Japanese Cheesecake

Assalamualaikum

A year (or two) back, mummy came home and brought back a slice of cake that she bought at Isetan or Parkson (can’t remember which). It was sooo good!It was creamy and soft and makes you go ohhh-la-la! They are called Japanese Cheesecake.I totally forgot all about it until a few months back when somebody posted the recipe (myresipi.net).Since then, I was determined to make some for mom and I did (of course).=)

I know. Writing about it won’t really do the cake any justice. So let me describe the cake to you in more detail (more like exaggerating about the cake.oh well).

The cake, on the outside looks like a normal yellow colored sponge cake. But once you put it in your mouth…your life will never be the same again. The softness of the cake is like a soft cotton-y pillow that melts in your mouth. The taste..the cheese ohh the cheese slowly seeps into your taste buds. They will go numb for a millisecond,shocked by the heavenly flavor. The world seems quieter. You can look around yet you can’t see anything. You can hear things buzzing about but you can’t listen to what is being said. You can touch the surfaces of the table in front of you or the chair beneath you but you can’t feel them underneath your skin. All you could focus on, is the explosion of creaminess, sweetness, deliciousness of the cheesecake in your mouth. Bless those who came up with the recipe! It’s a gift to mankind. A GIFT! So simple yet..so divine..It's THAT good.

I got and copied the recipe from here.

Japanese Cheesecake

5/8 cup fine granulated sugar

6 egg whites

6 egg yolks

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

50g butter

250g cream cheese

100ml fresh milk

1/2 cup cake flour

1/4 cup corn flour

1/4 tsp salt

1. Preheat the oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit. Melt cream cheese, butter and milk over a double boiler. Cool the mixture.
2. Fold in the flour, the cornflour, salt, egg yolks and mix well.
3. Whisk egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. Add in the sugar and whisk until soft peaks form.
4. Add the egg whites to the cheese mixture to and fold well.
5. Pour into a 8-inch round springform cake pan or removable-bottom cake pan (lightly grease and line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper). Wrap the base of your cake tin with aluminium foil, to prevent seepage.
6. Bake cheesecake in a water bath for 1 hour 10 mins or until set and golden
7. Leave to cool in oven with door ajar, about 30mins to 1 hour. Sudden changes in temperature may cause the cake to cool too quickly and collapse. 

Cream cheese mixture and beaten egg whites

Before 

After

Looks can be deceiving. Don't judge a cake by its picture! This cake will definitely test your patience. I’m such a nervous wreck when working with egg whites since my last mishap.Really, the way I stressed over the tiniest grease or drop of yolk is just...unnatural. By the end of this post I can be known as the crazy cake/cat person. A piece of advice, be really patient while making this cake. Take your time with the eggs and straining the cream cheese mixture. It’s all worth it.

Also, take your time to enjoy this cake. Don’t just gallop it all own in a jiff. Get yourself a nice cup of coffee/tea using the nicest cup you have and have it outside. On the verandah or you could sit on the grass perhaps?

This jade tea cup set is one of my favorites, ever.It was my grandmother's. Just look at the color and the patterns.An absolute classic. Do they still make these kinds of tea sets?

Bon Apetit!

Eid Mubarak everyone! Spread the love and joy!

Wasalam

Till then, Salut,

Blessed,

Anggerik

Mirrors Don't Lie

Assalamualaikum

As I wrote in the last post, this year is about reflection. Have you ever asked yourself why you’re so stubborn? So lazy? So arrogant? So ignorant? So hot tempered? Often times, no. Because most of the times, we don’t even realize it.

Some may already know that I’m switching my major to Psychology and of course I’m taking bah-jhillion psychology courses and is forced to finish thick textbooks that could work for 1) exercising 2) protection. Psychology really did open my eyes. When you learn about people’s behavior you will automatically reflect that on yourself. At least for me. Why am I so this and so that? Do you I have issues?Oh yes , I do. But this was the most crucial part of all. The realization.

