Double Chocolate Banana Bread

Double chocolate banana bread is a quick bread; instead of yeast, it uses baking powder and baking soda as rising agents. There is no fermentation; the ingredients are mixed and baked. The whole process takes about one and one-quarter of an hour to bake. I use overripe bananas (pisang berangan) to create an extra moist, fudge-like bread. The bread is very fragrant as a result of the combination of cocoa powder, chocolate chips and the overripe bananas. It can be served during breakfast or teatime. 

Ingredients:

• 120 g flour
• 45 g cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda 
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 250 g mashed bananas
• 110 g melted butter
• 1 egg
• 80 g sugar
• 75 g chocolate chips or more

Instructions:

• Grease and line your baking tray (8 inch x 4 inch x 4 inch) with parchment paper.

• Sieve flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda into bowl. Add salt and mix. Set the bowl aside.

• Add mashed bananas and melted butter into a bowl. Whisk to ensure they are well mixed.

• Add egg and whisk it to mix with the mashed bananas and melted butter.

• Add sugar and whisk till the sugar is dissolved.

• Add the dry ingredients to the bowl.

• Mix till they are incorporated.

• You may add the chocolate chips into the batter. (However, if you do not wish to, then proceed to the next step.)

• Pour the mixture into your baking tray.

• Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the batter to cover it.

• Bake in a pre-heated oven at 175 deg C for 40 minutes or till a skewer inserted into the bread comes out clean.

• Remove the bread from the pan and let it cool on a metal rack.

• Slice and serve.

Focaccia Filled with Parmesan Cheese, Garlic, Green Onion and Black Pepper

Focaccia is a type of Italian flatbread which is soft and slightly chewy and is usually baked in a pan with lots of olive oil. Think of it a something between a pizza dough and bread. It is often thick, airy and has little dimples pressed into the surface with your fingers before baking.

What makes focaccia special is firstly, it is an olive oil-rich dough. The olive oil gives it a golden crispy outside and soft inside. Secondly, it has a dimpled top which helps to hold oil and whatever toppings you want to put on top. Finally, it is made from simple ingredients - flour, water, yeast, salt and olive oil. Some of the common toppings are rosemary and coarse salt, cherry tomatoes, olives and caramelised onions

Focaccia is usually eaten as a side with meals. Some people cut it open for sandwiches. It can also be a snack on its own. It is one of those breads that is simple but really satisfying with crispy edges and fluffy middle and full of flavour from olive oil.

I have made lots of focaccia but with different toppings and inclusions.

Ingredients:

• 410 g warm water
• 7 g yeast
• 5 g honey
• 15 g extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 10 g sea salt
• 500 g bread flour
• 50 g peeled garlic - sliced or chopped
• Cooking oil or melted butter (enough to cover the sliced garlic to prepare garlic confit) 
• 40 g green onions
• 45 g shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp-heap black pepper

Method:

• Prepare the garlic confit. Add sliced or chopped garlic into a sauce pan. Add enough cooking oil or melted butter to cover the garlic. Turn on the fire and slowly cook the garlic using the lowest flame. (We just want to soften and not brown the garlic.)

• Once the garlic has softened, let it cool down completely.

• Add warm water, yeast, honey, EVOO and sea salt to a large mixing bowl. Mix them all up.

• Weigh and add the bread flour to the bowl.

•  Mix the flour with the liquid ingredients till no flour can be seen.

• Cover the bowl with a towel and let the dough rest for 30 minutes.

• Perform the first set of stretch and fold. 
• Wet your hand.
• Grab one corner of the dough (call it the North corner), stretch it and fold it over onto itself.
• Give the bowl a quarter turn, grab another corner (the West corner), stretch it and fold it onto itself.
• Repeat by giving the bowl another quarter turn, grab the corner (the South corner), stretch it and fold it onto the dough itself.
• Finally, give the bowl another quarter turn, grab another corner (the East corner),  stretch it and fold it onto the dough itself.

• Cover the bowl with the towel.

• Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.

• Perform the second set of stretch and fold. Repeat the steps under the first set of stretch and fold.

• Cover the bowl with the towel and let the dough rest for one-and-half hour (or until it doubles in size.

• Prepare a 10 inch x 15 inch pan with non-stick parchment paper. Grease it with some EVOO.

• Tip the dough onto the pan.

• Gently spread out the dough on the pan.

• Spread the garlic on the dough, followed by the green onion, black pepper and shredded cheese.

• Take the shorter length and fold it into a third of the dough.

• Take the bottom third and it over the 1st third.

• Slide the dough lengthwise.

• Turn over the dough so that the smooth side is up.

• Cover the dough and let it proof for one-and-half-hour or until it doubles in size.

• Add some EVOO on the dough and dimple it.

• Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top

• Bake the dough at 220 degrees C for 25 minutes.

