Tuesday 16 December 2014

Slow-cooked Pork Belly #glutenfree #asiancooking #chinese

Slow-cooked Pork Belly has been a popular Chinese dish for longer than a century. Slow cook the pork belly in soy sauce and sugar, leaving the meat soft and melt in your mouth. Serve with a bowl of steamed rice... delicious!! To reduce cooking time I use a pressure cooker,but the same result can be achieved from simply slow cooking, using a large saucepan or boiler on the stove, for a longer period of time.

Ingredients:

1.5 kg Pork Belly (if possible, choose one that has be de-boned)
2 cups Broccoli or Bok Choy
1 Spring Onion
2cm Ginger, crush with knife
2cm Cinnamon Stick
3 Cloves
2 Star Anise
1 cup Soy Sauce
1/2 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Dark Soy Sauce (add extra for a richer colour)
2 tablespoons Rice Wine


Method:

Cut pork belly to 5x5cm pieces, tie tightly in parcel form.
Cook in boiling water for 3 minutes, drain dry.
Place pork belly and all ingredients (expect broccoli) into the pressure cooker, add water to cover 60% of meat.
Close the lid, cook for approximately 45 minutes.
Gently remove the cooked meat, and place into a large pan (The parcels break up easily)
Drain the sauce into the pan as well.
Cook on high heat to reduce and thicken the sauce.
Turn the pork parcels 3-4 times during this process to ensure they are evenly coloured.
If pork belly is already sufficiently soft but the sauce still not thickened, carefully remove the parcels to a plate. Then continue boiling the sauce until sufficiently reduced (about 30% left). Add meat to the pan at the last minute.
Cook broccoli in boiling water for a few minutes.
Remove the broccoli into ice water, drain.
Remove the cooking string from the pork belly.
Plate up with broccoli.
Place sauce around the plate.
Serve with steam rice or Chinese steamed bun.
Serves 3-5.

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com



Friday 5 December 2014

Pan Fried Chicken with Crumbed Brie, Pesto Mash, and Boysenberry, Plum Sauce #glutenfree #glutenfreerecipe

This beautifully presented main meal is sure to be a hit at any dinner party. The contrasting textures along with the complementary colours makes this dish a winner. It not only looks good but, tastes fabulous as well.




Pan Fried Chicken with Crumbed Brie

Ingredients:


3 Chicken Breasts
3 wedges Brie or Camembert Cheese
1 cup gluten-free Bread Crumb
1 Egg - lightly beaten
1/3 cup Milk
2 tablespoons gluten-free Plain Flour
Zest from 1 Lemon
1 teaspoon Chopped Parsley
30g Butter
Salt and Pepper

Method:

Preheat oven to 190C
Lightly salt and pepper both sides of chicken breast.
Heat a pan with some olive oil.
Pan fry chicken on medium-high heat until both side golden brown.
Add butter and place in oven until cooked inside - the cooking time may vary according to the size of chicken. (I cooked about 8 minutes on the stove then 4 minutes in oven.)
Pour some cooking oil into another pan - the oil covering half or all the Brie cheese is best.
Beat milk and eggs together.
Add lemon zest and chopped parsley into the bread crumbs, mix well.
Toss the Brie in a little flour. 
Place into the milk-egg mixture, then roll with bread crumbs.
When the oil is hot enough (about 190C), deep fry both side until golden brown and crispy. Remember the oil must be very hot as it only takes about 3 minutes to fry cheese - otherwise it will start to melt and break up.


Pesto Mash

Ingredients:
3 medium Potatoes -  peeled
1/4 cup Thickened Cream
20g Butter
1.5 tablespoon Basil Pesto (Check our home-made Basil Pesto from our blog or buy Barilla brand)
Salt and Pepper

Method:

Boil potatoes until soft - mash.
Add cream, butter, pesto, salt and pepper 
It takes about 20 minutes to make pesto mash, begin making your Boysenberry Plum Sauce while waiting for the potatoes to cook.

 Boysenberry Plum Sauce 

Ingredients:
1/3 cup Dried Boysenberries
1/3 cup White Wine or Sweet Sherry
1/2 cup Plum Sauce
1 tablespoon Plum Jam
20g Butter
Pinch of Salt, if necessary

Method:

Soak the dried boysenberries in the wine for 30 minutes (If using fresh boysenberries, there is no need to soak, simply place them into the boiling sauce in last few minutes).
Drain wine into saucepan, boil with plum sauce and jam on medium heat. 
Add butter and boysenberries, set aside.



