Dark Chocolate Cheesecake, Birthday & Where About!

Past 2 months has been filled with chaotic, and hectic schedule. Birthdays, family, friends and work were mainly my top priority. This time round, I'm aware that I have been away far more longer than usual. Despite, the lack of food blogging, I managed to squeeze in some weekends to bake, in away to distress and baking happened to be quite therapeutic.

I spent the last months, in a quiet space. A much needed time alone too. Very much like the upcoming photos. Serene, calm, chilly and slightly grey which helps to recollect myself and question what are/were my desires in life. Far from that, it drives and motivate myself to continue to persevere building my pathway to greener pastures. Ever so recently, everyday, has either been a blessing or a constant struggle to figure out, how to make that extra dough to stay afloat. The journey hasn't been pleasant either where I stumbled upon port holes one after another following by some bumpy rides. At the end, like the saying goes, if there's nothing good to say, it's best to not say anything.

All I could do right now, is pray that it gets better, brighter each day and hopefully my tiny baking hobby kicks off to an astounding level. Can I vent one last sad sappy news? My DSLR decided to die on me, leaving me with no better choice other than to use a point & shoot camera as a backup [kicks my foot...]. Such a bummer.. So some photos may be from a DSLR, and some are from my trusty regular digital camera. As they say, it's not the camera, and it's all about the skill. This is one area that I am constantly geared to improve. What I realize is that it depends a lot on how I feel that very day too. For instance, if I am in a mood for blurry and grey shots, my photos may turn out that way. Slightly crazy but I adore all forms of food-scenic photography. From vintage, to shabby chic to minimalism or just straight on focusing towards the object.

Moving on, last month was my wonderful loving DAD's 60th Birthday. As you may or may not know, my dad is a huge fan of cheesecake. His love for simple, nothing too frilly or over the top cheesecake this time would be a lusciously DARK CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE. Fluffy creamy cream cheese flavoured with good quality semi-sweet melted chocolate is complimented with Oreo cookie base.

Thank god, I had some backup recipes and shots which I have not blogged about. Those my friends, will be heading your way real soon.

Got to love this line "Although, the vision is hazy, someday I shall be flying so high!" Can you guess? Can you tell where this line is taken from? Here's a hint.. from a music buff like myself, it's from a musical this time and I certainly live on this motto where it gives me drive, faith and defies any gravity that pulls me down ;).

Stay tune peeps...

xx

Oreo & Earl Grey Ice Box Pie & TGIF!

At last, it's Friday and perfect for a long gone TGIF post. As I gaze upon the window, gloomy weather is the forecast of the day and perhaps a thunderstorm coming upon us. Then as I scout around a very quiet workplace and with the air conditioning on at full blast, I feel a sense of chilliness that's making me crave for a hot cup of cocoa.[slurps...]. While I know it seems like it has been forever since I last posted, I do have a valid reason. If you followed me on Instagram, then you may have seen some mouth watering photos and amazing scenic view. To sum up, I was away on a family vacation. So I am back, for those of you who missed me and I will strive to keep on posting whenever I can [brownie's promise!]. 

While I may not have a recipe for you today just yet, but I hope this post will inspire you. Ever wonder what to make out of some left over baked goods? How many times have you thrown off some scrap or what do you if you have a left over cookie dough? Don't toss them out. There are several times I have tossed out extra batter thinking I will not be doing anything to it. This time round, I challenged myself using some left overs [which have not been eaten or touched of course] and came up with [what I personally think.. is a crazy idea]; also happens tastes good is an OREO & EARL GREY ICE-BOX PIE.

Gorgeous Magnolia: Taken in Perth, Australia

The layers? At the very bottom, sits a thin layer of buttermilk dark chocolate cake, then layered with a thin layer of earl grey mascarpone cream, then followed by a layer of home baked graham crackers. While it didn't end there, I slathered some melted dark chocolate spread and finally topped the entire pie with Jello's instant mix Oreo Pudding. To garnished, I chopped up some dark and semi-sweet Sharffen Berger's chocolate bar. Simple enough? Doesn't it make you drool? How would even think this came from left over batter?

Have a lovely weekend y'all and there are many more posts coming up. Right now, I am just going to head back to recuperate from my holiday. 

xx

Baking Recipe: Oreo Overload Cheesecake (Non-Baked) & Foodbuzz Festival 2011

Wow, I've been so caught up recently with work that I have not been able to update you all with my goodies. I do have a valid reason really and I hope I have not lost you foodie friends. Recently, I've been handed over with some new tasks and I really got to pull up my socks and clear most of it off since I'll be heading off to San Francisco this coming November.

