Food & Cook

Hot Honey Lemon Tea.

2008-11-13T04:09:00.000-08:00

In a rainy season like today, our body will be easily getting sick. To keep away from any sickness, people tends to drink a warmer drink. Definitely people will come towards ginger. But for those who don't like it, don't worry I have a Hot Honey Lemon Tea!

Serving:

For 1 portion

Ingredients:

200 ml mineral water, bring to boiled 100 C
1 sachet of tea bag (any tea you like, but for me I prefer to have a green- jasmine tea)
1 tablespoon of honey (if you like sweet, you may add some)
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 piece of lemon wedge for garnish and aroma.

Method:
You may pour the hot water into a mug or a cup and dilute the tea bag. Let it fused, stirr slowly until the tea is well fused, then take away the tea bag. Add the honey and lime juice instantly. Stirr slowly, add the lemon wedges into it. Serve it hot.

My Favorite Ice Lolly Pop

2008-11-03T04:06:00.000-08:00

This nice thing was begun whenever I was kid. I don’t remember in what age at that time, but surely it was around early age in elementary school. At this early age, as a common kid, I also loved to ear any sweets such as candies, ice creams, and ice lolly pop. Although, it was a fancy thing for me at time to but a good ice lolly pop or branded ice cream. With pocket money that I had, I should saved for 3 days to buy one. But then, It didn’t meant that I didn’t have it in my h and. As a kid, I would feel that I would be cool if I also ate like what my friends were eating. Buying an ice lolly pop after break school was my habit. I ate together with friends on the way home. Of course, it was not the good one. I bought this food without my mom permission, because she would be mad at me if she caught me eating such kind of food. But again, I could not hide it from her. She checked my tongue and it was red because of ice lolly pop and I got a sore throat then. I was typical of a child that easily fallen sick if I ate unhealthy food. My mom scolded me badly while spanked my butt. I was a naughty boy anyway. But then she told me that that foods were not healthy, because it contained food additive, synthetic sugar and it was colored by textile fabrics color. If I wanted such kind of food, I might tell her and she would cook one for me. As what she promised me, on the following Sunday, she brought me along to market to buy some ingredients and she made a nice and cool home made ice lolly pop for me, which was later on, she also made some for my friends.

Here the recipe of my mom home made ice lolly pop:
Ingredients:

Basically it will depend on your creativity. But my mom made my first home made lolly pop, it was made from fruits puree. We may use tea, milk, or mix and match with other beverages includes alcoholic beverages. And as additional, you may add chopped dice fruit as filling. There is no standard a certain ingredients it is made, just make sure that it’s realy “you”

Equipment:
Ice lolly pop sets.

Just make sure all ingredients are well pureed. Then pour them in ice lolly pop sets. Refrigerate them in the freezer until they are set.

Cherry is more than just a garnish!

2008-10-15T04:03:00.000-07:00

The first thing that comes up in people mind if they heard about Cherry, it’s a fruit that usually used for a garnish! And yeah, it’s true. But then, let’s take a look. This small, juicy, ruby red color, and it has a mini cute shape, it’s more than just a garnish. It’s more than just make your favorite dishes become beautiful, looks sweet, attractive and full colors, but also behind its delicious taste, Cherry also health!

Historically, in 72 BC Cherry was brought to Rome from Anatolia, around region named Giresun (Cerasus) which nowadays is well known as Turkey. The word cherry is taken from its origin, Cerasus. Based on its species, Cherry has several kinds which are they are edible and inedible (it may cause illness). Such as, Sweet Cherry and Sour Cherry, But then, don’t worry; most species of cherries are edible. the cherries what we often find in supermarkets, cake shops, or ice creams, they are edible and health. This fruits grows well in a country which has four seasons, especially in Europe and several part of Asia. Irrigation, spaying, labor and their propensity in damage from rain, wind and hail make this fruits are relative expensive. Nonetheless, there is a high demand for the fruits.

What most widely consumed and used from varies species of cherries, they are Wild Cherry or commonly named as Sweet Cherry and Sour Cherry or Black Cherry.

Wild Cherry – Sweet Cherry

The main characteristic of this fruit is from we can identify it form its color. Sweet cherry has a reddish and shiny color. This fruits usually used as garnish both for foods or drinks because it gives additional value towards the presentation of the food and drinks. The taste is sweet and its texture of the flesh is smooth. Sweet cherry is usually sale fermented in sugar syrup in a tin package or freshly in a plastic packaging. Sugar syrup will seal the texture and quality of products is remaining fresh.

