Walnut Brownie Squares

I do not like the boxed brownie mix and I always make them from scratch.  I bake brownies a lot and I'm always looking for a good brownie recipe.  Last Sunday, after an endless day doing chores, I was looking for something to satisfy my chocolate craving and this was the cure.

For me, excellent brownies are made with stuff you have around all the time.  What I love about this recipe is that it's cocoa-powder-based instead of melted-chocolate-based, so if you don't have a huge amount of chocolate chips on hand, you can still throw together some brownies.  The recipe turns out great as it is, but I like to make a few small modifications to make it even better.  I usually add about 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips to the batter and 2 tbsp of Hershey's chocolate syrup, which enhance the dark chocolate flavor.  Well, getting little pieces of chocolate in your brownie definitely heightens the YUM factor.  I even ate half the pan that night J

This is perfect for a late night chocolate craving and an urge to bake as they go into and out of the oven quickly.  DO NOT over bake!  Be sure to remove these when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it, and NOT getting to the point where the toothpick would come out completely clean.  You will have a super fudgy and moist brownies.  The only thing I would change next time is to make a double batch J  Give this recipe a try, and you can impress people by claiming that you even make a 'brownie' from scratch! ◕‿◕

For recipe in Indonesian click HERE

Ingredients:

·         ¾ cup unsalted butter

·         1 ¼ cups granulated sugar

·         ¾  cup unsweetened cocoa powder

·         ¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips

·         ¼ tsp salt

·         2 tbsp Hershey’s chocolate syrup

·         1 tsp vanilla extract

·         2 large eggs, chilled

·         1/3 cup all purpose flour

·         1 cup walnut pieces

Directions:

1.       Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (163 degrees C).  Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with foil (or you can use a 9x13 inch).

2.       Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat.  Continue cooking until butter stops foaming and browned bits form at bottom of pan, stirring often, about 5 minutes.  (You can also melt the butter in microwave)

3.       Remove from heat.  Immediately add sugar, cocoa, salt, chocolate syrup, and vanilla.  Stir to blend.

4.       Let cool for 5 minutes.  Add eggs to 1 ad a time, beating vigorously to blend after each addition.  When mixture looks thick and shiny, add flour and stir until blended, mix well.  Stir in nuts and chocolate chips.  Transfer batter to prepared pan and sprinkle with chocolate chips.

5.       Bake  for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean.  Note: Some have found they need to bake an  extra 5-10 minutes, so keep an eye on the doneness of the brownies and use the toothpick test  as your guide.

6.       Cool completely, then remove from pan.  For the cleanest lines when cutting, place into freezer for 10 minutes to firm up.  Cut into squares and serve.

Bahasa Indonesia

Bahan:

·         ¾ cup mentega tawar

·         1 ¼ cups gula pasir

·         ¾ cup coklat bubuk

·         ¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips

·         ¼ sdt garam

·         2 sdm sirup coklat Hershey's

·         1 sdt ekstrak vanila

·         2 butir telur ukuran besar, dinginkan

·         1/3 cup tepung terigu serbaguna

·         1 cup walnut, cincang kasar

Cara:

1.       Panaskan oven dengan suhu 325 derajat F (160 derajat C).  Siapkan loyang ukuran 8x8-inch  (atau bisa juga ukuran 9x13 inch) yang telah dialasi kertas roti atau aluminium foil. Olesi dengan minyak, sisihkan.

2.       Lelehkan mentega di atas api kecil-sedang.  Biarkan di atas kompor sampai mentega berhenti berbusa dan berwarna kecoklatan tanpa berhenti mengaduk selama sekitar 5 menit.  (Bisa juga dilelehkan dengan menggunakan microwave)

3.       Angkat.  Segera tambahkan gula pasir, bubuk coklat, garam, sirup coklat, dan vanilla. Aduk rata.

4.       Biarkan dingin selama 5 menit.  Tambahkan telur satu per satu, aduk dengan kuat hingga bercampur. Ketika adonan mulai kental, mengilap dan bercampur rata, masukkan terigu dan aduk sampai betul-betul bercampur.  Tambahkan walnut dan chocolate chips.  Tuang ke dalam loyang yang telah disiapkan, taburi permukaan dengan chocolate chips.