Plating up!
 
Place some hot pesto mash on the side of the plate. Add chicken and Brie. Pour the warm boysenberry plum sauce over the top.  Add some grilled asparagus and crispy sweet potato chips.
To make crispy sweet potato chip, peel 1 sweet potato, shave thin with potato peeler. Deep fry in hot oil (before frying cheese) on medium heat until brown and crispy. Place on paper towel and toss with some salt.

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com



 

Monday 24 November 2014

Christmas Youle Log #glutenfree #glutenfreerecipe #Christmas

This gorgeous festive cake is a beautiful addition to any Christmas table. It epitomizes the essence of festive season where beautiful food and the festive spirit are essentially intertwined. A decoration in itself, enjoy the sensory as well as the visual.


Chocolate Sponge

Ingredients:
 
6 Eggs - separated, room temperature. 
2/3 cup Caster Sugar
1 cup gluten-free Corn Flour
1/4 cup gluten-free Plain Flour
1/4 cup Cocoa Powder (optional)
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
Pinch of Salt
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Essence

Method:

Preheat oven to 180C.
Grease a large thin sponge tray. Line with baking paper on the base.  (30x15cm)
Sift all dry ingredients 4 times.
In a large bowl, beat egg whites and salt for 3 minutes.
Add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
Add egg yolks and vanilla.
Mix through gently until just mixed.  
Add dry ingredients, fold in gently with plastic spatula, do not over mix.
Pour into the tray and bake for 20 minutes.
Turn out onto rack, then decorate with cream after cooling.

Chocolate Butter Cream

Ingredients:

400g Butter - room temperature
2/3 cup Caster Sugar
1/4 cup Water
350g Dark Cooking Chocolate - melted
3 cups Icing Sugar - sifted.
1.5 tablespoon Brown Food Colouring (If it is not dark enough.)
2-3 cups Thickened Cream - whipped.
1 tin Fruit Cocktail (400g) - drained

Method:

Boil caster sugar and water on medium heat for 10 minutes.
Set aside to cool.
Beat butter in mix master for about 15 minutes at medium speed, until soft and creamy
Add melted chocolate and sugar water.
Roll in baking paper or tea towel
Beat for a further 10 minutes until smooth.
Add icing sugar and brown food colouring (if necessary) . 
If the butter cream is a little wet and soft, refrigerate for about 20 minutes. For best results, make it a day ahead.
Remove and place the sponge on a large baking paper or clean tea towel.
Spread with half of the whipped thickened cream.
Place drained cocktail fruit on the cream and roll the sponge.
Let it stand about 30 minutes in the fridge to prevent it falling apart.
Spread remaining whipped thickened cream on a large plate or cake board.
Remove the baking paper from the cake roll, spread top and sides with chocolate butter cream.
Using icing spatula, or fork, make stripes in the butter cream to make the cake look like a yule log.
Cut into 2-3 pieces on an angle.
Place them on the whipped cream.
Using a piping bag, decorate end of rolls to look like logs.
Dust some icing sugar on the top and decorate with some Christmas decorations. 
Decorate with icing bag to look like logs
Keeps in the fridge for about 5-7 days

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com

Arrange rolled sponge on whipped cream


 
Cut and serve!

Monday 17 November 2014

Rich Fruit Cake #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking #Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, it is time to bake your Christmas cake. Treat your guests during the festive season, or give this classic cake as a gift to family or friends. Begin your preparations now as this rich fruit cake can keep up to 3 months in a cool place, and it will be richer in flavour and even more delicious after 2 weeks. 


 Ingredients:

150g Butter - softened
1/3 cup Brown Sugar*
4 large Eggs
1 cup gluten-free Plain Flour
1 cup gluten-free Self Raising Flour
1 tablespoon Mixed Spice
250g Walnut or Pecan Nuts
1/2 cup Brandy, extra


A: 


1/4 cup Hot Water
2 tablespoons Jam (Any flavour is suitable, I use plum jam )
1 tablespoon Instant Coffee


B:

Stand overnight

1 kg Mixed Dried Fruit 
250g glace cherries
200g Pitted Prunes - halved
1/2 cup Brandy
1/3 cup Sweet Sherry or Port
1/3 cup Honey or Treacle

Combine all ingredients B, cover and stand overnight.

