The day I baked 800 cookies...

Someone once asked me if I'd actually bake for my own wedding (in the distant distant future) and I gave a hopeful answer, saying that I just might!

I didn't give much thought about my very optimistic answer until recently.

A bride-to-be ordered a total of 800 cookies from me to give away as gifts on her wedding and I agreed to do it. It did help that she contacted me like a loooong time ago, earlier this year. So I should have planned the entire process out to a T yes?

Well no, I didn't take into account that I would have school still, in November! But I was really keen to brighten up someone's happy day so I just stuck to my guns.

haha... this experience did make me think twice about ever baking for my own wedding. I don't think I'd have the energy to do that, as much as I'd love to. It's a tedious and tiring process especially if you don't own an industrial oven!

Once again, I baked at my aunt's place, borrowing her fantastic Brandt oven and KitchenAid. And with the help of my two fantastic friends Vivian & Tek Xin, I managed to bake the 800 chocolate cookies in a span of about 10 hours. I cannot imagine how long it would have taken if I had do shape all the cookies myself!

I have to thank my dear Dot for designing the sweet tag as well... and my sister! My sister who helped me cut all the tags and put the ribbons through them. It was a long drawn process but it was done do beautifully.

I'm blessed to have amazing family and friends who won't bat an eyelid when I ask for help. Thank God!

So in the end, the 200 packets (4 cookies in each pack) were nicely packed and tagged with matching ribbons and the bride collected them the day after. The fresh cookies travelled off and it was the last I had seen of them.

This project was no doubt fun and exciting but it was also really exhausting and it didn't help that I had a paper due the same day the cookies were due. Talk about bad timing! But I managed to tackle both and I can say that both went fine.

I heard from the bride that the guests liked the cookies. I'm glad they did. I was actually rather worried. I mean, it's one thing to bake for one, but another to bake for hundreds.

So anyway here's some snapshots of the packaged cookies:




Everything came together nicely....



Chocolate cookies packed and baked with lotsa love....



Congratulations Hwee Yee & Zhi Han! Here's to a blissful marriage!

So who takes the (cup)cake?

Pretty cupcakes are an easy find these days.

But pretty cupcakes that actually taste divine, now that's another story. Might be just me, but I think that the cake part is as equally important as the frosting. Imagine biting into a pretty cupcake only to find it so laden with sugar that you can't taste the cakey parts.

As a baker, I know that the secret lies in the flavour & technique. Some recipes just work better than the rest. One of my favourite recipes happens to be the one used by Magnolia Bakery, a famous cupcake bakery in NY.



Their cupcakes are oh-so-pretty that it makes you go weak in your knees and lips.

Unfortunately, I cannot say that I've eaten those lengendary cupcakes - those beautiful, fairy coloured cupcakes that makes my heart beat faster.



Those cupcakes are right now beyond my reach, across continents and oceans. So why am I even talking about them? Well the grass is always greener on the other side isn't it? That's why I'm always prowling the net, looking for yummy sweet things from all over the world and in my search, I found out about Sprinkles, another cupcake outfit in the States.

For now, all I can say is that those cupcakes look darn pretty but it stops there, because they're there and I'm here (in Singapore). So until I have enough dough to fly myself to the States, I'd have to make do with reviews from friends.

And today, I have Ronald Wan, my friend and fellow writer who's gonna size up the two biggest cupcake rivals in the States: Sprinkles in Beverly Hills and Magnolia in Manhattan. He was in the United States recently and tried cupcakes from both bakeries, much to my envy. So bring it on Ronald!



Yes, that's Ronald basking in the glorious skylight in Dallas. That lucky bastard!

_________________________________________________

Magnolia





Where's the darn place

401 Bleecker Street, corner of West 11th Street in the hip West Village of Manhattan, New York.


The people who walk in...

Since the West Village is home to celebrities like Ralph Lauren and Sarah Jessica Parker, you can expect someone famous walking in here anytime. And of course, those tourists and Sex and the City fans.

I walked in just like any other glamorous person living in the West Village and ordered in my perfect English. I presumed the bloke was half-expecting me to squeal like those annoying Japanese tourists. Well, I had to restrain myself considering those cupcakes really looked damn gorgeous.

