Chocolate Box Cookies

Got this recipe from the Cookie Bible Nick bought me couple weeks ago. It was my workmate Kylie's birthday on 1st of March. I figure a box of chocolate cookies would be a nice birthday present. These prettily decorated, bitesize cookies look as though they've come straight out of a box of chocolate. I made couple batches. Wrapped a box for Kylie. Then brought the rest to share with other workmates in the office. I reckon they are absolutely great for a special tea. Unlike what they look like, they are not too sweet at all.

Here is the recipe:

Make about 50

1. Preheat the oven to 180'C. Grease two baking sheets.

2. Put the flour(175g self-raising flour), cocoa powder(25g, unsweetened), spice(5ml mixed apple pie spice) and butter (50g, unsalted, at room temperature, diced) into a food processor( I don't have one, I just use folk to give me a good mix). Process until the ingredients are thoroughly blended. Add the sugar(115 caster superfine sugar), 1 egg, and 1 egg yolk and mix to a smooth dough.

3.Turn the dough out on to a lightly floured surface and knead gently. Cut the dough in half and roll out each piece under the palms of your hands to form two long logs, each 33cm long.

4. Cut each log into 1cm slices. Place the slices on the prepared baking sheet, spacing slightly apart, and chill for at least 30 mins ( I left them in the fridge over night.)

5. Bake for 10 mins until slightly risen. Transfer to a ware rack to cool.

6. To decorate, melt the milk chocolate (150g), white chocolate (150g) separately. Using a folk, dip half of the cookies in white chocolate and the rest in milk chocolate. Then coating the half of the cookies dipped in the milk chocolate with while chocolate as you will see in the picture above.

Hope you will like them too. :)

Clear Veggie Soup

I broke Nick's camera :( It won't flash anymore. Please forgive the unclear picture. I tried my best. =\
Anyway, really really simple recipe.
Baby peas, corns, carrot, celery, mushroom, tomato, onion, all washed and chopped. Boiled the water. Put all of them in till celery was cooked. Gave it a good pinch of salt before it is served.
Some people may not like it because it tastes quite plain. But I love it. It's that simple and that veggie-ish. And it's warm. All what I need is just a comfy couch and an old movie. It could be my perfect night alone.
Yes, Nick is not home tonight.
I miss him, terribly.

Wish you were here, Nicky Bear. xoxo

Baby Cake?!

Making cupcakse brought me so much happiness that it's way beyond my words. Just give this recipe a try. You can't disagree with me. :)

Preheated the oven to 180'C. Grabbed a big bowl. Well mixed 100g unsalted softerned butter, 130g caster sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract until light and creamy ( if you have electric beater. give it a shot. i don't have it. so i just used a folk and kept mixing for about 20 mins). Added 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well between additions. Folded through 200g self-raising flour and 125ml milk in two alternate batches until just combined unitil just combined. Gave a gernerous amout of coconut flakes (depends on how coconut-ish you want your cupcake to be). Gently folded through it.

Divided the mixture exvenly among the paper cases. Baked for about 20 mins, or until cake spings back when touched gently in the center. Removed from oven and transferred to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

The frosting wasn't quite healthy. But tasted good. Beated 125g unsalted softened butter unitl it was light and creamy. Added 1 1/3 cups of icing sugar a little at a time, beating constantly. Add 1/2 tbs milk and beated until the butter and sugar were well combined. Spreaded onto the cooled cupcakes. Garnish with a fair bit coconut flakes tossed on the top.

To be honest, I only had one cupcake of all the cupcakes I made. I reckon I must have made like 60 cupcakes. All brought to my workmates and Nick had quite a few as well. When I was told my cupcakes tasted really good, it made me feel even better than eating my own cupcake. The happiness of cooking/baking is seeing my food put a big smile on whomever had it.

