Cream Puff with Chocolate Custard

Almost every potluck we have at work, one of the scientists' wife always make us cream puff! The light but airy exterior and creamy interior brings joy every time I bite into it. Same goes with Beard Papa's cream puff. =)

Cream puff batter puffing up in the oven.

Cooling down.

Cream puff with chocolate custard.

Doughnuts

I felt like doughnut the other night, and it was freezing cold outside, so I decided to make my own. This recipe is so fast and easy, it makes getting and eating a doughnut much pleasurable!

This recipe does not contain yeast, so the texture is a little more bready, which tastes more like a Chinese sweet doughnut than the American kind.


~ makes 24
Ingredients:
1 cup granuated sugar
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups all purpose flour
2 eggs
1 cup milk
3 tablespoon melted butter
vegetable oil for frying
some granuated or confectioner's sugar for dusting

Instruction:
1. Sift together sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and flour.
2. Beat eggs thoroughly, then stir into dry ingredients.
3. Add milk and melted butter.
4. Roll about 1/2 inch thick on a floured board and cut with a donut cutter or round cooking cutter. The donut will puff up when fried.
5. Fry several at a time in 375 degree F oil until browned.
6. Drain on a paper towels.
7. Dust with granuated or confectioner's sugar.

Plant Breeding + Grapefruit Orange Jello

Plants breeding takes many trials and experiments. But it
is through these great experiment that the best traits of similar plant species come together; thus giving us such tasty and unqiue fruits and veggies varieties.

Well, I simply don't have that much time at home to cross two of my favorite citruses together especially when I only get a couple hours after work, therefore, I will take a shortcut.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...grapefruit + orange...Orapefruit!

The picture quality of this slice of "Orapefruit" is not very good here, but if you look closely, you can see orange and white grapefruit pulps!

Egg and Ham Sandwich Maki

Just felt like making something cute today. I present you, egg and ham sandwich maki! Maki means rolls in Japanese by the way.
Basic and hearty ingredients: lettuce, egg, canadian bacon, tomato, and very thinly sliced bread (low carb is the way to go in this maki!) Of course, tuna, roast beef, veggie pattys are rollable too!
This roll actually contains a lot of rolls. Ingredients all wrapped up in soy wrappers.

Rolling rolling rolling. I'm going to cut the roll with a bread knife. Bread knifes are those with small ridges. I use bread knifes to cut a lot of things...fruits, bread, sushi, and almost every soft food with it. I love it because it's good with soft or fragile things so the food can retain its shape.

Viola! Oh yeah, they make good bento box snacks.

Mini Meal and Food Are Cute! + Mini Vanilla Cupcakes & Green Tea Cupcake

The other night I made some mini vanilla cupcakes and green tea cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting and green tea buttercream frosting. I love mini food figures and models, same for real food of course! They are too cute!

The green of the cupcake so matches the pink cupcake paper haha.

Vanilla Cupcake Recipe (makes 12 mini cupcakes)

1/4 cup softened butter

1/2 cup graduated sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup all purpose flour, sifted

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

1/3 cup cold milk

1. preheat oven to 350 degree F, and line cupcake tins with cupcake liners.

2. Beat butter and sugar with mixer until creamy.

3. Add egg and vanilla.

4. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt.

5. Mix in the dry mixture to the butter one.

6. Stir in milk.

7. Pour batter into liners about 3/4 full.

8. Bake for 18-24 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

9. Cool cupcakes completely and frost them.

Basic Vanilla Buttercream (makes 2 cups)

6 oz unsalted butter, softened

1/2 lb confectioners' sugar, sifted

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1. Beat butter with mixer on high speed until pale and creamy.

2. Reduce speed to medium. Add sugar a little at a time.

3. Add vanilla and beat until smooth.

4. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before use.