Steamed fruit cake.. a revisit ^^

The last time I made this, I swore never again will I use the steaming method!

Over time (2 years!), my burn scar is a few shades paler, and my memory faint. But you know what, deep down, there's always that niggling thought of wanting to slay this dragon! ^^

So when I saw a post in azlitamasammanis on steamed fruit cake baked in small aluminium foil tins for a much shorter time, I knew my time has come! I immediately macerated my mixed fruits, and set about thinking where to place my tiny electric steamer in my tiny apartment/kitchen without setting the house on fire.. and more importantly, where I won't get burnt!

And over the weekend, I made the cakes using azlitamasammanis' recipe, and a recipe shared by mel@melskitchenpantry (from faeez@bittersweetspicy). I now have 12 loaves in the fridge now ^^ waiting to be shared with all my favorite people. ^^ ^^ ^^

Steamed fruit cake (recipe shared by azlita@azlitamasammanis)
340g sugar
50g hot water
250g salted butter
500g mixed fruit
350g flour, sifted
2 tsp baking soda, sifted
1 tsp cream of tartar, sifted
1 tsp nutmeg or cinnamon (optional)
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp treacle (I didn't use)

1. Make caramel by placing sugar into a heavy saucepan over medium heat. As sugar melts from the sides, fold it to the center. DO NOT STIR. When sugar is completely melted and turned dark golden brown (not burnt!), add in hot water slowly. Be careful as it mixture may sputter.

2. Add in butter and let it melt completely. Fold in mixed fruit, and bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat and leave to cool.

3. Sift flour, baking soda and cream of tartar, and nutmeg or cinnamon (if using) together in a clean bowl. Fold into cooled caramel mixture till well combined.

4. Beat eggs with a whisk or electric beater till foamy, and add into cake mixture.

5. Mix in vanilla extract and treacle till well blended.

6. Pour into 3 aluminium tins (7.5x3.5 inch loaf tin), cover with a layer of aluminium foil and steam for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Turn off the heat, and leave the cakes in the steamer for another 15 minutes before removing.

7. Cake is best eaten after 1 day's rest. Bon apetit!

This is a pretty straightforward recipe. However, this recipe makes a lot. I split the batter over 3 tins, and it was almost full.. ok, so I added a bit more mixed fruits (600g) than suggested (oops! ^^||). So that might have made a difference. The top didn't turn out as pretty as I wished, as the cake touched the cover and absorbed moisture. Looks aside, I'm sure it's delish. I can't wait to taste it! ^^

Anyways, I'm happy to make the recipe shared by mel. I upped the mixed fruits to 500++g and called it a day. This recipe also uses less sugar and flour, just the way I like it. And if you do not have a steamer, and/or prefer to use the oven, do not despair! I've shared how one can also perfectly bake a "steamed fruit cake" in this post. Works just as well! ^^

I, dragon slayer. ^^


Updated: I've cut and tasted the cakes from the 2 different recipes and made comparisons.

Azlita's recipe: Looks and cuts beautifully. It's lusciously dark and moist. The crumbs looks tight and the texture gorgeous.. however, the chew has a wee bit of boing-boing, and feels more coarse than faeez's cake. Taste is good. Fragrance nice and unusual. Cake is nicely moist.. though it "looks" more moist (than it is) compared to the other cake.

Faeez's recipe: Doesn't cut as neatly as the cake tends to crumble. Cake is lighter in color, like golden amber. The texture is also less tight and looks crumbly when compared to azlita's. Taste is good. Fragrance is nice. I feel this cake is a whisker more moist than azlita's, despite it's crumbly look. 

Conclusion: Looking back, I think faeez's recipe did better when it was baked "bain-marie" in the oven. The texture turned out just like azlita's steamed one. Both cakes are winners in my opinion. I can't decide which I like better. Visually I like azlita's. But faeez's cake is very good too. Now you know. Your call now ^^

Comments: My SIL thinks azlita's cake looks a little kuih-like, and prefers faeez's crumbly cake, which she says is more cake-like. She also likes the color of faeez's cake better. SIL's choice: Faeez's.

My nephew, Baby pig, mentioned that azlita's cake has a unique fragrance, but he finds the rum flavor (mixed fruits used are all macerated in rum in the same bowl) not as evident compared to faeez's cake. I could tell he enjoyed both the cakes ^^. His choice: Faeez's cake.. by a few whiskers! ^^  

Fatty hubby's choice: Faeez's cake. His one comment.. "it's rich".