What's on the menu...



The famous vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting ($2). Others include mini cheesecake, coconut cake and blueberry muffins. The cupcakes are sold in a plain white box, which makes everything just so homely about this bakery.

And so the taste...




I tried the vanilla cupcakes (seven of them with different icing colors to be precise) and the red velvet cupcake. The latter startled me when I first saw it sitting prettily on the tier atop the counter. I seriously asked myself, “Is there coloring in it?” because it looked so damn red! But when I sank my teeth into it, I nearly had an orgasm. Life is good. The cake was moist, tasty and extremely rich (My travel companion thought otherwise. She found it jelak). The same applied for the vanilla cupcakes but the only downside was that I found the buttercream frosting a little too much, which made the entire affair too sweet to be true. But hey, on a superficial level, the ample frosting really made the cupcakes appear so much prettier if you ask me.


Sprinkles




Where's the darn place

3 outlets stateside, including the flagship in Beverly Hills. I went to the one in Dallas located on the Northwest Highway and Preston road.

The people who walk in...

Considering the Beverly Hills is home to producers, directors, actors and just about every other damn person working in Hollywood, you can imagine the type of crowd here.

Anyway, I went to the one in Dallas and my only chances of seeing a celebrity inside here would be Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys star quarterback) or a Texan country singer I wouldn’t be able to recognize.

The cute girl over the counter told me I couldn’t take any pictures inside the shop. I flirted with her and pleaded. She said no. And I still whipped out my camera and snapped. So sue me.


What's on the menu...




Strictly cupcakes with more than 20 flavors such as banana (fresh banana cake with creamy vanilla), chocolate coconut and even chai latte. They have different flavors available on each day. You have to refer to their flavor card. Print it at http://www.sprinklescupcakes.com/!


And so the taste...



I bought half a dozen for $19. Definitely more expensive than your typical cupcakes. So was it worth it? I had the black and white (Belgian dark chocolate with creamy vanilla frosting), dark chocolate (Belgian dark chocolate cake with bittersweet chocolate frosting) and of course the red velvet (southern style light chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting), ginger lemon, strawberry and vanilla milk chocolate (Madagascar bourdon vanilla cake with fudgy milk chocolate cream cheese frosting). I really love the latter, which tastes heavenly!


Thumbs up to the cupcakes for the lighter texture. It’s as less sweet, thanks to lesser frosting. Evidently, lesser frosting also makes the taste of the cupcake itself more discernible. The downside? I found it dry but hey, I’m just being difficult here. I would give it 5 out of 5 stars if the girl allowed me to take pictures of the shop or gave me her number if you ask me.

__________________________________________________

So there you have it, Ronald's take on the two most famous cupcake places in the U.S.
To read more about his recent travels, check out his two travel blogs:

Ronald Hearts New York
Ronald Hearts Dallas

*Photos courtesy of Ronald Wan.

Karma Kettle & Rhapsody

Most of us have a mental image of what we'd like our humble abode to look and feel like when we get a place of our own. Some prefer a more chic look while others prefer warm and homely.

Am sure you know which is my preference. :) Especially since I talk about it so much!

So for those of you who know what type of home I dream of having in the future, you'd totally understand why I'm absolutely crazy about this fantastic lil' cafe at Cluny Court.

Called Karma Ketttle & Rhapsody, this place sells English (think colonial etc) food with an Indian twist. But not all of their dishes are fusion ones. They do serve totally English food like the Anglo-Saxon Sausage set or the Lamb's Shepherd Pie.

Before I go into the food proper, let me tell you more about the place.

Not only is Karma Kettle & Rhapsody so amazingly cosy and quaint, it also exudes that feel-good aura. Okay I can see you lifting your brows and wondering what is this damn 'aura' thing I'm talking about. You know sometimes there are just vibes you get when you go to certain places. Sometimes you might feel so at ease and relaxed and at times, you feel out of place, and uncomfortable.

