Little Thumbs Up Event July 2015: TEA 小拇指说好: 茶语飘香

How time flies...half a year has passed and we are entering into July and I will be hosting the Little Thumbs Up - Tea event. 

I have chosen the theme Tea as it is known as the elixir of life for its many health benefits. 

Nutella Swirl Vanilla Ice-Cream 榛子酱香草冰淇淋 （中英食谱教程）

I am using the Tovolo Ice-cream scoop which provides the perfect scoop and keeps the counter clean. 

According to Straits Times report few days ago, Singapore will be expecting dry and warm months ahead due to the prevailing El Nino weather phenomenon and the weatherman forecasts that the region would be drier and warmer than usual until September or early October. To keep myself cool in this hot weather, I frequent the swimming pool more often and make popsicles and ice-cream every 2~3 days! Last week, I shared the awfully delicious Salted Caramel ice-cream recipe and it was very well received. Today, I am going to share a personal favourite homemade ice-cream with you and hope you will enjoy it as much as I do!  :)

Gula Melaka Yoga Cotton Cake 椰糖瑜伽棉花蛋糕（中英食谱教程）

My family loves the Yoga cotton cake as the texture is so soft and moist and it is best eaten chilled as it tastes like the Japanese Cotton Cheesecake. I have made it in gula melaka flavour this round and it is super fragrant and tastes even better than the original!

上次介绍的瑜珈棉花蛋糕很受欢迎，这次尝试了椰糖口味的，味道更佳！质感又柔又细腻，一样也能做瑜珈！

Salted Caramel Ice-Cream 海盐焦糖冰淇淋（中英食谱教程）

I am using the Tovolo Ice-cream scoop which provides the perfect scoop and keeps the counter clean. 

My kids tried the Salted Caramel ice-cream at Marble Slab Creamery few weeks ago and fell in love with it. As usual, they will ask, "Mummy, can you replicate it at home?" So, I sourced on the internet and found a recipe on Epicurous which has received many good reviews from those who had tried it. Indeed this recipe did not disappoint us! We love it and it's a keeper! Do note that the mixture is still a little soft after processing it in the ice-cream maker thus you will have to crank up the freezer to freeze it firm. Without an ice-cream maker, you can also make this successfully! 

炎热的天气，害我天天都想做冰淇淋来吃。今天介绍大家这超好吃的海盐焦糖冰淇淋，你肯定不会失望的！即使没有冰淇淋机也能成功地做出！

Mango Ice- Cream 芒果雪糕 （中英食谱教程）

Weather has been really warm and humid in Singapore and cool treats are definitely a big welcome for all. Here's sharing with you a refreshing, simple 3 ingredients mango ice-cream recipe which is one of my all time favourite. This recipe does not require an ice-cream maker but I used it as it can churn the ice-cream out for me in an hour to consume straight away to beat the heat! ;p

天气真的太炎热了，做了这只需三种食材，快速简易无需冰淇淋机，又清爽美味的芒果雪糕。赶快试一试吧，保证你喜欢！

Blueberry Chiffon Cake 蓝莓戚风蛋糕 （中英食谱教程）

I am beginning to enjoy baking chiffon cake as it is really versatile and one can make it in a wide variety of flavours using fruit puree, jams, juices, extracts, citrus zests, liquer, etc. Here's sharing my 3rd chiffon cake using fresh blueberries shortly after baking a Gula Melaka flavoured one.  

Source from Internet 来源自网络

Gula Melaka Chiffon Cake 椰糖戚风蛋糕 （中英食谱教程）

This is my second time baking a chiffon cake. My first attempt was almost 2 years ago when I baked a Matcha Chiffon Cake after returning from a Japan holiday as I had bought a big pack of Japanese Matcha powder. I was elated being successful on my first attempt as I was told that the success rate for chiffon cake is not high especially for a newbie. 

As I had leftover coconut milk in the fridge, hence the decision to try out the Gula Melaka flavour. Here's sharing my second chiffon cake after a haitus, it is moist and fluffy and of course delicious and fragrance! 

Matcha & Beetroot Butter Cake for my 15th Wedding Anniversary 抹茶与甜菜根奶油蛋糕庆祝水晶婚 （中英食谱）

I was cracking my brain hard again....thinking what cake to bake for my 15th crystal wedding anniversary. Last year, I created the 'Non-Bake Rose cheesecake' and it was well received by hubby as well as many readers who have tried the recipe.  You might think why is it so difficult to decide what to bake, I could have just decided on a sponge cake and decorated with loads of whipping cream. Well...my hubby dislikes cakes with whipping cream and he is not one who can be pleases easily. (oops...Shhhh! ) Thus, I have to come up with a plain, yet pretty and delicious cake to please both his eyes and palate....haha! After some thoughts, I decided to adapt from my super moist 'Almond Butter Cake' and baked this super healthy, all natural and delicious Matcha Beetroot Butter Cake the night before the special occasion on 27 May. 

