Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy 2011!

Video

Ice Cream Book




Ice creaaaam....

I am on a look out for a good ice cream book. 


If you do know a good one, please let me know ;) 



Thanks!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Summery Mango Kisses

A bunch of us got together and celebrated Christmas eve. 

We made it into a potluck style, where we're to bring a dish.

Guess what I brought?

Desserts of course!

It's easy.


All you need are:
Meringue Kisses (Coles sells them) - crush/break with your hands
Fresh Mangoes (chill) - slice and chop them 
Passionfruit sauce (chill) - I used passionfruit sauce with yogurt, because that was all I could find at the supermarket.
Pistachios - grounded
Whipped Cream (chill)

1. Assemble layer by layer - alternating.
2. Leave the chopped mangoes at the end for the top.
3. Serve.

*best served chilled, so only assemble when you're ready to eat.
 (Chill - Mangoes, Passionfruit sauce and Whipped cream)
*if you don't like Yogurt (i scooped out more passionfruit sauce than yogurt), you can use Mascarpone cream or just buy Passionfruit sauce - Victoria Basement sells them.


Enjoy! :)

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Peanut Butter Lover


A fan of Peanut Butter? 

Yes, ME ME ME! 

Did you know that you need about 550 peanuts to make just a jar of Peanut Butter!!?


OMG, that's crazy loads of peanuts, don't you think? just to make a JAR! And I just go through em' like there's no tomorrow..

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Merry Little Christmas @ Passionatemae's Place

I've been meaning to blog..but I have been so extremely busy lately...

Hope everyone had a Merry Merry Christmas yesterday!


Here are some photos from yesterday's Xmas Party that we hosted at our place for the very first time.

We had 2 different tables..one was for the savoury food and the other; sweets.

Savoury: Salt & Pepper Calamari, Garlic Chilli Prawn skewers, Chips, Fried Wanton, and Salad

Sweets: San churros, Macarons, Oreos Slice, Mini Rockers, Daim Chocolates, Gum Balls, M&Ms, Gold Coins, Doritos, Santa Chocolates, and BBQ Crackers

(There was more food, but I was too busy running around, that I forgot to take a picture)




Salt & Pepper Calamari

 Garlic Chilli Prawn with zucchini skewers 

 Wanton served in Pop Corn box

 Grilled Garlic Chilli Prawns

Snowy Snickers Pie 

A little something for the guest to take home

Merry Christmas Everyone! Thanks for coming :) Hope everyone enjoyed themselves!

It was a great one!

Enjoy! :)

Monday, December 13, 2010

Happy Birthday Brother!


Today is my brother’s birthday!
Happy Birthday Troy!

You know I love you to bits…
I hope you have a great birthday with all the planning I’ve done.
Love always,
Your sister <3

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

How to save your cake?


Have you ever made a batch of cupcakes or muffins and it doesn't turn out the way it should?
Don't worry, I know how you can save it! Don't throw it away...

Before transformation.

Here's what you need:
Crumbly cake/muffin
Liquid or something that would help to stick (melted butter, melted chocolate, beaten cream cheese, maple syrup, etc)
Biscuit crumbs (any type)
Melted butter
Chocolate
Thickened cream

Here's what I did...
1) Break it the cake/muffin into pieces/mash them.
2) Mine was a little crumbly, so I added maple syrup. Do make sure not to over add, add just enough for it to stick together.
3) Line a springform cake tin.
4) Make a biscuit base (any biscuits, crush finely add melted butter) and pour into the tin to set in the fridge.
5) Heat up some cream till it simmers. Add to chocolate, let it sit for a minute before stirring until it melts. (Making ganache)
6) Start layering with a layer of the cake base on top of the biscuit base.
7) Add a layer of ganache. Let it set in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes.
8) Repeat step 5 and 6 until you've finished using all. End with the chocolate ganache.
9) Decorate with M&Ms.
10) Keep in the fridge until ready to serve.

Hope it wasn't too hard for you to understand. 

Be creative!