Method:

Preheat oven to 140C
Grease and double line a 24cm deep baking tin with baking paper. If possible, use a square tin as it is easier to slice.
Sift flour and mixed spice 3 times.
Mix ingredients A together, set aside to cool.


In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until soft and creamy. 

Add eggs one by one.
Add ingredients A.
Pour 2/3 of dry ingredients in the mixture. Mix well.
Drain the ingredients B.  

Add into the mixture with remaining 1/3 of dry ingredients.
Mix well and pour into the baking tin. 
Spread and smooth the top with plastic spatula. 
Bake at 140C for 1 hour. Reduce to 130C for another 1- 1.5 hours until a skewer comes out of the middle totally clean 
Remove cake from oven. 
Brush the top with extra brandy.
Cover with a dry tea towel or aluminum foil.
Allow to cool in the tin overnight.
Turn out from tin. 

Remove the baking paper.
Brush whole cake with brandy, then wrap with aluminum foil and put into fridge or cold place.
* I only use 1/4 cup sugar as the fruit is already very sweet, but you can add more sugar if you like.


Tips:
Whisky can be used to replace Brandy
Cut the cake when it is just removed from fridge. Allow to come to room temperature.


Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com 

 

Saturday 8 November 2014

Ossobuco Spaghetti #glutenfree #italiancooking #pasta

Ossobuco is a popular traditional Italian speciality of cross-cut veal shanks, slow cooked with vegetables, red/white wine, and tomato ragu. Why not cook extra Ossobuco and use the leftovers to make this pasta dish? In leftovers, the taste develops to give you a delicious depth to the flavour and  a richness to the finished dish.  Combined with Barilla gluten-free spaghetti, it is a simple but delicious dish.


Ingredients:

1.5 cup peeled cold Ossobuco with sauce (Please check the recipe from our blog)
200g Barilla gluten-free Spaghetti
120g Beans - sliced
1/4 cup White Wine
1/3 cup Barilla Napoletana Sauce*
2 cloves Garlic - chopped
1 tablespoon Chopped Parsley
Some Parmesan
Salt and Pepper


Method:

Bring a saucepan of water with a little salt to the boil. 
Add spaghetti and cook for approximately 6-7 minutes. Cook for a little extra time if you prefer soft pasta.
Drain, toss pasta in a little olive oil, leave aside.
In a large pan, heat with 3 tablespoons of olive oil.

Stir fry garlic until a little brown. 
Add Ossobuco and cook for a few minutes.
Add white wine and napoletana sauce, simmer some minutes. 

Add spaghetti and sliced beans, cook another few minutes. 
Add seasonings , parsley and parmesan before serving. 
Serves 2.

Tips:
* May need reduce or add extra Napoletana sauce, depending upon your leftover Ossobuco sauce.


Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com 

Monday 3 November 2014

Sago Plum Pudding #glutenfree #glutenfreerecipe #Christmas

With Christmas almost upon us, it is time to share some more of the festive spirit in the form of another recipe for your Christmas table! Why not make a few of these fantastic puddings. Wrap them in foil, then in a Christmas cloth, finish with a lovely ribbon and a sprig of holly and Voila - the perfect homemade gift that is sure to please.

Ingredients:

2 cups Milk
1 cup Brown Sugar
180 gram Melted Butter
1 cup Sago
2 tabs Brandy or Rum
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
1 tsp Mixed Spice
1 teaspoon Bicarbonate Soda - mixed in a little milk
2 cups fresh gluten-free Bread - crumbed in blender
2 cups Mixed Dried Fruit
2 Eggs

Method:
 
Place sago and milk into a saucepan and bring to the boil.
Once boiling, remove from heat and allow to sit with an occasional stir for about 1 hour - (If you watch closely you can stir and boil till it is soft)  
Once soft mix all ingredients together - (Looks a little runny but ok) 
Pour into a greased steamed pudding tin, cover with grease proof paper, then alfoil,put lid on tightly. Place steamed pudding tin into a saucepan, or boiler, of boiling water with saucer under.
Cover boiler with lid and boil for about 2 hours watching the water does not boil dry. - Top up water periodically. 
When done, remove pudding tin from boiler and simply pour pudding out onto a plate.
Serve with custard and have a great Christmas.


