Easter Chocolate and Dulce de leche Cake Pops. An International Incident Party.

I've been looking forward to this month's International Incident Party.  As always, it's hosted by the lovely Penny from the Jeroxie blog.  This month's theme is Cake pops.  Some might say that they are the new cupcakes.  They're cute, they're cool and they're fun and easy to make.  I've made cake balls before but have never made pops. Bakerella is known worldwide for this little ball of sweetness. You can see her demonstrate on how to make them here.  

There may be many steps to create these little cakes but it is actually quite easy to make.  I wanted to make Easter Cake pops and I got my daughter to help decorate them.  It's a great kitchen project for children.  They can get really creative.  

You don't have to freshly bake a cake just to make cake pops (though you can, of course) but you can use left over cake trimmings.  Just freeze any left over cake (no icing) in the freezer.  It can keep for a few months.  When needed just defrost in the fridge.

I had left over devil's food cake from when I made my Christmas cake balls. Instead of using the usual cheese cream frosting, I used a can of dulce de leche.  I make these from cans of condense milk.  You can get recipe here.  The dulce de leche makes it luscious and sweet, just the way Hubby and my children like it.  You don't have to make balls, you can make any shape you like.  I experimented and made little bunnies too.

To make cake pops:

Crumble the cake until until it resembles bread crumbs.  Add about a third of a can of dulce de leche and mix thoroughly until the mixture is moist enough to make balls.  Don't add too much dulce de leche or the mixture becomes too sticky and hard to shape.

Take a heaped tablespoon of the mixture and roll in the palm of your hands.  Shape the balls into eggs and place on baking paper on a tray.  Place in the refrigerator for about an hour to harden a little.

Melt chocolate in a bowl over barely simmering water until shiny and smooth.  Take a lollipop stick and dip about 1cm of it into the chocolate.  Insert the stick about half way into the cake pop. Let it set for a minute.

Dip the cake pop into the chocolate and cover the whole cake.  Don't move it around too much as you might lose some crumbs into the chocolate or the cake might come off the stick.  You can decorate straight away with sprinkles or any lollies or you can let the chocolate harden and then decorate with liquid gel pens.

Deanna had fun decorating them

Dry the cake pops by sticking them into styrofoam.  Or you can do what I did and stuck it in a box that I made little holes in.  

Deanna and I enjoyed decorating these.  We spent the whole afternoon do this so it gave a great opportunity to have mummy-daughter time.  When you make this, make them with children.  If you don't have any, borrow someone else's.

You can check out everyone else wonderful creation :

Homemade Cornick. An International Incident Party.

Another month, another International Incident Party hosted by Penny.  No matter how busy I am, I always look forward to this time of month when I challenge myself with whatever theme has come our way.  This month's theme is Nostalgia.  

Food always conjures memories of people and places.  I grew up in a typical Filipino family home in Melbourne so every meal almost involved rice.  Occasionally, we would have a roast on a Sunday and we would call it "Australian" food.  Back then, as a child, I didn't appreciate how my parents tried to keep us in touch with our heritage through food.  As an adult, I crave these dishes and snacks and every bite brings back memories.

Growing up, even though my mum and dad would cook up delicious Filipino dishes for our daily meals, it was hard to get our hands on snacks and Filipino delicacies.  There were no Filipino grocery stores like there is today. (even though only a handful).  We would wait for one for our friends to holiday back to the Philippines and bring back lots of goodies.  Nowadays, Australian customs are strict and bringing delicious goodies back in is very hard.

One snack that I would love to receive was cornick.  Cornick (also known as corn nut) is a popular corn snack and can be made with adobo, chilli or garlic flavour. You can get commercial ones but the best ones are home made and sold in local stores or on the side of the street.  

I wanted to make this but this was definitely a challenge as I had no idea on how to do so.  And to be honest, it wasn't a complete success but it wasn't a complete failure also.   The process seemed easy but I wasn't sure if it will work.  Some of the corn kernels popped but the texture was still fine. The successful kernels that didn't pop tasted and felt like the real deal. I made garlic salt to serve with it.

As this involves hot oil and deep frying, please be careful.  If you have an outside kitchen, it's probably best to make this outside.  The kernels can also be roasted.  Maybe I'll try that next time.

Method:

Take corn kernels, (I used popping corn) and soak in water for 3 days.  Change water and rinse out the kernels every day.  On the third day, dry the kernels.  Make sure you dry them well because everyone knows, water and hot oil do not mix.

In a large pot with a lid, add vegetable oil, about 2-3cm deep.  On a low medium heat, oil temperature about 120-130degC, throw in a handful of the kernels and let it fry.  Place the lid on top just in case the kernels pop.  The aim is to try to fy the kernels without popping.  If the oil is too hot, they will pop, so please keep an eye on the temperature.  

