Wednesday 30 March 2011

Friends.


It's easy to make friends, 
but it's hard to have ones you like, keep for years.
A good friend pays $337 Euros to come hang out with you for a day and not go to the london eye or Buckingham Palace.  




Choux buns with ice cream at St John's




Me, Akiko, Tommy

I met Akiko when we were young and silly. 

We are older but still quite silly.


Cute vintage tea shop in East London




Akiko : I think I lost my phone ( 5th time )
Tommy mutters to herself : If i have a penny everytime she says that...



everyone loves the giraffe


quick picnic at home before Akiko catches her train.

Courtesy of Tommy who had to drag us along, while we walk around like headless chickens.

Friday 25 March 2011

Thin Chocolate Tart



I like chocolate tarts but they are usually too rich for my taste. I found this recipe on 




I usually use the food processor for doughs. You may want to invest in one if you don't have one. No more buttery hands!


Try not to overwork dough, this is a crumbly dough, just squeeze everything together.


I like rolling tart doughs on parchment or cling film, it's less messy this way.



There is no need to cut the dough, it was my mistake. You won't be able to see it when the chocolate is on the top anyway. ( What was i thinking ?? )





I used the remaining pastry dough to make forks and spoons.



Recipe ( Adapted from 365 good reasons to sit down and eat )
.
.
.

Pastry 
200g plain flour, 50g ground almond
100g caster sugar
pinch of salt
120g butter cubed.
1 egg yolk

Preheat oven at 180c 

To make the pastry, combine all the dry ingredients, rub cold butter until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Add the egg yolk and form a dough, add a little water if it seems too dry. 
Pastry will be quite crumbly. 

Flatten dough and fridge it for 30 minutes. 

Remove from fridge and roll it out to a large circle and bake it for 12 mins at 180c

Chocolate Topping

1 orange
50g butter 
150g whipping cream 
140g dark chocolate

Zest & juice the orange,
Melt all the ingredients over a bowl over a pan of simmering water.
Mix well and fridge it for about 15 minutes.

Coat the tart and leave it at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

* I only needed half of what the recipe stated.







10 things #1

My name is Alison and I'm from Singapore

I've only been baking for about 3 years. I only went to pastry school because I didn't know what else to do. I got very lucky because I like it.

I like cats more than dogs but that is slowly changing.

I dislike wet floor, drips, spills and crumbs. immensely. 

I really like farm animals. 

I like collecting junk and it is hard for me to throw things away.

I can read tarot cards.

I'm addicted to Eastenders.

I love statistics and wikipedia.

My favourite colour is grey, blue, black and white. I am boring.


Tag - This is Naive, Vanilla Minuet





Thursday 24 March 2011

Everyday #1 I don't only take pictures of food.


Hampstead heath & Primrose Hill - I decided to have my share of nature


Tommy taking a nap on a tree



eeps!


Professional dog walkers


Lunch at kenwood house 



she took about 15 minutes



I skipped away




stopped for lunch.

Do you like parks too?

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Sometimes,

when I start getting the blues


I make 





colourful drinks




bright green food




have some strawberries



buy something from ottolenghi




look at fans spin

let my mind go blank.

What do you do?

Monday 21 March 2011

I'm 31.


D made this cake all by himself, with me watching anxiously 1 metre away by the sofa. It's quite good considering that's his first try.



at St John's Bread and Wine. There was alot more but we were too busy eating.



Tommy stuffing herself right after she says the usual
 " i'm not hungry but i can eat a little "
and ends up helping you finish your food as well.













Wednesday 16 March 2011

Last Week



We met Mickey and Minnie, thank you Tomo








Monday 14 March 2011

To paris


Rose bakery again




the perfect tart


He likes it too





ohhhh look at that. I want it!






art . tom sachs



Miniature working elevator. I was intrigued. 




More food. I ♥ Yakisoba, even not so nice ones.


very good chicken at Montmartre







top of Montmartre



got Birthday Boy this 


but he wanted this

Happy Birthday and goodnight