Delicate coconut crisps

I'm starting early.. clearing the fridge, that is. ^^

I never prepare much for CNY.. but clearing the fridge is a must. Why, to fill up with more goodies, of course, haha! ^^

And that's how some egg whites ended up as coconut crisps ^^

Coconut crisps (recipe from alan ooi "new year cookies")
~ makes about 100 pcs (or more ^^)
100g unsalted butter
120g icing sugar (reduced ~ 100g ^^)
100g egg whites
100g plain flour
20g coconut cream powder
20g dessicated coconut
extra 20g dessicated coconut, for decoration

1. Combine butter and icing sugar together, and beat till light and fluffy.

2. Add egg whites and mix till combined (don't worry if it looks curdled). 

3. Fold in flour, coconut cream powder and dessicated coconut into batter.

4. Place mixture into a piping bag and pipe small rounds onto lined baking tray/s. Use the back of a spoon to flatten the rounds by spreading them into thin cookies. Sprinkle generously with dessicated coconut.

5. Bake in a preheated oven of 170C for 10 minutes. Cool and store immediately in airtight container/s.

This is a pretty easy recipe, but it does require a little more effort than the usual cookies.

Lest you think 100 pcs is a lot, it's not! That's because they are so addictive! These delicate crisps are so yums! ^^

And as pretty as the sesame seeds look on the crisps, the original recipe with just dessicated coconut sprinkling tastes best! The sesame seeds kind of overpower the delicate fragrance and flavor of the coconut crisps. Sorry, I didn't take any pictures of the original yummy coconut crisps.. ^^||

Well, so much for my "pretty" idea.. just stick to the original recipe, ok. ^^

Updated: I did have a pix of the original coconut crisps after all ^^

Surviving short, short holidays

Ever flew more than 4 hours to stay for just 48 hours, or 72 hours? That's what I call a touch 'n go holiday!

Forget business trips. I mean holidays.. the shortest holidays possible.. It's crazy, but well, we've been doing that for the past 5 years! When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade!

Fatty hubby's a workaholic. Period. I'm a holiday-holic. So where do the trains meet? Short, short holidays, of course (^^)

Let me just tell you it's all possible! But you need to know what you really want. Are you there to see everything, eat everything and do everything? bzzzz.. wrong buzzer! There's no EVERYTHING, darlings! You can have some of everything, but never everything in such a short time.. whether 48 hours or 72 hours!

However, it can be EVERYTHING you want to do.. post making choices, of course. Didn't I just say you can't have everything? (^^)

Anyways, the best thing you can do on short, short holidays is taking it FREE and EASY.. that's my best advice to you. A little planning required, so you get to see 1 or 2 sights, eat lots and have the time to soak in the colors, flavors and smells of your holiday destination. That's important, I think.

DON"T spoil your holiday by making yourself like a refugee.. It may be a touch 'n go holiday, it shouldn't be a hit and run one! So what if you didn't get to see all the sights, eat all the food? The good thing about short trips is that it can be a sampler or run-in to your future "real" holiday (^^). And you can always come back, right!

Another thing to remember, if you have only such a short time, just stay put in one city.. enjoy and soak in the city. One place at a time is best. Remember, you can always come back and do the other city another time. Every place should be appreciated on its own and given enough time.

I have gone on quite a few organized tours to know that free and easy short trips are best. While organized tours takes you to most sights, there's no time to soak in the sights and worst, you don't get to taste much of the local food or snacks, authentic ones, at least. It's really a hit and run thing. Doing it on your own, lets you do exactly what you want, see, stay or eat at any time you want!

sorry, couldn't resist ~ gorgeous lake tekapo - south nz self drive 4-day medium short trip

While I'm envious of people who can take long holidays, I'm grateful for my short holidays. Every trip has been memorable and special in its own way. And I'd do them again.. and again.. it's that fun. Just lose the "I want to do everything, eat everything, BUY everything" mentality before you embark on a short trip. Loosen up and enjoy whatever comes your way (^^)!

take the time to smell the roses

Thus far, our short holidays are all about food and soaking in the local sights and atmosphere. Sights are secondary. It's been fail-proof. And here's a must-do to get the best from your trip ~ visit a local market! Whether it's a wholesale, local or even night markets! You can always find interesting things (and more authentic food ^^) there.

My top short holiday destinations:
1. Osaka
2. Seoul
3. Kyoto
4. Bangkok
5. Hong Kong
6. Chiang Mai

* all the cities mentioned above are well connected by subways and buses. Don't be afraid to do it on your own. You can easily get around even if you don't know the language. If we 'bananas' can do it, so can you!

I really like Japan and hope that I'll make it to Tokyo next. The stopover in Tokyo in 1999 really left a good impression for the rest of Japan. While I've made it to osaka, kyoto and hokkaido (long holiday) over the years, I've never been there since. So that's where I really want to go one day (^^).. soon!

