Peanut butter cookies

"An average of two rodent hairs per one hundred grams of peanut butter is allowed."
No. 20. FDA Government guidelines

After a night of mascaras, blobs of foundation and cans of hairspray! It finally marks the end of our graduation dinner.. Not to mention the mahjong game after that which a certain someone Jia en took away meng ni's $2.10! leaving meng ni with peanuts which explains why i'm making peanut butter cookies today:( I want to 上诉! tsk tsk..

Anyways, i'm joking lah huh.. (but serious about the 上诉 part).. heehee.. I just so happen to visit the supermarket today, went to the jam/spread isle and saw SKIPPY! and decided to bake peanut butter cookies, last bake before i leave Singapore.. i'm definitely goin to send out resumes this time and look for a job when i get back! If not, i'll change my name to GISELLE! ( i think only christine will get the joke).

Back to my cookies.. easy to make! done and ready to eat in about 30 minutes? i really liked the texture, but my mother said that the peanut taste is not distinct enough for her.. hmm.. maybe i should add 1 more tbsp next time?

Since Jeannie's back, i'll let her try if i get to meet them tonight.. or maybe keep the cookies until half a month later for them.. HAHA~ in my Perfumes and cosmetics mod, the lecturer says, vitamin E can act as a preservative, maybe i should spray some on my cookies.. that way, the cookies will be well preserved and the person eating gets to have some kind of supplements when they gobble down my cookies!! Yeah~ smart smart~ *spraying*

Ingredients:

250g plain flour
50g corn flour1tsp double action baking powder
150g unsalted butter
100g castor sugar
2tbsp chunky peanut butter for this recipe, you may add more if you like
1tsp vanilla essence
1egg


Method:

1. Cream butter, castor sugar, peanut butter and vanilla essence until light and fluffy. Add in egg and beat well.
2. Fold/use triangular looking hook to add in sifted flour mixture and mix well until a soft dough is formed
3.Drop 1/2tbsp of dough on lightly greased baking trays.
4.Bake in oven at 180 'C for 12 to 15 mins or until golden brown.
5. decorate with melted chocolate if desired.



p/s. Huifang, i forgot to chase you for my cooper Tee!!

Coconut kisses

Poof! I'm gone, back, gone again,back again, clocked a total of 600hrs of tv and gulped down 10kg of fats and here i am, ?? kg fatter (i'm trying very hard to shed some weight btw) just before my GRADUATION DAY AND DINNER.. yah, i think i'll look great in the pictures *in denial*

Anyways, to celebrate my convo in 2 days time, i've baked some coconut cupcakes. I do remember i've pre-celebrated ??-times, but i guess it's time for me to add new entries to my dust-collecting blog.. keke~

It rose just perfectly, i had to take a picture

Lets digress.. I've been practicing throwing my mortarboard at home, trying to achieve the perfect projectile. Btw are you suppose to catch it or let it fall to the ground after you throw it huh? i dunno, maybe the better i throw it the faster i'll find a job? Like the better you throw your loose tooth up the roof the better the next one will grow? HAHA~ anyways, i think the happiest bunch of people will still be my parents, i can already picture a tear drop flowing down my father's cheeks and he'll be mumbling to himself "I'm so glad that i don't have to pay for my ever money-leeching daughter's school fees again" and at this very moment, i'll run up to him "Pa, can you register a no-limit supplement card for me so that i can buy the Birkin Bag?" haha, kidding lah.... maybe the MIU MIU bag/dress? keke~

Hai.. no more bags until i find a job man..

