Best Breadmaker Bread Mix

Hard to find the best breadmaker bread recipe, not to mention bread mix. I gotten this mix from J-Mart, and of cos it comes from Japan. And as most ppl knows, Japan always have yummy snacks n food. And this mix is really nice. Soft and fluffy.

It is real simple, only need 180ml of water + 3g Yeast. I especially bought Hokkaido Milk to make the bread since J-Mart have it. Best combination. Overall taste is ok, slight saltish. Great on its own.

My boy pinch it before I could take a pic. And then kept asking for it. I was amazed of th softness of the bread, as it is comparable to those 5K bread or Wu Pao Chun bread tt I baked recently. My boy had a slice and kept asking for more. Try it if u happen to pass by a J-Mart outlet. 

Snicker Cheesecake

Wanted to make cheesecake ice cream cake but couldn't find the previous ice cream recipe that I wanted to try previously. Gotten all the ingredients but couldn't find it anywhere regardless using google search as well.. So I went in search of my favourite source of ice cream recipe - BrownEyedBaker.

This snicker cheesecake caught my eye as hubby is always ready for a snicker bars. And since I have cheesecake and snickers at home, I tot myself why not?.. I quarter the recipe as it uses almost 1kg of cream cheese. And since we are all on diet, I guess we could lessen the guilt on our tummy..

I used Digestive biscuits with honey mixed in to form the base. Else than that, everything remains the same for the recipe. I did it a day before to sing song for hubby on actual day. Hoping that my birthday boy will be happy with it.

Luckily my maiden and last minute decision did me well. Hub likes it though a bit sweet for him. My neighbours enjoyed them!

Snicker Cheesecake (adapted, modify slightly from BrownEyedBaker)
12pcs Digestive Biscuits, chopped
4Tbsp Butter, melted

250g Cream Cheese
1 Egg
2/3 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Heavy Cream
1tsp Vanilla Essence
5 mini Snickers Bar, chopped

Advanced Happy Birthday - Orange Chiffon (Little Thumbs Up)

Haven decide what to bake for hubby birthday dinner with his ex collits. Last min saw this simple orange chiffon which coincides with this month's Little Thumb up. So I decided to bake this simple dessert to bring along.

Very straight forward method and simply deco with some whipped cream and almonds. It is not very dry, taste like sponge cake to me and most impt not dry! Hubby loves it, 6 slices out of a 7" Chiffon n he took my share too.. His collits have the 'Pass' too... Try it...

This post is linked to the event, Little Thumbs up organised by Bake For Happy Kids, and My Little Favourite DIY, hosted by Ann of Anncoo Journal at this post. 

Orange Chiffon (adapted from BakingIntoTheEther)
4 Whites
2/3 Cup Sugar

4 Yolks
50ml Oil
60ml Orange Juice
70g CakeFlour

Whipped Cream and almonds as deco

1) Whipped egg white into stiff peaks, adding sugar in 2 additions.
2) Meanwhile, add oil to yolks and mix well. Add in juice and mix til combine with whisk.
3) Add flour and mix well. Leave aside.
4) Add 1/3 of meringue into batter, mix well. Add another 1/3 and mix well. I pour batter into remaining whites and fold gently.
5) Bake at 180deg for 30mins. Cool before decorating.

Peanuts, Lotus Root & Chicken Feet with Pork Ribs Soup

The other day, quite a while back, on 三菜一汤, the artist was cooking those double-boiled soup. My aunt gave me a task, which is to replicate the flavour of the 炖汤. Cos my dad is a Cantonese and he is really good with it.. Cannot throw face lo..

I have been doing homework, seeing all the different recipes and I came up with my own concoction.. Hahah~ I won't say its the best but I feel that it passes my standard and didn't do my dad disgrace.. I use a mixture of Chix wing's last portion that I had leftover from my baked wings, Chicken feets and Pork Ribs... (Only grandma eat Chix feet at home so can not put too much) Using peanuts, dried cuttlefish and some lotus root and I am ready to go...

