My KitCHEn Experiments

 I have been trying to master making bread using whole wheat flour, my first attempt was a complete failure even though I followed the recipe exactly. I don't know where I went wrong but the 'bread' didn't rise even after a couple of hours. I still went n to bake it and though it was edible to texture was not fluffy as shown in the you tube video tutorial but very dry and crumbly - almost like the puto seko of my childhood...  I continued to search for recipes and finally decided on combining methods from 2 recipes - and it was a success! Whole Wheat Bread Loaf: ingredients: - 2 1/2 cup whole wheat flour - 1 cup plus 2 tbsp water - 1 tsp yeast - 2 t tbsp oil (I used olive oil) - 1/4 tsp salt how to: - bloom yeast in lukewarm water about 5-10 mins or until frothy - add half cup of flour, mix until combined and set aside for about 30 mins. The mixture will rise and be frothy - add the rest of the flour and mix just until combined, rest again for 30 mins -  turn the dough ...

In this time where there can be shortage of food supplies, we can not afford for anything to go to waste - which is the norm in our household in any case. Today while checking out our ref I found 2 left over buns from last week's lunch. They were stale and hard but do not have any molds - I did not want to throw them out so I rummaged through the pantry for any other leftover stuff I could use to make bread pudding. I found a couple of merengue - I did not know of any recipe for bread pudding using merengue but what the heck, I will just throw it in there too instead of throwing it out... There was also a bit of pink sugar left from a previous baking project... I have some milk, eggs, a packet of raisin and nuts... PERFECT! lets make bread pudding shall we? Bread Pudding Ingredients: - about 2 cups left over bread - 1 cup milk - 1 egg - sugar to taste - toppings of choice (nuts, dried fruits, chocolate etc.) How to: - cut the bread into small pieces- in a ...

Simple ingredients does not mean boring sandwiches! Japanese Egg Sandwich Ingredients: - 3 soft boiled eggs, peeled - 1 1/2 tbsp. mayonnaise - 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard - 2 sliced sandwich bread - 1 cup shredded cabbage (wilted with a pinch of salt) *** optional - salt and pepper to taste how to: - chop 1 egg and combine with mayo, mustard, salt and pepper in a bowl - spread over a bread slice, top with the remaining 2 whole egg - top with wilted cabbage - cover with remaining bread slice pressing slightly to hold the shape. - slice and serve

was lucky to have found purple yams on sale today during a quick grocery run for veggies, and was finally able to try making the trending ube cheese pandesal (purple yam and cheese buns)... was quite happy with the results but my taste tester said it could use a little more sweetness so I am making another batch when we finish this one.  Baking really does make me happy. The anticipation of waiting for the finished product to come out of the oven builds excitement, si nking your teeth into the finished product brings satisfaction of nailing the recipe and the delights of friends and family over the baked good brings warmth to the heart. I hope to master and perfect more recipes - maybe one day I will be good enough to make it a business! Ube Cheese Pandesal Ingredients: for dough - 4 cups all purpose flour - 1tbsp instant yeast - 1/4 cup melted butter - 1 cup of warm fresh milk - 2 tsp of salt - 1/2 cup sugar - 1 tbsp of edible oil - 3 tbsp ube flavored powder fo...

make mornings extra special with French toast! I am up for anything that gives me an excuse to have something akin to dessert for every meal of the day, and French toast is one of my go to breakfast treats! You can fill it with cream cheese and blueberries; peanut butter and jam; chocolate - the options are endless! Ingredients: - 1 egg - 1 cup milk - 1 tsp vanilla - 1/2 tsp cinnamon - bread slices how to: - beat egg, milk, vanilla and cinnamon in a shallow dish - dip bread slices in egg mixture until coated on both sides - melt butter in a skillet and cook bread slices until browned on both sides. - serve and enjoy!

What do you do to salvage a sunken cake? make cake balls of course!!! I have done this even before cake balls became the rage - yeeaaaarrsss ago. I just could not bear to throw away my cake when the baking had failed and am left with a sunken center, I just had to do something and so i made cake balls and my tasters were none the wiser tee hee!! For New Year's Eve, I was tasked to make another cake. I was just planning a simple chocolate ring cake and drown it in chocolate fudge (as requested) and decorate it with colorful sprinkles and candy. So I made the batter and stuck it in the oven, but I must have lowered the oven temp to less than required - I was online and greeting friends and family over facebook and was scared I'd forget the cake and burn it, so the result was a sunken cake. I can not present it for NYE dessert so I rushed to start again and salvage the first one by making cake balls - the center was still so moist that frosting wasn't required, so yay!! ...

