Lemon cheese cake - recipe

Last time I made a cheese cake and it had no cheese flavor... so since then I feel scared to make it again... until I found this recipe of Donna Hay, I decided to try it again!

It is super easy :) I shared it at church, it's all gone! Now I have confidence to make it again and again :)

In the recipe, it is written that this lemon cheese cake is for 8-10 person. I served more than 10 and everyone was full.

Ingredients (8"/20cm - 9"/22cm round springform mould)

Biscuit base

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

100g butter, chopped 

Filling

330g cream cheese, softened

500g ricotta

5 eggs

1 1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 tbsp finely grated lemon rind

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)

1 1/2 tbsp water

Decoration

1 cup single cream, whipped

Instruction:
1. Preheat oven to 150°C (300°F). Place the flour, sugar and butter in a bowl and rub with your fingertips to form a rough dough

2. Using the back of a spoon, press the mixture into the base of a lightly greased mould lined with non-stick baking paper. Bake the base for 25 minutes or until golden and just cooked
Set aside

3. To make the filling, beat the cream cheese & ricotta well

Add in eggs, sugar, lemon juice and rind, and vanilla in a food processor and process until smooth

4. Place the cornflour and water in bowl and mix until smooth. Add the cornflour mixture to the cheese mixture and mix to combine

5. Pour over the cooked base, wrap the bottom part of the mould with aluminium foil - Prevent liquid leaks on the bottom of the oven during baking

Bake for 1 hour or until light golden and just set
Turn the oven off and allow to cool in the oven with the door closed for another 20mins 

6. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until cold

7. Top with the cream to serve

Enjoy!

The best hamburger in Paris

I have an American friend who recommended me the best hamburger in Paris, she is very satisfied with it each time. 

Since she is an expert of hamburger, I went there and tried - it is excellent! I love it!

What is the best hamburger?

1. Juicy steak
The steak should be thick enough, the middle part is not completely cooked and it should be juicy when you chew it

2. Thick and firm burger bread
The fast food restaurants or even restaurants provide very soft and thin burger bread, when you take it in your hands, the bread is flattened...

Not only thick bread, but also not too soft, even when you take it with your hands, it won't be squeezed and the shape is distorted

3. Cooked onion
Cooked onion is important, so that you won't have smelly breathe after eating the burger! Plus, cooked onion is tasty

=> When you start eating it, you cannot eat all the layers in one time even you open maximum your mouth, may be boys can do that, but not girls (except you have a super big mouth like Julia Roberts!)

Note: It just reminds me the advertisement of XX fast food company, they have super thick burger bread, juicy steak in the advertisement, but in real, it looks much less appetizing.

If you live in Paris and you are finding a super hamburger - here you go:
www.lecamionquifume.com

It worths to try even there is a queue.

What mistakes to avoid when we make meringue?

Today I tried to make some meringue, I do it as usual - every time is successful! 

However, when I check the oven after 45 mins, I found that my meringues are deformed.... :(

So I check on internet to see what happened... and here are the points to notice:

Egg white
- When you separate egg white & yolk, ensure the egg white consists no egg yolk => it can affect the beating up process

- Let the egg white sits at the room temperature about 30mins before beating: egg white at room temperature expands in higher volume

Sugar
Better to use icing sugar, which is easier to dissolve in the egg white

Equipment
Do not under-estimate the equipment that you use!
- Using copper/glass/metal bowl other than plastic bowl, ideal: copper 
 => help to produce the fluffy & stable foam
Note: I use stainless steel bowl and it works well

- Before using it, make sure the bowl is clean, without any grease or fat 
*Reason: in plastic bowl, the fat may be retained in the scratched mark/gap
 => use salt with vinegar/ lemon juice & rinse with water

Weather condition
Humidity can take longer time to dry the meringue and keep it in dry condition 
 => avoid making meringue in rainy days



Reference:
http://www.marthastewart.com/266449/meringue-guaranteeing-success

Caramel sauce recipe

I was making my matcha ice-cream, I don't know why suddenly I just want to eat the caramel sauce. So I just found out the recipe and did it.

This sauce is super easy to make, I saw some recipes they add the cream in the 2nd part... well, after trying this recipe, what you need to do is to mix all the ingredients and sim it, that is very simple, isn't it?

I'm planning to make the caramel ice-cream next time... looking forward...

Ingredients

3/4 cup Brown sugar

1/2 cup half-and-half => Here I use 30% cream

4 tbsp butter (about 57g butter)

Pinch salt

1 tbsp vanilla extract

Instruction

1. Mix the brown sugar, half-and-half, butter and salt in a saucepan over medium-low heat. 

2. Cook while whisking gently for 5 to 7 minutes, until it gets thicker. 

Note: I cook for 5 mins

3. Add the vanilla and cook another minute to thicken further.

4. Turn off the heat, cool slightly and pour the sauce into a jar. Refrigerate until cold.

Note: I didn't put in the fridge... but I keep it in a cool place.

Enjoy!

My shop "LoveShareJoy" at Etsy is opening NOW

Finally, my shop "LoveShareJoy" at Etsy is opening - YEAH :) I need to thank my friend Jonua who helps me a lot (useful recommendations and guidance) and encourage me a lot so that I can take my 1st step!


To start with, the 1st item on Etsy - Crochet teddy bear

* 100% hand-made

* hands & legs are movable

* felt name tag can be personalized - I will sew the initial letter of the recipient's name







By simply looking at this teddy bear, you may not realize how much work needed to be done behind to crochet a teddy bear, since it is 100% hand-made, it requires 100% concentration and love to do it!

If you are interested, click the link below to get more information:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/164902003/handmade-crochet-teddy-bear-personalized?ref=shop_home_active_1

More items will be coming up soon - 

*crochet items

*sewing items

Chinese new year - Chinese zodiac sign

There are 12 animals represent Chinese zodiac, each animal represents one year, which means 12 years complete a cycle. Each of us has our own zodiac sign according to the Chinese Lunar calendar.

We believe that each animal determines our own personality, characters... 

Many Chinese believe in Fengshui, they will calculate their luck according to the current year, their zodiac sign and 5 elements, etc. When they get the result, they will know what to do, what not to do.

To check your Chinese zodiac sign:

http://www.chinese-tools.com/astrology/sign.html