Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Semoule au Lait (Semolina Pudding)





A family favourite, easy and quick to put together and taste like Nestum!

Ingredients:
1 liter milk
90 gm semolina
100 gm sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence

Method:
In a pot mix all the ingredient above and bring to a boil.  Stir till thickens.  Remove from heat.  I love chocolate flavored semolina pudding so I add 2 tbsp of my favourite chocolate powder.   Divide into serving cups and chill before serving.

Le Frasier (French Strawberry Cake)



I am not a fan of strawberries but this cake is so good with strawberries and I simply love it!  I am using the recipe from the blog La cuisine de Mercotte.

Materials needed; cake ring 4 cm in height and 20 cm in diameter, rhodoïd (plastic film) of 4 cm in height and a silicon mat or equivalent.

First step, make the génoise (sponge cake):
Ingredients:
90 gm flour
90 gm sugar
150 gm eggs (3 small eggs/2 large eggs)

Method:
On a bain-marie (water bath),  whisk the egg and sugar mixture.  Whisk without stopping till the mixture rise and to about 50/55°C.  To tell that it has reached the temperature, take a little of the mixture and put on the lips, if it burn then the temperature is good.  Remove from heat and continue to whisk till it cools down.  With a spatula add the flour, in 2 or 3 times, delicately into the mixture, so that the mixture remains fluffy.
Spread the mixture evenly onto the silicon mat.  Bake at 180°C for 10-15 minutes.  The génoise is cooked when it is blond, soft in the centre and shrinks slightly from the side.  Turn out the génoise onto baking paper and cut out 2 circles of 19.5 cm.
You can also cook the génoise in 2 cake pan but you may not have the same thickness in the cake.

2nd step, make the soaking syrup:
Ingredients:
100 gm water
120 gm sugar
20 gm Kirsch (cherry liqueur) or Strawberry Syrup (if you don't like alcohol)

Method:
Bring to boil the sugar and water, till the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, cool then add the Kirsch or Strawberry Syrup.

3rd step, make the Mousseline Crème
Ingredients:
375 gm milk
80 gm sugar
55 gm egg yolk (about 5 egg yolks)
15 gm flour
15 gm cornflour
1/2 vanilla beans or 1 tsp vanilla essence
250 gm butter softened
15 gm Kirsch (optional)

Method:
Infuse the vanilla beans in the milk for 10 minutes.  Then add half the sugar and bring to boil.  In the meantime, whisk the other half of the sugar with the egg yolks, then add the sifted flour.  Remove the milk from fire, remove the vanilla beans and add into the egg/sugar/flour mixture.  Mix thoroughly, then cook over low heat till thickens.  Once thicken, remove from heat and place the mixture in a bowl, then add half the butter, mix till smooth. Cling film and chill. When the mixture is around 16-18 °C, cream the remaining butter in a cake mixer and gradually add the cream. When the cream is homogeneous add the Kirsch.

Final step, assembly
Ingredients :
250 gm strawberries
100 gm marzipan, sprinkle icing sugar on work surface, roll out and cut out using the cake ring.

Method:
Line the cake ring with plastic film (rhodoïd), cut strawberries in 2 and garnish the circumference of the cake ring.  Place the génoise on the bottom, brush generously with the soaking syrup, pipe in half the mousseline crème, line the remaining strawberries, then pipe in the remaining mousseline crème, keep a tiny bit of the crème to brush on top of the génoise before laying the marzipan.
Brush the second piece of génoise with the soaking syrup before placing it on top of the mousseline crème. Then pipe in remaining mousseline crème, even it out before placing the marzipan.  Chill before serving.



Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Banana Cake





I love banana cake and I like Ina Garten recipe.


Ingredients

3 very ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Grated zest of 1 orange
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)
Walnut halves, for decorating (optional)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 by 2-inch round cake pan.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the bananas, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on low speed until combined. With the mixer still on low, add the oil, eggs, sour cream, vanilla, and orange zest. Mix until smooth. (I use butter and slice the bananas instead of mashing them)

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Stir in the chopped walnuts, if using. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, turn out onto a cooling rack, and cool completely.

Spread the frosting thickly on the top of the cake and decorate with walnut halves, if using.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

Mix the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on low speed until just combined. Don't whip! Add the sugar and mix until smooth. Yield: frosting for one 9-inch cake.


Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/old-fashioned-banana-cake-recipe.html