Wednesday, September 17, 2014

French Galette With Cherry Walnut Topping (THB)




I know I've been saying this quite often but anyway this is another keeper recipe that I'm definitely making again . This delicious recipe  was chosen by Lena from Frozen Wings & we (The Home Bakers) are currently baking from Lou Seibert Pappas's cookbook - Coffee Cake  .  The Home Bakers (THB) bake along is hosted by Joyce from Kitchen Flavours .  I'm really glad that I've made the full recipe of this galette as it turned to be very tasty . It reminds me  of brioche with a lovely cherry & nutty topping . My family love this galette very much even my eldest son who was not keen of brioche liked it .  I think that says it all ! LOL I've made some changes in this recipe which was the flour  that I've replaced with bread flour . As you can see from the pictures that it does have the soft fluffy texture  even though I've only kneaded the dough for only 5 mins (I was rushing to fetch my son! LOL ) I've used canned cherries instead of dried cherries & I've also almond flakes to chopped walnut as well . To tell the truth ,  I don't have any almond flakes left in my pantry . I wonder which  mouse (my sons)  ate ALL my almond flakes ?!!!!  For the full recipe please go to Lena of  Frozen Wings & more of this lovely bake from the members of THB HERE .












Thursday, September 11, 2014

Apple & Lemon Clafoutis - Clafoutis aux pommes et citron




Another French classic treat with a little twist - Apple Clafoutis that I like to share with you today . This dessert usually calls for cherry but you can also replace it with any seasonal fruits even kiwi .  I've tried this recipe from Gourmand magazine a couple of years ago . Love the lemony flavour & the tartness of the apples .... YUM 




  This post is linked to Little Thumbs Up event organized by Zoe of Bake For Happy Kids with Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY& hosted this month by me , Kit from I-Lost in Austen . To join this event & link with us at this post


Also submitting this post to Cook Your Books # 16 , hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours .





Apple & Lemon Clafoutis – Clafoutis aux pommes et citron
Recipe from Gourmand Magazine Sept / Oct  2012

Ingredients for 4
3 apples – peeled, cored , cut in quarters & coat with lemon juice
1 organic lemon (zest of  ½ a lemon
4 eggs
50g melted butter
20 ml milk
120g flour 
70g sugar
A pinch of cinnamon
Icing sugar
4 remekins (I've used a 16cm tart pan)

Method:

1)      Preheat oven to 180°C .  Grease ramekins

2)      In a large bowl , combine flour, eggs , sugar , cinnamon & lemon zest .

3)      Gradually add in milk & butter . Mix till well combined .

4)      Pour half of the butter mixture in each ramekin & add in cut apples . Top with the rest of butter mixture . Bake for 20 mins till golden brown . Let to cool & sprinkle some icing sugar over the clafoutis before serve . 






Chicken & Apple Curry




This is my favourite comfort food ... Chicken Curry .  I cook curry quite often , at least once  a week . Yup, I'm a curry lover ! LOL  I like adding fruits or seasonal vegetables in my curries not forgetting extra chillis too . LOL So this is my autumn version of chicken curry with apples . We love the tartness of the apples of this chicken curry that brings it to a whole new level of deliciousness  .  Thanks to my friend Chai Leng from Gcl.Dunster.Nl  for passing me some dried curry leaves all the way from Malaysia . Thanks dear friend for thinking of me . God bless you .  




This post is linked to Little Thumbs Up event organized by Zoe of Bake For Happy Kids with Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY & hosted this month by me , Kit fromI-Lost in Austen . To join this event & link with us at this post



Chicken & Apple Curry
Recipe from I-Lost in Austen

Ingredients serve 4 
800g to 1 kg chicken breast –cut into 4 cm chunks ( I’ve used chicken thighs )
3 medium size apples –peeled , cored & cut into quarter ( I’ve used Granny Smith)
1 oinion –finely chopped
4 garlic – finely chopped
5 cm ginger - finely chopped
1 tbsp garam masala
1 tsp ground chilli or flake ( I’ve also added 3 red chillis , finely blended )
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp turmeric (I’ve used 3 cm fresh turmeric )
Handful chopped coriander ( you can replace with 1 tsp ground coriander )
5 curry leaves (optional)
2 large chopped tomatoes
Water ( I’ve added 1 cup of low fat double cream or sometimes I use coconut milk )
1 small cinnamon stick (optional)
3 green cardamom (optional)
4 cloves (optional)
1 tbsp Oil

Method:

1)      Optional : Over medium heat , add oil in cooking pan with cinnamon stick, cardamoms & cloves for 20 to 30 seconds till the spices release & fragrant aroma .  Add onion & sauté till dark golden  brown .

2)      Add in  garlic , ginger , chiili & all the spices .  Stir well about 1 minute . Add in chopped tomatoes , curry leaves & coriander cook on slow heat . Cook till the tomatoes are thicken into paste .

3)      Add in  chicken chunks  into masala paste . Coat & cook the chicken for 5 mins over slow heat . Add some water (cream)  & let it simmer for 10 mins till the chicken is tender .  Add in apples & stir well . Cook for another 5 mins . The masala should be lightly thickened & the apples should be slightly firm .  Serve with Basmati rice …. YUM








Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Apple Oatmeal Cookies




Back to school healthy snack – Apple oatmeal cookies . Tasty with  fresh apples & oatmeal …. YUM .