5.       Panggang selama 30 menit dan lalukan tes tusuk. Catatan: Beberapa orang memerlukan waktu memanggang 5-10 menit lebih lama, jadi perhatikan tingkat kematangan brownies Anda dan gunakan tes tusuk sebagai penunjuk.

6.       Dinginkan, keluarkan dari loyang.  Untuk mendapatkan irisan yang rapi, masukkan brownies ke dalam freezer selama 10 menit.  Potong sesuai selera dan sajikan.  

Cilok - Indonesian Chewy Balls in Peanut Sauce

Cilok is a traditional snack (I might say that it’s considered as finger food) from Indonesia, originated from Bandung, West Java – mostly sold by street vendors.  It is actually ball-shaped steamed tapioca starch, presented with spicy peanut sauce or sweet sour chili sauce.   Formerly, the snack is consumed only by the lower to middle class society.  As you can see from the ingredients list, there is no denying that cilok is lacking in the nutrition (since it is nothing but cooked spiced dough), but it sure is pretty tasty.  And nowadays, it is very favored by all people and becomes a part of our rich culinary heritage.  How does this snack get its name?  Cilok stands for aCI dicoLOK.  Aci means tapioca while dicolok means to be plugged (with skewer).

To be honest, cilok is a part of my childhood snack. Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, or a meat lover, this snack is easy to be adapted.   Some people like to modify it by filling in meat floss, fish, beef marrow, shrimp, cheese, minced chicken, or ground meat, but I like it plain and simply used only tapioca and all-purpose flour for the dough.

I adapted this recipe from Anita Jacobson (thanks to her for this easy recipe) with a little modified by me. They are two choices of sauce to eat cilok with, peanut sauce or a mix of hot chili sauce, tomato ketchup, and sweet soy sauce. My favorite sauce is always peanut sauce with more chili paste.  

For recipe in Indonesian click HERE

Ingredients:

Cilok

·         1 cup all purpose flour

·         1 cup tapioca flour

·         2 scallions or Chinese chives, thinly sliced

·         2 tbsp dried shrimp, toasted and ground

·         2 tsp garlic powder

·         1 tsp salt (or to taste)

·         1 tsp sugar (or to taste)

·         ½-1 tsp ground white pepper

·         150-200 ml hot water

Peanut sauce

·         200 gr deep fried peanuts

·         1 clove garlic

·         3-5 red chilies (you can omit it if you don’t like it hot)

·         Salt to taste

·         25 gr dark palm sugar (or castor sugar to taste)

·         1 tbsp sweet soy sauce

·         1 tsp lime juice (or white vinegar)

·         200 ml hot water

 You may need: bamboo skewers and toothpicks

Directions:

Cilok

1.       Combine all-purpose flour, tapioca flour, scallions, dried shrimps, salt, sugar, and ground white pepper in a mixing bowl.

2.       Pour hot water in batches and work into the dough until no longer sticky, you may not need to use all the water.  If you end up with a runny dough, you can add more equal amounts of all-purpose and tapioca flour.  Shape into 1 inch balls and set aside.

3.       Bring a pot of water to boil.  Gently drop the balls into the boiling water and cook until they float to the surface.  Leave it simmer  and arrange on steaming plate.  Steam for approximately 15 minutes on high heat.

4.       Remove with a slotted spoon.  It is traditional to skewer about 3-4 balls per bamboo skewer.  Serve immediately with peanut sauce.

Peanut sauce

1.       Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a frying pan and sauté garlic and chilies until fragrant and cooked, about 3 minutes.

