Mid-Autumn Festival

HAPPY MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL!!!

Is everyone as excited as me to have 7th month to go away as fast as possible so that we can welcome lunar 8th month to come by?

.

Don't you guys are as excited as me to eat MOONCAKE on this special month?

Only once a year~! 

Seeing all the pretty mooncakes on the shelves of famous hotel and all the pretty pictures of mooncake all over the net made me really happy indeed~

hahaha~ what a glutton me >.<"

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But most importantly, I have a yearly "event" (made it sound grand)  held in my house~! 

A little gathering with my best friends at my house to make mooncake~

To be honest, though the making of mooncake is a yearly event in my house, we haven't really succeeded throughout all these 2 years. Either the skin of the mooncake crack or the shape turns out really ugly.

Although the happiness of the get around is the most important part, the thought of the failure mooncake is such an disappointment. -.-Zzzzz

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This year which is the 3rd year ,i decided to do a research on how to make mooncake~!!

Need to STOP the failure!

It took me a real long time researching all over the net, watching youtube videos etc.

And it really succeeded! I am really glad that the hard work isn't wasted after all!

HEHE! Hearing all the praises around my friends and families made me really happy!

HAHAHA!!

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Gonna share the recipe with YOU!

So that u can make mooncake too~

It's shown at the bottom of this post~

^.^

don't you feel this pig is so adorable staring at you? ^.^

 HEHEHE~ my cute turtle mooncake~

 i think this two piggy look like couple~

hahahaha!

 .

I  will be putting up the best recipe that i search from all over the net~

So it is a TRIED and TESTED recipe~

So u guys can really try out this recipe and tell me the results okay?

Hope it will be as successful as mine~!

I tried making pig mooncake and my newly invented Turtle mooncake~

HAHAHAH!

I guess no one will ever thought of making Turtle mooncake~

LOL! just the fun of it as I have a pet terrapin ~! 

^.^

Traditional Mooncakes Recipe

(adapted from Happy Home Baking but i made a little modification)

Ingredients:

(makes 12~13 mini mooncakes)

for dough:

100g plain flour ( I used Hong Kong Flour)

70g golden syrup (I used Abram Lyle's Golden Syrup)

2ml alkaline water

25ml peanut oil (I replaced with sunflower oil)

for filling:

415g lotus paste/red bean paste/green tea lotus paste

40g melon seeds 

For the egg wash:

1 yolk + 1 tsp of water lightly beaten and strain

Method:

1. Mix lotus paste with melon seeds. Divide the filling into 35g portions and shape into balls. Set aside. (Note: I used a dough: filling ratio of 3:7, for 50g mooncake mould)
2. Place golden syrup in a bowl. Add in alkaline water, stir to combine. Add in oil, mix well.
3. Place plain flour in a mixing bowl,make a well in the centre. Add in the above mixture. Mix with a spatula to form a soft dough. Gently knead the dough till smooth (takes 1~2 mins). Shape it into a smooth round dough. Wrap with cling wrap and leave in fridge to rest for at least 2 hours or over night ( I leave it in the fridge overnight) . This step is known as 醒面.
4. Dust work surface with some flour. Give the dough a few light kneading to smooth it.
5. Divide dough into 15g pieces. Shape each dough into a ball. Roll each dough over some flour. Dust hand with flour and flatten each dough into a small disc (about 5cm in diameter). Wrap it around the filling and shape it into a ball. (always dust hand with some flour to avoid the dough from sticking).
6. Lightly dust the wrapped dough with some flour. Place it in the mooncake mould (plastic mould is better for beginner than wooden mould )and press the mooncake out. Place mooncake on a baking tray line with parchment paper.
7. Spray some water on the mooncakes. (Note: this helps to prevent the mooncake from cracking during baking.)
8. Bake at preheated oven at 180degC for 10mins. Remove from oven and leave to cool for 15mins (do not skip this step).
9. Brush the top with some egg wash. Return to oven and continue to bake for another 15mins until golden brown (since all oven works differently, do check after 10mins, and subsequently every other 2 mins to make sure the mooncakes are not over browned).
10. Leave mooncake to cool completely and store in air tight containers. Wait for 2 ~ 3 days for the mooncakes to 回油 (for the skin to soften) before serving.

**DO take note of the points highlighted in RED~!**

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Follow the recipe above and u can make different shape to the dough and fillings u have created~!

Time to show your creativity instead of the boring square/ circle shape mooncake~!

