It's official. Mani the parrot and Paul the Octopus has predicted their winners for the World Cup. Personally, I hope Mani's right! Go Oranje! As for the bronze cup, I hope Paul's right, full speed and accuracy ahead Deutschland! In short, I don't care who predicts what, but rather which team has won my heart and support through their form and personalities. Just like Ghana, they may have lost the match against Uruguay, when their winning goal was denied by Suarez's infamous handball, but in everyone's eyes they are the true winners of the match.
Tonight's the big night for Germany. Viel Gluck Deutschland (Lots of good luck Germany!) Hoping to see Miroslav Klose do this again tonight, hopefully twice as that would mean he would be the player with the most goals in world cup history! Good luck Klose!!
As the two matches are going to be held in the wee hours for fans in Asia, so do remember to stay hydrated. Sipping on non-caffeinated tea is a great idea. Try chamomile, jasmine, peppermint tea or unsweetened juices instead of carbonated drinks. Alcohol-phillics should try this cocktail that I whipped using the bare ingredients in my fridge. Shake 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice + lots of ice + 3 tablespoonful of Rum and ''voila'', there you have it, a refreshing drink with a side 'kick' to it.
Midnight snacking is not my habit as I do not sleep well with a full tummy. However, here are some great healthy ideas for you 'junkies' out there!
Frozen blueberries + raspberries in a alcopop vodka bath (or sparkling grape juice for a non-alcoholic alternative) Pour some ice-cold alcopop vodka over a bowlful of frozen blueberries + raspberries, enough to submerge a third of them. Read my previous post here and here :)
Steamed Japanese Sweet Potatoes 1/2 kilo Japanese Sweet Potatoes (choose the thinner and shorter ones as they take a shorter time to be steamed) Wash the sweet potatoes and scrub lightly without bruising the skin. Place the sweet potatoes on a steel rack in some boiling water in a kuali. Steam for 15 mins and test with a skewer. Sweet potatoes are cooked when skewer is able to get through
Looking for the perfect tiramisu recipe? Look no further! After two previous attempts, I have finally succeeded in making the tiramisu which I personally find to be 'perfect' (not unless you like spongy cakes). As promised in my previous post “Loving how the cakes melt in my mouth at Alexis”, this post reveals the classic Italian recipe, perfected by my Italian cousin, Vivian. Here’s to all you tiramisu fans out there.
Ingredients: 500g mascarpone cheese 5 eggs, (separated from egg yolks) 40g brown sugar (a bit more if you want it sweeter) 4-5 cups of good coffee (I like Lavazza) (not the size of a regular coffee mug cup but a measuring cup!) 5-8 spoonfuls of Tia Maria or Gran Manier or Drambuie liquor 1 large pack of sponge fingers (Savoriardi in Italian) Cocoa Powder (for dusting)
Method:
(A) CHEESE
1. Separate the egg yolks from the whites into a smaller bowl, yolks in a larger bowl. 2. Beat the yolks a bit before adding the sugar. Remember to add the sugar bit by bit. 3. Add the mascarpone to the yolks bit by bit and set aside. 4. Beat the whites until little peaks form and then add to the larger bowl
(B) COFFEE/SPONGE FINGERS
5. Prepare 4-5 cups of coffee (recipe for this later, meanwhile go get yourself a French plunger and a pack of good coffee grounds – try to get your hands on Lavazza or if not any imported coffee grounds should be fine)
6. Mix the Tia Maria / Drumbuie/ Gran Manier to the coffee until until you can taste the liquor in the coffee.
7. Dip the sponge fingers in coffee and quickly lay them in a square or rectangular container, preferably something that comes with a lid.
I did this by floating the fingers on the coffee then quickly turn the fingers two rounds or so and immediately transfer them to the container.
Note: the fingers tend to break easily (normally they will only last a few seconds, especially in hot / warm coffee).
