Sunday, December 4, 2016

Till we meet again

This has been a year of goodbyes.

One of my besties lost her dad a week-some ago. A good blogging friend lost her beloved mum. Chubby pig had to put his loyal rottweiler, Bravo, to sleep. And Big and Baby pig sent their fearsome fighter rabbit, Yeti Little Paw, to bunny heaven.

It's not easy to lose someone we love and care for. I know.

For again, I have lost someone very dear.

The dreaded C took aunt away a few days ago. It was a verdict we fought tooth and nail over, but as with most death sentences, no appeal worked. The only consolation out of this was that she was never in pain, and her discomfort minimal. God has been kind. 

And I'm grateful. For Sei Yee is the bestest, kindest, most supportive aunt anyone can ever be blessed with.. she's that angel, heaven sent to watch over us kids. She is unconditional love and care. She is nasi lemak, pancakes, tea, cakes and all so food, i mean good. 

My love affair with butter and old fashioned butter cakes, came from her. I will bake a butter cake in her honour, once I get over this dumpy feeling.. which I know will pass. Cos I know she's already in a better, beautiful, peaceful place with mum and uncle.   

Surprisingly, I'm not crying as much. I'm worried cos that's rather unusual for me. I do wonder if it's cos I've been crying so much the last few weeks when she was hospitalized, that there's not much tears left. I'm fearful I'm in denial, and my feelings are all boxed up and the storm will come, and it'll be a tsunami. I pray not. 

Yet, I'm hurting somehow and I don't sleep very well. The heart feels empty and tight right now. I just hope all this will pass soon.  

For now, I will reminisce over the good memories. And hold her in my heart for that bit longer.


She has fought the good fight. She has finished the race. She is in a better place.


 Here's to finding comfort and peace soon for all those who have loved and cared deeply.


Thursday, June 23, 2016

Bailey's chocolate chip cheesecake


Happy Birthday, Chubby! ^^

Bailey's choc chip cheesecake (recipe adapted from here)
~ fits a 9 or 10-inch square tin
Crust
200-220g oreos, crushed (or use crushed graham crackers+2tbsps cocoa powder+2tbsps icing sugar)
80g unsalted butter, melted

Filling
500g cream cheese
100g sugar
200ml sour cream
3 egg yolks
125ml/10 tbsps bailey's irish cream
2 tbsps flour, sifted
100g chopped dark chocolate/choc chips
3 egg whites
70g sugar

Chocolate frosting
100g dark chocolate
100ml cream
3-4 tbsps bailey's chocolate luxe, optional

1. Mix crushed oreos and melted butter together. Press crushed cookies evenly into a lined baking tin, till nice and firm. Bake in a preheated oven of 170C for 10-15 minutes. Remove and leave to cool. If lazy, omit the baking part and just stuff the crust into the fridge and chill for a bit..

2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese till light and fluffy. Then add sugar till well blended.

3. Fold in the sour cream into the cheese batter.

4. Gently mix in the egg yolks one at a time till well combined. Next add bailey's irish cream.

5. Fold in the flour and the chopped chocolates.

6. In a clean bowl, beat egg whites till foamy, and add the sugar bit by bit. Beat till soft peaks form (no need to beat till stiff unlike for chiffon cake).

7. Mix 1/3 egg whites mixture into cheese batter till well combined. Fold the rest in gently.

8. Place batter over crust and bake bain marie in a preheated oven of 150C for 50-55 minutes (the center should still be a wee bit jiggly ^^). Leave to cool in the oven with the door slightly ajar for about 1 hour.

9. In a clean bowl, melt chocolate and cream over a pot of simmering water. Add bailey's chocolate luxe, optional.

10. Spread chocolate frosting over warm cheesecake. Chill in the fridge overnight before serving.

Hehe.. so I drizzled a bit of salted caramel over Chubby's cake. But let me assure you, it's creamy, dreamy, melt-in-the-mouth, and just as delish, without the liquid gold ^^


Friday, February 5, 2016

Oatmeal cookies


I hardly ever prepare much, especially bake cookies, for CNY. However, when the oatmeal raisin cookies I ordered arrived, it was not quite what I had in mind.. And that's how triggered the great oatmeal cookie chase ^^||

Oatmeal raisin cookies (recipe adapted from david lebovitz)
227g unsalted butter
185g brown sugar
65g caster sugar
2 eggs
245g all purpose flour, sifted
3/4 tsp baking soda, sifted
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder, sifted
1/2 tsp sea salt
175 g rolled oats
250g raisins
* for oatmeal choc chip nut cookies: replace raisins with 200g choc chips and 100g toasted chopped walnuts

1. Beat butter and sugars till light and fluffy.

2. Add in eggs and mix till well combined.

3. Fold in flour, baking soda, cinnamon powder and sea salt. Lastly mix in the rolled oats and raisins (or choc chips and nuts).

4. Roll cookie dough into balls, or drop it freestyle into a lined baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven of 175C for 20-22 minutes, or till golden brown, and depending on how chewy or crunchy you want your cookies to be. If you want chewy cookies, do not overbake. I baked for about 22 minutes. as I wanted mine crunchy ^^


Now these cookies are exactly what I imagined oatmeal cookies to be ^^ Perfect!