Green Cilantro: July 2009

Another long absence. I wish I have a good excuse, like I was planning a great escape out of my pinstriped prison, or I am starting an exciting new project which takes up all my time...

But no, I'm still the same old...yep, still doing the whole 9-5 and took on more work recently by doing Children's Ministry at BSF.

However, there's always time for doing what I love - cooking and baking. When I'm in the kitchen, the time flies and I'm concentrating and anticipating, and I hear not a sound in the background...

Okay, here are some food pics :)

1) Cookie time! I've been snacking on way too much packet biscuits at work these days. Now that we're on Level 25, the food/drink staff usually get to our floor last (usually at 11am or just before lunch!!!). Since I sit near the kitchen, as soon as I hear their trolley I make my way there for my daily snack session. But those cookies aren't that great. Not so bad when I dip them into my tea though!

Anyways, so I tried baking almond and double-choc cookies at home yesterday...

These are crunchy, chewy and not too sweet :) Perfect! I took them to work today as well!

2) Macarons...

This is bad photo, I know. I ate all of the other ones before the next morning when this lone flat macaron was sitting in the kitchen bench. This is inspired by Masterchef - the pressure test episode where they had to make macarons and panna cotta by Adriano Zumbo!

This is a jasmine rice flavoured macaron...tastes good. Takes wayy to long to make though. I'm not a great fan of macarons - they're a bit too sweet for my likings.

3) This is also inspired by Adriano Zumbo's croquembouche challenge :)

But this is just a plain puff pastry with strawberry cream filling. I love it! It's so easy to make and tastes just like Beard Papa's! I didn't have time to make custard filling so chose strawberries instead! Yummmmm.

Cooking is always fun when you have your friends rooting for you out there ;-)

4) Okay, this is also another Masterchef dish...I had no idea until now, how influenced I am by that show! This is lemon and date scone, with cream + berry preserves...

Easy peasy to make, and tastes great just outta the oven! Goes lovely with a pot of tea...hehe.

5) I've been eyeing this Villeroy & Boche cup for like a year! Finally received it as a present earlier this year and its been sitting on my bookshelf gathering dust, until one cold wintery afternoon when I was craving for a thick hot chocolate drink....