Thursday 8 March 2012

My First Brioche

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Brioche is made using similar method as compared to bread doughs. It is make from enriched French pastry with high egg and butter content that give it a rich and tender crumb. The texture is "light and slightly puffy" with a dark, golden and flaky crust achieved from the egg wash applied after proofing.

Although I have seen and read up different brioche recipes from baking books but it has never trigger me to work on it until I saw how easy Bryan Wong made his brioche on last Wednesday, Knock ! Knock ! who's there? (Episode 10) cooking variety show.


MY FIRST BRIOCHE


Since I cannot find any related recipe that Byran (on episode 10) used, I decided to Google the most suitable and foolproof recipe to try it myself. So from the lists that I searched, I finally set my eyes on this Quick Brioche Braid by Nick Malgieri from his book The Modern Baker.

This recipe is done using a food processor and the steps are quite easy to follow plus it's bonus point is; it required zero to a few kneading of the dough depending on it's texture and weather. So if you like crusty bread with soft and buttery texture, this brioche recipe is  definitely to be added to your "Must-do-list". And for those who do not have a food processor, you can use a heavy duty mixer with dough hook attached for this recipe too.


Recipe adapted from The Modern Baker, Quick Brioche Braid.

(Make: 2 Standard Loaf | Preparation: 10 mins | Waiting: 1.5 hours | Baking: 20 mins)

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup(60 ml) Lukewarm(43°C) Milk
1 1/2 Cup Unbleach Plain Flour
1 1/4 Teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
56g Cold Unsalted Butter, cut into small cubes
28g Caster Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Large Egg
1 Egg Yolk

Egg Wash:
1 Egg + Pinch of Salt, lightly beaten

Method:-
1. Pour lukewarm(43°C) milk in a bowl and whisk in yeast till well-mixed. Next with a whisk stir in 1/2 cup of flour till it became a sticky dough.

2. Loosely cover the bowl with cling wrap and set aside until the dough slightly risen (about 20 minutes).

3. In a food processor fitted with dough blade, add in butter cubes, sugar, salt, egg and extra yolk.

4. Pulse the mixture until butter is finely chopped and well mixed throughout the mixture.

5. Scrape yeast mixture into the food processor and pulse about 5 - 6 times to till well mixed.

6. Add 1/2 cup of flour and pulse till the mixture is smooth(refer to the photo above).

7. Scrape down mixture in the bowl, add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour and pulse again until the mixture is well blended. Rest dough in food processor for about 10 minutes.

8. Start the processor and let it run continuously for 10 seconds till dough leaves the side of the processor.

9. Turn dough out on floured surface and give it a quick knead. Divide dough into half portion to make 2 loves of brioche.

10. Cut each dough into 3 equal pieces and roll each pieces into a thick rope (if the dough is too sticky, keep in the fridge for 20 minutes before plaiting).

11. Line baking tray with greaseproof paper, plait the dough and shown above and let it rise till dough in size (about 60 - 90 minutes, depending on the weather and room temperature)

12. Just before baking, lightly brush the dough with egg wash and bake in preheated 180°C oven for about 20 - 30 minutes(i bake mine for 22 minutes) or till golden and glossy in colour. Cool bread before slicing.


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For ME: I ate it with some Orange Marmalade where the tangy taste of the marmalade blends well with the rich buttery pastry. 

For My Boy: He loves his Brioche with his favourite Nutella and since he has set his heart for this he don't even agreed to share the very last slice of the loaf  with anyone of us.

For FRIENDS: I have packed a few slices in each bags to share with friends on what's our new love for this month. Thankfully for those who tried loves these brioche to bits.

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Double Chocolate Banana Cake

Continue from my previous post on the Banana Chocolate Cake With Cranberry this double chocolate version is definitely with excitement! I made this Double Chocolate Banana Cake because it consists two of my boy's favourite ingredients which are "Banana" and "Dark Chocolate" and they definitely pairs well. If you want to impress your guests with something rich, soft and moist and quick for afternoon tea perhaps you can try baking this using either oven method or my super Happy Call Pan!

