High Tea at the Fullerton Hotel

Was at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore the other day for a high tea. Couldn't resist taking a picture of their selection of pastries which I washed down with heavenly Moroccan Mint Tea. I love anything mint, just like I love anything vanilla.

Their scones are also lovely. Would have to try my hand at making one sometime.

Happy cupcaking!

Aikko

Magnolia Bakery Cookbook Series: Zucchini Walnut Bread

Nope I'm not doing a Julie Powell. Just a few recipes from the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook that took my fancy.

I still have a bagful of walnuts left in the baking pantry so this recipe seems to an easy one to do. I just have to go the Kang's (a korean grocery) to buy the zucchini, the rest, I can easily grab from the pantry.

This is the first time I did a bread. Thank God it turned out well, moist, crumbly and chewy. Though I didn't taste the zucchininess of it. I'll probably add more when I do this again. Walnutty flavor was great though.

Happy Cupcaking,

Aikko

A Visit to Makati Cinema Square’s BookSale

I was browsing Lori Baltazar's blog when I came across this (http://dessertcomesfirst.com/archives/1722) entry. It never came across my mind that I could find interesting books from second hand book stores in Manila. I was wrong – I certainly can. When I feel the need to get an addition to my measly collection of baking books, I always head to National Bookstore, Powerbooks or Fully Booked (their store … or rather building in High Street always makes me feel like a giddy kid in a candy store). I love books. I wouldn't let a day pass without reading a single page from a book. There was a time when I was in school that I'd read in the moonlight. Yes, moonlight – since opening the flashlight would alert my mom that I'm still awake in the wee hours of the morning.

After reading Lori's blog entry about second hand bookstores, I can't wait for the weekend to head to Makati Cinema Square (this time not for the abundant dibidi) to make a beeline to the Booksale branch to see if I can find interesting baking/dessert books to add to my collection.

For the trip, I have set a budget for myself. A thousand and five hundred bucks would get me two soft bound books or one hard bound book if I head to National Bookstore. Let's see if I can stretch my 1,500 long enough this time.

The Booksale branch in MCS is huge and - here's the good thing – it's organized. I only have to ask the saleslady where the cookbook section is and already my feet are taking 2 steps at a time to the destination.

Here's what I found –

Savoring France by Dianne Holuigue for Williams Sonoma for Php 290; Savoring Provence by Georgeanne Brennan for Williams Sonoma for also Php 290; Grand Finales by Dick Taeuber for Php 90; The Complete Book of Pastry by Bernard Clayton for Php 110; Best Baking by Elizabeth Alston for Php 130; Gluten Free Baking by Rebecca Reilly for Php90

So how much was it all in all? I got 6 heavy books for only a thousand bucks! Wow! How many Booksale branches are there in the Philippines? Curiouser, curiouser.

I love the books that I got!!! Let the reading begin!

Happy Cupcaking!

Aikko

Banana Cinnamon Chip Cookies

I forgot about these pictures. Didn't know I have them in my SD card. I thought when my PC crashed these were lost. Good thing I haven't been deleting pictures from my SD card lately.

I have stash of cinnamon chips on hand. I thought of making cookies out of them. But I was in dilemma. What goes well with Cinnamon? Apple is classic but after a few grocery trips here and there, I realized apple extract is not sold here. So I settled for banana instead.

Love Love the combination. It turned out pretty well. One of my friends even said it has some bubblegummy flavor to it. Cool!

Happy cupcaking!
Aikko

Banana Walnut Pancake with Caramel Syrup

Not quite baking yet but I made something for breakfast today.

My parents are here for a visit and since we don’t see each other that often, I made an effort to wake up at 6 AM (and for me, believe me, that IS an effort) and be a kitchen slave for two hours to make breakfast.

Here are the recipes I used. The pancake recipe is from recipezaar (http://www.recipezaar.com/The-Best-Fluffiest-Buttermilk-Pancakes-on-the-Planet-167914)
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The Best Fluffiest Buttermilk Pancakes on the Planet!

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
3-4 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup sour cream
5 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Directions
1In a large bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar and salt.
2In another bowl whisk together eggs, buttermilk, sour cream, melted butter and vanilla (if using) add to the flour mixture; whisk until smooth (the batter will be thick!).
3Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes at room temperature.
4After 5 minutes whisk or mix again.
5Drop about 1/4-cup batter onto a medium-hot skillet; cook until lightly browned on the bottom, turn and cook until browned.
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Love the pancake it’s really fluffy. Though I think I tried a few times before I finally got it right.
The caramel syrup I was tempted to just go the supermarket and buy an instant one but I was too lazy to go there so I just made one instead. I got the recipe from cooks.com(http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1923,148178-235194,00.html
). I doubled the amount of cream so it wouldn’t crystallize. But nevertheless, love the homemade caramel flavor.
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CARAMEL SYRUP

1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. cream
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1 tbsp. butter

Bring to boil. Cool several hours in refrigerator or overnight.
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Still happy cupcaking!
Aikko

...

For some reason, my hands can't seem to find a reason to lift a wire whisk, beat butter and sugar, or frost a single cupcake.

I have two possible culprits for this:
(1) the creative juices flew out of the window
(2) the procrastination bug bit me, big time.

I have lot of ideas, some I have even started, some the baking stuff needed already bought but somehow I am on a limbo. Is this how it feels to be on baking rut? Or is there such thing as that? Please tell me how to get out of it!!!

Flourless Chocolate Cupcake # 3, 4, 5 ohh... I can't remember

Just to let you know, I'm still on the hunt for the perfect (at least in my own opinion) flourless chocolate cupcake. That's why is # "I can't remember" hehe.

I have tried several recipes already, there's Clotilde's recipe from Chocolate and Zuchinni, Chef Ceci's version from howdini.com and well as Shirley Corriher's recipe. I think I made this recipe countless times.

However, I am still on the hunt for the perfect flourless chocolate cupcake recipe. So what is the "perfect" version for me? It should be dense, not crinkly, silky smooth and tastes like pure chocolate even though it has a lot of ingredients in it.

I got this recipe from Williams Sonoma's Savoring France. What's good about it is that it's easy to make, no bake, just freeze sort of cake.

Downside of this cake, it melts so easily!! In the heat of Manila's summer, unfortunately, it wont survive :(. Nevertheless, it takes so yummy, finishing even one cupcake makes me feel so guilty!

Happy cupcaking!

Aikko