8. Layer the container with a layer of (B) on the bottom, followed by (A), then (B), then (A).
9. Dust with some cocoa powder.
10. Leave in the fridge for a couple of hours or even overnight.
Chocoholics please stand up! You are one recipe away from attaining eternal satisfaction. Extracted from the family recipe book, the end product of this recipe is a cake that melts-in-your-mouth. We improvised the "inherited" recipe by adding a touch of melted Lindt chocolate and some simple strawberry decoration, making it an even more irresistible dessert even to the most health-conscious homo sapien on earth.
Method: 1. Sieve together (B) and then add (A) and mix well in mixing bowl. 2. Pre-heat oven at 180C 3. Bake for 40 minutes 4. Leave to cool. 5. Cut the cake into half (horizontally) and carefully remove the top to a flat plate. 6. Melt (C) in a microoven at high for 1 minute 10 seconds. 7. Spread the melted chocolate onto the bottom layer. Carefully, replace the top layer and spread remaining chocolate. 8. Finish off with some freshly cut strawberries. Optional: Sprinkle some colored rice flakes for extra excitement.
Some of us just love ice-cream but cannot indulge because of the sugar and cholesterol that goes along with most ice-creams. I was recommended by a friend with this recipe and it is so simple and hassle free to make and the taste is simply delicious. All you need is just 3 medium sized bananas and a little soya milk. Blend them in a mini blender and transfer to a tupperware mold to freeze for 2 - 3 hours. Whalla........... guilt free banana ice-cream. Will try blending with other fruits and will be posting them another time
Enormous thanks to Michelle and Nicole for coming up with this wonderful recipe. Sweet and Refreshing, this dessert would most definitely put a smile onto everyone's face. If only sugar and butter is not fattening, I'll be eating this everyday!
Nutritional information:
One cup of strawberries contains over 100 mg of vitamin C, almost as much as a cup of orange juice. We need vitamin C for immune system function and for strong connective tissue. Strawberries also add a bit of calcium, magnesium, folate and potassium and only 53 calories.
One cup of blueberries offers a smaller amount of vitamin C, minerals and phytochemicals for only 83 calories. The same amount of cranberries is similar, but with only 44 calories, 1 cup of raspberries offers vitamin C and potassium for only 64 calories.
Ingredients: 250g frozen berry mix 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup all purpose / wholewheat flour 2/3 cup quick cooking oats 1/3 cup melted butter 1/2 cup cranberry juice (option: dilute it if your cranberry juice is too sweet) option: 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Method: 1. Melt butter 2. Mix brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon in a mixing bowl. 3. Add butter and mix well. 4. Put the crumble mixutre into a baking dish and add berries and cranberry juice. 5. Microwave, uncovered, on high until the juice starts to bubble. 6. Allow to stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Here is a really simple recipe to make scones. I do not add sugar to my scones as I prefer to eat them with jam, maple syrup or honey with a cup of hot tea. Great for a gathering with friends for afternoon tea. Ingredients: 1 cup of self raising flour 1/2 cup soy milk 1 tablespoon of olive oil
Method: . Mix all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl until you get a lump of dough. 2. Preheat the oven at 200C for 10 minutes 3. Grease a baking tray with some olive oil / butter 4. Roll the dough into 5 cm diameter balls and place them on baking tray 5. Bake at 180C for 10 minutes or until golden brown. 6. Serve warm with ginger marmalade or maple syrup or honey.