Only do a handful at a time with the lid on.  If they do pop, which mine did, wait till the popping stops before removing the lid.  If you find that they are popping straight away when you put them in the oil, turn the heat down or turn off straight away.  Fry the kernels for about 3-5 minutes and drain on paper towels.  Serve with garlic salt.

For the garlic salt, I simply gently fried whole cloves in the oil until golden.  I added it to the salt and smashed it with a fork and mixed to combine.

If you would like to join us for our next party, check out our forum.

Check out what other party goers made for the party.

Banoffee Sundae. An International Incident Party

This month you are all invited to our Sundae International Incident Party and as always, it's hosted by the lovely Penny from Jeroxie Blog.

I love ice cream, and who doesn't, right?  For this month's theme, I was dreaming up all sorts of combinations and concoctions.  I was feeling ambitious.  However, as usual, time got the better of me and so I needed to do something quick and easy.

For my contribution this month's theme I made a Banoffee Sundae.  A banoffee pie is an English dessert containing bananas, toffee and cream in a pastry or biscuit base.  This makes for a great combination for a sundae.

I don't have an ice cream maker but after some research and brain storming, I came up with a way to make a delicious no-churn banana ice cream.  It's very easy and it only uses 3 ingredients.  It freezes well.  Just remember to take the ice cream out of the freezer 30 minutes before you want to eat it so it softens a little.

Banana Ice cream recipe

5 ripe bananas

1 x 395g sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup cream

1.  Peel and chop the bananas.  Place in a snap lock bag and freeze over night.

2.  Whip the cream till soft peaks.  Set aside

3.  In a food processor, place the frozen bananas, condensed milk and cream.  Whiz till the ingredients are well combined and the bananas have been pureed.

4.  Pour into a container and place in the freezer.  Stir the mixture every hour for 2-3 hours. Freeze for at least 4-5 hours or even better, overnight.

Butterscotch recipe

150g brown sugar

150ml cream

125g chopped butter

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan, bring to the boil and simmer for 5 mins.

Hot Fudge Sauce recipe

140ml cream

30g unsalted butter

45g coco powder, sifted

70g caster sugar

60g soft dark brown sugar

pinch of salt

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and stir over a gentle heat until the mixture is melted and smooth.   Let it cook for 2-3 minutes.

To assemble the sundae.

No churn banana ice cream

butterscotch sauce

hot fudge sauce

biscuits of your choice, crushed

fresh bananas

In a bowl or dish, place 2-3 balls of the banana ice cream.  Drizzle the butterscotch sauce and the hot fudge sauce all over ice crea.  Sprinkle the crushed up biscuits. Garnish with slices of fresh banana.

You can see my posts for previous International Incident Party themes here

Go and check out what everyone else brought to the party by clicking below or by going to our forum.

Hot Dog Cakes. An International Incident.

So this is our first International Incident Party for 2011 and I'm pretty excited.  This month's theme is Hot dog. Penny from Jeroxie Blog, is again hosting this great monthly event.  If you would like to join, please visit our forum.

I've had this vision to create a cake that looks like a hot dog after making my hamburger cupcakes.  I thought that this was the perfect opportunity.  This also ticks off another challenge I set myself that I will conquer all dishes that have intimidated me.  I have always been afraid of making choux pastries.  I love to eat it, Yes.  But to make it, I have been too afraid to just think about it.  I don't know why I was so afraid of it.  I was quite easy, actually.

Devil's Food Cake
(I only used one of the cakes.  I froze the other one for use another time)
185g softened butter
1 3/4 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups self raising flour, sifted
1/2 cup plain flour, sifted
1/2 tsp bicarb of soda
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3 tsp instant coffee granules
1/2 tsp red food colouring
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk

1.  Preheat oven to 180degC (160 fan forced).  Grease and line two deep 18cm round cake pans.
2.  Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Fold in sifted flours, soda, cocoa and coffee.  Combine the colouring, water and milk and pour into dry ingredients.
3. Bake about 25-30mins.  Turn cakes out onto racks to cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

45g cream cheese

45g butter, softened

1/2 cup icing sugar

Beat the cream cheese and butter in a small bowl until as white as possible.  Gradually beat in sifted icing sugar.

To make the sausages, crumb one of the cakes and add the cream cheese frosting.  Mix thorough till well combined.  Take about 1 heaped tablespoon and shape like a sausage.  Let it sit in refrigerator for an hour to set.

