Egg Tarts!!

Due to popular demand, I've decided to share this out here! These babies are sooo easy to make and are always a great treat especially for those who are not really a fan of sweets. These will please anyone, no kidding :) Used to sell them at fundraisers for NZD1 per piece and they go like hot cakes! But I think it's best eaten right away when it's fresh from the oven and not kept too long otherwise they go limp and loose that crispy flaky texture of the pastry, which is a downer! But u can definitely make the filling in advance and only thaw the amount of pastry you'd like to use. Then store the remaining filling for next time. I've done that and works better especially if you plan to feed only a few people and not a crowd. So here's the recipe:

Ingredients: (makes 45pieces of tarts)

-1 pack of flaky puff pastry (I use Pampas, can be found in premium stores like Cold Storage, Jaya Grocer,etc). Back in NZ, there were 5 sheets per pack so it fits nicely as 1 sheet makes 9 tarts. Pampas has 6sheets, so u have an extra 1 sheet. But that doesn't really matter as there are always other uses for them!)
-2 cups milk
-1 1/4 cup sugar
-5 eggs
-1 tsp vanilla essence

Method:

1) Thaw the flaky puff pastry in advance.
2) In a saucepan, heat the milk and sugar until sugar dissolves. Set aside.
3) Beat 5 eggs in a bowl, whisk in vanilla essence. Then add in the slightly cool milk mixture. Strain to get a smooth mixture.
4) Return to the puff pastry. For each sheet, make a 3x3 cut so you get 9 small squares. In each square, make a 1cm cut from the sharp corner in. You will get a 'penguin tail' at each corner which you will then cross one flap over the other. Do the same for each corner of the small square to get a tart case/cup. 
5) Insert the pastries into a cupcake casing and pour the mixture in. Don't pour until full otherwise it will go over while cooking. (see picture below)

Here's what they're supposed to look like before baking!

6) Bake at 190C in a preheated oven for 20minutes or until the egg mixture rises nicely and the flaky pastry is cooked and turns a nice crisp brown colour.

Good luck trying and do share with me the results ya! Would love to see how they turn out :)

Creme Caramel

So much for weekly updates, so hard to be consistent when you're busy with other things! May has been jam-packed with events, not that I'm complaining or anything :p It's been so much fun catching up with friends since primary school days, attending weddings which I've missed so much of when I was overseas. And especially the family time which is ever so priceless. Of course, it all involves foood right. Today is no different ;) I shall share my attempt of Basic Creme Caramel by Donna Hay - whom I recently started following.

The thing with creme caramels is - they are super yummeh. I've always been a fan since way back when, and my bestie Ahya' is pro at making them. She taught me once how to make them, I was not so confident with food making yet at that point and I thought it was all just too complicated. And because it was her specialty I never really made them myself anymore - especially since my 1st attempt after was such a failure >.< I dislike it when things don't go my way in the kitchen! But now my bestie is thousands of miles away from me (sobs) and mr.husband is a big fan of puddings and such and I am beginning to be more confident with my skills at food experimenting. I have to stand on my own two feet and wrestle with making it once more. The results? Alhamdulillah, fantastic!

The trickiest bit I have to say is transferring the hot caramel from the pot to the baking container and spreading it. If you're too slow it could set too much and stick to the baking container and not marry well with the filling. I've always found this part the most challenging, and oh, the making the caramel bit because the time when it turns amber and goes darker is just a split second and if you overdo it (like I kinda did) it'll become bitter tasting and not tooo pleasant to eat. But the filling for this recipe my goodness, soooo creamy and dream-like you'll want more. So here's the recipe I took from the blog. The plus for me was I decided to do double recipe and since I was also making 2 pavlovas the usage of egg whites and yolks complimented one another and no wastage occured. Since this recipe uses more egg yolks I suggest you pair up with another recipe that uses whites so as not to waste! Or you could always fry yourself eggs without the yolk I guess although I always find the yolky bits the best :p Enjoy trying this recipe!Feedback most welcome :D

Ingredients

⅔ cups (150g) caster (superfine) sugar

⅓ cup (80ml) water

¾ cup (180ml) milk

¾ cup (180ml) single (pouring) cream

2 eggs

4 egg yolks

⅓ cup (75g) caster (superfine) sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Method

1) Preheat oven to 150°C (300°F). Place the sugar and water in a saucepan over high heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil and cook for 8–10 minutes or until the mixture is dark golden. Pour into 4 x ¾ cup-capacity (180ml) ovenproof dishes. Set aside for 5 minutes or until the caramel is set. 

2) Place the milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat until it just comes to the boil. Remove from heat. 
3) Place the eggs, extra yolks, extra sugar and vanilla in a bowl and whisk until well combined. 

4)Gradually add the milk mixture, whisking to combine. Strain the mixture and pour into the dishes. Place dishes in a water bath*.

