Passionatemae turns 5!

Passionatemae turns 5! Seriously, time really flies. But truth be told, even though I've had my blog for 5 years, I've not had the chance to fully dedicate myself to my blog. Life always gets in the way. And if it really wasn't for your continuous support, Passionatemae wouldn't have survived this long. Because of the support that I get from all of you, it has kept me motivated to continue to share my journey on baking and open up about my other passions related to food. 

I am so very thankful to be celebrating the 5th Anniversary of my blog!

Here are my favourite highlights turning a year older. 

Met these ladies at the Cake, Bake and Sweets show! You can also check out my review .

An afternoon with Heston for the "Heston for Coles" VIP launch!

These melt in your mouth Sea Salted Caramel with a shot of Rum (recipe)! Yum! Personally not a fan of caramels, but these..yum! 

 Torta Alla Gianduia (Nutella cake), I made for my husband's birthday! Check out the video below! 

In June, I started a new series called "Sweet Findings" featured every Fridays! Check out this week's entry!

I have also branched out into other things other than just baking (recipes). Also, am very grateful to hear from my readers and I took some time to answer questions from my dear readers here (Part 1) & (Part 2).

My posts are growing more in the "Did you know?" section of my blog! 

Latest addition to the family. Kitchen Essentials Part 5 : How long can you store your Ingredients? (Part 1| Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4) . More topics in this section.

I believe that I have finally found my style of writing. It took me a long time. The kind of tone, style to communicate with you. But I believe I have found it! I am glad! :) *grins*

 This is soooo not food-related, but from time to time, I talk about our adorable four-legged baby beagle, Cooper! 

Thanks again for believing in me. I'm happy to say that I've achieved more things these couples of months when I started investing more of my time to my blog than before. And I will continue to do more from now on! 

xo,

Mae

Sweet Findings

Hey!

Do you know that there are times where my mind just does not know what to write about? It's hard sometimes... There are just so many things running in my head...which direction should I go?

Let's just stop at that and check out this week's sweet findings.

1 - How to sneak Chocolate Chip Cookies into all of your desserts with recipes? I'll take 2, 5, 12, and 16 please!

pic:halfbakedharvest

2 - OH Boy! 35 Decadent Brownie recipes just for you. 

pic: twopeasandtheirpod

3 - Can't wait to try this Banana Pudding Tiramisu! 

pic: culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody

4 - You got me at Easy overnight Maple-nut Danish or Croissant Pastry.

pic: topwithcinnamon

5 - Make this 2-minute Nutella Mug Cake.

pic:cookrepublic

Happy Friday! :)

Sweet Findings

HEY!

I can't believe that my puppy; Cooper is 19 weeks old already! I remember the time when we first brought him home. He was unwell, but he recovered really quickly! Cooper is a pure bred beagle, if you don't know. He is smart, cheeky, playful, naughty and such a darling! He loves SOCKS!

Ooops...sorry for going off topic... *grins*

Did you discover anything interesting this week? I have! Here are my sweet findings for the week!

1 - Oh NUTELLA! Want to make a Nutella Brownie with just 2 ingredients? It's SERIOUS! Or....if you prefer another way....

pic: thekitchn

2 - Want to learn the science behind the best chocolate chip cookies?

pic: serious eats

3 - Looking for something to make for afternoon tea? Check these tiny palmiers! Aren't they cute?

pic: elephantineblog

4 - What your coffee says about you? 

pic: foodrepublic

5 - Love Waffles? Here's 10 waffle topping ideas for your Sunday brunch! 

pic: passionatemae waffles recipe

Sweet Findings (Before)

Sweet Findings (Next)

Happy Friday! :)

Cheeeeeesecake!

Hands up if you love eating cheesecake?!

I LOVE eating cheesecakes - the baked ones!

It is one of the easiest cake to make.

Whenever I feel like making something, but don't want the hassle of a too complicated recipe, I make a cheesecake!

 

 

I have made so many different variation of a cheesecake!

Cookies and Cream

Nutella

Peanut Butter & Nutella

Blueberry

New York

Chocolate

Peanut Butter

 

My favourite pick would be the Cookies and Cream! Actually I pretty much like everything that's Cookies and Cream, the crunch of those Oreo cookies! YUM!

 

So here's how to make my version of a Baked Cheese Cake - Cookies and Cream

 

Here's what you need:

3/4 pack of Digestive Biscuits (crumbs!)

70g of butter (soften/melted - it doesn't really matter, as long as you can mix it properly with the crumbs)

250g Philladelphia Cheese Block - soften/Spreadable Tub)

1 Egg

1/2cup of Caster Sugar (depending what's going into your cheesecake - you may want to reduce it, unless you want your cheesecake to be on the sweeter side)

1tsp vanilla extract

1 packet of Oreo cookies

 

Here's what you need to do:

1) Pre-heat oven to 150 degrees - I add a container of water on the bottom rack - to give moisture when baking.

