Tiramisu Recipe

I look forward to the weekly Hunger Management column in The Straits Times by food writer, Tan Hsueh Yun as they provide inspiration for dishes I want to try. Cut-outs of Ceviche ("cooking" raw fish with the acid in citrus juice), Japanese beef bowl and the Hot spinach and artichoke dip, etc. are still lingering in my to-do folder.

Today's recipe is a throwback. Early this year she wrote about Tiramisu/"terrormisu". This homey take on the Italian 'pick me up' dessert is really easy and delicious. You can prepare it the night before you serve and the actual preparation of the dessert takes about 15 minutes. The best part of making your own Tiramisu is that you customise to your liking - more or less booze, type of booze (cognac, rum, kahlua), espresso or ristretto (strength of coffee), sweetness.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

I don't usually frost my cupcakes as I like my cupcakes plain. Whilst frostings are delicious, I still remember how much butter went into my Swiss Meringue Buttercream and so I very much rather to reserve my calorie intake for another cupcake.

This prompted me try a frosting that is perhaps slightly healthier - Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting. I played around with the remaining block cream cheese I had, adding in some butter, melted chocolate and icing sugar. That gives a delicious frosting without tasting too sweet or "cheesy" (somewhat ironic-sounding I know)

How to make a piping bag

As much as I love baking, I am cautious when it comes to expenses. I am always willing to spend more on higher quality ingredients as they go into making pastries which my family and friends eat. However, I try to control my other more superficial urges for baking items which I do not use often, e.g. a piping bag.

It is easy to make your own piping bag - just use a plastic bag or baking paper. I recommend using a plastic bag as you can secure the sides easily with tape. Some baking/wax paper might be tricky as tape will not hold and you have to use staples. The illustrated steps below are doing using a sheet of baking paper as it is clearer in pictures. You don't need to be an origami master - 5 steps are all you need!

Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes Recipe

One of my all time-favourite desserts is ice-cream. Nothing beats pigging out in front of your favourite drama serial together with a tub of B&J's or Häagen-Dazs. It is much more economical to get a tub(s) rather than getting them in scoops in their outlets (you can't seriously be satisfied with just 1 or 2 scoops...)

I chanced upon this interesting recipe by Norwegian baker/blogger/author, Manuela Kjeilen. Before I go on further, I need to clarify this; this is not an ice-cream cupcake recipe; it's about using ice-cream as a main ingredient to flavour normal cupcakes. What an excellent way to clear my freezer of half-eaten tubs of ice-cream.

Tteokbokki/Topokki (Spicy Korean Rice Cakes) Recipe

Tteokbokki, Teokbokki, ddeokbokki, topokki or dukboki, all refer to a very famous Korean street snack - Hot and spicy rice cakes.

 

Allow me to declare my love for this humble looking dish;