Strawberry Choco Chip Cookies & Cute Cookie Press 士多啤梨朱古力脆片曲奇 & (曲奇噴射器<-一個很有霸氣的名字..)

Today's post is bilingual, my crappy English meets SC's dubious Chinese. Heheheh.
It's SC's debut interpreting my posts into Chinese or writing the Chinese version in his own style. Please give him a warm welcome~!

大家好, 大家有睇開Rita個Blog都應該知道我係邊個.

冇錯, 我就係SC(SOUS CHEF), 一個唔係太識煮野食既副廚.

由今日起, 我將會為大家寫個中文版, 希望大家鐘意.

小弟英文唔好, 中文又唔好, 如果有D咩寫錯, 請多多包涵!!

Look at these cuties. Aren't they the most adorably shaped cookie dough ever?

望落去就好似日本既櫻花一樣, 尤其用左黑底焗爐盆襯返出黎, 真係Sakura Sakura~..

Do you have a kitchen gadget that has been sitting around idly in your kitchen for a couple of years (!), lonely and unused?

I surely do. 

I got this cookie press as a birthday gift from a good friend, Sir A, a couple years ago. I kept promising myself to find a suitable recipe, and only managed to finally use it...yesterday evening. 

Procrastination is my first name, middle name and also last name :D

唔知大家屋企有冇D買左都未用既廚房用具呢? 我就咁啱咁蹺有一個. 係我既一個好朋友Sir A幾年前送比我的生日禮物. 我成日同自己講一定要揾到一個好正既曲奇食譜先去用佢, 無謂失禮嘛

攪到琴晚, 終於的起心肝試吓啦. 冇辦法啦, 我個名係叫做慢吞吞嘛..XD

It's supposed to be so easy to use...

望落去好似好易用..

...and it makes 12 different shapes of cookies! All cute and adorable!

仲可以整出12種唔同既形狀, 有D整到出黎仲好攪笑..

SC and I fiddled with it for a while and failed to produce good looking cookies numerous times! I almost gave up, but SC...being persistent as always, kept trying until he finally pressed beautiful looking flowers on the baking sheet.

我同SC試左好多次都失敗..(其實係因為大家都懶得去睇說明書..). 最後我都頂唔順, SC話比佢試吓. SC憑住無比既耐性 (其實佢頂唔順走左去睇說明書..). 最後都整到個好靚既櫻花出黎!!!

After finish baking...

焗完出黎後

Super duper cute pink cookies!
These ones don't have any chocolate chips though, the chocolate chips won't go through the cookie press.

真係好鬼可愛!

哩D係冇朱古力脆片的, 因為D朱古力脆片唔可以係個曲奇噴射器度噴出黎..

The strawberry cookie dough with chocolate chips were made into my favorite shape...

哩D冇用曲奇噴射器既就可以落朱古力脆片, 哩個曲奇塔係我最鐘意整既...the amoebas!

別名: 阿米巴變形蟲塔..
I used a random choco chip cookies recipe I found online, omitted the walnuts and vanilla essence, added strawberry essence and a touch of pink food coloring. These cookies are melt in your mouth, but I find them too sweet. The strawberry essence gives them this weird "artificial" flavor. Since they're not really good, I am not sharing the recipe here. Let me know if you have a good idiot proof cookie recipe ;)

我係求其係網上面揾到哩個曲奇食譜的, 自己改左小小野, 冇落合桃同雲呢拿香草精. 因為屋企有, 所以落左士多啤利香草精同紅色既食用染料. 整左出黎係入口即溶, 但係就甜左少少. D士多啤利香草精比左D曲奇士多啤利味, 但D味有D怪. 最後由於唔係咁好食, 我都係唔係度出食譜啦…最後, 如果大家有D咩好味曲奇食譜, 記得話比我知, 等我試吓.
The cookie press can be bought online from Amazon or you can also try finding it in kitchen/baking gadget shops around you.

個曲奇噴射器可以係Amazon 度買, 或各大廚房用具店都應該有

Chocolate Konyaku Jelly & Teh Botol - Stupid Stuff Makes Me Happy

Stupid stuff makes me happy.
What sorta stupid stuff?