Enjoy!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Christmas BBQ lunch with the Blacks!

So last weekend, we were invited to a Christmas BBQ lunch. It was a really good meal! We thoroughly enjoyed the delicious food, courtesy of Mrs. Cynthia Black. 

Check out what's cooking on the BBQ pit! 

Some Italian Sausages, Lamb and some chicken sausages...

What a refreshing salad...

Another yummy delicious dish...

Yummy roasted potatoes...

Spicy Italian sausages...

Succulent Lamb...

Dessert to die for! Coconut Meringue with Mangoes drizzled with Passionfruit sauce...



How can you resist such a yummy looking dessert! 

Enjoy! 

Friday, December 3, 2010

I'm still here :)

I know it has been a while since I last posted something up. Please be patient with me. I've been fairly busy lately. 

Anyway, it's TGIF! So what do you have planned for the weekend??

Xmas is around the corner another 21 days left! HOHOHO

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Ever tasted or heard of Kopi (Coffee) Luwak??


While we were holidaying in Bali, we came across this cafe Excelso which served Kopi Luwak. Have no idea what I'm talking about? It's actually droppings of an Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) known as this lil' fella in the picture below.

Yes, you heard me right, droppings = poo, sounds yucky yet? 
Wonder how this works? The Asian Palm Civet aka Luwak, eats the coffee berries and then passed through its digestive system. Then the droppings go through thorough washing, drying, light roasting, brewing and other processes until it is ready and safe to be sold and consumed. 
Can you believe that these droppings is also known as one of the most expensive coffee in the world. 

Anyway, my parents are coffee lovers and decided to give it a try...

It was served in this.....Take a look at the video below that I've recorded on how the Kopi Luwak was served.

The aroma of the Kopi Luwak is mild, nothing strong like an Americano or black coffee. But it was definitely an experience. Don't worry, there were no sh*tty smell at all.
I'm not sure whether you can get it here in Australia or anywhere else in the world besides Indonesia and maybe Indonesian restaurants. But if you haven't tried it, you should, you only live once! :)

Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

i'm empowered.

" The best life you can live is the life you really want to live, not the one society dictates. There are so many choices that you have the power to make." 

- Jodhi Meares

Sunday, November 21, 2010

How do you tell it's good Chocolate?!

adapted:scientopia.org

All our senses (sight, smell, sound, touch and taste) come into play. Here are a few pointers that might help you tell whether it's high quality Chocolate.
adapted: The chocolate and coffee bibble.

Based on Appearance:
Chocolate should be smooth, brilliantly shiny and pure mahogany-black in colour.

Based on Smell:
Chocolate should not smell excessively sweet.

Based on Sound:
Chocolate should be crisp and make a distinct "snap" when broken into two. 
If the chocolate splinters, it is too dry; if it resists breaking, it is too waxy.

Based on Touch:
Chocolate with a high cacao butter content should quickly start to melt when held in the hand; this is a good sign. In the mouth, it should feel ultra smooth with no hint of graininess, and it should melt instantly.

Based on Taste:
Chocolate contains a kaleidoscope of flavours and aromas that continue to develop in the mouth. The basic flavours are bitterness with a hint of acidity, sweetness with a suggestion of sourness, and just a touch of saltiness, which helps release the aromas of cocoa, pineapple, banana, vanilla and cinnamon.


*Cacao - The botanical name and refers to the tree, the pods and at one the unfermented beans from the pods. The term is now used for beans that have been fermented.


Friday, November 19, 2010

Ultimate Aussie Surf & Turf with Beer Sauce

The other night, we had a Surf n Turf with Beer Sauce for dinner, recipe by using Carotino oil.

You can also view the recipe at Carotino's website - look for 'Ultimate Aussie Surf 'n' Turf with Beer Sauce., they have other recipes there too.

Anyway, here's the recipe. It's a great Summer dish especially when Summer is approaching!