Tip:
Ignite a little brandy for a nice effect.

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com


Tuesday 28 October 2014

Gingered Carrot Salad #glutenfree #salad #summer #christmas

For a change of pace and to celebrate the arrival of Summer in Australia, (I know that it is technically Spring, but it is hot enough to be Summer) I thought we would share this refreshing carrot salad with you. This salad is a great accompaniment for any barbeque, and also, with seafood, cold meats and salads gracing the tables of Australia on Christmas day, this is a perfect dish for your lunch. 


Ingredients:

8 Carrots - peeled and grated
4 Spring Onions - chopped (reserve a little for dressing)
6 sprigs of Garden Fresh Parsley - chopped (I use the sprigs in the dressing)
1 teaspoon Hot English Mustard
1 teaspoon Seeded Mustard
1 tablespoon Fresh Grated Ginger
Juice of one Lemon or Lime
1/4 cup Olive Oil


  
 Method:
Add carrot, spring onion, parsley and sultanas to a bowl.
Add remaining ingredients plus reserved sprigs and spring onion to blender - blend.  
Pour over carrot, onions, parsley, and sultanas.
Stir in, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, then serve. (A very refreshing side salad and little fuss)

Bon appetite!
   





Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com
 

Saturday 25 October 2014

Pumpkin Pie #glutenfree #glutenfreerecipe #glutenfreebaking

Pumpkin Pie is synonymous with Thanksgiving! This traditional dessert may be served warm or cold with whipped cream.This delicious treat can be baked for any occasion and is suitable for all seasons.


Pastry
Ingredients:

180g Butter - softened1 Egg - lightly beaten
1 teaspoon Caster Sugar
2.5 cups gluten-free Plain Flour
1/4 cup Iced Water
Pinch of Salt

Method:

Preheat oven to 180C
Place salt, sugar and flour into a large bowl.
Add butter.
Rub the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles crumble.
Add egg and iced water, knead the dough until smooth -  add a little extra flour or water if too dry/ wet.
Spray a 22cm pie tin with a little oil.
Roll pastry dough between 2 layers of baking paper until required size to line tin.
Lift pastry into the tin, ease into side, trim edge. Lightly prick pastry base with fork, refrigerate about 20-30 minutes.
Put into the oven and bake in 180C for 15 minutes.

Filling

Ingredients:
 
1.5 cup Pumpkin Mash - warm

1 cup Milk
1 whole Egg
2 Egg Yolks
1/4 cup gluten-free Plain Four or Rice Flour
1/2 cup Caster Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Salt 

Method:

Prepare the filling while the pastry shell is cooking!
Place all ingredients in a large bowl.
Beat until smooth using an egg whisk. 
Push mixture through sieve using wooden spoon.
Remove pastry from oven. 
Pour the filling mixture into the pastry shell. 
Bake at 170C for another 25-30 minutes. 
Remember do not over bake. Check the middle and when the filling is set, the pie is cooked.
Remove pie from oven and set aside to cool.
Serve warm or cold with whipped cream.
Ground nutmeg can be added to the filling or sprinkled on top before serving.

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com


Monday 20 October 2014

German Marble Cookies #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking #glutenfreerecipe

Christmas is almost upon us. We will share some of our special Christmas recipes with you. Today's recipe is for German Marble Cookies. I have found that they are very expensive in Asian markets, but as they only use ingredients that you have in your pantry, why not bake some at home. They are a delicious, melt in your mouth treat. Bake any time as a morning/afternoon tea treat. You will love them!

 Biscuits

Ingredients:

250g Butter - room temperature
100g Icing Sugar - sifted
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
250g gluten-free Corn Flour or Potato Starch
60g gluten-free Plain Flour - twice sifted
60g Cocoa Powder


Method: 

Preheat oven to 170C
Beat butter, vanilla and icing sugar until soft and creamy. 
Add corn flour and plain flour, mix well.
Separate the mixture into 2 parts. 

Add cocoa powder to the first half. 
The other half remains plain. Add more plain flour if the plain dough is still sticky.
Mix the mixtures together, but do not over mix. This gives you a beautiful marble look after baking.
Roll into small balls with your hand and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Be sure to leave enough spare room.
Use a fork to press the balls to half flat. Remember to flour the fork with plain flour after every 3-4 balls so the dough does not stick to the fork.
Bake at 170C for about 18 minutes. The time needed depends upon the cookie size. 