The culinary gods must have been on my side when I went grocery shopping the other day. All the ingredients that I need to try making a version of Blooming Garlic Bread was on sale. The round crusty bread, mozarella cheese and bacon were all on special sale so I happy filled my basket with all the ingredients for spaghetti night.   Blooming Bacon and Mozarella Bread ingredients: - crusty bread of your choice - mozarella cheese - fried bacon bits - salt, pepper - italian seasonings   how to: - slice the bread a third of the way thru in a criss cross pattern - stuff the bread cracks with cheese, bacon and more cheese - sprinkle salt, pepper and italian seasoning on top - loosely cover in foil and bake for 20 minutes until cheese is melted - remove top foil and broil for a few minutes more lightly toast the top - serve and enjoy!       eating it is fun! pulling it apart with stringy melted cheese! next time I...

What do you do with leftovers from your steak dinner? make a steak sandwich of course! all I had to do was slice the meat into strips and pan fry them with some sliced onion and some of gravy. Fill a crusty bun with it, top it with some mozarella and pop them in the open until the bread is a bit toasty and the cheese melted. Instant gourmet sandwich! all I need is some cola and chips!

Eversince I saw that episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S wherein Ross smashed that piece of scone in his fury over his ex-wife Emily, I was intrigued. As I have written before I like having tea and what better way to enjoy an afternoon cuppa tea than with dainty baked British pastry to go with it. I love Harry Potter, I love their accent and though it is on a completely unrelated level, sometimes I just like to pretend I am having afternoon tea under the sun in a frilly girly dress, sipping tea from a dainty fine cup with my pinky sticking up. Chocolate Chip Scones ingredients: -2 cups white all purpose flour - 1 teaspoon baking powder - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1 cup sugar - 4 tablespoons cold butter, sliced - 1 egg - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - 3/4 cup milk  - 1/2 cup chocolate chips or morsels how to : - Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar - cut the butter into the flour mixture with a fork or ...

Everytime I pass by Cinnabon at the mall, the sweet smell of freshly made rolls together with the aroma of coffee never fails to make me stop, take a table and have me some soft, sweet, gooey pecanbon or chocobon with a cup of hot camomile tea. Imagine sipping hot tea in between bites of sweet roll, what a relaxing way to have your sweet tooth satisfied, like hitting two birds with one stone. Normally I'd get out my book purchases and start flipping pages while savoring every bite and sip, other times I loose myself and get enamored by the baker making the rolls behind a glass window. It is not often that I chance upon this cinnamon rolls making demonstration and I kind of hope that there is someone behind the glass window everytime I stop by. I guess I am wishing to get some tips for making the perfect cinnamon rolls by watching. I have honestly tried making cinnamon rolls and though they turned out okay - they are a far cry from the original. I ...

Bread making is one of the things I would love to master. I love the smell of freshly baked bread and it is such a wonder to me that a simple base of flour, yeast and water can be flavored into many different things from savory to sweet. The very first time I made something 'bread like' was pizza crust - I don't know if it can be considered a type of bread but lets just say it is haha! I had just been given a handheld mixer from my aunt who got it as a wedding gift but had never used it. It had various attachements including a dough hook and so I searched for a basic pizza crust recipe and experimented in the kitchen with my dad. The crust (as I remember) was very good considering it was our first time making it. I guess the mixer and the added muscle power from my dad in the kneading process made the dough just right. I was in the mood of making pizza again from scratch and had found a new way to present it via Pinterest. Instead or making a round pizza, it suggeste...

Having a sweet tooth and my love of baked goods I know I have to draw the line somewhere and be conscious of my sweets intake of else... and so I have always been on the lookout for 'healthy' baked goods recipe and this is my newest find. Yoghurt Bread ingredients: - 1 egg - 1 cup plain yogurt - 1/4 teaspoon salt - 1/4 cup vegetable oil - 1/4 cup melted butter - 1/4 cup sugar - 1 packed tablespoon brown sugar - 1 teaspoon vanilla - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda - 1 teaspoon baking powder - 1 1/4 cup flour - 1 tablespoon pain yogurt - 1 tablespoon powdered sugar - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla how to: - Preheat your oven to 375 F and get out a mixing bowl. Whip together the yogurt, egg, oil, salt, sugars, and melted butter. Sprinkle in the baking soda and baking powder and then slowly add the flour. Once the batter comes together, pour into your greased loaf pan and pop in the hot oven for 45-minutes. The bread smelled so good and was moist wi...