Lime & Mango Sorbet

Hoorah.. the weekend is here again! Then it came and gone with the wind. Oh! can I now freeze time and enjoy every single second? With the heat wave making my head spin, I decided to get started with "work" by sitting down here on my cool living room marbled floor pondering on what could I possibly make to cool off? It has to be something refreshing, light, quick and delicious of course. How does LIME & MANGO SORBET sound to you? I think it's perfect!

Mini Blueberry & Lemon Marbled Cheesecake

From my kitchen to you, I bring you my "post" Chinese New Year treat. Nothing Chinese or Asian about it really. As Chinese New Year draws to a close and with an entire week filled with over indulgence at reunion lunches & dinners, has left me yearning for small, light, creamy, fluffy melt in the mouth individual MINI BLUEBERRY & LEMON MARBLED CHEESECAKE. Like that is ever going to help right? But hey! my friends and I used to joke that we have two stomachs. As long we hear those magic words "Dessert anyone?", our eyes lit up like twinkling Christmas lights and suddenly all those feeling of not being able to ingest another food is gone. Sometimes, I'm glad that my groupie shares the same love with me. Otherwise, I will likely feel like a little piggy in that dark cold corner..LOL.

Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Torte Tart, from Vanille Magazine

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!!

Love Is In The Air..da..dee..da.. (humming the melody by John Paul Young) while preparing these CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY TRUFFLE TORTE TARTELETTE. Isn't that a mouthful? A combination of a creamy dark chocolate truffle, raspberry preserved, served in a mini tart shell (store-bought or self-baked) and topped with tangy sugar coated red-currents. Dark and tangy? This combination works and blew my mind away. Also I couldn't decide whether it should be a torte or tart, so it is now both..a torte and a tart.

Next, I'm excited to announce that the Issue 2: Vanille Magazine will showcase a couple new collaborators and the theme this time is all about L♥VE. Bring on the berries and chocolate. Who could resist them? There will be fantastic savoury and sweet treats recipes to impress your love ones.

Earl Grey Dark Chocolate Cupcake

Weekend came and go like "gone with the wind" leaving me feeling slightly unsatisfied. So many things to do, so little time.. spring cleaning, rearranging the furniture, prepping for the coming Chinese New Year..gosh! and the list goes on and on. Of course I wouldn't want to bore you with every single minute details. Sometimes I just wish there's that weekend I could just lay back, and do nothing and pray that Monday is a day further away. Feeling blue? Thank god! for my EARL GREY DARK CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE.

Pear & Bourbon Vanilla Bean Custard Tart + Happy New Year 2013!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013 y'all!

Birthday, Christmas & New Years was a quiet affair where it felt good to unwind, taking a deep breath to think calmly reflecting all that has happened throughout the year. It was great to be able to catch up with close friends for my Birthday, planned 2 hearty lunches for the family; one on Christmas and the other on New Year's Day where I placed my camera aside and enjoyed a meal, had heartfelt conversations which was much needed.

Announcing Vanille Magazine! and Moonpies with Bailey's Irish or Strawberry Marshmallow Cream

Take a bite of my very own mini MOONPIES with BAILEY'S IRISH or STRAWBERRY MARSHMALLOW CREAM; sit back, relax, grab a cuppa or a glass of bubbly, because today is a celebration of a BIG announcement! Apart from mom's birthday, I have an additional news to add on [drum rolls please...].

I like to introduce you to....

Vanille Magazine {Fall/Winter-Christmas}!

I am so excited to announce, jointly with a talented pastry chef Vane of Chokolat & Pimienta, the second issue online publication, Vanille Magazine.

This is my first online publication project and I was thrilled when Vane asked if I like to take part and be a collaborator. What an adventure? There's so much to share with you and so much more to come that I don't even know to begin.

What is Vanille magazine?
Vanille is a quarterly online publication [both in English & Spanish] that is dedicated to a theme or season; exploring every single food subject in great depth through a combination of recipes, photography, articles and stories. It is about a collaboration between a couple of amazing food blogger/writers coming together stretching our boundaries, brain storming and sharing our thoughts, love and complete obsession with food.

To entice you, my Moonpie is part of what's great to serve to your guests on a Christmas party, alongside with other great ideas and recipes. This issue also showcases classic pies, and new pie recipes, perfect for a cool windy day. So head on over, check out Vanille, Vanille on issuu, follow the Vanille Magazine blog, and the Vanille twitter feed!

