Totoro Black Sesame Chiffon Cake

Ever since I came across Bento Monsters recipe on what she did for her kids, I fall in love with her beautiful work and her generous heart in sharing her recipe. Recipe I share from her will only be those I think I am able to do.

I love black sesame and I felt that it is easy to decorate this cake; that’s the reason I am sharing this. Being a lazy bum, I buy ready-made pandan or orange chiffon cake from bakery and I don’t mind a green or orange Totoro.

BLACK SESAME CHIFFON CAKE

Ingredients:
3 egg yolks
20g caster sugar
30ml fresh milk
20ml corn oil
30 g black sesame paste
48g cake flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder

Meringue Batter:
3 egg whites
40g caster sugar
5g cornflour

Whipped cream:
50g heavy cream
5g castor sugar

Method:

1.    Beat egg yolks, caster sugar, and salt over a water bath until the sugar and salt have completely dissolved, and the egg yolks are creamy. 

2.    Add in black sesame paste and milk to the egg yolk mixture and continue to mix them well over the water bath. Leave to cool down, stir in oil.

3.    To make the meringue, beat the egg whites with a mixer on low speed until they become white and frothy. Gradually add the sugar and cornflour in intervals and beat until stiff peaks have formed. 

4.    Add 1/3 of the meringue to the egg yolk mixture and mix well. 

5.    Sift in the cake flour and baking powder and mix to combine. 

6.    Fold in the rest of the meringue. 

7.    Transfer to a 5 inch chiffon cake mould. Tap against the table to allow air bubbles to escape.

8.    Bake in a preheated oven at 170C for 20-25 minutes. Remove and rest the cake tin upside down. Make sure it is completely cool before unmouldng.

9.    For decoration, beat the heavy cream and sugar until soft peaks form. 

10. Frost bottom half of chiffon cake. 

11. Place a little whipped cream in pipping bag and pipe out Totoro's eyes.

12. Use melted chocolate to pipe on eyes, nose, whiskers, and details on its stomach. 

13. Make small incisions on the side of the cake for its ears. Use almond and dip the ends in as 'glue' and attach the ears.

“SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR 2016 DINING EXTRAVAGANZA @ ST GILES THE GARDENS- GRAND HOTEL & RESIDENCES AND THE GARDENS CLUB, TOP SPENDER OF THE DAY & WIN @ THE GARDENS MALL”

The ever popular festive celebration is just around the corner and it is time to plan your year-end festival gatherings at St Giles The Gardens- Grand Hotel & Residences, Kuala Lumpur. The hotel is offering the Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner, Christmas Day Buffet Lunch & New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner on 24 December 2015, 25 December 2015 and on 31 December 2015 for both of the events at The Spread All Day Dining.

The Spirit of Christmas and New Year 2016 Dining Extravaganza would not be complete without delicious food- full to the brim with gastronomic delights from our brigade of chefs. Be spoiled for choices for the whole family with an array of activities lined-up by the hotel to complete your festive celebration and culinary adventure. Diners will enjoy complimentary Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie tickets or other movies at GSC Signature, party packs, complimentary wine or mocktail, complimentary photo prints, chance to win attractive prizes, clown performance and carollers performance.

Feasts offering irresistible spread of freshest seafood including Fresh Oysters, Slipper Lobsters, Mussels, Scallops, Tiger Prawn on Ice, Salmon Gravlax, Sushi, Sashimi, Teppanyaki Counter, Traditional Roast Tom-Turkey with Christmas Stuffing, Roast Leg of Lamb, Pizza Counter, Pumpkin & Orange Soup “Father of Christmas” with Croutons, Asian Favourites, Pasta Station, Grill Station, Little India, Desserts & Christmas Treats, Ice Cream Counter and more.

24 December 2015

Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner

7.00pm till 10.30pm

Price: RM145 nett per person

Early Bird Special: RM115 nett per person; book before 15 December 2015

-Complimentary photo prints

-Complimentary party packs

-Complimentary glass of red/ white wine or Christmas mocktail

-Carollers performance

25 December 2015

Christmas Day Buffet Lunch

12noon till 2.30pm

Price: RM145 nett per person

Early Bird Special: RM115 nett per person; book before 15 December 2015

-Clown performance by Jelly and Frenz

-Games and win attractive prizes such as Pandora charm, Braun Buffel wallet, Kipling pouch, fragrances, dining and hotel vouchers

-Complimentary photo prints

-Complimentary party packs

-Complimentary glass of red/ white wine or Christmas mocktail

-Carollers performance

31 December 2015

New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner

7.00pm till 10.30pm

Price: RM175 nett per person

Early Bird Special: RM145 nett per person; book before 15 December 2015

-Complimentary photo prints

-Complimentary party packs

-Complimentary glass of red/ white wine or Christmas mocktail

-Complimentary Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie vouchers or any other movies of your choice; valid till 1 March 2016 (ticket booking subject to seats, date & time availability)

Christmas Goodies are also for sale and pre-bookings available at the hotel’s Lobby Bar; such as various selections of Chocolate Pralines, Chocolate Figurines, Xmas Cookies, Ginger Bread Cookies, Xmas Cakes, Xmas Stollens, Stuffed Turkey and many other selections. Priced from RM14 nett - RM580 nett.