2) Blitz or smash those Digestive biscuits into sand like - add the butter and mix it until you get a wet sand consistency. Press it to the bottom of the pan! Keep in fridge until needed.

3) Stir/Mix the cream cheese until you get a nice smooth consistency with a wooden spoon, add the sugar - mix.

4) Mix in the egg until properly distributed. Add the vanilla in and mix.

5) Now it is time for the cookies - break it into pieces 1/4 pack - to mix into the batter.

6) Pour into the prepare pan that has been lined with the biscuit base. Crumble the rest of the Oreos and sprinkle on top of the batter.

7) Bake for about 20-25 minutes until it is soft to touch.

8) Let it cool before keeping it in the fridge - chill for at least 2 hours before eating!

 

Say CHEEESE!! :)

 

My Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas is around the corner...

If you're still thinking of what to get someone, why don't you make something instead?

I have chosen a couple of gift ideas that you could make, and it is quite easy!

1. Peanut Butter Bon-bons

2. Red Velvet Cupcakes

3. Peanut Butter Oreos Cheese Cupcakes

4. Blueberry & Strawberry Jam

There are more ideas if you are thinking of making it for a party!

1. Stained Glass Jelly

2. Nutella Cake (Torta Alla Gianduia)

3. Summery Mango Kisses

Happy Gifting! :)

Online Book Shoppers

Hey...it has been a while...sorry...I have been so busy...

I had 2 weddings and a honeymoon to plan and work was keeping me pretty occupied too.

Now that's all over, I'll try and update it more regularly okay...

Anyway, I just wanted to know where do you usually buy your books?

As for me, I usually buy them online, as it is way cheaper than getting it at the bookstore...of course it doesn't include those places that has promotions or discounts from time to time like Basement Bookstore in Central Train Station Sydney.

Before I hit BUY online, I usually check out Booko.com to compare the books prices. Booko, makes it easy for me to see how much the book costs, shipping charges and delivery time frame.

 

So far, the 2 online sites that I usually use are www.bookdepository.com and www.betterworldbooks.com . I am sure there are plenty of other websites that might be cheaper. But for me to buy books to be shipped to Australia, these would be my 2 recommended ones.

Though, Amazon's prices are cheaper if you live in the UK or US, I would say Amazon would be better. Previously, when Amazon.co.uk used to have this promotion - free shipping to Australia, by spending more than £25, I used to buy my books from them, but I found that my books often arrives a lil' damaged.

Anyway, check Booko out, it definitely saves you time from checking various sites to compare prices if you're buying online.

Did you also know that Bookdepository is having a 50 books, 50 offers, 25 hours promotion now!?

*This is my own opinion, and I am not paid to do this. I just thought, this would come in handy for you online book shoppers!

Have a good weekend!

Oh oh...on another note, I made my hubby a Nutella Cake for his birthday, similar recipe to this here, but I made some changes.

I use my Instagram pretty regularly, follow me if you want - passionatemae

Tata xxx
Mae

Happy Father's Day with Chocolates!

Thinking of what to make for your loving dad on Father's day tomorrow?? 

How about a slice of Torta Alla Gianduia also known as Nutella Cake!

(Recipe adapted from Nigella Lawson: How to be a Domestic Goddess)

All you need are:

Cake:

6 large eggs, separated 

pinch of salt 

125g soft unsalted butter 

400g Nutella (1 large jar) 

1 tablespoon Frangelico, rum or water 

100g ground hazelnuts/hazelnut meal 

100g dark chocolate, melted 

23cm Springform tin, greased and lined 

Icing:

100g hazelnuts (peeled weight) 

125ml thickened cream

1 tablespoon Frangelico, rum or water 

125g dark chocolate

All you need to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC. 

2. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites and salt until stiff but not dry.

 3. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and Nutella together, and then add the Frangelico/Rum/water, egg yolks and ground hazelnuts. 

4. Fold in the cooled, melted chocolate, then lighten the mixture with a large dollop of egg white, which you can beat in as roughly as you want, before gently folding the rest of them in 1/3 at a time.

5. Pour into the prepared tin and cook for 40 minutes or until the cake’s beginning to come away at the sides, then let cool on a rack. 

6. Toast the hazelnuts

a) In a dry frying pan until the aroma wafts upwards and the nuts are golden-brown in parts: keep shaking the pan so that they don’t burn on one side and stay too pallid on others.

b) In the oven for 15 minutes at 180ºC. Toss/Stir is occasionally so that it don't burn.

Transfer to a plate and let cool. 

7. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, add the cream, liqueur or water and chopped chocolate, and heat gently.

8. Once the chocolate’s melted, take the pan off the heat and whisk until it reaches the right consistency to ice the top of the cake.

9. Unmould the cooled cake carefully, leaving it on the base as it will be too difficult to get such a damp cake off in one piece. Ice the top with the chocolate icing, and dot thickly with the whole, toasted hazelnuts. 