Make ANIMALS Mooncake~

I LOVE IT! :)

Steps of pig mooncake recipe adapted from Anncoojournal

There is a video made to show u how to make the pig moocake~! 

Do take a look at her webpage! It is amazing~!

And of course steps on how to make a turtle mooncake!

heheheh! this is so easy to make!

DO try them~

Hope this year Mid-Autumn Festival will be a fun day for you and your family to get together to eat some mooncake, drink some tea under the BIG round moon ~

And DO try making the cute mooncake~ It's so fun~
HEHE~

XOXO,

Munchmunch~

<3

P.S. Cafe

P.S. Cafe at Paragon

 whenever i heard of P.S.Cafe, it does lead me into thinking that

P.S.=Personal Secret

it is a short form used in letters when i am young..

we always end the letter with...

P.S. : i miss you or i love you or lalalala..

so i do think that P.S. Cafe=Personal Secret Cafe 

sound pretty cool and i wish to try it out somehow..

but i end up finding it actually means PROJECT SHOP Cafe.

Project Shop Cafe actually came from a local fashion brand.

so there is a shop next to the cafe selling men's clothes, bags, etc 

the interior of the cafe is kind of dark but i manage to take some decent photo

with the help of J's spotlight from phone~ 

Sound pretty cool huh? 

it's so much better than taking with flash from the camera 

*wink*

 P.S Turkey Cranberry

this is recommended by alot of people but i don't really like it..

bread is too tough for me

maybe toast is not for dinner for me

Laksa Pesto

yums~ 

i kind of like the dry-type of laksa with spaghetti

guess what is this?

so pretty

i love to lit a candle and dim the light.

i think it is sort of romantic~

lovely night out tonight~

i ate till i am so full~

~Happy birthday~

to *you know who* 

XOXO,

munchmunch^.^

Singapore NDP 2012

SINGAPORE

NATIONAL DAY PARADE 

2012 

~wee it's a rehearsal~

I'm quite lucky to get a room at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) which has city view at level 52 on 28/07/2012!!

What's this special date?

it's a rehearsal date for NDP~

which means...?

FIREWORKS!!

I really love fireworks~

Seeing all the colors burst infront of your eyes~

SO WONDERFUL and in LOVE<3

I really can't wait to watch the actual Singapore NDP 2012 on the TV on 9/8/2012!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!

-in advance- heee!

 COLORS OF RED at the floating platform

Garden by the Bay

-picture taken at SKY 57

so pretty~

 Fighter plane flying~

BOOOOMMMS

the sound effect is terrific when they fly pass u~

 Night view of Singapore

Night view of Singapore

the colors of the buildings are so pretty~

Singapore is a Light city~

great name given to her :)

READY FOR FIREWORKS??~! 

I love the last picture of the fireworks the most~

how about u? :)

hope all these fireworks pictures brighten up your day~

^.^

i painstakingly took more than 200 over pictures and chose the best out of them~

most of them are blur~

it is really difficult to take night shot without the use of a tripod~

GAH!

but luckily there is still some nice ones to show you guys~

hehehe~

do drop down this coming saturday and 8/9/2012 to watch this wonderful moment :)

XOXO,

munchmunch~

~so in love with the night scenery in Singapore ^_^

Flower tea that blooms~

BLOOMING FLOWER TEA~!

WOW~

what an artistic view of a cup of edible flower tea right?

this is real~

my mum made a joke and said maybe we can add a few fish in to make it look like an aquarium >.<

LOl!

.

I got really curious about what it is and tried to make a search~

These teas are called Flowering Tea/Blooming Tea.

They consist of one or more dried flowers in each bundle.

When hot water are added into the bundle, it will bloom~

it is super cool~

I even tried youtube-ing it to show u guys~

HEHE~^^

hope it will brighten your day with this beautiful flower:)

try hard but when it is timed,

learn to let it go 

:)

XOXO,

munchmunch~

O'Coffee Club

O'COFFEE CLUB 

-ChangiT3

 If you have been reading my blog, 

u do know that i love to go Changi T3 for food and some chilling around with Jandy.

I do wish i am flying off to some unique countries 

instead of staying in Singapore when i am visiting T3.

(*>.<!)

but well..at least i have some time to chill around~:D

Past few weeks have been really busy..

that's why i have not been blogging much..

my grandpa pass away suddenly..

it's quite a shock to me as a life can be ended so quickly..

but it does give me a new thinking that..