Remove from the oven and set aside for 10 minutes. 
Cool on a rack.

Topping


Ingredients:

100g Dark Cooking Chocolate

Method:

Roughly chop chocolate.

Place in bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water. 
Make piping bag from baking paper, shaped into a funnel. 
Cut feeder hole in bottom and fill with chocolate. 
Pipe onto cool cookies.  (In drizzle form) 
Makes up to 40-45 pieces.

Tips:
  • These cookies are also delicious without the chocolate topping. Sift some icing sugar onto the top. Why not pop into a tin and give as Christmas present. 
  • If you wish to give the cookies with the chocolate drizzle, make sure it has set before you pack away.

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com

Tuesday 14 October 2014

Chocolate Cupcakes #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking #glutenfreerecipe

This is an easy classic treat for everyone. After all everyone loves chocolate! If you have kids at home, cook these gorgeous cupcakes with them. Let them decorate the
cakes with their favourite lollies. You will have a lot of fun in the kitchen, so forget about the mess and disaster. Enjoy family time in the kitchen, your kids will learn some great skills, acquire a love of cooking, and  produce some yummy treats...

Cupcakes

Ingredients:

200g Butter - room temperature
1 cup Brown Sugar
5 Eggs - separated 

1/2 cup Evaporated Milk
3 cups gluten-free Self Raising Flour
1/2 cup Cocoa Powder
150g Dark Chocolate - melted


Method:

Preheat oven to 170C
Beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. 
Add egg yolks one by one, mix well. 
Add melted chocolate and milk.
In another clean bowl, whisk egg white until stiff peaks form . 

Pour half of egg white into the mixture, fold in gently with plastic spatula.
Add dry ingredients into the mixture, remember to mix gently and do not over mix. 

Add remaining egg white. 
Spoon the mixture into the papers until 80% full. 
Bake at 170C about 30 minutes or until the skewer comes out clean in the middle. (The baking time may differ depending upon the size of the papers)
Cool on a rack, decorate with chocolate frosting.

Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients:

150g Butter
250g Dark Chocolate
2/3 cup Thickened Cream
3 cups Icing Sugar*


Method:

Chop chocolate into small pieces. 
Place in bowl and melt over saucepan of boiling water. 
Add thickened cream and mix well. 
Set aside and allow to cool.
Beat butter in a bowl until white and creamy. 

Add chocolate. 
Add icing sugar (*you can add extra icing sugar if the mixture too wet and soft or, refrigerate for 20 minutes)
Use piping bag and nozzle to decorate the cupcake. 

Decorate with your choice of decoration (m&m, strawberry, icing flowers)
Makes about 20 regular cupcakes.


Contact:lee.leehocklai@gmail.com


Saturday 11 October 2014

German Pork Hock with Sauerkraut and Creamy Potato Mash #glutenfree #germancooking

This is a popular, traditional German dish. I love this dish, and can easily finish a large plate in one sitting. The combination of crispy skin with tender meat inside is to die for. Serve with sour cabbage (sauerkraut) and creamy potato mash. 
I had enjoyed this dish in restaurants, when I realized it is not difficult to cook at home, and is much easier on the budget. So, I like to cook at home now and serve to my dinner guests. I am sure that it is better than similar meals served in many restaurants, especially the sauerkraut and the sauce. 

Pork Hock

Ingredients:
 
3 Pork Hocks (You can cook more if you have a large oven and deep baking dish)
2 Onions - cut in half
1 Large Carrot - cut into 3 pieces
1 Celery Stick - cut into 3 pieces
2 Spring Onion
1 whole Garlic - cut in half
Some Thyme and Rosemary
2/3 cup White Wine
About 1.5 cups Water
Salt and Ground Pepper


Method:

Wash and wrap dry the pork hocks. 
Rub with salt and refrigerate for about 5 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to very hot, I use 220C. Use 200C if you like, there is not big difference between them.
Place pork hocks and all vegetables (expect herbs) in a large deep baking dish and bake in the oven 30 minutes. Turn them once after 15 minutes. Don't worry about burnt vegetables as it gives a beautiful caramelized flavour to the sauce.
Remove from oven. Add herbs, white wine and water. (The water can cover halfway of pork hocks ). Cover with aluminium foil. Place back into the oven and cook at 190C for 1 hour.
Remove the aluminium foil, cook another 30 min with out cover. 

