Cinnamon buns

I really miss cinnamon buns. I haven't had them in 5 years. I still recall the bakery near our home which served it. It was a treat if you get it because it always runs out. Usually we'll try to go there in the morning or early afternoon on a weekend and if we're lucky, we'll get it. The rest of the meal that goes with it is immaterial. The coffee sucks but what are cinnamon buns without coffee? The decor is also nothing to shout about, it's probably 'industrial' - cement floors, wooden benches and harsh spotlights. But it is a bakery after all, so you can't expect too much. What I loved so much about the buns was not only that it was your lucky day if you got them, but it was also a refuge away from the drain of daily life.

To recreate that feeling, I've been hunting the Internet for recipes. They're usually complicated e.g. involve machines and dough hooks, or don't have yeast (which I like) but which also means that it will never be as fluffy as bread.

Then I came across this receipe. I really love this recipe. http://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/cinnamon-rolls/
Other than the fact that it takes a lot of time (and being in winter coming out of the coldest week) doesn't help! It did take me along time to make it, probably because it's also my first experience with bread dough, but I think it's a good recipe that can be started on a week day (the prep took me 10 mins) and continuing with the rolling and baking on a weekend or evening. As usual, I omit the glaze cos I've never had it anyway, so I don't miss it!

Anyway, this writeup is an adaptation, as tips from other websites are included. It's amazing that if you do a Google search for 'cinnamon bun', 'cinnamon scrolls', or 'cinnamon rolls', there are thousands of hits. It's really a well-loved food!

Ingredients (makes 9 man sized buns or 17 woman sized buns)
3.5 cups of plain flour
1 packet (7g) yeast
1/2 tbsp salt
1/4 cup (60g) melted butter
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup honey
2 eggs

Filling
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup (120g) softened butter
2 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon powder
1/2 cup raisins or nuts (optional)

Method
1) In a very large bowl (the largest that you have), add the flour, yeast and salt. Take care to keep the salt on separate ends from the yeast because salt can deactivate the yeast. Use a whisk or spatula to mix up the dry ingredients.
2) In a microwavable jug, add the butter to the milk and warm very gently (in 10 second increments) till the butter just melts. Don't overheat (Gemma calls this 'blood temp' ie feels just warm to the touch but Sally says 46 deg C) because you don't want to cook the eggs or kill your yeast.
3) Break up all the lumps of butter and roughly beat in 2 eggs.
4) Create a well in the flour and pour in the wet ingredients a bit at at time, using the spatula to mix in the flour a bit at a time. The dough will be really sticky. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
5) Cover the bowl with cling film and a tea towel. Allow to proof at room temp for 2 hours. I read elsewhere that optimal proofing temp is between 27 to 35 deg C. Since it was winter, I turned on the oven (Sally says 34 deg C then quickly turn off) and placed my bowl inside.
6) Once it's expanded to 3x its size, place the covered bowl in the fridge. It must refrigerate for at least 8 hours, best if its overnight, and up to max of 3 days. The dough continues to proof in the fridge. I read elsewhere that this is 'cold proofing'.
7) Take out the dough to return to room temp while preparing the filling and baking pan.
8) Prepare a medium tin by lining with baking parchment.
9) In a big bowl, add the sugar and cinnamon powder and brown sugar to the softened butter. Mix till well incorporated with a serrated butter knife (tip: you can use the same knife to spread on the filling, and later on, to cut the dough. Saves washing up!)
10) On a VERY well-floured surface (wood preferable, seems to stick less), turn the dough out onto the surface. Flouring your hands, slowly knead until it isn't sticky. (To make man sized buns, roll into 1 log. I cut the dough into half and rolled 2 logs, making woman sized buns) Then with a well-floured rolling pin, roll out to a 1/4 inch thick dough. As you roll, periodically dust flour under the surface. (I didn't do that and I had a hell of a time later on, rolling up the dough. Little did I know that as I enthusiastically rolled the dough out, it stretched and 'grabbed' whatever flour there was, and if there wasn't flour, the it grabbed my surface!) If the dough springs back after rolling, that's the gluten. Let it sit for about 3 minutes and try again.