Chocolate konyaku jelly in the shape of a rose...
I used Nutrijell Chocolate Konyaku Jelly Powder (available in most Indonesian stores in Hong Kong), and a silicon rose cake/jelly mold I bought in Jusco $10 plaza :D
Very chewy, not too sweet, easy to make (just follow directions on the packet)...plus, it's very pretty!

...and...

This classic Indonesian Teh Botol Sosro bottle, which my sister brought all the way from Indo. It was pretty challenging for her to even get a bottle, since most eateries do not allow her to buy the bottle as they have to return the bottles to the manufacturer. Luckily she could buy it from an eatery...we don't wanna steal the bottle, despite being desperate ;)

Stupid, right?
Any stupid stuff makes you happy?

Hong Kong's Props Heaven - Shanghai Street, Yaumatei

This post is dedicated to all prop freaks everywhere ^_^
One of Hong Kong's prop heavens, Shanghai Street, Yaumatei.


The street's lined with restaurant supplies shops. Cute/elegant/beautiful/adorable/gorgeous stoneware, metals, wood, glass....they got 'em all!

They're available for retail purchases and they're reasonably priced.

It is so hard not to go overboard here...

Stick to:
- Things you need
- Things you need
- and things you need
...and I always failed, extravagantly.

Oh God, peel me off this wall...
If you're worried that you might go crazy, bring a person who will/can remind you that you have absolutely NO MORE space in your kitchen cupboard/home/flat. Bringing another prop freak is a bad idea.

Ohhh...but look at these...I must buy these.
I want them I need them!

Sous chef chanting *no space no space no space no space no space no space lalala~*

Go on, you know you want to...
Shanghai Street, Yaumatei, Kowloon, Hong Kong>

Yaumatei MTR station, exit B2.

Black Pepper Burger & Chocolate Pie from McD plus Sham Shui Po Cute Prop Sightings

Psssst. I love junk food.
Go on, judge me...I love McDonald's, KFC, Jollibee, and all kinds of junk some people do not consider as food. Yum, yum, yum!
I especially lovee it when McDonald's having seasonal stuff like this black pepper burger.
You can choose between double black pepper burger, or a quadruple one with four slices of meat!!!
Isn't that a suicide on a plate? Wouldn't you love to devour it?
As much as I love junk food, I still want to live quite a while longer to be able to enjoy more of them :p
So I opted for double black pepper burger, not the towering quadruple.
Two slices of juicy grilled meat with tasty black pepper sauce, topped with a bit of chopped onion, in between soft buns. Yum!
I'll just eat lots of veggie and white meat for dinner later to compensate.

They also offer chocolate pie.

Flaky chocolate pastry crust...

With soft chocolate filling.
Not too bad, the crust is really flaky, not too sweet, but overall? Not chocolatey enough for me.
Are they available in your area? Show me what's available there please ^_^

The best way to burn all those evil calories?

Go shopping! I spotted this delightful stall full of gorgeous Chinese goodies in the flea market.

So so so hard to resist...but I successfully did.

Pssst. I already have most of them, unused, in my overflowing cupboard.
So much for being good at resisting temptations.

Cutenesses at Ngong Ping Village

Truckloads of cutenesses at Ngong Ping Village.
I know I love touristy places for a reason....

I am mad about souvenirs...MAD!
This might not be something new, but when I saw them...I couldn't help but feel amazed by how cuteee these miniatures are. They have Hong Kong's most popular foods...claypot rice, sushi...look at those tiny shrimps, eggs, abalone!


Bowls and bowls of noodles, dumplings and desserts...and Hong Kong cubicle dwellers' staple and favorite midnight snack...cup noodles!


...dainty little mini dimsums!


...and macho men's Hong Kong style steak and mixed grills on hot plates, all sold with a piece of cafe/dimsum restaurant's bill. How cute!!!

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know I am a porcelain freak.
So imagine my reaction when I saw these...

...gorgeous teapots...delightful little darlings...I barely have space to store food, but I'll make room for you, my love.


