Hot Milk Cake

It's been more than two months since I last shared a recipe. My husband and I have finally settled down well in our birth country. But I must say the hot and humid weather here is still unbearably hard to accept. With the haze from our friendly neighbouring country, I hope it's just a matter of time before we re-adapt to the weather and get some fresh air.

Every time I look out of the window, I can't help but miss the bright blue sky and clean breathing air back at the sunshine state. As I recall how reluctant I was when I was clearing up, especially the stuff in the fridge before we left for good, I realised I have this unpublished recipe which I had made out of my ever-lasting bottle of milk. For some reasons, I was never able to finish the bottle of milk lying in the fridge before its expiry. 

To prevent such wastage, I have been in search of a recipe that could use up my leftover milk. As the name of this recipe suggests, this cake is made out of heated milk. This cake is dense yet unusually soft and moist. Perfect to be enjoyed anytime during the day! ^_^

To celebrate the newfound usage of leftover milk lying in the fridge, I am pleased to share this Hot Milk Cake with Our Growing Edge (October 2015) hosted by me! Genie of Bunny Eats Design, founder of this monthly blog event that aims to connect food bloggers and inspire us to try new things has given me the honour to host this month's edition. October 2015's Our Growing Edge runs from now till 31st October 2015. Do head over to this link here and join us in sharing your food-related experiences!

In addition, I would also like to share this recipe with blog event, No Waste Food Challenge (October 2015) organised by Elizabeth of Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary and hosted by Kate of Veggie Desserts this month. Say No to future milk wastage!

Our Growing Edge: October 2015

It's coming to October and we are into the last quarter of 2015! Time really flies!

It has been hectic and unsettling over the past two months ever since my husband and I relocated back to our birth country and then shift from the west to the east. Things at home have been keeping me so busy to the extent of neglecting my blog. I feel so behind time now with so many baking experiments but not enough time to write about them. Sorry readers!

Here's a good news to share though and hopefully a good start to keep up with my blogging. I am honoured to be asked by Genie of Bunny Eats Design to host the October 2015 Our Growing Edge, an event that aims to connect food bloggers and inspire everyone to try new things. ^_^

According to Genie, founder of this meaningful blog event, Our Growing Edge is the part of us that is still learning and experimenting. It’s the part that you regularly grow and improve, be it from real passion or a conscious effort. This monthly event aims to connect and inspire us to try new things and to compile a monthly snapshot of what food bloggers are getting up to.

Who can join?

Our Growing Edge is open to anyone. It is not a competition and there are no prizes or winners, it is just a way to share new experiences. You do not have to commit every month, just when you have something to share. To enter, you must blog about achieving a food related challenge that you have meaning to do (or redo). It could be easy, like tasting a new food or difficult, like cooking a life long nemesis recipe. It could be building or growing something an edible garden, or successfully preserving food. As long as it is food related and new to you, you can share your newly learned knowledge with the group.

The Rules / Submission Guidelines

Your post must mention the phrase, "This post is part of the monthly link up party Our Growing Edge. This event aims to connect food bloggers and inspire us to try new things. This month is hosted by Kerene of The Dream Baker." and include Our Growing Edge logo (on the right). Your entry must link to me, the host page at The Dream Baker and Genie, the founder of this event at Bunny Eats Design. If you are submitting an already published post, remember to update it with the phrase, logo and links. You can enter with any new food experience as long as it is new to you. You may submit up to two entries per month.

Let's all have a fun-sharing time together!

Dare to dream.

The Dream Baker

Sorry, but I'll be back!

Hi everyone! 

My apologies for the lack of updates! I've had too much on my plate and time always seem to pass too quickly. August 2015 was a fresh new start as I relocated across the globe back to where I'd belong (since birth), and September 2015 is yet another brand new start as I moved from the west to the east of this "little red dot" nation. I have a list of recipes lined up and I'll try my best to share them with you as soon as I am well settled. Please do stay tuned! Cheers. ^_^

Dare to dream.

The Dream Baker

Homemade Granola

I was staring at the pantry basket which was given to me by a friend who had since returned home. It has been lying in the kitchen for a month or two and I'm just too lazy to sort them out. Amongst the assortment of tea bags, bottles of spices and sauces contained inside, I also found many half-used packets of dry ingredients including old-fashion oats, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds and dried cranberries. And I wonder what they had been used for before I realised the obvious combination that they would make up to. That's right - Granola!