Choux Pastry Buns
80g butter
1 cup water
1 cup plain flour
3 eggs

1.  Preheat oven to 220degC (200 Fan forced).  Prepare two oven trays.
2.  Combine butter with the water in a saucepan and bring to the boil.  Add flour and beat with a wooden spoon over the heat until the mixture comes away from the sides of pan and forms a ball.  Transfer to a small bowl and the beat in the egg with a electric mixer until it becomes glossy.
3.  Spoon the mixture into a piping bag fitted with 1cm plain tube.  Pipe 10cm lengths of the mixture 3cm apart on to the trays.  Bake for 12 mins.  Reduce the temperature to 180degC (160 fan forced) and bake another 10 mins or until they are browned lightly and crisp.  Carefully cut the "buns" in half and remove any soft center.  Bake for another 5 mins or until eclairs are dried out.  Leave to cool.

Pastry Creme Recipe
2 cup milk
1 vanilla bean, split
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup caster sugar
4 tablespoons cornflour

1. Bring milk & vanilla bean to the boil in small saucepan.
2. Discard vanilla.
3. Meanwhile, beat egg yolks, sugar & cornflour in small bowl with electric mixer until thick.
4. With motor operating, gradually bet in hot milk mixture.
5. Return custard mixture to saucepan; stir over heat until mixture boils & thickens.

 To assemble the hot dog, pipe the pastry cream into both halves of the choux pastry.  Take the sausage and sandwich in between the choux pastry buns.  For the ketchup and mustard, I used red and yellow writing gel.

Bon Appetite,
Cherrie

Please check out what everyone else brought to the Hot dog party

Colourful Christmas Trifle. An International Incident.

I was looking forward to this month's IIP as this month's theme was very open and there were many ideas running through my head.  This month's theme is COLOUR.

 I decided to make Christmas trifle.  It's full or colour and my Christmas nowadays is not complete without a trifle of some sort. We're lucky in Australia to have Christmas in Summer.  There are lots of beautiful fruits that are available.  I decided to add strawberries, kiwi and mangoes in my trifle.  Not only will it be colourful but also delicious.

There are no hard and fast rules on making trifle.  You can add any fruit and as many layers you like.  Your trifle can be quick and easy by using store bought cake and custard or you can make it as complicated as you like.  You can also make it in a large trifle bowl or make individual ones.  There is only one rule when you want to make trifle.  You need to be organised.  The buttercake needs to be made a day before you want to make the trifle that way it holds up a lot better.  You also need to make the jelly before hand so it's set before using.

In my house, my English Hubby is actually a little picky about his trifles and likes the traditional ones.  I listened to his "suggestions" and tweaked it a little.  

My first layer was buttercake that I crumbled a little. I placed the cake pieces in a single layer at the bottom of the bowl.  I then made raspberry jelly according to packet instructions (less 50ml water) and poured over the cake.  Place the bowls in the fridge for a couple of hours to set the jelly.

My second layer is an assortment of fruits.  Be as colourful as you can, after all, it is for Christmas.  I diced them into smallish pieces and placed them randomly over the cake and jelly layer.  I also pre-made lime flavoured jelly and cut it to the same size pieces and scattered that in as well.  For another flavour contrast, I add dollops of my homemade strawberry jam I made earlier in the week.

The next layer is a nice thick layer of custard and then topped with whipped cream.

Recipe for Buttercake:

250g softened butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

275g caster sugar

3 eggs

335g self raising flour, sifted

180ml milk

1. Preheat oven to 180degC and grease 22cm round cake pan

2.  Beat butter, vanilla and sugar in a bowl and beat with electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in flour and milk, in two batches.

3.  Spread the mixture into pan and bake for 1 hour.  Stand cake in pan for 5 minutes then turn out onto wire rack to cool.

Recipe for Custard:

300ml milk

300ml cream

6 large egg yolks.

2 rounded tbs cornflour

4 tbs caster sugar

1.  Bring the milk and cream to the boil in a non-stick saucepan.  Beat the egg yolks, cornflour and sugar together in a bowl, then gradually wisk in the hot milk and cream.

2.  Return the mixture to the pan and cook over a low heat, stirring constantly for about 10 minutes.  The mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of the spoon.  Do not let it boil or it may curdle.

3.  Transfer to a bowl and leave to cool.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone, especially those who attended the party.

Chocolate Mug Cake with Salted Dulce de Leche. An International Incident

Here we are again at another International Incident Party, always happily hosted by Penny of Jeroxie blog.  This month's theme is Salt.  Salt is so versatile.  It can be used in savoury as well as sweet dishes.  Since salt is an everyday ingredient found in all dishes, it can easily be overlooked as a main ingredient so I'm happy to see that salt is featured as this month's theme.  I'm looking forward to read other party goers take on the theme.

For this theme, I've decided to make salted dulce de leche.  I know that salt goes well with caramel so why not with dulce de leche? I've always made my own dulce de leche as it's very easy and satisfying.  When you do make your own, please do be careful and always keep your eyes on it.  There can be certain disasters when left unchecked. (i.e explosions in the kitchen!).  As it keeps for months, I make it in bulk and keep it in the pantry ready for use anytime.