Gorgeous teapots have to be with cute little tea cups (I am sure you can spot a shopaholic when you hear one).


...and these blue and white beauties...HK$100 (around USD13) for 3 pieces!!!
I'd feel sorry for myself if I didn't buy these...


This one is not totally irrelevant to food.
I bet this beautiful tea candle holder can make a simple dinner of instant noodles totally romantic!
...and naturally, everything will taste more delicious. Ohhh....how logical of me...


Look at this little guy...doesn't he whet your appetite? Look at his gesture..."Eat, eat!" he says.


This baby is so adorable, I wanna feed him porcelain bone treats all day!

Help! I need rehab!

Pieces of Home & Cute Props from Saigon

Feast your eyes, babies.
Here are some pieces of home, brought by my sis and mom.
J.Co's cute, adorable and colorful Jpops....almost too pretty to eat..

...and my favorites, Choco Loco.
Not really sweet donuts, covered and filled with semisweet chocolate.
Made for those who are mad about chocolate.


You know I've failed trying to recreate this deliciousness many many times.
Finally, I'll get to eat a proper one, done only by the pros.

Little balls of pleasure. Fatty pork, shrimps, deep fried to perfection, made to order by our childhood neighbor.

...and...go on, get jealous.
Super cute props from Cho Benh Thanh market, Saigon.

Honey Pork and Grapes with Chinese Soup - What Does Your Mug Say about You?

Hungry no more, people! This food scavenger found another treat after a dig. Gosh, there are so many hideous food photographs I found in my hard disk, they made me cringe...with happiness, knowing how far I've come...although I also know how far I still need to go. You can check out my earlier posts to see how hideous my photos were.

Back to food, you know how we love combining sweet, sour and savoury, right? This is one of those combos that worked.
Honey Pork and Grapes Stir Fry

Recipe
- 0.7 lb of pork neck meat, sliced thinly
- half an onion, cut into big chunks
- 1 cup of green seedless grapes, halved
- honey, fish sauce, white pepper, olive oil

Saute onion in olive oil until fragrant and slightly caramelized, add pork neck meat, cook until the meat pieces as done, add fish sauce, add honey, add grapes and cook until the grapes are slightly caramelised. Serve with steamed rice and wash it down with...

Pork Bone and Hairy Melon Soup

Recipe
- 1 lb pork bone (you can use ribs)
- 2 hairy melons, peel, cut into big chunks
- hot water, salt, pepper
I used pressure cooker, so it was quick, but you can cook this in any pot. Throw pork bones into boiling water, cook for minimum 1.5 hours (for non pressure cooker). With pressure cooker, you just need 20-25 minutes. Add pieces of melons, cook until softened, season with salt and pepper, serve. Light, clear, and refreshing.

What Does Your Mug Say about You?
Now, an exhibitionist that I am, I love doing or using everything that reflects me. Home decor, clothings, food, you name it. So, I love these mugs from Indigo, Prince's Building, Central. Choose one that reflects who you are: Toy Boy? high maintenance? daddy cool? yum mum? cheeky monkey?

For myself, this time of the month, I think I'd have to custom order Raging Bitch.

Peanut Butter & Nutella Muffins - I'm A Blue & White Junkie

In between crazy work days, checking out the new flat's progress and mad rush packing, I still had the time to smile happily at my blue and whites, stroking them with love, as I carefully, painstakingly wrapped them, individually with bubble wrap. I just love them so much, it is surprising that I didn't paint my whole new flat blue and white.

Look what I've found at the bottom of my harddisk?
Peanut Butter & Nutella Muffins

How could I keep these babies in the corner? PB & N, they are one of my favorite combos ever!
Recipe
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp peanut butter (and more for filling)
- 2 tbsp nutella (and more for filling)
- 1 egg white (you can include the yolk if you want to)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- a dash of vanilla
- 2/3 cup plain yoghurt

Preheat oven to 180C. Mix dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix wet ingredients in another bowl, except peanut butter and nutella. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, mix a bit, add peanut butter and nutella, whisk until just combined. Pour batter into muffin tray lined with paper cups half way, spoon a bit of peanut butter and nutella in the middle, top off with more batter until 3/4 full, bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Imagine biting into them, right in the middle where the warm peanut butter and nutella filling are...that's sick!