"We should do whatever we want to and stop procrastinating so much.."

.

FOOD TIME~

let's see where i have been eating this time at T3~

O'Coffee Club~

i got this coupon for '1 for 1 Main Course' since i got the membership card~

and so here i am to chill and gobble food~ :D

hmmmm.....

this is the first dish that arrive and to be honestly..

i really regret ordering this...

the fish isn't fresh at all 

and the salmon mousse taste horrible..

(taste quite like vomit)..

*okay i shouldn't say this..*

i requested for a change and the staff is really nice to let us change to another item in the menu

:)

We change into this!

Penne with chicken~

YUMS~

i like the spice :)

but i think i am quite clumsy when i am eating and spill my clothes with the red gravy T.T

so be careful when u eat~ ^^

Chicken with Cheese~!

this could improve abit more~

By right, Fried Chicken + Cheese shouldn't go wrong at all~

but i think the chicken is abit soggy and 

not enough marination to the chicken as it still have the weird chicken taste..

but well.. at least it is still edible~ :)

 Lastly,

How can people not have desserts~!!

it always ends the whole eating experience with a happy note.~

and this tart tastes wonderful~

BANANA+ CHOCOLATE+ICE-CREAM

Heaven...AT LAST~ 

heee~

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.

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it's always nice to chill around with Jandy~

though she looks so sleepy and tired that day~

hope she will rest well

and..

GANBETTE AT WORK~

HWAITING~!! 

:)

XOXO,

munchmunch

Coffee=Happiness?

Coffee makes you happy ^-^

it's a lovely night today~

A simple quiet environment with soft relaxing background music,

accompanied by a cup of coffee with a slice of cake..

chilling around and talking..

i wonder is it the caffeine that is making me happy..

i miss the moment.

XOXO,

need to go to bed~

ZZZZzzzz

munchmunch~

Fondant Class

FONDANT CLASS

I always wonder how fondant works when i browse through books and videos from youtube.

Feel really amazed by all the pretty cakes and cupcakes made from fondant~

Finally got a chance to learn how to handle them~

Learn how to make fondant shape...

->Snail

->Caterpillar

->Bees

->Roses

->Mushroom

->Butterfly

->Sunflowers

->Leaves

->Small little petal

hehe~ what a great experience...

just like playing with playdoh when i am young..

twirling and rolling around~

gah~ but my sweaty palm do gives me a great headache when i am handling them..

but i am glad everything comes out pretty and cute~

Don't u love them? All the 6 cupcakes at the pictures are made my ME! 

heheheh~ proud of myself~

shall blog again soon~

gdnight~

XOXO,

munchmunch <3

p.s. fondant don't taste nice..opps~

i guess things that look pretty don't taste nice?

gonna make something that taste nice and look pretty

:)

Cinnamon Bread Recipe

Cinnamon Bread

Our virgin Bread-Making session♥~

how great and fascinating to see our dear live organisms (yeast)

growing inside our little bread babies :)

Seeing it grows every seconds till it is BIG enough to put inside the oven to bake 

makes us feel really excited~

Growing BIG~ READY FOR BAKING! :D

HEHEHE!

It's a suceed though it's our first try~

How amazing it looks~

Don't you feel they look so pretty~?

All the cinnamon twirling in between the bread~

YUMYUM!

Want to have a bite too?

heee^.^

Cinnamon Bread Recipe

(recipe adapted from: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/08/homemade-cinnamon-bread/)
-a really great blog to follow along with pictures^.^ thank you for sharing~

Prep Time: 4 Hours  |  Cook Time: 40 Minutes  |  Difficulty: Easy  |  Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 cup Milk
• 6 Tablespoons Butter
• 2-1/2 teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
• 2 whole Eggs
• 1/3 cup Sugar
• 3-1/2 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1/3 cup Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
• Egg And Milk, Mixed Together, For Brushing
• Softened Butter, For Smearing And Greasing

Preparation Instructions

Melt butter with milk. Heat until very warm, but don't boil. Allow to cool until still warm to the touch, but not hot. Sprinkle yeast over the top, stir gently, and allow to sit for 10 minutes.

Combine flour and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix sugar and eggs with the paddle attachment until combined. Pour in milk/butter/yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add half the flour and beat on medium speed until combined. Add the other half and beat until combined.

Switch to the dough hook attachment and beat/knead dough on medium speed for ten minutes. If dough is overly sticky, add 1/4 cup flour and beat again for 5 minutes.