I loved the combination of the chocolate cake, sweet dulce de leche and the sea salt.  It definitely made a difference to the flavour and also the texture of the dish.

To make the dulce de leche, you can get the recipe here.  This has to be made the day before as it takes at least 3 hours to make and has to be totally cooled before using.

Make the 5 minute Chocolate Mug Cake:

4 tbl  flour

4 tbl sugar

2 tbl cocoa

1 egg

3 tbl milk

3 tbl oil

vanilla extract

1.  Add the dry ingredients to large mug and mix well.

2.  Add the egg and mix thoroughly

3.  Pour in milk and oil and mix well

4.  Add the vanilla extract

5.  Cook for 3 minutes in the microwave (1000watts)

Once the cake is cooled, carefully remove from the mug and cut into 3 slices.  On top of each layer, spread a little of the dulce de leched and add a sprinkle of sea salt.  Lay each slice on top of each other.

Other people enjoying the salt party.  Will you join us for the next party?

Lavender Madeleines with lavender sugar. An International Incident

Lavender.  That is this month's theme for The International Incident Party.  And what stress it caused a few of us attending the virtual party.   Penny from Jeroxie - Addictive and Consuming blog is hosting this monthly blog party.

I was unsure of how to use lavender in cooking as I've never used it before.  Luckily my mum grows lavender in her yard so I had easy access. Annapet from Moonglow Gardens Blog was very helpful.  She shares on how to dry lavender here on her blog.  It is quick and easy to follow.

Follow her instructions and once the lavender is dry, you can pound it into a powder by using a pestle and mortar.  I tried this but it wasn't fine enough so I ended up my coffee/spice grinder.

To make the lavender sugar, add lavender stems to white sugar.  Gently mill the lavender between your palms to release the oils from the stems.  I planned ahead and was able to make the lavender sugar a few days in advance to let the lavender infuse into the sugar. Store in an air tight container for months as it can be used the infused sugar for many dishes.

2 eggs

2 tbs caster sugar

2 tbs icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup self-raising flour

1/4 cup plain flour

75g butter, melted

1 tbs hot water

1 tsp powdered lavender

lavender sugar

1.  Preheat oven to 200deg

2.  Grease two 12 hole madeleine pans with a little butter

3.  Beat eggs, caster sugar, icing sugar and vanilla extract in a small bowl with electric mixer until thick and creamy

4.  Sift flours and lavender powder twice and add to the egg mixture.  Combined butter and hot water and pour down the side of the bowl then fold the ingredients together.

5.  Drop rounded tablespoons of the mixture into the pan holes.

6.  Bake the madeleines about 10 minutes.  Cool slightly then turn out onto baking paper.

7.  Serve dusted with the lavender sugar.

Meringue Nest with Orange Curd. An International Incident.

Yep, it's that time of the month again and this month's theme had me baffled.  Eggs. There were so many possibilities.  Sweet or savoury? Should the dish be made of eggs or look like eggs?

I had a light bulb moment and made a savoury dish.  It turned out great and Hubby loved it however I wasn't happy with the way the photos turned out.  So I've decided that I will make that dish again and take better photos and post another day for you all.

I, then thought of a sweet dish as I was flicking through one of my cook books. I was inspired and came up with this.

Meringue nest with orange curd.  I am so happy with the way my dish turned out.  This is not only looks like an egg but the main ingredient of both components is egg.  

The meringue turned out light.  Crunchy on the outside and soft and airy in the middle.  The orange curd was full of flavour and had the same consistency of a runny egg yolk.

Meringue Nests : (makes 6 nests)

75ml egg whites (2-3 eggs)

1/2 cup caster sugar

1 tsp cornflour

1/2 tsp white vinegar

Preheat fan forced oven to 130degC .

Place the egg whites into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat till soft peaks form.  Gradually add the sugar and beat until glossy.  Sift the cornflour over the mixture and fold through with the vinegar.

Place 1/3 cup portions of the egg white mixture onto baking trays lined with baking paper and shape into nests.  Place in the oven, then reduce the temperature immediately to 100degC.  Bake for 30-35 minutes.  Turn off oven and leave the meringues in with the door ajar to cool completely.

Orange curd: (makes 1 1/2 cups)

1/2 cup orange juice

zest of 1/2 orange

100g butter

1/2 cup caster  sugar

3 egg yolks plus 1 egg

In a saucepan, over medium-low heat, place the orange juice and the butter.  Stir until the butter is melted.  Add the sugar and egg and egg yolks.  Whisk continuously until the mixture thickens slightly (about 5-7minutes).  Leave to cool completely before using.

Make sure when you want to assemble the dish, both the meringue and orange curd has been cooled completely.  Both components can be made a day ahead.

Other party goers: