Holiday Gift Guide | Organic Love

Over the next few days and next week, I will be posting a few gift guides for the love of in the kitchen. Be it a treat for yourself, a friend, love one or even your very own family, here's a fantastic way to add some sparkle to your cheese platter, or some floral earthy love to your baked cookies. And who says apron has to be drab? Oh and check out those cute mini planters. Aren't they a gem? Since I love curating over at Etsy and Anthropologie, I would love to share them with you. Here are my five picks & more to come!

1. Holiday Macaron Gift Box

2. Verdant Canister

3. Fallen Quills Apron

4. Mini Planters set of 4

5. Imperial Cheese Knives

Chewy Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookie

Happy Sunday y'all!! It has been a while since I last posted on a Sunday. Today must be your lucky day.. or is it mine? Gasps!! Just the other day, I decided to try to make an effort to leave the office sharp straight after work and I did. My colleagues were speechless as I am usually the one who would be the last to leave for the day. I suggested to them to buy a lottery ticket ;).. LOL..

I have a couple of posts lined up, and would like to try to post them all up before Christmas. At the same time, I would like to share with you some classic ideas for this Holiday Season. Here's a really simple recipe and does not take up a lot of time in the kitchen too. Not to mention it's filled with all the gooey dark chocolate goodness. As you munch into the CHEWY PEPPERMINT BARK CHOCOLATE COOKIE, there's that hint of tingling minty sensation too from Ghirardelli's Peppermint Bark.

Pecan Pie with Salted Caramel

After some dissertation, I am once again back and will soon be able to get back to my regular posting schedule. Lots has been happening the past few months where I was mainly focusing a lot towards my growth in my work. Now that it has finally slowed down a little, I could breathe with ease and I feel like floating in the air too...dancing to every single upbeat Christmas song I hear and my personal favourite has to be the Jazz-Blues, Traditional Pop genre. I grew up listening to wonderful singers like Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, just to name a few. However, I do have a current personal favourite too. I have been hooked to this wonderful singer ever since his first album. Perhaps it comes as no surprise to my friends, that at this time of the year, I will be caught humming and tapping to the tune of Winter Wonderland, listening to the smooth-silky voice of Michael Bublé.

Since I'm in the mood for the holidays, let me present to you my all time favourite nutty PECAN PIE with SALTED CARAMEL is a classic. There may not be a lot of people around me know, that I have a soft spot for them. Just a slice of this luxuriously crunchy, caramelized aroma and taste pie is enough to make your knees wobble. Pronounced either as "pee-CAN" or by some as pee-KAHN", this is one Classic Pie that is perfect for the holidays. So start cranking up the oven peeps!

Vanilla Custard Crepe Cake

After several attempts over the week, I am finally back up posting. This post had me excited and I desperately wanted to share it with you so badly. Have you ever been excited about something that you wish you could share it in an instant? I suppose luck isn't at my side as I kept having network issue. Oh! the agony.

Moving along, this is somewhat out of my comfort zone, and certainly well worth the effort. French Crepes are pancakes too, and in a much thinner and lighter form. Lately, there has been a craze here in Asia and possibly this originate either from the French or the Japanese or maybe a fusion of both. Anyhow, where it came from now has certainly driven me to further dig up the roots as they have come up with something so brilliant, transforming these light crepes into cakes. Layers and layers of french crepe, slathered with custard cream and topped with jam, glaze, or as simple as powdered sugar makes this my new found love for cakes. To start, and to many more to come, I am starting off with the basic classic love for VANILLA CUSTARD CREPE CAKE.

Raspberry Rose Buttercream White Chocolate Cupcake

I kid you not and it's pretty clear on my obsession towards cupcakes. Guilty pleasures in small dainty cups, frosted with any ultra smooth Swiss Meringue Buttercream flavour is simply irresistible. This week, I thought lets start the day off with RASPBERRY ROSE BUTTERCREAM WHITE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE.

Mini Apple & Cranberry Galette & TGIF!

What a packed whirlwind week. I am glad it's finally Friday and really looking forward to a lazy weekend. For me, making simple pies with no fuss is therapeutic. I am a huge fan when it comes to serving everyone with their own individual pies, tarts or this simple classic MINI APPLE & CRANBERRY GALETTE. While I too love the huge classic pie, sliced into slices, but I truly love the idea of everyone having their own portion. No body has to worry of not getting enough. Plus it makes serving them individually pretty, and special.

In the next coming months, you will get to see me venturing into other recipes which I have been meaning to try. A long list with not a lot of time..

While I have tested several pie dough recipe from different magazines or pastry chefs, the galette dough recipe is adapted from David Lebovitz's amazing book, if I say so myself titled "Ready for Dessert". This is possibly my new favourite  pie dough, with some minor tweaking to cater to the weather in the country I live in. It's light, flaky and crunchy around the edges. Almost like a butter cookie that melts in the mouth. Delish!