Sour Cherry – Black Cherry

As the name itself, we can easily identify black cherry also from its skin color. The skin color of Sour Cherry is darker that sweet cherry. It’s darker than maroon and it has a shiny color too. This fruits are usually used for cooking and to be fermented for a liquor production. If it’s compare to sweet cherry, this fruit has a thicker and set texture, so the shape will not easily break during the cooking process. As the name, sour cherry’s taste is sourer than sweet cherry. This fruit is good for filling a puff pastry or chocolate pralines. Like grape also, the skin of sour cherry also help for the fermentation in Cherry liquor production, Kirshwasser. But then through a several step distillation and final fermentation, this liquor has clear color but definitely strong aroma of cherry rum. This liquor is good to be mixed as a cocktail or to be added in Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (traditional Swiss Black Forest cake) for a special aroma.

For health reasons, cherries give a lot of benefits. They are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, boron, and minerals that contribute to bone health. The red colors of the skin come from the same pigment like what we can find in grape skins, which is good to reduce heart disease. Another desirable trait is that cherries rate low on calories and glycemic index that can stimulate into raised of blood sugar levels, so it’s approved that cherries can reduce diabetes and heart risk factors.

Cherries are really delicious for a healthy food! What do you think, huh?

Bosschebollen: The holland “Chocoladabal” cake, Lekker Zout!!!

2008-08-21T04:19:00.000-07:00

It is originally Holland made, a big rounded chocolate ball pastry. The taste is heaven, Lekker Zout! For those who really eating lovers, you must try this cake! Bosschebollen, it is the Holland chocolate ball pastry. This cake has vanilla cream filled, a typical of sponge cake outside that is covered by melted chocolate outside, and it is rounded like a big ball.

Literally, this cake name Bosschebollen, because of this cake is originally from a region in the Holland country named Den Bosch and the shape of the cake itself like Bol or a Ball. This cake is considered as a dessert. This Dutch Éclairs tastes sweet and rich fatty creamy that melted in the mouth every single bite. This cake is also good to accompany our favorite afternoon tea time.

The original recipe of this cake is secretly kept and only limited person who only know well the measurement and standard recipe for this pastry cake. Apparently, there are a strict rules governing in the measuring the dimensions and consistency of the Bosschebollen.

A real and original Bosschebollen measures 6 cm high and precisely 8 cm in the middle. The perimeter of the bottom is 25.1 cm, and the weight is 145 grams of which 85 grams must be real confectionary cream and the 35 grams rest is a real chocolate that goes into the sauce and there sits now the specialty. So, it is not only just make this cake rounded as big as our head, but it’s all about the patient, details and accuracy for a plate of a proportional Bosschebollen cake.

A good to know that the secret to a real Bosschebollen is following a special and extremely mysterious recipe for the chocolate topping sauce. Namely the chocolate must not be too soft, so it would not drip off the ball. But it must also not too hard because then breaks it with the first mouthful taken. Simply to say, if only the chocolate sauce has precisely the right structure can it be called a Bosschebollen. It’s no wonder then if there are only a couple of bakers as the Bosschebollenmetenbeheerder or the Bosschebollen measurements experts. Good to know, this cake is usually sold in a box and only can be found in Holland (for the original cake of course). So, you should import it from Holland or you should trip there to taste this Chocoladabal.

A sweet dream for this cake is not enough, so, what do you think? Do you challenging to make this cake by yourself? Or you may sharpen your cooking skills to be a Bosschebollenmetenbeheerder? Don’t be hesitate, I am wishing your dreams come true!

Ice Cream

2008-06-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

Ice Cream: Deliciously creamy, rich, smoothly texture, stiff upper lips and yummy! The sister of the most beauty dessert “sorbet”, ice cream has been a tribute to the popular English dining guide, a favorite traditional Italian dessert, until it becomes summer entertaining foods for eating lovers.

Ice Cream is a frozen dessert that is made from dairy products as the basic ingredients such as milk and cream then combined with flavorings such as vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, mocca, coffee, green tea, etc and sweeteners (sugar) that also can be enriched with other ingredients as variations that can be as garnishes or as fillings such as choco chips, dried fruits, biscuits, messes etc and also it can be served straightly or matched with other condiments dishes such as crepes, cone etc.

It has often been said that the Chinese invented ice cream and that Marco polo brought the idea to Europe in the 13th century. This is more myth than historical fact, ice cream was invented in China in the first millennium. The process of freezing liquids by immersing them in a mixture of ice and salt, which react together to lower the temperature of the mixture below freezing point, this is how ice cream had to be made until the invention of the freezer in the 20th century. A vessel containing ice and salt surrounds a container containing the ice cream mixture. The temperature in the ice and salt mix drops, freezing the container's contents. To ensure it freezes evenly, it is generally stirred or rotated.

Ice cream made with a milk mixture was first recorded in Europe in Italy.. In England, the first recorded serving of this rare luxury was in 1672, to King Charles II, whose table at a banquet was served a delight denied to those sitting at more humble tables. The first English cookery book to give a recipe was Mrs Mary Eales Receipts of 1718. The recipe did not include a process for making the ice smooth and it must have been coarse with ice crystals. Ice being rare, ice cream was a luxury for the well off in all countries and had to be made and served immediately, there being no way to store it for any great time.