Wholemeal Bread - Yudane Method

The Yudane Method is a Japanese method for making bread that is very soft and fluffy. It involves pouring boiling water onto flour (at a ratio of 1 to 1) and mixed, resulting in a thick, sticky and glue-like paste. This paste is then refrigerated for 3-12 hours before being added to the dough. The purpose of mixing hot water and flour is to gelatinise the starch in the flour; water is absorbed by the starch in the flour making it swell up. Thus, hydration of the dough increases, resulting in a springier texture that stays fresh and soft longer than in conventionally baked bread. Usually the paste used is 10-25 % of the total flour weight in a recipe.

Ingredients:

• Making the yudane:
• 80 g bread flour
• 80 g boiling water

• Bread Dough
• 425 g bread flour
• 100 g wholemeal flour, hydrated with 100 g water
• 200 g water
• 40 g sugar
• 7 g yeast
• 7 g salt
• 50 g butter

Method:

• Add bread flour and boiling water in a bowl.
• Mixed them into a paste.
• Cover the bowl.
• Let the paste sit for 3 to 12 hours in the refrigerator.

• Prepare the baking pan:
• Size - 9 inch x 5 inch x 4 inch
•  Grease and line it with parchment paper
• Add water, sugar and yeast into the bowl of a mixer.
• Once the water is frothy, add bread flour, hydrated wholemeal flour, salt and all of the yudane to the bowl.
• Knead till the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl and forms a ball.
• Add butter and continue kneading till window pane is achieved.
• Grease a bowl and transfer the dough to it. Cover the bowl with a cling wrap.
• Let the dough rise till double in size.
• Once it has doubled, punch down the dough to release the air in it. Round up the dough again.
• Shape the dough and place it into the prepared pan.
• Let the dough rise till it reaches the brim of the pan.
• Bake it in a pre-heated oven at 175 degrees for about 35 minutes.
• Once baked remove the bread from the pan and let it cool down on a metal rack.
• Slice and enjoy.

Steamed Tofu on Egg with Fish or Shrimp

On most days I have tofu, eggs, fish and prawns in my refrigerator. I just have to get creative and make delicious dishes out of them. One of such dishes is steamed tofu on egg with slices of fish or shrimps on it. I was able to savour three different tastes in one bite - taste of the egg, tofu and fish/prawn. I had added fried garlic on the fish version. For the prawn version, the coriander made the dish very aromatic. Besides fried garlic, we can sprinkle green onions, fried shallots, parsley or coriander on top of the dishes.

Ingredients:

• 2 tube of egg tofu or plain tofu
• Fish slices or shrimps, the number depending on the number of tofu cylinders.
• For marinating fish slices or prawns:
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 egg and 1.5 times of water
• For seasoning the egg:
• 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp sesame oil for greasing the plate for steaming
• Topping
• fried onions, or 
• chopped parsley, or
• chopped coriander, or
• chopped green onions or
• fried shallots, or
• bird's eye chili

Instructions:

• Fillet the fish (snapper, grouper or threadfin) and slice it thinly or peel and de-vein the shrimps. (I left the tail on the shrimps.)

• Marinate the fish or shrimps with soy sauce, salt, pepper and sesame oil for at least 30 minutes.

• Beat egg into a bowl. Add water and seasonings. Sieve.

• Grease a steaming plate with sesame oil.

• Arrange the tofu cylinders on the plate.

• Slowly pour the egg onto the plate of tofu.

• Arrange the fish slices or shrimps on top of the tofu.

• Boil water in the steamer.

• Once the water has boiled, transfer the plate to the steamer.

• Steam the tofu with fish slices/shrimps over low heat (we want a silky egg layer).

• Remove the plate from the steamer once the fish/shrimps and egg are cooked. (Should not take more than 5 minutes. Otherwise the fish/shrimps will be overcooked.)

• Sprinkle the following on top:
• fried onions, or 
• chopped parsley, or
• chopped coriander, or
• chopped green onions or
• fried shallots, or
• bird's eye chili.

• Drizzle some soy sauce on top if the dish is not salty enough.

• Serve with rice.

Tiramisu

Tiramisu is a no-bake Italian dessert. It is made of layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers followed by cream, the number of layers depending on the amount of the ladyfingers and cream and finally, a dusting of cocoa powder on top. Most recipes incorporate egg yolks in the cream and alcohol in the coffee and cream. However, I have made the version without egg yolks nor alcohol.

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp instant coffee powder
• 350 ml hot water
• 200 ml heavy cream
• 250 g mascarpone cheese
• 80 g castor sugar
• 24 pieces lady fingers

Tool:

• Glass baking dish 18 cm x 12 cm

Instructions:

• Dissolve instant coffee powder in hot water and set it aside to cool down.

