Easy Peasy Homemade Chocolate Croissant

Got this easy recipe from Recipes+ magazine.

Just need puff pastry as the "croissants".

This time I used a generic one.

I tried using Pampas brand before and I think generic "homebrand" is just as good.

Not only that it is also cheaper :-)

So here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

2 sheets Puff pastry (I only use 1 sheet)

1/3 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (I used "Nutella")

1/4 cup finely chopped dry-roasted hazelnuts (I didn't use this)

2 tbsp finely chopped dark cooking chocolate

(I used "Nestle" Dark Chocolate Bits)

1 egg, lightly beaten

Method:

Pre-heated oven at 200C or 180C fan forced.

Line baking tray with baking paper.

Thawed puff pastry,

cut it in half (4 rectangles).

Cut each rectangle in half crosswise (8 squares).

Cut each square in half diagonally to make a triangle.

What I did was as shown in the above picture.

For each croissant, place a pastry triangle on a flat surface;

brush with e little egg.

Spread with 1 tsp of chocolate mixture, leaving a 1cm border.

What I did was, spread the Nutella and add few chocolate bits on it without egg wash (I forgot but it turned out OK too =>smile)

The roll up pastry starting from the long edge or as shown in the above picture.

My way: once all rolled up, brush them with egg wash.

Into the oven for 20 minutes or until golden

and puffed.  Cool for 5 minutes before serve.

Yummy and Easy :-)

~Enjoy~

Quesadilla and Quiche from Mountain Bread Light Rye Wraps

Mountain Bread - Light Rye Wraps

Yesterday, I made 2 dishes from these wraps:

Cheese and Banana Quesadilla

and Simple Quiche

I normally make Cheese quesadilla using these wraps,

my son loved them so much and called them "Pizza!" LOL...

Below is my way of making a quick chesse and banana quesadilla:

Take 1 wrap, filled half with grated cheese and banana

"Closed" it and into the microwave (depending how hot your microwave is)

mine only takes 1 minute

Once done take it out from the microwave and cut them to sizes you like using pastry cutter

Ready to eat... yum!

Rye Light Wrap Quiche

My Simple Quiche:

1/2 brown onion, thinly sliced

1 small garlic, finely chopped

1 tbsp of vegetable oil

Grated natural cheddar cheese

6 eggs, beat slightly

1 carrot, grated

4 Light Wraps
1 spring onion, thinly sliced
1 tsp dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Butter, enough to grease baking pan

Method:

Prepare oven at 180degree C.

Sautee brown onion until soften then add garlic.

Keep sautee-ing until garlic fragrant,

Add grated carrot, sautee until cooked.

Set aside to cool down slightly.

Beat 6 eggs lightly, then add spring onion,
salt and pepper and 1 tsp of dijon mustard.
Then add sauteed carrot in it,

salt and pepper to taste, and cheese, mix lightly.

Grease baking pan with butter

Place 4 wraps on it.

Pour eggs mixture into it.

Into the oven for 20 minutes.

Take it out and sprinkle as much cheese as you want on top of it,

then back into the oven for about 10 minutes.

 Let them cool, then ready to serve.

from the back side, some parts were "sticking" out

and my son loved it because it's crispy.

... Enjoy ...

Weekend Baking: Buttermilk Scones

I have been absent for quite a while, the reason is I am busy setting up my home-baked cake business.

I am just starting it early this year, so still have to complete it with bits and pieces.

But blogging is always on my mind, so here it is my weekend baking:  Buttermilk Scones.

I got the recipe from local supermarket, Woolworth's, it was given out for free,

so why not take one? ^_^

First of all for me to get tasted-good baking result is to use a GOOD BUTTER

Trust me, especially if you are using butter for any buttercream, or for pastry, you can taste the "difference" in using a good and cheap butter.  But, this is just me.

I made scones before but not buttermilk one, so this time I made 

 Buttermilk Cheese Scones and 

Smoked Ham and Cheese Scones.

Here is the recipe:

Basic Buttermilk Scones

Preparation: 10 minutes

Cooking: 15 minutes

Makes: 12 scones

Ingredients:

2 cups of self-raising flour

1 tbsp of caster sugar

a pinch of salt

3/4 cup of buttermilk

60 gram of cold butter, chopped to pieces

extra buttermilk for brushing

1) for cheese scones, I added about 150grams of grated cheddar cheese

2) and for Smoked Ham and Cheese,

I added sauted smoked ham (withouth oil) and grated natural cheddar cheese.

