Soft and fluffy Japanese Milk Buns filled with red bean paste. These Red Bean Buns are a delicious snack for any time of the day! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Japanese Red Bean Buns My first encounter with Japanese baked goods was, surprisingly, here in Zurich. Having constant access to delicious cakes and pastries of Swiss, French, Italian and German origins is a luxury I never take for granted. But one day, I came
A delicious homemade Red Bean Paste which is perfect for Asian cakes and desserts, such as Mooncakes, Mochi and Anpan. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Red Bean Paste If you are familiar with Asian cakes and desserts, you may have noticed that Red Bean Paste is a popular filling.
Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with these classic Red Bean Mooncakes. Full and comprehensive recipe to make mooncakes from scratch with step-by-step photos. Red Bean Mooncakes The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of my favourite food celebrations, partly because autumn is my favourite season, and partly because I love the mooncakes which are gifted and eaten at this time of the year.
A luscious and juicy Peach Cobbler with a delicious scone topping that makes for the perfect summer dessert! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Peach Cobbler As soon as summer rolls around, I get excited about all of the stone fruit that will soon be in abundance at the farmers markets and grocery stores. I even have a special basket for buying stone fruit so that they do not become bruised or crushed on the
A refreshing and tasty Vietnamese Coffee Jelly, the perfect end to any meal. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Vietnamese Coffee Jelly Summers in Switzerland have gradually become more hot and humid, sometimes so unbearably so that it is hard to think of it as a country where it also snows in the winter months. One summer, I was trying to think of what dessert I could bring to a picnic with friends, one which
How to make a classic Cheese Fondue using Gruyère, Vacherin Fribourgeois and Camembert. This classic fondue recipe from Switzerland is perfect for sharing with friends. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Cheese Fondue Cheese melted in white wine … could there be anything more delicious?? In Switzerland, cheese fondue is hugely popular, and this is hardly surprising given that the country is a proud and world-famous producer of many excellent varieties of cheese.
Soft and chewy Butter Mochi Cake. Make this delicious Hawaiian dessert for your next party or potluck dinner! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Butter Mochi Cake Mochi is currently having its time in the limelight, which makes me very happy because I love it in all its variations. I grew up eating Vietnamese and Chinese-style mochi, and a recent discovery for me is this Hawaiian Butter Mochi Cake.
Pan-fried Pork Buns with a soft and fluffy bao bun wrapping, and a golden and crispy bottom! Make these delicious Shanghai bao buns at home with this step-by-step recipe. Crispy Pan-Fried Pork Buns A few years ago, a small Japanese festival was held in our neighbourhood, much to my delight, as well as for my sushi-loving kids. I spontaneously announced a break from the kitchen that weekend and we happily ate tasty Japanese
An easy Butter Chicken recipe which the whole family will enjoy! Make this delicious curry with step-by-step photos. Easy Indian Food at Home There are many things I miss about Australia, and one of them is good Indian take-away. Lamb Korma, Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Biryani … you name it, I miss it.
Pains au Lait are soft and fluffy French milk buns, which are a popular afternoon tea treat for children in France. Make these delicious buns at home with this step-by-step recipe. French Milk Bread We all know about Japanese Milk Bread, and we know about French Brioche. But something which is perhaps a little less known outside of France is French Milk Bread, or Pains au Lait. French Milk Bread is hugely popular
Sweet and fluffy Steamed Custard Buns, a yum cha favourite! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Yum Cha When I was young, I used to envy my friends who would sit down to a proper roast lunch every Sunday. I imagined their family gatherings to be like in the TV commercials – happy faces all around the dining table, someone proudly bringing a platter of roast meat to the table, everyone tucking into their Sunday
A simple and delicious recipe for basic crêpes, or thin French pancakes. Recipe with step-by-step photos. French Crêpes Recipe My husband hails from the French region of Brittany where crêpes are thought to have originated. And so it goes without saying that, in this part of the world, it is completely acceptable to have pancakes at breakfast every morning, or even as a goûter, the French equivalent of afternoon tea.
