Hot Cross Buns

Today is Easter Sunday. I remember I saw this recipe in Alex Goh cookbook The World of Bread and decided to try making them.

I kneaded the dough by hand. These turned out quite soft.

I replaced the the raisins n mixed peel with a handful of dried cranberries instead.

Recipe

ingredients A

250 gm bread flour

35 gm sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tbsp milk powder

1/8 tsp cinnamon powder

2 tsps instant yeast 

Ingredients B

1 egg

100 ml cold milk

Ingredients C

25 gm unsalted butter softened 

Ingredients  D

70 gm raisins 

30 gm mixed peel 

I replaced with only 40 gm dried cranberries cut into smaller pcs

Topping paste to make the X

50 gm plain flour mixed with 1 tbsp oil and 60 ml water

Method

Mix ingredients A together in a bowl - I used a whisk

Add in B n mix to form a dough 

Then I took it out n placed on my mat

I added in part C butter

Knead till no longer so sticky about 10 mins

Add in cranberries and mix in.

Shape into a ball n use the bowl to cover.

Proof for 45 minutes.

Then mould dough into 4 balls n rest for 15 mins. I used the bowl to cover.

Prepare baking tray with baking paper.

I used 2 trays 

Then form 45-50 gm balls with the dough .

Place the doughs slightly apart on the tray. 

Cover with cling film n let them proof for 45 mins.

Prepare the topping paste.

After proofing , beat an egg with a teaspoon water to use as egg wash.

Preheat oven to 190c.

Egg wash the buns.

Pipe a X on the buns with the topping paste.

Bake for 13 mins.

Remove and cool completely on rack before storing.

Enjoy!!

Cranberries 

After 1st proof

After 2nd proof

Before bake

After bake 

Inside the bun

Creamy herb sauce chicken

Thanks to my friend Hei Chin for sharing this recipe with me. 

The original name is called Celine Dijon Chicken from The Looneyspoons. As I replaced some ingredients especially the Dijon mustard I think I can no longer name it as such.

Ingredients 

2-3 pcs of skinless chicken breasts - original 4 pcs

Some cooking oil

Sauce

Part 1

1 cup Marigold momo juice - peach ( replaced unsweetened apple juice)

1 tbsp S&B mustard (replaced Dijon mustard)

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 small yellow onion minced (replaced large shallot)

1/2 tsp of dried thyme

1/4 tsp of dried rosemary 

1/4 tsp black pepper

Part 2 sauce

1/4 cup light sour cream

1 tsp honey

1 tsp cornstarch 

Whisk all part 1 sauce together. Set aside

Slash the chicken breasts in thicker areas.

Heat about 2 tbsp oil in sauce pan 

Brown the chicken on both sides

Depending on the thickness , you may need to use at least 3-4 minutes on each side. However no need to cook through as it will be simmered later.

Add in the part 1 sauce. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer for about 5 minutes till the breasts are cooked. Remove chicken to the plates. The juice in the pan would have reduced greatly.

Mix part 2 sauce. Add into the pan.

Mix and cook till bubbly.

Spoon the sauce over the chicken.

Serve with a fresh garden salad and some bread.

Enjoy!!

Juice added to browned chicken breasts

Here are 2 & 1/2 pcs breasts 

Chicken cooked

Add part 2 sauce

Final sauce for chicken 

I ate my meal with yakult drink :)

Stir fry black fungus with assorted vegetables

This dish is cooked after inspiration from visiting a organic vegetable farm in Neo Tiew, Lim Chu Kang area.

This is a very easy stir fry as I used fresh black fungus.

The fungus in the picture - you can get in Fairprice too says the farm salesman

Ingredients 

Sauce used

Recipe 

Ingredients 

1 orange small pepper julienned ( remove seeds)

4 shiitake mushrooms sliced ( stem removed)

Black fungus a handful - washed first.

Cut away any hard part at the bottom and then cut into bite size

1 packet sweet peas - remove the veins

1 clove garlic minced - skin removed

Oyster sauce about 1.5 tablespoon

Kikkoman soy sauce about 2 tablespoon

1/2 cup water

Cooking oil 2 tablespoon 

Optional - about 10 pcs of salted cashew nuts

Method 

Heat the oil a few seconds 

Add in garlic stir fry about 10 seconds 

Add in all peas, orange pepper and mushrooms

Stir fry till peas turn darker green mushrooms look browned on white part

Add in the oyster and soy sauce 

Add in the fungus and stir fry  for another 15 seconds 

Add in the water and fry another 15 seconds 

Dish up and sprinkle cashew nuts on top 

Serve with white rice 

 

U Picnic 2016 - Space Odyssey

We returned for another Upicnic organized by Ntuc. This time it has moved to the north of Singapore - very grateful for that!