Method:

Sift flour, sugar and salt into a bowl.

Use fingertips, rub butter into flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.

***at this stage I add the filling***

Make a well in the center of mixture, add buttermilk,

using a flat-bladed knife, stir until a sticky dough forms.

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface,

knead gently until dough is just smooth.

Using a lightly floured rolling pin, gently roll dough out until 2 cm thick.

Using a 6cm round cutter, cut out scones.

Press leftover dough together.

Repeat to make 12 scones.

Place scones on a lined baking tray.

Brush with buttermilk.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown and hollow when tapped on top.

For me: best to serve warm.

Below is the variation I made from Cheese Buttermilk Scones

 Buttermilk Cheese Scone
with Nutella filling... yum!!

+

 =

This one is Cheese Buttermilk Scones

filled with tuna in Chili

~ Have a great Sunday and Keep Smiling ~

^_^

Wedding Anniversary Cake and Lunch at Peden's Restaurant Cessnock, Hunter Valley

We were celebrating our Wedding Anniversary last Saturday,

so I made Vanilla Bean Cake with Lemon and Vanilla Bean Buttercream

topped with some buttercream rosettes on it.

it turn out to be a quite "tall" cake

it was a double stack of Vanilla Bean cake.

I love the buttercream rosettes on it but not sure about the sprinkles,

should have just do it without the sprinkles I think.

My husband was on 3 night shift last week and ended on Sunday.

Which means Monday he just came off night shift,

looking fresh and not went to bed like he used to (after night shift),

instead he came with me to drop off our toddler son (2 year and 3 months old precisely today) to pre-school, then I have to drove back because I forgot to bring his bottle.

When I came back, my husband was vacuuming the floor....the whole house,

then he fold dried laundry, continue with washing dishes then have his oatmeal porridge for breakfast.

Me?  Mmm did not do much, but having my toast with butter and honey, then a cup of tea for breakfast (after dropping my son) then "glued" to the computer until lunch time.

My husband asked me what I would like to have for lunch, I said I am not sure, feeling a bit slow... then he said let's go out and find something for lunch, maybe we have a sitting lunch... hmm a surprise lunch? I thought.

So we drove to down town and see some restaurants, we have been to almost all of them - Chinese, Indian, Thai Restos... then my husband drove a bit further and stopped at Peden's Restaurant.

Interesting, I think I never really pay attention that there are a restaurant across Cessnock Performing Arts Centre.  I told that to my husband and he said "I have better eyes, baby" :-)

So we went there, they have Kids Eat Free on Monday only,

they have Kids Play Room - for bigger kids, not for toddler :-)

the resto is quite big and busy, lots of people are dining in today.

It is a restaurant on one side and a pub on the other side.

Then we pick the seats, and look at the menu.  

What interesting is the price, it is not pricey at all, reasonable prices for such a good meal ... oh and later on we found out that the portions are good :-)  good for our love handle LOL...  and not to forget the good service, the staffs are friendly.

so as a starter we ordered :

Light Meal: Salt and Pepper Squid

served with chips and salad

i think it was $15 only

soooooo YUMMMYYYYY..... we both loved this!

The squid are tasty, full of flavor, juicy, tender,

the chips are light and crispy...
the lemon and salad complement the freshness...just yum!

then I ordered: Chicken Schnitzel Parmigiana

comes with chips and salad too

 just ordinary one but if your are focusing on the portion,

this much for +/- $19 only...good price right?

my husband ordered: Twice Cooked Pork Belly

comes with sweet potato rosti (yum! i tried this),

steamed vegies, leek and capsicum relish and apple cider jus

my husband enjoyed this dish a lot!

The winner?  We both LOVED the Salt and Pepper Squid!

Next time we will go there again with our toddler

and for sure we will order this Salt and Pepper Squid,

1 portion for each of us :D

and we already know what wanna try: Chicken Fillo and Wood Fire Pizza!

Certainly will post it on my blogs too :-)

We have not been dining out for quite some time now, 

so it was a nice dine-in lunch for a change, on a special occasion too :-)

Love you, baby.

Hope we can celebrate many many more anniversaries,

and this one is for you... xxoo

and for Peden's Restaurant - we will be back!

Hope you all have a good week

and

Cheers!