Friday, 25 December 2009

Christmas Dinner 2009

The Verdict

I think it went quite well on the whole! I was especially worried about the meat as I couldn't buy a chunk of meat and only a slice (last time I'm going to that butcher, I guess) so I didn't bother with a recipe but it worked 0_0. I asked Dutchman what his favourite course was, he said the beef. 0_0

Anyhoo, let me tell you what I served:

Italian Prosecco Cocktail (recipe below)

 


Trio of Amuses
- Sage, Leek & Onion Ball, Mousse of Duck Breast (bought), Deviled Egg



Wild Scottish Smoked Salmon with an Asian Dressing (sorry about the bad picture)






Roast Beef (served with roast vegetables and new potatoes)



Panna Cotta with Strawberry Compote

 
 
Coffee with Bon Bons





Happy Holidays!


Thursday, 24 December 2009

Two Recipes

One to fill your home with a lovely vanilla-i aroma and the other for the festive season.


Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are not only simple AND delicious- they are also cheap to make. There is no need for Valrhona Les Féves and everything I used were completely non-premium (right up to to the Euroshopper flour).

Recipe:
170g unsalted butter, melted
16oz A/P flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
8oz brown sugar, packed
4oz cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
16oz semisweet chocolate chips

Oven temp: 180 degrees celscious

Whisk flour, baking soda and salt.


In another bowl, cream melted butter and sugars until well-blended. Then, add the vanilla, egg and egg yolk. Beat for about 2 minutes. Add in flour and mix until lightly incoporated. Stir in chocolate chips.

Roll dough into balls using either a very generous teaspoon-full or a very generous tablespoon-full  (depending on the size you prefer). They spread a little so don't place them too close together. Bake for 8-15 minutes(again, size).

Enjoy!

Recipe #2

Sgroppino

500ml prosecco
100ml vodka
lemon sorbet

Optional: lemon slices and/or mint to garnish

Refridgerate everything (sorbet in freezer). Then, whisk everything. Serve immediately






Wednesday, 23 December 2009

The Trip

I can honestly say that the 10 days in SE Asia was the BEST holiday of my life! I had such an amazing time, with no obligations and got to spend time with people I wanted to spend time with!

2 of my best buds went to Phuket with me. Phuket is not a gorgeous place. Yet, this is one of those trips where company was so good that you'll always think of Phuket fondly.

The short trip to that infamous Thai island was an orgy of massages, facials, drinks and lots of laughter.


Our afternoons were spent lazing on these deck chairs.



Our balcony at Burasari



Burasari pool (where we swam and had cocktails after the beach )



Alex Gaudino !! FREE rave along Patong Beach and one of friend's favourite DJ's was playing



Thai Food (Gai Pad Grapow, Fish Cakes, Duck Curry etc.) We also ate at roadside stalls but no pictures as we didn't usually carry along a bag (camera/phone!).

We also had dinner at Keith Floyd's restaurant at the hotel. We went for the deal (20+ euro per person for 3 courses). Sorry, we totally forgot to take pictures until the main course arrived. Our appetizers were poached eggs in red wine etc., prawn cocktails and French onion soup.

Main:


Tuna Steak. This was so good and didn't taste like fish at all.



Friend's main. Chicken something



Dessert. Not only unremarkable- it was disgusting. Urgh

Would also like to add that we gorged ourselves with Thai satays and those crunchy pancakes sold on carts. Drinks (alcoholic) were quite cheap. The half-naked girls dancing with glazed eyes were disturbing. The facials (50+ euro each) were relaxing but no extraction so I had to pay for another facial when I got back to KL (luckily very cheap. Only 20 euro ^^ ).

Had a great, great time with my girls.

P/S: Thanks for your suggestions to my previous post!

Sunday, 20 December 2009

An Update & Cry For Help!

Hi girls,

I'll be cooking a fancy meal for Dutchman on Christmas day and I need to know what you think of the menu below. Some things to take note:

* I don't want to be stuck in the kitchen all day
* Has to look pretty
* Not too expensive
* Ingredients not too difficult to obtain
* No shellfish or mushrooms (Dutchman hates them)

The menu

Amuse ( don't know, suggestions?)

Sage, leek & onion balls

Smoked Salmon

Roast Beef (again, suggestions on marinades and so forth, please? Tried & tested recipes online?)

Dessert (helppppp... no cakes/no tarts. Something light. Dutch people have cake & pies with coffee/tea either at teatime or at around 8/9pm. Dessert is usually something lighter )

Coffee & Bon Bons/ Petit Fours

Thursday, 17 December 2009

Continuation

of our dinner at Sage, The Gardens


Forgot to say that we had a bottle of pink Moet & Chandon champagne



Quail Pate en croute with Foei Gras

 
Angus Beef



Gindara cod with Foie Gras



Wagyu Cheek



Lamb - star of the night.



Something to do with apples. I really should take notes next time!



Strawberry Mascarpone



Almond Tart (I think)



Valhrona Chocolate Tart



Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Dinner @ SAGE

Malaysia is awesome. I had such a wonderful time. I'll be leaving in 30 minutes and I'm missing it already.

The girls and I had dinner at Sage last night.

Short entry due to my trip home:


Salmon Tartare with Kanten Jelly



Hokkaido Scallops



Foie Gras



Wagyu Carpaccio



Smoked Salmon

Rest of the meal will be posted later! See you in The Netherlands!