Perhaps it's the aroma, the scent or the pleasant and attentive service staff that does the trick. Whatever it is, I believe that the people at Karma Kettle & Rhapsody are doing it right. I'm not saying this because they invited me to try their food but rather, because I think I know a good thing when I see, or taste it. Besides, I've been past the place many times and it's always crowded especially during lunch and dinner time so I guess there are others who would agree with me :)

Owned by Dhiraj Arora and his wife Preeti, both Indian nationals, Karma Kettle & Rhapsody is their precious baby which took more than 3 years to conceive. If you ever see them while you're at their restaurant, go up and talk to them - they're really friendly and passionate about what they're doing. This pair of newly weds are so sweet and amiable. I learnt alot about teas and spices in just two hours. Dhiraj is really into tea and he's bringing in some top grade tea leaves from India. Tea aficionados would probably understand when I mention words like 'first flush' et al.

Karma Kettle & Rhapsody has only been opened for about a month and they are now planning for their second outlet at Dempsey Road. You know, I really want my home to look like their cafe. I felt as though I could sit there for hours, enjoying the soothing strains of classical music as I sip on their fantastic masala chai.

Okay, I'm starting to get dreamy... right, before I drift off completely, let's go into the food!

My utmost favourite dish is actually their Across the English Channel. Served with an elegantly fragrant cumin rice, this gem-of-a-dish contains a whopping seven varieties of mushrooms: Button, Shiitake, Enoki, Portobello, Houshimiji, Oyster, White houshimiji. It's cooked with a parsley fricassee sauce that's just so creamy and delicious. Each mouthful I took was savoured and treasured. Believe me when I say that I have never eaten a mushroom dish that tasted THIS good. I don't think I'm exaggerating! Ask Ashley (my talented photographer friend who came along to help eat and take the beautiful photos!) and she'll nod her head furiously. It's almost orgasmic, really. Rich and flavourful says it all. You'll be grinning widely after trying this!


Across the English Channel

I tried their rainbow rice which is usually served with pork vindaloo. What's so cool is that they don't use colouring at all. So how do they make it red and yellow? By using natural ingredients like tumeric, tomatoes and spices. The grains are tiny, which makes for a different and lighter mouthfeel. I suppose it's good because it allows the mains like stews or curries to take centre stage.


Rainbow rice (usually served with Pork Vindaloo)

If you want something light, try their Prawn and Melon Salad. The tiger prawns and sweet rock melon blend really well especially with their special dill sauce.


Prawn and melon salad

Or if you like to try something a bit different, you should go for their Karma Kettle Roast Tea Salad. It's a mix of potatoes, okra, tomatoes, onions all tossed with this zesty lemon vinaigrette and garnished with roasted green and assam tea. It's splendid and so refreshing!


Karma Kettle Roast Tea Salad

I'm sure you've noticed how subtly they fuse tea and spices into their dishes. That's one highlight of the place and also another major reason why I like it so much. Some fusion places try so hard to mix and match everything that it ends up tasting blah. Fusion food is very much an art, an art what requires precise pairing of compatible ingredients and also of knowing where to stop.

Being very much a lavender fan, I naturally liked their English Lavender chicken. This herb reduced chicken breast is pan fried and served with their aromatic lavender sauce on top of some herb rice with asparagus. I'm truly amazed at how they managed to make the lavender come through. Loved the fact that they actually sprinkled lavender bits on top of the chicken before serving.


English Lavender Chicken

And then....

there's dessert!

You've gotta end each meal on a sweet note, no?

What got me most excited was the Eton Mess. I've only read about it on websites and in cookbooks but I'm glad I finally got to try it. It's actually a classic dessert made up of strawberries, pieces of meringue, vanilla sponge, bitter marmalade, cream, which is traditionally served at Eton College's annual prize-giving.

Oh how English can that be?! Me likes. hahaha


Eton Mess



Then there's something that's more light - their Steamed banana pudding served with coffee cream. Ashley wasn't crazy about it (she likened it to the Chinese steam cake) but I on the other hand, lapped it up well and good. Yes I finished it :p

The pudding wasn't sweet and what I like about it is the fact that they paired it with coffee cream. It's a good marriage, banana and coffee... I recommend this for those who are not big on sickly sweet stuff.


Steamed banana pudding served with coffee cream

To wash down all your dessert, try their masala chai latte. It's really good! Loved that they made it there and then... Trust me, the entire cafe was filled with this lovely spiced scent that fills your nose, in a good way.