It was a hot day and Joie has the most fun doing the activities . Some photos below.

Drawing inside the dome 

Moonwalking 

Having fun at Planet 51 - bouncy castle 

We didn't do other activities as we had to participate only if you hold a time card for the activity n at the stipulated time.

It was a large turnout and only a small number of children can do the activities at one time. We are lucky we were able to play her favorite bouncy castle.

In the straits times report , over 7000 turned up for this event.

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-than-7000-turn-up-for-space-themed-ntuc-family-picnic

We played and went back to daddy and sat down to enjoy the concert.

Goodies in the picnic bag

Put on my fancy star ring

She almost can't fit in!

We can draw inside and outside the dome 

We wore Star Wars tees to compliment the Space Odyssey theme

Great songs from the band

Managed to catch Joe for a photo

Joe on stage 

Fun flashing rings 

Photo with the planets 

Night view

Storm troopers

Darth Vader

LED dancers

They were several stage games mostly children attended and best dressed costumes and count the stars and anti gravity pose contests.

We left after the band came on again 

Note - always be early as the events start at 5 pm sharp 

Bring extra picnic mats

Bring umbrellas n sun block

Game booths will be crowded no matter which system the organizers use 

Don't be too hard on the organizer - give and take a little - stay happy 

Steamed egg with minced pork

This is one childhood dish that I love. This is my version as I remember it. 

Recipe 

One box of minced pork from supermarket such as Fairprice

Sesame oil 

Cooking oil

3 eggs

Soy sauce about 2 teaspoon

Dash of white pepper

Some spring onions chopped

Optional - salted egg yolk

Method 

Oil a large plate to prevent egg from sticking (I used an enamel plate)

Marinate the minced pork with soy sauce and a dash of white pepper n a dash of sesame oil 

Place the minced pork on the plate 

Beat 3 eggs lightly and pour over the minced pork

I also break up the pork slightly to let the egg flow in 

Optional - crush a salted egg yolk and spread around the surface

Boil the water in the covered wok 

When water boils , steam cook the pork for 15 minutes

Before serve, sprinkle a bit of sesame sauce and put chopped spring onions 

Best eaten warm with rice 

White bread loaf

Today I baked these loaves using Taiwan Bread flour called Blue Jacket

On the packet there is a recipe but I halved the recipe and also incorporated previous method to make this bread 

Largely from bakingwithmi

Recipe

500 gm bread flour

15 gm instant yeast

35 gm castor sugar

8 gm fine salt

350 gm slightly warm milk 

Bread improver (omitted)

Measure your milk in a jug

Into it stir in a tablespoon of sugar from the measured portion

Then add in the yeast stir well and keep in warm place to let the yeast bubble 

Then prepare your mixing bowl 

I use my kenwood mixer

Pour the yeast milk into the bowl

Add in the balance sugar and salt 

Mix well with a spoon

Add in all the flour

Use the dough hook and start mixing on low for about 3 minutes 

Then adjust to medium speed about  5 minutes or till the dough texture looks smooth 

Then add in the softened butter

Use low speed to mix in the butter about 2-3 minutes

Then use medium speed about 10 minutes till the dough is smooth again

Oil a medium size bowl for proofing

Shape the dough into a ball and proof it in the bowl 

Cover with cling film n proof about 40 mins in a slightly warmed oven

Before proof

After proof

Remove the dough onto a baking paper n flatten slightly with your palm into a disc

I divided into 6 triangles and shaped then into balls

Cover with cling film and proof for 25 minutes

http://youtu.be/yGb-hwg2OaU

Then I followed the video above from King Arthur Flour 

Grease 2 loaf pans with butter . I used a Crisco butter spray 

Shape each ball onto a lightly floured surface till almost oval like 

Fold one third over n press down the seam with the side of palm 

Turn the other side to you and fold the other 1/3 over n press the seam down 

Then roll it on the work top into a log

Place 3 rolls into the loaf tin and proof till they raise slightly over the loaf tin

Bake at 150c preheated oven for 30-35 mins

After 2nd proof 

Shape to oval 

Fold 1/3 over n press seam

Do the same the other side

Then roll it to log 

Put inside the oiled or buttered loaf tins

Ready to eat!