References

1.    Farlex (n.d) the free dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dessert

2.    Tim Lambert (2013) A Brief History of Desserts and Puddings. Retrieved from http://www.localhistories.org/desserts.html

3.    Hembert (2015) TLC’s Next Great Baker Season 1. Retrieved from Dessertsbydana.com

4.    Bee (2015) Recipe of Seri Muka. Retrieved from Rasamalaysia.com

5.    Croker, B (2015) Desserts. Retrieved from http://www.bettycrocker.com/desserts

6.    Jelani, R (2014) Easy Curry Puff Recipe. Retrieved from http://www.hungrygowhere.my/dining-guide/recipes/easy-curry-puff-recipe-*aid-df513101/

7.    Stewart, M (2014) Chocolate truffles recipe. Retrieved from http://www.marthastewart.com/274505/chocolate-truffle-recipes/@center/1008647/christmas-candy-recipes#353237

8.    Rose, D (2012) 6 tips to make desserts worth it. Retrieved from http://summertomato.com/6-tips-to-make-desserts-worth-it/

9.    N.a (2014) the desserts Day. Retrieved from http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/October/nationaldessertday.htm

10. Croker, B (2015) Desserts. Retrieved from http://www.bettycrocker.com/desserts

11. Horn, H (2013). Historical Desserts for the 4th of July. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/07/historical-desserts-for-the-4th-of-july/277520/

12. Delish (2013). Desserts history. Retrieved from https://delicioushistoryblog.wordpress.com/category/desserts/

13. Stewart (2013) happy national day. Retrieved from http://www.foodieoncampus.com/happy-national-dessert-day/

14. N,a (2013) National desserts days.Retrieved from https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/national-dessert-day-thrillist-original-recipes

15. N.a (2014) Oreo Parfait Truffle Recipe. Retrieved from http://www.foodtuby.com/

16. Betty, A (2015) Recipe of Meyer Lemon Bar. Retrieved from http://www.averagebetty.com/recipes/meyer-lemon-bars-recipe/

17. Mark (2013) top 10 favorite desserts. Retrieved from http://www.redbookmag.com/food-recipes/advice/g549/10-favorite-desserts/

18. N.a (2014) American top 10 best sweets. Retrieved from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/americas-best-top-10-sweets.html

19. Timber, J (2014) 100 famous desserts of the world. Retrieved from http://www.listal.com/list/100-most-famous-desserts-world

20. Afghan (2014) delicious milk pudding recipe. Retrieved from http://afghankitchenrecipes.blogspot.com/2013/02/recipes-for-milk-pudding-thickened-with.html

21. Smith (2013) list of France sweet. Retrieved from http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2013/12/linzer-torte/

22. N.a (2014) the type desserts for celebration. Retrieved from http://www.brigadeirobakery.com/

23. Krisnan, L (2013). Bubur Hitam Recipe. Retrieved from http://kampungsingapura.com/asian-desserts/bubur-pulut-hitam

24. Recipe of chocolate malted cups cakes .Retrieved from http://www.tasteandtellblog.com/chocolate-malted-cupcakes-2/

25. N.a (2015) Chocolate Malt Cupcakes with Vanilla Malt Buttercream. Retrieved from http://thecupcakeblog.com/chocolate-malt-cupcakes-with-vanilla-malt-buttercream/

26. Pina (2015) Pina Colada Cupcakes. Retrieved from http://www.mrsbskitchen.net/2015/07/09/pina-colada-cupcakes/

27. Getty (2014) Baking Tips for Flawless Cakes. Retrieved from http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/baking/baking-tips

28. Malgieri, N (2015) Cakes: Recipes and Tips. Retrieved from http://www.epicurious.com/archive/howtocook/primers/cakes

29. Horn, J (2014).Secrets to Baking Perfect Cakes. Retrieved from http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking-101/techniques/cake-baking

30. N.a (2015) How to bake cakes. Retrieved from http://www.greatbritishchefs.com/how-to-cook/how-to-bake-cakes

Cupcakes

Do you like cupcakes? I do! If you don’t like strawberries and chocolate, these may not float your boat, but if you do, these wonderful little cupcakes are the perfect couple of bites to make your day better. Plus, these little cupcakes are very moist and sweet, so they’re great for those midnight cravings! 