Have a great weekend~

xx

Almond Cinnamon Rolls wtih Maple Glaze

HAPPY FRIDAY y'all! As the week starts to whine down, I am in the mood of something warm, satisfying and full of flavour. To start off, the smell of blooming yeast, in the fluffy dough, while waiting for it to rise and double up in volume is truly intoxicating. You just know that the end result is going to be something so comforting and delicious. Enough to satisfy any crave. Oh! I truly love the smell of freshly baked bread out of the oven. Plus the hint of cinnamon, almond and butter mixed together just makes it a little special.

To many of you, this may just be a simple recipe, and may have baked rolls over the years but honestly, every single time when I yearned for a classic treat, I always go to my ALMOND CINNAMON ROLLS with MAPLE GLAZE.

Strawberry Black Tea infused Chocolate Ganache Cupcake

Despite being under the weather recently, with a congested nose, head pounding and aching, tissues lying everywhere, I couldn't stop thinking about my all time favourite crave. It's official, my obsession towards cupcake is back. Yep, so bad so that I have been churning batches of cupcakes after cupcakes the past few weeks. Primarily to cater to orders from friends who are so kind  to support me to grow my tiny business. On the other side, I had some fun too in the kitchen; although sweating my butt out, standing for hours, and covered all over in flour & butter cream; I got round to revisiting some old basic recipes where I started putting new spin to them.

Today, I would love to share with you on my love towards pretty looking treats and why I adore small packages. C-U-P-C-A-K-E-S; how much I adore thee. Small, dainty, perfect bite sizes and if you dream it, you could certainly make them in power packed flavours to tantalize those taste buds which are forever waiting to be teased. Strawberry & Chocolate pairing, a great combination has always believed to be an aphrodisiac. What about Black Tea? Surprisingly, they worked out quite well. Alas came STRAWBERRY  BLACK TEA infused CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUPCAKE.

Peach & Blueberry Crumble

Over the weekend, I was busy pinning away ideas on another one of my favourite stone-fruit; PEACHES. Only on rare occasions that I get to work with them since it's so crazy expensive when sold here in our local supermarkets. Let me tell you how it all began. Growing up, I had endless fascinations over this juicy sweet golden orbs, almost like gold nuggets to me. They were always cans and cans of peaches stacked up in the pantry. The brand imprinted in my memory till this very day is by this company called S&M. If you haven't had them before, you have no idea what you're missing out on.

Anyways, moving along.. I could still remember, that the simplest pleasure was just serving this can of peach with a generous scoop of creamy smooth good old vanilla ice-cream.  Imagine, scooping a mouth full of cold ice-cream with a slice of peach .. mMMMmmm.. so..so good right? Till this very day, I still find myself swooning over this simple luxurious treat.

However this time, instead of just enjoying my simple pleasure in life, I decided that I am going to take it up a notch and make a crumble. Not just any crumble, it had to be PEACH & BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE with slight variation of course and with FRESH Peaches. Simple, light and packed with all the natural goodness!

Orange & Almond ButterCream Cake with Berry Blossom Compote

HAPPY BLOG-O-VERSARY Chic & Gorgeous Treats! My tiny blog is now THREE years old. Has it been been 3 years? Boy, how time flies. It felt like it was only yesterday, I started this blog with no direction, filled with uninteresting photos. Part of growing up process and getting better at what I enjoy doing all this while...tapping in to my creative juices. Slowly developing into a precious diary...a log book... a journal of my baking, travel & photography adventure. A self discovery where I found solace, filled with tears of sorrow and joy a midst of my hectic days.

Part of being me, is my obsession towards Berries and Citrus. Orange, Almond ButterCream, Berries & Orange Blossom Water is such a wonderful combination when put together in a classic Orange Butter cake. Just a tiny drop into berry compote makes all the difference. Honestly, just a tiny drop, because Orange Blossom Water is quite strong and goes a long way.

Here's how I plan to celebrate after a long days work. A classy rustic ORANGE & ALMOND BUTTER CREAM CAKE with BERRY BLOSSOM COMPOTE.

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

Summer Berry Pavlova + Rose & Raspberry Syrup and NEW VANILLE MAGAZINE is out!

Announcing the third issue of Vanille Magazine! The Spanish version is out and is filled with all lovely Spring and Summer dessert recipes. There's also a section dedicated to cold treats. As we all know, what can be more perfect to cool off a sweaty hot sunny day with a scoop of ice-cream of sorbet? That's not all. This issue also focuses on on of our all time favourite special ingredient. The Vanilla Bean. So, be sure to hop on over to check it out or try out the recipes or like what I always find joy in doing; feasting with the eyes. To celebrate this issue I baked A SUMMER BERRY PAVLOVA served with ROSE & RASPBERRY SYRUP.