My 2nd dish - Claypot Tofu

Peanuts, Lotus Root & Chicken Feet with Pork Ribs Soup

200g Pork Ribs

5 Pair Chicken Feets

Leftover Chix wings last joint

150g Peanuts, soaked and washed with hot water

1 small portion of Lotus Root, sliced

3 small pc Dried Cuttlefish

Some salt to taste

1) Par boil the pork ribs and chicken parts. Drain and put aside.

2) Prepare about 2.5-3l of water, add in above ingredients except salt and bring to boil. Simmer over low heat for about 2-3hrs.

3) Add salt to taste. Serve warm.

40mins Assorted Mini Loafs

Yesterday I felt that buns are not as soft as the loaf due to the loafs sort of rested for 20mins while the buns are baking in the oven. So I couldn't wait but decided to try again today since I felt it makes a difference. But silly me, I roll the buns into oval shapes, place in my mini loaf tin and it turns out to be a mini loaf bread.. Haha~

Using the same recipe, and I substitute 60g of Bread Flour with Cake Flour. I feel that the additional 20mins 'rest' after I shaped the bread makes a diff. All the loafs are soft and fluffy, regardless it is roll into a long strip to braid, or make into mini oval and place side by side. I think it is ok to rest for 15-20mins before baking to make them softer.. 

Here is my flavours - Oatmeal, Plain, Ham & Cheese

40min Sugar Raisin Buns & Mini Raisin Loaf

Have heard so much about this 40min Bread, think first posted by Domestic Goddess, and fellow bakers have been trying and raving about it. Have been wanting to try but very worried about texture of end product.

The idea of 15g Yeast seems a bit deterring cos I heard that too much yeast isn't that good for human body. But since only once as I wanna try it out and share the results with my readers, I decided to give it a go. I prepare and make them as I go about my dinner prep & cooking. By the time I am done with cooking, the bread is ready to shape and rest before going into oven. Fast rite?

Finally take the step to make it. Recipe makes 900g++ dough so I took 300g into a mini loaf and balance 600g into 10x60g mini Sugar Raisin Buns. Smell great. Taste wise, I feel a bit bland as compared to normal bread using butter. Perhaps I should use melted butter to try next round. Texture can't complain as I only took 60mins in total to bake the buns and loaf separately. Seriously if you ask me, I prefer the texture of the mini loaf as compared to buns. Perhaps the loaf was left to rest after shaping for 20mins while the buns is baking away? Or could it be the different ways of shaping? If you tried or someone knows the reason, share with me..

My humble dinner while preparing the bread. Try it...

40min Sugar Raisins Buns and Mini Raisin Loaf (adapted from Taglicious)

200ml Room Temp Water

60g Olive Oil

52g Sugar

15g Instant Yeast (I used 11g)

480g Bread Flour

1 Egg

1tsp Salt

40g Raisins

1) Prep the water, Olive oil, sugar and yeast in mixing bowl. Whisk it well, leave it to rest 15mins. (Refer to Pic 1-3)

2) Add in flour, egg and salt. Using bread dough hook, mix it for 5mins. (refer  to Pic 4-5)

**my dough wasn't sticky and easy to shape*

3) Rest 5mins while u preheat oven. Bake for 15mins at 200deg or until top browned nicely. 

Baked Wings

Can't remember when was it, someone once told me that Tumeric can prevent cancer. Since then, I loved to add it to my marinates meat or seafood.. Especially since my grandma has a bit of Cholestrol, thus it's good for her too.. Read more..

Adding Tumeric when I marinates my food, it doesn't add any weird smell or taste to it. In fact it gives a nice shade of gold-ness to the end product. Baked wings or salmon is the most common food I did. 

It is a simple dish to prepare and you can even do it in advance, like 3-4 days before. Great for hosting parties or gatherings. Try it.

