Hong Kong Pai Bao ( sweet buns)

One of the most popular, typical Hong Kong sweet buns, the Pai Bao. It tastes just the same as the Asian bakeries'.  Credits to Christine's recipes !
Very fluffy and soft, moist and tasty on its own.

Taiwanese Lo Bak Go (2)

From all of the Lo Bak Go that I have made so far,  I would say this is the best.
If one follows the required ingredients suggested strictly, it would definitely deliver a very good Lo Bak Go. It all comes down to the flavour and texture. It did not fail me even without any wheat or corn starch added, very smooth texture!

Mixed Grain and Blueberry Muffins (healthy)

                        You get lots of blueberries in each muffin, nice texture, flavour and healthy.

Simple Light Wholemeal Bread

                                                       2 loafs shaped in different pans.

Simple Chocolate Chiffon cake

Substituting part of the oil to applesauce worked just as good. Plain is always the best for my chiffon cake, but not my children, too bad :) Go for it if you like to top with icing!

Oat Bran Apple Muffins

Ingredients
1 cup oat bran
1 cup wholemeal flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon mixed spice
3/4 cup raw sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup water (200ml)
2 granny smith apples, coarsely grated

Banana Gojiberry bread

 Very moist and tasty bread. I used Applesauce, mild honey and whole wheat to substitute the oil, sugar and all-purpose flour here.

Inspiration and Recipe from Taste.com ( with modifications)
Ingredients and preparations
35g rolled oats
1 tablespoon flaxseed
2 tablespoons gojiberries
2 tablespoons runny honey
75g Applesauce
40g almond flour meal
80g whole-wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 small riped banana, mashed, set aside.
3 whole eggs and 1 egg white, set aside.

ready to be baked

Baked

Methods
Preheat oven to 180C.
Grease and line the base and sides of a small cake tin, allowing the edges to overhang.
Combine the oats, flaxseed and 1 teaspoon honey in a bowl. Set aside.
In another bowl, whisk in the Applesauce and remaining honey until creamy.
Beat in 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of whole wheat flour. Repeat with the remaining eggs and whole wheat flour until combined.
Add the almond meal, gojiberries, baking powder, cinnamon, banana and remaining oats and flaxseed to the egg mixture and stir to combine.
Spoon into the prepared pan. Smooth the surface, then sprinkle with the remaining oat mixture.
Bake for 1 hour or until firm and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Cool in pan for 15 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

Seeded Whole Wheat Bread (healthy)

  Lots of seeds used here, another nutritious healthy bread.

Rich Beef and Mushroom Lasagne

Recipe from Pasta
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, grated
1 celery stalk, diced
125g mushrooms, chopped
600g minced beef
600ml Italian tomato passata
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
300g instant lasagne sheets
100g grated Parmesan

Simple White Toast

                           Sometimes a simple white toast can be so delicious to me.

Chocolate Brownies

As said in the cookbook, a good brownie should be moist and fudgy rather than dry and cakey. The tactic is, the melted butter must be cool when it is added or it will cook the eggs.  Not to beat the eggs and sugar too vigorously, otherwise too much air will be incorporated and the brownies will be more like a cake. The final mixture should be gently stirred rather than beaten, or the brownies will be tough and dry. Inserting a skewer halfway between the center and the side of the pan will ensure it is not overcooked. The center should be remain quite moist.
Also, it would be a good idea to wrap the cooled cake and keep it overnight before cutting into squares.

Recipe from here
(Makes 8 squares)
Ingredients
70g Unsalted butter
2 eggs
170g sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
40g unsweetened cocoa powder
70g all-purpose flour
55g walnut pieces

Note: Simply double the batch here for 16 squares ( for original recipe), which require a 9 inch square pan, about 2 inches deep,completely lined with greased foil.

ready to get baked

baked

Method
Preheat oven to 325F.
Very gently melt the butter and let cool.
Using a wooden spoon, beat the eggs with the sugar until well blended and creamy looking.
Stir in the cooled butter and vanilla.
Sift the salt, cocoa and flour together and add to the mixture.
Stir until throughly blended, then fold in the nuts.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan ( completely lined with greased foil).
Bake for 40 minutes or until a skewer goes in midway between the center and the side of the pan comes out clean.
Let cool in the pan for a few minutes.
Lift the cake, still in the foil, out of the pan onto a cooling rack.

Brown Rice Lo Bak Go ( taiwanese version 1)

Taiwanese Lo Bak Go is slightly different from the Hong Kong Cantonese type, less ingredients used, texture is different too here. Nice and yummy though.

Banana bread ( Martha Shulman)

                                               Nutritious, healthy and yummy.

Recipe from Martha Shulman
Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup raw brown (turbinado) sugar or packed light brown sugar ( I used honey instead)
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt or buttermilk
1 cup mashed bananas ( 2 very riped bananas)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnut(optional)

Methods 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees with a rack in the middle. Spray a 9x5 inch loaf, line the bottom with parchment.
Sift the flours, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
Using a mixer, beat the eggs and sugar until thick and "ribbon"when lifted with a spatula, 5 to 8 minutes ( I just hand whisked it).
Beat in the oil, yogurt or buttermilk, bananas and vanilla.
At low speed, beat in the flour in 3 batches.
Fold in the nuts.
Transfer batter onto the pan and bake in preheated oven of 50 to 60 minutes.
Insert a skewer deep down in the centre, if it's come out clean, it is done.
Let it cool completely.