Back to my coconut kisses.. i got the recipe when i was in hong kong, its a big book of all meng ni's favourite things! but nothing goes perfectly, i totally destroyed my white chocolate ganache.. damn.. i think i whipped it for too long and it starts to split..and i have to throw everything away, what a WASTE! Oh! and i couldn't find coconut essence anywhere, so i used coconut cream powder instead. The cupcake itself wasn't bad, but it can look prettier if i had those GANACHE! damn..

i can take pictures, if only i can fully understand how to use photoshop

To end this, meng ni is goin to hong kong again on the 15th, i've taken lots of orders to buy SKIIs, cosmetics, branded stuff and such. Please call me if you need anything from hong kong (not too heavy please). And because R.Federer lost the Wimbledon (i stayed up all night to watch) meng ni is not in a very good mood and i've been goin yoga (to calm down) alone these days because our dear christine sprained her poor back (i though it only happens to old people). My regards to you dear, my not very young friend.. give me a call when u're better and we can go yoga together and watch our fats dissolve away *trance mode*

Green Apple Bread Pudding

"Slack" a simple word, yet it can fully describe Meng ni's past ten days.. I'm going to continue my legacy for the next 10.. but in Hong Kong~ yoohoo!! and maybe send out my resumes from there? Haha~ anyways.. i have been watching a lot A LOT of tv. Somehow SCV decides to unlock the asianfoodchannel (channel 69) for my family... ??... i seriously don't mind their decision lor haha~ more channels for me to scroll.. But my point is, there's actually an asianfoodchannel website and they have all the recipes that have been/are showing on the channel itself..

This entry's recipe is obviously from that website.. and the bread pudding turns out really good!. It's not very sweet according to my sis (which she liked very much) and i think it's a lot better then the ones you see/taste at Buffets. More importantly, it's easy to prepare and ingredients are easy to get (from all supermarkets). I bought my baguette from delifrance, which was fresh from the oven i must say, it was warm to the touch and that made me a very happy Meng ni:)

OH! a note for those who are trying out this recipe. This bread pudding is not as soggy as those you find Buffets.. i think it really boils down to personal preference lah.. my sis didn't like the soggy soggy kind, so she preferred mine. For those who liked a more pudding texture, maybe add more of the cream mixture? another note.. the recipe on asianfoodchannel is a little vague, it states half of a large baguette.. eh.. how large is large huh?? haiyah.. anyways i cut the whole stick of baguette in.. so won't waste any food lah hor.

Fresh from the oven!

Ingredients:

About 50g unsalted butter, melted ( I agar agar one...from exp?? heehee.. bhb.. or the original recipe states 5 tbsp of unsalted butter.) btw, i like president's one.. french butter.

1 delifrance baguette, cubed

1 green apple, peeled and diced

3 Tbsp raisins (agar agar lah~ no need too precise.. u like raisins? put more lor)

2 egg yolks

2 whole eggs

1/3 cup caster sugar

1 ¼ cups whipping cream (president)

1 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

4 Tbsp Irish cream (optional) sugar for sprinkling (i didn't add)

maple syrup for brushing ( i like!)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F/175°C in fan assisted cooking. Brush the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square baking dish (or oval pyrex glass dish which i used) with half the melted butter. Toss bread cubes, apples and raisins together with remaining melted butter and spoon into baking dish.

2. Whisk together egg yolks, whole eggs and sugar. Whisk in cream, milk and vanilla. Pour over bread cubes and press down gently on bread to help soak in. Let stand for about 15 minutes. If you wish, drizzle with Irish cream.

3. Place baking dish in a water bath and sprinkle top of pudding with sugar. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until the center of the pudding springs back when pressed.

4. Remove baking dish from water bath. Brush maple syrup over surface of pudding. Serve warm. Congrats!

my sis say she take until very artistic.. so MUST put it up

10 things to do in Switzerland...

yay~ just back from my trip and i'm missing the long coach rides, the below average european-chinese food(not really) and the scorching sun during the last two days in Rome!(definitely lying).. Anyways.. Europe is FUN FUN FUN! i didn't go to many countries in Europe but Switzerland and Italy is really 2 great places to visit! Italy was more of the shopping haven.. so i shall just blab on my Switzerland trip... Here are the things Meng Ni recommends when u're in Switzerland!

1. Chocolate shopping!

just look at how pretty they are..

wah lau.. chocolates damn nice lah... dunno what they feed their cows or how they grow their cocoa trees man.. i was popping chocolates every now and then.. and before i know it.. i finished two boxes of chocs that was meant for chris and nani.. muahaha~ sorry gals~ the pralines were calling out to me! i can converse with the chcocolates!! Anyway.. i went to Läderach .. according to my mum.. it's a famous and good-quality brand.. and yesh.. their chocs are really good..