2.       In a food processor, grind together peanut, garlic, and chilies into a fine paste.  Transfer into a bowl.

3.       Add the rest of the ingredients and mix together to make the peanut sauce.

Bahasa Indonesia

Bahan:

Cilok

·         1 cup tepung terigu serbaguna

·         1 cup tepung tapioka

·         2 ikat daun bawang, iris halus

·         2 sdm ebi, haluskan

·         2 sdt bubuk bawang putih

·         1 sdt garam (atau sesuai selera)

·         1 sdt gula (atau sesuai selera)

·         ½-1 sdt merica bubuk

·         200 ml air panas

Sambal kacang

·         200 gr kacang tanah sangrai

·         1 siung bawang putih

·         3-5 cabe rawit (jika suka pedas)

·         Garam sesuai selera

·         25 gr gula jawa (atau gula pasir sesuai selera)

·         1 sdm kecap manis

·         1 sdt perasan air jeruk  (atau cuka)

·         200 ml air panas

 Anda mungkin memerlukan: tusuk sate dan tusuk gigi

Cara:

Cilok

1.       Dalam wadah, campur tepung terigu, tepung tapioca, daun bawang, ebi, garam, gula, dan merica.

2.       Tuang air panas sedikit demi sedikit sambuil diuleni dengan sendok kayu sampai adonan kalis dan bisa dipulung.  Hentikan penambahan air.  Jika adonan terlalu lembek, tambahkan lagi terigu dan tapioca dalam jumlah yang sama.  Bulatkan sebesar 1 inc, sisihkan.

3.       Didihkan air dalam panci.  Perlahan masukan bola-bola cilok ke dalam air yang mendidih dan masak sampai cilok mengapung.  Tiriskan lalu kukus selama 15 menit.

4.       Tusukkan sebanyak 3-4 cilok dengan tusuk sate atau sajikan di atas mangkuk kecil.  Tuang sambal kacang, sajikan segera.

Sambal kacang

1.       Panaskan 1 sdm minyak goring, tumis bawang putih dan cabe rawit sampi wangi selama sekitar 3 menit.

2.       Dengan menggunakan food processor, haluskan kacang, bawang putih, dan cabe rawit. Tuang ke dalam mangkuk.

3.       Tambahkan smua bahan yang lain, aduk hingga bercampur. 

Coca-Cola Brownie Cake

I’m an inexperienced cook who loves to try baking new things.   Earlier this month I have been browsing and baking  dozens of brownies recipes  until one recipe has caught my eyes.  It’s Coca-Cola brownies.  You might not think coke and brownies got together, but try this recipe and you’ll see what an amazing combination they make.

Unlike other Coca-Cola cakes or cupcakes, I don’t melt the butter with coke and then add the other ingredients.  Rather, I make the brownies like an ordinary cake.  Creaming the butter and sugar, adding eggs, melted chocolate, then the dry ingredients.  At the end, I fold in a can of coke and vanilla extract.

According to the recipe, this brownie is more 'cake-like’ than a normal brownie.  But you can make it more dense and fudgy by taking it out of the oven halfway during the cooking time and rapping the tin sharply against the oven racks, which I did.  The magical brew of carbonated cola is the secret to the tender texture.  There is also a Coca-Cola frosting recipe, but I didn’t make it.  I like to eat it just like that.

These brownies were very nice, not as intensely dense as usual chocolate brownies, but a bit lighter and still very chocolatey. The result is a dark, damp brownies with a fudgy yet springy crumbs.  Yum, Yum, Yum…. Delicious! Scrumptious! A chocolate lover’s dream!

For recipe in Indonesian click HERE

Ingredients:

·         1 ¾ cups sugar

·         2 ½ cups all purpose flour

·         ½ cup cocoa powder

·         ½ cup chocolate chips, melted

·         ¼ cup butter

·         1 tsp baking powder

·         2 large eggs

·         1 tsp vanilla extract

·         1 can Coca-Cola (or Diet Coke)

·         ¼ cup sliced almonds (optional)

Directions:

1.       Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (163 degrees C).  Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with foil (or you can use a 9x13 inch).

