Christmas 2014 (Part One): Classic Cheese Cake

Ingredients:

1. 900gm of cream cheese (room temperature)
2. 1/2 cup of sugar
3. 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
4. 4 eggs (room temperature)
5. Grated lemon zest (1 whole lemon)
6. Lemon juice (1 whole lemon)

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1. In a large mixing bowl, add the softened cheese and sugar. Mix until both ingredients are blended and well mixed.

2. Add the vanilla essence and mix again.

3. Then add the grated lemon zest and lemon juice and mix until the mixture has softened.

4. Add the eggs one at a time while continue mixing.

5. Preheat oven at 160C.

6. Line a spring cake pan with baking paper.

7. Pour the mixture into the pan.

8. Place the spring cake pan on a larger baking tray. Fill that tray with water (about half-way of the baking tray).

9. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours.

10. Allow to cool.

11. Place the cake in the fridge to chill before serving.

Bon appétit!

PS: I did not eat any of this cake.

Gluten-Free Banana Cake

Ingredients:

1. 50gm of glutinous rice flour
2. 150gm of white rice flour
3. 25gm of brown rice flour
4. 1 teaspoon of baking soda
5. 4 eggs (room temperature) - beaten
6. 5 medium sized bananas (mashed)
7. 1/4 cup sugar
8. 1/2 cup of rice milk (for recipe, click on LINK)
9. 1/3 cup of sunflower oil
10. 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
11. 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds

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1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours, baking soda and sunflower seeds.

2. In another mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, bananas, sugar, milk, oil and vanilla until combined.

3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until all are mixed well.

4. Preheat oven to 170C.

5. Line baking tray with baking paper.

6. Pour mixture into baking tray and bake for approximately 20 minutes.

7. Allow to cool.

Bon appétit!

Gluten-Free Moist & Fluffy Butter Cake

Ingredients:

1. 250gm salted butter (melted butter)
2. 50gm of fine sugar
3. 50gm of sweet rice flour (this is also known as glutinous rice)
4. 250gm of white rice flour
5. 8-medium sized eggs
6. 1 teaspoon of baking powder
7. 1 teaspoon of baking soda
8. 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

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1. In a large mixing bowl, mix the butter and the sugar together. 

2. Separate the egg whites and yolks.

3. In a bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.

4. In another bowl, beat the yolks.

5. Add the egg yolks into the butter/sugar mixture bit by bit while stirring continuously.

6. Then add in the egg whites into the mixture bit by bit while stirring continuously.

7. Add in the vanilla extract.

8. Fold in the flour, baking powder and baking soda little by little and mix with the spatula.

9. Preheat oven at 170C.

10. Line a cake tray with baking paper.

11. Pour mixture into it and bake for approximately 25 minutes or until golden brown.

12. Set aside to cool.

Bon appétit!

P.S: I'm beginning to get the hang of gluten-free cooking!

Moist & Super Fluffy Butter Cake

Ingredients:

1. 250gm unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
2. 80gm fine sugar
3. 250gm organic self-raising flour (sieved twice)
4. 8 medium-sized eggs
5. 2 teaspoon of baking powder
6. 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
7. * Milk (optional - unless cake batter is too thick)

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1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Separate the egg whites and yolks.

3. In a bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.

4. In another bowl, beat the yolks.

5. Add the egg yolks into the butter/sugar mixture bit by bit while stirring continuously.

6. Then add in the egg whites into the mixture bit by bit while stirring continuously.

7. Add in the vanilla extract.

8. Fold in the flour little by little and mix with the spatula.

9. If the mixture is too thick, add in about 4 tablespoons of milk.

10. Preheat oven at 170C.

11. Line a cake tray with baking paper.

12. Pour mixture into it and bake for approximately 25 minutes or until golden brown.

13. Set aside to cool.

Bon appétit!

I started to cut the cake before I suddenly remembered that I haven't taken a picture of it!

Moist & fluffy!

Chocolate Marble Cake

Ingredients:

1. 225gm of butter (softened at room temperature)
2. 50gm of soft brown sugar
3. 4 eggs (room temperature)
4. 225gm of organic self-raising flour
5. 1/2 cup of milk
6. 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
7. 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

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1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together.

2. Add the eggs, one at a time; mixing well after each egg.

3. Add the flour, milk and vanilla and fold until mixture is smooth.

4. Divide the mixture into 2 bowls.

5. Stir the cocoa powder into one of the bowls.

6. Line a baking pan with baking paper.

7. Preheat oven at 170C.

8. Using two different spoons, drop dollops of the chocolate and the plain cake mixes into the baking pan alternately.

9. Take a chopstick and swirl the mixture around to create a marble effect.

10. Bake for 45 minutes.

11. Allow to cool. You can keep it in the fridge for about a week or in the freezer for 3 months.

Bon appétit!

