Soft Bread Loaf

Ingredients and Directions here.

Below is the preparation of the mother dough starter.

Foodnote: 

I divide the dough into 2 and roll to fit into 2 bread loaf pan without the cover. Brush with egg wash before baking. Bake for 30mins (turn at 20mins). Brush with butter immediately after removed from oven. 

This is going to be my favorite recipe. Soft and yummy bread. Softer when cooled and left overnight.

Bakery Style Soft Bread

Ingredients
Mother Dough Starter
1/4 tsp instant yeast
125g bread flour
125g water
(Combine all ingredients in a large container, cover and stand at room temperature overnight or for about 8-10hrs)

Group A
280g bread flour
80g cake flour
25g milk powder
60g sugar
8g salt
1 3/4 tsp instant yeast

Group B
1 egg
140g full cream milk

Group C
60g unsalted butter

Directions

• In a mixer with dough attachment, mix ingredients A and mother dough starter togther  
• Add B and mix till dough is formed
• Add in C and let it knead till windowpane stage (VERY IMPORTANT) stage (about 15-20min on high speed... to half hour on low speed)
• Transfer to a lightly greased bowl, cover and let it double in size for about 1hour
• Transfer to a floured surface, deflate and divide into 12 balls (or 50/60g each)
• Cover in cling wrap and rest the dough for 15mins
• Shape each dough or with desired fillings and proof for another 45min or 1hr (till double in size)
• Brush with egg wash (egg+full cream milk) and bake at 180 degrees for 12-15min
• Transfer to cooling rack and store in an airtight container

Foodnote: Always wanted to make soft bakery-style bread. Found and tried this recipe. I think this recipe is a keeper. I saw lots of good reviews and success trying out this recipe so it is a must-try and I am not disappointed. The dough is so easy to handle and the taste is so divine. 

I made 4 types of soft bread. Cheese roll, white choc melt, Delfi bloom, and plain bun. Just use whatever ingredients that I have on hand hehe. Looks like a go-to recipe from now on. Yeay! Going to make it into loaf next time.

Crispy Apam Balik

Ingredients

200g all-purpose flour

100g rice flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1 large egg

100g sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

200ml water

Fillings

roasted ground peanut

sugar

butter

sweet corn

Directions

• sieve all-purpose flour, rice flour, baking powder, and baking soda and put aside
• whisk egg and sugar and add the rest of the ingredients till thick batter is formed
• cover the bowl with cling wrap and put aside for 1-3hours
• heat the pancake pan with oil, scoop the batter and spread thinly
• sprinkle sugar and leave until the top looks cook (dry) and bubbly
• spread the roasted peanut, drop some butter and sweet corn
• leave till the edges turn golden
• fold the pancake into 2 and put on a wire rack to cool

Foodnote: Since I still have sweet corn and peanut leftovers, decided to try a crispy apam balik recipe. The batter is very gooey and I think I made it too thick. It was ok. Once cooled it is not so crispy. Not easy to spread on the pan though. Maybe need more liquid? Nice to eat and don't mind trying one more time.

Puff Pastry

Puff Pastry Base
Ingredients
Group A
400g plain flour
1/4 tsp salt
75g unsalted butter (cold)

Group B
175g cold water

Group C
250g pastry margarine (put in plastic bag and flattened evenly before putting in the fridge)

Directions

• in a big bowl, mix flour and salt and add butter... use fingertips and gently create crumbs
• transfer crumb mixture into mixing bowl with the hook attachment and turn speed 2 adding water and slowly add water slowly around the bowl
• after water is absorbed by flour, turn to speed 3 till dough reach "clean up stage" (dough leaves the side of the bowl and form a ball. Note that it won't have smooth texture)
• transfer dough into cutting mat and roll and squeeze with hands until you get a smooth and even texture
• roll out dough slightly bigger than the pastry margarine sheet (1cm excess)
• eg. if the size of margarine is 15x10cm... size of pastry should be 31x11cm so that pastry can be folded to cover the margarine
• fold in margarine and repeat 4 times. The process must be same eg. gatefold from the top down, bottom up and opening side on the right << considered one time (size is not important)
• rest the dough for 15min in the fridge before cutting and shaping
• roll rested dough into 20cm length and from there approximately divide out into 8 pieces
• shape accordingly with fillings and glaze exposed pastry with egg yolk
•  and bake at 180°C for 20mins using fan mode
• reduce to 170°C and bake for another 10min

Chicken Pie Filling
Ingredients
150g potato cubes
35g carrot cubes
1 chicken cube
(boil the above ingredients till potatoes and carrot are fully cooked)
20g butter or corn oil
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 chopped onion
300g chicken cube
50g button mushrooms cut small pieces
120g full cream milk
30g plain flour
1/4 tsp paprika (for color and taste)
1/4 tsp parsley flakes
1/4 tsp oregano
pinch of black/white pepper

Directions

• fry onion and garlic till fragrant
• add chicken and cook till chicken turn white
• add milk till bubbly and thick then add flour 
• add the rest of the ingredients and cook till creamy

Cream Cheese Filling
Ingredients
225g cream cheese
75g caster sugar
1/4 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp vanilla essence

Directions

• just mix all ingredients till fully combined... that's all

Foodnote: Another class that I attended. I am more so interested in making fruit tarts. The pastry turns out yummy. My niece ate almost all of it. I am so happy and love the class. Hope to attend more classes. Must find a time to practice all my bakes on weekend first.

