Purple sweet potato wholemeal loaf (version 1)

I noticed that creating bread using potato turns out very soft and moist.  You do not need any starter dough at all, from my past experiences.

The color turned out slightly pale purple but I still think it looks feminine and beautiful !
To make it more attractive, I decorated it with some cranberries, poppy seeds and pepitas.




























Just be mindful that the dough may be a little wet, as Sweet potato puree contains a bit of liquid.  So, slowly add in water as you do not want it too wet.

Ingredients
1.  200g purple sweet potato ( steamed and mashed).
2.  350g bread flour
3.  50g wholemeal flour
4.  2 tablespoon sugar
5.  3/4 teaspoon salt
6.  1 egg
7.  150ml water ( add slowly, potato may be too wet already)
8.   2 teaspoon instant yeast
9.   40g butter ( I used grapeseed oil with the same amount)






























Methods:
Bread machine

1.  All wet ingredients go in first, salt on one side, sugar on the other side, last is the yeast on top of the flour.
2.  Set to "dough" menu and press "start".
3.  When complete,  let dough sit on working surface, deflate to release air bubbles.
4.  Shape into a ball,  rest gluten for 10 minutes.
5.  Roll dough like you would roll a swiss roll, tuck the two ends in nicely.
6.  Let it rest in a warm area for one hour or until it doubles in size.
7.  A quick spray of water onto the surface of dough if you wish to decorate the top of the dough.
8.  Bake for 180 deg, 25 minutes ( for pullman tin with lid on ).  Further 5 minutes in the oven without the lid after that.  Done!

 

Almond biscotti

I love biscotti, any kind.  It is always good to go with coffee. Absolutely free from guilt as it's only egg white and no butter..
What do you think? :)

Salted pistachio truffles

A little bit of sea salt makes it so yummy! I love these truffles, a recipe taken from Women's Weekly. Next time I would certainly roll it into larger size, not teaspoon size anymore... also, not to forget add in heavy cream.

Artisan bread ( basic white)

I have heard of 5 minutes Artisan bread a lot so I gave it a go the other day. Basically you stir and mix all ingredients and leave it overnight for enough fermentation in the fridge. Next day, just thaw and shape it, let it rise for some time before oven baked.  It turned out O...K..., hm.. I must say I found it a little dense and heavy.

So, I went on to try making another one on my bread machine.
The whole process took about slightly 5 hours to complete the whole baking! I had a peep inside the machine, found dough rised to the very top of the pan and later collapsed all the way down to the bottom. And later it rised back up again.

Well, it was worth waiting. I love the bread done. It tasted so good and we finished it in one breakfast!

Here's the recipe:

Water, lukewarm     290ml
Oil                           2 tablespoons
Salt                          1/2 teaspoon
Sugar                       1 teaspoon
Plain flour                480g
Dry Yeast                2 1/2 teaspoon


Methods:

1.   Ensure kneading blade sitting right up in the pan.
2.   Add ingredients in order listed.
3.   Press and select menu (Artisan-style dough), press "start".
4.   On completion, remove dough out, shape as desired.  Place on greased pan let it rise for 30 minutes.
5.   Glaze top as desired.
6.   Bake in oven 200 deg until golden and cook through ( tap and should sound hollow when tapped).

Pineapple Tea Cake

This is quick and easy baking. It may not looked appealing, but I tell you, it is really delicious. The pineapple syrup that is infused into the cake is absolutely wonderful. You should try it.

Here is the recipe:

450g can crushed pineapple in syrup
125g butter
1 1/2 cups (225g) self- raising flour
1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar
1 egg, beaten lightly
1/4 cup (60ml) honey
1/4 cup (20g) desiccated coconut


Methods:

1.    Grease deep 20cm round cake pan, line base with baking paper.
2.    Drain pineapple over a jug, reserve 2/3 cup (160 ml) of the syrup.
3.    Melt half the butter.  Combine flour and sugar in medium bowl; stir in reserved syrup, melted butter and egg.
4.    Spread cake mixture into prepared pan.
5.    Beat remaining butter and honey in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Stir in pineapple (mixture may curdle).
6.    Spread over cake mixture in pan, sprinkle with coconut.
7.    Bake in 180 degree oven about 1 hour.
8.    Stand cake in pan 5 minutes, turn onto wire rack, invert onto another rack to cool.

Black sesame wholemeal bread

I love my Sunbeam bread machine! I bought it 3 months ago, ever since then I have not stopped baking everyday, sometimes twice a day! It helps me to reduce time in my kneading, rising time and I'm certainly having a big sigh and relief after all.

We eat lots of bread here.  Morning and afternoon lunch for my kids and also my husband brings 2 slices to work as well. For me, I love bread, all kinds of bread. Yeah... so we are a crazy bread family.

I once read from article that, try to use good quality wholemeal flour and flour should be kept within 8 weeks so as to remain fresh. Otherwise, end result the bread would taste and smell bitter? I do not know how true that is, but I will stick to what is said just in case.

Here is the recipe for a 750g loaf:

Water (luke-warm)           260ml

Butter or margarine          15g     ( I used grapeseed oil / olive oil / rice bran oil, same amount)

Brown sugar                    1 1/2 tablespoon 

Skim milk powder           2 teaspoons

Black sesame powder      2 tablespoon

Salt                                  1/2 teaspoon

Bread improver               1 teaspoon ( instead,  I used 2 tablespoon of yogurt / greek natural yogurt).

Wholemeal plain flour     400g

Dry yeast                         1 1/2 teaspoons

1.  Add ingredients to the bread pan in the order listed. 

2.  Select menu (wheat), light crust, 750g.

3.   Press "start".

4. When complete, let pan stand for 10 minutes then turn onto wire rack to cool. 

Note: During first 5 to 10 minutes, lift lid and take a quick look. Dough should be smooth, soft and slightly sticky and have a tendency to flatten and catch the sides of the container. Too stiff a dough would rag the edges and would not stick to the sides at all, forming tight round ball.  Then a tablespoon of water is to be added in. Too soft a dough would be sticky and reluctant to form a ball. So then you need to add one tablespoon of extra flour.

Well, you should get a soft texture of nutricious healthy bread plus the beautiful fragrance of black sesame!

Peanut Butter Crinkles

Peanut butter crinkle

This is my family's most favourite biscuit. The recipe is taken from one of my Women's Weekly collection. It gives you such a wonderful peanut aroma especially when it is eaten fresh!

Here's the recipe: