Orange Butter Muffins

This is the first time that I immediately use the recipe upon chancing on it. It was just too good to be true!! I had 4 big beautiful oranges in my fridge and was thinking of making something orangey. When I saw this recipe on Evan’s blog, I just printed it out and started making it on the spot. And it was delicious!!

Evan’s advice was to grate 2 large oranges into the mixing bowl that you’ll be creaming your butter and sugar in. Fantastic! The aromatic oils from the orange gave the bright colour to the muffins and the sweet taste of fresh oranges. I had the privilege of working with wonderfully sweet oranges too. I only had to use 4 teaspoon of juice so I gave piggy the rest to drink.



Emm.... one of my favourite fruit.



The results?

One of the best muffins I have ever made!


Orange Butter Muffins (Evan’s Kitchen)
Rating: 5/5

Ingredients (makes 12) :
175g butter, softened
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 1/2 cup plain flour
3 eggs
2 tsps baking powder
finely grated rind of 1 orange
2 tsps orange juice

Directions :
place butter, caster sugar and grated orange rind in a mixing bowl and whisk mixture until light and fluffy.
add in eggs, one at a time and whisk until well combined between each addition.
sift together flour and baking powder over the butter mixture then fold in lightly using a metal spoon. add in orange juice and mix well.
spoon mixture into muffin cases until about 3/4 full and bake in a preheated oven of 160 deg c for 25 mins until skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
let cool completely before frosting or storing.

New York New York

Another trip to this cafe. Had good food again.


Hot 'Virgin' Mary Soup - No vodka and only the freshest tomatoes in this concoction ($4.90)

This was my favourite! The soup was thick and even a little crunchy.



Lover's Sunset - Orange juice and cranberry mingle to recreate a beautiful sunset ($5.90)Beautiful!

Mind you, it was freshly squeezed orange!



Latino Chicken Escalope - Tender Cuban chicken thigh with superb gravy! Another Latino contribution to New York ($12.90)

Piggy had the chicken which was really well marinated. I loved the wedges!



Philly Cheese Steak Pizza - Sliced beef, capsicum, onion, cheese sauce, brown sauce, mozzarella ($13.90)

I had this. The beef was gooooooooood....

Hope to go back another time.

Pizza

I always wanted to try making pizza. I know that the dough itself is quite a tricky thing to make. Hence, Betty Crocker's Pizza Crust. Saw this at The Market Place in Raffles City and took it off the shelf without a second thought.



It's as simple as just adding hot water. However, my hands got sticky and gooey with the dough. The package says to let it rest for about 5 minutes but i suggest a little longer. Maybe 15.

I went according to Betty's tip and used 1 cup of pasta sauce, 1 cup of toppings and 1 cup of cheese. I think there was a little too much sauce. Shall use 3/4 cup next time. But it turned out beautiful.



The pizza wasn't very big. Enough for about 3 ple.

Emmmmmmmmmm.......... look at the cheeseeeee.......



Piggy and I ate it when it was cold.. Kinda yucky. Cos the crust was hard and the toppings were cold. So everyone, eat pizza fresh from the oven okie!

Betty Crocker's Pizza Crust(avaliable @ The Market Place Raffles City)
Rating:4/5

Successful Kueh!!!

Yay!! I finally succeeded in making my first good batch of kueh ko swee. This time i was less kan chiong and more aware of the texture of the mixture. It's a pretty tricky kueh and you've got to do some of your own 'agarration'. The recipe said to use only 240ml of the syrup but after consulting the guru (aunt nelly), i can put any amt of the syrup or water but i need to end up with 960ml of liquid in total at the end of the mixing.If I used 350ml of syrup and 610ml of water, how much liquid did i use altogether? Ooops.. occupational hazzard.

Heading the guru's advice, i seperated some of the coconut and steamed about 3/4 of the rest. The fresh coconut was BAGUS! So nice and chewy and juicy. Not that the steamed ones are not nice but the fresh ones add the coconut aroma to the kueh. Must use fresh coconut instead the next time. The down side is that it has to be kept refrigerated all the time and must be consumed within 12 hours.



Looks like a whole lot of coconut on some brown paper eh..



Got into trouble trying to take this photo. I spilled some coconut.. okie... a lot of coconut onto the floor..

