Tuna Macaroni Cheese Balls for your kids

Many people asks me about my surface I use in my food photo. "Where did you buy them ? Did you paint them by yourself ? How to make the pattern as the ones you have ?" and so on. Okay, I always paint my own wooden surface for my food photos. I have plenty of boards with various types and sizes. I painted them according to my imagination and sometimes I combined more than one color. If I don't like the color or the pattern of my board, all I need to is re-paint it again with white paint then start again.  I prefer to make my own board because it looks more personal.

Guest Post : Spicy Cheese Sticks for Sonia from "Oggi pane e salame, domani..."

My latest guest post for my Italian foodie friend, Sonia. A simple recipe that can be made by everyone. Cheesy, spicy, fried and I made it gluten free. 
 

Sonia offered me to write two blog posts for her blog Oggi pane e salame domani... (Bread and salami for today, tomorrow... , in English). The first post is about recipe and the other one will be about behind the scene. The complete story and recipe of Spicy Cheese Sticks can be seen on her blog. 

See you there... !

The delectable cake : Fermented Cassava Cake

Having a man and a boy in the house with different tastes when it comes to cakes has made me as a picky cake baker ! I need to make everyone happy and cook something they both love. They both love fermented cassava, so this cake is like the answer of my question.

When I was a kid, our neighbour used to send us fermented cassava cake. It was a homemade one. She brought the cake to our home while it still warm. Recalling the sweet memories where I had to eat it slowly and enjoyed every bites.

I got the recipe from Vania Samperuru of Adventurelicious. You may click the picture below the read the recipe. 

Once you have put the cake batter in the oven, the incredible smell of it wafted from the kitchen. The delicious smell that will arouse your appetite in a minute. The strong taste from the fermented cassava cake and a hint of cheese is one thing that will stay in your tongue.

Click to enlarge

Enjoy....

Martabak Brownies

For my birthday last year, my husband bought me a magic pan :). "It would be so useful", he said. The pan has upper and lower plate and it's a nonstick pan too. Martabak brownies was the first recipe I tried using this pan and it worked !

In Indonesia, martabak is very popular as an evening snack. There are two variation of martabak, sweet and savory. The sweet martabak, is Indonesian style thick pancake stuffed with chocolate, cheese, sweet condensed milk and chopped peanut. But now, the martabak sellers has offered you variety of toppings and you may also choose your own martabak topping, banana, black sticky rice, shredded coconut, corn, durian, sesame seeds, jack fruit, almond and fruit jams.

While the savory martabak is a crepe-like dish with egg filling. The filling is a mixture of eggs, onion, green onion, cooked minced beef and seasoning. The martabak's skin is made by spinning the pastry until it became very thin. If you have time to come to Indonesia, you should see how the martabak seller spins the pastry :-D

Martabak Brownies is a modification of sweet martabak. Chocolate was added to the batter and makes the chocolatey thick pancake. 

Martabak Brownies

Ingredients :

- 500 gr all purpose flour or med protein flour

- 2 tbsp chocolate powder

- 1 tsp baking powder

- 1 tsp instant yeast

- 700 ml fresh milk

- 150 gr margarin

- 75 gr dark cooking chocolate

- 5 eggs

- 75 gr granulated sugar

Topping:

- 100 gr granulated sugar

- 100 ml sweet condensed milk

- 100 gr dark cooking chocolate, finely chopped

- 200 gr cheddar cheese, grated

- 200 gr butter

How to :

1. Sift flour, chocolate powder and baking powder to make sure there are no lumps. Set aside.
2. Mixed the milk and instant yeast, stir evenly. Set aside.
3. Melt the butter and the chocolate and mix until smooth.
4. Beat the eggs and sugar until you have a silky consistency. Add alternately another half portion of sifted flour with milk. Beat until combine.
5. Add the melted chocolate, stir evenly Rest the batter for 30 minutes in room temperature.
6. Heat the pan over medium heat. Pour in the batter till it reaches about half the height of the pan.
7. Cook over small heat, when bubbles starts to form sprinkle sugar. (bubbles indicate that the martabak consists pores). Cover the pan, let it cook until set. Then take it out of the pan.
8. Spread martabak with butter, sprinkle with chopped dark cooking chocolate and grated cheese. Pour condensed milk over the martabak.
9. Cut into half and put one half on top the other half. Spread with butter for the last time. Cut as desire.

