Chocolate and Walnut Babka 猶太麵包

" Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. By each stack put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the Lord. This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant"         Leviticus 24:5-8

「你要取細麵烤成十二個餅，每一個餅用兩公斤細麵。 你要把餅擺列成兩排，每排六個，放在耶和華面前精金的桌子上； 把純乳香放在每排餅上，象徵這些餅作獻給耶和華的火祭。 每一個安息日，亞倫都要把餅擺在耶和華面前，不可間斷，這是以色列人永遠的約」      利未記 24:5-8

November Cooking Class 十一月烹飪班

Black Forest Tart (No Bake) 黑森林撻 (免焗)

This is a nice summer-friendly, no-bake variation of the traditional black forest cake. I used dark chocolate mousse as the filling and dark sweet cherries. Use the finest chocolate for best flavor. Both homemade or store bought tart crusts do not require baking, so it is a superb dessert for hot summer days. If you keep the tart in the freezer and eat it frozen, the texture of the chocolate mousse becomes almost like ice cream.

Special note about silky and smooth chocolate mousse: the temperatures of the three different mixtures--egg, melted chocolate and whipped cream--have to be very close, if not the same. If the chocolate or egg mixture is too warm, the whipped cream will deflate, resulting with a dense mousse. If the cream is too cold, the chocolate will seize into flecks, making the mousse grainy.

Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Panna Cotta 紅桑子朱古力奶凍

This is my take on the classic Italian dessert panna cotta. It means "cooked cream" in Italian and is very much like a Western version of a popular Chinese dessert, steamed eggs with milk. By adding two other flavors--raspberry and chocolate mousse--I have created a new combination that compliments each other and at the same time adds depth to the flavor. With the right amount of gelatin to firm up the liquid, the texture of the panna cotta becomes delicately smooth and silky. They are served in small glasses of the perfect serving size. Mmm....yummy!

Since there are three layers and they all need to be refrigerated and set before adding another one, a bit of patience is needed. It can be prepared one to two days before serving.

Magic Chocolate Custard Layers Cake 奇妙多層朱古力蛋糕

The original name of this cake is prajitura desteapta which means "smart cake" in Romanian. This cake is also often referred to as magic cake because there are different layers and textures baked from one single batter. As you bite into the cake, you will be amazed by the different textures. I was intrigued by it and started to search for the rationale behind it.

The way it is prepared is basically the same as any chiffon or sponge cake. The eggs are separated from the yolks, which are mixed with the sugar, fat, liquid and flour while the whites are beaten to stiff peaks. Then the two are reunited and baked.

What makes it different from ordinary cake is the temperature of the oven and the amount of liquid. I am always amazed by how understanding the science can make one a better baker.

Knowledge is power!!

Chocolate Almond Cake 香濃朱古力杏仁蛋糕

How can I describe this cake? It's moist and light. It melts in your mouth and is full of chocolate flavor. The addition of almond gives it a nutty flavor, and the cake isn't too sweet....in one word: delightful!

The original name of this cake is called Queen of Sheba. The recipe is one of the renowned chef Julia Child's. But unfortunately I forgot which cookbook it was published in. : (

I did make some adjustments, not to the ingredients, but as to how they are put together.

Buy the best chocolate you can get your hands on as it is the major ingredient and it does make a big difference to the quality of the cake.

Walnut Cinnamon Swirl Bread 核桃肉桂麵包

I always get excited about learning, no matter if it is new knowledge, technology or, of course, new recipes.

Until recently, I did not know about this kind of bread, called Povitica. It is a Croatian sweet bread. For Croatians, Povitica is a very common gift between friends and families. This culture is very similar to gifting of mooncakes during Mid Autumn Festival for the Chinese.

Although Povitica is similar to cinnamon rolls here in America, it has its own characteristics. The dough needs to be rolled out as thin as possible and it does not need a lengthy second rise as in making regular yeast bread.

And the filling is decadent: lots and lots of ground walnuts with cinnamon and cocoa powder, all of my favorites. Perfect choice for the Holidays.

Please read the recipe and the notes at least once before you begin for best results.

Godiva's Chocolate Mooncake 朱古力月餅

The Mid Autumn Festival or August Moon Festival is the second most celebrated holiday in Chinese culture. If you live in an area highly populated with Chinese people, there will be some sort of celebration around this time of the year. This holiday, to the Chinese, is like Thanksgiving to Americans; the first thing that pops up in your head when it is mentioned is, most likely, food.

Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies 雙重朱古力曲奇

two versions of cocoa powder

What is your criteria for the perfect cookie? I like cookies that are crisp around the edges and chewy in the middle. If you also like this texture, then make sure you use brown sugar in the recipe. Your choice of sugar will affect the end result.

In making this double chocolate chunk cookies, I like to spice up the chocolate flavor by adding cocoa powder in addition to chocolate chunks. Instead of using the common natural cocoa powder (like Hershey's), I used the alkalized version which is milder, less bitter, darker and more intense in flavor. Cocoa powder is made by removing much of the cocoa butter from the chocolate liquor after the bean is fermented and roasted. The resulting powder is acidic in nature. The Dutch invented a method using alkalies to raise the pH, making it more soluble, less harsh and darker in color. Most European cookbooks and chefs prefer this type of cocoa powder. But here in America, the natural version is more common.