Carpe diem, short, short holidays!
  

Best ultimate 48 hours in Osaka

No way!

Yup! 48 hours is just not enough to do Osaka! I thought that there's not much to do in osaka.. how wrong I was! I enjoyed osaka so much that I want to go back again right now!

octopus on the loose in dotonbori

blow fish galore in  dotonbori

So much to see and eat, so little time! If you are planning to visit osaka, you need to dedicate at least 3 full days, if not more, to properly soak in the sights and eats. 2 days is just not enough, remember that!

It really is KUIDAORE in osaka! Eat till you drop! So much to eat, just not enough stomach space for it! And fatty hubby and I really stuffed ourselves silly as we wanted to eat as much of everything as we can (^^)

on dotonbori looking at ebisubashi-suji

on dotonbori looking at shinsaibashi-suji

We were lucky to choose a swanky boutique hotel in the very vibrant and exciting Dotonbori area, the Hotel Vista Grande. It's location is absolutely perfect! Right smack in the thick of action, that means on Dotonbori in Namba (Dotonbori) and Shinsaibashi. And only 10 minutes from Nankai Namba (covered walkways on Ebisu-bashi) and to Kuromon market (we timed this). We couldn't have picked a better hotel! Totally recommended, seriously.

Our late and dramatic arrival at 1am due to plane delay, forced us to spend a bomb of 18,000 Yen/RM720, on taxi from the airport. Luckily, we managed to share the cost with another couple headed for the same hotel. On hindsight, I'm glad we brought more money than we intended to spend, or we'd be forced to sleep at the airport.. or maybe we should have? 9000 yen is a lot of money! That's 10 bowls of ramen!

best ramen at Ichiran

Anyways, we headed to Ichiran for ramen after checking-in. It's really just round the corner and I must say it's the best ramen in osaka! The ramen and soup was PERFECT! Look out for a bright red square cloth-like signboard facing the dotonbori river. It's just 2 doors away from the brightly lit corner takoyaki shop! The takoyaki there is fantastic too! 8 pieces of takoyaki topped with shoyu and mayo at 500 yen. Even though it's the only one we had, I still say it's the best (^^). Sorry, no pictures.. we ate up all before I remembered to take any (^^||).

cute guy making takoyaki

Day 1 ~ Sumiyoshi-taisha. To get there, we went on the Nankai Namba train, and paid 200 Yen. From Sumiyoshi taisha station, it's just a 2-minute walk to the temple. You'll see some nice shinto shrines there. We were lucky to witness a wedding being held there that day. Also check out the flower shop in the train station and the Sumiyoshi park next to the station. I love it here!

peaceful and tranquil sumiyoshi park

Then it was back to namba for a late lunch at Jiyuken. We had their famous curry rice with raw egg. I didn't like it that much, but fatty hubby did. I did however, enjoyed the beef katsu with curry and white rice. The set of curry rice with beef katsu cost 1350 yen.

the famous curry rice

Next we headed for Kuromon Market. At 3pm, I expected most shops to be on the verge of closing, but they were still going strong (?!). I had a great time there. Lots to look-see and EAT! We stuffed ourselves with sugar-free soy bean drink, azuki dorayaki, doughnut, japanese cheesecake and sweet sweet strawberries (^^). But best of all, we found an out-of-this-world tuna toro sashimi in the market! It was so so sublime that I forgot to take a picture of it! We went back for more the next day but found the shop closed. So be warned, most shops in kuromon are closed on Sundays.

best-ever sugar-less soy bean drink - thick 'n creamy

azuki dorayaki

After all the food, we went back to the hotel and took a 3 hour nap, and woke up to feast on kushikatsu at Daruma on Dotonbori. It's right opposite Kinryu ramen and Shitenno ramen, you can't miss it. At peak hour, you'll see a line outside the shop. I love these fried stuff on skewers, which you dip into the sauce (no double dipping here!). Each kushikatsu order comes with a complimentary serving of cabbage. Yums! A skewer is around 120 yen.

outstanding kushikatsu!

Despite a full tummy, fatty hubby insisted we check out Kinryu (you can't miss the dragon signboard!). This really is the poor man's ramen. At 600 yen, it is the cheapest ramen in town. And you can stuff yourself silly with complimentary all-you-can-eat kimchi, garlic, chives and white rice! Ramen was ok, but the soup was too salty for me. Maybe it's salty, so that you can have it with rice later (?)

a "full"-filling meal

Day 2 ~ Kuromon market again. Found most shops closed. Bought sushi rice with karaage (fried chicken) for breakfast.. Fatty hubby's wild about karaage now.

karaage and rice - just the way we like it 

Then we headed towards the underground Namba Walk, which is adjacent to nankai namba station. There's quite a lot of shops selling "aunty" clothes there.. well, plenty for the young too (^^).