A quick search online made me realised that there seem to be no "standard" recipe for making homemade granola. After studying the article from Buzzfeed, "How To Make the Best Granola Ever" and referencing the tips & techniques on "How to Make Homemade Granola" from King Arthur Flour website, I decided to come up with my own variation of Homemade Granola! ^_^

Homemade Granola

I am sharing this Homemade Granola with blog event, No Waste Food Challenge organised and hosted by Elizabeth of Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary.

I am also sharing this recipe with blog events Recipe of the Week hosted by Emily of A Mummy Too; CookBlogShare hosted by Lucy of Supergolden Bakes; and Bake of the Week organised by Helen & gang of Casa Costello. 

              

Strawberry Chantilly Cake

It's officially Summer (or well it's been awhile) and we are into the second week of July. The hot weather is just making everyone (or at least me) feeling very lethargic. >,<

What's up for you in July? Now that the two-week long tournament, Wimbledon has come to an end, I wonder what will be hot in the news next... Though I'm not a tennis fan, it seems impossible not to know about the tournament given the substantial coverage. A quick search online showed that Wimbledon, or The Championships, Wimbledon is actually the oldest tennis tournament in the world. But what surprised me was the Wimbledon traditions include eating strawberries and cream by the spectators and royal patronage! While there's no definite answer as to why, but the likely explanation is that strawberries are in season during the time the tournament was played. Ok, how simple is that?! Haha!

And coincidentally, I made a Strawberry Chantilly Cake for a new friend who said she likes any cakes with strawberries. What a perfect timing to share this recipe!

Strawberry Chantilly Cake

Does looking at the picture makes you want a slice? Well I hope! ^_^ In fact, Chantilly, as many of you may know, is just a fancier way of calling whipped cream as it is. My Strawberry Chantilly Cake is none other than any vanilla sponge cake layers filled with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. *Grin! However, this is noticeably different from the Strawberry Shortcake which I'd shared in my older post. This sponge cake recipe yields a lighter and fluffier cake texture. In any case, try it for yourself and be your own judge! ^_^

Mini Hokkaido Chiffon Cupcakes

I was flipping through my recipes file when I found this Hokkaido Chiffon Cupcakes recipe from the one and only baking class I'd attended with my sister a couple of years ago! I recalled we attempted this recipe for a second time at our home's kitchen which didn't turn out quite well. Haha! I didn't know I would have the patience to bake then, and yet now, baking seems to be part of me. Hokkaido Chiffon Cupcakes are very delicate, and they are definitely ones that will not make you sulk when you see them shrink after they cool. In fact, these cupcakes are supposed to shrink so that they will puff up nicely after being filled with cream frosting piped into the cakes.  

Mini Hokkaido Chiffon Cupcakes

After almost two years of self-taught baking and experimenting, I decided to attempt this recipe again and I'm glad they turn out pretty well. These cupcakes certainly bring back beautiful memories....

I'm sharing this recipe with Best Recipes for Everyone (June 2015: BREE #10 Secret of Chiffon & Roll Cakes) organized and hosted by Fion of XuanHom's Mom; and

Tea Time Treats (June 2015: Muffins, Fairy Cakes and Cupcakes) hosted by Karen of Lavender and Lovage and Janie of The Hedgecombers.

Homemade Croissants (A 3-day affair)

Who can't get enough of croissants? Because I can't! Sorry if I'm boring you with another croissant recipe! But this is definitely worth it. Finally succeeded in baking these flaky crispy croissants. Yay! Subsequent to the success of my Pain au Chocolat, I've decided to make some classic croissants out of the same dough recipe so as to be convinced that the recipe is a keeper. And indeed! In fact, I made these classic croissants concurrently with my Pain au Chocolat. I mean, it's a three-days wait before the actual baking after all...

Homemade Croissants

I am sharing this recipe with blog events Recipe of the Week hosted by Emily of A Mummy Too; CookBlogShare hosted by Lucy of Supergolden Bakes; and Bake of the Week organised by Helen & gang of Casa Costello.