2.       Combine all ingredients except vanilla extract and Coca-Cola.  First cream the butter and sugar, add eggs, melted chocolate, then the dry ingredients.  Blend at low speed of mixer, then beat 2 minutes at medium speed.

3.       Add vanilla extract and Coca-Cola and blend well by hand.

4.       Pour into pan, sprinkle almonds on top. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean. 

5.       Let cool before cutting into squares.

Bahasa Indonesia

Bahan:

·         1 ¾ cups gula pasir

·         2 ½ cups tepung terigu serbaguna

·         ½ cup coklat bubuk

·         ½ cup chocolate chips, lelehkan

·         ¼ cup mentega

·         1 sdt baking powder

·         2 butir telur ukuran besar

·         1 sdt ekstrak vanila

·         1 kaleng Coca-Cola (atau Diet Coke)

·         ¼ cup almond iris (optional)

Cara:

1.       Panaskan oven dengan suhu 325 degrees F (163 degrees C ).  Siapkan loyang ukuran 8x8-inch  (atau bisa juga ukuran 9x13 inch) yang telah dialasi kertas roti atau aluminium foil. Olesi dengan minyak, sisihkan.

2.       Campur semua bahan kecuali vanilla dan Coca-Cola.  Mulai dengan mengocok mentega dan gula, lalu masukkan telur, coklat leleh, kemudian bahan kering. Kocok dengan mikser listrik kecepatan rendah, lalu kocok lagi 2 menit dengan kecepatan sedang. 

3.       Tambahkan ekstrak vanila dan Coca-Cola, aduk rata dengan spatula.

4.       Tuang ke dalam loyang, taburi dengan irisan almond.  Panggang selama 30 menit dan lalukan tes tusuk. Catatan: Beberapa orang memerlukan waktu memanggang 5-10 menit lebih lama, jadi perhatikan tingkat kematangan brownies Anda dan gunakan tes tusuk sebagai penunjuk.

5.       Dinginkan, keluarkan dari loyang.  Potong sesuai selera dan sajikan.  

Note. Sebetulnya resep asli menggunakan frosting Coca-Cola untuk melapisi permukaan brownies, tetapi saya lebih suka menikmati apa adanya tanpa frosting.

Layered Pudding Dessert

I have never made a pudding without eggs and was pleasantly surprised how delicious and easy this pudding is.   I love this recipe because it doesn’t use eggs, which are (to be perfectly honest) a bit of pain when making homemade puddings.  To avoid lumps, blend all dry ingredients in a bowl with 1 cup of milk and whisk until it is blended, while the remaining 2 cups milk are scalded.  Then add the first mixture to scalded milk and continue cooking and stirring.

This pudding is simple to prepare and has that luscious, creamy mouth-feel that you want from a pudding. Unlike some pudding, this one keeps it consistency very nicely.  I highly recommend giving it a try.  It has become a permanent addition to my recipe collection.

For recipe in Indonesian click HERE

Ingredients:

·         3 cups milk

·         ¼ cup cornstarch

·         ½ cup sugar

·         ¼ tsp salt

·         1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

·         For chocolate pudding: add  ¼ cup unsweetened chocolate

·         For strawberry pudding: add 3 tbsp strawberry jam

·         For cappuccino pudding: add  2 tsp instant coffee granules or crystals

Directions:

1.       In a saucepan over medium heat,  scald 2 cups milk until it begins to bubble around the sides.

ü  For chocolate pudding: scald 2 cups milk with chocolate, stirring constantly until chocolate is melted and milk begins to bubble around the side.

ü  For strawberry pudding: scald 2 cups milk with strawberry jam, stirring constantly until strawberry jam is dissolved and milk begins to bubble around the side.