Kueh Koswee(Aunt Nelly)
Rating:5/5

For the syrup:
240ml of water
200g of gula melaka, broken into pieces
70g of sugar
3 pandan leaves

For the batter
1 grated coconut, brown skin removed
A pinch of salt
110g of rice flour
90g of tapioca flour
720ml of water
4 tablespoons of alkaline water

Syrup:
1. In a pan, boil together water, gula melaka, sugar and pandan leaves
2. Strain the syrup and leave to cool. Measure only 240ml of the syrup for use

Batter:
1. Mix the grated coconut and a pinch of salt and steam for 5 mins. Set aside.
2. Grease a 20cm x 15cm shallow cake tin
3. Blend the rice flour and tapioca flour, with the syrup and a pinch of salt
4. Gradually stir in the water and the alkaline water. Combine well.
5. Then place the mixture over a pot of hot water. Cook the mixture by stirring gently continuously with a hand whisk until it thickens
6. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin. Steam over boiling water for about 20 mins
7. Leave to cool completely before cutting into slices. Roll the slices in grated coconut to serve.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Had itchy fingers again and decided to make something on Wednesday night. However, i was too tired out from life group and just wanted to sleep more. The itch didn't go away. The next morning, i decided to try out this recipe from Diana's Desserts. The reviews were really good so i decided to give it a try. Really good! I brought the whole batch of 20 muffins to school and it was wiped out by everyone! Wanted to leave some for my guinea piggy but it was too late! I used up all the bananas at home. My poor dad didn't get to eat them. Nvm.. shall bake another batch for my famuly and piggy another time.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. (Diana's Dessert)
Rating: 4.5/5

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup chocolate chips
2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (about 4 large)
1/2 cup (1 stick/4oz/113g) butter or stick margarine, melted
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract


Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease 12 large muffin cups.

In large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chips.

In small bowl, blend bananas, melted margarine, milk, eggs and vanilla. Add to flour mixture, stirring only until just blended (do not over mix). Fill muffin cups.

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until golden brown and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Let stand several minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool.

Makes 12 large muffins.

Tip: Use a spring-release ice cream scoop to spoon batter into muffin cups.

Spizza at Harbourfront

This time, we went with 3 other people for out weekend dinner. Had a difficult time trying to find food at the newly opened Vivocity and so we settled for dinner at this restaurant at harbour front. Italian food again. What's cool about this place is that they have individual female names for the different pastas. There are even names for the appitisers and desserts.

Salad



Titus - salad with chicken pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan


Appitiser



Caligola - crispy calimari with pizzaiola sauce

Pizza


Katerina - tomato, mozzarella, beef carpaccio, rucola, shaved parmesan



Tara - tomato, mozzarella, egg, bacon, button mushrooms


Personally, i enjoyed Tara. Sadly, it only reminds me of Terrible Tara in my class. The ever complaining, ever whining, ever not handing up work Tara. But it tastes so good here. Life is just so full of paradoxes.

Spizza
Harbourfront
Food:4/5
Service:4/5(mind you, they were very shorthanded and the ever smiling manager had to handle a very unreasonable customer. Best man!)
Location: 4/5 (actaully 3/5 for some ple who said that it's less accessible compared to Suntec... excuses... humph!)
Cost: $11/pax

Brownfins

Was intending to make brownies for the starlight cinema event we were going to. The blue moon rose again and angela decided to help out. She made a suggestion to make the brownies in muffin cups for easy eating. Well, worth a shot. Used the Hersheys's Best Brownies recipe and turned out fantastic! The chocolate was so rich and heavenly!!




Mmmmmm. However, we only managed to eat one each as we were so full with teck seng's wonderful pasta salad and sandwich. He's such a brilliant cook you noe. He suggested mashing up some strawberries and putting them in sprite. It's more for champange but it was a blast! So nice and refreshing!

Brought the remaining brownfins to school and gave some to Edwin and LinTze. Edwin really loved it. Even ordred a batch from me!!! My first customer!!!! So exciting!!! I hope i won't let you down brother....

HERSHEY'S Best Brownies
Rating: 5/5

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts(optional)
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

2. Place butter in large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 to 2-1/2 minutes or until melted. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with spoon after each addition. Add cocoa; beat until well blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat well. Stir in nuts, if desired. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Frost if desired. Cut into bars. About 36 brownies.

New York, New York at Citylink Mall

Cost: $48.94

Soup:
Roasted mushroom cappuccino - Cream of roasted mushrooms with frothed milk. Topped with a sprinkle of cocoa powder. The perfect pick-me-up!

Main course:



Juicy burger supreme - A killer burger with a pure beef patty served real juicy. Roll up your sleeves now!