Last Wednesday morning, I showed him the cake and he said, "Interesting!". I cut a slice for him, he took a bite and said, "Hmm...taste good!" As I mentioned in my previous post, my hubby isn't one who praises easily too, so if he says good, it must be so! ;p 

We had a nice dinner celebration that night and received this complimentary chocolate fudge cake. :) 

Banana Yogurt Streusel Muffins​ ​香蕉优格​沙波罗马芬​ （中英食谱教程）

I have enjoyed hosting the 'Little Thumbs Up' Yogurt event this month and it is coming to an end in two days time.  I am happy to have made some new blogger friends during this event and I want to thank all my blogger friends who have supported me by sharing their wonderful yogurt recipes. Please pardon me if I have not visited your linked blog posts due to a super busy schedule.  

Here's sharing the Banana Yogurt Streusel Muffins which will be my last yogurt post for this event and I do highly recommend it to you. With the addition of irresistible streusel on the banana muffins, it is exceptionally delicious, you really gotta try it!  

这个月主持的小拇指“优格之旅‘活动，过两天就结束了。在这要感谢我的博友们踊跃地支持这项活动，也很高兴认识了一些新的博友。由于太忙，没什么时间到博友们的家拜访，还请多多包涵。

这香蕉优格​沙波罗马芬将是我在这项活动分享的最后一个优格食谱。香蕉马芬本身已经很好吃了，加上脆脆香香的沙波罗更好吃，所以强力推荐给大家，希望你们也会喜欢。 

Ogura Colour De Quad 四色相思蛋糕 （中英食谱教程）

This is my first attempt making an ogura cake and I was bold enough to try it out in four colours. As usual using only natural colourings as I dislike using artificial colourings made of chemicals. I wanted a pretty looking cake as I was making it for my grandmother's 92nd birthday. 

这是我第一次做相思蛋糕。为了烤出一个亮丽的蛋糕给阿嬤的92岁生日，就很大胆地尝试用四种颜色。跟往常一样，我只选择用天然色素，因为不喜欢用化学而成的人造色素。

Not long ago, I made my Yoga Cotton Cake for granny and she loves it much. This time, I decided to try out the Ogura cake which is also known for it's soft and moist texture. I have named it Ogura Coleur De Quad, a French name which means Orgura with four colours. The four colours batter were poured into the baking mould one after another and baked at the same time. I was really curious how the colours will turn out after baked and was pleasantly pleased and surprised with the nice pattern formation! My granny even gave a thumbs up for the cake! 

不久前，做了瑜伽棉花蛋糕给阿嬤吃，她特别喜欢。这次想尝试这款也有着柔软湿润质感的相思蛋糕给她试，希望她也一样喜欢。 我把蛋糕的四色面糊一层接一层倒入烤模一起烤，蛮好奇烤出来的图案会是怎样的。蛋糕出炉后，我非常满意形成的图案，是不是很漂亮？阿嬤吃了蛋糕之后还竖起拇指说好呢！

I want to thank my dear hubby here as after hearing how I wished I can have a Blue Pea plant at home so that I can extract natural blue colourings for my bakes, he immediately searched on the internet and bought the plant for me. Here's one flower which bloom yesterday morning after I have plucked out all to make this cake. Isn't it pretty? Looking at it lifts up my mood! :) 

Blueberry Frozen Yogurt 蓝莓冷冻优格（中英食谱教程）

I am using the Tovolo Ice-cream scoop which provides the perfect scoop and keeps the counter clean. 

A super healthy dessert to chase away the hot and humid weather blue! Joining in the fun of making frozen yogurt together with my blogger friends and posting in our blog today. Thanks to Zoe and Fion for initiating this in support of LTU yogurt theme and BREE dessert theme. Let's chill together! Cheers! 

Chocolate Marble Pound Cake 巧克力大理石磅蛋糕 （中英食谱教程）

I was a huge fan of Sara Lee pound cakes before I picked up baking 4 years ago. I have tried baking several pound cake recipes like the Blueberry Whipping Cream pound cake, Cream Cheese pound cake and Orange Yogurt pound cake and thus far this Chocolate Marble pound cake gives the best taste! With the addition of yogurt, the texture is moist and not greasy too. Thanks to my dear friend, Lois, who highly recommended this recipe to me. My hubby gave a big thumbs up when he ate it and I am so pleased! You see, he is rather critical and not one who praises easily, if he says good, it must be so...LOL!!!   
   