Blue and White Addiction
Now, how do I feed my blue and white addiction? Gawd, Hong Kong is a heaven full of them! Living here feels like a drug addict passing by numerous dealers offering goods at unbelievably low prices all the time, and it ain't easy resisting all the temptations.


This is one of my favorite blue and white joints, look at all those adorable beauties. They look so sad not being bought...all of them are calling my name, begging me to take them home...


Maybe after I get myself a bigger storage so that you can all live more comfortably, my babies...so long...

The shop is in Soho's Elgin St, Central.
Go on, but don't go crazy like me.

Braised Beef Brisket in Herb and Tomato Sauce - A Glass of Poison, Anyone?

How sad and frustrating it is not being able to cook and create, especially when inspirations are floating around your head all day (this is what you get from watching too much Top Chef reruns), events are lined up waiting to be done, and readers waiting to be virtually fed. The answer is...

Very. Absolutely. Extremely. All adverbs ending with "y"

Fortunately, I have another channel to pour my inspirations into, or I might explode!

But, don't worry, my hungry monkeys, I've been digging, and I still have some deliciousness in store for you, stashed deep inside my hard disk. They are the kind of food that's gonna taste better when kept (a little) longer. Hehe, enjoy!

Braised Beef Brisket in Herb and Tomato Sauce

Recipe
- 1 pound of beef brisket
- 6 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1 onion, cut into big chunks
- 5 tomatoes, cut into sections
- rosemary, oregano, thyme, sage, black pepper, salt, fresh mint leaves, lemon juice, lemon zest, red chilli
- butter, olive oil, hot water

Season brisket with salt and pepper, sear in hot oil to brown a bit, set aside. In a pot, saute garlic and onion in olive oil and butter, add brisket chunks, add tomatoes, add herbs, lemon zest, keep lemon juice, chilli and mint leaves for later, add a bit of hot water if necessary. Pop the pot into a preheated oven (180C), and cook until the meat is super tender (about 1.5 hours). You can cook on stove top or use a pressure cooker. Squeeze some lemon juice, sprinkle chopped chilli and garnish with fresh mint leaves. Taste great with rice or pasta, and you can mop off the sauce with bread. Yum.

Now, I've been wanting to share this with everybody, but it got pushed to the back of deep data jungle in my disorganized hard disk. Finally, it's out. Nobody keeps poison in the corner, right?

Short? Tall? Grande? Would you like a milk with that? Cream? Soy? Sorry, arsenic is not available.
Over here, people just die from pleasure ^_^

Darker Shots - Intentional or Accidental Photography?

In terms of photography, I am not much of an inventor and I don't really experiment. I thought I've found the winning formula (natural sunlight, Aperture priority mode, f/4.5, ISO100, portrait picture orientation, shot from about 45 degree angle above the object) and I stick with it most of the time.

However, recently, I've noticed that there are some fabulous shots done in darker settings....and just like how I sometimes itch to try on trendy outfits...although I doubted that I'd like it, I was kinda eager to jump on board the dark-shots wagon...and boy, it was a kind of a rough ride.

I didn't really know how to go about it...so, the intention was strategic, but the results were purely accidental, resulted from the underexposure settings on my camera from my Bali super-glaringly-lit vacation. Well, accidents happen, but I kinda like it this time.


These experiment shots were taken for Still Life Fotografi, the theme for this month is Food and Props. When you are used to seeing brightly lit delicious looking food shots, these take getting used to. The temptation to brighten up everything using photoshop was so great, I had to stop myself from further tampering these photographs by snacking on a huge bar of chocolate. Hehehe.


I love props and I buy them following the same principal as I shop for clothes, shoes and jewelries...which is "BUY, BUY, BUY!". I am uncontrollable! If it wasn't for SC's ever-so-negative comments every time I spotted some cute props, I'd probably have to sleep standing up at the corner of my bedroom, buried in props up to my eyeballs.