Oh, and I tried their White Mist too... It's actually white tea. I think it's my first time drinking white tea and I must say, I do like it. It has a clean and light taste that bears no resemblance to the normal black tea. Great to drink with pastries I say.



Are you a tiramisu fan like I am? If you are, you have to try their tiramisu tea!

I kid you not. I'm not joking. It's not a pun and not a prank.

It really tastes like the said dessert. I was equally surprised! The ultimate would be drinking this while actually eating tiramisu. haha. that'll be awesome.



And to give you a better idea of the ambience and decor (of which lies the reason why I don't mind living there!):



They got someone to come and do some gorgeous illustrations that upped the cosy factor of the cafe. The owners really pay great attention to detail! See for yourself... oh and look at the cute tea quotes on the walls!



Oh and I love their kitchen counter + the stained-glass windows and the cool french style kitchen door. Look closely and you realise that the three lamps above the counter are made from real kettles used in India which the owner modified and had them made into lamps.



I sat at the blue tiled table, which was so old school and antique and I couldn't stop admiring it.



Check out the cute tea pot turned plant holder!





Gosh I really am in love with Karma Kettle & Rhapsody. I've been telling all my friends about it. I have to go back there soon....

And if you think they just serve food in a cafe, oh you're in for a huge surprise.

The owners have a retail store just a few doors down and it is stocked with authentic French imports. Think dijon mustard, raspberry vinegar, lavender liquer and you know what I mean. Soaps are also sold there - they smell amazing by the way. I like the green tea one! Oh and of course, there's the usual mainstay: chocolate soap.

Now you can look at the photos and see for yourself:













How cool is that? This is by far the first time I've come across such a store and cafe and I'm really impressed. You can say that I've fallen head over heels in love with Karma Kettle & Rhapsody. Trust me, looking at these pictures is one thing; going there to experience it for yourself is another. If you're a huge fan of the quaint, cosy and English, then you'll probably love it as much as I do :)

P.S. These photos were taken by my friend Ashley. She does freelance photography as a sideline and if you're interested in her services, email her at ashmocha@hotmail.com

*Disclaimer: The food photos are not reflective of the real portion size served. These are sample dishes and therefore are smaller in quantity.
_____________________________________

Karma Kettle & Rhapsody
#01-01A & #01-05B Cluny Court
501 Bukit Timah Road.
Tel: 6314-3483
Open Monday to Fridays 11am to 10pm, Saturday and Sundays 10am to 9pm

Cocoa & Butterscotch says thanks!

Frequent readers of my blog will know that Dorothy (a.k.a. Dot) and I have been doing up cupcake tiers and baking cupcakes that match them. The cool thing is the customisation part and all our customers have been really happy with their tiers, thanks to Dorothy's creative talent. It gives us great joy knowing that our tiers and cupcakes are making a difference and putting smiles on people's faces.

Us being a two-girlie team behind Cocoa & Butterscotch, we really strive to make this world a happy yummy place (yea that's our tagline!) via our simple rustic 'from-the-heart' type of service & goods.

To be honest, it's a real challenge juggling school & work (yea, Dot's a full-time graphic designer) with baking and making tiers from scratch. But I do try my best to meet as many requests as possible. And allow me to take this opportunity to thank everyone out there who has given us your support, either by buying our stuff or just dropping comments or emails or even reading this! :) I really do appreciate all the love... yes I do.

I guess this blog has opened more doors for me than I thought possible and I hope to one day be able to really go all out and finally do my own thing, be it a real bakery/cafe/eatery of sorts. I am no gourmand, that I can safely admit, but what I do know is that I am passionate about food, and it's lovely to see so many like-minded people around who believe in me and even bother to read this lil 'ol blog of mine. So thank you all once again!

So there, it's something I have been wanting to post for a long time now! Especially since I know how much faith alot of you have in us. Dot and I are planning something a bit bigger for next year but nothing's confirmed but I just wanted to give you a head's up so that you know that we are always thinking of you, our dearest reader!