To make a reservation or for further inquiries, please call The Spread at 03 2268 1188 (ext. 6123), Lobby Bar at (ext. 6128) or log-on to: www.StGiles.com  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheGardensHotelandResidences 

*Prices are quoted net Ringgit Malaysia inclusive of 6% GST

The Gardens Club Top Spender of The Day Campaign

The Gardens Mall is delighted to announce the Top Spender of The Day and Win Campaign; exclusively for The Gardens Club members, starting from 21 November till 20 December 2015 in collaboration with St Giles The Gardens Hotel.

Total of 30 winners will be selected throughout the campaign and each winner will win two sumptuous New Year’s Eve buffet dinners, two GSC Signature premier class movie vouchers, complemented with complimentary photo prints, party packs and a glass of red/ white wine or mocktail.

Be a winner in just 3 simple steps: Spend a minimum of RM500 in a single receipt, fill up the participation form, attach receipt and submit the form to The Gardens Club concierge counter on 4^th floor, The Gardens Mall.

For more information about the campaign, contact: Concierge Desk at 03- 2297 0288 (10am – 10pm daily).

Learn How to Make Hello Kitty Steamed Chicken Bun

Found this interesting recipe on making Hello Kitty bun from Bento Monster, I am delighted to share it with all Hello Kitty fans. Happy cooking!

Ingredients:
300g Morinaga pancake mix
1 1/2 tbsp salad oil
90 to 100ml water
1 tsp cocoa powder
pink gel colouring
yellow gel colouring

Fillings:
250g boneless chicken thigh, cut to strips
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp cooking wine
1 tbsp ginger juice
pinch of salt
1 tbsp cornflour
1 stalk spring onion, chopped

Method:

1.      Combine fillings ingredients together. Mix well using your hands. Best to leave to marinade overnight.

2.      To make the dough, sieve pancake mix.

3.      Add in salad oil.

4.      Add in water gradually, use your hands to keep mixing till the dough comes together.

5.      Scoop out 2 tbsp of dough and mix in some pink gel food colouring using a toothpick. Keep kneading till the colours are even. Scoop out 1 tbsp of dough and mix in some yellow gel food colouring using a toothpick. Keep kneading till the colours are even. Scoop out 1 tbsp of dough and mix in cocoa powder. Keep kneading till the colours are even.

6.      Dust work surface with some flour, use your hands to knead for around 5 minutes, till the dough becomes soft and smooth.

7.      Divide dough into 6 parts and roll each into a ball. Use a rolling pin to flatten each ball. 

8.      Place filllings from step 1 in the middle of the dough, wrap it up and pleat the edges to seal. 

9.      Turn it over and shape into an oval shape. Repeat for the other 5 balls. Use scissors to cut out the ears.

10. Take yellow dough and mould out a small oval for the nose. Take out some brown dough and mould out two ovals for the eyes.

11. Take out some brown dough and roll it out and cut into sections for the whiskers.

12. Take some pink dough and mould into 2 triangular shapes. Using a knife, make indentations to define the bow.

13. Place the two triangular shapes onto the bun and mould out a round shape for the centre.

14. Place the buns on wax paper and steam them on low heat for around 15 minutes.

Note: If you can’t get hold of Morinage pancake mix. You can also use 270g plain flour and 1.5tsp baking powder to 140ml water. You need to add in 3 tbsp of sugar and a pinch of salt as well. Cover the dough after step 7 and leave it for half an hour before you start rolling out.

Rosato An Italian Fine Jewellery Charms, Starhill Kuala Lumpur

Great pleasure for being invited to Rosato for a review on their dedicated and captivating fine jewellery charms. This visit is to their first outlet which situated in Starhill Gallery while their second outlet in Pavilion. 

This Italian brand only available in Malaysia throughout Asia; as for those who wanted to get this piece of fine Italian charms should visit their outlets in Malaysia.

Italian fine jewellers Rosato have opened their second boutique in Malaysia, with their first being in Starhill Gallery — making that only two boutiques to appear outside of Rosato’s home country of Italy. Just can’t get enough of their tiny pretty charms especially my favourite cupcakes and rocking horse. There are so much more to choose from according to your events and hobbies.

Charms are the perfect gift to say something meaningful and meaningful is something Rosato has in all shapes and sizes to choose from. Charms are making a big comeback this year, this time they are available for chunky necklaces, bracelets and delicate chains filled with conversation starters and unique pieces.

The charms are all handmade and are tiny miniatures perfect for giving as gifts to mark significant moments. Each handcrafted with precious stones, enamelling and crystals they are eye-catching and delicate.

Fine details and whimsical charms — and if you have had a life packed full of exciting events and moments your charm bracelet will be glittering with tiny shoes, rings, hats, champagne bottles and other meaningful objects. If your bracelet is looking a little sparse, it’s the perfect excuse to get out a little more and make time for some exciting things to happen.

The My Holidays collection is perfect for those summer holiday moments you just don’t want to forget. From seahorses to cameras, fish, little birds, tiny ice cream cones with jewels and cocktail glasses every moment can be marked — the perfect accompaniment to an old school album of holiday snaps.

Other families of charms include the ‘My Toys’ collection for nostalgic old school pieces, ‘My City’ ‘My Home’ and ‘My Beauty’ amongst others. An exclusive 18k gold collection known as Rosato gold is detailed with tiny precious stones and hand made.

Prices start at RM300 for the sterling silver charms and RM2600 up to RM23,500 for the rose gold charms.

Rosato Boutique, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Lot 3.64.00, Level 3, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, and Starhill Gallery Kuala Lumpur.

+60 3 2110 2262, www.facebook.com/Rosato.Malaysia