Brats wrapped in bacon & cheese - Bratwurst sausages (brats) tightly wrapped with bacon and grilled with loads of cheese!

Beverages:

Iced ultra-rich chocolate velvet
Dark strawberry quencher

Conclusion:

This could become one of my favourite places. Pricing remains a little steep but genuinely worth it. Main courses were typically American - hearty and sinful. The dark strawberry smoothie was wonderfully smooth and rich. The soup was a big disappointment though, probably cos I don't like mushrooms.
Jas: I love the soup! I love mushrooms! I prefered the dark strawberry quencher though. Less like milkshake.

Food: 4/5
Drinks: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Ambience: 3.5/5

Late Night Baking with Jasmine Tang

Yes, i just finished baking some apple cinnamon muffins. Was quite nervous about it beocs it was the first time i tried out the recipe from AllRecipes. Went out really well even though i was shuffling between the kitchen and the computer. Wanted to make the muffins for dear Yili who's down with chicken pox. She loves apples so i decided to give it a try too. Hope she likes it. It turned out really well. No burning or cracking and smells heavenly!

I can imagine myself hosting a graveyard shift talk show. Baking and viewers/listeners calling in to talk about life and all that. Sounds cool..

Okie.. feel a bit tired now. Think i better sleep soon or else i wont be able to wake up to cook lunch for yili!

Apple Strudel Muffins
AllRecipes.com
Rating: 4/5

INGREDIENTS:
• 250 g all-purpose flour
• 3 g baking powder
• 2 g baking soda
• 3 g salt
• 115 g butter
• 200 g white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 5 ml vanilla
• 190 g chopped apples
•
• 75 g packed brown sugar
• 10 g all-purpose flour
• 0.3 g ground cinnamon
• 15 g butter
________________________________________
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 12 cup muffin pan.
2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar and eggs until smooth. Mix in vanilla. Stir in apples, and gradually blend in the flour mixture. Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin pan.
4. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture is like coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over tops of mixture in muffin pan.
5. Bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow to sit 5 minutes before removing muffins from pan. Cool on a wire rack.

Pierside Kitchen & Bar, One Fullerton

Cost: $100.25 after discount
Fully paid by the very generous Mr Wong. Thanks sweetheart.: >



Appetizer:
Seared Maine scallop carpaccio with Granny Smith, asparagus, mint & matsuhisa dressing - $18+++
The scallops were fresh and succulent. What a savoury start to the evening!



Soup:
Vichyssoise of celeriac, leek and potato, smoked salmon & chive bruschetta - $12+++
This cold soup took me by surprise because, well, it was cold. It was rather bland and disappointing.
Jas: I witnessed a very shocked expression on another diner when he tried the soup. So i guess we were not the only ones.


Main course:




Pan roasted rockfish with dukkah, quinoa tabouli, salsa verde & beurre blanc - $28+++
This was really disappointing. The fish and garnishing was quite limpid, probaably because I didn't know half the ingredients.



Oven roasted miso cod, new potatoes & sweet peas - $28+++
This was on the other end of the scale. It was overpoweringly rich and infused with miso; the whole dish left me hankering for water to wash it down. A few bites of the fish tasted really good, but after that it was a little too much. Best shared.

Dessert:



Valrhona dark chocolate fondant & vanilla bean ice cream - $14+++
Jasmine was waxing lyrical about it and I can't understand why. This was hot chocolate fudge ensconsed in chocolate sponge, but isn't that just a high-class microwaved Twiggie/Twinkie?
Jas: Hey, i'm a big big chocolate fan okie! It looks so plain boring on the outside but inside, it's oozing with dark high class chocolate. Hey Mr Wong, don't deny that your eyes were tightly shut when you put that spoonful of rich chocolate and ice cream into your mouth okie!!



White coffee pannacotta, Bailey's Irish cream & toffee ice cream - $14+++
This was the better of the desserts, I found. My only complaint was that the portion was a wee bit small.

Conclusion:
Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Location: 4/5

I agreed with Jasmine when she said we shouldn't have gone to Capella first; the rest are paling in comparison. And they almost let me go without paying for dessert. Had to point it out to them. Bloody $32.65 chivalry. =[
Jas: My HERO!!! My honest hero.

Next stop: Olive Ristorante, Labrador Park (al-fresco only; hope it'll be a cool night =])
Jas: This time, it's my treat. Mr Wong is going to ke tok me man!!! : /

pictures by Jasmine
words by Aaron