5) Bake for 35 minutes or until set. Remove from the dish and refrigerate for 2 hours or until cold. Remove the crème caramels from the fridge 30 minutes before serving. Turn out onto plates to serve. Serves 4.

* Make a water bath by placing dishes in a baking dish lined with a folded tea towel and pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. A folded tea towel in the base of the baking dish stops the dishes from sliding around and ensures the crème caramel cooks evenly as the dishes don’t touch the baking dish directly.

 Caramel spread into the baking container

The completed version! Sitting in caramel with all its glory, ready to be eaten ;)

Durian Delight Cheesecake

Heyya! It has been awhile since I posted some recipes - well that's an understatement :p I've been wanting to try this one for aaaagesss - ever since I laid my eyes (and hands) on mum's Chef Wan's Sweet treats book. But because I was in NZ for a time it's quite hard to get THE special ingredient: those juicy, melts-in-the-mouth durian which is just tooo GOOOOD. Finally upon returning home to Malaysia I can finally attempt this. To be honest it took quite the effort to make this, and the ingredients $$$. Missing the cheap but awesome quality dairy products of NZ! And it's quite filling to eat. But still YUMMY nonetheless. Durian-lovers and die-hard fans would LOVE this. Haters, well, the durian ain't toooo prominent so I say still have a go. You don't know what you're missing! So here it is, what you get when the King of Fruits gets cheesy :p

Ingredients

• 22-cm Blind-baked Tart Shell
• 900 g / 1 3/4 pounds cream cheese
• 1/2 cup / 4 fl oz sour cream or natural yoghurt
• 3/4 cup / 6 fl oz honey
• 1 tbsp / 1/2 oz castor sugar
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup / 4 fl oz fresh milk
• 1 1/2 cups / 12 fl oz durian flesh
• 1 tbsp / 1/2 fl oz vanilla essence
• castor sugar for dusting
• 22-cm Blind-baked Base
• 150 g / 5 oz butter, cut into large cubes, chilled
• 1/4 cup / 2 oz castor sugar
• 1 egg
• 11/2 cups / 12 oz all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup / 4 oz sliced toasted almonds
• green beans / chickpeas - enough to cover pan for a layer

Methods

       The Filling:

1. 1) With an electric mixer, blend the cream cheese till smooth.
2. 2) Add in egg yolks one at a time, and leave the mixture blending for 2 minutes to mix well.
3. 3) Add in sour cream, honey and milk, and vanilla essence. Blend till smooth. Occasionally, use a plastic spatula to scrape the side of the bowl to avoid clumps.
4. 4) Add in durian flesh and mix well.
5. 5) In another bowl, beat egg whites till white and fluffy. Fold the egg whites into the batter.
6. 6) Pour batter unto blind-baked base, and bake for 50 minutes at 180°C (350°F).
7. 7) Turn off the oven heat, and leave the door ajar. Allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven for an hour or two. Once the cheesecake has cooled, dust the top lightly with castor sugar.
8. 22-cm Blind-baked Base:
9. 1) Place flour, butter, sugar and almond in a large bowl, and rub them through fingertips till rough dough is formed.
10. 2) Add in egg, and continue to knead the dough till smooth. Add cold water if necessary. Place to rest in fridge for 20 minutes.
11. 3) Place dough in a 22-cm non-stick spring form pan. Pat pastry into corners of the pan, making sure the pan is evenly lined with pastry before trimming off the excess.
12. 4) Score the pastry with a fork, and then place aluminium foil over the pastry and fill the top with green beans. (or any substitute for weights: other beans, rice,etc)
13. 5) Bake the pastry for 20 minutes at 180°C (360°F), till crust becomes nice and golden. Remove foil (together with green peas)
14. 

       Feedback most definitely welcome! ^^

1. 
   

And then there were two.

A lot of people have asked me before, how does it feel now that you're getting married? Now, they're asking what's it like being married. Before I fulfill your curiosities, I must first let it out there that I am actually a very private person in some ways. Especially when it comes to feelings and emotions - I'm quite good at covering them up. These questions people ask are quite personal questions to me, and I couldn't just answer them on the spot in a conversation that involves a whole lotta people. Mostly because, I'll probably give you serious answers that some of you might not want to hear. And it might not be suitable at the time or appropriate to the audience - I may not know some of you that well and who wants to hear serious stories when you just wanna chill aye? But I do understand why these questions are being asked. You might be undergoing the same thing soon, or you might just be curious. And it kills. ;) Well, my answer is this: A marriage is no picnic. It IS serious business. It is not easy. It is challenging in many many ways. And my experience may not reflect your own current/future experience. A girl's journey may be very different from a guy's as our roles are different.

Not quite the answer you were expecting? Or why so serious you may ask? Well, this is the reality. I don't mean any negativity, I am merely being honest. This is the truth.

