New York Cheesecake. A first love.

What can I say, I love baked new york cheesecake! It was surprisingly my first genuine success. I mean a cheesecake doesn't require anyone to be of experience to master the dish when it comes to taste. Of course, the cracks do get annoying, but the taste will always stay true to its flavour.

Basically a cheesecake, is mainly made out of a large amount of cream cheese and sugar, with a a biscuit or sponge layer as the base. yes, there are other ingredients, but most of the taste of the cake comes from these 3 main ingredients. The cheesy sour taste from the cheese, the sweetness from the sugar and a biscuit or sponge taste to round it off.

Baking a new york cheesecake is very easy actually. And as it is also very versatile, you can add anything to it! Oreos, raspberries, blueberries, chocolate etc...( I top my cheesecake with strawberries and mix my base with ordinary digestives together with oreos, but it looked like organic fertilizer though, not something you should try)

The only thing that requires a bit more skill is the presentation. A beautiful cheesecake completely smooth and free of cracks, with that golden colour on top and edges of crisp brown.

I tell you, its like perfection.

A few ways to achieve these are.

Don't over beat. (I know when you get the feeling its not enough? Yes, I struggle with that too, but seriously you can to control yourself)

After its been beating at high speed for the required time, proceed by hand.

Never check the oven. Once you put it in, leave it in till you want to take it out. Its fine.

After its done, let it stay in the oven for 2 hours or so before taking it out.

Run a hot knife through the edge of the cake. The circumference!

Then cool it at room temp with a towel over it till its base isn't hot anymore.

Chill it for another couple of hours in the refrigerator and its ready to eat!

I actually made this recipe myself after a lot of different testing. Try it if you like.You can substitute sour cream with whipping cream too, I tried it and it still produce good results.

Ingredients
8 biscuits, crushed
30g butter

500 g cream cheese
150 g white sugar
100 ml milk
2 eggs
115 g sour cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
15 g all-purpose flour

Directions

-Preheat oven to 175 C. Grease a 9 inch springform pan.

-In a medium bowl, biscuits crumbs with melted butter. You can melt the butter in the microwave. Press onto bottom of the pan. Make sure you mix the butter well.

-In a large bowl, beat at high speed the cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Blend in milk, and then mix in the eggs one at a time, mixing just enough to incorporate.

-Mix in sour cream, vanilla and flour until smooth.

-Pour filling into prepared crust.

-Bake in preheated oven for 50 mins to 1 hour. follow tips above.

Ingredients are expensive, so do be careful, but its easy...so I really think you should give it a try. At least once. Extremely worth the money. Enjoy! =)

The old fashion way..Just stick to ONE colour.

Ingredients.

I don't have any tray large enough to partially submerge the pan with water. So I used 2 separate ones to as replacements to increase the humidity of the oven. (this prevents cracking so that the cheesecake's surface becomes moist)Simply delicious.

Chocolate Cake

The good old fashion chocolate cake.

Moist. Fluffy. Sweet.
Yes it is a guilty pleasure...there's just something about a slice of chocolate cake covered in frosting. Almost everyone loves chocolate...there's just something about the richness of it...so delicate and yet destructive. aha...

This recipe was taken by Hersheys. Definitely worth a try. From what I gone through recently...baking is not something that's easy to do at first, but as you practise and learn from you mistakes...(which means actually finding out why, and not continue on with another round of hope and luck, mind you that was what I initially use to do) and sooner or later, the cake is picture perfect and delicious. Edible art...I can tell you there's little else that could be more satisfying than seeing your effort producing great results.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1-2/3 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup Cocoa
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/3 cups water

Directions:1. Heat oven to 175°c. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans or one 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

2. Combine butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl; beat on high speed of mixer 3 minutes. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add alternately with water to butter mixture, beating until blended. Add candy, if desired. Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

Frosting

tablespoons butter or margarine, softened2-2/3 cups powdered sugar1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa1/3 cup milk1 teaspoon vanilla extract.Beat butter in medium bowl. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency (additional milk may be needed). Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

Cheesecake Brownies

A friend suggested this recipe and chocolate brownies and cheesecake seem like an ever so tempting blend of delisciousness...why not?
I started of with buying a bar of hershey's as a preferred choice even though it is quite pricy. This recipe is quite simple but do be careful with it as the cheesecake filling is quite sensitive with the chocolate batter. Cracking appears less....do not overbeat and keep the temp low.