I often wake up to a very empty stomach on a cold winter morning and the best way to fill it up is a bowl of piping hot oatmeal topped with chopped walnutes, soy milk and cinnamon. Recently, I added a serving of fat-free homemade scones to complete my breakfast splurge. It is a very good idea to soak the cranberries / raisins in alcohol like tia maria, vodka, rum as they add an extra kick to the scones, which would otherwise be quite plain (though it doesn't matter since you do eat it with other accompaniments)
Ingredients: 1 cup self-raising flour 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup dried cranberries (soaked in 4tbsp of rum / tia maria) 1 small slice of butter / 1 tbsp olive oil
1. Preheat oven at 200C for around 10 minutes. 2. Mix flour, milk and cranberries until you obtain a dough that does not stick to the hands. 3. Grease baking tray with butter / olive oil 4. Divide the dough into 5cm diameter balls. 5. Bake at 180C for a further 10 minutes or until golden brown. 6. Serve with ginger marmalade or your favourite jam / maple syrup.
Option: you can add 2 tablespoon of tia maria / rum into the dough during mixing for extra flavor
Cannot afford to have bird's nest everyday? Do not feel bad because here is a recipe that will still provide you with all the essence you are looking for in a bird's nest soup. Long known for its ability to rejuvenate one's complexion, snow fungus is a popular dessert for Chinese women. By adding red dates to this healthy dessert helps improve blood circulation and strengthen the heart and lungs. Pear is also a very rejuvenating fruit when boiled. Adding red dates and pear gives a natural sweetness to the snow fungus soup thus decreasing the need to add sugar.
Looking for a recipe without the guilt of butter or margerine look no further, here's a recipe that would please the health freaks. A single carrot will supply all your vitamin A needs for the whole day. Research has also shown that this vegetable has a protective effect against ultraviolet light. Chinese medical practitioners recommend eating carrots to give your liver more energy. Walnuts are one of the best plant sources of protein. They are rich infiber, B vitamins, magnesium, and antioxidants such as Vitamin E. Walnuts, in particular, have significantly higher amounts of omega 3 fatty acids as compared to other nuts.Walnut has been demonstrated as a part of heart-healthy diet, it has been shown to lower the blood cholesterol levers in a few human trials and can also help ward off health problems like ulcer and gum problems. Although most of us only know that cranberries are good for urinary tract infection, studies have also shownthat there are other benefits of this humble fruit.
Ingredients: 1 cup walnuts and cranberries (soaked in rum) 1 cup grated carrot 185ml of olive oil 225 gm flour 200 gm sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
Method: Mix well all the above ingredients and spoon into a baking tray and bake in 180C for 45 minutes
Until today, I never knew how easy it is to make tiramisu. Never again I will eat the ones sold outside as the tiramisu I made was perfect and exactly how I liked it. Not too sweet, bursting full of good quality coffee and generous amount of tia maria. Perfect way to end your day with a "BANG".
Cooks: Nicole, Michelle & Jamie
Ingredients: 300g Mascapone Cheese 150g Heavy Whipping Cream 6 cups of Coffee 3 capfuls of Tia Maria 10 Sponge Fingers a tablespoon of cocoa powder
Method: 1. Add mascapone cheese and whipping cream to a mixing bowl. Mix well with hand-mixer 2. Add two capfuls of Tia Maria and continue mixing. 3. Meanwhile boil 6 cups worth of coffee 4. Add 1 capful of Tia Maria to coffee when boiled. 5. Soak the sponge fingers in the coffee until semi-soft and transfer immediately to a baking tray / anything you wish to serve the tiramisu in 6. Layer the bottom layer of the cake with sponge fingers followed by a layer of the mixed cheese and cream, and repeat with sponge fingers ending with mixed cheese and cream. 7. Chill in the refrigerator overnight. 8. Dust with cocoa powder before serving.
Heaven on Earth - Part 2. Perfect dessert to put an end to a hectic day, minus the unhealthy fats found in cakes and chips. A bowlful of berries only contain less than 80 calories and a 1/4 cup of bacardi breezer will only add about 30-40 calories to it, making it a 120 calorie dessert that will actually fill you up.
Two avid vegetarians are here to share some insights to the world of vegetarianism.
Hopefully, through this site, the lives of some animals can be spared. Always remember, animals have feelings too, they are our friends not our meal.
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Vegetarian Party
Pot Luck Party