四年前，还没开始玩烘焙时，就好喜欢买‘沙莉雪藏蛋糕’。试过好几款磅蛋糕如‘ 蓝梅鲜奶油磅蛋糕’，‘奶油奶酪磅蛋糕’和‘ 柳橙优格磅蛋糕’，还是这‘巧克力大理石磅蛋糕’最好吃！因为加了优格，蛋糕的质感又湿润又细腻，而且吃起来也没那么油腻。 真的感谢好友Lois强力推荐她收藏多年的食谱，我才能够吃到这么好吃的磅蛋糕。老公吃了也竖起拇指说好。哇，这下我可high了，因为他不轻易给于赞美的喔！所以他说好就是好。。哈哈！　 

Quick & Easy Double Chocolate Yogurt Muffins 简易双巧克力优格玛芬 （中英食谱教程）

I have been using this quick and easy muffin recipe all these while especially when I am super busy and do not have much time to bake. This recipe is really a life saver to me as all in all it takes only 30 minutes to churn out a batch of delicious and moist muffins. In this recipe, I only used one single baking tool - the Tovolo dough whisk, to do the job. Yay, less washing to do...especially if you are like me who do not have the luxury of having a helper at home to do all the washing. 

每当超忙碌时，这简易又快速的食谱是我的救星。因为在短短的三十分钟就能烘焙出又湿润又好吃的马芬。

For those who are new to the dough whisk, it is also known as the Danish Dough Whisk or Brotpisker in Danish. It is an essential tool for all bakers as it can do chores like mixing muffin batter, mixing heavy dough prior to kneading and other batters which you don't want to beat for fear of toughening your bakes. This specialized baking tool is also easier to wash compared to a hand whisk. 

You may click on the following links to check out my youtube videos how this tool was used: 

1. Cranberry Yogurt Muffins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxZ4sjnObs8

2. Wholemeal Cranberry Cream Cheese Non-Knead Buns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrL6ztD2kkU

在这你会看到我用了好特别的面团手搅拌器也被称为丹麦面团手搅拌器或Brotpisker(丹麦语)，是烘焙者的必备工具。它可以迅速地把材料混合成面糊，不怕面糊搅拌过头而出筋，也可以把面包材料轻易的混合成面团，再进行搓揉，跟打蛋器比，容易清洗多了！

想看搅拌器的实际操作过程可按以下的连接到Youtube观看我的视频。
1.蔓越莓酸奶玛芬 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxZ4sjnObs8
2.蔓越梅奶油奶酪全麦免揉面包 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrL6ztD2kkU

Healthy Fruity Yogurt Popsicles 健康水果优格冰棒 （中英食谱教程）

The weather has been getting really warm and making these healthy and yummy popsicles seems to be the right and wise thing to do to beat the heat! I have used the below Tovolo Rocket and Star shaped popsicles moulds and my kids really love these fun shapes! My son loves especially the rocket popsicles and said "3-2-1- Blast off" before he popped it into his mouth...lol! 

 Tovolo Popsicle moulds  

Which will you pick?
你会选哪个？

Non-bake Blackcurrant Yogurt Cheesecake & Cupcakes 免烤黑加仑优格乳酪蛋糕 （中英食谱教程）

This month I will be sharing mainly cakes and desserts using yogurt as one of the ingredients as I am hosting the Little Thumbs Up baking/cooking event (Yogurt theme) organized by Zoe and Doreen. I would like to start off by sharing this non-bake blackcurrant yogurt cheesecake which my family loves. I have used the following recipe to make one 5 inch round cake and 12 mini cupcakes. The 5 inch round cake was made for my dear granny's helper's birthday and the 12 mini cupcakes were made for our visiting guests from Australia. With the same amount of ingredients, you can also make one 9 inch round cake. This is a light and refreshing cheesecake which you will not hesitate to go for a second helping!  

这个月因为主持“小拇指说好 -优格之旅 ” 的活动， 我将会经常与大家分享用优格食材的食谱。首先就让我推荐这免烤黑加仑优格乳酪蛋糕 ，吃起来不仅清爽又美味，值得一试！

Little Thumbs Up Event May 2015: YOGURT 小拇指说好：优格之旅

I am so excited....for the month of May I will be the host for 'Little Thumbs Up' event and the theme is YOGURT. I would like to thank my blogger friends, Zoe and Doreen, for giving me this opportunity to host my first LTU baking/cooking activity. 

