in my studio

Jun
07
2015

FREE Ramadan Gift Tag Printables!

PRE RAMADAN FREEBIE

Ramadan Gift Tags

*You may download this printable at the end of this post*

Assalamualaikum lovelies!

Can you believe its nearly Ramadan again? Subhanallah time flies! This Ramadan 2015, I have a few extra printables, well, mainly because of my kids. You see, we don’t celebrate birthdays or Christmas, so the only occassion my kids get to enjoy are the 2 Eid’s. Alhamdulillah. So I always try to make it really special, something that my kids will look forward to. As Ramadan is coming up in less than 2 weeks, my girls and I made ~~lolly~~ date bags to gift to family and close friends.

I’ve also got a couple more FREE printables coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled in the next few days as I publish my KIDS Ramadan to Eid Countdown and a Ramadan Breaking Fast Dua poster for you guys to download and frame/stick on your wall.

My 3 year old helping me packaged the dates. No bare hands used, only thongs ;)

I hope you enjoy these printables and please keep my family in your dua’as before you break your fast. Ramadan Mubarak to my lovely sisters around the world x

5 lovely comments
Categories: eid decorations, eid giveaway, free printables, ramadan

May
24
2015

new york cheesecake

This is the best baked cheesecake ever. Like ever! For years, I baked so many cheesecakes and finally have found a recipe that I am happy with, again, thanks to my amazingly talented sister who made this cake a while back, I am now hooked on it. It is so soft, moist, creamy and not overly sweet. I think it has the perfect balance of sweet and sour (from the raspberry coulis)

RECIPE FOR BAKED NEW YORK CHEESECAKE Adapted from A Glutton in London with slight modifications Serves: 12 Cook time: 1 hour Cool time: min 4 hours (preferably overnight) Ingredients

3 tbsp melted butter

1 packet Scotch finger or any biscuit of choice (about 200grams)

3 tbsp plain flour

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 blocks of Philadelphia cream cheese

1 cup white sugar

1/3 cup milk

2 eggs

1 tsp finely grated lemon zest

1 tsp finely grated orange zest

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160ºc. Fan forced.

2. Lightly grease a 22cm springform pan and lined with baking paper.

3. Mix biscuits and melted butter in a bowl until evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture into the bottom evenly.

4. Whisk flour, sour cream and vanilla extract in a bowl, and set aside.

5. Stir cream cheese and sugar with a wooden spoon in a large bowl until evenly incorporated, about 3 to 5 minutes.

6. Pour milk into cream cheese mixture and whisk until just combined.

7. Whisk in eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition.

8. Stir in lemon and orange zests, and sour cream mixture. Whisk until just incorporated.

9. Pour mixture into springform pan and bake for about an hour, when the edges have puffed up slightly and the surface of the cheesecake is firm except for a small spot in the middle which should jiggle when the pan is gently shaken.

10. When the baking time is over, turn off the oven and let it cool in the oven for 3 to 4 hours to prevent cracks in the cheesecake. This is really important, and my cheesecake did not crack at all! woohoo!

Ingredients for coulis

1 cup raspberries

1/3 cup caster sugar

1 tsp lemon juice

Method for coulis

1. Add all ingredients in a small saucepan and stir until incorporated.

2. Leave to cool for 15mins before blending it, finally put it through a sieve and serve!

1 lovely comment
Categories: in my kitchen

Apr
06
2015

tiramisu

Tiramisu is an all time favourite in our house. I don’t drink coffee (yes I’m weird), but I can certainly wipe off a whole tray of tiramisu! This recipe was passed from an old friend 5 years ago when I told her I don’t consume anything with coffee! So she gave me a tray of tiramisu and since then, I have made this countless of times and it has always been a crowd pleaser. Her original recipe has eggs, so I had to modify it because when you’re pregnant, you can’t eat raw eggs. And it tastes amazing with or without eggs! Give it a go and let me know!

RECIPE FOR EGGLESS TIRAMISU
Adapted from an old friend, with modifications
Serves: 12
Prep time: 30 mins
Chill time: min 6 hours (preferably overnight)

Ingredients for Tiramisu

1 large packet of sponge fingers (500 grams)
3 tablespoon of boiled water
5 tablespoon of coffee
1 to 1.5 cup milk
1/4 cup caster sugar
250g tub mascarpone cheese
300ml whipped cream (I use thickened and just whip it)
1 tablespoon cocoa powder for dressing

Method for coffee mixture (to dip sponge fingers in)

In a medium sized bowl, mix 3 tbsp of boiled water with 5 tbsp of coffee until dissolved. This becomes really thick, and then reserve in 2-3 tbsp in a small cup (this is to add to the cream mixture later). With the remainder coffee mixture, add milk, stir and keep aside.

Method for cream mixture

In a mixing bowl, whisk together mascarpone and cream. Slowly add in the coffee mixture that you reserved earlier and incorporate it into the cream mixture. Whisk until becomes a nice smooth, thick cream.

Method for assembling cake

1. You will need a rectangle serving tray 9×13″ (23x33cm), at least 2″ deep (5cm).
2. Dip the sponge fingers in to the coffee mixture, quickly turning both sides and layer them onto the tray.
3. Add the cream mixture on top of the biscuits and then sift the cocoa powder evenly.
4. Repeat step 2 & 3.
5. Chill for at least 6 hours, or preferably overnight. I like to chill mine 24 hours before I serve.