Baked Wings

1kg Chicken Wings, washed and cut (keep the last portion for cooking stock, using drumlets and mid joint)

6Tbsp Oyster Sauce

2Tbsp Lt Soy Sauce

2tsp Black Pepper

2Tbsp Tumeric Powder

1Tbsp Thyme

1Tbsp Basil

2Tbsp Sesame Oil

1) Prepare and wash the chicken wings. Add the following seasonings above and leave it for at least 5-6hrs, or ahead.

2) Arrange wings on tray, bake in oven for 25-30mins at 180deg.

Strawberry Ji Dan Gao

Simply love the texture of this Baked 'Egg' Cake, thus when my neighbour's crave for Strawberry Chiffon & request me for 1, I immediately use this recipe. I added 3Tbsp of Strawberry jam to create the flavour. Yum yum..

My neighbours gave the Thumbs Up n it's definetely a keeper! Will always use this when I wan to have a slice of chiffon... 

Mac & Cheese Simple Dinner

Mac & Cheese has always been our family favourite since it is the simplest and never go wrong food to order when dining out. Both the kids, even hubby and myself loves it. 

Last Friday, I tried to anyhow come up with my own, after reading some recipes from net and it turns up terribly wrong. First, I didn't add butter nor flour and direct add cheddar to milk over stove. Secondly, I used 'red' cheddar but I don't know if this cause the failure. Thirdly, I underestimated this dish that looks simple but yet so easy to fail. Haha~

Hubby requested for sauté vegetables and Mac & Cheese. I added Chix meat and Salmon Steak too. The lightly stir fried 'boiled' vegetables are seasoned with Sea Salt and Black Pepper only. It tasted so yummy that my son just finish his portion of greens. I marinate the salmon and chix which I will share below and pan fried them. Following Angela's recipe for Mac & Cheese, I am done to hand in my 'HOMEWORK'!! 

The dinner wowed everyone tonight, even grandma who seldom show much interest in western meal. But this is a healthy and nutritious meal that we should have once a week.. Less oil, less seasonings and more greens.....

Mac & Cheese (adapted from AngelaChia)

250g Uncooked Macaroni

35g Butter

2Tbsp Plain flour

300ml milk

100g Cheddar, I used grated

1) Boil macaroni til al dente. Heat up non stick pot and put butter in.

2) Once butter melts, add in flour and mix fast to combine. Once mixed, add in milk and keep stirring (if not will turn lumpy)

3) Bring to small boil, it should be thick and off heat. Add cheddar and stir til melt. Add in macaroni.

4) I stir in mixture and baked in pan with more cheddar as toppings. Serve hot.

Marinates for Salmon

Dash of Black Pepper, Sea Salt

2Tbsp Tumeric Powder

1Tbsp Thyme, Basil

1) Cut into small strips. Mix all and marinate for at least 2hrs. Pan fried til both sides is cooked and lightly browned.

Marinates for Chix

Dash of Black Pepper, White pepper
2Tbsp Tumeric Powder
1tsp Sesame Oil
1tsp Lt Soy Sauce

1) Cut into small strips. Mix all and marinate for at least 2hrs. Pan fried til both sides is cooked and lightly browned.

Sauté Veg

Any veg combination you prefer, I use:

Baby Corn, Baby Asparugus, Capsicums, Sweet beans, Enoki mushroom, Tomato

1) I boil all except tomato and enoki. Drained and leave aside.

2) Heat a bit of oil, add chopped garlic. Add in enoki and all vegetable and strip fry.

3) Add a bit of black pepper and sea salt to taste. Serve warm.

Baked Rainbow 鸡蛋糕 (Ji Dan Gao)

This has been on going in FB for quite some time and also been in my KIV list for a while. Have been busy with my new 'job' recently. I have created a group in my FB, The Spree Shop, selling all sort of stuff on pre-order basis. Do give me your support.

This week my #1 caught some virus and fever since tues n on MC for 3 days. Yesterday midnite, my #2 also lost the battle and caught the flu bug from my #1! So since both kids at home today, I am taking out 30mins to prep and put it into the oven. Hee...