ü  For cappuccino pudding: scald 2 cups milk with instant coffee granules, stirring constantly until coffee is dissolved and milk begins to bubble around the side.

2.       In a bowl, whisk together cornstarch, sugar, and salt.  Stir in the remaining 1 cup milk.

3.       Add sugar mixture to scalded milk and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened and smoothed.   Continue cooking for about 5 minutes longer, stirring constantly.

4.       Cool slightly, stir in vanilla extract.

5.       In small glass dessert  dishes or a large pudding mold, alternately layer puddings, making 4 layers of vanilla-chocolate-strawberry-cappuccino pudding.  Cover top of pudding with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming.  Cool 10 minutes and serve, or refrigerate until serving.  If desired, garnish with light whipped topping or vanilla custard sauce.

Vanilla custard sauce:

·         2 cups milk

·         ½ cup sugar

·         1 ½ tbsp cornstarch

·         2 egg yolks, lightly beaten

·         ¼ tsp vanilla extract

·         3 tbsp rum (if using)

Directions:

Mix cornstarch and milk in a small saucepan, stir in the beaten eggs.  Cook over low to medium heat, stirring continuously until you can see bubbles forming around the edges.  Continue cooking for about 5 minutes longer, stirring constantly.  Stir in vanilla extract. Let cool and stir in rum (if using).  Pour on top of pudding.

Bahasa Indonesia

Bahan:

·         3 cup susu cair

·         ¼ cup maizena

·         ½ cup gula pasir

·         ¼ sdt garam

·         1 ½ sdt ekstrak vanila

·         Untuk puding coklat: tambahkan  ¼ cup coklat blok tawar atau coklat bubuk

·         Untuk puding stroberi: tambahkan 3 sdm selai stroberi

·         Untuk pudding cappuccino: tambahkan 2 sdt kopi bubuk instant

Cara:

1.       Di atas panci kecil, panaskan  2 cup susu dengan api kecil-sedang sampai susu berbusa.  

ü  Untuk pudding coklat: panaskan 2 cup susu dengan coklat, aduk terus sampai coklat meleleh dan susu berbusa.

ü  Untuk pudding stroberi: panaskan 2 cup susu dengan selai stroberi, aduk terus sampai selai larut  dan susu berbusa.

ü  Untuk pudding cappuccino: panaskan 2 cup susu dengan kopi bubuk, aduk terus sampai kopi larut dan susu berbusa.

2.       Dalam mangkuk, aduk maizena, gula, dan garam.  Masukkan sisa susu (1 cup).  Aduk rata.

3.       Tambahkan campuran gula ke dalam susu yang telah dipanaskan dan panaskan kembali dengan api kecil.  Aduk terus menerus sampai mendidih dan larutan mengental dan lembut. Teruskan memasak sekitar 5 menit dan jangan berhenti mengaduk.

4.       Dinginkan, tambahkan ekstrak vanilla.

5.       Tuang pudding secara bergantian ke dalam gelas atau loyang pudding sehingga membentuk 4 lapis pudding. Tutup permukaan dengan plastic wrap agar tidak mengeras.  Dinginkan sebelum disajikan. Hias dengan topping whipped cream atau sajikan dengan saus vla vanilla.

Saus vla vanila:

·         2 cup susu

·         ½ cup gula pasir

·         1 ½ tbsp maizena

·         2 kuning telur, kocok lepas

·         ¼ sdt ekstrak vanila

·         3 sdm rum (jika menggunakan)

Cara:

Dalam panci kecil, larutkan maizena dengan  susu cair, masukkan telur yang sudah dikocok, aduk sampai benar-benar bercampur.  Panaskan dengan api kecil-sedang, aduk terus sampai mendidih.  Teruskan mengaduk sampai 5 menit.  Tambahkan ekstrak vanilla, aduk. Biarkan dingin dan tambahkan rum (jika menggunakan).  Tuang ke atas pudding.