And here's a shout out to Thea's mum whose birthday was last Friday! Happy Birthday Thea's Mum! (Sorry I don't know her name!). Thea's our recent customer and she was so sweet - she wanted a two-tiered cupcake tier with cupcakes to surprise her mum on her birthday. Dot and I suggested an English-themed tier and Thea liked the idea, and so we came up with something quite sweet and quaint:




Black lace, white ribbons, yellow floral patterns and a touch of grassy green to go with it...




Don't you think it looks pretty? It reminds me of a summery afternoon by the English countryside. Ahhh...




It was refreshing, doing a two-leveled cupcake tier instead of the usual 3-leveled ones. I guess it's more befitting, since Thea wanted a simple one to celebrate with her family of four. I heard from her that her mum really liked the tier and the lemon cupcakes! yay!



So there you have it, one more tier in our list of merry-making endeavours.

Cocoa & Butterscotch are once again really happy to know that there are people out there who appreciate the simpler and sweeter things in life :)

Rockin' Rice Pudding

There are certain foods that bore me and I'm not afraid to say that out loud.

But then again, these 'boring' foods are usually the most commonly used ones. That's probably why I find some of it to be so blah sometimes. Take rice for example...

I live in an Asian country where rice is a mainstay of the kitchen. My family has rice with everything - curry, soup, stews, meats and vegetables. It's no surprise. Rice fills you up fast and gives you energy.

Perhaps it's the way rice is being cooked here. Or the type of rice used. I've been eating white rice since god knows when but these days I prefer something more grainy and nutty - think brown rice, red cargo rice, and even buckwheat.

Yes, I do take rice for granted sometimes. Especially white rice. It's not a food that makes me go crazy.


BUT...


(yea there's always a but... duh!)

At times you realise that the most plain food can be the most exciting when coupled with other ingredients. Why so? Well isn't it simple? Think of it as a plain whiteboard. Would you use a black marker on a whiteboard or a black marker on a blackboard? Most probably the white one ya? That's to ensure high visibility.

Likewise, when it comes to food. It's better sometimes, to jazz up something plain with ingredients that have strong characteristics than try to make a mish mash of too many strong ingredients all fighting for attention. That's the way I see it and I really think it's amazing.

So when I found leftover rice in the fridge the other day.... I knew I had to do something about it. Something I've been thinking of doing but never got round to it. I decided to make rice pudding.

I really love puddings because they're so hearty and comforting. To me, puddings convey a very home-y feel and I find that really appealing. Perhaps it's the creaminess? Or the fact that it's full of milk-fat... which is oh so yummy.




I found a recipe that's been used by The Amateur Gourmet and it looked fool-proof. With a name like Rockin' Rice Pudding, how can I not be enticed?

It's a recipe that's so simple, any kid can do it. Seriously! Great for when you want to clear your leftover rice but can't bear to bin it. I hate to waste food... so maybe that's why.

I'm the sort of person who will keep leftover bread that no one wants and turn it into a delicious bread pudding. My friends can attest to that...



Did you think plain rice could taste this good as a dessert? I mean, all I added was some milk, cinnamon, raisins, butter and sugar. I heard that it tastes even better with ice cream. Mmmm..

Gosh, for the first time, I wish the fridge was filled with leftover rice. Maybe I shall start a club or something. So that those of you who are thinking of throwing away your lunch or dinner can actually donate some parts to me... hmm like RICE? hahaha. k that's too lame.




I have to agree with Tyler Florence; Rice is indeed nice.

Have it warm, or cold, this rice pudding tastes great either ways. Maybe I'll throw in some nuts next time... give it a bit of crunch.

All right... back to my papers. I have too many deadlines. Thus the inactivity. So pardon me if you had to keep looking at the natto photo everytime you drop by my blog.

Have a great weekend ya'll!

____________________________________________


Rockin’ Rice Pudding
Recipe courtesy of Tyler Florence
Show: Food 911
Episode: Rice is Nice

3 cups white rice, cooked
3 cups milk
2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup raisins
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon, grated
1 teaspoon cinnamon, divided

Combine cooked rice, milk, sugar and butter in a medium saucepan. Add raisins and vanilla. Cook for 25 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed. Mix in lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Spoon pudding into a serving dish and dust with remaining cinnamon. May serve chilled or at room temperature.

Natto-licious?