PB N' J Bread & Butter Pudding

Past week has been chaotic. Not to mention the weather has been rather crazy too. One moment it was sunny and hot, which literally burns the skin [metaphorically speaking] and then the next, it rains like cats and dogs. Somehow, I believed the craziness affected my mood swings or hormones too as I was easily agitated [sigh...]. So whenever I'm down, apart from running to the fridge to grab a bar of chocolate, I thought wouldn't it be nice to make a small tray of PEANUT BUTTER N' JELLY BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING. And the rest was history!

Madeleine au Citron with Citron Honey Glaze

I had been taking a while to draft this post, and when I  finally did, disaster happened! Coming from a tech savvy environment, I have always saved my work, for this matter, this post. And then, the post was accidentally removed and blogger saved a blank draft for me. Oh gosh! The agony and pain for me to think all over on what to share with  you was tougher than I thought. Sometimes, I feel that technology can be a pain and at times it's handy to our daily needs. It allows us to communicate and stay in touch with one another from far away land with just a click away; whereby a snail mail may take up to a week or two before it reaches it's designated destination. Then again, doing certain things the old fashion way makes it more memorable and meaningful too.

So last weekend, in brief I finally had time to catch up on some movies that I missed out. Ah! yes, it's starting to come back to me now. I watched Alice in Wonderland (the movie) and not the cartoon; although I must say, I do enjoy the cartoon a lot more. Yes, finally peeps! Can you imagine? To make the experience memorable, I whipped up some dainty French Madeleines. Yes, that's right. I will find any excuse to indulge over the weekend. Not just any plain madeleines. It has to be MADELEINE au CITRON with CITRON HONEY GLAZE.

To break it down....

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!

Mango Swiss Buttercream + Dark Chocolate Cupcake

This is a long overdue post, but it's finally done. Over this Easter weekend, I made some MANGO SWISS BUTTERCREAM  DARK CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE for an order and it couldn't be more of a perfect timing. To go along with them, I made some coral blush robin cake toppers.

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

After Eight Mint Chocolate Cupcake

A long to do list that needs to be checked off one at a time, and a much needed break is what I really need right now. Whenever, I become a little stress over something, I become over emotional. Over emotional eater that is. Not the kind that will cry my eyes out but will pig out. That's more of me.

So when my heart and tummy crave for chocolate, another friend of mine will call out to me; After Eight Chocolate Mints. The gooey minty centre coated with dark chocolate is simply irresistible. To pay tribute to my obsession towards chocolate and mint, it has to be these AFTER EIGHT MINT CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES.

Lemon Cheesecake French Macaron

TGIF everyone! Here I am again, thinking..well lets have a classic lemon cheesecake. Instead of a cheesecake, lets find a way to put it into the macaron. Crazy right? As though an original flavoured macaron isn't delicious enough, I gave into my crave and made LEMON CHEESECAKE FRENCH MACARON. Double the flavour, double the joy, and double the satisfaction.

Dark Chocolate Mousse & Hazelnut Rice Krispy Cake

Before we move deeper into the recipe, I contemplated a long time whether this should go onto my post. A simple reason really as I don't think I did enough justice to this decadent treat. You will understand better later. This is almost like 2 desserts in 1. A cake and a bar? No clue really, but I went ahead and called it a cake; although it didn't require any baking, and mixing any cake batter. As a child, I had always love those dainty chic looking cakes where they are usually paired with a genoise or hazelnut praline crunch which are then topped with fluffy flavoured mousse. So there I was in the kitchen, toying around with the idea of making a thick luscious layer of dark chocolate mousse paired with a crunchy base coated in hazelnut spread. Alas came DARK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE & HAZELNUT RICE KRISPY CAKE; certainly a watering mouthful treat. You will definitely love the layer of the Chocolate Mousse.

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.

Dulce de Leche & Espresso Macaron

If you're a fan of sparkles, pink, lilac, coffee and caramel; then this DULCE DE LECHE & ESPRESSO FRENCH MACARON is definitely your go to pick me up of  the day. Having both of these flavours marry together is seriously a match made in the kitchen dying to happen.

Orange & Lime Bitters Rosette Cookie

I know what you are thinking. Yeah, suddenly I have evolved into a mind reader. You must be thinking, what's with both of the combination of these citrus; orange and lime bitters. Let me tell you, it was a pure innocent mistake. Or is it? Well, we will never really know anyway. However, boy! this "mistake" made me wanted to reach not one or two but three or four of these ORANGE & LIME BITTERS ROSETTE COOKIES.

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.