Sunday, November 28, 2010

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

http://apples-almonds.blogspot.com/2010/11/apple-cinnamon-muffins.html

Apples and cinnamon... what a perfect combination.  I am glad to have found this oh-so-simple recipe... it only requires dicing the apples and mixing the ingredients.  These muffins are light and moist, and there is a big chunk of apple that comes with every bite.   

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Portuguese Egg Tarts



OK, so I cheated... I used store bought frozen puff pastry.  I personally think there is just absolutely no reason to make my own puff pastry or phyllo pastry after my one failed attempt.  It was a total disaster, I had butter everywhere in the kitchen.  Store bought ones are good enough, I have said it.

I tend to prefer the custard in the centre somewhat wobbly, so I only baked them for 13 minutes.  I also reduced the sugar by 1/3 and still found them too sweet.  Having said that, I have to say they are quite delicious.  Perhaps next time I shall try making egg custard tarts (Hong Kong style). 

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Citrus Madeleines


http://www.mykitchensnippets.com/2010/04/citrus-madeleines.html

I have finally got my act together and cleaned up my disgusting oven. Now I can see what I am baking through the oven window...


I just bought a madeleine pan yesterday from the newly renovated "Toss & Serve" at FCP.   I have never had madeleines before so I don't know what the texture is like.  I did some research online and found that the texture is something between cookie and cake... I do like the shape of it.  The shop owner told me the madeleines always come out nicer if baked from a regular metal pan.  Make sure you brush the indentations of the madeleine pan carefully filling in all the ridges with melted butter, dust with flour and tap off any excess.  


This recipe yields 18 madeleines and if you bake them for 10 minutes, you will get the crisp, golden edges.  I like them without the crisp edges. 


The pictures are taken with my new Olympus E-Pen 1 camera without flash in my poorly lit kitchen.  They turned out to be quite good.