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Sunday, July 24, 2011

Michi Waffle and Expresso Bar

After supper, we had some time before we had to drop off someone to the airport. We decided to try a waffle place. They are often very busy. As a matter of fact, five minutes after we ordered there was a line up and all the seats taken. This place is called Michi Waffle and Expresso bar.


Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Shrewsbury Cakes

I borrowed a cookbook by Richard Sax called Classic Home Desserts. It interested me because I like old recipes from pioneers and Victorian Era. I find their food very interesting both from survival perspective (pioneers and homesteaders) and extravagance (Victorian house management).

This book is quite extensive. I wouldn't say the recipes are the original recipes from way back when. Rather they are recipes that have been modernized and from hotels or chefs that the author has tried the dishes and begged for their recipes. This book has won the Beard Award, if it means anything to you.



Cool Summer Desserts

I took one class this summer with Mrs. Chiu. The food we made were Orange Cheesecake, Lychee Osmanthus Jelly (茘枝桂花糕) and Mango Grapefruit Drink ( 楊枝甘露). It was an one evening class.

The class was waaaay too large. Usually a cooking class would have 12 to 15 students. This class had 22. Even the teacher thought the class was too big. It made it hard to watch and learn. What made it worse was that the class was not air conditioned so it was hot and crowded!!

Anyways, back to the food...

Orange Cheesecake
This had a cookie like crust. I like it, as it was different from the usual Graham cracker crust. The cheesecake part was very smooth. One of the smoothest cheesecake.

However, to me, there was no flavour. It's like eating plain cream cheese out of the box. I guess it should taste better but the class voted to half the sugar. Already, Mrs. Chiu's recipes use little salt and sugar for health reasons but to half the little she uses it too much. I will try the recipe again but follow according to the recipe (though I have so many cheesecake recipes to try so don't know when I'll try it)







Lychee Osmanthus Jelly (茘枝桂花糕)

Wow!! This recipe is simple and very refreshing. This was the main reason I took this class.

It was so easy to make that I had to buy the Osmanthus (桂花) so I can make it. I guess I'll just have to get some lychee. The problem is I love lychee that I might end up eating the fruit and not make this jelly because no lychee will be left. The only solution is to buy "tonnes" of lychee cos eating too much will give stomach ache so there will be some left to make jelly.







Mango Grapefruit Drink ( 楊枝甘露)

I didn't have high hopes on this because it didn't sound very interesting but after tasting this, I was so impressed. It really satisfied my thirst and heat. It was so refreshing and cooling. I will definitely make this one. Unfortunately I don't own a blender but I think it will be ok. This was surprisingly good.

We made a big bowl of this drink.


Our individual bowl (should be in a glass but no one had a nice glass).


Final Thoughts:
It was a good class because of the recipes. I'm not sure if I'm so crazy about the cheesecake but the other foods, wow!! Loved it. They are very easy recipes so I'll be making them soon, especially during summer.

I've already signed up for some of Agnes Chiu's class in the fall. Stay tuned for my classes and me making the recipes from Mrs. Chiu's classes.

Enjoy the summer heat.

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