11) Spread on the filing nice and thick and leave a 3 cm edge around the top edge. Scatter on raisins or nuts if using.
12) Using a scraper (e.g. knife, spatula) to assist you, gently roll the run starting from one side. If it sticks, flour under the roll and use the scraper to gently pry it off the counter. (this took me the better part of 1/2 hour because of pt 9 above). Roll tightly but not too tight or the centre pops up during baking. Pinch the ends of the log and seam to seal.
13) Once it's all rolled up, move it over the flour so that it easily moved on the surface. Using a serrated knife, saw off 2 inch rolls and place them filling side up, onto the lined baking tin. Allow 1 finger width between each roll to allow for expansion. (If freezing, freeze now. When ready to bake, thaw, proof and bake)
14) Cover with cling film (oil the underside to avoid sticking to the dough) and tea towel and proof for 30 mins to an hour (depending your kitchen temp) until the rolls have grown into each other.
15) Towards the end of the proofing time, preheat the oven to 190 deg C. Glaze with a bit of milk using a pastry brush.

16) Bake at 190 deg C for 30 mins for small and 40 mins for big buns (no grill: I started out with grill and it looks slightly burnt after only 30 minutes. The upside is that it was crunchy on top but the filling was no longer flowly), turning several times mid way to get even browning. If it browns too fast, place foil over it after 15 mins. A skewer thru the centre avoiding the filling comes out clean; or tapping on the top produces a hollow sound.

17) Remove from tin and let cool for 10 minutes so that the scorching hot filling down't scald your tongue but otherwise, best eaten hot. These can also be frozen now then thawed and rebaked next time.

Tips from http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/05/08/easy-cinnamon-rolls-from-scratch/

Updated 10 Sep: changed the second two photos, less burnt looking. Made some changes to method, amd they turned out better. Updated above.

Other variations

Quick rise: http://www.errenskitchen.com/quick-rise-cinnamon-rolls/

Cinnamon apple http://littlespicejar.com/caramel-apple-cinnamon-rolls/

Updated with a really saucy version: http://simmetra.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/sticky-cinnamon-buns.html

Red bean tang yuan

Simple recipe, Chinese tang yuan is even easier to make than mochi. Adapted from this red bean recipe by Rice and Roti and this black sesame seed recipe by Gumdrop button, this recipe is really more intuitive and instructive. Everyone has a recipe that works for them. I am starting to understand why such recipes are passed on from grandmothers to mothers to daughters. Unfortunately, neither gran nor mom cooked this while they were alive. We pretty much just had store bought.

However, this week being the coldest winter week of the year (and previous decade apparently), it seemed fitting to cook this, and also to use up my leftover Anko. Note btw, 1 can of Anko goes a really long way. So far I've done dorayaki (4 dorayaki ie 8 hotcakes sandwiched), 15 tang yuan, and I still have 1/4 can left!

Ingredients (makes 15 ping pong sized tang yuan)
1 cup glutinous rice flour
1/2 cup warm (but not hot or boiling water)
1/4 can anko
2 cm piece of ginger
rock sugar to taste
2 to 3 pandan leaves, tied in a knot
4 - 5 Chinese rice bowls of water

Method
1) Prepare the syrup first as it will take some time. In a pot, add the water, ginger, pandan leaves, and rock sugar. Bring to a boil then turn down and simmer for 10 minutes. Switch off the fire and leave it to steep.
2) In a mixing bowl, pour in the glutinous rice flour. Slowly add water a bit at a time, using a spatula to mix it till well combined. It should just come together, so you may not need to use all the water. After it has come together, knead it into a smooth dough with your hand, which takes about 2 to 3 minutes. The dough should leave the sides of the bowl. If it's too sticky, add flour. Alternatively, if it's too dry, add just a touch more water.
3) Pinch off around 1 tbsp of dough and flatten it on a well-floured palm. Put about 1/2 tsp of the anko in the centre, and bring the sides of the dough around the ball of anko to cover it. Ensure that it is well sealed and that no bean paste is visible, otherwise cover with a bit more dough. Roll the dough in your hand to reform the ball. Roll each ball in flour and place on a well-floured plate, with plastic wrap. Ensure that the balls don't touch each other.
(I'm not very precise about this but if you really wanted to form similar sized balls, you could roll out the dough into a log on a well-floured surface, then chop off similar sized nuggets and even weigh them if you want)
4) In a separate pot of bring water to a rolling boil. You should have at least 3 inches of water otherwise the balls will sink to the bottom and stick. Drop in the balls and keep stirring to ensure that the balls don't stick to each other and don't stick to the bottom of the pot. When they float to the surface, they're cooked. (Hence I'm not really precise about the balls since equal cooking time isn't important because it's pretty clear which are cooked and which aren't). Lift them out with a sieve and drain them, then place them straight into the syrup.
5) Serve immediately. The extra unused balls can be frozen on their plate. Next time, cook from frozen.