Ingredients:

Turf (Beef)
Note: For best results it is highly recommended that you use these BBQ Cuts:
Fillet Steak, Scotch Fillet or T-bone (one per person)
Carotino Oil
Salt
Pepper

Surf (Prawns)
Medium to large peeled and de-veined green prawns (3 per person)
1 tablespoon Carotino Oil
3 crushed garlic cloves
Salt
Pepper

Beer Sauce
2 tablespoons Carotino Oil
½ cup brown sugar
1 onion finely minced
100 ml chilli sauce
2 teaspoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
125 ml Lager beer
Salt
Pepper

Cooking Instructions:
Beef (for scotch fillet medium-rare)
1. Remove meat from refrigerator (cover with cling film) an hour before cooking to enable the meat to reach room temperature
2. Season meat with salt and pepper.
3. Brush both sides of meat with Carotino oil.
4. Add meat to a "sizzle hot" bbq grill plate.
5. Place meat at 90 degrees and cook for 1 1/2 minutes.
6. Rotate meat 45 degrees (This will create the classic diamond grill marks on the meat) and cook for another 1 1/2 minutes.
7. Turn meat over and place uncooked side at 90 degrees and cook for 1 1/2 minutes.
8. Rotate meat 45 degrees and cook for another 1 1/2 minutes.
9. Remove from grill, place in a dish and cover with foil. Allow to rest for about 2 minutes.
Note: Cooking time will vary according to the thickness of the meat and how people like their meat cooked; whether rare, medium-rare or well done.

Prawns
1. Combine Carotino Oil, crushed garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl.
2. Add prawns to bowl and coat well.
3. Place prawns on a "sizzle hot" bbq grill plate.
4. Cook about 2 minutes on each side until prawns turn white (Do not over cook)

Beer Sauce
1. Combine Carotino oil, brown sugar, onion, chilli sauce, soy sauce, mild mustard, lager beer in a saucepan and bring to boil. Simmer for 1 minute.
2. Season with salt and pepper


Enjoy!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Make your own Ice-cream Cake

Thinking of making a birthday cake? 


Why not make an Ice-cream cake instead? Definitely sounds more interesting than a normal birthday cake right?

So it's easy, you only need a few ingredients and no more than 20 minutes of your time.

This is definitely a shortcut way.

You'll need:
500ml of any flavour/brand ice cream you want - thaw it for 5-10 mins before assembling.
Some snacks - chocolates, biscuits (oreos, any other)

1. Use a freezer proof bowl/tin;baking tin (it can be of any shape). Layer it with glad-wrap. 2 layers is better. Do make sure you've got enough at the top to wrap and cover the ice-cream.

2. Mix the ice cream in a mixer for 1 minute or so, but not until it looks soft/melty. 

3. Throw in whatever you want, oreos, snickers, mars, pods, wafer, maltesers, anything basically.

4. Mix properly and pour it into the bowl/tin. Cover it properly with the wrap. Press it lightly to make sure it fills every corner of the bowl/tin. 

5. Put it back into the freezer. Freeze till it firms up again and only remove it from the bowl/tin without the glad-wrap upside-down onto a serving plate when you're ready to use. 

Enjoy!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

NuffNang Xmas Party @ Bavarian Bier Cafe

Yes yes, it's almost Christmas time already. NuffNang Xmas Party was held on the 10th November @ Bavarian Bier Cafe.

We had free flow of drinks and some food. Apologise no food photos as I arrived late, and all the food was gone...

Great party, met up with new awesome friends!

Bloggers including Suze, Betty, JaniceJayne, Samantha, Leanne, Stephanie, Adeline, Angie, Karen, Rita, Minh and many others.

Started off with Mango Beer

Betty, Janice & Myself

Myself & Suze


Janice & Myself

Betty, Janice, Myself & Suze

Myself & Angie

Betty & Myself

Angie, Myself & Rita

Myself, Jayne, Sam and Suze

Leanne & Myself

Stephanie & Myself

Leanne, Adeline, Myself and Stephanie

Sarah & Myself

Merry Christmas NuffNang!