Chewy oatmeal cookies with cranberries

I am visiting my niece soon so, decided to bake something with cranberries because that's her favourite. Moreover, I have extra oatmeal left on my kitchen top, so why not? I googled for recipe that has these 2 ingredients and tada! There are a lot of recipes online but I am used to Joyofbaking's.

This recipe is very easy with short preparation and baking time. However because of my oven space constraint, it became time-consuming as I have to bake them in a total of 3 batches.

Home, our sanctuary

Home is my sanctuary so it's extremely important to fill it with the things I love! I know I always look forward to coming home after a day out or a vacation.

How to survive winter holiday?

360 degrees video

Just discovered one uber cool website!
I love it, I love it, I love it!

Lemon-Poppy seeds muffin

Poppy seeds are usually customary in flavoured bread, cakes, rolls and cookies. They are essentially the oilseed derived from the poppy plant, however, these seeds do not contain the narcotic properties as the opium poppy, though the plant contains alkaloids like morphine, the ripe seeds used for bakery or culinary contain only traces which does not cause any form of addiction.

They give the following benefits:

1) They are effective in quenching thirst, fever, inflammation and constipation.

2) Supply our daily dose of minerals, such as, iodine, manganese, zinc, magnesium and copper.

3) The oil from the seed is useful in treating carcinoma as it contains monounsaturated fatty acids.

4) They contain linoleic acid that helps in preventing heart disorders.

This is my first time using poppy seeds. Very interested in trying poppy seeds recipe. Just nice for my girls meet-up tomorrow. Recipe adapted from MarthaStewart with some minor adjustment.

Sharpie marker tie-dye

The other day, had a lot of fun experimenting new tie-dye method with little sister. We found this method through youtube.

One needle, one thread

Heyo! The conversation these days has evolved into the annual where has the time gone. When you hear this, you know that another year is coming to an end.

3 more days to New Year! Still can't believe time passed so quickly.

I told myself, I must finish this project I started beginning of the month.

A little Christmas baking - Crunchy Chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate chip cookies

Have been wanting to bake chocolate chip cookies for the longest time. Finally baked this successfully on one fine day. First time baking cookies, turned out not bad. Quite proud of myself ;)

This recipe is very easy. However it's time-consuming as I have to bake them in batches due to my oven space constraint. I had no experience in baking cookies at all, so my first batch was awfully burnt. After 15 minutes of baking, I pressed the cookies and they were soft. Since it's my maiden try, I thought they were underbaked. I baked for another 5 minutes and they were all burnt! Then I realised, the cookies would first be soft first at high temperature, and then harden and as they cool down. Mystery solved!

The batches after that were great! Really a learning through experience. ;)

Recipe adapted from Joyofbaking with some minor adjustment.

Ingredients:

226g  unsalted butter, room temperature
100g  granulated white sugar
100g  brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
295g  all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
270g semisweet chocolate chips
100g chopped almonds (optional)

Steps:

1) Preheat oven to 200dC.

2) Line baking tray with parchment/baking paper.

3) In an electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy.

4) Add the white and brown sugar to the mixture and beat until fluffy.

5) Add the eggs into the mixture, one at a time.

6) Add in vanilla extract into the mixture and beat until incorporated.

7) Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl as needed.

8) In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. 

9) Add half of the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and beat until incorporated and then add the remaining.

10) About half way through mixing, add the chocolate chips and chopped almonds to the mixture. Note: If the dough is very soft, cover the mixing bowl and refrigerate until firm (from 30 minutes to 2 hours).

11) For large cookies, use about 2 tablespoons of dough or adjust according to your cookies size preference, and drop onto the prepared baking tray.

12) Bake at 200dC for 15 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. Tips: Turn on your oven blower, if there is, for baking evenness. This only applies for cookies, and not for cakes.

13) Cool completely on wire rack.

In time for Christmas!

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28). In a world that is too much for us to bear alone, Christ has come to bring us into a relationship with Him and give us rest. 

Our soul finds rest when it rests in God. 

I wish that you all can find rest in Him. 

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Bridal Shower for childhood friend

We held a simple bridal shower for our dear friend on 13th Oct at Pietro Ristorante Italiano. The place is just so lovely. The staffs are so friendly and helpful. The boss is so kind he asked if we would like to get a private room. Of course we agreed! We got a cosy room to ourselves!

 We ordered Spaghetti Vongole, Risotto Con Funghi and Margherit.

 We bought the balloons, wand and tiara from Balloon Buzz Party Centre.

 Our beautiful bride to be, Queen for a day.

I have known this girl since primary school. We didn't actually become friends until secondary school. This girl was one of the girls who learnt driving first and she was the one who chauffeured me around hometown. We had love, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun. We went to tuition together, we studied hard together, we truanted classes together.

Our friendship grew and flourished. Even though we went different ways after secondary, we still kept in touch and went for short getaways together and catch up once in awhile. Now I'm honoured, extremely honoured to be her 'jiemei' for her upcoming wedding.

 Kisses from us <3

Love you many many! Wish you and hubby happiness under God's guidance and protection!

Japanese cotton cheesecake - de cousin version

So it's another baking time. This time round at cousin's place.

Materials required:
Cream cheese - 125ml
Whipping cream - 100ml
Butter - 60g
Egg yolk - 3 pieces
Egg white - 3 pieces
Castor sugar - 50g
Superfine flour/cake flour - 30g
Corn flour - 10g

Steps:
1) Whisk cream cheese, butter (cut into smaller pieces) and whipping cream over waterbath. Cream cheese and butter will melt nicely into a creamy smooth texture.

2) In a separate bowl, mix egg yolk (one at a time) and 30g of castor sugar until well mixed.

3) Separate cream cheese-whipping cream-butter mixture from waterbath. Add in egg yolk-sugar mixture. Note: Important not to mix over waterbath as egg yolk will be cooked.

4) Sift both flour to remove any lumps and fold in the flour gently. Do not over mix it as more gluten will form and make the batter stiffer.

5) Sift the mixture slowly into another bowl to remove lumps.

6) In a separate bowl, beat the egg white and the remaining 20g of castor sugar until smooth and fluffy. Recommend to use a handheld beater to give you more control.

7) Slowly fold in egg white mix to the mixture and mix well.

8) Line cake pan with baking paper.
9) Pour in the cake mixture.
10) Place the cake pan over hot water which serve as waterbath. Bake in waterbath so as the water will absorb the heat and provide a gentle, moist heat to bake the cake. Use a pan that gives about 5cm of hot water all round the cake pan. It's even better to place a folded towel at the bottom of the pan to make sure there is a layer of water beneath the cake pan.
11) Bake at 1600C for 1:20 hr or adjust according to your oven's performance.

VOILA! Fluffy Japanese cotton cheesecake

Happy baking :D

Always love being having kids fun, being kids with Tubby