Banana Oatmeal Cookies

So I got inspired over the weekend
and decided to do my twist on a recipe
by cutting down the intake of butter, sugar
and also switching the egg for bananas instead.

Here's my twist on Banana Oatmeal Cookies!




Ingredients:

100g Butter
150g All-purpose flour
1/2 tsp Baking powder
1/8 tsp Salt
50g Rolled oats
50g Brown sugar
1 tbsp Honey
1/2 cup Ripe banana (mashed)
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
75g Dried fruits (i used dried apricots and raisins)
35g Walnuts




Methods:

1) Preheat oven to 150C. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. Add oats and mix well.
2) Whisk butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add mashed bananas and mix well.
3) Add in honey, vanilla extract and blend well.
4) Dump in all the dry ingredients, chopped up walnuts and dried fruits. Mix well.
5) Scoop out 1/2 tbsp of the dough and drop on your baking tray (with greased parchment paper).
6) Sprinkle more oats or rice sprinklers and bake them for 15 minutes or until golden brown.




One of the best cookies
ive ever baked to date.

So glad im improving. :)

Monday Inspiration.

Source: Vogue Italia.


What a wet, cold Monday
and it's December, the jolly season!

"Almost" feels like winter. HAHA!

As it seems my new love for baking and cooking,
ive started planning out some really cute gifts
to people who mean a lot to me and has especially
helped me out throughout the year of 2013.

But it will have to all be put on hold first for now
until I return from my trip to Hong Kong in mid Dec.

Busy month December
and soon it'll be 2014!

So exciting! xo.

Black (Chocolate) Friday.

Sometimes you just need a cheat-day.
Sometimes all you need is just chocolates.






Ingredients:
1) Hershey dark chocolate (1 bar)
2) Assortment of nuts (I used walnuts)
3) Assorted dried fruits (I used candied orange peel)
3) Orange flavouring (1 tsp)




Method:
1) Melt your chocolate bars in a microwave for about 40 seconds.
Dont overheat them or it'll dry up.
2) Mix in the nuts, fruits and flavouring.
3) Pour them into your tray and refrigerate them for at least 2 hours.
You can choose to do lil drops like i did or spread them out into rectangular bars.
4) Enjoy!

Baking at 5am.

Woke up one morning
and couldnt go back to bed
so i decided to raid my tiny kitchen
and pursue my latest passion, baking.




Ive done this previously before *here*,
so you can refer to the steps and ingredients (only 2!) list.




Another reason I decided to whip up
this easy recipe is because I had
ripe bananas sitting on the counter.

Ripe banana tend to be mushier but sweeter
and I love to freeze them up
to make smoothies, popsicles and ice cream!

What else would you make with frozen bananas?
Or what other fruits would you freeze?

Mini Vegan Banana Bread.

Back in the kitchen.

Im seriously on a roll here
after purchasing my new baking tools.

So this time round,
I went for a healthier alternative
to a banana bread.

Yes. Vegan style.

No butter or milk involved. :)




Unfortunately, i didnt have enough funds
to buy a loaf tin to bake my bread in
so i re-used my *mini muffin trays*
to make mini banana breads. haha!

Afterall, it helps control my portion
when i tend to nibble!


******

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas
2/3 cup of sugar
1 3/4 cups of whole wheat flour (i used organic multi grain flour)
1/2 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon baking soda*
1 teaspoon salt

*No baking soda? No problem! 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda = 1 teaspoon of baking powder




Directions

1) Preheat oven to about 180C. Lightly spray a 9-inch loaf pan.
2) In a bowl, mash the bananas with a fork.
3) Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Pour into greased pan.






4) Bake for 45-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middles comes out dry!
5) Cool in pan for 15 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.





Makes 8 servings. Enjoy!

My first (mini) muffins!

Okay I know starting at 27
to learn to cook and bake,
isnt exactly a 'wow' factor anymore
but it is personally a huge achievement for me!

I finally put my oven to good use
and whipped up a huge batter
(and thank goodness i did!)
for 2 and a half tray of mini muffins.

I bought the mini muffin tray
so that i was able to control my portions! haha!


******



Ingredients:
2 cups of self raising flour*
2/3 cup caster (super fine) sugar
60g butter, melted
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
200g milk chocolate bits/chips

Serves approx 33 mini cupcakes.

*No self raising flour? Not a problem! I swapped mine with every 1 cup of self raising flour = 1 cup of all purpose flour, 1.5 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/4 salt. ;)

Now being the health freak that i am,
i used organic multi-grained flour,
switched 30g of butter to 30g of
the *homemade applesauce* I did earlier,
I also used low fat milk and halfed & also switched
the milk choc chips to dark chocolate ones.