• Whip heavy cream until stiff peak is achieved. Set it aside.

• Beat mascarpone cheese and sugar till sugar dissolves.

• Combine whipped cream with mascarpone cheese till they are well incorporated.

• Dip ladyfingers into coffee and line them at the bottom of the glass baking dish. (Do not soak the ladyfingers; a quick dip will do.)

• Layer cheese mixture over them.

• Line another layer of ladyfingers on the cream.

• Then, layer cheese mixture over them.

• Dust a generous amount of cocoa powder on the cream.

• Chill the tiramisu for at least 4 hours before serving.

• Enjoy.

Twisted Ring Bread

I have been baking a lot of sourdough bread and only once a while have I gone to bake yeasted bread. Twisted Ring Bead is a yeasted bread. It is so pretty but more important it is delicious. This bread may be done plain or added with inclusions such as chocolate chips, chocolate buttons, chocolate rice or any dried fruits like cranberries, raisins and what have you. The way the inclusions are arrange is up to one's imagination. This recipe is a big one, yielding 2 loaves. I baked such a large recipe as I wanted to gift one away to a nephew-in-law who came a calling with his family. However, if you are baking just for a small family, you may half the recipe except the yeast. Use only 7 g instead of 10.

Ingredients:

• 180 - 200 ml warm water
• 60 g sugar
• 10 g yeast

• 725 g bread flour
• 25 g milk powder
• 1 tsp salt

• 2 eggs
• 240 ml milk

• 45 g butter

• Inclusions - either chocolate chips, chocolate buttons, chocolate rice or any dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, etc) - as much as you like

• Egg wash - egg yolk and 1 tbsp milk.

Instructions:

• Line a baking tray with greased parchment paper.

• Activate the yeast - add sugar to warm water (start with 180 ml first), stir to dissolve the sugar and sprinkle the yeast on top. Set aside for 5-10 minutes.

• Once the yeast has been activated (there are bubbles in the yeast mixture), pour it into the bowl of the stand mixer.

•  Add the eggs and milk to the bowl.

• Add the bread flour, milk powder and salt into the yeast mixture.

• Start kneading the mixture on a low speed until all the ingredients are incorporated. Then increase the speed to medium high.

• When the dough has formed into a ball, add butter to it.

• Continue to knead the dough till it is smooth and elastic. Then transfer it to an oiled bowl.

• Cover the bowl with cling wrap and put a damp towel over it.

• Let the dough proof in a warm place till it has doubled in size.

• Lightly flour or grease your table top.

• Punch out the air from the dough. Then remove the dough from the bowl onto the floured / oiled surface.

• Roll the dough into a rectangle.

• Spread the inclusions on the rectangular dough.

• Then, roll it up into a ball.

• Use a rolling pin to roll it into a rectangle.

• Cut the dough into 2, lengthwise.

• Take 1 dough. Fold one side onto a third. Then, take the other side and fold it over the 1st third.

• Start to twist the dough from one end and form a ring by letting the 2 ends meet. Overlap the ends and seal them.

• Place the twisted ring onto the prepared baking tray.

• Repeat the same with the other dough. Then place it by the side of the first twisted ring.

• Let the twisted rings proof until they have doubled in size.

• Pre-heat the oven at 180 degrees C.

• Egg wash the rings.

• Bake the dough for 30 minutes until the rings are golden brown.

• Let them cool down on a metal rack.

• Enjoy.

Fish Fillet in Lemon Butter Sauce

 

I usually eat fried fish with chilli padi soy sauce. Today, I try another style, that is, drizzling the fish with lemon butter sauce. The sweetness of the fish coupled with the tangy buttery sauce brings the dish to another level. I have used the grouper. However, other fishes that can be cooked this way include the salmon, snapper or any other white fish that you can get your hands on. This recipe is the simplest one for lemon butter sauce. However, I have seen recipes which use heavy cream and wine to make the sauce.

Ingredients:

• 350 g Grouper fillet
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 2 tbsp rice flour
• 1 tbsp a-purpose flour
• cooking oil for frying

• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 2 tsp minced shallots
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp chopped coriander or parsley

Instructions:

• Marinate fish fillet with salt and pepper for half an hour.

• Mix rice flour and all-purpose flour.

• Heat up cooking oil in wok or pan.

• Coat fish fillet with flour mixture.

• When cooking oil is hot, pan fry the fillet till golden brown.

• Transfer fried fillet to a serving plate.

• Or, some may prefer to just pan fry the fillet without any coating.

• Preparing the lemon sauce:

• Heat up wok or pan.

• Pour in lemon juice.

• Add minced shallots and salt.

• Cook till lemon juice is reduced to half the original amount.

• Add butter and let it melt.

• Add in chopped coriander or parsley.

• Pour lemon butter sauce over the fish fillet.

• Serve.