The result is a delicious tray of cheesecake brownies...I suggest you let the chocolate goo to remain in the middle so the whole cheesecake brownie appears most soft and moist to eat.
Enjoy!

worth the money


Cheese top

ingredients

1/2 cup butter

2-oz dark chocolate,chopped

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2/3 cup flour

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1/4 tsp salt

cheesecake top
8-oz cream cheese, room temperature

1/3 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil and lightly grease.In a small, heatproof bowl, melt butter and chocolate together. Stir with a fork until very smooth. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs and vanilla extract. Whisking steadily, pour chocolate mixture into sugar mixture. Stir until smooth. Sift flour, cocoa powder and salt into the bowl and stir until just combined.Pour into prepared pan and prepare cheesecake mixture.In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Drop in dollops onto prepared brownie batter. Gently swirl two batters with a butter knife.Bake for 35-40 minutes, until brownies and cheesecake are set. A knife inserted into the cheesecake mixture should come out clean and the edges will be lightly browned.Cool in the pan completely before slicing and serving, either at room temperature or chilled.

Brownies can be refrigerated, covered, for several days.
Makes 16 large brownies.

How make chocolate chocolate chip cookies

Sugar, butter, eggs, chips, flour

The best quality ones rock seriously. (hersheys!)

Cream the butter and sugar..
Add the eggs

then the chips and cocoa powder (not seen)

scrap the bowlGet ready to bake them at 200 C for 15-20 minutes.

And finally.....EAT THEM! =D

Naan

I am craving for naan right now. Its been ages since I ate it....

For some of u, naan is a hindi unleaven bread thats both fluffy and crispy. Simply delicious and goes well with dry curry.

Yummy!

If time permits...Im going to try this recipe.

7 g active dry yeast
235 ml warm water
50 g white sugar
45 ml milk
1 egg, beaten
10 g salt
615 g bread flour
6 g minced garlic
55 g butter, melted

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes, until frothy. Stir in sugar, milk, egg, salt, and enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead for 6 to 8 minutes on a lightly floured surface, or until smooth. Place dough in a well oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside to rise. Let it rise 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in volume.
Punch down dough, and knead in garlic. Pinch off small handfuls of dough about the size of a golf ball. Roll into balls, and place on a tray. Cover with a towel, and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
During the second rising, preheat grill to high heat.
At grill side, roll one ball of dough out into a thin circle. Lightly oil grill. Place dough on grill, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until puffy and lightly browned. Brush uncooked side with butter, and turn over. Brush cooked side with butter, and cook until browned, another 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from grill, and continue the process until all the naan has been prepared.

That reminds me...I did some cookies the other day...will update u on that later.

-out

Prawns with vinegar sauce.

A sweet and hot prawn dish with many chinese cooking flavours..
PRAWNS WITH VINEGAR SAUCE.

what u would need...

PRAWNS!

Dried chillies. Garlic and ginger

-2 tsp oyster sauce

-2 tbsp siao xing jiu

-1 tbsp bak yau

-quarter block butter

-3 tsp condense milk

-pepper

-spring onion

-3 tbsp vinegar

I kinda played along with many ingredients and yes this is an original recipe.

Butter the ginger and garlic

until its almost cook.
Add more butter and condense milk. this is to give its sweetness and crispyness. (Im not jk)

The prawns have been added with the dried chillies pepper, light soy sauce (bak yau), the chinese wine, and then just give it a few tosses and finally the spring onion.

