Cheese Cake

Non Bake Cheese Cake

I stopped experimenting on cheese cakes because number 1, the ingredients are expensive.
2. It is a bit rich and takes a while to finish, yep, even by the masses!!

But the other day I was just jalan-jalan at a supermarket near our house and lo behold! Fatura Cream Cheese 500g was on sale!! Ha! Ha! It even had free duit raya packets, don't need empty ones.
So back to my story, it took me about a few minutes to weight the pros and cons not to mention some very, very simple math in my head before I grabbed it and chucked it in the shopping trolley.

Not too sure what I intended to do with so much cream cheese, maybe eat with some crackers as I watched the 2014 FIFA World Cup? Beats nodding off at crucial moments during the match.

Once home, cream cheese safely stored in the fridge and I too forgot about it.
But yesterday I was just going through various cake recipes, wondering which one to try out when I stumbled across this rather quirky one.

The instructions were easy although a little too simple. Had some guess work on my part but thankfully the cake came out very well.
Trylah this recipe if  you love creamy non bake cheese cake as a dessert or just love cheese cake.

I did some changes to suit my taste but overall the cake is good. Simple but scrumptious.

Oreo Cheese Cake
source: fasyshane

1 packet of Oreo biscuits (whichever flavour doesn't matter as you have to remove the cream)
Digestive and Marie biscuits can be used too.
50g butter (melted)
200g non dairy whipping cream
250g cream cheese
2 tsp yogurt / fresh milk (I used fresh milk)
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tsp gelatin & 1/4 cup water

Method
The Base
Remove the cream from the biscuits. Using a food processor or a rolling pin, smash the biscuits into crumbs.
Mix the butter and the biscuit crumbs until combined. Press down firmly the crumbs in a cake tin, make sure the crumbs are packed tightly and as smooth as possible. Use your hands, it is the best way although a little greasy. Chill in the fridge.

Filling
In a bowl beat the cream cheese, whipping cream and milk until thick and smooth.
I added 1 Tbsp of castor sugar (optional)
Add in the vanilla and stir in the gelatin. Mix well.
At this point, you can add some of the biscuit crumbs into the filling resulting bits of chocolate
biscuits in the white cake.
For the filling, I added 2 Tbsp of lemon juice and I omitted the crumbs bit.

Take out the base from the fridge and pour in the cream cheese filling.
Gently tap the sides of the tin to ensure no air bubbles.
Chill the cake for about 3 hours or better still overnight.
You can decorate the cake with fresh fruits, more Oreo biscuits, some blueberry/strawberry fillings (available at baking goods shops) or just leave it as it is.

Overall review, I am happy to say this recipe is good, one that I would definitely do again and again in future should the price of cream cheese turun again! Despite being non bake, it doesn't melt so easily like some recipes that I have tried out. Creamy and rich. Yum!


Happy Baking.

Oreo Cake - take 2

Oreo Cake

At first glance the topping looks like the cracks you would see on the road.
But at another glance it resembles that guy Ben, from Fantastic Four.
But upon careful inspection it is merely chunks/crumbs of Oreo.

I had another go at this cake last night.
Maybe because I just felt like it or I had some left over Oreos from last time?
Who knows and cares anyway? The important thing is that the cake was baked and is
ready to be eaten.

This time the Oreo crumbs were slightly larger, instead of the almost fine ones that I usually use.
Another change that I did was to use another recipe for the icing. I didn't
quite fancy the original recipe's icing.

So I then tried this one using condensed milk.


ButterCream Icing For Oreo Cake
source: Azlita Aziz - Masam Manis.

80 g butter
200 g cream well (I used shortening)
350g golden syrup (Didn't have any so I used condensed milk)
1 tsp vanilla (I added this)


Method
Using a stand mixer beat butter and shortening until light and fluffy.
Gradually pour in the milk and continue beating.
The icing will be thick and creamy.
It is pale so if you want some color, you can add some droplets of
food coloring.
**Some recipes add in 2 tablespoon of icing sugar to the icing but I thought this
was sweet enough.

Happy Baking.

Chocolate Brownies

Made another batch, this time I kept it simple.
No nuts or extra chocolate chips.
I've done this before, it is MaMa Fami's recipe.
But for the topping, I always wanted to try those colourful cooking chocolate bars
that I see at the baking supplies shop.
So on my last trip, I purchased a block of orange flavoured chocolate.
It was either that or pandan - NOT!
I had a small taste of the chocolate and mmm... sedaps!

Chopped the needed amount, agak-agaklah. Then melt it using a double boiler, but
since the amount was rather small I just melted it by placing the chocolate in a bowl over
a smaller bowl filled with hot water.
As there is no fire, you'd have to change to hot water twice or chopped the chocolate really fine.
Let it be for a bit and it will melt.
Once melted and smooth, using a spatula scrapped it into a piping bag and decorate away!
I'm not too imaginative, but I'm sure you are.

Happy Baking.

Brownies with Walnuts

It has been a while since I last added anything in my blog.
Hmm... been down with the flu, yes again! I felt horrible and the coughing was enough to make me
go off food for a while.
I even forsake my favorites! If only it works all the time, without having the pain of being sick...
I would definitely lose weight! LOL

Right started feeling better and I even dared to slowly sip iced drinks! Beraninya, lepas tu batuk lagi!
I began combing books and blogs for new recipes, found some interesting ones but didn't have the will to
do anything other then mentally keeping in for future 'rajin mode'

Brownies particularly caught my attention as it was easy and the ingredients were at home.
Plus Mum wanted to eat some too. So without much ado I started baking a batch last night
at 10 pm.
Why tengah malam? I love to bake then, it is quiet and the weather cooler too.

I read somewhere brownies using cocoa powder is much better in texture compared to the chocolates ones.
Entahlah, but I thought both taste delicious. This recipe uses cocoa powder, on one hand it is easier as cocoa powder doesn't require melting which to me is a tad tedious.
Back to the recipe, I found two. The measurements and ingredients are similar with exception of butter or oil.
Once again it is the melting thing. If you do opt for butter, I'd use a microwave oven.
It is easy and quick.

I normally measure the butter and put it in a bowl or glass measuring jug. Use a plate to cover so that the poor oven doesn't get splattered by butter later.
On High, depending on how cold or hard your butter is, for about 1/2 a cup 1 min is enough. If there are still lumps, just add a few more seconds or another minute would do it.

Brownies with Walnut
source: http://southernfood.about.com/od/brownies/r/bl21210e.htm &
            http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mmm-mmm-better-brownies/

1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted butter (I used sunflower oil)
1 cup white sugar (I used brown sugar)
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour (I used Tepung Gandum Blue Key)
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)


Method
In a bowl mix oil, sugar and vanilla. If using butter make sure to let it cool first before adding.
Using a hand whisk beat to combine.
Beat in the eggs, beat again until sugar dissolves.

In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cocoa powder (please sieve all)
and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture. Whisk as you go
and be careful of lumps. Mix well until smooth and glossy.
Stir in walnut. Pour into greased 9 x 9 cake tin.
Bake at 175 c for 20-25 min.

Happy Baking.