Chocolate Chip Recipe #1

This chocolate chip recipe was officially from Martha Stewart's Magazine, although I did change a few things. I think this is an excellent chocolate chip recipe, though I still have to try the famous Jacques Torres Chocolate chip recipe, the Martha Stewart one will do for now...

Ingredients

2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1/2    Tsp Baking Soda

1       Cup (2 sticks) of Butter

1/4    Cup Granulate Sugar

1       Cup lightly packed Brown Sugar

1       Tsp of Salt

2       Tsp of Vanilla Extract

2        Eggs

2       Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate

In a small bowl, mix the FLOUR and BAKING SODA. Set aside. 

Using your electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the BUTTER, GRANULATED SUGAR and BROWN SUGAR. Making sure the butter is at room temperature. Whip until light and creamy. 

Add the EGGS, SALT and VANILLA. Beating until well mixed.

Add the FLOUR MIXTURE, 1/4 cup at a time, then followed by the CHOCOLATE CHIPS. Making sure the mixer is set on stir or the lowest setting.

Place the bowl in the freezer (10 mins) 

Preheating the oven to 350' and preparing the baking sheet with parchment papers. 

Using an a one tablespoon ice cream scoop, drop the cookie dough 2 inches apart from each other.

* it is a baking rule of thumb, that unless stated other wise, the distance is 2 inches apart to give room for the cookies to expand and avoid over-crowding that leads the cookie dough from sticking to one another.

Bake cookies until golden brown, about 15 mins but always check your oven after 8 mins to avoid burning the cookies.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 mins, then transfer to a wire rack. 

Store the cookies in an air-tight container to retain the moisture.

I found it the hard way that if the container wasn't air-tight, the cookie losses all its moisture and becomes really and I mean really hard. If this happened to you, preheat the oven to 200' and pop the cookies in for 5 mins to warm it up. 

Triple Death by Chocolate

Whilst Ive been away for a semester, I have come to love baking again. Although since I was a child, I have always been in-love with pastries, I only endeavor to bake cookies, cupcakes and such. However this Christmas break I attempted to be more gutsy in the baking arena and venture in creating cakes and breads.

I ventured to find the perfect chocolate cake recipe. The recipe took me two trials that went awry. The countless eggs and flour and chocolate that was used was immeasurable  One was too sweet to be consumable, and the other the frosting never set. However, one  must learn from previous mistakes and to the blessing of the baking gods I finally made the perfect chocolate cake recipe that I will probably never reveal and will be taking to my grave.

Since I personally found the recipe with constant errors and mistakes along the way, I think I am bestowed the right to name it: Calling it a Triple Death by Chocolate Cake recipe.






The middle is filled with a chocolate buttercream filling that I experimented for the right ratio of sweetness and creaminess with a hint of fluffiness. On a personal note, I always thought baking was easy-peasy, however getting the right amounts to obtain the right textures and taste was actually harder than expected.

The frosting was done with a chocolate ganache.

There is something simply perfect with a chocolate cake. No fuss, No must... Just eat!

Gadgets and Gizmos

There is something about a normal appliance being given extra care on the design board. It makes me smile inside knowing something unique, funny or even ridiculous is hiding behind the corner of my kitchen counter or study table. Here are a list of brands to tickle your fancy. 

 Black+Blum

 

Black+Blum mixes modern design with a cheeky twist. It also an innovative brand when it comes to normal daily items that we tend to forget. Their motto is "combining ruthless practicality with a mischievous and intellectually-satisfying design aesthetic" which i think does sums up their overall design theory. They make everything from   the office to the kitchen appliances. 

 Click here for more of Black+Blum

Renova

 Renova is a very unique store for your wiping needs. Whatever it may be. It gives a new meaning to daily mundane things. Though expensive for its purpose it is a great way to have when guest comes. It is about personalizing even the things we forget. They make from paper towel to toilet paper. I told you, every wiping needs. One thing is for sure though, that Renova would be a great conversational piece in every dinner parties. 

 Click here for more wiping needs

Click and Grow

This brand is for all those who loves to cook. Click and Grow is a modern way to have your own herb garden on your kitchen counter. Your chosen herb comes in a box where watering and fertilizing isnt necessary. Talk about +A for those germophobe out there. All you do is fill the water tank and put on some battery. And of course some light. Also, one good thing about this brand is that it isn't expensive at all. One basil is about $20 + shipping. They also have thyme, lambs ear and chili pepper plants.  I'm thinking about having a no mess herb garden right on my counter.

Ready. Set. Grow. Shop

 

Hellolulu

 Hellolulu is an accessories paradise for the techie. Especially for anyone who loves photography. They cater to the accessories side of things. They have a wide range of colors for. camera straps, bags and everything else. Strolling along the park with a pink and quite comfortable camera strap is enough to give some passerby a look.

Shutter Shop

ZOKU

 

Zoku is a brand that capitalizes on people who loves colorful things in their kitchen. Their famous products are the Popsicle maker which the colors ranges from bright red to blinding neon yellow. I find their accessories to be have a fun wimsy look to it. The colors the shapes the everything screams summer with ZOKU products. 

Click here for Popsy Shop 

Here are a few products to incite creativity wherever you may be. Ill be posting more once I find some more cool stores. Have a good one!!