The other thing that has become a habit of mine is observing others around me. And what did I realize? That I’m not exactly a pleasant person. Well not to my standards anyways .How do I know this? Here is how…Often times we pray that Allah will guide us to be a better person and as for me, my prayers were answered in a way that I didn’t expect. I am forever thankful, Alhamdulillah. Have you ever watched the movies about the Christmas Ghost of the past and future? Where you’re life is like a movie before your eyes and you were the audience? It’s somewhat like that. There must be times when you observe people around you, and you realize that you might not like someone because of their attitude and funnily enough, quite a number of times, I see myself in these people.

Have you ever met a person who is “always” right (to themselves anyways)?I have.

Have you ever met someone who needs o have the last say every time? I have.

Have tolerable you ever met someone who wants everyone to tolerate her behaviors yet she herself is not tolerant? I have.

Have you ever met someone who likes to debate over simplest things? I have.

Have you ever met someone who easily loses his/her temper? I have.

How do I feel when I’m around these people? Ouch..Being a sensitive person that I am.It hurts. It really does. What’s scary is that these people reflect me. I could see myself in their shoes and I don’t like it at all. Looking at yourself in another person, can be an awakening experience. I can guarantee it! The best thing about it is when you try to fix your own flaws, you know where to start.

What is disturbing  is that we might already know some of our bad attributes and still feel it is okay .Wrong! It’s not acceptable at all! Next time you are in the presence of someone makes you squirm on the insides or grit your teeth, ask yourself why and are you somewhat similar to that person?

If you were to spend a day with another you, would you have a great time?

Wasalam.

Till then,Salut,

Love,

Anggerik

Growing up..

Assalamualaikum

This year, I must say, is a year of reflection. Or perhaps realization? This is the year where I’ve turned 21. A legit adult in Malaysia. (I’m legal at the age of 18 in Canada). Turning 21 was a big blow for me. End of last year, I decided to move out and live on my own. Without anyone, I am forced to take responsibility on myself. I pay my own rent, my own bills, I cook my own meals and wash my own laundry. At the same time of course, being a student, my grades are my responsibility as well. Slowly I told myself that I could do this and Alhamdulillah so far so good.

Studying overseas is fun. It’s a new environment, new weather, a new circle of friends. It is fun. But it’s not exactly easy. Not for me at least. It took me a whole year to fit in. Before coming to McGill, I knew there aren’t many Malaysians, getting a good grade is tough, French is the dominant language. Being a stubborn person that I am, I took up the challenge anyways. Boy what a challenge it was! By the end of the school year, I was crying to my mom on skype on how stressed I was.

Alhamdulillah things got better. Slowly it got better. I got the hang of being far far away from family and close friends (well, I made new ones here of course), living on my own, the learning system. Alhamdulillah everything went into place.

The reason why I am writing this is because there are people who think that studying abroad is like taking a vacation. “Yeah, studying is hard, but you’re in Canada for God sake”..Erm, because it’s on the other side of the globe that makes it EVEN HARDER. How many times have I cringed to have my family with me during difficult times?Countless.  How many times have I contemplated to drop everything and come back?Countless. How hard it is sometimes to get in touch with your family because well..they have their own lives..Countless.I don’t get to go home during the long weekends or holidays (heck, we don’t even have a lot of hoilidays compared to Malaysia)..How many times have I been frustrated with my grades because the markings were tough?Countless. How many times have I felt lonelier than ever? Countless. How many times have I cried for being tired, disappointed and scared? Countless.

Things are not easier, just because we are at a different place. It’s how we deal with it. I chose this path (Allah has chosen it for me) and I shall walk along this path till the very end. InsyaAllah. Before I PRAYED that I’ll get somewhere furthest from home. Because I want to learn to be independent. My prayers were answered. Did everything went according to plan? Noppy nope nope. But if these things can make me grow up, then, I should be strong. Learn from it and move on. Things don’t always go our way, ABSOLUTELY. But how can you learn to stand properly without ever falling down?