By the time goes by, Ice cream is widely spread and named in a various words and become more unique because of the ingredients and its presentations. Here several partial list of ice- creams-like with the country of origin and the ingredients used:

Es Puter – It is an Indonesian dessert. Literally it means Spinning Ice. Spinning is taken from the way this food is made. Es puter is made from coconut milk, sugar, pandan leaves (Pandanus amaryllifolius) and food essence.

Mellorine – it is non-dairy, with vegetable fat substituted for milk fat

Frozen custard or Semifreddo - It is similar to Italian Gellato with 10% milk fat and at least 1.4% egg yolk and much less air beaten into it.

Spaghetti Eis - is a German ice cream specialty that looks like a plate of spaghetti. It can be found at Gellato shops.

Sherbet – it contains of 1-2% milk fat and sweeter than ice cream.

Gelato - an Italian frozen dessert having a lower milk fat content than ice cream and stabilized with ingredients such as eggs.

Dondurma – It is the Turkish ice cream that is made of salep and mastic resin.

Ais kacang – it is a dessert in Malaysia and Singapore made from shaved ice, syrup, boiled red bean and topped with chocolate sauce and evaporated milk.

Ice cream is no more as a luxury dishes. It is just like a need. For some people, they see it is a ‘must’ to them for having ice cream stock inside their freezer. And it’s true that everybody can enjoy it anytime or even create it based on their own flavors and styles. Varies style of ice creams now are sold and available in every corner of town. From the very finest ice cream for diet until the cheap and simple one that sold door to door.

A simple instant ice cream powder also available in supermarket in affordable price. So, everyone can enjoy it and create their own ice cream. For those who are having a diet, they still can enjoy this lovely foods with no guilty. Several named gelato shops in town offer various ice creams that contains low fat.

And I think, it’s a pretty good idea for perfecting this weekend with a full scoop of our favorite ice creams while watching movies or just escaping from the routines for real flavor and great living of us.

Chinese Lunar New Year Fest – Gong Xi Fat Cai!

2008-02-04T04:46:00.000-08:00

The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the lunar month and end up until the day fifteenth of the month.

It is a folk for a Chinese people get together, where members of family, friends, near and far have a big reunion dinner during this festival. They usually enjoy the festival with special dishes that only served one in a year, only in Chinese Lunar New Year. What cuisines do usually served on the table? Each family usually will serve their favorite foods and special menu that only can be found in this special occasion. Based on the traditional Chinese tradition, several authentic dishes are served during this festival. They are not only a mouth watering menu of the big day but also they have a meaning in Chinese Philosophy.

The dishes are:
• Luo han Zai – it is also considered as a vegetarian menu. It is symbolize as the Buddha teachings as a self purification on the new year.
• Mandarin Oranges – it is the most popular and most abundant fruit during Chinese New Year, it is also considered as the symbol of this prosperity.
• Dumplings – there are two types of traditional Chinese dumplings: Transparent dumplings/ Crystal dumplings (it is typically has a clear or transparent dumpling skin because it is made from Dang Mian – it is considered also as Tapioca powder) and Common dumplings (it is typically has a thicker dumpling skin rather than the crystal dumplings, There are several types: Jiaozi -- rice dumplings; Nian Gao -- sticky rice dumplings and Jau Gok – it is the main Chinese dumplings that is made from glutinous rice dumplings). The dumplings are believed as the resembled of the ancient Chinese gold ingots.
• Fish – it is usually served in varies of style of cooking. It is symbolize as the surpluses.
• Kwatji – it can be varies from sunflower, melon seed, or pumpkin seed. It is the symbol of the prosperous.
• Noodles – Families may serve uncut noodles, which represent longevity and long life, though this practice is not limited to new year.
• Sweets – Sweets and similar dried fruits goods are stored in a red or black candy box. It is symbolize the happiness and joy of the coming year.
• Taro Cakes – it is a Chinese dish made from vegetable Taro or Colosia esculenta, or in Bahasa Indonesia it is called Talas. This cake is usually filled pork, Chinese black mushroom, or even Chinese sausages and then pan fried before served. Finally it is topped woth chopped scallions.
• Turnip Cakes – it is a common cake that should be served during a Chinese new year. It is made from shredded daikon and rice flour. Both dried shrimps and dried shitake are added to the dough to give the flavor before then we will fry them.
• Tikoy – it is a Chinese new year pudding and it is made from glutinous rice flour, wheat starch, salt, water, and sugar. The color of the sugar will determine the color of pudding whether it will be white or brown.

However, the dishes above are not a must for those who are celebrating the fest, but historically; the Chinese will consider them as the heritage from the ancestor that should be well preserved. So it is not only just dishes, but it is about the heritage culture, togetherness for the whole relatives, and the spirit in welcoming the New Year