How to cook perfectly steamed and fluffy Jasmine rice on the stove, with step-by-step photos. Tips for cooking rice with cast-iron and stainless steel pans. Have You Eaten Rice Yet? In the Vietnamese language, we ask “Have you eaten rice yet?” as a way of saying “Hello” or “How are you?” The phrase is intended as a greeting, as a way of asking if you are well and healthy, if everything is going
Impress the kids with this delicious and fun Birthday Piñata Cake! This foolproof sour-cream chocolate cake recipe has been transformed into a colourful Piñata Cake which everyone will love. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Piñata Cake If you are looking for a fun birthday cake with major wow factor, this Piñata Cake is the recipe you need! In fact, now that I have made it several years in a row for both of my
Meltingly soft and tender Chashu Pork which is caramelised to perfection. Chashu Pork is a delicious accompaniment to Ramen or served simply with steamed rice. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Chashu Pork If you love ramen, specifally Shoyu Ramen, you may be familiar with Chashu Pork. Thin slices of Chashu Pork are a typical accompaniment to ramen noodle soups, but it is also delicious served simply with steamed Jasmine rice and Asian greens.
A quick and tasty Japanese Udon Noodle Soup which takes less than 30 minutes to prepare! Perfect for weeknight dinners. Udon Noodle Soup Comfort food to me is usually a big bowl of steaming noodle soup, no matter the weather. Even in the midst of a heatwave, you will find me hunched over a bowl of noodles, slurping away happily. This Japanese Udon Noodle Soup is one of my favourite noodle soups, not
Make a homemade Shoyu Ramen from scratch with this easy and delicious recipe! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Ramen Noodle Soup When I think of ramen, I think of the many cheap and cheerful meals my friends and I used to eat at the food courts in Brisbane during our years as university students or new graduates. Back then, even though money was tight, we somehow ate out a lot, and the Japanese and
A quick and super easy recipe for Pigs in Blankets, the perfect snack for birthday parties, game nights or just an easy dinner! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Pigs in Blankets One of my go-to recipes for birthday parties, school bakes, or even a game night at home, is a large batch of Pigs in Blankets. They are super easy to prepare, fun to eat, and irresistibly delicious! They also happen to be great
Soft and deliciously fragrant Cardamom Buns which will fill your home with the aroma of a Danish bakery! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Cardamom Buns I am a big fan of Scandinavian design, but perhaps an even bigger fan of Scandinavian baking. We are fortunate to be able to travel to Denmark and Sweden regularly, and my favourite pastime when we are there is to visit all of my favourite cafés and bakeries, plus
This Honey Soy Chicken takes a few minutes to prepare for a delicious and no-fuss weeknight meal, and is perfect served with a refreshing Pineapple Cucumber Salad. Honey Soy Chicken If time is short and you need to get dinner on the table in a hurry, this recipe for Honey Soy Chicken is a winner. The caramelised and sticky chicken is full of flavour, and the best part is that you do not need to marinate the chicken beforehand!
Make homemade dumpling wrappers from scratch with this easy recipe with step-by-step photos. These dumpling wrappers are perfect for potstickers or gyozas. Homemade Dumpling Wrappers The secret to the most perfect dumplings start with the dumpling wrappers. Homemade dumpling wrappers have a thicker and chewier texture, which makes the dumplings more interesting to eat. And because they are more robust than ready-made dumpling wrappers, the dumplings taste more substantial and filling.
Make the perfect pavlova every time with this easy pavlova recipe with step-by-step photos. Tips on how to make a pavlova with a crisp meringue shell and soft and chewy marshmallow centre. Australian Pavlova There is nothing which reminds me more of Australia than a classic pavlova. This was something I grew up eating at parties and celebrations, and a backyard BBQ was never complete without a pavlova dessert standing proud and tall
A delicious Lychee & Pomegranate Pavlova which would be perfect to celebrate the Lunar New Year or any celebration. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Flower Pavlova With the Lunar New Year around the corner, I’m always thinking of creative ways to serve dessert. First and foremost, fresh fruit is usually the dessert of choice in many Asian households. Alternatively, there is an array of sweet Asian desserts which, unless you have grown up eating
A stunning Christmas Pavlova Wreath for the festive season! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Pavlova Wreath If you are a regular here on my blog, you may have noticed several pavlova recipes. They are possibly my favourite dessert to make because they are so easy to prepare, you can make them ahead of time, there are a million ways to decorate them, and they always taste delicious.
A deliciously spicy and fragrant Vietnamese beef noodle soup with lots of fresh herbs and garnishes. Bun Bo Hue There is often a debate amongst my Vietnamese friends as to what our favourite noodle soup is. For me, it is always a toss-up between a classic Vietnamese Beef Pho, a tomato and crab soup called Bun Rieu, or a spicy Bun Bo Hue.