Method:

1) Preheat oven to 180C and lightly grease muffin pan.
2) Sift flour and sugar into bowl.
3) Using a spoon, stir in the remaining ingredients until well combined.
4) Spoon mixture evenly into pan, filling cups 3/4 of the way. (because it will rise!)
5) Place into preheated oven and bake for approx 25 mins. Muffins are cooked when they are light and golden.
6) Remove from oven and allow muffins to stand in pan for approx 5 mins.
7) Invert them onto wire rack to cool completely.





Now i wont lie.

I was so excited with my first batch
that i didnt quite check my oven properly when i baked
and totally ruined it by burning the top of my mini muffins.

So luckily i made a huge batch of batter
and switched things around.

I separated my batter into 3 bowls.

First bowl, I added orange zest and candied orange peels.
Second bowl, I added peanut butter and added choc rice on top.

For the third, I placed a lil batter in the cups,
then stuck a piece of milk chocolate square in the center
and covered it again with batter,
coated the top with crushed walnuts.

I did different tops
so i could differentiate them.








I half hoped my 3rd creation,
(the one with the choc squares)
would create an ooze like a lava cake would
when i cut it open,
unfortunately it didnt.

Must not be the right consistency haha!

But i must say,
they were successful, delicious
and gorgeous!

Verdict: Funny enough, the boy and I both agreed that the orange flavoured muffin was the best! yay!

Whatcha waiting for?
Now go ahead and try! x

PS: Btw, whoever created the silicone baking trays/cups are geniuses!


-------------------------------------------------------------

Its going to be a very busy week ahead
and soon im off for my first ever holiday
since *Melbourne* in March.

I know i promised to blog about the wedding
and i'll try to do it soon before i fly off!

Till then, happy weekend everyone! x

Kuih Batik.

Yes, im aware i am in a dire need of a manicure. -_-


So the other day me and mum
were discussing about our annual Christmas gathering
and what should we have on the menu.

Somehow we both remembered this cake
that she used to make for us alot
during our childhood.

This recipe of the 'Black Chocolate Cake'
or better known locally as 'Kuih Batik',
was taken from the Sarawakians (East Malaysia).

Best part is there's no baking involved!

So mum dug up the recipe
and made a test-run batch.

Oh man. It felt like Christmas came early. :D


******


Ingredients:

450g butter
7 eggs
Some cocoa (no specifics)
1/2 kg *Marie Biscuits*
Approx 14oz milo
1 tin of condensed milk
1 cup of cold water
Browning

(Sorry if measurements arent specific, this was from a recipe book
taken from her Sarawakian neighbour almost 20 years ago! If you're trying this out,
just try to do according to what-feels-right and you can reduce or add or substitute
anything else.)


1) Beat butter till fluffy, then add eggs in one at the time. Continue to beat and mix both.
2) Mix in milo, put cocoa, then condensed milk and water.
3) Transfer mixture to a pot. Then cook over slow fire until sticky and almost lumpy.
4) Once almost lumpy, off fire and add in broken pieces of the biscuits. Stir.
5) Lastly, press mixture into baking tray/ tin foil with back of the spoon until surface is flat.
Let it cool and refrigerate.


Happy cooking! x

Chocolate barks with nuts & fruits.

The title says it all.

Was having the worse Monday blues
anyone could possibly go through,
so I decided to whip up something simple
by doing a dark chocolate bark
with walnuts and orange peel.




Only 3 ingredients:
1) Choice of chocolate (milk, white, dark)
2) Choice of crushed nuts (Cashew, almonds, walnuts etc)
3) Choice of dried fruit (Apricots, cranberries, raisins, prunes etc)

*There arent exact measurements, it just depends how much you would want to make or prefer to add in.


Melt your choice of chocolate,
(i chose the healthier choice of dark chocolate)
and melt them in a bowl over
boiling hot water for a few mins.

When done pick the bowl out of the pot
and stir in the dried fruits (as many as you want).

Do this quickly before chocolate starts to set.




Place them over a tray lined with parchment paper
and sprinkle your crushed choice of nuts (i chose walnuts)
over your chocolate mixture
and let it set in the fridge for a
good couple of hours till its solid.

So simple and you can change to play around
with the choice of fruits, nuts and flavour you want
and it can be a wonderful lil' door gift too
by breaking the choc barks up and wrapping them
in clear, decorated bags.

All in a short span of 5 mins to make!

Now the only thing dreadful is the waiting time
for it to set so i can indulge. Urgh!

2 ingredient cookies!

Eat your heart out
with this healthy
2 ingredient cookies!

Of course you may choose to add
the topping of your choice
or flavour of your choice,
such as lemon/ orange zest,
dried cranberries, raisins,
choc chips (i did sprinkles)
or walnuts!