Moist Banana Cake

Ingredients:

1. 250gm salted butter (softened at room temperature)
2. 2 tablespoons of soft, brown sugar
3. 4 eggs
4. 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
5. 4 tablespoons of milk (liquid)
6. 2 tablespoons of powdered milk (do not mix with water)
7. 6 to 7 medium sized bananas
8. 2 cups of organic plain flour
9. 1 teaspoon of baking soda
10. 1 teaspoon of baking powder

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1. Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.

2. Add in the eggs, one by one.

3. Add in the vanilla essence and milk (liquid) and mix throughly.

4. Add the mashed banana into the mixture and mix well.

5. Add the sifted flour, powdered milk, baking soda and baking powder bit by bit and mix thoroughly.

6. Preheat oven at 160C.

7. Pour the batter into a baking tin lined with baking paper.

8. Bake for 1 hour or until golden brown.

9. Allow to cool.

10. You can slice it and keep it in the fridge or the freezer (if you want to keep it longer).

Banana & Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

1. 3 medium sized eggs
2. 75gm soft brown sugar
3. 175gm of organic all-purpose flour (sifted twice)
4. 2 teaspoon of baking powder
5. 1 teaspoon of sea-salt
6. 1 teaspoon of baking soda
7. 175ml sunflower oil
8. 3 medium sized bananas (very ripe and mashed)
9. 175gm of grated carrots
10. 175gm of pumpkin seeds (OPTIONAL)

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1. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together until the mixture thickens.

2. Sift in the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.

3. Mix well and then add the oil.

4. Add pumpkin seeds. Mix thoroughly. (If you are not able to tolerate pumpkin seeds or any other seeds, omit step 4.)

5. Lastly add the grated carrots and mashed bananas.

6. Mix well.

7. Preheat oven to 170C.

8. Line a baking cake tin with removable base with baking paper.

9. Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for about 1 hour or until golden brown.

10. Once it is done, allow the cake to cool.

Bon appétit!

Moist Banana Cake

Ingredients:

1. 250g butter
2. 1/2 cup brown sugar
3. 4 eggs (room temperature)
4. 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
5. 1 cup of home-brewed soya milk
6. 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
7. 3 cups of self-raising flour (sieved twice)
8. 8 ripe bananas (mashed)
9. A teaspoon of oats

*Note: Bananas contain amines.

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1. Cream butter and sugar in large mixing bowl.

2. Gradually add the beaten eggs one at a time while continuously stirring the mixture.

3. Add mashed bananas into mixture bit by bit while stirring continuously.

4. Then add the sieved flour and soya milk alternately while mixing continuously until everything is thoroughly mixed.

5. Preheat oven at 190C.

6. Pour mixture into 2 round baking pans which are lined with baking paper.

7. Sprinkle some oats on the mixture before baking the cake.

8. Bake at 190C for 10 minutes. Then bake at 170C for about 20 minutes.

9. Allow to cool.

Bon appétit!

Before baking.

Fresh from the oven!

Rich Vanilla Butter Cake

Ingredients:

1. 250gm of softened butter (salted)
2. 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
3. 6 eggs (room temperature)
4. 1 cup of soft, brown sugar
5. 3 cups of organic self-raising flour
6. 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
7. 1 1/2 cup of soya milk (room temperature)

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1. Preheat oven at 180C.

2. Pour all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl.

3. Beat ingredients until thoroughly mixed.

4. Pour the mixture into two round baking pans lined with baking paper.

5. Bake for about 15 minutes at 180C and then at 170C for 10 minutes.

Bon appétit!

I made 2 cakes. This cake is for my parents. The other one is undecorated. 

Hassle-Free Moist Butter Cake

Ingredients:

1. 125gm of softened butter
2. 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
3. 3/4 cups of soft, brown sugar
4. 3 eggs (room temperature)
5. 1 1/2 cup of organic self-raising flour
6. 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
7. 1/2 cup of soya milk (room temperature)

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1. Preheat oven at 180C.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat all ingredients until just combined.

3. Pour the mixture in a baking tray lined with baking paper.

4. Bake for about 40 minutes.

Bon appétit!

