Paris Brest with Coffee Cream

When I first saw this French pastry dessert in a pastry cookbook I bought, I knew straightaway that I wanted to try my hand at making it. The picture in the book looked so tempting and inviting, I wanted to taste it right away.

This delicious pastry was created by a French pastry chef to commemorate the Paris-Brest-Paris bicycle race and it was made in the shape of a ring to represent a wheel.

The key to making this choux pastry is to get the right consistency of the mixture. The original recipe actually called for a praline flavoured cream but being a coffee lover, I decided to make coffee cream icing instead to go in it. It gives a beautiful aroma and flavour to the pastry and matches perfectly with the crisp almond flakes.

Paris Brest

Ingredients

Choux Pastry
1/2 tsp salt
1  1/2 tsp castor sugar
125g plain flour, sifted
150ml water
60g unsalted butter, chopped, at room temperature
3 large eggs, lightly whisked

25g almond flakes

Coffee Cream
300ml heavy cream or thickened cream
4-5 Tbsp icing sugar (or adjust according to your sweetness preference) 
1 Tbsp coffee powder
1 tsp boiling water

extra icing sugar for dusting


Method

1) Preheat the oven to 200C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper, draw 8.5cm diameter circles (leaving 3.5cm space apart each circles)  and then turn the paper upside down. 

2) Combine the salt, sugar and flour in a bowl and set aside.

3) Put the water and butter in a medium saucepan and bring slowly to the boil (the butter should melt before it comes to the boil).

4) Working quickly, remove the saucepan from the heat, add the flour mixture all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon to combine.

5) Return the pan to low heat and cook, stirring vigorously, for about 1 min or until the mixture forms a smooth, thick mass that comes away from the side of the pan. (Do not overbeat the mixture or the pastry will not rise properly). Set the mixture aside for 5 mins or until cooled slightly.

Stir vigorously until the dough pulls away from the side of the pan

6) Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or you can beat by hand with a wooden spoon). Gradually add in the beaten egg as you beat the mixture constantly, ensuring it's mixed in well before adding more.

7) Continue beating in the egg until the mixture is glossy and falls heavily from the beaters. The mixture should fold in on itself when cut through with a spatula. You may not need to add in all of the egg once you have the right consistency (you don't want your mixture to be too watery).

This is the consistency to achieve

8) Spoon the choux pastry into a piping bag fitted with a small round nozzle. Pipe the dough onto the baking paper, following the circle. Pipe another circle of dough around the inside, leaving a tiny gap to allow spreading. Pipe a third circle over the gap between the 2 rings, then use your fingers (moisten with a bit of water) to very lightly smooth the surface slightly.

 

9) Scatter the almond flakes over the pastry, then bake for 25 mins or until the pastry is golden and puffed., Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

10) To make coffee cream, dilute coffee powder with the boiling water. Beat the heavy cream and icing sugar until thick. Add in the diluted coffee and continue to beat till stiff. Take care not to overbeat.

11) Use a sharp serrated knife to slice the Paris Brest in half horizontally. Spoon the coffee cream in a large piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. Pipe the filling onto the base. Top with the pastry ring. Repeat with the rest of the pastries and dust icing sugar over them.

12) Serve and enjoy!

Bon Appetit!

Fruity Print Cakes

These lovely cakes are just too pretty to eat, don't you agree? Looks like petite sandwiches too. They make a nice treat for a teatime with some special guests. 

Enjoy!

Fruity Print Cakes 
(makes 12)

Ingredients

Swiss roll sponge
5 egg yolks (medium)
50g corn oil
50g milk
20g caster sugar
85g cake flour

5 egg white (medium)
1/4 tsp lemon juice, optional
50g caster sugar

red, green and black food colouring

Whipped Cream Filling

120g dairy whipping cream/thickened cream
20g icing sugar
(Whip cream until thick.  Add in sugar and whisk until stiff. Do not overbeat. Chill before used)

To prepare pattern on parchment paper

1) Line a rectangle swiss roll pan with parchment paper.

2) Remove the parchment paper and turn it around so that the bottom is facing upwards.

3) Using a pencil, draw a vertical line across the centre of the paper. On one side of the division, divide the area into twelve squares or rectangles by drawing lines. In each of the squares or rectangles, draw an outline of a fruit.

4) Now return the paper back to the pan with the pencil drawing facing the pan. You should still be able to see the outline of your drawing.

To prepare the batter

1) Lightly whisk egg yolk with sugar.

2) Add in corn oil and stir to combine. Add in milk and combine well.

3) Fold in the cake flour and mix well. Set aside.

4) Add lemon juice (if using) into egg white and beat till foamy. Gradually add in sugar and beat till stiff peaks.

