Japanese Cheesecake

First… happy 2010! (:

A new year, a new start. However, I still have food entries from last year that I’ve yet to blog about. I was flipping through my collection of recipes when I stumbled upon this very old recipe book that my friend gave it to me. I saw this Japanese cheesecake recipe and because it looks easy, I decided to give it a try.

The recipe called for a 7-inch cake tin which I found it to be just nice, but I’d think it will bake better in a 8 or 9-inch cake tin. The resulting cake is light and fluffy, but a little bit moist. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be like this as I’ve never tried Japanese cheesecake from normal bakery. Guess I’ll get myself a piece when I see it the next time. It’s a very easy and light dessert, but not special or powerful enough to try it again. Maybe I should try a different recipe next time.

Welcoming a New Year

I’m bad at keep new year resolutions, so I’ve decided! I shall not make any resolution for the year 2010. Hmm… wait, is that considered a resolution? Ahh… never mind.

Will be off to celebrate the new year in a few hours time, can’t wait! I still have many, many things I want to blog about, guess they will have to wait until the new year… d:

Have a happy, happy 2010! (:

Something for the Coffee-holic – Coffee Walnut Cake

I was a very, very addicted coffee drinker. I remember buying many different types of instant coffee to drink and to sample. From espresso to white coffee to cappucino to frappachino… my favourite was and still is mocha. I mean, what can a chocoholic and a coffee-holic complain about this perfect blend of chocolate and coffee – all in one cup!

When I start putting braces two years ago, I stop drinking so much coffee. From what I have heard/read/learned, excessive coffee drinking might cause unattractive staining when the braces come off. I’ve seen a picture of the unattractive staning at the dental clinic and I swear that it is scary.

Nevertheless, I will still drink some coffee now and then when I need a perk, especially during the examination period. I will never want to fall asleep halfway while answering the paper, it will be disastrous.

Okay, end of digression. This is a coffee cake that I baked for two of my friend’s birthday. At that time I was still having a blocked nose so I’m not sure how good the cake was but all my friends gave raving reviews over the cake, so I guess it’s a success!

A Not So Ordinary Pie – Cottage Pie

Down with a cough and flu, I have not really been cooking or baking as I just can’t smell or taste anything. It’s been two weeks already and I have not yet recovered. As the year is drawing to a close, this means that the holidays are ending. And this also means that I’m gonna be back in school and there will be limited time for me to bake or cook. So I should be cooking/baking more but I can’t because of my lack of smell and taste at the moment. Urggghh.

In any case, I am also lacking thoughts these days so I guess I shall not bore any of you with my oh-so-not-interesting-story and get on with the recipe.

Remember I told you in the previous post that I made a shepherd’s pie? I made a mistake. Apparently it’s not called a shepherd’s pie when it’s made with beef. It should be called a cottage pie. Sorry, my mistake!

Cottage pie… well, it’s similar to a shepherd’s pie, but it is made of minced beef instead of other kinds of minced meat. I think this dish can serve three to four people but when I made it, my brother and I are too famished and we gobbled them all up once it’s out of the oven. Never mess with potato and beef-lovers!

Making a cottage pie is similar to shepherd’s pie, just that instead of using minced lamb, pork or chicken, use minced beef! I’ve blogged about it before so I shall spare the talking and on to the photos!

Upgrading in Process

I’m in the midst of upgrading my computer from Vista to 7. So I’ve been backing up all my files and left the updating of this blog aside. There are really a lot of things I wanna blog about. I’ve long, long overdue photos of Macau and Hong Kong that I’ve yet to share; I’ve made Shepherd’s Pie; I’ve found a new favourite chocolate cupcake recipe that is oh-so-light-and-yummy; I’ve had two gatherings with my friends and I’ve made Tiramisu, one of Nigella’s chocolate cake, Smitten Kitchen’s adapted version of her Cranberry Coffee Cake and some other chicken recipes; I’ve also baked a Coffee Cake that is hmm… coffee-y and tasty; I’ve been to Malacca and back with tons of memories of mouth-watering Peranakan food and loads of Chendol.

There are so many things and well, I do hope I can get all of these up before the end of this year, as a wrap-up. I’ve decided to shift to Picasa to host the pictures, and hopefully after getting the new OS up I can start the blogging soon.*cross fingers*

Merry Christmas to everyone! (: