If Cikyah Can Cook, So Can You

A teacher teaches, a mechanic …….bakes?

Hiya peeps. Happy Friday morning. Anyway, I have always enjoyed baking and unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you see it) have a soft spot for pastry. Of course,  savouring the crumbly and melt in the mouth pastry and soft, creamy filling is my top priority. Baking the pastry on my own always comes second. In dealing with my cravings, I usually get my fix from a bakery in section 14, PJ. Once in a while, I would venture to a ‘secret’ place to have some of its yummy chicken pie. Undeniably, the prices of these mouth-watering babies are not pleasing to the wallet. Fortunately, things got better since I discovered MyResipi.com and the wonderful, exciting world of  food blogs. Since then,  I have been trying to make my favourite pastry products.  Some turned out deliciously well but some did end up in the dustbin!

I share this baking passion with my younger brother. Since he stays with my parents in Padang Jambu, Melaka, we can only put our baking skills into practice whenever I go back to visit them. My baking ingredients have  never failed to be in my checklist of things to bring along. Oh, have I told you that my brother is a mechanic?  Yes, you read it right.  I know, I know. You are thinking that I’m making up stories, aren’t you?  His fingers are meant for heavy-duty work at his workshop but I swear, they are  the same fingers which lovingly co-created the scrumptious treat below. I’ve included the recipe in this entry. Who knows, you (and all the ‘non-mechanics’) might want to give your fingers some exercise.

MINI BLUEBERRY CHEESE TARTLETS

For the tartlet casings, you need :

250 unsalted butter

440g flour (sifted)

120g icing sugar

2 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla essence

Method:

1.  Mix all ingredients into a dough.

2.  Take some dough and fit into your tart mould and trim the edges using a knife. Prick the middle of your dough using a fork.

3.  Preheat your oven at 175C ( for my oven, it usually bake at 160C) and bake your tart casings for 15-20 minutes. Make sure not to    overbake for you are going to bake your tartlets one for time after you have put the filling.

4.  Once baked, let to cool.

For the blueberry cheese filling :

125g cream cheese

2/3 cups icing sugar

1 egg (Grade C)

1/4 cup whipping cream

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

enough blueberry filling

Method:

1.  Using a balloon whisk, beat cream cheese and sugar till well-mixed.

2.  Put in the vanilla essence, egg  and whipping cream. Continue beating till the mixture is creamy.

3.  Spoon into your tartlet casings and top with blueberry filling.

4.  Bake at 160C for 15-20 minutes.

Puffy Puff From The Puffy Makcik

To make these simple but satisfying puffs, you will need :
A packet of puff pastry (Size : 5′x5′)(thawed for 20 minutes)
10 cheese sausages ( cut into threes) or you can use Ayamas Mini sausages
one egg
2 tbsp of fresh milk ( I used low-fat)
some butter

Method:

1. Preheat the oven at 175C.
2. Take out a piece of puff pastry. Using a small knife, divide into three equal pieces.
3. Then, place a piece of the cut sausage on the pastry and roll until all the sausage is covered.
4. Cut diagonal lines on top of the pastry.
5. Repeat Step 3 and 4 until all pastry and sausages have been used.
6. Line your baking tray with aluminium foil and grease with butter.
7. Place your rolled up sausages on the tray.
8. Beat the egg and mix with the milk.
9. Brush the egg mixture on your sausage rolls.
10. Bake until golden brown for 20 minutes/ lesser, depending on your oven.

* If you want to make tuna puff instead, divide the pastry into two and put the filling on one half of the pastry. Fold the remaining half over the filling and use a fork to seal the edges. A small can of Ayam Brand Chilli Tuna would be more than enough. Make sure to drain the oil to prevent your pastry from becoming soggy.