5) Take 1/3 portion of egg white mixture and use hand whisk to mix with egg yolk mixture till light.

6) Fold the balance of egg white mixture into egg yolk mixture and combine well.

7) Scoop 2 tablespoon of the batter into a small bowl and add 1-2 drops of red food colouring. Blend to make a pinkish red mixture. Put the mixture into a piping bag with a small round nozzle tip. Pipe on to the baking paper according to the drawing outline. You can use a toothpick or small pointy spoon to push the mixture along the outline.

8) With a tablespoon of batter, do the same as above to mix in 1 drop of green colouring and pipe out the outline of the fruit leaves.

9) Bake in preheated oven at 160C for 1 minute.

10) Remove the pan from the oven and pour in the rest of the batter to cover the fruity parts and carefully level the surface.

11) Continue to bake for another 25 minutes.

To assemble cake

1) Once out of the oven, carefully turn the baked sponge cake onto a piece of parchment paper.

2) Slowly peel off the attached parchment paper from the cake to reveal the fruits pattern.

3) Using a toothpick, dip into black food colouring (or you can dilute some cocoa powder with a drop of hot water) and paint the stalks and dot on the strawberries to resemble the seeds. 

4) Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the cake in half across the center line. 

5) Spread an even layer of whipped cream filling on top of the cake without the prints. Lay the other printed cake over it.

6) Trim off the sides of the 2-layer cake to make it neater. Cut the cake into 12 slices according to the fruit prints.

7) Enjoy with a nice cup of tea!

Pain au Chocolat (Chocolate Puff Pastry)

For a quick and easy afternoon tea treat, the following recipe will help you come up with something sweet and impressive in no time. No sweat!

Pain au Chocolat
(makes 12)

Ingredients

1 sheet of frozen ready-rolled puff pastry
1 semi-sweet chocolate bar (preferably those that comes in thin slices like
        Hershey's Special Dark), broken into 12 rectangular pieces
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp sea salt


Method

1) Preheat oven to 220C.

2) Line a baking tray with baking paper.

3) Lay out the puff pastry sheet on your work station.  Divide and cut the puff pastry into 12 rectangular pieces.

4) Brush the top of pastry lightly with the beaten egg. Place a piece of chocolate in the center of the each rectangular pastry strip and sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the chocolate. 

5) Fold one end over the chocolate and then fold over the other end. Press the seam to seal with a fork. 

6) Place the chocolate pastry rolls seam side down on the baking tray and brush the tops and sides with beaten egg.

7) Bake for about 15 mins or until puffed and golden. Leave to cool on wire rack.

Mince Pork Curry

This is one of my favourite mom's dishes. It's a simple mince curry dish but yet so delicious. It's the kind of food that you would be happy to top over a bowl of rice and tuck into on a sofa in front of the TV. The ultimate comfort food dinner!

And I always look forward to the leftovers for next morning's breakfast to go with some bread ..... Yum!

Mince Pork Curry

Ingredients
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 shallots, peeled and finely chopped
3 Tbsp curry powder
1/2 tsp chilli powder
80ml coconut milk
500g mince pork
1/2 stick carrot, chopped into small cubes
80g frozen peas
1 tsp sugar
salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp plain flour

Method

1) Place the chopped carrots in a pot of water and boil them till cooked. Drain and set aside.

2) Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and fry for 2 minutes until fragrant.

3) Add in the curry powder, chilli powder and coconut milk and continue to fry for a minute.

4) Add the pork mince and fry till the meat is browned. 

5) Add in the carrot and sugar. Season with salt and pepper.

6) Pour in the water and bring to the boil (you may add more water if you prefer more gravy).

7) Dilute the plain flour with 1 Tbsp of water and add to the saucepan to thicken the sauce.

8) Cover and simmer for another 10 minutes. Add in the peas and stir through.

9) Remove from heat and serve.

Serve over a bowl of rice

Coffee Walnut Slice

Coming from a family of coffee lovers, this is definitely a teatime treat we like to enjoy together. The lovely coffee aroma of the cake is enough to lift up any day!

Coffee Walnut Slice

Ingredients

Cake Sponge
5 egg yolks (medium)
50g corn oil
50g milk
20g caster sugar
85g cake flour
1 Tbsp instant coffee powder
1 tsp boiling water
5 egg whites (medium)
50g caster sugar

Whipped Cream Filling

250ml dairy whipping cream/thickened cream
3-4 Tbsp icing sugar

For Decorations
8 toasted walnuts. finely chopped 
1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder
25g dark chocolate, melted


Method

1) Line a 10 x 13 inch rectangle swiss roll pan with baking paper. Preheat oven to 160C.

2) Using a handwhisk, lightly whisk the egg yolks with sugar (20g).