 This post is linked to Little Thumbs Up event organized by Zoe of Bake For Happy Kids with Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY& hosted this month by me , Kit from I-Lost in Austen . To join this event & link with us at this post




Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Recipe from All Recipes.com

Ingredients for 3 dozen cookies
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp salt
½ cup shortening
¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup diced apples without peel
1 cup chopped walnuts

Method:

1)      Preheat oven to 175°C . Lined baking tray with baking paper .

2)      Whisk  sugar & shortening in a large bowl . Beat in eggs till well combined .

3)      In another bowl , combine flour , baking powder ,cinnamon, nutmeg & salt . Fold flour in egg mixture till well blended .


4)      Add in apples & walnuts into batter till well combined . Drop dough by spoonfuls about 5cm onto lined baking tray . Bake for 12 to 15 minutes till golden brown . Let cool on wire rack .








Tuesday, September 2, 2014

French Apple Cake – Gâteau moelleux aux pommes




I've been running like a ' headless chicken' the whole day as school begins today & lots of errands to run .  But since  I've  an hour to spare , I've managed to baked this guilt-free cake with fresh apples from my garden . Yes, guilt-free cake  with no fat  added & using fresh organic apples .  It's a light moist cake that makes it a  perfect  dessert . I did not realized that I've not share this recipe before on my blog as I've baked this cake quite often & it's our all time favorite .  If you have any yummy apple recipes to share , do visit this post & link with us . I'm the host of this month's Little Thumbs Up event & APPLE is my theme . Looking forward to all your apple recipes .  'Sharing Is Caring' 




This post is linked to Little Thumbs Up event organized by Zoe of Bake For Happy Kids with Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY & hosted this by me , Kit from I-Lost inAusten




French Apple Cake – Gâteau moelleux aux pommes
Adapted from 750g.com

Ingredients :
1 kg apple (peeled, cored & diced or sliced) 
200g flour
3 eggs
150g sugar
2 tbsp vanilla sugar or 1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lemon zest
1tbsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
Butter to grease the pan
20cm cake pan

Method:

1)      Preheat oven to 180°C & grease the cake pan . Separate egg whites & yolks . Beat egg yolks with sugar , vanilla sugar or extract & pinch of salt  . Fold in flour, baking powder & lemon zeste till well combined .


2)      Beat egg white till soft peak & gradually fold in the egg yolk mixture .  Add in diced apples & mix gently till well combined . Pour apple mixture in cake pan & bake for 40 mins till golden brown . Let to cool before removing from the cake pan . 







Cocoa - Dusted Cherry Granola Cake (THB)




It's been a while since I last bake with The Home Bakers(THB) so without delay , last Friday I've baked this month's coffee cake selected by Jasline of Foodie Baker . We at THB are baking from Lou Seibert Pappas's cookbook - Coffee Cake . This event is hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours . 






 I've made half of the recipe & as usual I've reduced the sugar slighty . I've used plain yogurt to replaced buttermilk & also used all purpose flour instead of whole wheat flour  . Reason being was , I've ran out of whole wheat flour & it was raining  cats & dogs outside . Well , one word .... LAZY ! Yup! that's my current mode ! But hey, I did baked  12 mini muffins ,right ! LOL  I'm getting to 'active' mode pretty soon, just a matter of time, I soppose !!??  Anyway let's get back to this delicious cake . Oh ya before I totally forgotten to mention this , since I can't get any dried cherries I've substitide with canned cherries .  I was worried that the muffins might turned out to be a liitle wet & surprisingly they're not  . The muffins were lovely with soft texture & the  crunchy walnut cocoa streusel was great  .  Perfect little cakes for breakfast or snack with a cup of hot chocolate .... YUM ! For the full recipe please hop over to Jasline HERE & for more bakes of this yummy cake from all the THB members HERE . Thanks for dropping by & have a nice everyone






Monday, September 1, 2014

Little Thumbs Up : Apple

 Apples from our 70 years old tree 

I'm truly honered to be hosting this month's Little Thumbs Up event  . Thanks to the organizers of this event , Zoe of  Bake For Happy Kids & Doreen from My Little Favourite DIY for giving me this opportunity .  I guess that it’s not a surprise for most of you who are familiar with my blog  that I’ve chosen APPLE as my  theme . Well , I happened to be living in a mini apple orchard & I"m always looking for new apple recipes to use up all my apples especially during autumn/winter .  Here are some of the recipes that I've tried . I'm really looking forward to all your apple entries & sharing your recipes  .  There are more than 7000 varieties of apple worldwide  .  They come in many colors & most commonly seen in red, green & yellow  .  Apples are tasty either in baking or cooking .  They are  packed  with vitamin C , B-complex  , good source of  minerals such as potassium, iron & calcium . An apple has only 50 to 80 calories .  Lots of good reason to eat apple everyday . As the old saying goes 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away' . 



Elstar apple from our ochard

***Come join  this fun linky party by simply bake or cook  recipes using apple ,  applesauce , apple compote , apple juice , apple butter or apple cider will be accepted .  Recipes can be your own   ,  from cook books or blogs ( do give credit )  .  You can submit as many APPLE recipes  as you like .

1)      All submission must be current post of this month .


2)     Do display 'Little Thumbs Up' badge in your post .

3)      Please mention this in your post :'This post is linked to Little Thumbs Up event   organized by Bake For Happy Kids with My Little Favourite DIY & hosted this month by  I-Lost in Austen .'

4)      You can link with us at this post from 2nd September untill 30th September 2014 .

Happy baking & cooking everyone 


Apple Rose Tarts
** Do you know that apple tree is a member of the rose family too