Chocolate Malt Cupcakes with Vanilla Malt Buttercream - rich chocolate cupcakes with a hint of malt are topped with a fluffy buttercream infused with even more malt flavor.

Serves: 30 servings

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1¼ cups original malted milk powder
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Buttercream:

• 1½ cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ¾ cup original malted milk powder
• 2½ cups powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Make the cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line 30 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine.
3. Combine the milk and the malted milk powder in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix until the malted milk powder has dissolved. Add in the oil, then add in the eggs, one at a time, beating until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add in the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined. Add the sour cream and vanilla, and mix just until combined.
4. Divide the batter between the prepared cups. Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.

Make the buttercream:

1. Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until very light, about 2 minutes. Add in the malted milk powder and mix another minute. Start adding in the powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, until combined, then add in the vanilla. Continue to beat for a couple more minutes, until light and fluffy.
2. Frost the cupcakes as desired.*

Notes

cupcake recipe slightly adapted from Martha Stewart Cupcakes

*This recipe will make *just* enough frosting for all 30 cupcakes if used lightly. If you want to pile the frosting on the cupcakes, you may need 1½ times the buttercream.

Pulut Hitam Recipe

“Bubur Pulut Hitam“ refers to Black Glutinous Rice porridge. It is a very popular dessert in Singapore and Malaysia made with black glutinous rice, coconut milk and palm sugar. However, you will find variations to the dessert in other parts of South East Asia as well.

Ingredients:

• Black Glutinous Rice - 200 gm (soaked overnight preferably in water)
• Gula Melaka (Palm Sugar) - 125 gm
• Coconut Milk - 270 ml (Add more if you prefer a richer taste)
• Water - 6 cups
• Pandan Leaves (Screwpine leaves) - 3 pieces torn into halves and knotted

Instructions:

• Wash the rice thoroughly.
• Drain and place the rice in a saucepan filled with 5 cups of water and the knotted pandan leaves. The pandan leaves give fragrance and flavour to the dessert.
• Bring it to boil first and then lower the heat to let it simmer. Stir in between 6 minute intervals to make sure the rice does not stick to the pan and the water level does not reduce too much. You are aiming at a not too thick and at the same time not too thin consistency.
• Meanwhile, heat another saucepan, combine the gula melaka with the remaining 1 cup of water and stir on low heat till the sugar dissovles completely and you can see a thick syrup forming.
• Check on your black glutinous rice. It is cooked when the rice looks soft and plump.
• Add the gula melaka mixture and coconut milk and give it two stirs. Bubur Pulut Hitam ready to be served

Most Famous Desserts of the World

Afghanistan

1. Firnee Pudding is thickened with corn or rice starch, delicately flavored with rose water and sprinkled with pistachios and/or almonds.

Argentina

2.  Tartaletas de Mango is a pudding of manggoes and i cant find clearly about this desserts because of different language.

Australia

3.Rocky Road Desserts is a type of dessert which made of milk chocolate and marshmallow which is usually served in individual portions such as cupcake or in American cuisine, as ice cream flavor.

Austria

4. Linzer tortes hail from the city of Linz, Austria. There are many variations, but almost all include a very buttery base mostly comprised of ground nuts there are versions with almonds and hazelnut.

Brazil

5.Brigadeiro is made from condensed milk, powdered chocolate, butter and chocolate sprinkles to cover the outside layer. It can be cooked in the oven or the microwave, in the form of individual little balls. It can also be eaten straight from the pot once it is done cooking.

This e video that I found from youtube. it shown the top 10 most popular desserts.

Meyer Lemon Bar Recipe

Source: Google

what we can do when we have extra lemons and it is wasteful if we did not use it wisely. I got an idea of how to use these extra lemons after watching this video. it is kind of easy and it is look delicious and its belong to our mouth!

