Vanilla Cupcakes

I have been eyeing this recipe for a while. It has been popping up at a few food blogs I frequent and I have been wanting to try it. Finally did it today using the recipe posted by Hugbear here. I followed her recipe by using the brown sugar and white sugar and the exact reduced amount. It turned out just sweet enough for me. Thanks LeeLee for sharing. :)
Note: For those who had tried the original recipe all stated it was too sweet.



This cupcake is really a winner because it is so soft and fluffy! Even days later, it is still soft. This modified version of Hugbear's cupcakes are infused with the fragrant of brown sugar. Next time just remember to cut the recipe into half because the original recipe yields 24 cupcakes!! I forgot to cut the recipe into half (she didn't say how much this recipe yields) and kept looking for baking pans to fill the batter. Thus, the 6 cupcakes pan and mini bundt pan were used. Have to ask my hubby to bring some to work because I don't want to eat sooooo many cupcakes!

Spicy Hot & Sour Chicken

I saw this Beachlover's Spicy Hot and Sour Tilapia Fish and decided to give it a try. I like her idea of the sauce, incorporating Tom Yam paste instead of tomato sauce in her sweet and sour sauce. As you know, I also use Tom Yam paste in my stir-fry as this post here. So, let's get cooking! Instead of the fish, I stir-fry some chicken breasts to cook with the sauce. It's indeed a very good sauce, not only good for fish and chicken, but pork as well. Do give it a try! This sauce is slightly spicy, sweet and sour with hint of Tom Yam flavor.

Delimas Assam Seafood Paste (Assam Fish)

I wanted to try this Delimas Assam Seafood Paste for awhile but just never really gotten a chance to do so. Perhaps I was thinking of getting the similar fish like those shown in the picture of the packet before I cooked it. But, months went by and I just didn't see it (or I never walked on the fish aisle when I was in the Asian Market). Anyway, long story short, I decided not to wait anymore and took out my frozen Tilapia fillets and started cooking.

I coated my fish fillets with rice flour and pan-fried until golden brown, set aside. Then, I followed the instruction at the back of the packet, mixed 350ml of water with the paste and let boiled, then added in the frozen okras (fresh ones are best of course) and let it simmered for 10 minutes. Pour the sauce and okras on a plate and placed the fried fish fillets on top and top with more Assam sauce before serving. (Sorrylah, no tomato!)

This is how the packet looks like. For those who lives in the U.S., you can buy it online at mytasteofasia.com. If you like Assam Fish, you will like this! If you have tried this paste, how you cooked yours and what fish did you use?

Surprise!

I received a surprise package today. YAY, a package for me! Flip over and it was from France. So I know it's my gift from Cooking Ninja from answering the correct answer. I tried to find the direct link on that post but I just couldn't recall which post already so I gave up. What is it huh? Couldn't understand a word from the box!

Let's open and see! Hmmm...what is it huh? Still no clue!

What is it huh? Hahaha... Look at the ingredients list at the back, can't understand a word also, but managed to see a word Melon in it. So, I'm guessing it's a Melon Candy? But what kind of melon I don't know. It's my first of seeing and eating this kind of candy.

Look who else is enjoying this candy! Got a thumb up from her as well and she totally loved it! Okay, assuming this is how we eat it and what I assumed it is to be, if not "teruk lah"! LOL!

Thanks Cooking Ninja for my surprise gift from France! Please do let me know what it is okay? :)

Chocolate Chips Raisins Oats Cookies

Once I start, I couldn't stop! This recipe is so easy and so versatile that I just love to play with it. Help! So many combination and so many way to use this basic cookie dough to create whatever cookie you can think of (all sort of nuts, variety of chips, dried fruit, there is no limit!). And I haven't even started with cornflakes yet!!



I would also like to thanks Gina, the recipe originator for sharing this easy and yummy cookies in her forum. And thanks chawanmushi for posting it in her blog because I missed it at Gina's forum.

Mixed Golden Raisins & Cherries Oats Cookies

I love oatmeal cookies but I never attempted to bake my own oatmeal cookies because oats in any kind was just not in my shopping list. Then, I came across oats on-sales again and thought why not, at least I can bake some cookies or use it in butter oats prawns, also oats is good for us, so why not? Hence, I bought some old fashioned rolled oats.

I saw this Rolled Oats Cookies recipe at CookBake Legacy and decided to give it a try. I modified it a little to suit what I have in the house, such as I used canola oil and added 1/2 cup of mixed dried golden raisins and cherries. The result is definitely yummy! This cookie is crunchy in itself and the dried fruit gave it an extra chewiness when you bite into it. I totally love it! I will try it with cornflakes next!



When cooled on wire rack, store it in an air-tight container. This recipe is definitely a keeper, good for Chinese New Year and it's so easy to make and so addictive (I couldn't stop eating!). This is also one recipe that I can play with. Thanks Chawanmushi for sharing the recipe! :) Oh, it yields 38 cookies for me.