Monday, 5 February 2007
Chocolate Mousse Recipe
This recipe is not my original creation. Rather this is my improved version of two recipes, one I had found on the net and one from a book my mum-in-law gave me. I have combined the two by adding/increasing some ingredients while reducing some.

I have made this a few times now. Shane just loves it, it doesn't last long in the fridge.

Ingredients:

250 gm dark chocolate
3 large eggs, separated
1/4 cup white sugar (for a sweeter taste, add 2 tbsp)
1 1/4 cup cold thickened cream
3 tbsp Grand Marnier (available in small bottles @ 6.89/btl in Safeway or Coles liquor shop)
(The original recipe called for 1/4 c but I found it too strong)
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Procedure:

Cut the chocolate and butter into small pieces and place in a bowl. Heat water (do not boil) and set bowl of mixed chocolate & butter on top of it to melt, stirring occasionally. When completely melted, remove from heat and beat or stir until smooth. Return to the heat and add egg yolks one at a time, stirring well after each one. Remove from heat.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peak forms. Add 2 tbsp of the sugar and beat until stiff. Would be wise to use an electric mixer when beating.

In another bowl, beat the cream until it becomes frothy. Add the remaining sugar, the Grand Marnier and the lemon juice and continue beating until it holds soft peaks.

Fold the egg whites in the chocolate mixture until no white specks appear. Gradually add the whipped cream and fold until well blended.

Transfer in small bowls and refrigerate until well chilled. I would recommend to wait at least 24 hours before eating so that the flavor has already settled.

Optional: top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings when serving.


Labels:

Posted by me at 10:43 am.
2 comments
Sunday, 21 January 2007
Bananas are back!
Yes! Bananas are back in the Australian supermarket shelves.

For almost a year now, bananas became scarce when the Northern Queensland where over 90% of Australian bananas came from, was hit by tropical cyclone Larry. Prices went as high as $13.00 a kilo.

Growers have since recovered from the devastation. Prices are now back to an affordable $3.00 a kilo.

Labels: ,

Posted by me at 2:16 pm.
0 comments
Monday, 3 July 2006
Just like any other doughnuts
Today, I finally had the chance to try Krispy Kreme doughnuts. A colleague from Sydney came down here and kindly brought us two boxes of these much hyped about sugary treat.

My verdict? It taste just like any other doughnuts. I wouldn't line up for hours to get some.

Labels:

Posted by me at 4:17 pm.
2 comments
Monday, 26 June 2006
Is it really worth it?
Last Saturday we went to Endeavor Hills for our monthly poker get-together with friends. Someone mentioned Krispy Kreme doughnuts and from then on I was craving to try it. So when the game finished at about 12:30ish, (I finished second by the way, which earned me $45, Shane finished first for a $100. Entry fee is $10.), off we went to Fountain Gate in Narre Warren where the first Krispy Kreme shop in Victoria is. It is about 10 minutes drive from Endeavor Hills. Since it was very late at night, or should I say very early in the morning, we expected to see a quiet shop. Surprise, surprise the queue for the drive-thru was more than a kilometer long. There were people lining up inside the shop too. It would have been at least an hour wait to get to the counter.

These doughnuts must be really good, judging by the people lining up. But is it really worth it?



Labels:

Posted by me at 2:53 pm.
2 comments
Thursday, 16 February 2006
Instant Noodles for Dinner!
Yes, that is right. We had instant noodles for dinner tonight. But with a bit of twist.

I miss having pansit (noodles) so I thought of cooking some for dinner. I do not like buying noodles from the Chinese food shops here because they cook them with too much oil and very little meat and vegies.

When I checked my pantry, I can't find any sotanghon (vermicelli noodles) but there were two packets of instant noodles left. Hmmm... maybe the instant noodles can be a good substitute.

Here is the recipe :

2 cups chicken strips
1 small size onion, chopped
1/4 cup water
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp minced garlic
1 medium sized carrot, cut into thin strips
1/2 cup string beans, cut diagonally, in thin strips
1/2 cup asparagus, thinly sliced
1 cup cabbage, in thin strips

On high heat , sautee garlic and onion in a tbsp of olive oil. Add chicken and stir-fry until brown. Add a tsp soy sauce while stirring. Adjust heat to medium, leave for a minute to let the chicken absorb the soy sauce. Add 1/4 cup water and simmer for a couple of minutes. Adjust heat to high and add vegies (carrot, beans and asparagus). Stir to mix the vegies and meat. Add the cabbage strips and contnue to mix the vegies and the meat. Remove from heat as soon as the cabbage just starts to wilt. Vegies are good hlaf-cooked.

Cook the noodles in a separate pot as per the packet's instructions. Be careful not to overcook the noodles as this would look soggy. Drain excess water.

Arrange noodles in a platter and top with the chicken and vegies . Serve and consume immediately.

Shane is not very fond of noodles but he did finish his plate. Hehehe... maybe because he just didn't want to disappoint me :D.



Labels: ,

Posted by me at 8:22 pm.
0 comments