Wherever we are, whatever we do, try to make the best of what Allah has given upon us. Easier said than done.

Have I wished I’m on a different path altogether?Oh boyyy YES! But that’s not what is written for me, this is. For the past two years, I have learnt so much, that I don’t know if I could have learnt it otherwise.

In times of hardship, you’ll know who your real friends are and how your family will be by your side through ANYTHING.

At the age of 21, it’s a good age to grow up isn’t it?

Growing up isn’t entirely fun. But when you get to look at things clearly, it’ll make a world of a difference. You no longer feel like slapping yourself after each decision you make.*wink*

Wasalam

Till then, A bientot,

Love,

Anggerik.

Cookies for the whole bunch please!

Assalamualaikum.

Do you like cookies?Chocolate chip cookies to be exact?My family LOVES them choookies!We made ours with oats which make those babies even yummier.Yummi-ER.I wouldn't have baked two batches of cookies if it were for my brother's Potluck Iftar. Snapped a few pictures to share.=)

You can find the recipe here

Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies

Dough Goodness

Got milk?

Some for the big brother, some for the not-so-little brother

Disclaimer:For illustration purposes only. No fasts were broken during the shooting of these pictures.I swear. =P

Wasalam

Till then,Salut,
Love,
Anggerik

Baked Mashed Potatoes

Assalamualaikum!

Can you believe that today is the 15^th day of Ramadhan? Time flies! Lately I’ve been doing things that I shouldn’t have. Especially when I’m fasting. Yes I have sinned! Sinned by watching cooking videos on Youtube and going through recipes in the cookbooks. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING SOFFY?!Which brings me to this post. I was watching Laura Vitale on Youtube yesterday and came across baked mashed potatoes and I was like *gulp*.WE.HAVE.POTATOES.IN.THE.FRIDGE….should i? Yes I should and I did.=)

Baked Mashed Potatoes

500g Potatoes

1/2 cup milk

2/3 cup butter

3 cloves of garlic

Salt and Pepper to taste

Italian seasoning

1/2 cup of mozzarella

1/2 cup bread crumbs

2 tablespoon of Parmesan

A dash of olive oil. 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit
2. Wash,peel and dice potatoes. Boil in salted water until the potatoes cooked and softened
3. In a large bowl, finely mash the potatoes
4. In a pan, melt butter and add thinly chopped garlic
5. Once the garlic softened, remove from heat.
6. Add the garlic butter into the mashed potatoes. Stir well.
7. (For finer mashed potatoes, you can run it through a metal sieve)
8. Add milk, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and cheese. Stir well
9. Pour the mashed potatoes into a baking dish
10. Cover the top with bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese as well as some more mozzarella cheese (if you like)
11. Drizzle the top with some olive oil
12. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until golden brown

Mixed potatoes..i know..*head down*

MELT THOSE FATS!

Mash'em good

Cheese is good for you.really.

Homemade breadcrumbs

 Done done done! A slight twist to the usual mashed potatoes. The real recipe calls for Mascarpone cheese or cream cheese which will make the potatoes EXTRA creamy. But we’re out of cream cheese. I’d definitely recommend eating this with a bit of sour cream. OH MY PUASA LA! It was a challenge to make this dish without tasting it during the cooking process. It turned out fine. Alhamdulillah.

I baked a Japanese Cheesecake the other day which Alhamdulillah WAS DELICIOUS! But, x snap gambar dah habis.How now?

My sister and I also made homemade Fettuccini Olio Aglio. Everything from scratch! Everything. Even that, went down our tummies without us snapping a good picture of it. That’s the problem that I’m currently facing during Ramadhan. :p

Less than 10 days of Ramadhan left =( Let’s all increase our ibadah and du’as insyaAllah.Also, let’s reflect on how much have we changed since Ramadhan starts.We still have time for those extra prayers and deeds!Yalla!

Wasalam

Till then,Bonjour,

Love,

Anggerik