A marriage is what you want it to be. Like anything else, when you have goals you work hard to achieve them. If your ultimate goal is to be happy always, then strive for that. If you plan to be in love until Jannah, then you need to get through steps which enable you to. But is it as simple as it sounds? Unfortunately, NO. Because in between where you are at now and that goal you have set, sacrifices will have to be made whether you like it or not. That is marriage. You make a lot of compromises, you become this selfless being just for the sake of the other person, you change yourself to please your spouse and his/her friends/family. At the end of the day, you ask yourself: Are you really happy?

Have I scared you yet? Well, that is never my intention. I just want to give you some idea about what marriage will be like, in a way answering those questions you have for me. I want to highlight that marriage is no game, it's not something you decide to enter into without any preparation whatsoever. Which is why it is sad that the trend in our society nowadays stress on the wedding but not the marriage. Yes, we have marriage courses and we know the theories to a happy marriage but is that enough? It all depends on our Niat. Intention. If you come in to the course and intend to take as much as you can, so that when you leave you have this renewed resolution to be better, then Alhamdulillah you are on the right course. But if it's merely so you can get that piece of paper saying you've been there, done that. You're not quite there yet. I have to say, the quality of our marriage courses in Malaysia is not up to par yet. The idea of it is beautiful, but the method needs a lot of improving. It probably has to do with our attitudes and mentalities - unfortunately for some, still 3rd world. I find that we depend so much on laughter and jokes - some crude and inappropriate - to get through the module itself. The excuse the speakers give, so as not to make the talks boring, or it is sleepy hour so let's not discuss heavy topics or get too serious. And yet they are talking about marriage where it is no joke ladies and gentleman. When are we getting to that intellectual stage where we can discuss topics without relying on having to make people laugh all the time? There's a difference with being witty and creative.

Marriage can be easy when you have good intentions. When you know what you are up against. When you are clear of your roles and responsibilities. When you have two people who are willing to make this work. Give and take. Trust and loyalty. Communication is KEY. No one is a mindreader. And the most important thing is when everything is done for the sake of Allah. Marriage opens sooo many doors to Jannah. The little things you do everyday for your spouse in sha Allah will give you rewards. You are given the opportunity to invest so much.

I personally believe it is not only during marriage that these challenges come, but even waaay before. The wedding planning for instance. Weddings nowadays are like a competition to see whose is the most grand. Does the saying, "because you can" or "because you have it, flaunt it" apply here? If it is within one's means then fine, BUT not if waste occurs for it is something Allah dislikes. The walimah is an ibadah. Moderation is best. And may Allah bless all our efforts in pleasing Him.

Back to marriage.  How I felt before? -Happy, excited, nervous, scared. How I feel now? -Happy, excited, nervous, scared. Similar but for different reasons.

I was happy because I was finally getting married to the man I had known for nearly 12 years. We've worked hard all that time and now this was it. I was excited to embark this whole new chapter with the man I trust as my Imam. I was nervous knowing that when you get married, you don't just get married to this one man, but to his whole family as well - would I be accepted, can I get along? I was scared because of the many possibilities in marriage, would I persevere?

I am happy because with everything that I'd imagined a marriage to be, how difficult it can be at times, I have no regrets and I remain as happy as can be. I am excited now that we are building a home of our own, and we are about to experience new things together. I am still nervous because sometimes I think my habits, actions and personal beliefs might give the wrong impression to his family and friends. And I am scared because Satan always finds a loophole to make me mad and frustrated and disappointed and fill me with so much negativitiy that I may forget all the good things that have happened. I am scared that I may lose patience, lose myself in anger and be so calculative about things and hence, be the beginnings of arguments.

That is why it is sooo important to always, ALWAYS be close to Him, and pray that He eases things for you. In sha Allah, whatever bad feelings that you have will come to pass and be replaced by good feelings.

So have I lost myself in marriage having to compromise a lot? I wouldn't say so. It is certainly different being married than your single years. But I disagree with people who say you can't enjoy as much when you're married and that you cannot follow your dreams anymore. Marriage is such a blessing to me, I am able to become this support person for my husband. I am able to take care of him because it gives me such joy when he is happy. Sometimes it even surprises myself how far I could go just to please him. (like waking up at 5am EVERYDAY to serve him breakfast, see him off to work when maaan I wouldn't have done that for msyelf when I was on my own :p) And because I am married to someone who is as adventurous as me, I can still do all the things I like - travel, food-hunting, shopping, etc We are compatible that way. When your spouse is very understanding, you get away with a lot :p My baking experiments for example, well, it benefits him too.hehe

Overall, being married is BLISS. Even when you have problems, you solve them together like civil adults should and you become stronger together as a result of it. So even through thick and thin, your love prevails. I must admit in these very early stages I am still in the adapting phase. It would take a whole lot more to finally be comfortable with where you are but I want to be there.  I want to be better. I pray that Allah always guides us every step of the way and that Allah bless both our families who have been so understanding, so accommodating, so welcoming. May each moment brings us closer to Allah and to His Jannah. Ameen :)

Feedback most definitely welcome ^^