1. Chicken Pie
2. Open Top Chicken Pie
3. Tuna Puff
4. Nutella Chocolate Chip
5. Apricot Custard Puff
6. Peach and Cream Cheese Diamond Puff
7. Strawberry Custard Pinwheel Puff

Tarts, Tartlets and Pies

Shortcrust Base
Ingredients
155g plain flour
20g caster sugar
50g ground almonds
1/8 tsp salt
100g unsalted butter (cold)
1 large egg (65g)

Directions

• in a big bowl, mix all dry ingredients
• add in cold butter and use fingertips to rub into dry mixture till crumbly
• in a small bowl, just stir eggs gently till well combined 
• add the egg to the mixture and fold gently till dough is formed (clean up stage)
• fill dough into pie or tart mixture of your choice
• use fork to create tiny holes in the shortcrust before baking
• bake at 150°C for 30mins
• approximately this will yield 16 small tart cups or 2 big pie molds

Instant Custard Cream
220g fresh milk
60g instant custard powder

Directions: use paddle attachment & whisk till thickened

Milk Chocolate Ganache
300g milk couverture chocolate or compound chocolate (do not use chocolate chip)
150g dairy whipping cream (choose more than 35% fat)

Directions: on a double boiler, melt the ingredients and gently mix till combined. Pour into the tarts/pie and set in the fridge.

Homemade Piping Gel

2 tbsp gelatin

2 tbsp water

2 cups light corn syrup (dissolve 2 cups of sugar + 1/2 cup of warm water)

Directions: dissolve gelatin in water and leave for 10min. Heat the corn syrup over low heat, stir in the corn syrup and mix well. It will slightly thicken and ready to use once cooled.

Foodnote: To add shine and keep fruits fresh longer on tarts, glaze it with piping gel. This recipe can be used to make chocolate tartlets, fruit tartlets & mixed fruits pie tart.

Bread Pudding

Ingredients
2 loaves of bread (leftovers)
1/2 cup of unsalted butter
1 can of evaporated milk or 2 cups of fresh milk
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of sugar
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp of cinnamon powder
1/2 tbsp of vanilla essence
2 eggs
raisins (optional)

Directions

• in a pot, combine butter, milk, water, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon powder, and vanilla essence. Cook until the butter melt but not till boiling. Leave to cool...
• add the eggs and whisk into the mixture. Put aside...
• cut breads into small pieces and arrange in any greased cake pan
• if you have raisins, randomly put in between the breads
• scoop the pudding mixture pour evenly on the bread
• pat bread so that pudding mixture is evenly absorbed by the bread... put aside for about 30min
• bake in pre-heated oven at about 160 degree for about 20 to 30 mins

Foodnote: A kind friend, gave me lots of breads. I gave some to my brother who lives nearby and kept 2 loaves of bread. One is kaya and one is coconut. After 2 days, I use the leftover to make the bread pudding. I included the kaya but remove the coconut fillings. I think it was quite nice. Of course it would be nicer with vanilla sauce... but no time for that. It is nice eaten warm. Love the crispy top and sides yummyyyy

Lazy Chicken Porridge

Ingredients
1 cup of rice washed and drained
1/4 or more chicken chopped to small pieces
1 medium sized onion finely sliced
2 garlic finely chopped
small piece of ginger (lightly pound)
dry fragrant spices (2 cloves + 1 cinnamon stick + 1 cardamom seed + 1 star anise)
1 tbsp ghee
1 tbsp vegetable or olive oil
1 Knorr chicken cube
1 tsp white pepper powder
salt to taste
fried shallots for garnishing
some cubed carrots or other vegetables (optional)

Directions

• in a medium size pot, fry cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom and star anise in ghee and oil
• put in onion, garlic, and ginger and stir fry till fragrance
• add in chicken and cook till chicken is halfway cooked
• add in carrot and a cup of water and let it simmer
• put in the rice and another cup of water together with chicken cube
• add salt and pepper to taste
• cook on lower heat till rice turns to porridge... stir and add in water occasionally till desired congee consistency
• garnish with fried onions once cooked

Foodnote: Just craving for chicken porridge so just use whatever ingredients available. Actually tasted good. Delicious comfort food.

Jemput-Jemput Pisang

Ingredients 

3 ripe bananas

1 cup self-raising flour (or 1 cup of plain flour + 2 tsp baking powder)

2 tsp sugar (optional)

pinch of salt

vegetable oil for frying

Directions

• mash bananas then add flour, sugar and salt
• scoop about a teaspoon or tablespoon (up to you) and deep fry in pre-heated oil till dark golden brown

Foodnote: That's all. Simple and good and soft and yummy. If the bananas are still slightly firm, I also like to just cut it up (dice) and mix with the batter. It will be very nice when you bite into soft juicy bananas... ooh la la...