Ingredients:
1 banana (overriped would be better!)
1/2 cup of oats (i used rolled oats)

Serves 8 cookies.

Easy step by step recipe:

1) Mash bananas and oats together in a bowl
2) Then shape it however you want and place them on a baking tray and bake in 180C or 350F for about 20 mins.
(lined with greeced parchment/baking sheet! or cleaning will be a pain!)

You may choose for it to be crispier
or softer by adjusting your baking time.




It's the perfect chewies as well
for your tiny tots that's just about
to start their teething process. :)




It's my first time baking
and Im so proud of myself!

Will definitely do more in time to come,
after all chowing down 8 cookies in one go,
only means im eating one banana and 1/2 cup of oats.

HEALTHY! x

Popsicle Projects!

Remember *this*?!

Ive been going online so much
to research on an easy-to-do popsicle
and ive made two successful ones
that just absolutely made my week! :)

Chocolate & Peanut Butter Banana Popsicle



Absolutely lovely
and rather easy ingredients
to work with.

Although i did make a huge mistake
by following a recipe to melt the choc in microwave
and nearly burned it down. :(

Yes. I know what you're thinking,
making ice popsicles and i nearly burned down
the kitchen. -_-




Ingredients:
Bananas (depending on how many you would wanna serve, one banana serves as 2)
Peanut Butter
Chocolate chips
Chocolate Rice Sprinkles/ Chopped nuts
Popsicle sticks
Parchment paper

Steps:
1) Cut bananas in half and stick the flat end into the popsicle sticks.
Place them on parchment paper and leave them in freezer for about 45 minutes.
2) While the bananas are freezing, we melt the chocolate and peanut butter together.
You can use any type of peanut butters. I was using the peanut butter with choc swirls.
Amount to approx and depending on how many you would like to serve. If there is balance, you'll know what to do with your fingers. ;)
3) Take out frozen bananas and dip them in chocolate and roll them with your toppings of your choice.
4) Place them back onto parchment paper and freeze them again for 5+ hours. It is then ready to serve!

Easy right?!
And bloody delicious too!


Strawberry & Nutella Yogurt Popsicle



Ingredients:
Nutella (1 1/2 to 2 tbsp)
Honey (2 tbsp)
Yogurt (200g to serve 4)
Strawberries (1 cup, stem removed)
Popsicle moulds or paper cups with sticks

Steps:
1) Blend Nutella, Honey, Yogurt and Strawberries altogether.
2) Pour them into your moulds or paper cups and place the sticks.
3) Freeze them for 5+ hours and they are ready to eat!




So proud of the results
and they taste absolutely amazing.

It's so healthy
and low in calories too!

Of course you could play around
with changing it to blueberries, raspberries, bananas etc
and remember to suit the sweetness (honey) to your own taste buds
because freezing food can alter it to be less sweet.

Hope you guys enjoyed this! xxx

Happy 5th month, Zander!

My soon-to-be nephew turned
5 months last week.

Here's a photo of him
enjoying winter in Melbourne
with a Hippo winter cap. haha

Just too adorable to not share this picture.

Lots of love, aunty Sher! xxx


____________________________________________________________


My First Cheesecake!


Ive been cooking alot lately
and experimenting with new recipes
so when I told my mum-in-law that i wanted
to do a cheesecake,
just because it doesnt require an oven
which i dont have one,
she decided to share this recipe with me
from *Philadephia Cheese* and
make one together!







Ingredients:
1 cup of biscuit crumbs - approx 10 biscuits (we used digestive biscuits, you may swap to Oreo cookies for new kicks ;p)
1/3 cup of butter, melted
2 x 250g Philadelphia brand cream cheese, softened at room temperature
2 teaspoons of gelatin dissolved in 1/4 cup of boiling water
1 x 400g can of sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons grated lemon rind

Steps:
1) Mix biscuit crumbs with melted butter and press into base of a 20cm pan and chill it fridge.
2) Beat cream cheese with electric beater until smooth, mix in gelatin mixture, condensed milk, lemon juice and rind.
3) Pour onto crumb base and chill in fridge (2-3 hours or overnight)
4) Optional: Top and served with fruit of choice or white chocolate!





Fast, easy
and delicious!

Of course you can reduce the amount
of gelatin (which even i thought was too thick)
but my mum-in-law was worried
that the strawberries would fall off!

Just cant get over,
how beautiful it is,
although i'd probably work
on my knife skills next. -_-

Popsicles.

So ive recently bought
a popsicle mould from Daiso
and Im ABSOLUTELY hooked onto it.










Who knew you could have
so many recipes with freezing?!

Am gonna slowly try up
the recipes one by one
and the best part is because its homemade
I get to control the calorie intake
I would want in my lil desserts.

SMURFTASTIC!





Images are from *Popsicle Recipes*.