Turn the pork hocks and cook for another 30 minutes. 
Repeat 3 times, all cooking times are 1.5 hours. You can add salt and pepper during cooking time but please don't add too much salt as the sauce is reduced and thickened later.
Remove the dish from oven. 
Gently remove the pork hocks and place in baking tray lined with baking paper. 
Sprinkle with a little salt. 
Bake at 190C about 40 minutes or until crispy skin. (I use 210C as I like a little burnt flavour on the crispy skin)  
Turn the pork hocks and repeat once more until whole of the skin becomes crispy.
Remove vegetables from the sauce. Drain into a saucepan and cook on high heat until sauce is reduced to half. 
Skim the fat/oil off the top. 
If necessary, add little potato starch in water to thicken the sauce. 
Add seasonings and a little butter in the last few minutes.

Sauerkraut 

Ingredients:

1/4 Cabbage, cut into strips 
1/3 cup White Wine Vinegar
1/3 cup Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Water
50g Butter
Salt and Pepper


Method:

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a pan. 
Stir fry cabbage for a few minutes. 
Add both vinegar, sugar and water. 
Cover with lid and cook on medium heat about 20 minutes. 
Add seasonings and butter and cook until all the liquid has been reduced.


Creamy Potato Mash

Ingredients:

4 Potatoes, about 600g - peeled and cut into pieces
70g Butter
1/2 cup Thickened Cream
Salt and Pepper


Method:

Boil the potatoes in a saucepan until soft.
Drain. Mash potato, then add cream, butter, salt and pepper.
Stir over low heat for 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy.

Plate up sauerkraut, potato mash, pork hock. 

Add some green beans, baby spinach or asparagus to make the plate more interesting. 
Pour the sauce over the pork hock. 
Serve with a little hot yellow mustard as well. 

Tip: 
  • The sauce is the soul of this dish. If you find you have too much sauce, freeze it and use next time - you will find that the sauce is even more delicious, darker, and rich after cooking 2-3 times. 
  • If you have leftover roast gravy, this can be added to the sauce as well.
Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com

 

Tuesday 7 October 2014

Amaretto Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking

Smooth in texture and decadent in taste this sophisticated chocolate cake is the perfect way to spoil the special person in your life for that special occasion. 


Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

250g Butter - room temperature
2/3 cup Brown Sugar (If you prefer a sweeter cake use 1 cup)
5 large Eggs - separated
1 cup Ground Almond Meal
1 cup gluten-free Self Raising Flour
1/3 cup Cocoa Powder
150g Dark Chocolate
1/3 cup Amaretto Almond Liqueur


Method:

Preheat oven to 180C
Grease a large cake tin and line with baking paper. (Approx 20cm tin.)
Chop chocolate to small pieces.
Place into a bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water.
Add Amaretto Liqueur and mix well. Set aside to cool.
In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until smooth and creamy.
Add egg yolks one by one.
Add chocolate liqueur and mix well.
Sift the flour and cocoa powder together 2 times, add ground almond meal.
Add the dry ingredients into the mixture, use the spatula to combine the mixtures gently.
In another clean bowl, beat egg white until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold into the chocolate mixture. Do not over mix to make sure you can have a soft and puffy moist cake soon.
Place in oven and bake in 180C about 65 minutes or until firm and skewer comes out clean in the middle (Reduce to 170C for last 20 minutes if top begins to burn.)
Remove from oven, leave in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out and cool on the rack.
Spread with chocolate ganache and decorate.

Chocolate Ganache

Ingredients:

250g Dark Chocolate
50g Butter
2/3 cup Thickened Cream

Method:

Chop the chocolate to small pieces.
Place in bowl with butter and melt over a saucepan of boiling water.
Add cream and mix well. Add some extra cream if too thick.
Cut the cake to 2 layers, spread some ganache between the 2, then over the top and sides.
Cool in the fridge about 30 minutes.
Cut into slices with hot knife.
Great to serve with vanilla ice cream or thick cream.

Tips:
  • Add another layer of chocolate ganache after the cake has cooled for a richer taste and look.
  • Refrigerate in container, and warm in the microwave before serving.

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com