Seogogi yachae juk (Beef and veg porridge)

From http://www.maangchi.com/recipe/soegogi-yachaejuk

Rosemary cheese drop biscuits

I did my once a year harvest of rosemary and ended up with a lot a lot of rosemary. Since google said that cheese and rosemary are good friends, I decided to do a cheese and rosemary drop scone, or Americans call them biscuits.

Recipe from here: http://www.cookingandbeer.com/2013/10/rosemary-and-cheddar-drop-biscuits/

Notes: baked at 220 deg C, and I substituted 1 tbsp + 1 tsp vinegar + 1 ⅓ cup milk for the buttermilk.

Recipe

2 ¼ C flour

1 tbsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

½ C cold butter, cubed

1 ¼ C cheese, shredded

1 tbsp rosemary, chopped

1 tsp black pepper

1 ⅓ C buttermilk

Method

1) Line baking tray and preheat oven to 220 deg C

2) Whisk together dry ingredients. 

3) Add cubed butter and incorporate till it resembles breadcrumbs.

4) Dollop onto baking tray in ⅓ cup. Leave some space for expansion.

5) Bake for approx 14 to 15 minutes until golden brown. 

6) Remove from tray and let cool on wire rack so as not to overcook. Best served warm.

Flourless Peanut chocolate chip cookies

Taken from http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/06/06/flourless-peanut-butter-brownie-cookies/

This recipe is da bomb. The best cookie recipe I've tried and I especially like it because it's not overly sweet, has no flour nor butter (which I hope makes it less caloric), yet still tastes amazingly moist. Most importantly, no chilling required! What's not to love? 

Only mistake with my picture was that I forgot that these cookies do not spread so I had to press remove them from oven ans press them down with the back of fork. The chocolate chips were melting by then and u can see the messy end result. Don't be a ditz like me and do it before they go in.

I practically followed the recipe to a T (so I won't be reposting the ingredients or method).

Only alterations made were: 

1) I used ½ cup of choc chips instead of 3/4 cup peanut butter chips as recommended since a) i felt that there's enough butter going in and 2) i dont have them. But it turned put better this way. I fully intended to squidge the remaining 1/4 cup on top of the soft cookies when they first come out from the oven for that professional look but trust me, ½ cup of chips is a lot, so much so that there was hardly enough batter to hold them together!

2) I used a slightly heaped Chinese soup spoon (equivalent to 1 tbsp + 1 tsp or 4 tsp volume) worth of batter to equate to 1.5 tbsp. I got 15 cookies.

3) I baked at 175 deg C for 10 minutes.

Alternative recipes

1) half and half: http://thebigmansworld.com/2015/08/14/3-ingredient-flourless-peanut-butter-nutella-cookies/

2) 4 ingredients http://www.recipe4living.com/recipes/four_ingredient_nutella_peanut_butter_cookies.htm

3) Swirled with peanut butter chips http://freshaprilflours.com/2015/06/24/nutella-swirled-peanut-butter-chip-cookies/

Espresso chocolate chip muffins

Original recipe from http://prettysimplesweet.com/chocolate-espresso-muffins/

I've adapted a few techniques after trying out this recipe. For some reason, my butter seized up after adding it to the other wet ingredients. I was petrified I would have scrambled eggs but luckily my espresso seemed to 'melt' everything and it didn't taste any worse for it. Also, adding thr brown sugar to the dry didn't seem like a good idea because brown sugar is lumpy. So I'm going to add the sugar to the wet and beat it in instead. Lastly, timing was different to my oven, even though this time. My fan was on so it should have taken less time than what eventuated. So I've tweaked the temperature and timing.

Bought new muffin cases and hooray, they fit the tin perfectly! 

Ingredients (makes 10)

1 ½ cup flour (210g)

½ cup cocoa powder (50g)

½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp cinnamon powder

¼ tsp salt

½ cup sugar (100g)

½ cup light brown sugar (100g)

1 large egg at room temp, beaten

¾ cup milk (180ml)

¼ cup espresso (60ml) (note: milk and coffee should make 1 cup volume, so u can use instant coffee too with the appropriate amount of water), slightly cooled

½ cup melted butter (113g), slightly cooled

1 tsp vanilla

½ cup chocolate chips

½ cup chopped nuts of choice (I omitted)

Original recipe has an additional nut, chip and sugar topping which i forgot.

Method

1) Preheat oven to 190 deg C. Prepare the muffin tin eg butter or line with muffin papers.

2) Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt together, You might need to sift at least twice to ensure the cocoa powder is well mixed.

