Wednesday, 19 September 2012

[Wordless Wednesday] Torte At Waterloo Street

Yuzu infused Snow-Skin Mooncake with White Lotus and Creme de Marron(chestnut) (S$40/box of 8 mini mooncakes)

An unique combination of Yuzu, White Lotus Paste and Creme de Marron which leave you a refreshing after taste. You can read more reviews on melicacy.com

Torte (S$4.50 with ice cream) is a MUST TRY flourless chocolate cake which even my picky 8yrs old cannot resists.





Love their Thai Ice Tea (S$2.00) which is refreshing and thirst quencher.

TORTE
SCWO Building
96 Waterloo Street
Reservation: 6571 0197
Website: http://www.torte-sg.com/

Opening Hours:-
Monday – Friday: 10am – 10pm; Sunday: 10am – 3pm
Closed on Saturday

Monday, 17 September 2012

Okara Black Butter Cake

After using Okara (豆渣) to make the Okara Mantou and Omelette (recipes here) I am again inspired to bake an Okara Butter Cake which is "Black" in colour. This is a random thought on baking something common but yet in a "black" theme to support a past "dining issue".

When I first drafting out the recipe I have a mixture of banana and Durian Butter Cake in mind whereby I replace certain amount of the mashed banana/durian pulps with fresh Okara and Homemade Organic Soymilk.


BLACK BUTTER CAKE
(using Homemade Soymilk, Okara and Charcoal Powder)


In order to achieve the "charcoal" colour and yet not using too many black soybean to bitten the taste of the soymilk and okara, I added a teaspoon of Bamboo Charcoal powder. 


(Make: 2 tins (17cm x 8cm x 6cm) | Preparation: 10 minutes   | Cooking: 40 minutes)

Ingredients:
  • 200g Self Raising Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Charcoal Powder, optional
  • 200g Unsalted Butter, soften
  • 180g Caster Sugar
  • 4 Eggs (55g each)
  • 150g Okara
  • 50ml Homemade Soymilk
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract


Method:-
1. Preheat Oven to 170°C degree Celsius.

2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (beating with an electric mixer for about 4 - 5 minutes on medium speed).

3. Add in 1 egg at a time, beating well in between each additions.


4. Beat in Okara till combined (a few seconds). Using a rubber spatula, fold in half the sifted flour mixture (careful not to over-stir or beat the mixture) and follow by milk and remaining flour.

5. Divide the batter into the prepared casing, bake the cake in preheated oven for 40 - 45 minutes or until a skewer insert in the middle and come out clean.

6. When cooked, remove cake from the oven, allow it to cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.


Overall the cake is moist and infuse with an aromatic fragrance from the soymilk and okara used. Best of all it's sweet and fragrance taste has take over the usual rich butter cake texture and hence it tastes "light" and "refreshing".

So if you do make your own soymilk, remember to keep some of those Okara to try out this unusual butter cake.

Saturday, 15 September 2012

Swensen's New Breakfast Menu‏

It's weekend again, are you looking for some weekend breakfast idea? I am sure after a tiring week at work you would want to enjoy some hearty breakfast treat to reward yourself and also spend some quality time with family or friends while enjoying weekend breakfast.

From this September, Swensen's is serving nine NEW breakfast creations and two Kiddie Corner sets to spoil your palette with the brunch classic such as pancakes, omelettes, eggs, French toast and even bee hoon soup for Asian style breakfast. 

Each breakfast set comes with a complimentary cup of coffee or tea and a glass of fruit juice for kid's set. Bu alternative you could also top an additional dollar for a glass of fruit juice instead of the normal beverage or Milo for the kids.

But for those who need a dose of their daily Espresso, Cappuccino or Cafe Latte; an additional S$2.50 with any breakfast set ordered could be done.

These are Ciabatta Rolls which are freshly baked daily and filled with delicious honey butter which they made in-house. And this accompany side comes with either the Good Morning Sunnies, Hearty Steak and Eggs or Swensen's Sunrise Omelette/Scrambled Eggs.

I just simply love munching them with sip of coffee/tea and they are so addicting and flavorsome.  Hope they will include this in their ala crate menu too.

Good Morning Sunnies (S$11.90) starts off your day with a full breakfast set that consists of two sunny-side up eggs together with baked honey butter cream Ciabatta rolls, chicken sausages, hashbrown and sauteed mushrooms. 