Super Moist Chocolate Cake

My mom attended a gathering yesterday with her friends. I made a chocolate cake for them. Below is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1. 1 1/2 cups of milk
2. 100gm of butter
3. 1/4 cup of sunflower oil
4. 1/2 cup of cocoa powder
5. 1 cup of self-raising flour
6. 1 egg (beaten) - room temperature
7. 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
8. 100gm of brown sugar

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1. Heat milk, butter, oil and cocoa powder until the butter melts.

2. Set aside to cool.

3. In another bowl, add flour, baking soda, sugar and beaten egg to the cooled wet ingredients.

4. Preheat oven at 170C.

5. Beat/whisk until all ingredients are mixed well.

6. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes.

7. Remove from oven promptly once cake is done. Allow to cool.

8. Dust lightly with icing sugar.

Bon appétit!

Apple + Quinoa Cake

Ingredients:

1. 3 large Red Delicious apples (I could not find any Golden Delicious in any supermarket or market)
* Peel, core and dice the apples.
* Soak the apples in a bowl of salt water and place in the fridge before you start preparing the cake.
2. 3 large eggs
3. 1 cup of sunflower oil
4. 1/2 teaspoon sea-salt
5. 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
6. 2 1/2 cups of organic all-purpose flour
7. 1 teaspoon of baking soda
8. 1/2 cup of quinoa
9. 1 cup of soft brown sugar

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1. In a large mixing bowl, pour the sunflower oil and eggs and beat until creamy.

2. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat well.

3. Combine the flour, salt, baking soda into another bowl.

4. Add this mixture to the egg mixture slowly and mix until well combined. The batter will be very thick.

5. Drain the salt water from the apples and fold the apples and quinoa into the batter.

6. Preheat oven at 175C.

7. Prepare a baking tray with baking paper. Pour and spread the batter into the pan. Sprinkle the top of cake with a handful of quinoa.

8. Bake for approximately 45 minutes.

9. Allow cake to cool before serving.

Bon appétit!

Gluten-Free & Low-Salicylate Rich Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

1. 225g butter
2. 225g plain (semisweet) butter
3. 115g unsweetened cocoa powder
4. 150g caster sugar
5. 6 eggs

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1. Preheat oven to 180C.

2. Line a 23 x 5cm round baking pan with baking paper. Grease the paper with some butter.

3. Melt the butter and chocolate in the top of a double boiler. Leave aside to cool.

4. Sift the cocoa powder into a large bowl.

5. Add the sugar and eggs.

5. Stir until the three ingredients are combined.

6. Pour the melted chocolate mixture into the large bowl and stir well until combined.

7. Pour the mixture into the baking pan.

8. Set the baking pan in a roasting pan and pour about 5cm of hot water into the outer pan.

9. Bake for about 45 minutes or until the cake is firm to the touch.

10. Leave the cake to cool for 15 minutes and then unfold it onto a wire rack.

11. When it has cooled down, wrap the cake in baking paper and chill it in the fridge for about 8 hours.

12. Once the cake is chilled, it can be served.

Bon appétit!

The mixture before baking

After 45 minutes of baking!

Low-Salicylate Chocolate Cake

Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:
1. 170g organic self-raising flour
2. 170g butter (softened at room temperature)
3. 140g sugar (*brown sugar if you are able to tolerate it)
4. 2 large eggs (room temperature NOT cold)
5. 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
6. 1 tablespoon of baking powder

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1. Grease baking tin with some butter.

2. Preheat oven at 170C/ 325F / Gas Mark 3

3. In a large bowl sieve the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder.

4. Then add the softened butter, sugar and eggs to the flour mixture and mix well.

5. Pour mixture into the greased baking tin.

6. Bake for about 30 minutes or until fully cooked.

7. Allow the cake to cool before serving.

Bon Appétit!

Rough Days

It started on Monday night. I felt dizzy and very light-headed and knew that my blood pressure was low. Sure enough, the reading was 93/68. I went to bed early and thought it was caused by the exhaustion of the three weeks of driving and being on my feet constantly at Joel's school. And then I had dreams about pain. Non-stop dreams about pain. And then I woke up at 2.30am and the pain that was in my head was excruciating. I wished that the pain could be exorcised out! I was having a severe reaction! I immediately got up and swallowed a tablet of Xyzal and Zrtytec each to stop it from escalating into an anaphylaxis attack. I woke my hubby up and he had to massage my head to numb the pain. The mouth started to burn and the usual reactions started manifesting. I even had my Epi-Pen on standby.

