Friday, August 15, 2008

I [heart] Red & White - Celebrating 63 Years of Independence


Last time I browsed to my friend's blog and I saw this Red & White Event's Logo..suddenly I was thinking that it would be fun if I could participate on it as well. The rules are anything that has Red & White on it, whether it's food, stylist, food photography anything that has creative idea on it just bring it on (as it said). Not long after.. happened I found this recipe, a Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting which I thought straight away, this would be puuurrrfect cake to get into the theme. So I made a preparation to bake and take the photo after. This time I wanna make sure everything has well prepared and I'll do it ontime..unlike some contest I most likely did it in last minute :( But from now on, I promise to myself to get organized and be ontime :D

I'm still new in baking and food photography, but yet I could feel the love straight away while taking pics in my very unspacious studio (as writen on previous 'My Studio odong-odong'). Still, as a melancholy I've always tried to make a good photo shoot (in my opinion) and learning from many blogs that have awesome cake, food and food photography as my reference.


I made this cake with no problem at all, since the ingredients not that hard to find. But the hardest part is to get the red color I wanted. Thank God for Wilton's Red Xmas Color, it turns out brilliant after it was baked. The color stands out just what I've expected! So I made it as a 20cm cake and also cup cakes. After it's been decorated put it straight away to the fridge and next day will be a photo session day.

Since I'm only using a daylight as lighting source, so here's the problem. Couple days, afternoon turns to dawn really quick because of the cloudy weather. Practically I get a minim sun light and my best time to take photo when it's afternoon. Wouldn't want to give up too soon, I end up collecting my tea light candles as an alternative lighting. However, turns out I'm having fun while taking the photo. And the good thing is I could make such experiment with it and love how the glow was captured.


After different kind of pose (the photo session took 2 days), and different kind of props, angle, I couldn't decide which I'm gonna submit haha..Isn't that obvious? Couldn't decide which one is the best (again, in my opinion). Hoping that at least 2 photos could be submitted is only a hope, so I decided to enter this photo to the event.


Simply because it's captured the Red and White theme, clean look but yet still festive. Oh ya, the Cream Cheese Frosting stayed very well in the room temperature for 30 minutes (more), specially when it placed very close to the heat from candles and that's why I love using this brand so so much (Bakers Mix) when it comes to Whipped Cream. I had so much fun taking the photos and the best part after is, enjoying the cake while I'm writing this report with a chill starbucks frappucino.

Merdeka Indonesia-ku. Happy 63 Years of Independence!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Broccoli with Mushroom and Beef Sesame

Steamed Rice, Beef Sesame topped with Broccoli & Mushroom

Another post beside cakes! Yey! Last weekend I cooked simple dishes for my hubby and son. I love broccoli a lot. Whether it's cooked or just steamed, I love it both. My son like it too, except part of being steamed only :(. The weirdest thing is when he saw a 'green' veggies, he straight away feel like vomiting, but it didn't matter if he ate it! How weird is that? Same thing if he saw garlic (in the middle of dishes), or something that small and black in the food. He told me that somehow he thinks about 'cockroach' after he saw small and black things... Oh my..Kids with their 1001 reasons and yet we (parents) should be able to understand that always..haha..^_^


Anyway, here's Broccoli & Mushroom with Oyster Sauce. Right now I'm so addicted to Sesame Oil. so I cooked the beef with Hoysin Sauce and Sesame Oil. I just love simple recipe!

BROCCOLI & MUSHROOM with OYSTER SAUCE
(in Bahasa Indonesia)

BAHAN:
  • 1 Brokoli (medium), cuci dan keringkan
  • 1 pak Jamur jenis apa aja, cuci dan keringkan
  • (rebus ke-duanya di air mendidih skitar 1 menit, angkat & tiriskan)
  • 3 siung bawang putih, geprek dan potong cincang
  • 2 sdm Oyster sauce
  • 1 sdm Kecap manis
  • 1 sdt garam
  • 1 sdt gula
  • lada secukupnya
  • 1 sdt tepung maizena cairkan dengan air panas
  • air matang secukupnya
  • Minyak utk memasak



CARANYA:
  1. Panaskan minyak di wajan, lalu masukkan bawang putih tumis hingga harum
  2. Masukkan brokoli dan jamur, tumis sebentar lalu tambahkan garam, gula, dan lada.
  3. Masukkan Oyster sauce dan kecap manis, aduk hingga rata, tambahkan sedikit air lalu tutup sebentar kira2 1 menit saja.
  4. Buka penutup, masukkan cairan tepung maizena, aduk hingga rata hingga agak mengental.
  5. Angkat, taruh dalam piring. Sajikan hangat.


BEEF SLICES with HOYSIN Sauce & SESAME Oil
(in Bahasa Indonesia)

BAHAN:
  • 300 gr beef stir fry, potong lagi dadu
  • 3 siung bawang putih, geprek lalu cincang
  • 1 jahe, cincang
  • 3 cabe merah keriting, potong silang (additional)
  • 2 sdm hoysin sauce
  • 2 sdm sesame oil
  • 1 sdt biji white sesame
  • 1 sdt garam
  • 1 sdt gula
  • lada secukupnya
  • air panas secukupnya
  • 1 sdt tepung maizena cairkan dgn air panas
  • Minyak untuk memasak

CARANYA:
  1. Panaskan minyak di wajan lalu masukkan bawang putih dan jahe. Tumis hingga harum.
  2. (jika memakai cabai merah, tumis bersamaan dengan bawang dan jahe hingga cabai layu)
  3. Masukkan daging, taburi garam, gula dan lada. Aduk dan masak hingga berubah warna.
  4. Masukkan saus sesame, diikuti dengan hoisin, aduk hingga rata.
  5. Jika perlu tambahkan air sedikit lalu tutup wajan supaya bumbu meresap dan daging lebih empuk.
  6. Setelah daging empuk, masukkan cairan maizena, aduk hingga saus menjadi kental.
  7. Angkat, taruh di piring, taburi wijen putih. Sajikan hangat.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Raspberry Jelly


Made a Raspberry Jelly for an afternoon refreshment. I used Raspberry Jello pack and mixed with crushed fresh raspberry (no sugar added as it was already sweet). Final touch, whipped a raspberry mousse and put some fresh raspberry on top.


It's so easy to make. Taste sweet and sour just what I like. Eat straight away from the fridge..sooo refreshing! :D