---

Moonpies: Bailey’s Irish or Strawberry Marshmallow Cream
by Chic & Gorgeous Treats                                          

---

* My very own take of moonpie where the marshmallow filling is sandwiched in between light airy cake called a Genoise.
* Makes a dozen (12) medium sized moonpies.
*2 different flavours: Bailey’s Irish Cream & Strawberry Cream.
* Irish cream liqueur can be omitted or substituted with any jam, preserved or artificial fruit flavouring for a kid friendly version.
* Moonpies can be kept between 3-4 days if stored in an airtight lid container.

INGREDIENTS

Basic Genoise 60g all-purpose flour, sifted 60g large egg white 60g large egg yolks 60g caster sugar 1/4 teaspoon of salt 2 teaspoons pure vanilla bean paste Bailey’s Irish Cream Filling 4-5 tablespoons Irish Cream 1/3 cup Kraft’s Marshmallow Puff 1/4 cup heavy cream, whipped soft peak Strawberry Cream Filling 1/2 -1 teaspoon Strawberry flavouring/ jam 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1/3 cup Kraft’s Marshmallow Puff 1/4 cup heavy cream, whipped soft peak 1/8 teaspoon of pink food colouring(optional)

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Glaze           4oz Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate           3 tablespoons light corn syrup           4-6 tablespoons unsalted butter           2-3 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS NOTE: *Do not over beat while mixing stiffened egg white (aka meringue) and yolk, as we do not want to lose a lot of air. * Instead of mixing the flour and egg mixture with a paddle attachment, you may alternately fold in the flour into the egg mixture with a spatula until there are no lumps visible. Careful to not over mix or over beat the batter. Otherwise, the genoise will inflate when baked. * BE CAREFUL TO NOT over bake a genoise as it will become hard, dry or burns easily. Each home oven temperature may differ; hence temperature suggested is a reference. I would usually set a time for 8 minutes, take it out to check, and when is not ready; I will let it bake another 3 minutes and run another check.  Another suggestion is to preheat the oven at 160°C, and bake between 8-12 minutes as well. As long a skewer inserted comes out clean and cake is springy to touch, the genoise is ready. 1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease the sides, and line a (12x12 or 10x10) square baking tray with parchment paper. With a whisk attachment attached to a stand mixer or hand held beater, on high speed whisk egg whites until foamy. Turn speed down to medium-high, add sugar a tablespoon at the time, and then turn the speed up back to high and beat eggs whites and sugar until it forms stiff peaks. Then turn speed down to medium-low, add in the egg yolks, and vanilla bean paste; mixing each time until well incorporated. 2. Meanwhile, sift flour and salt in a separate bowl. Next, change the attached whisk to a paddle attachment. Pour the flour all at once into the mixing bowl, and on low speed, mix together the egg mixture with the flour, until there are no lumps left. 3. Pour batter into prepared cake tray and spread batter evenly. Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean or the top is lightly golden in colour.  Let genoise sit in the tray and cool for about 5 minutes before transferring over to a wire rack to allow cooling off completely. 4. Using a medium round cookie cutter (approx. 5cm in diameter), cut out 24 round cakelettes. Each moonpie will have a set of 2 cakelettes; 1 for the top and 1 for the bottom. Set aside until it’s ready to be assembled. To make BAILEY’S IRISH OR STRAWBERRY filling: 5. Whip heavy cream until soft peaks. In a bowl, mix together IRISH CREAM or STRAWBERRY FLAVOURING followed by pink food colouring (optional) to Marshmallow fluff. Fold in whipped cream and mix until well combined. Transfer marshmallow filling and refrigerate in for 20 minutes to allow filling to set or harden up slightly. To prepare Chocolate Glaze and assemble the moonpie: 6. In a double boiler, a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering hot water, melt chocolate, butter, light corn syrup and milk together. Stir the chocolate glaze mixture once a while. Once chocolate has completely melted, take it off the stove and set aside to allow cooling off. 7. Using a palette knife, spreader or piping bag, spread or pipe marshmallow filling onto each genoise cakelette. Cover the filling with the other cakelette. Using a kitchen towel or with a palette knife, remove any excess filling. 8. Dip the moonpie into the slightly cooled chocolate glaze covering the sides and the top. Set moonpie on a wire rack, allowing excess chocolate glaze to drip off. Decorate with sprinkles (optional). Refrigerate moonpie for 1 hour or until the chocolate set and is slightly harden.  Thaw 5 minutes before serving. ENJOY!

---

xx