3) In another bowl, whisk the egg, sugars, vanilla until well combined. Drizzle in the butter and incorporate.

4) Add the wet to the dry and mix till just mixed. Lumpy is ok. I prefer to silft in the dry and use a whisk to rotate everything in. 

5) Fold in the chips and nuts.

6) Distribute 2 heaped tbsp to each muffin case. This should bring it to about ⅔ full. Fill empty muffin slots with water for even cooking.

7) Top off with a few chocolate chips on each for a 'professional' look.

8) Bake at 190 deg C for 15 minutes. My oven has hot spots so here, I rotated the tins. Turn down to 180 deg C for another 10 to 15 minutes. Watch carefully because it's dark so u can't tell if it's burnt. A skewer should come out clean.

9) Store in air tight box for up to 2 days outside the fridge.

Slow cooker Dakdoritang

Recipe from http://www.maangchi.com/recipe/dakbokkeumtang

I prefer to call this dakdoritang altho it's more commonly known now as dakbokkeumtang apparently. The recipe is so simple and added to the slow cooker is a real hoot to cook. The slow cooker, as u know, is my best friend because it allows me to do other things like housework or watch tv or shower while it toils, then hey presto! Dinner is served. I particularly like Korean stews in slow cookers because unlike most Chinese and Western recipes, there's no need to saute things, which I hate because it means lots of cleanup thereafter. Anyway, I digress. Here's the recipe, or rather my interpretation.

Ingredients

1 kg chicken (i used drumsticks)

4 tbsp gochugaru

4 tbsp gochujang

4 tbsp garlic, minced

½ medium onion, chopped

4 tbsp light soya sauce

1 tbsp sugar

2.5 cups water

3 to 4 potatoes, peeled and chunked (depending on how much u like potatoes, I really do!)

Spring onion to garnish (i omitted this because i don't like it)

2 green chillis, chopped (my chilli plant is sleeping because it's winter, too bad!)

1 tbsp sesame oil

Sprinkle of sesame seeds

Method

1) Place onions and chicken in slow cooker. In a bowl, mix all the sauces, gochugaru, sugar, with the garlic. Add a bit of water to make an emulsion.

2) Coat the chicken with the emulsion, then turn on the slow cooker and add the water. Bring to a boil and skim the scum and fat. Let it cook for 20 to 30 minutes.

3) Add the potatoes and cook for another 20 minutes or till softened.

4) Before serving, pour on the sesame oil, scatter sesame seeds, green chilli and spring onions. Serve hot with rice.

Buttermilk scones

I did a count of the number of scone recipes I have. That's about 5 posts worth, dating back to 2007 when my ex-boss gave me the ultimate and still best loved recipe. Unfortunately, that recipe is fiddly, with rolling pins, cookie cutters, etc etc. I've since read up and this looks like a good recipe. From Fast Ed in BHG. Here's the video. https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/better-homes-gardens/tv-and-video/video/watch/28277195/fast-ed-english-scones-ep-17-29-05-15/

Here's the dictated form. Although the recipe never explicitly said 'buttermilk', that's what the addition of an acid to milk does, although Fast Ed didn't directly add the lemon juice to the milk and let it sit, he did add them separately and then let it sit altogether. Whatever works, right?

Ingredients
500g self-raising flour
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
85g butter, softened to room temperature
265ml milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg whole
Juice of half a lemon (1 tbsp)
1 egg, beaten

Method
1) Combined dry ingredients (except butter) in a bowl, stir before sifting. Sift at least 3 times to get it light.
2) Rub the butter into the flour gently with fingers.
3) Push the dry ingredients to the side to create a well in the centre. Pour in the egg, vanilla and egg. Pour in the lemon juice.
4) Beat the egg with a butter knife then use the knife and use criss-cross cutting motions to 'cut' the dough together. A very wet dough results. Stop once combined, don't over-work the dough.
5) Pour the dough on a floured surface and lightly pat with hands into about 5 cm thick dough.
6) Use cookie cutter (5cm diameter) and cut out scones, and drop directly only a lined (parchment or oiled) baking sheet.
7) Let it rest for 10 minutes for baking powder to activate and reduce the time in the oven for a fluffier and moister crumb.
8) Brush the tops with beaten egg.
9) Bake at 200 deg C for 10 to 15 minutes till pale golden on top and risen.
10) Let them cool on a baking rack for about 5 to 10 minutes. Serve with jam and clotted cream.