Clear Chicken Noodle Soup with Bok Choy and Mushroom

I LOOOOVE soup. It's such a shame that Nick dosen't like soup at all. He must have missed so many good things.
It was a hot day but all what I am craving for was just a clear noodle soup. Nothing fancy. Nothing complicated.
Got some package udon noodle and bok choy in Asian supermarket.
Boiled udon in chicken stock with a little bit chicken mince. Washed and chopped bok choy and mushroom and boiled them with the udon soup. Gave it a good pinch of salt. Brought it to boil then turn off the heat. Served with chopped coriander and spring onion sparyed on the top.
I love my soup. I love my udon. I love my boy choy. I love my mushroom. What else can I not love about this noodle soup? :)

Marinated Basa Fillet with Bok Choy and Asparagus

I have been trying quite a few times to make tasty basa fillet. Why? Coz it's fish and it's cheap. But unlike salmon or barramundi, it doesn't have very unique flavor or special texture. It just tastes very... plain.
Okay, I marinated the fillet in lemongrass, crushed garlic, soy saurce and Shaoxin wine (a type of chinese yellow wine) for about two hours. Then put it the oven with a bit chopped chilli on the top and foil covered for 15 mins. Then took it out of the oven. Leave it chill and still keep the top covered for another 5 mins.
Washed bok choy and asparagus and choked them roughly. Cooked them in the boiled water till they were just cooked. Prepared some cooked potato as well.
Toss finely chopped mint leaves and coriander leaves on the top of the fish fillet when it was served. Also don't forget to add a good pinch of salt and pepper to the veggie when they were served with basa fillet.

Butter Chicken

Nick loves Indian food. And I hate it. So we sort of comprised for each other here. I bought him this kind of bottle curry. It's that easy to make. So he could have his Indian food every now and then. Of course, I have to be the one to make curry for him coz he is hopeless at cooking. *Shush... Don't tell Nick I said it. He would be very furious. :P *
So made Jasmine rice in the rice maker and fried onion in the olive oil. Cooked chicken in it till it's just cooked. Chopped cooked potato and threw them in the pan with chicken and onion. Pour the whole bottle of curry saurce in the pan. Constantly stirred to it's boiling. Turn off the heat and let it sit for five mins. Servce with rice.
I have to say it was not too bad at all. :)

Bris Vegas!

Very sorry for the late update.
So we went to Brisbane over the weekend. The first time away left Crosby and Ali alone at home keeping each other company. I left the pink nightie which I had been wearing for a week for them before we left coz Francis told me the smell of me on the cloth would make them feel better. I reckon it must be true. Coz they have been so good while we were away. Didn't even make any mess at all!
Was an early flight: 6.05AM! Booked a cab at 4.30AM on Saturday and here comes our short but full of surprise journey to Bris Vegas! :)
Arrived in Brisbane at 7.15AM local time. Jumped on the train and got to the city. Our hotel located just down the George St. about 1 min walk to Brisbane River. Was early there so the room was not ready when we got there. So we went for a breakfast buffet. Was absolutely lovely.
Then we walked back to the hotel checked in and got a very lovely room with the view of Brisbane River.
Rest a little bit then head to Queen St. Okay, I have to admit the fact that I am such a hopeless shopaholic. . Yes, I literally spent more than half of the precious day in Brisbane doing nothing but shopping...
Later, we walked back, got changed and headed to...casino... It was quite pleasant experience.
About 6PM. We jumped on the cab and headed to the Cloudland Bar in Fortune Valley where Libby's surprise party was. Such a nice bar!
I was very good for the whole night. Well, I managed to talk to Nick, Luke, Ben and Libby for the whole time. And the snack was absolutely lovely!!!!
Nick took me the the China Town right next to the bar after the party and it was Chinese New Year's Eve and there was fire cracker everywhere!!! How exciting it was!
Forgot when we went to bed but it was late and Luke called at 8.30am on the next day for breakfast. So we went to this Dome Cafe on George St right next to our hotel. The breakfast was absolutely awesome. And the chat was amazing. Oh, by the way, we went to Canon Park afterwards. Nick insisted to take a picture there just for proving that I have other friends than him. :( That is so not true!!! :(
After the breakfast, well, it's more like brunch as by the time we finished it, was about 12. We checked out in the hotel and Nick took me to the museum, art gallery and garden afterwards. Was so warm in Brisbane. I was literally melting... Oh, btw, we went to that man made beach!!! God, that was so bizarre!! Anyway, we went shopping afterwards. Nick bought me the mask in Aesop and was that much close to buy me a ring. But we couldn't find the Tiffany store in Brisbane. Not even sure if there is one. And, oh yeah, he took me to the massage! My virgin massage!!! Felt a little bit weird. So ticklish. =\
We had Korean food for dinner and head to airport later. So glad, my flight wasn't delayed or anything at all considering Victor gave me the heads up about how terrible JetStar was. I reckon it's not too bad. Just very small.
Flew in at 9.30 and got cab home at 10.
So glad to be home again! :)
And of course, so glad that we had such a lovely weekend! LOVE Brisbane! :)