Heat a metal or glass mixing bowl so it's warm. Drizzle in a little canola oil, then toss the dough in the oil to coat. Cover bowl in plastic wrap and set it in a warm, hospitable place for at least 2 hours.

Turn dough out onto the work surface. Roll into a neat rectangle no wider than the loaf pan you're going to use, and about 18 to 24 inches long. Smear with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Mix sugar and cinnamon together, then sprinkle evenly over the butter-smeared dough. Starting at the far end, roll dough toward you, keeping it tight and contained. Pinch seam to seal.

Smear loaf pan with softened butter. Place dough, seam down, in the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix a little egg with milk, and smear over the top. Bake for 40 minutes on a middle/lower rack in the oven.

Remove from the pan and allow bread to cool. Slice and serve, or make cinnamon toast or French toast with it.

♥ baking with muimui~

XOXO,

munchmunch~

Chocolate Banana "Bread" Recipe

Chocolate Banana "Bread"

I love Chocolate, I love Banana. 

Imagine the combination between both, 

I know i am gonna love this "bread" with all the rich chocolate and the taste of bananas~

if u are wondering why am i putting it as "bread" instead of just bread, 

i think u will know why later~*wink*

 I mixed everything just as what the recipe stated~

Feeling really excited about how this "bread" will turns out ^.^

I even decorated it with slices of bananas~

wee~ so pretty!

 VIOLA~

The "bread" was done~

it stated 55min-65min

but it turns out to be 10mins earlier~

45min and this "bread" is done!~

notice how the picture of the "bread" looks like?

Don't you think it looks so so much like a CAKE?

it even taste so much like a cake!

Maybe.., a really dense Bread?

but the taste and everything is really nice~

All the rich chocolaty taste with a tinge of bananas in between~

YUMMY!

though it doesn't taste or look like a bread, it is a really nice recipe for a chocolate banana cake:)

Chocolate Banana Bread

(recipe adapted from: http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/10/chocolate-banana-bread-recipe.html )

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (i use Hershey brand)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 stick of butter, melted and cooled ( 1 stick=113g of butter)
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed well
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (vanilla essence works too~)
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips  (i use Hershey brand)

Mix together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Stir the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Carefully fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined. Mix in the chocolate chips.

Pour into a greased loaf pan (i only lined it with baking paper). Bake at 350 degrees (which is 177°C) for 55 to 65 minutes ( Mine took only 45 mins) until the bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool and wrap in plastic wrap and foil or in a ziplop bag. Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Adapted from Joy of Baking

hope there will be more baking coming on~ <3 baking with muimui~!

XOXO, 
munchmunch~

Auntie Kim's Korean Restaurant

Auntie Kim's Korean Restaurant

Heard a lot of good review regarding this Korean Restaurant and since Jandy and I have been a fan of Korea food recently, we decided to pop down Auntie Kim's Korean Restaurant to have a taste of some korean food. We are welcomed by a waitress dressed in Korean costume with a korean greeting "annyeohaseyeo" (am i spelling the correct spelling? I do not know>.<). Anyway, we settled down and ordered some food that we LOVE:)

 the side dishes that came along with any food ordered~

there is a total of 7 dishes~ 

and the side dishes change everyday~

Look so healthy with all the beans, veg and fruits~

 KOREAN PANCAKE

i think it's abit floury but it still taste nice with the sauce provided

MY FAV~~..

KIMICHI FRIED RICE~

i've fallen in love with this dish~

it tasted really really nice~

abit spicy and hot just like the way i want~

<3

*we ordered one more chicken bulgori dish but the pix is blur..so decided not to post that picture*

(>.<")

P.S.~ will definitely come back for MORE Kimichi Fried Rice~

best in Singapore so far :D 

ADD: 265 Upper Thomson Road

(near Thomson Plaza) 

XOXO,

munchmunch~

Chocolate Decadence Cake at Seah Street Deli

I begin to browse through the pictures saved in my hard disc and i found this really pretty photo of a Chocolate Decadence Cake that I have eaten a few months ago at Seah Street Deli located inside Raffles Hotel. The 7 different layers of moouse and sponge cake do bring you up to a different level as you slowly indulge in these layers of rich chocolate cake.  

  Back into 1950s New York setting

Chocolate Decadence Cake

~maybe it's time to go back again to enjoy this delicious chocolate cake~ ^^
p.s i'm getting hungry again. xoxo