2. Swiss-made Watch shopping

i didn't get any watches while i was there.. But without doubt, the swiss watch is suppose to cost a lot a lot less there.. brands like Rolex, Longines, Audemars Piguet .. still cost a bomb over there.. maybe a few hundreds cheaper? Anyways.. i was more interested in chocs, so i had not set aside money for the time pieces. i bought a swiss knife though.. with the least significance in my shopping list.. and i still got it.. because it has this cute little swarovski's crystal on it and more imporatantly i can't stand watching eric shop without spending some money myself... i gave it a cute engraving too~~

3. Visit Jungfrau.. Top of Europe


Highest mountain in Switzerland. or rather in the whole of Europe! i got to Jungfraujoch.. i think i would have to trek to the top to reach Jungfrau.. damn the scenery is nice.. breathtaking.. literally.. because the air is thinner up there. HAHA! Taking its tram up cost around 175 Fr. if u have the Euro pass. it'll be 110Fr. yep.. it's not cheap but definitely worth the $$.. how often can u be at the highest point in Europe right? unless u're on the plane...keke

4. Cheese fondue anyone?

Cheese fondue

For those who can't stand the smell of cheese.. my condolences to u.. it's sooo nice lah.. to me.. but i've heard many people didn't like the cheese fondue.. but should at least try right.. local food leh!! cannot have laksa and chiken rice everyday also mah...

5. Titisee aka "Black Forest"


It's not in Switzerland but it's next to Switzerland in Germany.. it's aka the black forest.. and guess what they are famous for.. black forest cake!! yum yum.. they are damn good man..and i tried their white choc drink!! nothing like the normal hot choc u get.. it's really nice and more refreshing.. i carried a whole tub of white choc powder back... do visit my place for some really good self-made choc drink.. heehee:)

6. Local food...


We actually visited this restaurant next to the casino in Switzerland... it's cheaper then what u get from other restarants.. and it's local food!! nice nice.. yum yum.. we actually saw the exact same menu in the hotel restaurant we stayed in that night.. damn it..it costs twice as much leh.. and i don't think they are any nicer lor.. so do visit this restaurant if u're near the casino.. u may even try ur luck and win back ur trip's spendings!

7. Their bakeries

wah~ all their bakeries are excellent! i tried this ball like churros on my way back to the hotel in Zermatt.. lip-smacking.. i can't really remember it's name.. start with Q-something.. it looks like the banana bomb but definitely better than a banana bomb.. should try lor.. damn nice.. it's not heavy on the taste, i can actually munch down another 5 more balls if i'm back there now.

8.Cheap food


There's no cheap food there.. so u can forget about it.. if u're considereing fast food.. please don't! Mac meal is 12~13Fr. which is around SGD15? and u'll need to pay for their ketchup and other sauces. Sigh.. why not top up a few more dollars and have some nice local food/chocs/cheese man..

9.Bucherie at Berne

We (Eric et moi) were happily strolling when we saw this nice little house that has the name "Bucherie" on it.. it's french but i really couldn't recall what it meant.. anyways.. we thought it was some butcher thing and thought we could get salami or something. Turns out that it's a restaurant and when you open their main door you will be welcomed by a wall full of awards. We didn't get to lunch there which i pretty much regret now(the coach was waiting for us).. Anyways... i'm still very very very curious of that place.. anyone visiting switz soon? go there and tell me how is the food can?!

10. Visit your friend who is studying/staying/married there

Rory and Eric

muahaha~ yep.. our good old friend all the way from sec sch.. RORY.. with that.. let's have a minute of silence for the demise of eric's camera.. may it rest in peace.. Amen...

i just realized my blog for swiss is 80% on food.. i like to eat! which explains my never thin size..everytime i succeed in a diet/exercise scheme i'll balloon right after.. anyways.. eating is fun and being hungry is definitely not a nice experience.. with that in mind.. let's not forget about out fellow chinese in sichuan and please do whatever we can do to help.. donating money can help the associations to get more maggie mees.. or if u would prefer.. u can donate can-foods.. Here