Dadih

Dadih is a Malay-style soft milk pudding that's quite commonly served in gatherings like weddings & thanksgiving feasts. During the month of Ramadan, it's also commonly sold at the food bazaars. Honestly, I was not aware of such dessert until a few years ago. But apparently,  based on the writings of some Malaysian bloggers, this modern version of dadih  has been around for decades, at least in Malaysia...... 

I call it the modern version because the traditional dadih, which originates from the Minangkabau community in West Sumatra, Indonesia, is made by pouring fresh raw unheated buffalo milk into a bamboo tube capped with a banana leaf. It's then left to ferment in room temperature for two days.  It's basically yogurt, but the traditional method of preparation gives it a more authentic flavour than that of the commercial yogurt. (Reference: Kompasiana)

I've not tasted the authentic dadih of the Minangkabau people, but I'm pretty certain that  it doesn't taste like the one I made.  This modern dadih is smooth, sweet, rich & so delicious! Eat it when it's chilled & it will soothe your throat.....

There are many recipes of dadih shared in the internet. For this maiden attempt, I've decided to use the one shared by K. Nor of Secubit Garam. She has perfected this recipe after adjusting the original one more than 10 times! Thank you K. Nor for all your  effort & generosity in sharing this excellent recipe. Die, die, must try!

Dadih

5g agar-agar powder (not instant jelly)

600 ml air

1 litre fresh full cream milk

110g sugar

1/2 st salt

1/2 tbsp cornflour, mixed with 1 tbsp water
vanilla paste, strawberry paste & red colouring (Flavouring or colouring is optional.)

Method:

1. In a pot, combine & boil water & milk with agar-agar powder, . 
2. Add  in salt & sugar & continue cooking until the sugar has dissolved. (Do not overcook or the dessert will become hard.)
3. Add in cornflour mixture & stir until well blended. Turn off fire & set aside.
4. Add in flavouring & colouring, if using.
5. Leave to cool slightly, then strain mixture & pour into glasses.
6. Chill before serving.

Notes:

1. You may also use agar-agar strips instead of the powder form. Use 1/6 packet (Crescent brand). Soak until soft before cooking. 
2. Keep stirring the mixture throughout the cooking process to ensure mixture is well-blended & to prevent overflowing.
3. I divided the mixture into two parts & added vanilla & strawberry flavour to each part. You may leave the dessert plain or add any flavour that you like.

Recipe by K. Nor @ Secubit Garam.

I'm submitting this post to Little Thumbs Up May 2014 (Milk) organised by Bake For Happy Kids, and My Little Favourite DIY,  hosted by Tze of Awayofmind Bakery House.

Super Soft Pumpkin Doughnuts

I've bought Japanese pumpkin several times before but haven't tried making bread or doughnuts with it. So yesterday, I decided to use up the leftover in the fridge after cooking a pumpkin dish for dinner two nights ago. I decided to use the super soft Potato Doughnut recipe by Madam Fatmah  which I've used before. I replaced the potato with pumpkin & made  some other minor modifications.

As expected, the doughnuts are very soft. The pumpkin flavour is very subtle, so much so my kids don't know I've actually added pumpkin. And unlike the pale-looking potato doughnuts, these doughnuts are beautiful, taking up the beautiful orange colour of the pumpkin.

By the way, I've also used the Potato Doughnut recipe  to make Sweet Potato Doughnuts before. So, after making the pumpkin version,  I can certainly say the recipe makes a very good base recipe. Now, what other version should I experiment it with......? Do you have any suggestions?