I've got pierced ears!

I know I am a bit naughty. But I just can't wait till the surprise to finally turn up. Everyone out of there knows, I am the most impatient person in the whole world. So I ruined my valentine's present again... After my interrogation, Nick told me he was planning to buy me a pair of ear rings from Tiffany as Valentine's present coz he bought me pendant and ring already. So time to get me earrings this time.
Anyway, so after struggled for more than 2 weeks. I finally brought myself to this body piercing place at Broadway and got my ear pierced. Nick said I almost managed to break his hand coz I squeezed it so hard that it actually hurts him a lot. Well, he is weak. :P
Yes, I cried and I screamed and I cried again and I screamed again. But I got pierced ears!!!! :D
Can't wait to show off my Tiffany ear rings. Of course not the one in the picture. Just wait and see. :)

New Members : Crosby and Ali

Say Hi to the new members of our family!

Ali: Girl, Russian Blue, 9 weeks old.

Crosby, Boy, Ginger Taby, 7 weeks old.

The first week was tough. Ali seems to be very distant. I tried to pat her. She ran away every time. While Crosby is such a sweetheart. He stayed very close to me all the time, waiting to be pat. But he got so sick since last Tuesday. And he even threw up last Thursday! I was so worried and scared. So I cried for hours! Okay, I really have to say I am not good at this parenting thing. When there is something wrong with my kids, I would do nothing but being panicy. Thank God! Nick is such a good Daddy. Well, he is such a worrier as well but he knows how to stay calm when I was all freaked out! So glad, nothing serious with Crosby. This naughty boy ate something wrong when I was not at home. But he is all good now! :)

So good to have to two kittens at home. As I said, sometime, all what we need is just a little bit company. :)

Tea Eggs with Potato

I have to say this is probably the best egg dish I have ever made!
I got the recipe from my dad. He always made me this kind of egg when I was really little.
Boiled eggs and cracked shells a little bit after they are done. Then cooked eggs in the boiled water again with two tea black tea bags, soy sauce, sesame seeds and finely chopped coriander stem. After the egge were cooked for another fifteen minutes. Peeled the eggs. And used the sauce to cook potato. Added a little bit sesame oil.
This dish reminded me so much of my time with dad back in Shanghai. I cried when I had it again today. Sometimes, I just wish I could be more close to my family. Mom and Dad. I wish I could at least, sit down with both of them, have a lovely meal together. No more fighting. No more arguing. Let go off the past. Just three of us. Laughing and enjoying the meal. Alright, I guess this dream will never come true...

Cottage Pie

I was fancy by the name of Shepherd's pie. And to be honest, I have never ever had a real Shepherd's pie. For some reason, I was very impressed by the roughly ingredents. So this intial Shepherd's pie turned out to be a cottage pie. Well, it's all good I reckon.
Mixed beef mince with crushed garlic, finely chopping onion, coriander, parsley and egg with a good pinch of salt and pepper in a big bowl. Pre heat the oven. Grabbed a big nice tray. Layered two pastry sheets in the bottom. Followed with a very generous layer of flavored mince. Then another twp pastry sheets on the top. Poped it in the oven for about 30 mins.
I felt guilty that I kept making not very healthy food. But who can say no to this oily but lovely and also tasty cottage pie? :)