2013 New Baking Classes 新年有新班



This is a short video shot from one of my classes last year. Thanks to my dear friend May who recorded and edited it for me :) Enjoy!



Chocolate Expresso Dacquoise 朱古力咖啡杏仁蛋白餅

I had a hard time finding the English or Chinese translations for "dacquoise" (pronounced da-kwaz). Basically, it is a meringue baked with ground nuts, such as almonds or hazelnuts, for an extended amount of time in a warm (250F)--not hot--oven. Usually it is left inside the oven to further dry out the meringue resulting a crisp texture. The aroma of almonds from the oven is irresistible! It is then layered with an expresso flavored buttercream and dark chocolate ganache. Both of them blend so well to make a delicious dacquoise!

Christmas Cake Pops 聖誕蛋糕棒棒

I guess everyone is familiar with popsicle or icicle but how about cake pop? Instead of using fruit juice or ice cream to put on a stick, it is basically a stick with cake crumbs and frosting. It has been around for a while and mainly popular among the younger demographic. It can be molded into different shapes and decorated with colorful candies or other edible ornaments. No wonder it is so warmly welcomed by the kids. Instead of making cookies for Christmas, it is a nice change to make cake pops!

Dark Chocolate Truffle Mochi 軟心朱古力麻糬

I do not like to waste food. I remember when I was young, my parents always made me finish every grain of rice in my bowl. They had been through war times and experienced what real hunger is like. It is amazing how one's experience will shape your world view. I think I have inherited this good habit. (But somehow it is hard for my children to pick up this good trait!)

After making numerous snowy mooncakes in the past few weeks, I have some leftover skin in the fridge. I do not want to put it in the trash but I have no more filling to make more mooncakes. So an idea came to me. Why don't I use it to wrap dark chocolate ganache and make truffle mochi! It turns out that my family loves this indulgent snack!

Dark Chocolate Truffles with Mocha 摩卡朱古力軟心糖

Some people do not consider chocolate as candy. I am one of them. If I were to label it as a candy, I would say it is candy from heaven. More and more studies prove that chocolate is a healthy food. It is loaded with antioxidants that counteract the damage done by the oxidative stress in our bodies. It can also reduce the risk of heart disease by improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. Polyphenols, which are abundant in dark chocolate and cocoa powder, is the same antioxidants found in tea.  A recent study published by the British Medical Journal showed that a daily consumption of 3.5 oz of dark chocolate reduces the chances of having a heart attack.

Baking for a Good Cause 義賣籌款

I have never done any fundraising with my baking in the past. This time I am doing it to raise funds for various short term mission teams at my church. Although I am not physically going to a mission field, by doing what God makes me do best is another great way to participate.
Baking 100 macarons and 100 cups of tiramisu is a big project. I have been planning for days. The most challenging part is to determine how many ingredients to prepare.

我從未用烘焙成品來作籌款,今次是為了幫助教會短宣隊作籌募經費之用,雖然我本身未能親身成行去到宣教工場,但能夠用神給我在烘焙上的恩賜去服事也都是美事啊。
要做一百個馬卡龍及一百杯提拉米蘇須要調詳的計劃及準備,其中最具挑戰性的是決定要買多少材料。

Valentine's Day Fruit Tartlets 情人節水果撻

Here is another Valentine's Day treat: fruit tartlets with chocolate pastry cream.

Chestnut Cake with Bavarian Cream 小型栗子蛋糕

I must be nuts...more chestnut. After the mango fever this summer, I am nuts about chestnut in the winter. After the previous chestnut cake and the chocolate chestnut cake , I am onto another recipe with Bavarian cream. Instead of a big 8 or 9 inch cake this time, a mini version like petite four is made. Although there is more work involved, it is very worthwhile. It is what making desserts is all about: dedication, hard work and "heart" work. If you put your heart into it, it will blossom into something that is enjoyable. Then all the hard work is rewarded.

Mini Fruit Tarts 袖珍水果撻

These little munchkins are good for parties, potlucks, or to end any dinner. You don't need to worry about cutting a big tart; just pick up one and bite right into it. After pre-baking the tart crust, you can put in any pastry cream, Sabayon, Bavarian cream or custard in the bottom, then top it with any fruits you like and it will surely please any palate.

Raspberry and Chocolate Mousse Cake

It has been a year since I began this blog. I don't know how I did it--more than 80 posts in the past year, with an average of more than one post each week. It has been a very rewarding experience. I have learned so much about different aspects of baking that it really augmented my knowledge and skill. However there are still a lot of unconquered areas that require me to practice more, like laminated dough making and techniques in working with chocolate.

Chocolate Silk Pie 朱古力派

My kids have asked me to make a chocolate pie for a long time and I finally got my hands on the recipe. This pie is good as a summer time dessert since it is a no-bake pie (if you use a store bought ready-to-use pie crust). The eggs are sanitized by heating to 160⁰F so it is safe to eat even without further baking. The chocolate filling is so rich and trufflelike that it will surely satisfy any chocoholic!