If you love the oozing yolks from the poached eggs that served with generous drizzle of Hollandaise sauce, I would suggest you go for Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict (S$12.90). The Eggs Benedict are served on two slices of sourdough bread together with slices of smoked salmon plus some homemade BBQ beans as side dish.

If sandwich is what you need for a weekend morning, perhaps The Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich (S$9.90) that is assemble with Parmesan eggs, chicken ham and tomato slices  in between two slices of toasted fragrant Japanese Bread will your excellent choice. To complete the meal, some homemade BBQ beans and sauteed mushrooms are served as sides too. 

Classic French Toast With Honey Butter Cream (S$10.90) is another option if you just simply love bread for breakfast. Instead of sandwich the thick Japanese bread with ham and egg shown above, here they have grilled it to golden brown toast and served with homemade honey butter cream, chicken sausage, sauteed mushrooms and hashbrown for a hearty set. 

For something light or extra to share amount friends or family, perhaps you can get this Simply French Toast (S$6.90) that comes with three slices of Japanese bread which are grilled instead of pan-fry to golden brown and served with homemade honey butter cream. Just simply love the texture of their French Toast!

Hearty Steak And Eggs (S$14.90) featured grilled steak which is layered with sauteed onions and top with a sunny-side up egg together with sauteed mushrooms, homemade BBQ beans and their signature baked honey butter cream Ciabatta rolls. .

This is the closed up of the grilled steak which is served with the Hearty Steak And Eggs. Although it might not be the prefect steak as compared to most restaurant selling steak but this Hearty set is definitely something worth and comfort for brunch. 

I am sure most of us love "pancakes" especially those from McDonald that served with meaty patty, butter cream and honey. Here I would urge you to try this All American Buttermilk Pancakes (S$9.90) from Swensen's new breakfast menu which are light and fluffy on the inside, golden brown on the outside as well with just a hint of crispness.

And these pancakes goes well with their homemade honey butter cream which makes you crave for more pancakes. 

Simply Pancakes (S$6.90) is quiet similar to the All American Buttermilk Pancakes set above, but it comes with an extra slice of buttermilk pancake without the accompany sides (sauteed mushrooms, hashbrown and chicken sausages). Most of us on the same table just love this simply and airy treat which is irresistible especially with their delicious homemade  butter cream and maple syrup.

Egg lovers can go for either Swensen's Sunrise Omelette/Scramble Eggs (S$10.90) which both served with Ciabatta Rolls, Chicken Sausages, Hashbrown and Sauteed Mushrooms.

As you can see from the photo above, the omelette is cooked together with diced tomatoes and herbs which remains slightly moist inside and it is nicely wrapped like Japanese "omurice" style.

But if you prefer something light, soft and moist rather than parcel wrapped perhaps, you could consider taking this Swensen's Sunrise Scrambled Egg. The scrambled egg we had that day is perfectly cooked with soft and a little moist in texture which goes well with the rest of the sides.

For the little ones, Swensen's also prepared two different set of Kid's Meal such as Eggy Delight (S$6.90) which is served with delicious sunny-side up eggs, grilled sausages and potato smiles for a perfect protein boost.

Or the little ones can go for Lil' Buttermilk Pancakes (S$6.90) which are pancakes served with chicken sausages and potato smiles.

For a Asian style preference, Prawn Bee Hoon Soup (S$11.90) which featured thick bee hoon in chicken broth together with fresh juicy prawns and vegetables would be something light and health for breakfast or even brunch. To go with the bee hoon soup, there is also a prawn gyoza (fritter) side which served with sweet mayonnaise that comes with it.

All these breakfast items are available at any 21 Swensen's outlets across the island during weekends and Public Holidays from 8am to 11am. But as for the Good Morning Sunnies and Hearty Steak And Egg, they are made available until 3pm.

Swensen's Changi outlet at Changi Airport Terminal 2, will be serving this breakfast menu from 3am to 11am, daily.

Between if you are having breakfast at their Swensen's ION flagship branch (2 Orchard Turn,#B1-31, ION Orchard), perhaps you would also like to try out their Ice-cream buffet which has a wide varieties of ice-cream, sorbet, cakes, tarts and etc.

I would like to thank Swensen's and Tiffany from Touch Communications for hosting me and the rest of the media for this wonderful Swensen's New Breakfast Menu tasting.

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