Martabak Brownies

Bahan Martabak:

- 500 gr tepung protein sedang

- 2 sdm coklat bubuk

- 1 sdt baking powder

- 1 sdt ragi instant

- 700 ml susu cair

- 150 gr margarin

- 75 gr dark cooking chocolate

- 5 telur

- 75 gr gula pasir

Bahan Taburan :

- 100 gr gula pasir

- 100 ml susu kental manis

- 100 gr dark cooking chocolate, serut

- 200 gr keju cheddar, parut

- 200 gr mentega

Cara :

1. Ayak tepung terigu, coklat bubuk dan baking powder hingga rata. Sisihkan. Campur ragi instan dan susu, ratakan. Sisihkan.
2. Campur margarin dan dark cooking chocolate, masak hingga coklat larut. Sisihkan.
3. Kocok telur dan gula hingga mengembang.
4. Tambahkan campuran terigu perlahan bergantian dengan susu sambil diaduk hingga rata.
5. Tuang campuran coklat perlahan, ratakan. Diamkan adonan selama 30 menit.
6. Panaskan cetakan, tuang adonan hingga 1/2 tinggi cetakan.
7. Panggang hingga berpori, taburi dengan gula pasir. Tutup cetakan, masak hingga matang. Angkat.
8. Olesi margarin, taburi dengan coklat dan keju parut. Beri tambahan susu kental manis.
9. Potong menjadi dua bagian sama rata, lipat martabak, olesi kulit dengan mentega. Potong dan sajikan.

Tips : Pastikan cetakan panas pada saat adonan dituang. Karena cetakan yang tidak panas akan menyebabkan martabak tidak berserat.

Enjoy ...
 

Blueberry Ricotta Cheese Pie

My curiosity about Blueberry ricotta cheese pie has gotten the best of me :) I prepared all the ingredients the week before, I was more than ready for the pie. So when the weekend had finally come, there was nothing more exhilarating than making it in my own kitchen.

Well, it's not just about how easy to make this pie. I've made cookies pie crust before and it was also no need bake pie. But what intrigued me more was the ricotta cheese. Wondering how it would taste putting ricotta cheese in cream cheese and heavy cream mixture.

The ricotta cheese gives the pie a very delicate and tasty texture. Not too sweet, not too salty and creamy. Beyond that, words fail me on describing the Blueberry ricotta cheese pie itself. If you want to know more, just scroll down and check out the recipe below. 

Blueberry Ricotta Cheese Pie

Ingredients

Pie crust :

- 75 gr plain crackers, crushed finely

- 75 gr ground almond

- 75 gr unsalted butter, melted

Cheese cake :

- 200 gr cream cheese, room temperature

- 500 gr ricotta cheese

- 120 gr caster sugar

- 2 tsp lemon zest, cut into thin slivers

- 1tsp lemon juice

- 5 sheets of gelatin

- 250 gr heavy cream

- 50 gr blueberry jam

How to :

1. Pie crust, in a small mixing bowl, combine plain cracker crumbs and butter, mix well. 
2. Line the pie plate with aluminum foil. Press firmly the mixture over bottom and up sides of 22 cm (9 inch) pie plate. Keep it in fridge.
3. Soaked gelatin leaves in cold water until pliable, squeezed dry. Put the gelatin in a bowl over simmering water, stir until gelatin has dissolved.
4. In a separate bowl beat heavy cream on med-hi speed until soft peaks form. Set aside.
5. Cheese cake, in a mixing bowl beat the cream cheese and ricotta cheese until mixed well and smooth. Add caster sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice. Keep mixing. Add gelatin, stir well.
6. Add heavy cream into the cheese mixture. Beat for a minute.
7. Spread the cheese cake on the cooled crust.
8. Drop by a small spoonfuls of blueberry jam over surface of cheese cake. Using a knife or toothpick, swirl jam gently through the surface to create marble effect.
9. Refrigerated.
 

Bahasa Indonesia

Bahan alas :

- 75 gr plain crackers, haluskan (misal Jacobs)

- 75 gr almond bubuk

- 75 gr mentega tawar, lelehkan

Bahan cheese cake :

- 200 gr cream cheese, biarkan suhu ruang

- 500 gr ricotta cheese

- 120 gr gula tepung

- 2 sdt kulit jeruk lemon

- 1 sdt air jeruk lemon

- 5 lembar gelatin, rendam, peras, tim

- 250 gr krim kental, kocok mengembang

- 50 gr selai blueberry

Cara :

1. Alas, aduk rata crackers, almond bubuk dan mentega tawar sampai bergumpal.

2. Cetak di loyang pie diameter 22 cm tinggi 3 cm yang dilapisi aluminium foil hingga ke sampingnya. Padatkan dan  dinginkan dalam lemari es.

3. Cheese cake, kocok cream cheese dan ricotta asal rata. Tambahkan gula tepung, kulit jeruk lemon dan air jeruk lemon. Kocok rata. Masukkan gelatin. Kocok rata.

4. Tambahkan krim kental sedikit2-sedikit sambil diaduk perlahan. Tuang ke alas.

5. Sendokkan selai blueberry di beberapa tempat dan bentuk marmer dengan garpu. 

Enjoy....


