Work Catering #54: It's a no bake week

I guess I wasn't in the mood to use my oven xD I think I was just being lazy and wanted to make some quick and easy desserts. So if you are in a lazy mood, here are some no-bake recipes!!

Strawberries are in season! :D

Brownie Batter Truffles
Recipe adapted from Mel's kitchen café

Ingredients
3/4 cup (96g) cocoa powder
1 cup (200g) caster sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (100g)
pinch of salt
3/4 cup (96g) plain flour
2 tsp vanilla essence
170g butter, melted
250g dark chocolate, melted
sprinkles for garnish

1. Combine cocoa powder, sugars, salt and flour in large bowl. Stir in vanilla and melted butter until the mixture forms a thick batter.
2. Line baking tray with baking paper. Roll teaspoonful of dough into balls and place them on baking tray. Refrigerate for one hour until the brownie batter balls are firm.
3. Coat balls in melted chocolate and place back on the tray. Decorate using sprinkles. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

The inside of the truffle

They were actually really popular XD

The back story behind these truffles is that I actually tasted one and I felt that it was a bit grainy... I think the sugar had not melted with the butter so you could actually taste the grains of sugar >___<" Anyways I was telling my friend that I really wasn't happy with them and she told me "That's what you always say! And they always get eaten up". But this time I was sure it was a FAILURE....

yet again she proved me wrong! Seems like people like eating sugar grains XD 

Next up is super easy Strawberry Pannacotta!! :D Since they are in season now, why not make the most of them? :)

Strawberry Pannacotta
Recipe adapted from Misschieviously

Ingredients
500g strawberries, washed
250ml milk
250ml thickened cream
1/3 cup caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
3 tsp powdered gelatin
3 tbs boiling water

1. Chop strawberries and puree in blender. Pass strawberry puree through a sieve to remove pulp and seeds. (You should get just under 400ml of puree). Keep the pulp and seeds for garnish.
2. Place milk, cream, sugar and vanilla in small saucepan. Heat to a low simmer until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the gelatin and 3 tbs boiling water to soften the gelatin. Pour hot milk and cream mixture over the gelatin and stir to dissolve completely.
4. Add in strawberry puree and mix well.
5. Pour into individual glass/cups. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours to set.
6. To serve, garnish with strawberry pulp or fresh strawberries.

pretty pink pannacotta ^^

No excuse not to make these! super quick, super easy and super yummyyy :D 

Work Catering #27: White chocolate's perfect match

This week I decided to have a WHITE CHOCOLATE theme! Found a bunch of white chocolate melts in the cupboard that I needed to use up, so here is what I've made with them :) First up, truffles!!! I've never made truffles before but have realised they are so simple! Of course, I could have made White chocolate truffles but wanted to do something a little different. So the question is, what flavours match with white chocolate? 1) LEMON and COCONUT =D

Lemon and Coconut white chocolate truffles

Recipe adapted from Max and Me

Ingredients

1/3 cup (80ml) thickened cream

250g white chocolate, chopped

2 tsp lemon rind, finely grated

1/2 cup desiccated coconut

1. Heat cream for one minute in bowl over pot of simmering water (double boiler).

2. Add chopped white chocolate and stir with metal spoon until melted and smooth.

3. Remove bowl from heat and stir in lemon rind. Cover with cling-wrap and refrigerate until firm (3-4 hours.. or overnight as I did ^^)

4. Line baking tray with baking paper. Remove truffle mix from fridge and roll into balls.

5. Coat in desiccated coconut and place on tray. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

I think I needed to make more =p

Deliciously lemony ^_^ 

Everybody seemed to love them! Just goes to show sometimes simple is best =) they kinda reminded me of Lindt balls ^_^ Just needed to coat them in white chocolate!

So the next flavour match for white chocolate I have chosen is 2) PISTACHIO and RASPBERRY! Made some blondies - which are just like brownies but blond =p so made with white chocolate!

White chocolate, Pistachio and Raspberry Blondies

Recipe adapted from Baker's corner

Ingredients

270g white chocolate, chopped

38g butter, chopped

3/4 cup (165g) caster sugar

3 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups (~300g) plain flour

1 cup (190g) white chocolate chips

1 cup (140g) pistachio

1 1/2 cup frozen raspberries

1. Preheat oven to 180oC/160oC fan forced. Grease and line base of 30x20cm rectangle slice tin.

2. Melt butter, white chocolate and sugar in large saucepan. Stir over low heat until melted. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.

3. Stir in eggs and mix well. Add flour, then pistachios, white chocolate chips and raspberries. Stir until combined. Spoon mixture into prepared pan and smooth surface.

4. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until mixture is firm to touch. Allow to cool in pan. 

5. Remove slice from pan and cut into squares to serve.

Blond blondies ^^

Look at the colour! LOVE IT! :D

I've had many exciting foodie adventures recently that have given me lots of inspiration =) so thinking next week's catering will be a bit more.. creative? ^___^"