I was inspired by Anncoo 'mushroom-like cake' and decided to bake mine in my Heart-shaped tin with Vanilla, Chocolate & 'purpled layer'.. Total of 3 layers. But seems like 3 eggs is a bit too little for my heart tin but never mind, most impt is the taste.. Hahha~ If I succeed, shall see if I got time to bake 1 for this weekend gathering...

Loved the fluffy texture, the combination of choc & vanilla flavour tasted very good. My gal love it, and had it for tea break... Yummy.... Thankfully nvr really affect the texture with all the substitution...

Baked Ji Dan Gao (adapted from Anncoo)

3 Whites

65g Icing Sugar *i used fine sugar cos I ran out of icing sugar

3 Yolks

1 Egg

50g Corn Oil

65g Self Raising Flour *i used cake flour

1tsp Vanilla

1tsp coco powder + 1Tbsp hot water

Lil bit of purple powder + water

1) Beat egg white til foamy, add sugar in 3 additions. Beat til stiff peak.

2) Whisk yolks & egg, add in corn oil and mix til combined. Add in vanilla and flour.

3) Add 1/3 of meringue to egg mixture, fold well. Pour back into meringue and fold gently.

4) Divide into 3 portion and coloured the other 2 with purple powder paste & coco paste.

5) Layer as preference, bake at 170deg for 35mins.

Pound Cake

Lately feels like so many people asking for Pound Cake, why ah? Sara Lee is our family favourite but seriously almost $6 for a cake that size, I always feel it is over priced. There are other brands but not as good. So hubby took a box and kept asking me when I gonna learn pound cake?!

I decided to look around and my first attempt is using this recipe from JoyOfBaking. There is a reason why they called it the Pound Cake. Apparently, it is a pound of butter, flour, sugar and eggs. Haha~ Interesting fact I know today.

Since tis is my first and not sure how it will take to my stingy food taster at home, I halve the recipe and watched the video once before baking it. Trying to follow as close as possible. It is quite easy and fast to prep and bake. I modify slightly but adding 1Tbsp Coco Powder to 3Tbsp Batter. Alternating with original and coco flavour and ending with original, I then use a knife and run thru it. 

End result, Hubby says taste nice but not soft enough and slightly dry.. In my view, I find the taste very similar to Sara Lee taste, just that could be my rusty hands over-cream the batter? Or could it be we eat straight from the fridge? Perhaps should thaw slightly before eating it.. Mmmm.. 

Pound Cake (adapted and modify slightly from JoyOfBaking)

75g Cake Flour

60g Sugar

1/4tsp Salt

1tsp Dbl-action Baking Powder

100g Butter, room temp

11/2 Eggs

2Tbsp Milk

1tsp Vanilla Extract

Coco Batter : 1Tbsp coco + 3Tbsp Batter

1) Put eggs, milk, vanilla and mix. Leave aside.

2) Put flour, sugar, salt and baking powder into mixing bowl. Mix on low speed for 30seconds.

3) Add in butter, 1/2 egg mixture and mix on low til combined. Then turn to medium speed and mix approximately 1min til fluffy.

4) Add remaining egg mixture in 2 addition, mixing 30 seconds each time, scraping down sides. 

5) I added 1Tbsp coco powder to 3Tbsp batter to make Marble swirl.

6) Bake at 180deg for 40-50min.

Wu Pao Chun Bread - Wholemeal

Using back the same recipe, I decided to make into Wholemeal version. I replaced some of the Bread flour with Wholemeal flour and Cake Flour. I baked Cheesy Ham, Cheesy Sugar and Bak Kwa Loaf.

On top of my new creation, I even had a mini hands-on session with my gal. Baking a pizza bread for her own lunch today. She finished 2 slices!

Wu Pao Chun - Wholemeal Version (modified from here)

198g Milk

150g Bread Flour

50g Cake Flour

100g Wholemeal Flour

24g Sugar

1tsp Yeast

1tsp Salt

14g Butter

1) Same method as previous attempt.