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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Raisin Cinnamon Roll


Used to buy the walnut cinnamon rolls from Adventist Bakery during my previous job, when I am working and waiting for customers. I can't remember how much it costs. It comes in four in one box, and the price is not cheap.

Tried to make some today and ES loves it... She ate two of this when I put LS to sleep.

Ingredient:
(A)
400 g high protein flour
46g fresh milk
30g butter ( melted )
1 egg
1 tbs dry yeast, dissolved in 120g warm water ( add in 1 tbs of sugar )
a pinch of salt

(B)
40g sugar
2 tbs of cinnamon powder
90g raisin

(C)
90g brown sugar
1 tbs of hot water

Method:
(1) Mix flour, yeast, sugar, salt with mixer. Add in milk, follow by egg and butter. Knead till it is not sticky, about 10 minutes.

(2) Proof for 1 hour.

(3)  Remove the dough from the bowl and give a few light kneading to press out the gas in the dough. Roll the dough into a rectangle, about 30cm by 25cm, 1/2 inch thick. Brush surface with melted butter. Sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mixture over the dough surface. Roll over the surface with a rolling pin, this is to make sure the fillings will stick onto the dough.


(4)From the longer end (30cm), roll up the dough to form a long log (ie 30cm in lengh). Pinch the edges to seal. Place the log seam side down, trim off the two ends.
(5) Arrange the rolls cut-side up in a greased (or lined with parchment paper) 20cm square pan or any suitable baking tray. Leave some space in between the rolls to allow them to expand. Cover with damp cloth or cling wrap and leave doughs to proof for the second time for about 45mins, or until double in size.Brush top with egg wash (mix leftover egg with 1 tbs water) and sprinkle the reserved cinnamon sugar mixture over the top. Bake in pre-heated oven at 180 deg C for 15-20 mins or until golden brown. Remove from oven;

(6) Mix ingredient (C) and pour on top of the raisin cinnamon roll .

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

chocolate chips & almond cookies


ES requested us to buy her a packet of chocolate chips cookies when we shopped for grocery last week. I had asked her not to buy, and make her some homemade chocolate chips and almond cookies.

Ingredients

(makes about 20 cookies)


115g butter, softened
115g caster sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
175g plain flour
90g plain or semisweet chocolate chips
70g almond


Method
1.Preheat oven to 180degC. Line baking trays with parchment paper.

2.With a wooden spoon or electric mixer, cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until the mixture turns pale and fluffy.

3.Beat in the egg gradually. Mix well after each addition.

4.Sift the flour over the mixture, fold in with wooden spoon or a spatula. Fold in the chocolate chips.

5.Drop tablespoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking tray. Leave some space between the cookies to allow for spreading. Flatten each cookie dough slightly with the back of a fork, keeping the shape as even as possible.

6.Bake for 10 mins or until golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Baked chicken with butter rice

Every Sunday we prepare our lunch before going for the morning mass. Last Sunday, instead of the usual chicken rice, we cooked baked chicken with butter rice.

Everybody loves it as it is something different. I found this recipe from ellenaguan.blogspot.com, and I added in roasted almond.

Ingredients: (serves 4)


2 1/2 Cup of Uncook Rice
35g of Butter
4 Tablespoons Roasted Almond
3 Tablespoons  Raisin
2 Tablespoon of Chopped Spring Onion

Methods:
1. Cook the rice, Butter and Raisin as per normal.
2. Pre-heat a small fry pan and toast the almond  until slightly golden brown and set aside.
3. When the rice is cooked, add in the almond and Spring Onion then stir the thru using a chopstick.
4. Plate the rice onto the serving plate and served together with the chicken.

A visit to Blue Heron French Cheese

After came out from Home of Tillamook Cheese, we stopped by Blue Heron French Cheese Company., which is 200 metres away from Tillamook Cheese factory. The girls are more interested in the sheeps and other animals outside the shop.




Walking towards the farm. 




They were so excited when they saw the baa baa black sheep...
Recently, MSLS always requesting for this song when we switched on the tv for  nursery rhyme. They will say " baa, baa".








Trying to chase the chickens?


LS was attracted by this lanscape with a small windmill on it.




There are some chickens at the farm too.




The girls still walking around the farm and do not want to leave.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Home of Tillamook Cheese

We have been using Tillamook butter and cheese since we are here. Tillamook butter really have its  own unique great taste. Tillamook only uses the highest quality milk from cows not treated with aritificial growth hormones. So far, it had been voted as the world's best medium cheddar cheese at the 2010 World Championship CHeese COntest. It is the #1 selling natural cheese brand in the West. It is farmer-owned and has been making its award winning cheeses in Oregon since 1909.

We decided to pay a visit to the home of Tillamook Cheese last weekend, and it took nearly 1 hour to reach there. It is located at US 101 on the northern Oregon Coast.

When we arrived in Tillamook town, we decided to stop by The Fern restaurant and Lounge to have our lunch. We ordered burgers, clam chowder, and seafood platter. the food was not that fantastic, we can't finished all the food, as all are fried. If there is a chance, we rather eat in fast food restaurant eg Subway.



After our lunch, we went to Home of Tillamook Cheese. We can see their workers busy making cheese in the factory. ESMSLS enjoyed looking at the whole process of making  cheese.









Besides cheese, Ice cream is available in 38 flavours.





 Varieties of cheese samples available for testing, so that we can decide the right one to purchase.



We took a photo in the Baby Loaf bus. Every piece of the bus has been customer built to resemble a two-pond Baby Loaf of Tillamook medium Cheddad Cheese and was made with lots of Loaf and care. This bus will travel the nation and spreading the taste of Loaf far and wide in US.



Before we leave, ES made a Tillamook coin using the quarter dollar.




Thursday, June 23, 2011

High chair




When we moved here, we were searching for high chairs for the twins. They were more discipline when we had our high chairs back in hometown.

We didn't managed to purchase any until the 3rd week after we moved here. There were a bit out of control as they will come to the dining table, standing on their chairs, asking us to feed them when we have our meals, they will run and move from here to there when they have their porridge or fruits, they always ask us to carry them...

Finally, we managed to purchase these two high chairs from IKEA and they really love it!
They enjoy eating fruits, drinking water, eating their porridge/ rice, and even drawing on their high chairs. With that, we can do our housechores or cooking while they are enjoying on thier high chairs, phew....

Gingerbread cookies



ES had been asking for the gingerbread cookies for a few days, and finally after the busy schedule, I bake it on Monday night after the girls had went to sleep.

Ingredients:
125g Butter
100g Brown Sugar
1 Egg
375g Plain Flour
1 Teaspoon Bicarbonate Of Soda
125ml Golden Syrup ( I replaced it with honey )

Methods:
1. Sift all the dry ingredients in a big bowl and set aside for later used.
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then add in egg, beat well.
3. Gradually add sifted dry ingredients and golden syrup, mix well.
4. Knead dough on lightly floured surface until smooth; cover, refrigerate 30 minutes.
5. Roll dough between sheets of baking paper until 4mm think, cut out cookies using specially shaped cutter.
6. Lift carefully on to lightly greased oven trays. Bake at 180°C for 15 minutes; cool on trays.
Adapted from ellenaguan.blogspot.com


ES was so happy on the next morning when she saw it as she thought that i will only bake this for her on Tuesday.

Duckling swimming


The girls like to stop by here during their morning/ evening walk to watch the duckling swimming...

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Flowers are blossoming...









Ther grasses are green, and the flowers are blossoming around us...

Playtime






Three of them still enjoying themselves at the playground at 8pm. the day is still bright during summer...