 

Chocolate cream cheese cupcakes

This is what I did when I had nearly expired 250 gr cream cheese. :D

I was craving to make Strawberry cheese pie, that's why I bought 250 gr of cream cheese. But it was hard to find fresh strawberries at the market (I don't know why). Weeks gone by, the cream cheese still remain where it belong in the fridge. Until I take a look at the expired date, "oh no....it will be expired within two days !"

One hour before "Earth Hour" began, I start making these Chocolate cream cheese cupcakes. I already find the recipe from here, I think it's quite easy rather than Strawberry cheese pie. :) Its taste almost like muffin to me (too bad, I'm not a big fan of muffin !)

Chocolate cream cheese cupcakes
Make 24 cupcakes

Ingredients :

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to :

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line muffin tins with paper cups or lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, egg, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt until light and fluffy. Stir in the chocolate chips and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, 1 cup sugar, cocoa, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Make a well in the center and add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Stir together until well blended. Fill muffin tins 1/3 full with the batter and top with a dollop of the cream cheese mixture.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

Enjoy....

Celebration of love

It was my cousin's wedding.

I really enjoy the sacred marriage covenant, when a man and a woman who desire to make their vows. Reminds me of myself and hubby, almost 9 years ago. :) Promised to look after each other and to love until the end of life. I can tell you, I prefer to come to the marriage covenant ceremony than to the marriage feast. Yes, marriage is a celebration of love !

Love and chocolate are inseparable two things. Some people say "show your love with chocolate", and also you can see chocolate everywhere when February comes (because some people say "February is a month of love"). As for myself, I cook something with chocolate only to fulfill my love of chocolate :D (that's one way to show how much I love myself, lol)

I never get bored to make brownies, different kind of brownies. Again, I try another version of brownies from Anne Vijaya. You really have to try this one !! I like the way this brownie melt in my mouth, yum ... ! The cheese layer on top of the chocolate layer add a sensational taste to this brownies.

Chocolate cheese brownies

Ingredients :

- 250 gr unsalted butter
- 200 gr dark cooking chocolate, broken up
- 80 gr cocoa powder, sifted
- 65 gr plain flour, sifted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 250 gr caster sugar
- 4 large eggs

Cream cheese layer :
- 150 gr cream cheese
- 1 eggs
- 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar

How to :

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C/ 350°F. Grease 1 25 cm square baking tin tray with butter then line with greaseproof paper.
2. In a large bowl over some simmering water, melt the butter and the chocolate and mix until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and sugar, then add this to the chocolate mixture. Stir together well. Beat the eggs and mix in until you have a silky consistency. Remove 1/2 cup of the brownie batter and set aside.
4. Pour the remainder of your brownie mix into the baking tray. Set aside.
5. In a different bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth, add in egg and sugar, mix well just until creamy and smooth.
6. Spread cream cheese batter evenly over the brownie layer. Spoon small dollops of the reserved brownie batter evenly on top of the cream cheese filling. Then with a table knife or wooden skewer, swirl the two batter without mixing them.
7. Place in the oven around 25 minutes. The brownie should be slightly springy on the outside but still gooey in the middle.
8. Allow to cool in the tray, then carefully transfer to a large chopping board and cut into chunky squares.

Bahasa Indonesia

Bahan :

- 250 gr mentega tawar
- 200 gr dark cooking chocolate
- 80 gr bubuk cocoa, ayak
- 65 gr tepung terigu, ayak
- 1 sdt baking powder, ayak
- 250 gula halus
- 4 butir telur ukuran besar

Cream cheese :

- 150 gr cream cheese (suhu ruang)
- 2 sdm gula pasir
- 1 butir telur

Cara :

1. Panaskan oven dengan suhu 180°C/ 350°F. Oles tipis loyang ukuran 25 cm dengan mentaga sampai rata lalu alasi dengan kertas minyak.
2. Cairkan mentega dan coklat di dalam mangkok yang diletakan di atas panci berisi air dengan api kecil. Aduk sampai rata. Sisihkan.
3. Campur bubuk cocoa, tepung terigu dan baking powder yang sudah diayak. Masukan ke adonan coklat leleh. Aduk rata. Masukan telur dan aduk sampai lembut. Sisihkan 1/2 cup adonan.
4. Tuang sisa adonan brownie ke dalam loyang. Sisihkan.
5. Gunakan mangkok lain, kocok cream cheese sampai lembut. Tambahkan telur dan gula pasir, kocok sampai rata dan lembut.
6. Tuang adonan cream cheese ke loyang di atas adonan coklat secara merata. Sendokkan adonan coklat 1/2 cup secara acak di atas adonan cream cheese. Buat guratan-guratan dengan menggunakan pisau atau sendok kayu (jangan tercampur semua)
7. Masukan oven dan panggang selama 25 menit. Keluarkan dari oven.
8. Dinginkan terlebih dahulu sebelum dikeluarkan dari cetakan.

Rasanya enak sekali, coklatnya agak lumer-lumer di bagian tengahnya. Selamat mencoba !


Enjoy.....