There can only be two responses to the above photo: that of pure disgust or pure curiousity at what that weird-looking 'thing' is.

Perhaps you already know what it is - which means you've probably eaten it and lived to tell the tale.

That slimey, gooey, 'saliva' webbed object of mention is actually rather harmless. Made from soy beans, nattō is the result of adding bacillus natto to the beans and allowing it to ferment. The result is quite interesting, as you can see from above. But this food of Japanese origins is rather popular as a breakfast food in Japan. People mix it with soy sauce, karashi (mustard) and scallions and eat it with plain rice.

I can attempt to describe how it tastes like but I believe that you have to try some for yourself. It's one of those curious foods that everyone wonders how it'll really taste but not many have the guts to dive in. Of course it makes sense because it does look like beans with lots of saliva - that's what my sis keeps saying!

But do you know that nattō is rather healthy because of the enzymes, vitamins and amino acids that are produced during the fermentation process after bacillus natto is added. One common fact is that it contains nattokinase and pyrazine that helps to prevent or lessen blood clots - this in turn prevents heart attacks and strokes.

How's that for starters? Feel like having some now?

or ... not?

Perhaps you can just read on and digest what I have to say, and maybe, just maybe, you'd want to get some nattō the next time you go to the supermarket.

So why nattō? Why talk about it and eat it suddenly? I guess I got too curious. As an avid reader of food blogs/sites/articles, it isn't uncommon to come across plenty of intriguing stuff - and that usually sets my tastebuds in a whirl. Curiousity kills the cat they say but curiousity really just makes me want to try everything I see. Yes, including nattō which looks quite suspect, at first glance. But I knew I had to try it at least once, so I decided to buy the smallest portion available:



from Isetan @ Shaw Towers. I quite like the styrofoam packaging. I was initially surprised that it was so light, but I guess no one would want to down large amounts of nattō at one go.



I bought the nattō on a whim so I didn't really know what to expect or how to eat it. But it was nice to see a packet of soy sauce and karashi to mix it with.

So when I lifted the plastic covering off the nattō, distinct sticky webs started to materialise. This is where you can see and feel just how sticky nattō is. Trust me, it doesn't make washing any easier!



A popular way of eating nattō is really to mix it with soy sauce and karashi. Alot of Japanese like ot mix it with scallions. I doubt anyone really eats it raw. It is afterall, an acquired taste.



To be honest, I expected more out of nattō. I thought it would taste more like miso. Instead, I found that it tasted more like cheese, and when I meant cheese I am certainly not talking about cheddar or your typical sliced cheese. It's got that distinct blue cheese kind of feel - a bit pungent but not too overpowering. However, it really borders on tasteless though, if you eat it without the sauce. Depth of flavour is almost non-existent. So I guess in a way, it isn't fair to compare it with cheese? Hmmm...

I had mine with some rice and to tell you the truth, I really like the sliminess. I'm weird! It gives texture and heightens the fun factor. Trust me when I tell you it's fun... mostly because you'll be struggling to avoid getting those sticky threads from going onto your clothes or hair. Think glue and you know what I mean. Or hmmm mozarella cheese. You know how it is when you try to pull away two ends of melted mozarella cheese? Yea, multiple this by 10 and that's the type of gooey/sticky mess you get when you eat nattō.

Some people hate nattō on their first taste, but I think I could really get used to it, just like these two people who embarked on a Natto Project where they challenged themselves to eat nattō everyday till they started to like it and not find eating it a chore. After about 33 days, they achieved that. Both actually gave themselves a year but apparently, 30 days was all they needed!

Nattō really is a force to be reckoned with. It is quite an understated type of food that deserves more respect and love! Simple but extraordinary. Right, I sound like a nattō ambassador. I doubt this will be my last time eating it. I intend to try out different brands and maybe experiment with different combinations just like the pair who managed to like nattō after eating it for 30 over days.



For more nattō information and tips, check out Wikipedia's nattō definition and explanation or enter Nattoland, a simple website that explains nattō in simple terms.

Or you could always Google or Yahoo it! :)

A'ight, that's enough nattō talk for now. All this protein is making me crave for something sweet. Maybe I'll go have more of that rice pudding I just made last night. More about that really soon!