Baked Marble CheeseCake

I have lots of collections on books especially cook books. Sometime I will test some new recipes & write some notes on the books. Remarks will be written on the books based on my own observations. It could be very messy. Sometimes, I will put a big "X" on the recipes. But this recipes which I adopted from Su Chan "Cake Temptations & other desserts" with a little changes- deserved a big "V". It is worth keeping. To be honest, the author recipes is very practical. You should be able to make the same cakes you see from the pictures.Appreciated that.

Cheesecake Texture is very smooth

I did not bake in bain-marie, so the surface of the cake crack a little. But it doesn't affect the taste of the cheese cake.Still smooth & yummy.

Ingredients
150g Marie/Digestive biscuits crumbs
75g melted butter
30g Melted Dark Chocolate ( I use 70% Cocoa)

Method for the base, mix all the biscuits crumbs & butter in a bowl & press to a 9 inches round pan. Freeze the base in the freezer.
Reserve the Dark Chocolate to make the marble swirls.

Fillings:
450g cream cheese
140g castor sugar
6 egg yolks
2 tbsp lemon juices
1 tsp lemon zest ( I just use up the 1 lemon skin to "zest" it)
1 tsp vanilla extra (I prefer to use extra instead of essence)
50g All purpoe flour
150ml whipping cream,whipped & keep it cool, otherwise, it will deflated.

Whisked until soft peak:
6 Egg whites
1tbsp sugar

Method:
1) Beat cream cheese + sugar in a bowl & add in yolk one by one.
2) Add in lemon juice, zest, vanilla extract & flour. Mix well & add in the whipped whipping cream.
3)Whisk egg white + sugar until soft peak & fold into the cheese mixture above (no.2)
4)Pour 1/3 of the filling into the prepared tin & drizzle with 1tbsp of melted chocolate. Repeat twice until you finish using the melted chocolate.
5)Stir mixture with chop sticks to form the marble effect.
6) Bake straight in the preheated oven 150C  for 45 min or till set. You will get the crack surface cheese cake.
or
6) Bake in bain-marie in the preheated oven 150C for 45 mins or till set. Each oven behave differently. Pls observe & adjust accordingly.
7) Remove from oven & let cool.
8) Refrgerate over nite & it taste better.
9) Serve chilled. I enjoyed with my favorite coffee.

* See how to on bain-marie/double boiler,
http://www.thekitchn.com/technique-how-to-make-and-use-70190

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Christmas Cookies - Ina Garten

These cookies are seriously addicted. Carol, Amanda, Dave, Ben & Henry just love these cookies. They are especially suitable as gift for special occasions like Christmas & New Year celebrations. It really gives you the Christmas feel or celebration mood. Today is the 20th Oct, you can try to bake these cookies for the coming Christmas (in two months time).Personally, I love Christmas & looking forward to it.

Conversations:
Amanda told me: Come, you must try these cookies before it runs out. I forgot where I bought it.
Amanda asked Henry: Son, you remember where we bought it?
Henry answer: Mom, it is from the neighbor bakery.
By then Amanda only realized it was actually from me.

Please visit this link for the original recipes:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/fruitcake-cookies-recipe/index.html

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Delicious Cranberry, Raisin, Blueberry, Chocolate Chips Muffin

Fresh Blueberry Muffins

Muffins are good for breakfast or tea break. It is not as sweet as cupcakes & the texture is not as fine as a cake. The texture is more coarse compared to cupcakes.  It is very versatile & you can use it to make any version of muffins depends on your favorite choices- Cranberry, Raisin, Chocolate Chips or Blueberry.

This is a super easy recipes which is very suitable for any beginner in baking. Even though I love to bake & can create some complicated pastry but I still love to bake simple stuffs. The only reason - fast! On the other hand, I do enjoy complicated baking, it makes you feel good that you can make something at par with those professional baker. Baking is very therapeutic too. Even though I need to do a lot of clean up after a major baking session, it is still very satisfying. Yeah...these muffins are very satisfying too.

Here it is:
To make 5 muffins, You will need the below:

50g Butter
70g Sugar
1 Egg
100g All Purpose flour/ Low protein flour
1tsp Baking Powder
A pinch of Salt
60ml Milk
75g Blueberry, Raisin, Cranberry or Chocolate Chips

Method:
1)Beat butter & sugar until fluffy & color turn pale.
2)Add in eggs & mix thoroughly.
3)Add in the premix of dry ingredients:  flour + baking powder + salt.
4)Alternate the flour mixture with milk.
5)Lastly, add in your favorite choice of Blueberry, Raisin, Cranberry or Chocolate Chips.
6)Bake for 170'C in a preheated oven.

*Tips- for all baking, you need to preheat the oven until the specified temperature. If you did not preheat it, the baked goods will not turn out right.

Cranberry Muffins

This recipes is good as it is not too heavy. In fact I like the right texture of these muffins. You can see it from the below pic.

Lovely Cranberry Muffins Texture

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