A delightful Chocolate Pavlova with a crispy shell and chewy centre, topped with whipped cream and fresh raspberries. Follow this chocolate pavlova recipe with step-by-step photos. Chocolate Pavlova My go-to dessert is a classic pavlova topped simply with fresh passionfruit. But when I am in the mood to vary things a bit, I stray only very slightly by making a Chocolate Pavlova. I love the pastel brown colour of a Chocolate Pavlova, and
Treat your friends and family with these delicious homemade Cinnamon Sugar Donuts! This donut recipe uses a milk bread dough for the softest and fluffiest donuts you have ever tasted! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Cinnamon Sugar Donuts One of the things I miss most about Australia are the hot cinnamon donuts that you can get almost everywhere. Growing up in Brisbane, our local shopping centre had a Donut King where you could watch
Serve crispy homemade Korean Fried Chicken in freshly steamed Bao Buns for a delicious snack or meal! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns Give me a bao bun over a sandwich any day! My family are big fans of bao buns too, so I am always finding new ways to serve them, although this particular recipe is mostly for the adults 😉 If you love the fiery heat of Korean
This Cardamom Babka Wreath is a stunning centrepiece for Christmas brunch, or any time of the year! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Cardamom Babka Wreath If you’re looking for the perfect centrepiece for Christmas brunch, may I suggest this Cardamom Babka Wreath? This beautifully-braided bread, heady with freshly-ground cardamom, will fill your home with the most wonderful scent as it bakes, perfect for getting everyone into the mood for a day filled with festive
A classic and easy pikelet recipe, which are mini pancakes and an Australian tea-time treat. They are light and fluffy, and delicious served warm or cold. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Pikelets Growing up in Australia, I loved eating pikelets for afternoon tea. My earliest memory of pikelets was when I was in primary school, perhaps about 8 years old, when our teacher made pikelets one afternoon and cooked them on an electric frying
This Vietnamese Spaghetti Bolognese is a delicious Asian twist on an Italian classic. Vietnamese Home Cooking Recently in the kitchen, I have been busy rustling up various Vietnamese dishes, including one of my favourite soups called Bun Rieu – a pork broth flavoured with crab and tomatoes, and served with vermicelli noodles and a pile of aromatic herbs. I love to make a big pot of this soup so that we can eat
Soft and fluffy rolls filled with cinnamon and apple compote, the perfect combination for autumn or any time of the year! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Apple Cinnamon Rolls I love any version of a sticky bun and and these Apple Cinnamon Rolls are a delicious treat in the colder months, although I think they are a welcome sight at any time of the year. This is the same recipe as for my Cinnamon
Celebrate the Epiphany with a Dreikönigskuchen or Swiss Three Kings Cake. This brioche-like cake is perfect for sharing, and whoever finds the hidden fève is crowned king for the day! Follow my Dreikönigskuchen recipe with step-by-step photos. Swiss Three Kings Cake If there is one thing that can chase the post-Christmas blues away, it is the knowledge that the Epiphany is just around the corner. Once all of the Gingerbread Men, Panettone and
Fun and delicious Grittibänz, traditional sweet buns which are eaten at Christmas in Switzerland. A great recipe to make with the kids. Follow my delicious Grittibänz recipe with step-by-step photos. Christmas in Switzerland As soon as the Grittibänz start appearing in the bakeries and supermarkets here in Zurich, my children get very excited because, for them, it is a sign that Christmas is around the corner. Gingerbread Men are not exactly common here
How to make a lattice pie crust. Tutorial with step-by-step photos, plus a foolproof and easy pie crust recipe. Make professional-looking fruit pies in no time! Lattice Pie Crust One of my favourite things to make in summer is a Cherry Pie. And this year, for something a bit different, I thought I would try my hand at a fancy lattice pie crust. And while a lattice pie crust might look fancy and
An easy recipe for Caramel Slice (or Millionaire’s Shortbread) using sweetened condensed milk to produce a lovely, thick caramel. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Caramel Slice My parents ran a busy bakery while I was growing up in Australia, and one of the staples they always had behind the glass counters were Caramel Slices, otherwise known as Millionaire’s Shortbread in other parts of the world. Chocolate Caramel Slice In Australia, these caramel slices are
How to make the perfect, soft and fluffy steamed bao buns with step-by-step photos. Follow these tips and tricks to make the perfect homemade bao buns, perfect for filling with your favourite ingredients. Includes instructions for steaming the bao buns on the stove and in a steam oven. Bao Buns When David Chang first offered his version of Pork Belly Buns on his restaurant menu at Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York, back
A delicious French Brioche Loaf which is soft and buttery. Follow this easy brioche recipe with step-by-step photos. Homemade Brioche Something I am really into at the moment is making homemade brioche. At this particular point in time, i.e. March 2020 during the outbreak of a certain virus, the majority of people seem to be searching the internet for a million and one ways to bake bread at home.