Ingredients for Creamy Meyer Lemon Bars Crust:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup butter

Ingredients for Creamy Meyer Lemon Bars Filling:
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 beaten eggs
1 TBSP lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 – 3/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

extra powdered sugar for dusting

Directions for Meyer Lemon Bars:
1) Zest and juice a lemon or two.
2) In a bowl combine flour, powdered sugar, salt and lemon zest.
3) Press mixture into a 9×9 baking pan lined with parchment paper.
4) Bake in a preheated 350 (F) oven for 15-20 minutes.
5) In a bowl combine sweetened condensed milk, beaten eggs, lemon zest, salt, baking powder, lemon juice and vanilla. Whisk well.
6) Pour lemon mixture over pre-baked crust and return to preheated 350 (F) oven for 20-25 minutes.
7) Allow to cool and lift lemon bars from pan using parchment paper.
8) Cut into bite sized pieces and dust with powdered sugar.
9) Refrigerate. Tastes best chilled.

Oreo Parfait Recipe

after sharing the recipe of Chocolate Truffle, i would like to share the recipe that for me it is easy and simple to make. what is the most important is, we can make it in a short time or make it together with children. 

Source: Google

Ingredients:

• Pudding: 1 kg Instant Pudding
• Mix 2 Cups of Milk
• 3 Oreo Cookies Crushed (Leave some big bits for crunch and texture)
• Whipping Cream:
• 1/2 Cup of Whipping Cream
• 1 Tsp of Icing Sugar

Servings: 

its will depend on the size of the cups you use to make the parfaits. This recipe make 4 shot glasses, with extra chocolate pudding on the side to eat as is or to make more parfaits.

So here, I do provide a video so we can understand better of how we are going to decorate it and whatnot.

The Origin of Birthday Cake

Source: Google

In the 15th century, the bakeries in Germany conceived the idea of marketing cakes for customers’ birthdays, as well as for their weddings. They were mostly used for the birthdays to childrens and thus these celebrations were referred to as Kinderfest. It was during this time period that cakes began to be layered and laden with new ingredients in order to render them sweeter and less bread-like. These kinds of cakes were called Geburtstagorten by the Germans.

Source: Google

The tradition of placing candles on cakes can be attributed to the Ancient Greeks, who baked cakes to honor Artemis, the goddess of the moon. The theory behind the practice was that the light from the candles made the cake itself glow like the moon. It is also believed that the smoke from the candles carried their prayers to the Gods. This tradition has survived to a certain extent today. We may not say a prayer or “doa” when we blow out birthday candles, but most of us do still make a wish.

Source: Google

The earliest reference to the tradition of blowing out birthday candles was documented Switzerland in 1881. Researchers for the Folk-Lore Journal recorded various “superstitions” amongst the Swiss middle class. The following statement was recorded, ““A birthday-cake must have lighted candles arranged around it, one candle for each year of life. Before the cake is eaten the person whose birthday it is should blow out the candles one after another.”

Source: Google 

National Desserts Day

Source: Google

I bet not everyone know that 14th October is the most important day for desserts lover! With warm love of desserts, people in others country such as America dedicate this day as a celebration to enjoy verities of desserts and soon. As I explained before, people in middle age actually preserved fruits, jelly, and wafers for their desserts. Even though, our types of desserts are highly different, this special day is to appreciate those people who introducing us to a wonderful desserts.

Source: Google

            In this entry I would like to share some of fun facts National Dessert Day about desserts:

• 1381- The first printed recipe for apple pie was introduced

• The shelf life of a chocolate bar is one year

• Pie was originally filled with fillings like meat or vegetables

• 1700- Eclairs with cream center and chocolate topping emerged

• For most centuries, puddings were meat based

• In Italy, people still eat salad for dessert

• Some of the top five desserts in America include brownies, ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake and fudge

• Sugar was not added to chocolate until hundreds of years after it had been discovered

Source: Google

            The main motive of the National Desserts is celebrate and we can enjoy desserts during holidays, special vents, party and much more.