3) Add in corn oil and stir to combine. Add in milk and mix well together.

4) Dilute the coffee powder with a tsp of boiling water (add a bit more water if needed but not too much). Add to the cake mixture and mix well.

5) Fold in cake flour until well combine. Set aside.

6) Beat the egg whites until foamy. Gradually add in sugar and beat till stiff peak and glossy.

7) Take 1/3 portion of the egg white mixture and mix into the egg yolk mixture with a handwhisk till light. With a spatula, fold in the rest of the egg white mixture until completely combine.

8) Pour the batter into the prepared pan and level the top evenly with a spatula. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.

9) Remove cake from the oven and carefully turn over onto a wire rack.  Slowly peel off the baking paper from the cake. Carefully flip the cake back over so that the top of the cake is facing upwards. Let it cool completely.

10) Meanwhile prepare the cream icing. With an electric mixer, beat the whipping cream with icing sugar until light and creamy.

11) Once the cake has cooled, cut it in half so that you will have two smaller equal-sized rectangular cakes. 

12) Spread a layer of icing on one of the cakes and sprinkle with the chopped walnuts. Place the other cake over it.

13) Fill the rest of the icing into a piping bag fitted with a round nozzle. Pipe out straight lines diagonally over the top layer of the cake. Sift cocoa powder over the icing top.

14) With a sharp knife, cut the cake into small rectangle slices. Decorate each slices with chocolate flowers.


To make chocolate flowers

1) Melt the dark chocolate either in a microwave or double boiler.

2) Place the melted chocolate in a piping bag fitted with a small round nozzle.

3) Pipe out flower patterns on a piece of baking paper. Place it in the fridge to harden.

4) Once harden, peel off the flowers gently from the baking paper.

Seared Bacon Onigiri

I love onigiri (Japanese rice balls). Wrapped with different types of ingredients like tuna, salmon, chicken or any meat of your choice, it is a delicious, quick and easy meal to eat. 

Today, I've made bacon onigiri which is so tasty and flavourful. The toasted rice also gives it an extra beautiful fragrant.

Oishii Desu!!

Seared Bacon Onigiri
(makes 4)

Ingredients

3 cups hot cooked sushi rice
2 slices bacon, finely chopped
1 small onion, thinly sliced into strips
1 Tbsp soy sauce
3 Tbsp sake
1 Tbsp mirin
1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
1 tsp vegetable oil
extra soy sauce for basting

Method

1) In a small saucepan, add in a little oil and fry the chopped onion for about 30 seconds. Add in the bacon and fry till fragrant.

2) Add in the soy sauce, sake, mirin and sugar and reduce over low heat, stirring constantly until the liquid is almost gone.

3) Remove from heat and add in toasted sesame seeds.

4) Spread a handful of rice on a 20cm sheet of plastic wrap and place some of the bacon mixture (drain off any liquid) in the centre of the rice. Use the plastic wrap to help shape the rice into a ball around the bacon. Flatten slightly to form a thick patty and shape into a triangle. Repeat with the remaining portions.

5) In a non-stick frying pan, heat the vegetable oil over a medium heat. Unwrap the rice balls and place on the pan. Brush with extra soy sauce and sear until well browned on both sides.

6) Serve!

Kampar Lor Mai Fan

This dish definitely brings me back to my childhood where we used to buy this popular glutinous rice packed in plastic wrap and newspaper from the wet market in my hometown of Kampar. Served with fried peanuts and roasted char siew, it is one of the favourite breakfast treats among the locals. 

Some would prefer the rice drenched in curry sauce, but I like mine plain as I find the rice alone is flavourful enough. The fried crunchy peanuts are definitely a must to go with it and paired with char siew, they make this dish a real treat for breakfast!

Kampar Lor Mai Fan 
Recipe source from Through the Kitchen Door

Ingredients  
300g glutinous rice (sticky rice)

1 tbsp dried shrimp, soaked and chopped finely

2 shallots, minced

1 garlic, minced

1 tbsp premium oyster sauce

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp dark caramel sauce (I use ABC sweet sauce)

Salt, if needed

Some boiling water

Garnishing

½ cup fried peanuts

Red roasted char siew

Chopped spring onions

Method

1) Soak the sticky rice for at least 1 hour.  Drain.  Prepare your steaming vessel.

2) Heat wok/frying pan with 1-2 tbsp oil.  Add in the minced shallots and garlic.  Lightly sauté till light brown, then add in the chopped dried shrimp.  Fry till the shallots are golden brown and the dried shrimps are fragrant.  

3) Add in the rice and the seasonings.  Stir to thoroughly coat.  Keep tossing till the rice is a little sticky.  (Taste the rice and add salt if you require).