A delicious brioche recipe with step-by-step photos. Make this classic French brioche (Brioche à Tête) at home for breakfast or brunch. Brioche Bread If you live in France or Switzerland, brioche bread can be found in almost every bakery in every town, and it is quite a common treat for breakfast or morning tea. Brioche buns tend to be quite popular with children, but I know many adults who would happily devour a
Tangy and delicious Lemon Curd Rolls for a citrusy twist on a sticky bun recipe. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Lemon Curd Rolls I love a good sticky bun, and while Cinnamon Rolls feature regularly in our home, I try to change things up now and then, depending on my mood and depending on the season. Whilst I could eat a Cinnamon Roll at any time of the year, I lean towards more bright
Easy and elegant Vanilla Cupcakes with a classic Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. These Vanilla Cupcakes contain sour cream to help keep them tender and moist for days. Full recipe with step-by-step photos, plus tips on baking cupcakes in large batches. Vanilla Cupcakes I love a classic vanilla cupcake with a simple buttercream frosting. They always look so elegant and understated as they are, yet they lend themselves so well to fun sprinkles and other
A quick and delicious pasta recipe using only three ingredients! Olive oil, pancetta and pasta is all that you need to make this super tasty dish. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Pasta with Pancetta At its simplest, this recipe only uses three ingredients – olive oil, pancetta and pasta. This is a recipe you need to have for those evenings when you don’t know what to cook or when you simply don’t have time
Sweet and decadent Chocolate Fudge Mooncakes for a fun twist on a classic Chinese Mooncake. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Asian Cakes and Desserts So my kids are not the biggest fans of Asian cakes and desserts. Which I can somewhat understand because, when I was their age, it was hard to tempt me with a cake filled with durian paste too 😉 Plus, my parents ran a bakery selling French-style and Australian breads
Exquisite and delightful Mooncakes with Lotus Seed Paste and Salted Egg Yolks, perfect for celebrating the Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival! Full and comprehensive recipe to make mooncakes and their fillings from scratch with step-by-step photos. Mid-Autumn Festival The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, Mooncake Festival or the Harvest Festival, is celebrated in many countries in south-east Asia. The festival is celebrated in different ways – and for different
An easy recipe for Salted Egg Yolks with step-by-step photos. What are Salted Egg Yolks? Salted egg yolks are a popular ingredient in Asian cooking, particularly in Asian cakes and desserts, like Mooncakes. In the same way that salt is often added to counter the sweetness of a cake or dessert (think salted caramel sauce), salted egg yolks bring a similar salty hit.
Delicious and easy Homemade Soft Pretzels, which are soft and pillowy, with the perfect chew. These pretzels are great for snacking and entertaining, and perfect served alongside some grilled sausages! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Soft Pretzels If there is one reliable snack that my children will always devour, it would be soft pretzels. In Zurich, Brezel stands can be found all over town with a wide assortment of toppings on offer – sea
How to make homemade Lotus Seed Paste for use in Asian breads and cakes. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Lotus Seed Paste Many Asian breads and cakes contain a sweet paste-like filling, and Lotus Seed Paste is a popular option. Lotus Seed Paste is very mild in flavour and has no distinct smell like some other Asian pastes used in baked goods. It is one of my favourite filling for Mooncakes.
How to make homemade lye water for use in recipes such as Pretzels and Mooncakes. Recipe with step-by-step photos. What is Lye Water? Lye water is a food-grade alkaline water used in some recipes to help with texture or colour. For example, lye water gives Pretzels their signature dark brown colour and taste. For Mooncakes, a small amount of lye water is used to give the dough a deep, golden colour.
Crispy and crunchy fried chicken coated in a fiery and spicy sauce! This Korean Fried Chicken will blow you away! Recipe with step-by-step photos. Korean Fried Chicken Korean cuisine is having its time in the limelight right now, and I couldn’t be happier. Whether it’s a simple plate of Kimchi Fried Rice or a comforting bowl of Kimchi Jjigae, I savour every mouthful. And because fried chicken is among one of my (many)
An easy and classic Pumpkin Soup using fresh or frozen pumpkin. This is a clean-tasting and nourishing pumpkin soup, perfect for large gatherings and for simple, wholesome dinners. Recipe with step-by-step photos. Classic Pumpkin Soup My favourite season is definitely autumn, followed very closely by winter (especially if it is a snowy winter). Despite having grown up in the tropical climate of Australia, summer in any country is always far too hot, too