Cocoa brownies

Adapted from this recipe http://prettysimplesweet.com/cocoa-brownies/

I've been looking for a cocoa power based recipe for a long time. In the past, I've tried melting chocolate but although the brownie is great fresh, after a few days, it gets rock hard. I still recall my brownies of childhood came off a Hershey Chocolate box. That recipe was perfect, and the brownies came out cake like and stayed that way for days (as long as no one consumed it up of course!) Sadly, I no longer have that recipe and couldn't locate it on the Hershey website either.

This seems to be the best recipe, all it requires is melted butter. I've avoided recipes that require a stove top because it's one more pot to watch, but since I don't have a big enough microwavable bowl and would need to transfer here and there (washing!), I decided to use the stove top instead. I also substituted some butter for oil ostensibly because it's healthier (but in reality, it's because I ran out of butter!)

Ingredients
10 tbsp butter (140 g, I used 100g butter and 40g veg oil, anything neutral tasting, NOT olive oil!)
1 1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs, room temp
1/2 cup regular flour
2/3 cup chopped cooking chocolate or chocolate chips (or nuts as the original recipe asked for, but I'm not a fan of nuts! Raisins would probably work well too)

Method
1) In a large pot, melt the butter and the oil.
2) Once melted, add the sugar and cocoa power and stir till well combined. You'll get a gritty mixture. Leave it aside to cool as you don't want scrambled eggs.
3) When warm, add the vanilla, then beat in one egg at a time. I had to beat rather vigorously otherwise the oil would separate.
4) Sift in the flour and here, the original recipe called for beating 40 strokes. I settled for half beating, half folding. Here, a thick batter is produced. Add the chocolate chips or whatever additions and fold in gently.
5) Pour into a parchment lined pan, mine is 9*7". Bake in a preheated oven for 25 to 35 minutes (check after 25 mins) at 160 deg C. The top should have tiny bit of wobble and a inserted skewer should come out with a few crumbs. The sides have pulled away from the pan. It's tricky getting it cooked and still fudgey yet not over cooked that it becomes a cake.
6) Let it cool complete in the pan. I tried removing it and it nearly fell apart despite baking for 45 minutes, so I think it is meant to be like a lava cake and has to 'set' after it gets cool! The recipe even suggests letting it cool in the fridge. If you want clean lines when cutting, it has to be completely cool.
7) Original recipe says it should be out out of the fridge for up to 3 days outside in an airtight box.

Recipe feedback: I probably won't be substituting oil again, the taste is quite strong. It is too sweet for my liking but oh oh oh so unbelievably fudgey! See the picture, so fudgey they can't hold their shape and are falling down!

Cinnamon Nutella muffins

From http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/05/05/nutella-stuffed-cinnamon-sugar-muffins-2/

This seems like a simple recipe but not really, because I used waay too many kitchen tools and bowls despite what the recipe touted. Hmm I could economise but then my OCD would kill me for not scraping the bowls/plates/measuring cups/etc clean enough. But taste wise it's great. I found the muffin not sweet enough so u really cant skimp on the cinnamon sugar topping.

Ingredients

75g or 5 tbsp butter, softened

½ cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

½ cup milk

1½ cup flour

1½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp cinnamon powder

¼ tsp nutmeg powder

½ tsp salt

8 tsp Nutella

Topping

45g or 3 tbsp butter, melted

2 tsp cinnamon powder

¼ cup sugar

Method

1) Preheat oven to 220 deg C. Prepare muffin tin with papers, liners, or just oil/butter. 

2) Cream butter and sugar till pale on high.

3) Add egg and beat, followed by vanilla and finally milk. Beat on medium till incorporated.

4) In a separate bowl, sift flour and baking powder. Toss with cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

5) Add the dry ingredients to the wet in 3 batches, mix on low till just combined. Don't over mix.

6) Spoon in 1 heaped tbsp batter, followed by 1 tsp Nutella. Top with another heaped tbsp batter and smooth off the top. Fill empty muffin slots with water for even baking. (Recipe says it can make 8 or 9 but my liners were big, so it meant 4 tbsps in total of batter)

7) Bake for 5 mins at 220 deg C, then turn down without opening to 180 deg C for 13 to 17 minutes (mine took another 5 mins). 

8) Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then on a rack.

9) While cooling, prepare the topping. Melt the butter in a microwave in bursts of 10 seconds till u see it just melted. In anothet dish, combine the sugar and cinnamon.

10) Dip the muffin tops in butter and swirl around, then coat with cinnamon sugar.

11) Best eaten immediately or store in an airtight box.