Strawberry Cake - for a commitment to drink a healthy juice every day

I had forgotten that I had a box of strawberry left in the office refrigerator. It’s been the holiday season - Christmas followed by New Year holiday and half day off for each eve – mixed with deadline to submit the Project Report, I completely had forgotten all about it.

I had made a promise to myself to eat or at least drink fruit juice everyday – in attempt to keep my health. But sometimes we’re just too busy (or too lazy) from day to day, right? So when I finally remember about the strawberry-being yesterday, it was not in its best look to drink.

Okay, so I’ll make some strawberry cake instead. I searched in internet for Strawberry Cake recipe but couldn’t find one which suit to my stock and to my mood. Finally I decided to make my own version – modified the steam cake recipe. It should be just fine if only I didn’t (try to) improve using some gelatin powder – what on earth would I use it? It has nothing to do with the cake! X(

So the cake ended up… mmh, you know… it’s nice, edible, but it’ s just not a cake. I mean, not really a cake. Steam cake? Chiffon? Cotton? Sponge cake? Any normal-cake name wouldn’t fit it well. It really tasted like steamed pao. You know? Like bakpao? Hahaha.. anw, enjoy :)

*I take back my words, I just tried the cake yesterday and actually it's moist and good :D Hohoho, so glad..

Love is All the Reason: Bread Pudding

I needed a bold reason to bake again. Love was the only reason I started baking in the very beginning.

After some time living in a deep silence, it freaked me out to get into the kitchen again. I hid in the reasons of being tired of deadlines, get interested to another hobby I haven’t ventured like crocheting or sewing, got no time because I had to meet other commitment like church, got attached to some good novels, the must to do the mountain-stacked laundry. But in the end I have to admit the only reason I’ve been avoiding to start doing anything in kitchen again – you.

Haha, how to make this posting not as sad as it is? Anyway, I know I have to live on. I’ve made that promise years ago, and I will live it on. So last night I decided to start doing something. My kitchen, here I am coming!

As love is always be the main reason – gosh, I’ll never make it to be a good business woman :P – I needed a bold reason to bake again. I thought I would start from the nearest one to me – my circle of friends.

I have a very dear friend at my office - Puspi as I call her. She loves bread pudding – and other things as well, and I’ve promised to make her one but thanks for the love to delay things, that promise was still a promise. So I’m glad I can make this bread pudding for her. I hope it makes her day. Puspita, I hope you like it.

The original recipe was taken from here, but I halved the recipe and made some adjustment here and there to suit the food stock.


Bread Pudding

Ingredients
7 slices of normal white bread – the one you buy in supermarket
1 tbsp of butter – I used margarine
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup of fresh milk
¼ cup white sugar + some bit amount since the original requires ¾ cup
Some amounts ground cinnamon – I didn’t want to use too much since I thought cinnamon won’t go to well with cheese
Some amounts of grated cheese – for the pudding and also topping
Some amounts of almond slices
Some amounts of chocolate chips
Some amounts of vanilla extract – which I forgot to use

Direction:
1.Spread the bread generously with margarine (The recipe and other recipes will ask to melt the butter. I’ve been using that method but last night I thought I’d like to try my luck – the bread pudding looks okay at the end).
2.Cut the bread into cubes.
3.Combine eggs, milk, grated cheese, cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla (if you remember :P)
4.Mix with the bread cubes, let the bread covered and soaked in the egg mixture.
5.Pour the whole thing in your baking pan. I used a nice rectangular 15 cm square ceramic baking dish – given by my colleague, Mr Wong – plus two personal size glass baking dish from Ikea.
6.Bake in the preheated oven temperature 175° C for 45 minutes.

The Beginning

If you ever wonder what kind of oven I use. It's very much saving money :)

The End

Sorry for your inconvenience in looking at the pictures. It was nearly 12 am, the Cinderella must return to the bed or she will turn to be a pumpkin :P