The only thing that I could think of that caused this reaction was the fish I had for dinner. I have noticed that sometimes fish can cause a near-anaphylaxis attack for me. Many months back I ate salmon and had an attack within 1 hour! But this does not happen all the time. Sometimes it happens. Sometimes it does not. Maybe it is the histamine that is in the fish that is causing the reactions. And with the body being taxed out and exhausted, my immune system was more susceptible to a reaction.

I was in bed the whole of yesterday. I was very drugged and drowsy from the anti-histamines. And the stomach wasn't feeling too well. It always ends up with loose bowels and stomach upset and discomfort.

I was in better shape this morning. But then the pain in my head returned with vengeance before noon and the stomach was extremely queasy and in great discomfort. I could't finish my lunch nor dinner today. And the insides of my ears felt swollen. And the pressure build-up in both ears was so uncomfortable. I had actually planned to do lots of baking today. And the best part was the butter was already melting in room temperature and the dough was already mixed with yeast. I swallowed 2 Xyzals after my so-called 'lunch' and did the baking.

So these were what I baked today. And thank God they turned out fine and yummy though I wasn't feeling fine.

Marble, butter sponge cake

I used cocoa powder for the marble effect.

Twisty high protein bread

Who can resist home-made crackers? :)

I am really grateful that I have my writing to keep me sane when bad days strike. Days when I can't go out to the garden or when I have no songs to sing. I will be going to the hospital tomorrow to get a refill of my medication and also to get my ears checked out. Goodnight!

Fantabulous Food-i-licious!

Warning: View this blog with a full stomach. Not doing so will cause it to rumble. You have been warned!

Since we are a society who just loves food, here are more CHEMICALLY-free food. Happy viewing!

Potato pork pie

Moist chocolate cake

Rich butter cake with crushed biscuits base

Red bean buns!

Pizza!

Oat & chocolate chip cookies

Sesame seeds buns!

Egg Tarts!

Sunflower Seeds Buns

Potato Pancakes

6-Jeweled Fried Rice with Fried Egg

My 'Chemical & Salicylate Free' Gastronomic Creations

I have been told so many times that the kind of life that I am living is not a life because of my limited food intake that I've lost count. 

And then I have been told that I am losing out so much in life because I can't eat all the 'wonderful' food which is sold outside.

I won't deny that I do feel very tired with cooking everyday. I won't deny that I do long for all the 'forbidden' food! Sometimes there are long stretches where I can't push myself to cook at all, thus it's chicken soup with all-sorts-of-ingredients for a few days 'till my son tells me that the food is boring! Haha!


One of the benefits that I have reaped from this diet, is that my scalp which was sickly and hair that dropped in clumps AND a severe amount of white hair became healthy and turned so black and thick that my hairdresser thought I had actually gone for a hair dye and some extremely expensive hair treatment! I told her that I'm so allergic to everything that a hair dye is the last thing on my mind. 

For those of you who are in the same boat as I am in, I will share with you how I have been surviving for this past 30 months.

As of today, I am practicing the rotation diet. This means I do not eat the same food twice in a row. What I have eaten today, I'll eat it again next week or 3 or 4 days later. By doing this, the Salicylates which have accumulated in my body do not over-accumulate and cause another attack which could result in anaphylaxis.

My diet consists of chicken (which is free of antibiotics), fish, a selected group of vegetables and fruits and some beans and peas.

I usually cook with just salt and sunflower oil and sometimes pepper. I hardly use sugar anymore because by using natural ingredients, the food is naturally sweet and thus, I do not need to add sugar. It's healthy too! 

I make my own pastries, biscuits and bread too. I use a small amount of sugar for pastries. What are pastries without sugar right? Hehe...

Here are a few examples of the food that I am able to take:
*Some of the food here contain slight amounts of Salicylates which I am able to tolerate (on good days that is).

Roast chicken with salt

Chicken stew with carrots, potatoes, tomatoes (which were from my garden), big onions and celery. This was cooked with just salt and pepper. The rice in the background was cooked with garlic and butter.

Banana cupcakes

Curry puffs (Without the spice and curry that is!)

Egg Tarts

Fried bittergourd with egg

Stir fried mixed vegetables (cauliflower, carrots and brocolli) with chopped garlic

Fried corn fritters

Wholemeal bread

Butter cookies

 Vermicelli fried with choy sum vege and prawns with shallots and garlic

Baked oat crunchies (made with brown sugar, sunflower oil and eggs)

Deep fried baby white pomfret! *Yummy!!*

Steamed chick peas

Stir fried okra with garlic and shallots! Okra's from my garden.

Biscuit bread

Butter cake

An example of my meal: Fried egg, fish cake, and lettuce iceberg with rice.