Blueberry Muffin

Fresh from oven ...with the blueberries oozing out!

The berries are in season. I just could not resist making a berry recipe. I settled for a simple blueberry muffin since it is work night and I do not have the time to bake something fancy.

I really like making muffins. No need for cake mixer...just 2 bowls- one for wet ingredients and one for dry ingredient.

I used the basic muffin recipe and added in the blueberries

My house smells really good now.. with the freshly baked muffins

~bel~

Japanese Cotton Cheese Cake

My friend, Ee Fern, baked this and posted it on Facebook. I could not resist the temptation to try this recipe.

This is not an easy recipe. Most people have a difficult time getting the soft cotton like texture. The recipe called for folding flour into the cheese, whipping egg white to soft perks and folding the egg white mixture to the cheese mixture. Not easy for an amateur baker like me.

I tried baking it twice. Both time unsuccessful. The cake turned up dense at the bottom both time. I did some research in the Internet and was glad to find that I am not the only one facing the same problem. I finally realised that this is because the egg white was not fold thoroughly into the cheese mixture.

I tried it again this morning... and whhhhhaaaaaaoooooooooo.. a real Japanese Cotton Cheesecake.

Recipe from Diane Dessert:

Ingredients:
140g/5 oz. fine granulated sugar
6 egg whites
6 egg yolks
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
50g/2 oz. butter
250g/9 oz. cream cheese
100 ml/3 fluid oz. fresh milk
1 tbsp. lemon juice
60g/2 oz. cake flour /superfine flour
20g/1 oz. cornflour (cornstarch)
1/4 tsp. salt

Direction:
1. Melt cream cheese, butter and milk over a double boiler. Cool the mixture. Fold in the flour, the cornflour, egg yolks, lemon juice and mix well.

2. Whisk egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. Add in the sugar and whisk until soft peaks form.

3. Add the cheese mixture to the egg white mixture and mix well. Pour into a 8-inch round cake pan (Lightly grease and line the bottom and sides of the pan with greaseproof baking paper or parchment paper).
( This is a large cake. I used a 9-inch cake pan)

4. Bake cheesecake in a water bath for 1 hours 10 minutes or until set and golden brown at 160 degrees C (325 degrees F).
( I baked the cake in the lower rake to prevent the top from burning)


~Bel~

Chocolate Brownies

I did not realised that Brownie are such easy bake...This is another recipe form Joy Of Baking which is really quick and easy....and yummy

Ingredients
4 ounces (120 grams) unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Chocolate Ganache:
3 ounces (90 grams) semi sweet chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter


Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C)
2. Butter, or spray with a non stick vegetable spray, an 8 inch (20 cm) square baking pan.
3. Melt the chocolate and butter in a large stainless steel bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water
4. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar
5. whisk in the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition
6. Finally, stir in the flour and salt.
7. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs
8. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack.

Chocolate Ganache
1. Place the chopped chocolate in a medium sized stainless steel bowl
2. Heat the cream and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat
3. Bring just to a boil. Immediately pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes
4. Stir with a whisk or spoon until smooth
5. Let cool to room temperature and then spread the ganache over the brownies

~Bel~