Friday 2 March 2012

Banana Chocolate Cake With Cranberry

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Banana Cake is always an old-fashioned family favourite when comes to tea-time or gatherings. I love it's unique fragrant release from the cake that kept lingering in your mouth after eating as well it also contribute extra points to the texture of the cake.

We also have quite a few of our favourite banana cake recipes such as "Banana And Oreo Muffin ", "Spongy Banana Cake" and "Cranberry And Banana Walnut Cake" which you might be interested to take a look too. 


BANANA CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CRANBERRY
(using Happy Call Pan)


After the two cake recipes that I have tested using Happy Call Pan(HCP), I decided to try whether I could apply normal cake recipe using this pan instead of oven. So I made this Banana Chocolate Cake with Cranberry which inspired from the latest banana cake recipe(HERE) that I have shared a few weeks back. Although the cake did not rise as high as what I expected compared to oven bake but the overall texture and taste of this cake is very well-received. Many who tried (during the blind taste test) didn't even realise that this cake is actually bake using HCP instead of oven.

(Makes: 30 x 25cm | Preparation: 10 minutes | Cooking: 30 minutes)

Ingredients:
225g All-Purpose Flour(plain flour)
170g Unsalted Butter, room temperature
170g Caster Sugar
2 Eggs(55g each)
2 Large Ripe Banana, mashed
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Salt
30ml of Milk
100g Dark Chocolate, chopped
60g Dried Cranberry
2 Tablespoons of RUM
1 Extra Banana for topping, optional


Method:-
1. Soak Cranberry(roughly chopped) with 2 Tablespoons of RUM for about 10 minutes. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a bowl and set aside.

2. Cream soft butter and caster sugar using a electric beater or hand whisk till pale and creamy.

3. Add one egg at a time together with vanilla extract, beat till combined before stirring in the mashed banana and cranberry mixture. Mix well.

4. Using a spatula, fold in sifted flours in 3 batches alternatively with milk till well combined. Lastly stir in the chopped chocolate.

5. Slowly scrap mixture into the lightly greased Happy Call Pan(grease 1 teaspoon of oil on both side of the pan using hand or paper towel). You can also add some banana slices on top of the batter before baking to enhance the look and taste.

6. Bake on low heat for 12 minutes, slowly shift the pan towards right side so that left side (1/2 of the HCP) of the pan is on the heat, bake for another 6 minutes. Next shift the pan back towards the left side so that right side(1/2 of the HCP) of the pan is on the heat. (the purpose of doing this is to even out the baking as well as give the cake a nice brown colour on the surface when flip over)

7. Lastly, flip the HCP over and bake for another 6 minutes(3 minutes left, 3 minutes right) to have a nice brown top.

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FOR OVEN METHOD:-
1. Follow steps 1 - 4, pour cake batter into a greased 7" square or round tin.

2. Bake in preheated 180° Celsius oven for about 40 - 50 minutes or when a skewer inserted in the center and comes out clean.



DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BANANA CAKE
(Preview)


Lastly here is a snack preview of the Double Chocolate Banana Cake made using similar recipe above with a slight twist.Will update more recipes on my HCP bakes and dishes soon. Stay tune.

{Photo Friday} Garden Theme Bento

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It's not everyday that I would prepared nicely decorated Bento for my boy. But since this week is his school exam week, I decided to make something special for his lunch in order to cheer and reward him for the stressful week.

Since it is for lunch, I have prepared something more filling and yet quick to serve up when my boy gets home. Here with his favourite fishball and sausage I managed to re-create them into "mouse", "caterpillar" and "friends".

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Sweetcorn, potato and carrot porridge that is decorated with sausage to form a little "mouse" in the garden with "carrot" flowers. I am sure this presentation would win the heart of kids who dislike having vegetables in their meal.


SOME OF MY BOY'S FAVOURITE BENTO


Penguins Bento

Angry Birds Bento

Pooh Pancake Bento

Mother's Day Bento

Bear Bread and Hamroll

My Buddy

Have a great weekend everyone!!!!


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