Recipes of Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate truffles is the desserts that used in several celebration or party and any events. i found this recipe from www.marthastewart.com. Martha Stewart is American businesswoman, writer, and television personality. 

Martha Stewart
Source: Google

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (at least 61 percent cacao), chopped
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• Unsweetened cocoa powder, for rolling
• Methods:
• Place chocolate in a bowl. Bring cream, Grand Marnier, and salt to a simmer in a small saucepan. Pour over chocolate, and let stand for 2 minutes. Whisk until smooth.
• Pour chocolate mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish, and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.
• Scoop balls of chocolate mixture using a tablespoon or a 1-inch ice cream scoop. Roll balls in cocoa powder, tossing, until fully coated. Shake off excess.
• 
  
  

The Desserts Expert

This entry, I would like to introduce some of chef who expert in making desserts and famous around the world.

First, Chef Anne Thornton is an expert pastry chef who share her knowledge and skills of making a wonderful desserts on her show which is “in the kitchen” for Food Network cooking series. Anne encourage her viewers to start baking with no fear. In addition, with her approachable techniques she prove that any home cook can create their great desserts. She born in San Antonio and was raised in Cleveland. Anne fall in love with food when she was young. Therefore, she spent her childhood days in the kitchen with her grandmother. Anne graduated from Miami University in Oxford with degree in finance and philosophy. Anne left Chicago and move to New York to pursue her dream to become a chef. She worked hard to achieved her dream and she currently become volunteer for City Harvest’s Operation Frontline, a project that give the knowledge of nutrition education for families and kids.

           

            Second, Dana Herbert is the owner of Desserts by Dana, resides in Bear, Delaware. He is called with a number of nicknames because of his excellent achievements like “Sugar Daddy” and “King of Cakes”. Dana got a lot of attention after became a winner on Cake Boss. He also involved The Next Great Baker, a famous TV show on TLC Channel in December 2010.

Besides, he was also invented to work with Buddy Valastro in some episodes. Dana also grab media outlets nationally and internationally including some of shows. Trained in both Culinary and Pastry makes him become more expert. Dana also wrote a book called the Sweet and Savory Union. To be honest, I’m so impressed with him because I used to see him on TLC Channel and become a big fan of him.

           

            Buddy Valastro is the fourth generation baker who run his parents business with the name of Carlo’s Bake Shop. His father, Buddy Sr. is a master baker and taught Buddy everything bout baking and how to running a business. Currently, Buddy and his staff managing thousands of wedding cakes, specialty cakes and delicious Italian pastries.

Recipe of Seri Muka

  Seri Muka is one of the traditional recipe and almost of people love to eat it especially the folks. I will brief a little bit about Seri Muka this desserts made from glutinous rice which called “pulut”, coconut milk, sugar and pandan leaves. Seri Muka come with small cut and it is quite sticky but this kuih is suit well when having tea or coffee.

Ingredients:

For Bottom Layer:

300 g glutinuos rice (soak for 30 minutes in water)

200 ml thin coconut milk (100ml coconut milk plus 100 ml water)

2 screwpine (pandan) leaves (optional)

1 teaspoon salt

For Top Layer:

200 ml thick coconut milk or coconut cream

2 large eggs plus 2 egg yolks

170 g sugar

100 ml pandan/screwpine juice (from 8-10 pandan leaves)

5 tablespoon all-purpose flour + 2 Tablespoon cornstarch

Method:

Mixed all the ingredients for the bottom layer and steam on high heat for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile prepare the top layer. Mix the eggs, coconut milk, sugar, pandan juice and flour. Stir until smooth. Cook over boiling water (using double boil method) until the mixture thickens slightly but still runny enough to pour.

After 20 minutes, take out the glutinuous rice mixture, stir and flatten it with spoon or hands. Make sure it is compact. Use a sieve to pour the egg mixture on to the rice mixture.

Steam on medium heat for 30 minutes. Leave to cool before cutting into diamond-shaped or rectangle-shaped pieces.

Cook’s Note:

You may use a 8 inch x 8 inch pan to make this kuih