Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Apple Crumble Pie


Have been wanting to bake an apple pie, which taste like McDonald. Initially i thought McDonald apple pie was make from puff pastry, but after doing some research i realised that the loving apple pie that i ate was deep fry type, which i find it very unhealthy for my kids to eat. So i google the website for some easy and delicious pie to satisfied my craving.

 Here i have to  thanks Janine for hosting this month event or i will never found these and they are really yummy :O "I am submitting this to Aspiring Bakers #10: Easy as Pie (August 2011), hosted by Janine of Not the Kitchen Sink!"

Ingredients (Makes 12-13 Tarts)
Sweet pastry
- 125g cold butter, (cut into cube)
- 30g icing sugar
- 1 egg yolk, (i used large egg, weighing 70g egg yolk)
- 180g plain flour
-1/4 tsp salt

Filling
- 5 green apple, (skin remove, encore and diced)
- 45g brown sugar
- 30g butter
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp potato starch, (mix with 1 tsp water)


Crumble topping
- 40g cold butter
- 35g caster sugar
- 45g plain flour
-20g ground almond


Method
Sweet pastry
  1. Sift flour and icing sugar together and add salt.
  2. Using a pastry cutter cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resemble bread crumb.
  3. Add egg yolk and mix till soft dough form. Put it into the fridge to chill for at least 30 mins.
  4. Take out the pastry, put in between 2 sheets of plastic or baking paper. Roll into thin sheet about 0.5cm.
  5. Remove one sheet, invert and place pastry to cover the tarts moulds.
  6. Spread pastry to cover and press the side to remove excess pastry.
  7. Repeat till pastry are used up and put it back into the fridge for chill for 30 mins.
Filling
  1. Put all ingredients into a pot except the corn flour and water.
  2. Using low heat cook the apple till soft.
  3. Add the potato starch with the water mix well, slowly pour in the mixture and stir till thicken.
  4. Remove and set aside to cool.
Crumble topping
  1. Sift flour and ground almond. Add in the sugar and mix well.
  2. Using a pastry cutter cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resemble bread crumb.
  3. Put it into the fridge to chill until use.
Assemble tart
  1. Take the tarts out from fridge and spoon filling into the tarts (i used 3 tsp full in 1 tart).
  2. Sprinkle crumble topping onto it and bake in a preheated oven for 25 mins or until slightly browned.
  3. Remove tarts and cool on rack.
Some parts of the filling and crumble topping was fully adapted from Happy Flour. Thank you Happy Flour for sharing these finger licking pie. http://happyflour.blogspot.com/2011/02/apple-crumble-pie.html


Notes:
  • Sweet pastry was prepared 1 day in advanced. Do not over mixed the dough or it will be tough.
  • For sweet pastry and crumble topping can be done by rubbing in method using finger / using fork to rub / pastry cutter or food processor.
  • Salted butter was used in my pastry to enhance the pie. (personal preferences).






Monday, August 15, 2011

Papaya Yogurt Smoothie


A healthy cooling smoothie to pair with the heatiness...

Durian Puff


Sorry for MIA again. Just had 2 of wisdom tooth extract and currently on pain killer that cause drowsiness. Have been in dazed and the pain OMG! Finally, its over 4 horrible tooth remove cum a damage nerve all done. Hopefully the wound recover fast and the day for my stitches to be remove. Horray! No more dentist :<  plss.. It durian season now and i can't resist the urge to gobble them up. Ssh! my third attempt on choux pastry, don't understand why i can't get the right consistent of the custard side. My puff was consider ok lol! But the custard always turn out runny and the stubborn gal refused to buy instant custard. No choice now have to go back to whipping cream to replace custard.


Ingredients
Durian cream
600g durian pulp, (blended)
180g whipping cream, (whipped)
2 tbsp icing sugar
21/2 tbsp milk
21/2 tbsp golden syrup or honey


Choux Pastry
250ml water
100g butter
150g cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
4 Large eggs




Will be continue....


Monday, August 1, 2011

Easy Bananas Chocolate cake


Previously, i baked a banana chocolate cupcakes and gave some to my sisters. The feedback was excellent and my elder sis was craving for it. So i decided to bake some to fulfill her bananas craving (monkey loves it) Ssh! Hopefully, she was not reading this! I think it the bananas that makes this cakes so moist and yummy...

Ingredients (Makes a "9 inch square tin")
(A)
200g caster sugar
200g brown sugar
250g cake flour
70g cocoa powder
11/2 tsp baking powder
11/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt


(B)
2 Grade A eggs (70g with shell)
3 medium bananas
90ml water
90 ml chocolate milk
60ml unsalted butter (melted)
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp banana essence
80g chocolate chips


Methods
  1. Whisk Ingredients A together well.
  2. In another large bowl, whisk Ingredients B well.
  3. Add Ingredients B to Ingredients A  stir until combined.
  4. Pour into the lined and well greased tin.
  5. Bake it in a preheated oven 180C for 45 minutes.
Adapted with some changes from: http://joyofbaking.com/ChocolateBananaCake.html