Mix these two ingredient and set a side ready for use.

Mochi
2 cups of glutinous rice flour
1 cup of water


Mix these two ingredient in a greased 8" round tin, steam for about 10 minutes over high heat.
Once it's cooked, put a tablespoon of vege oil to knead this hot dough.

knead them into small balls, coat them in a pool of peanut mixture.

Ultimate Perfect Match!

Everyone in whole world is looking for perfect match, perhaps we could take a look at this ultimate perfect match, they don't have the same character, yet when they get together, they are the perfect match! 

Cream Scone with devonshire cream and strawberry jam, they are totally ultimately wonderfully and perfectly match. It's such a joy to know how to make all three of them, trust me they are not hard to make, I have all their recipes (Links) posted here, enjoy the fun! 

Cream Scone's recipe

Devonshire's recipe

Home Cook Strawberry Jam's recipe

Cream Scone Recipe

Cream Scone Recipe:
2 1/2 cups (330 grams) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (100 grams) granulated white sugar 
(1/2 cup if you would like to eat it without any jam and cream)
2 teaspoons (10 grams) baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup (75 grams)cold unsalted butter, diced.
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (120 ml) milk or heavy cream
1/2 cup milk powder  Optional



Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and place the rack in the middle of the oven. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. 


In a small measuring cup combine the heavy cream, beaten egg and vanilla. Add this mixture to the flour mixture slowly. Stir just until combined. Do not over mix. Wrap in sling wrap refrigerated for about 30 minutes.  

Tips:

Pastry doughs should be handled as little as possible and kept cool.  Chill mixing bowl into the refrigerator for 30 minutes beforehand.

It's good to dip your hands in a cold water and dry thoroughly before kneading. 

Pastry doughs should always be rested in the refrigerator before rolling out. 

Knead dough gently on a lightly floured surface. Roll or pat the dough into a circle that is about 7 inches (18 cm) round. Then, using a 2 inch (4.5 cm) round cookie cutter, cut the dough into rounds. Place the rounds on the prepared cookie sheet, spacing a few inches apart. It's okay if you don't gaze the top with egg, which I didn't do it.

Bake for about 15 - 18 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into the center of a scone comes out clean. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve with Devon cream or softly whipped cream and your favorite jam.

It makes about 15 -18 of 2 inch round mini scones



Click here for Thermomix Cranberry Sweet Cream Scone recipe

And Thermomix Sweet Cream Scones Recipe

Devonshire Cream

Devonshire Cream also known as Devon Cream

Ingredients:
4 ounces (113 g or 1/2 cups)  mascarpone
1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 or 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar


Instruction:

Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and beat until the mixture holds its shape and looks like softly whipped cream. Use right away or cover and refrigerate the cream until serving time.
Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Click here for Thermomix Devonshire Cream Recipe

Home Cook Strawberry Jam

It's totally a wonderful exploration, after google some strawberry jam's recipes, here have for small portion, as I only have about 13 frozen strawberries.

Home Cook Strawberry Jam

Indredients:
1 ½   cup of chopped / crushed strawberries
1 ½   cup sugar or to taste
½  tbsp lemon juice and some zest.

Directions
Mix together the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Then bring the muxture to a full rolling boil in high heat. Stirring often. Store in refrigerator. 

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever

   I Could Sing of Your Love Forever

D                        

  Over the mountains and the sea

Em                              

  You're river runs with love for me

G2                                      A7

  And I will open up my heart

                          

And let the healer set me free

D                    

  I'm happy to be in the Truth

Em                        

  And I will daily lift my hands

G2

  For I will always sing of

 A7                      

When your love came down

Chorus: 

D                                  Em

  I could sing of Your love forever

G                                  A7

  I could sing of Your love forever

D                                  Em

  I could sing of Your love forever

G                                  A7

  I could sing of Your love forever

Bridge

Em                 D/F#

 Oh, I feel like dancing

G                         A7

 It's foolishness I know

Em                                D/F#

 But when the world has seen the light

               G                                     A7 

They will dance for joy like we're dancing now

    

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever   chords

Heaven in My Heart

Heaven in my heart lyrics and guitar chords

Heaven in My Heart 

Hillsong Kids

Intro:

D, Em/D, F#m/D, G 2x

Verse 1:

 D                                             Em/D                               F#m/D

   If I could see beyond the sky, I'd look to see You smile

                                    G2

I'd look to see Your majesty

D                                               Em/D                                    F#m/D

  If I could reach above the stars, I'd put my hands in Yours

                                    G2

You'd show me all eternity

Pre-Chorus:

F#m/A   Bm                                            G

But for now      I close my eyes and pray

F#m/A  Bm                                            A

But for now       I lift my hands and say

Chorus:

D-Em/D           F#m/D    Bm        A          Em/D                A 

Jesus, You're my Saviour,        You are heaven in my heart

D-Em/D           F#m/D    Bm        A           Em/D               A 

Jesus, You're my Saviour,        You are heaven in my heart

Ending:

D-Em/D           F#m/D        G2

    You are heaven....

D-Em/D           F#m/D        G2

    You are heaven....

Heaven in My Heart youtube

Heaven in My Heart  chords