Super Soft Pumpkin Doughnuts
Ingredients:
250g high protein flour or bread flour
5g instant yeast
50g sugar
100g cooked pumpkin (mashed)
50ml cold milk
2 egg yolks
30g butter
1/4 tsp salt
icing sugar for coating

Method:

1. Combine flour, yeast & sugar in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
2. Add the mashed pumpkin, milk & egg yolks & mix using the dough hook until well combined, about 2 minutes. 
3. Add in butter and continue mixing until the butter is well incorporated into the dough, about 2 minutes. 
4. Finally, add in salt and mix for another 3 minutes until the dough is smooth.
5. Remove the dough from the bowl & shape it into a ball. Then place it in a clean bowl. Cover the bowl & leave it to prove for about 45 minutes.
6. Punch the dough down & shape it into a ball. Leave to rest for about 10 minutes.
7. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and gently roll out to 1 cm thickness. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter. (OR, divide the dough into small portions of about 30g each & mould them into smooth balls. Leave them to rest for 10 minutes. Then shape them into ring doughnuts.)
8. Cover doughnuts loosely with a cloth & leave to rise for about 35 minutes. 
9. Deep fry doughnuts in medium hot oil till golden brown.
10. Coat the doughnuts with icing sugar. 

Notes:

1. I microwaved about 200g of cut raw pumpkin (unpeeled) & once cooked, I scrapped the soft flesh. I got about 100g.
2. I mixed the dough in the late morning & left it in the fridge to proof for about 5 hours. After taking it out from the fridge, I left it in room temperature for about 20 minutes before proceeding with step 6.
3. I wanted to coat the doughnuts with cinnamon sugar but I ran out of cinnamon powder. I think these doughnuts would go very well with cinnamon.

I'm submitting this post to Little Thumbs Up May 2014 (Milk) organised by Bake For Happy Kids, and My Little Favourite DIY, hosted by Tze of Awayofmind Bakery House

Orange Chiffon Cake

I made this Orange Chiffon Cake two weeks ago. I decided to bake it after I saw Sonia posted hers. Sonia's chiffon cake looks so beautiful.... the texture reminds me of the cotton cheesecake. Mind didn't turn out as cottony as hers, so it means I still need to practise my whipping skill for the meringue. But I'm still happy with my chiffon cake!

This recipe is definitely a keeper. However, if I were to use it again, I'll make some slight changes. Firstly, I would add more sugar to the egg yolks as the cake was not sweet enough for me, I think it's because of the orange juice. I would also use the rind of a whole orange & add a tsp of Sunquick orange concentrate for a more intense orange flavour. 

Orange Chiffon Cake

3 egg yolks (A size) - at room temperature
15g caster sugar (Next time, I would add more.)
45g orange juice (I used juice from 1 orange.)
40g corn oil (I used canola oil.)
1/2 tsp orange rind (I would use rind from the whole orange in future.)

70g cake flour (sifted)

3 egg whites (A size) - at room temperature
45g caster sugar
1/2 tsp lemon juice (I didn't use.)

Method:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine egg yolk & 15g of sugar & immediately whisk until light.
2. Add in corn oil, mix well. Then add in orange juice & rind & stir well to combine. 
3. Add in flour, stir to well combine. Set aside.
4. In a clean & dry mixing bowl, beat egg whites and lemon juice till foamy. Gradually, add in the 45g of sugar in 3 batches and continue to beat until soft peak is formed. (It takes about 4-5 mins using speed 3 if using a hand mixer.)
5. Take 1/3 of meringue & use a hand whisk to mix well & lighten the egg yolk batter. 
6. Now change hand whisk to a silicone spatula, fold in another third of the meringue & gently mix till slightly combined. Fold in the rest of the  meringue and gently mix till well combined.
7. Pour cake batter into a 7-inch tube chiffon pan. Fill batter only until about 80% full.  This allows the cake to rise while baking & avoid shrinkage. Tap pan on the counter top to remove air trapped inside the batter.
8. Bake at pre-heated oven at 170 deg C on the middle rack for 35mins - 40mins  or until skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
9. Remove the cake from the oven & immediately invert (turn upside down) the pan and place on a bottle or flat surface so it is suspended over the counter. Let the cake cool completely before removing from pan (about 1 - 1 1/2 hours).
10. To remove the cake from the pan, run a plastic or metal thin spatula around the inside of the tube pan and center core. 

Recipe by Sonia @ Nasi Lemak Lover.

I'm submitting this post to Little Thumbs Up organised by Bake For Happy Kids, and My Little Favourite DIY, hosted by Ann of Anncoo Journal.