Why did I choose YOGURT? Simply because I love Yogurt especially the Greek-Style ones and it is also one the most commonly used ingredients in my bakes. You may click HERE to view all my past recipes using yogurt or you can click the photos below to view some of my favourite ones.    

Vanilla Bean French Macarons & Vanilla Bean Sugar Recipes 香草豆荚法式马卡龙与香草糖 （中英食谱教程）

As mentioned last Friday, besides receiving a box of Mastrad cupcake pops kit to make these almond cupcake pops below,

Click Here to view Almond Cupcake Pops recipe

 I have also received a box of Mastrad macaron kit to try out. 

Using this kit, I have made a batch of French method Macarons and I am so glad that it is successful on my first attempt! Though it is not very tall, it is close to the ideal macaron which should have a perfect circle with solid smooth bases, have a ruffled “skirt” or “feet” along the edges where it has risen in the oven, taste slightly chewy and yet crunchy! 

Quick & Easy Almond Cupcake pops & Giveaway 简易杏仁蛋糕棒棒糖与赠品活动 （中英食谱教程）

I have always thought that making cake pops are messy and very time-consuming as it involves the process of baking a cake first, mashing it up and forming into small balls. And to use your bare hands to shape the cake crumble individually into a ball is indeed daunting and seems to take forever! 

Well, I have changed my thoughts about this cake pop making after Mastrad Asia Pacific approached me recently and introduced me to their Cupcake pops kit. I am amazed at how easily cake pop can be done with the baking kits provided. Here is a box of Mastrad Cupcake pops kit which I have received to try out. 

Mastrad F44960 Cupcake Pops Kit

It contains: 
- A flexible, nonstick 100% silicone mould with 24 baking cups and a lid.
- 24 reusable sticks.
- A mini pastry bag with 3 pastry tips for filling the baking cups with precision and decorating your cupcake pops.

- A Cupcake Pops booklet with tips and recipes to inspire your creative side.

I am happy and pleased at how easily and convenient cake pops can be made now as all you need is to prepare the cake batter, pour it into the decor pastry bag provided, pipe into the cupcake mould and bake it. Voila! Your cake pops are ready in 15 minutes! Easy peasy ya? 

Here's sharing the recipe which I have adapted and modified from the booklet. If you are keen to try out this cupcake pop kit, scroll all the way down to take part in the Giveaway and you may be the lucky one to win a set!   

Quick & Easy Mini Chicken Pot Pie 简易迷你鸡肉锅饼 （中英食谱教程）

These quick and easy mini chicken pot pies which uses the frozen puff pastry is not only tasty but makes a great snack anytime. You can actually freeze it for up to a month after baked , just warm up before consume. I had two last night to fix my 'hunger pang' just before going to bed. Somehow, these days I can't go to bed with an empty stomach (err..actually not quite empty as I still take my daily dose of dark chocolates before bedtime) and I will be snacking on bread, cakes and cookies etc. My dear hubby is so jealous of me as he commented that no matter how much I eat, regardless of timing, I don't seems to put on weight whereas he has to control his diet, exercise lots but hardly loose any weight! ;p 

这迷你鸡肉锅饼 ，使用了冷冻酥皮不仅容易做也很美味。烘好的锅饼冷却后可以放进冰箱冻结长达一个月。想吃时，拿出来烘热就可以享用了。最近不知怎么的，晚上临睡前会有饥饿的感觉，昨晚就热了两个鸡肉锅饼，吃下了才睡得着！其实我一向来的习惯是每晚都要吃黑巧克力，但最近黑巧克力好像没法“安抚”我睡，总是要找些面包，饼干，小吃的。老公超羡慕也很嫉妒我不管怎么吃，都不会发胖，反而他得控制饮食，多多运动，但还是减不了重！ :p 

Zebra Yoga Cotton Cake 斑马瑜伽棉花蛋糕（中英食谱教程）

Last Friday, I posted my first attempt of the Yoga Cotton Cake, the response was so good and many people are interested to bake this soft, moist and flexible cake. In fact, I have received more than one thousand Facebook private messages and questions regarding this cake. It was certainly not easy going through every single messages and I must admit that I 'see till I blur blur'...haha! My apologies if I have missed out any of your questions and seek your understanding. 

上星期五，在部落格分享了第一次做的瑜珈棉花蛋糕，反应出奇的好。很多人都想挑战做这柔软，滋润又有弹性的蛋糕。在短短的几天，我就收到了超过一千的脸书私人讯息和蛋糕问题。要一个一个地回答还真不容易，光看每一个讯息都看到我头昏脑涨了！在下如有错过您的问题，还请多多包涵呢！　

Here is my first attempt.
这是第一次做的瑜珈棉花蛋糕。