And for what reason you might ask? Well, I'm so terribly excited as I will be attending the Foodbuzz Food Blogging Festival which is happening next month, or to be exact next week Friday, November 4th, 2011. Woooo hoooooo.. Yep peeps, I'll be flying in. So if any of you are going, lets make a date or mark it down. Make sure to give me a holler down over at my comment area. We really ought to meet, greet and chat.

Now back to this Oreo Overload Cheesecake. I made this cake over the weekend to celebrate my sister in-law's birthday. I knew she and my brother loves oreo so I asked her what cake would she like. She mentioned that she likes cheese cake. Instead of the regular cheesecake, I decided to make her favourite cake combining it with her favourite cookie.

For recipe: Click on image

Why is it Oreo Overload? It's because every single bite you get, you will get to taste the oreo bits. So no fighting there  ;P. Everyone gets equal parts love from Oreo. This cake is super simple to make, very minimal washing up, it's light, melts in the mouth and packed with Oreo flavour. No twisting and dunking here, but maybe just some licking?

Till then, don't forget to buzz me over at my e-mail or comments area if you're attending the Foodbuzz Festival (4th-6th November, 2011). It's getting closer, one more week to go..

xx

HAPPY HALLOWEEN - Melting Jack O'Lantern Oreo Truffle

Happy Halloween

Over here in KL, Malaysia.. the folks here has taken up the whole Halloween festivity pretty seriously. Just like the Social Recreational Club in my office, they would go to great lengths to plan out an activity. It's amazing to see how sporting Malaysians have become. Plus it's really fun seeing all men, women come dressed in their alter ego. I dressed up as a Dark Angel last year with the whole gothic do and to finish it with White Angelic Wings.

Don't worry.. that's not my alter ego as it's a theme that my business unit was going after. The results at the end was that we came up TOP as best dressed team. That was certainly fun. I've always like to be a pixie or fairy or perhaps dress up as Tinkerbell. {i sense eyes frowning =.=''} I think that would be my alter ego. Lol... What's yours?

For this halloween, I've decided to revisit my Oreo Truffle. This is because my brother asked for the Oreo Truffle. Lol.. Since it's going to be round in shape, I've decided to make them into Melting Jack O' Lanterns. {keeping fingers crossed, that I would be able to find an edible pen to draw the faces}

Sadly this time I am under the weather and doubt I would get to pop in my oreo truffle, as I got a wisdom tooth surgery done. Suddenly now out of the blue being attacked with high fever {sigh}. What a party pooper to my weekend. Therefore, I shall do my best to stay awake to provide clear descriptions.

For recipe, click on link below. Instead of using dark chocolate, I found Orange flavoured chocolate in my local bakery. Unfortunately, I don't quite like the texture of the orange flavoured chocolate. Was hoping for a smooth pumpkin, but end up with Melting Jack O' Lantern. Lol.. Have a Happy Halloween!


Note: I reckoned to use candy melt and add colouring or white chocolate and add food colouring for smoother coating {perhaps I should have followed my gut instinct and use my candy melts or white chocolate} Oh well.. we learn from mistakes and baking or making dessert is suppose to be fun. So no worries, if it don't turn out the way you want it to be. So long the taste is GOOD.  

URL: http://chicgorgeous.blogspot.com/2010/10/oreo-trufflestiny-but-sinful.html


xx

Dessert Recipe: Oreo Truffles..tiny & sinful..

My gosh.. time is certainly flying by like crazy.. I cannot believe that another weekend has just gone by with a snap of a finger.

Well, you see I had a luncheon session with an old primary schoolmate. Although, I did have my little suspicions thinking that it would be her birthday as I do recall it's in October but didn't realise it was exactly beginning of the month. oOopsiee..

Lately, as you're aware.. I have made plans to experiment baking or make something new and sinful every weekend based on all the recipes I stumbled upon. I know that might sound insane.. and could actually cause the number on my weighing scale to go up, but don't you just love sharing the treats with others? Like the saying goes.. sharing is caring?  Of course I would hand out my treats to family, friends and to those who were willing to be my guinea pig . Lol.. So rest assured, hopefully my scale maintains or drops. {Phew =.=''}

Since the luncheon was on Saturday; I didn't exactly have much time to go through the process of baking and frosting. What did I make this time?