Tip: Do not put the Hazelnuts on the ganache while hot, it’ll turn oily.

Print this recipe!

Or something easier perhaps? 

How about a Dark Chocolate Cookies & Cream Rocky Road!

(Recipe adapted from Nigella Christmas)

All you need are:

250g Dark Chocolate

150g Milk Chocolate

175g Unsalted Butter

4 x 15ml tablespoon Golden Syrup

(225g)1.5 pack Chocolate Oreos, chunks

125g Mini Marshmallows

All you need to do:

1. Melt both chocolate, butter and golden syrup in a heavy saucepan. Once all is melted, remove from heat.

2. Add the Oreos and mini marshmallows in the pan. Stir.

3. Transfer all into a foil tray (236x296mm), try smoothing the top, it’s okay if it’s bumpy.

4. Refrigerate until firm enough about 2 hours before cutting it in slices. Sift some icing sugar on top just before serving. 

Print this recipe!

Other versions of Rocky Road...

Mini Rockers

Crunchy Rocky Road

Hope you'll have a lovely day with your daddy tomorrow! :)

p/s: these are the countries that celebrates Father's Day on the 3rd Sunday in June. 
(facts from Wikipedia)

Afghanistan, Albania, Antigua, Argentina, Aruba, Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cambodia, Chile, People's Republic of China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Macau, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Nutella Cake

Are you a Nutella fan? 

If you are, here's a great recipe for a Nutella Cake.

Adapted from Nigella Lawson.

All you need are:

Cake:

6 large eggs, separated 

pinch of salt 

125g soft unsalted butter 

400g Nutella (1 large jar) 

1 tablespoon Frangelico, rum or water 

100g ground hazelnuts/hazelnut meal 

100g dark chocolate, melted 

23cm Springform tin, greased and lined 

Icing:

100g hazelnuts (peeled weight) 

125ml double cream 

1 tablespoon Frangelico, rum or water 

125g dark chocolate

All you need to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC. 

2. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites and salt until stiff but not dry.

 3. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and Nutella together, and then add the Frangelico (or whatever you’re using), egg yolks and ground hazelnuts. 

4. Fold in the cooled, melted chocolate, then lighten the mixture with a large dollop of egg white, which you can beat in as roughly as you want, before gently folding the rest of them in a third at a time.

5. Pour into the prepared tin and cook for 40 minutes or until the cake’s beginning to come away at the sides, then let cool on a rack. 

6. Toast the hazelnuts

a) In a dry frying pan until the aroma wafts upwards and the nuts are golden-brown in parts: keep shaking the pan so that they don’t burn on one side and stay too pallid on others.

b) In the oven for 15 minutes at 180ºC. Toss/Stir is occasionally so that it don't burn.

Transfer to a plate and let cool. This is imperative: if they go on the ganache while hot, it’ll turn oily. 

7. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, add the cream, liqueur or water and chopped chocolate, and heat gently.

8. Once the chocolate’s melted, take the pan off the heat and whisk until it reaches the right consistency to ice the top of the cake.

9. Unmould the cooled cake carefully, leaving it on the base as it will be too difficult to get such a damp cake off in one piece. Ice the top with the chocolate icing, and dot thickly with the whole, toasted hazelnuts.

Print this recipe!

Enjoy! :)

Go Nutty for Nutella!

Yay, I received the thumbs up for my Nutella Cake :)


Dear brought it to work for his colleagues since it was his birthday, and I brought some to the office too.


The Nutella Cake was moist and not dry at all.


The dark chocolate complemented the sweetness of the Nutella which balanced the taste :)


Oh, it is a flourless cake too, just made from yummy chocolatey ingredients.


This recipe was adapted from Nigella Lawson.


I had a few complications along the way, especially when I first put in my cake, I had the greased paper in the tin before I poured the batter, and when I put it in the oven, it caught fire! I panicked, but I reacted quickly to save it. What happened was, my greased paper was too high up, heheh, and when I put it in the oven, it touched the touch of the heating element, and yea, it caught fire, but dont worry, no big dramas :)


I baked my cake longer than what the recipe stated, because I find that it was still watery, and wanted to make sure that it bakes properly. It was my darling's birthday, and I guess the pressure was on, because I really wanted to make it perfect :) What more, I've got to choose a cake that I've not done before..hehe..It's okay, he likes his Nutella, that's why :)


Enough of talking, I present to you my Nutella cake.

Look at the inside, all moist and chocolatey (I know, so much chocolate sauce :) )

Try this recipe, it is a lot of work, but if you're a Nutella fan, or a Chocolate fan, this is worth making :)

I've been trying to paste the recipe in here, but it keeps shutting down my browser.

I'll post it some other time or you could just google Nutella Cake recipe.

On another note, I feel like baking again tonight, as much as I'm so so extremely tired. Just thinking, what should I bake? Perhaps another cake? I bought Tim Tams, maybe a Tim Tam's cheesecake?

We shall see, update you on it later.