Apam Polka Dot, Plain

Remember the last time I post on Experimenting: Apam Polka Dot? Well, I'm back to experiment with them again this week. While weighing the ingredients, I couldn't help but to be reminded to sponge cake. There were some resemblance of ingredients between them. Could Apam Polka Dot be translated to Steamed Sponge Cup Cake? Nah... I think it's better to call it as Apam Polka Dot.

And making them was quite simple too! First, you prepare the batter and divide them into a few portion. Drop in a few drops of your preferred food coloring and mix them well.

Next, arrange mini paper cups into a plastic mold or small plastic cup (or anything as above). The last time I made this, I arranged them into a mini tarts mold. And it didn't look as pretty as using these small plastic mold. 

Then, add in the batter into a piping bag, and piped the batter into paper cup until it was 3/4 full. Or you could use a teaspoon. But using a piping bag is neater. Then, use another piping bag with different color of batter and pipe small dots on top of batter.

If you're feeling a bit adventurous, you may pipe any other design that you like. For example, flower.

Or cute and weird emoticons like these...

Or perhaps attempt to pipe them into a lady bird design, and fail as I did...

Then, arrange them nicely on tray, and steam them over low fire for 10 to 15 minutes. Steaming them over  high heat would ruin the design on Apam. If you're using a steamer like mine, make sure that you cover the lid with a clean towel to prevent the steamed water from dripping down to Apam.

And this is how they looked like when they're done! Don't you think they looked better than the first time I did it? They're a bit fluffy too! 

Apam Polka Dot
(Adapted and Translated from Apampolkadot.com)

275g flour

220g castor sugar

150ml milk or evaporated milk

3 tsp baking powder

3# egg white, cold temperature

3# egg yolk, cold temperature

1 tsp ovalette (cake stabilizer)

1 tsp vanilla essence (I used extract)

Food coloring 

1. Combine flour and baking powder.
2. In another bowl, beat egg white until fluffy.
3. Add in ovalette, egg yolk and vanilla essence. Mix well. Add in sugar.
4. Add in flour and milk alternately into the batter.
5. Divide batter into a few portion and add in a few drop of your preferred food coloring. Mix well
6. Add in batter into a piping bag. Then, pipe the batter into the paper cup until it is 3/4 full.
7. Grab a piping bag with different color and pipe small dot on top.
8. Steam for 10 to 15 minutes.
9. Let it cool before serve. Or keep them into an air tight container to prevent the Apam from harden.

Sushi Fun

My family brought me a sushi set for me a few years ago for my birthday. I've never used the equipments, and they've been asking me when will I be making them some sushi. So, last Sunday, we were having some making some Makizushi.

My brother wanted to try rolling them too, and was given the chance to roll some Kani Kama Maki (imitation crab meat roll) and Tamago Maki (egg roll). My little sister wanted to try too, but I didn't cook enough rice for her to try them.

I added in some Kimchi, in my Maki Roll. So, they should be called Kimbap instead, right? Maybe we could learn another types of sushi as well. I know I've been wanting to use that rice mold I've bought a few months ago. Maybe I could make my first bento too? :D

Muffin Test

I made myself some vanilla muffins yesterday. I wanted to test the oven for various size of muffins. I've always bake them in large cup. I need to try baking them on the medium and small cup. And of course, I need to try a few more muffin recipes and find the one that I really like. Well, if you had any good muffin recipe, please suggest me some :D

I sprinkled some of them with chocolate chip on the medium sized muffins. And they turned out really great! I just can't resist the chocolate chip.

Some of the small sized muffins were swirled with raspberry jam. They didn't look as great as I thought it would. I probably swirled in too many jam. The taste was good though..

Tortilla Wraps

Well, I'm not really sure weather I should call this a Tortilla Wraps or Enchilada. The food did looked a bit like Enchilada. But the sauce really isn't Enchilada. But then, I never been to any Mexican restaurant, or taste any Enchilada before in my life, so I'm not quite sure. 

The thing is, I've seen a chef preparing Enchilada before, there were chicken and cheese involved. But I've never get to see the whole process of making Enchilada nor do I have a copy of the chef's recipe. Anyway, this dish is one of the simplest dish I've tried. The recipe is easy, and it taste delicious too... I made this during my brother's girlfriend visits XD

First, lay a tortilla on the board, and spread some tomato sauce on top.

Then, add the fillings.. I used mince beef, cooked with some diced tomato and some tortilla chips on top.

Roll them

Arrange them on tray, and spread more tomato sauce on top.

I had extra fillings left, and no tortilla, so I spread those fillings on top.

Sprinkle some mozzarella, and bake them in the oven until the cheese turned brown.

And.. this is how they looked like~

Picnic at Sungai Gabai, Hulu Langat

My friends and I went for a picnic a few days ago. We wanted to have fun at a waterfall spot after having so much fun barbecuing at Gold Coast, Sepang. My friend suggested us to go to Sungai Gabai which is located in Hulu Langat. I was a bit excited as I haven't visit any waterfall spot for years.

We had to climb all the way up! My friend said that the scenery is way better up there, and we could go for waterfall sliding! We didn't get the chance to try for the water sliding, however. It was crowded with lots of people! But it was fun watching them trying out various stunts, while snacking.

I bought some Black Pepper Chicken and Mushroom in Pitas, Beef Meatballs (which is requested by Jijah.) and some Sarawak's Layered Cheese Cake for desserts.

Jijah bought some Curry Puff, Fried Chicken, and some Macaroni (which is made by her mother). Those macaroni looked and tasted good! We loved it!

Qilla bought some sardine sandwiches, which is prepared by her mother. A must have snack while picnicking! :D

Ina bought some Chicken Croquettes. It tasted good too! I couldn't really tell what's the ingredients, though...

I went back to our spot after playing in the water and was shocked when I saw a snake nearby! The snake was pretty though... It was blue in color and its head and tails was orange. We decided to wait until the snake disappear, went back to our spot, pack up our things, and go back home.

Black Pepper Chicken and Mushroom in Pita

I'm not a big fan of kebabs or anything which includes pita bread. During my practical training, I used to prepare the ingredients for chicken and mushroom in pita. Once in a while I would sneak to taste the chicken and mushroom while filling them up in the pita pocket. It was delicious! However, I'd never had the chance to learn the complete recipes.

I remember onions, chicken, and mushroom as the main ingredients. Using these ingredients, I decided to make my own chicken and mushroom pita, and come out with black pepper chicken and mushroom in pita.

Ingredients:

1 no      Onion - Chopped
1 clove  Garlic - Chopped
400g     Chicken - Cubed
400g     Mushroom - Cubed
2 nos    Bay leaf
dash     Oregano
5g        Ground Black Pepper
            Salt as needed
            Corn Starch


Directions:

1. Preheat the oil in pan. Add in bay leaf, onion and garlic. Saute until soft.
2. Add in mushroom and chicken and stir frequently.
3. Add some oregano and ground black pepper. Stir in the corn starch, and season with salt.
4. Cut the pita bread, and serve the chicken in the pita pocket.