Summer Break (Part One)

I(we) 've been so lucky spent 10 days summer break this year traveling around several Europe countries, the main goal was to meet my in-laws in Germany. But since my visa is schengen visa so it was easy for me to traveling to another countries too.
The first destination was Hanover. Hanover is situated at the very edge of the North German Plain. The city has been recognized as ‘The City of Trade Fairs’ from years . What surprised me was, the summer weather over there was so pleasant. It was chilly in the morning and in the afternoon mostly not much than 70 F. What a beautiful weather comparing with summer in my city right now, which is reach 100 F every days.. phuiih..

Hanover was badly damaged in World War II, but after 1945 numerous old buildings were reconstructed and many modern structures were erected. Hanover is particularly known for its beautiful buildings, wells, fountains and parks. Please enjoy some pictures I've been taken and I will continuing my story from different countries soon :)

And enjoy the apple kuchen, the famous cake from Germany. You can buy German apple cake in a bakery or make it yourself, where the smells of baking apples and lemon will brighten your house. This popular apple cake recipe is considered standard for many bakeries and cafes, but it is simple to make at home with ingredients from the grocery store. When I bake this cake, my mind came back to the bakery store that i visited one day morning to get the fresh breads. the aroma from fresh breads and cakes is always make me happy :)

Kuchen is a German word for cake--It’s pronounced “KOO-khehn”—and is leavened with yeast and filled with either fruit or cheese

Apple Kuchen

4 -5 cups baking apples, Granny Smith
1 1/4 cups white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk

Topping
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tsp oatmeal

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix 1 1/4 cup flour, baking powder, 2 tsp sugar, and salt and sift once.
Cut 1/2 cup butter into dry mix with a pastry blender to pea size.

In a small bowl, beat egg with milk and add to dry mix.
Mix thoroughly and pat dough into a greased or oiled 9x13-inch baking dish.
Pare and core apples. Cut into thin wedge slices and place on dough in rows until covered. We would cover the thin end of one apple with the thick end of the other. Dot apples with butter and mix 3/4 cup sugar, 1 1/2 Tbs flour and cinnamon together. Spread dry topping over dotted apples, and bake in oven for 45-60 minutes, until golden brown.

Happy Summer

Hi..everyone, how are you doing ? Happy Summer to you. I'm so sorry didn't upload a new picture or recipe lately. Summer is here, I've been busy take care of the little one every day for her's summer camp , been busy sewing some summer clothes for her, for me , preparing for a summer trip in 2 more weeks :) but the other reason is weather just great. So, I choose to spend a lot of time for outdoor activity. Mostly after put my kid at school bus , back to home to taking care of my little veggie garden.. oh well, get tan more and more i think :)

Anyway, just want to share Rujak recipe one of Indonesian dish, rujak is a traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish commonly find in Asian Country. So many type of rujak in Indonesia. This time I made Rujak Serut or Shredded Rujak, which is all the fruits must to shredded into a roughly grated consistency. This is typical dessert every time I throw party at home during summer time.

RUJAK SERUT

2 ripped mangoes, shredded
2 medium carrot, shredded carrots
2 medium cucumber , shredded
1 jicama , shredded

1 green apple, shredded

1/2 part of grape fruit, peel

300ml water
3 tbs Javanese-palm sugar (or Jagerry)
Pinch of shrimp paste (optional)
3 bird chilli (less if you can’t handle the hot spice )
Salt to taste

Direction :
Boil the water in a pot together with palm sugar sugar
Pound the chili, salt and shrimp paste with mortar, add into the boiling water stir well until all are blended and continue to boil for little while.
Let it cool to a completely room temperature . add in all the shredded fresh fruits. Refrigerated and serve chill

Happy Summer !!

Chocolate Whipped Cream Cake

This kind of late posting, but that just OK , better than not *i think :D - well, just a week late LOL *. Actually we did not plan anything for my dauhter's birthday, but since this month gonna be her last month at pre-K before attending Kindergarten so why not to celebrate her birthday at school, than I ordered a cake from the store near by house. For you who wonder why must to order the cake ? this is the rule, every food we bring to school must be purchase from local store, in case the kids which many of them probably has allergy with some of ingredients and get stomach problem or any major problem, as parent who bring food to school won't get trouble. That is the main reason.

But, since i love to bake, my hand get 'itch' if didn't do baking LOL. I made this cake for her so she still can taste home-made birthday cake

Chocolate Whipped Cream Cake

Ingredients
1 3/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
2 1/4 cup(s) granulated sugar
2 tablespoon(s) granulated sugar
3/4 cup(s) unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 tablespoon(s) unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon(s) salt
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking soda
1/2 cup(s) canola oil
1 cup(s) milk
2 large egss
2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
2 tablespoon(s) anisette liqueur
1 1/2 cup(s) heav cream, cold
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup(s) mini chocolate chips

Directions
Make the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms of two 9-inch round cake pans and fit with two circles of parchment paper. Butter the paper and pan sides and dust with flour. Set aside.

Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil and maintain.Combine the flour, 2 cups granulated sugar, 3/4 cup cocoa, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. Beat in the oil, milk, eggs, vanilla, and anisette liqueur using a mixer set on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Reduce mixer speed to low and add 1 cup of the boiling water. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until a wooden skewer inserted into the middle of each cake comes out clean -- about 35 minutes.

Cool the cakes in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Unmold the cakes and return to the wire rack until completely cool.

Make the frosting: Beat the heavy cream and confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. Gently fold in the remaining 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa until combined.

Assemble the cake: Place one layer on a cake plate. Spread a third of the frosting over the layer. Sprinkle with half of the chocolate chips. Top with the remaining layer and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake. Decor the cake with chocolate slice.

Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.Read

And this is the birthday girl, wearing a smocked-dress that I promised to made for her birthday, but again, i was too busy, so i just finished it day after her birthday, so far she never complain about that. :)