On Sundays and holidays, the unlimited day pass for the subways and buses is only 600 yen. So we went to namba subway station (midosuji line),bought the card and headed to Osaka Castle. It was raining when we got there (><). And since we didn't have an umbrella, we ended up at the Osaka Museum of History. It's ok, but I don't recommend it because there's no explanation in English. So, it's just another mediocre look-see. We took pictures of Osaka castle from the museum. No chance to visit the castle park (><). We did however, enjoy a really nice latte at Seattle Coffee before heading back to Shinsaibashi (^^).

The shinsaibashi subway station is right under Daimaru. And so we ended up at daimaru food market for more yummies. I remember that japanese food markets used to offer lots of food samples. Not anymore. Out of the many food shops in daimaru, I only noticed 2 or 3 shops that gave out samples. A cost cutting measure, you think??? Anyways, we bought original castella or kasutera cake from Ginsu, 525 yen.. And we had the most AWESOME deep fried oyster(-katsu) from the food mart. They were huge and oh-so succulent, and left us wanting more! Take note that there is no place to sit and eat whatever you bought from the food mart. Guess the japanese must be really disciplined and too polite to eat in public, unlike us hungry, greedy and impatient pigs! Well, we couldn't wait and had the oysters right outside daimaru's entrance on shinsaibashi-suji! (^^)

tall, tall angel cakes

pretty-ness in a row 

the awesome-mest oyster katsu ever!!!

Right across daimaru, on Shinsaibashi-suji is Fuku Sushi. They sell batera sushi - sushi in a box. We stopped by and ordered a box of sushi to take away, 1000 yen. Sushi's really nice. The rice was not vinegar-y like the ones you get here. In fact, all the sushi rice we had in osaka doesn't reek of vinegar at all! And the japanese omelette, tamagoyaki, is just a touch sweet, tastes really nice and just right.. unlike the eerily-sweet ones we have over here.

The walk on shinsaibashi-suji heading towards ebisubashi-suji (namba), was really nice. Lots of young people, lots of shops and lots of energy.. very vibrant and "happening". Alas, we didn't have the much time to browse through the shops (><). Just window-shopped and cuci mata.. would have been nice to be able to spend more time at shinsaibashi-suji.

vintage hokkyusei amidst modernization

Anyways, we had a leisurely walk down shinsaibashi-suji, as we headed for a late lunch (or early dinner) at 5pm at Hokkyusei for omu rice. This is a must visit! It's located on the next road (north) from Dotonbori Hotel, also near Cross Hotel. The omelette cupping the fried rice was done so well that while the outer skin was well done, the inside was still soft and a touch-runny. PERFECTION! The fried rice, whether with chicken or pork, was awesome too. Fatty had the omu rice (pork) set that came with beef stew, deep fried shrimps, salad and an Asahi beer, 1350 yen. My simple omu rice (chicken) cost 690 yen. We had a most amazing meal at Hokkyusei! love! love! love! I noticed that there's an outlet at Takashimaya food mart too. Go there if you have no time to get to the original outlet.

delicious omu-rice

ooey-goeey creamy omelette with fragrant fried rice

Since we had the unlimited pass, we went to Umeda for more sightseeing. Lots of eateries and shops underground. We didn't bother to go out.. err, up.. rainy day. We just looked around, and bought an interesting cheesecake (680 yen) from Pablo, one of the many outlets underground. It supposedly has a gooey, creamy centre, but you can choose the firmness you want. We took the gooey one. It held up quite well all the way back home.. a little battered but still good (^^). The cream cheese was not too sweet, and nicely gooey. The pastry which I thought was biscuity, turned out to be puff-pastry. Overall, very nice - think super-gooey tong kee egg tart.

wonder if I can replicate this at home?

Back in namba.. we had our last ramen at Shitenno's on dotonbori. We tried the salt based soup instead of the shoyu one. Soup was really interesting. Can't compare with Ichiran's 'cos we had the shoyu based one there. Still this is a very good ramen and soup joint. Shio ramen for 690 yen. Wish we had the time to check out Hakata Ippudo, near Fraser Suites (><). Maybe next time..

shio-ramen

If you noticed, we did not have time to check out any udon joints, okonomiyaki, yakitori, or bbq joints. Due to the limited time that we have, we had to be really picky about the things that we really wanted to eat, instead of eating everything available.. We may be pigs, but there's really a limit as to what we can eat (^^) in such a short time! But we really KUIDAORE as much as we could!

I love OSAKA! Fatty hubby loves Osaka too! Till next time! KUIDAORE!!!

JAPAN, GANBATTE!!!