4) Dish up to a steaming plate and level it.  Pour in sufficient boiling water to slightly above the surface of the rice.

5) Steam on high heat for about 20-30 minutes till the rice is cooked.

6) Let the rice cool and fluff with your chopsticks.

7) Serve the rice with fried peanuts, sliced char siew and spring onions.

Blueberry Panna Cotta

Blueberry Panna Cotta
(serves 4)

Ingredients
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp gelatin
1 1/2 cup heavy or thickened cream
2 Tbsp castor sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Blueberry syrup
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 cup water

Method

1) Pour the milk in a small bowl and sprinkle over with the gelatin. Set aside.

2) Combine the heavy cream and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a low simmer over low heat. 

3) Pour in the prepared gelatin and milk, stirring well until completely dissolved. Stirring constantly, continue to cook for another minute.

4) Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

4) Fill the moulds with the mixture and leave to cool to room temperature. Chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

5) To prepare blueberry syrup, place blueberries, sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes. Leave to cool.

6) To serve, scoop the cooled blueberry sauce onto the firmed panna cotta.

Blueberry Cheese Tarts

Once in a while, I like to surprise my daughter with some delightful snacks when she comes home from school and today is one of those days.  A lover of blueberries, I'm sure these pretty and dainty tarts will light up her day. Just can't wait to see the glee on her face!

Blueberry Cheese Tarts

Ingredients

1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry
1 egg, lightly beaten
113g cream cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp icing sugar
125g blueberries

Method

1) Preheat oven to 200C. 

2) Using a round fluted cutter, cut out rounds from the pastry sheet. Place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper. With a smaller round cutter, score an inner circle on each of them, pressing 3/4 of the way through the pastry, taking care not to press all the way through.

3) Brush the pastry with the beaten egg and bake until golden and puffed, about 15-20 mins.

4) Remove from the oven and using a small, sharp knife, gently cut around the inner circles without cutting all the way through. Remove the first top layer and gently press down on the fluffed centre of the pastry to flatten it. Set aside.

5) Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the heavy cream and icing sugar and beat until creamy and smooth.

6) Spread the cream cheese mixture onto the pastry shells evenly within the border.

7) Arrange the blueberries over the filling and sprinkle some sifted icing sugar over the tarts.

Curry Chicken Pot Pies

On a cold winter's day, this curry chicken pot pie is definitely comfort food for the soul. Hot and spicy, it is most appetizing and I just love the warmth it brings to my hungry little tummy!

CURRY CHICKEN POT PIES

(makes 5)

Ingredients
500g chicken breast or boneless chicken thigh

1 medium size carrot, cut into small cubes

2 small to medium size potato, cut into small cubes

1 small onion, chopped small

2 cloves garlic,  chopped small

2 Tbsp oil
50g plain flour
2 heaps Tbsp curry powder

300ml milk (or you may use thin coconut milk)
300ml chicken stock  or water
salt and pepper to taste
2 sheets ready rolled puff pastry
1 small egg, beaten

Method

1)   In a medium pot, bring water to a boil on high.  Add in the chicken breast or chicken thigh making sure that the chicken is covered with the water by 1/2”.  Once the chicken is cooked, remove and cut into small cubes and set aside.  Retain 300ml of the chicken stock.

2)  In another medium pot, bring some water to a boil.  Add in the cubes carrots and potatoes.  Cook till the vegetables are soft.  Strain and set aside.

3) Preheat oven to 200C. 

4) Mix the flour with a little of the milk in a small bowl until you get a smooth paste. Leave aside.

5) Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add in the onion and garlic, and fry over a low heat about 1 minute. Turn up the heat and add the paste to the pan with the remaining milk and stock. Bring to the boil, stirring all the time, until the sauce is thickened and smooth.

(Note: If you are using coconut milk, use low to medium simmering heat).

6) Add in the curry powder and stir to combine.  Season with salt and pepper. 

7) Add in the cooked chicken, carrot and potato and mix together.

8) Remove the pan from the heat. 

9) Divide the curry chicken into individual ramekins (allowing at least 1” between the filling and the top of the ramekin; this is to ensure that the dishes do not overflow when baking) and leave aside to cool. 

10) To prepare the pastry top, cut out pastry to a size slightly larger than your pie dish or ramekin. Brush the lip of your dish or ramekins with a bit of water, and lay the pastry over them. Press gently to seal the edges.

11) Brush the pastry with beaten egg. Cut any leftover pastry trimmings to your desired shapes, arrange them on top of the pie, then brush with more egg. Using the tip of a sharp knife or a skewer, create a small steam hole in the centre of the pie.

12) Bake in the oven for about 20-25 mins or until the pastry is crisp and golden.