2 lovely comments
Categories: cake, desserts, halal, in my kitchen

Feb
03
2015

claypot egg tofu and veges

RECIPE FOR CLAYPOT EGG TOFU & VEGES

Ingredients:
1 tube silken egg tofu (cut into 1 inch thick, then deep fry/pan fry)
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1/2 onion, quartered
1 tbsp chicken stock paste
½ cup of boneless chicken pieces, cut into tiny pieces (omit for veg dish)
1 egg (whisk in a bowl)
1-2 tsp cornflour(mix with some water in small bowl)
1 cup water
Salt & Pepper, to season

Sauces
1 tsp oyster sauce
1 tsp sweet plum sauce
1 tsp soy sauce

Vegetables
½ carrot, cut diagonally
Handful of snow peas
Handful of mushrooms
½ tbsp chopped spring onions (optional for garnishing)

Method
1. Heat oil in claypot

2. Saute the onions and garlic. Do not let garlic brown. Once aromatic, add in chicken.

3. Stir a few seconds then combine all the sauces & stock with 1 cup of water and pour into the claypot.

4. Add all the vegetables. Let the sauce simmer and vegetables become tender. Adjust seasoning to taste. After about a minute ,thicken the sauce by adding the cornflour water in. Add the whisked egg and slowly stir the claypot so the egg breaks. This will aid in thickening of the gravy.

5. Then finally add the fried beancurd and mix carefully not to break them as they are soft.

6. Serve hot with steam rice.

*1 tube of tofu makes about 10 of them once cut about an inch thick.

No comments
Categories: in my kitchen

Jan
06
2015

chocolate mud cake

Ever since my sister introduced me to this mud cake, o-em-gee!! Like seriously out of this world good. Just look at the ingredients, no wonder it tastes amazing… loaded with real chocolate, sugar and butter! When she first made it for me, I ate without any guilt. Now that I made it and know whats inside, I could only have a bite…hehe But on a serious note, if you want to indulge and make it for an occassion, THIS is the chocolate mud cake to make. TRUST ME on this!

And this cake was what I made for a friends farewell party.

^Please excuse the bad photo quality. I was cutting it during the event and kids were all next to me hassling for a piece lol. This was the best pic I could take. Photo does not reflect how moist the cake actually is.

RECIPE FOR CHOCOLATE MUD CAKE
Adapted from thrumykitchenwindow

Ingredients for cake

250gm butter
250gm dark cooking chocolate
2tbsp instant espresso coffee powder
150gm self-raising flour
150gm plain flour
60gm cocoa powder
1/2tsp bicarb soda
550gm caster sugar
4 eggs
2tbsp vegetable oil or light olive oil
125ml milk

Ingredients for chocolate ganache
150gm dark cooking chocolate
60gm melted unsalted butter

Method:

1. Grease a deep 23cm round cake tin. Line the base and sides with baking paper, making sure the paper extends well above the top of the tin.

2. Dissolve the coffee in 185mls hot water. Put the melted butter, sugar, melted chocolate and dissolved coffee in a mixing bowl and stir until corporated.

3. Dry ingredients: Sift the flours, cocoa and bicarb of soda into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre.

4. Add the combined eggs, oil and milk; using a large spoon or spatula mix well into the dry ingredients. Add half the cooled melted chocolate mixture (from step 2); stir well till there are no lumps. Add the remaining half; make sure the mixture is well combined. It should be of a pourable consistency.

5. Pour the mixture into the carefully lined cake tin. Place into a preheated oven set at 130 – 150degrees celcius. No higher. It should be baked long, slow and low heat. Bake for approx 1 3/4 hours. It is not unusual for the top of the cake to develop a crust or for the centre to be slightly sunken. Place the cake on a rack; leave in tin until completely cold. Once cold; cover securely with a tea towel. Leave overnight.

6. Turn cake out, remove all of the lining. Examine the cake. You want a level cake when it comes to decorating; therefore if it is not even it may be necessary to slice off some of the crusty bits until it is level with the centre of the cake. Sometimes the cake may have a slight rise. In this instance simply cut off the risen bit in the centre. Sometimes you won’t have to do a thing.

7. Once you have achieved a flat, top surface, turn the cake upside down. It is wise to do this on the serving plate with some cutouts of baking paper around the edges and under the cake. This alleviates any messiness and once the icing becomes firm, the baking paper can be removed leaving your cake looking immaculately decorated.

8. In a small glass bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt the chocolate. Do not overheat. In another bowl, melt the butter in the microwave. Once again, do not overheat or ‘sizzle’ the butter; just till almost melted. Pour this into the melted chocolate and slowly incorporate the two together. Stir until well combined and you have achieved a nice glossy, pouring chocolate.

9. Pour ganache onto the centre of the cake. Using a spatula or a knife, spread the ganache all over the cake. If the weather is hot or humid you can take a little more time to get it right. If the weather is cold you may have to work more quickly as the chocolate ganache may begin to harden.

10. Allow the topping to set at room temperature. If at any time you place it in the fridge you will lose the glossy shine. It won’t affect the taste, it just won’t look as silky smooth.