Dish onto a plate.

its actually quite nice....lol..try it yourself. I havent did the option yet but judging by the taste. Frying some chicken fillet with this recipe would taste lovely as well.

Lamb shanks. The simple turtorial.

Amy suggested that I put recipes and turtorials so that people can try instead of comment on muffin...lol....alright....

Lamb Shanks.
Leeks

Carrots

Onions

Potatoes

Garlic

Chicken Stock

red wine (optional)

Rosemary

Thyme

Cut the veggies ( I love slicing! haha)

Season the lamb shanks with herbs, salt and pepper. (lots of it! XD)
Carameliaze the onions and garlic
then transfer the onions with the chicken stock in a separate pot. and brown the lamb shanks with butter and olive oil.

Transfer the browned lamb shanks into the chicken stock pot. The pot with the onions.

After about 2 hours, the meat should be off the bone and beautiful!

You can add some oxtail soup or tomato paste for added flavour. But I didn't had much time so yeah....it was simple stew for my family tonight. haha....

the finish product couldnt be taken because we ate it all up....lol....so just try it yourself. SUPER EASY.

But last time I added oxtail soup into the stock...and it turned out like this.

enjoy.

Simplicity of a chocolate muffin

There's just something about chocolate chip muffins.

Something that's so addictive about it.

You can dine in the most finest places, have the most professionally baked desserts and such but somehow to me personally, just a simply good chocolate chip muffin takes the cake!

Seriously....

ESCEPIALLY WHEN ITS MEGALLY RICH CHOCOLATE CHIPS.

yes the words are fattening.

Chocolate Chips + flour + butter = fat.

We all know tat,

but its delicious by a long shot.

I dont know what makes me drool on really good chocolate chip muffins.

Is it the fluffyness of the muffin?

The crsipy top?

The elegant and smooth texture?

The smell of sweetness in the air?

The chocolate chips melting in your mouth?

I assure you this can go on for a long long time if you do give me more time to continue.

But Im not here to promote muffins. Its just an opinion from this gay muffin lover...lol

YOU JUST CAN'T GO WRONG WITH IT! YUMMY!!

of choc cakes that just aren't moist.

I made a chocolate cake recently...last last week...ok that is...kinda not recent.
It was alright. But it wasn't as moist as I wanted it to.
I cheated a bit by using the Intrico sponge mix....but that turn out terribly unsucessful.
Jenny, making cakes from stratch is the best, k.
Anyways, overall it was not as moist as Brenda's mom's cake. AND not even close to secret recipe's moist choc cake. hmmm....now that's awesome...seri0oousslyy.
Oh well.

A simple pie.

I had some extra puff pastry in the fridge and my mom was like telling me to get rid of it.

LOL

and so with some beef in the fridge as well....why not make a pie eh?
Ingredients were quite limited as we didn't have much at that time, so I had to kept it simple.

I started with chopping some carrots and potatoes for boiling. At the same time, prepared some chicken stock with a chicken breast and gizzards. Chop some onions to add. And poof a last minute stock! XD

I recommend you use beef stock though, but I didn't have the bones.

Generally it was all really really random.

Just basically popped everything that was generally what was needed to make a stew. But it worked k!

What I did.

-Saute the onions and garlic with butter and olive oil.

-Add in the beef and a few sprinkle of herbs (rosemary is a must!)

-slowly incorporate the chicken stock

-occasionally season it with pepper

-And finally a few tablespoons of good mushroom spaghetti sauce and some cut tomatoes

-if you have cream, it would be great to thicken the sauce with it

And cover the top with the puff, bake it for 15 minutes or so. and I guess that was about it. I made a small cafe inspired one and another big plate pie for the whole family. Lunch was served!

And truthfully, it was pretty good. A bit like the one in Dome cafe. Their beef stew had some tomato base elements as well....just like this one. I kinda like to incorporate some tomatoes to stews...it might sound weird, but they do have great flavour. Overall it was just a nice simple beef pie. Simple and delicious! =)