318. Rainbow cupcakes

We made rainbow cupcakes today!

As toxic as it sounds, it was fun to play and create it!

And it is actually really easy to make. You really just make a basic vanilla cupcake recipe, separate them into 7 (we made 6 because well, indigo and purple are ... almost the same). 

Anyways, separate the batch, add food colouring accordingly and then slowly layer them in a muffin form.

Put them in the oven like as directed by the recipe and tadah!

Nam!

I use this recipe for my cupcake. And it works amazing and incredibly simple to make!

Of course, it tasted really good.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/saras-secrets/magnolias-vanilla-cupcake-recipe/index.html

I am sure if you want to save time, you can easily buy a ready made butter cake batter or plain yellow cake mix and it would work fine too :)

So, will you be trying it?

Retard.

Colour in real life is a lot brighter and not as weird as it looks here. :)

306. Malaysian Dinner!

Johanne's family invited me over for their International Dinner yesterday and it so happened that yesterday was International Dinner from Malaysia!

Om nom nom nom!

And so, I was asked/they suggested that I made dinner and so I did!

I made some lamb curry and Roti Canai starters, A Chicken Briyani entré, and Fried Banana Friters with exotic fruits and longan caramel. 

(Okay, exotic fruits is just really longan and laici's from a can)

Well, it went down well with everyone, so I guess it wasn't so bad? I am quite biased over my own cooking so, only Johanne can tell you if the food was okay!

Wonder if I can interest you guys with the recipe for the desert for it was amazing!

And since I do not have any pictures from yesterday, here is more pictures of me. Because I am mega yummy too! :P HAHAHA

PS: Johanne, why was there no pictures yesterday? WHY?

304. Salads!

Lunch! 

On my vegetarian day today, can you tell?

I realize, I am a usually quite a vegetarian (as a diet plan, not because I love animals kind of vegetarian) Anyways, I am usually a vegetarian unless I start meeting people and eat out or happen to be at the Hjelmstads!

*Le Sigh, why do I have no self control? :(

And no, I am not a healthy eater at all, just yesterday I had a chocolate cake, a chocolate sundae and Chicken Tika! Ahh, what massive calorie bomb! :(

My idea is as such, either I can drive myself anorexic trying to get the ideal body (which I would, if I could) or every now and then allow myself to enjoy a little bit of life's little pleasures, just a little more in moderation. 

Sounds like a good plan?

299. Strawberry!

So, since strawberries are aplenty these days, it is only normal one finds a million ways to make full use of them, righhht?

So, here is some coulis! Magnar style!

Yes, I get I can call it a sauce, but I want to be fancy. Okay?

Start with some fresh strawberries!

Add some vanilla sugar. I honestly think it is to your own taste. 

And I don't think Magnar had a recipe for it either. 

Start releasing your hidden anger on it, till you get a smooth-ish mixture.

Mmmmmm, om nom nom nom!

And though I have never seen a coulis made till the other day, I can sense the wonders of what it can be used for!

So, will you be trying to make it?

298. Pictures!

I actually really like this picture!

All its imperfections is just awesome.

Finally, picture from last week. Guess the constant nag finally did it. *Tee hee!

I dont know if you can tell, but here in Norway. It is like a strawberry season.

So, I have been eating strawberries for the past weeks! Mainly Belgian though.

And after being in Norway for some time, I can tell you this much, there really is no better strawberries than the Norwegian ones. They are so much sweeter has a lot more taste in them!

But until July comes, we have to make do with whatever we can get, right!

Oh and I only found out that the versatility of strawberries is insane.

Here we have the classic chocolate sauce and strawberries!

Want the recipe?

Unfortunately, I have none.

It is just half a bar of dark choco

and about 50 ml of cream, stirred on top of a water bath. 

Tadah!

294. Pancakes!

I know those are cupcakes, I just didn't have a picture of my pancakes!

Om nom nom nom!

I think I might have found one of the most uh-mah-zing recipe I have tried yet!

So for the best pancakes recipe yet *drumroll please*

Ingredients

• 190 g all-purpose flour
• 10 g baking powder
• 6 g salt
• 10 g white sugar
• 295 ml milk
• 1 egg
• 45 g butter, melted
• 
  

Directions

1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Recipe from http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Good-Old-Fashioned-Pancakes/Detail.aspx

I don't know about you, but I always seperate the egg whites and egg yolks then whisk the egg whites till they are nice and fluffy before adding the yolk back in (or leave out). I always believe that is the recipe to gather in most air thus making the pancakes extra fluffy!

Today I had mine with some leftover strawberries and cream and honey.

Om nom nom nom!

Not exactly healthy, but I couldn't resist :(

Try it!

230. Best Lemon Squares

This could possibly be the best lemon squares recipe out there ever!

It has yet to fail me and I have done it twice now.

Magnarboy loves his lemons but I usually opt for a more chocolate-ty indulgence. 

But this lemon squares is so easy to make and so yummy it could convert a chocoholic.

Original recipe from here :

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/super-lemony-lemon-squares-recipe/index.html

A bit annoying that he uses american measurements, but there is nothing a bit of Google's helping hand cant help :)

Its has a kind of crusty bottom and a goey really lemony middle part and its top is sprinkled with some vanilla sugar. 

Mmmmm! Why have I not discovered the wonders of lemon squares before.

For times when you can't decide cookies or cake. :)

I think I am going to make this everytime someone comes along!

229. Bake Day!

Since neither me nor Marius could decide what's better to bake this time around, we decided heck why not bake both Lemon Squares and my Chinese New Year Pineapple Tarts!

Now lets start with the Lemon Squares!

First you butter the "pan"

Then add the flour, butter and icing sugar

Make the custard and what nots

Somehow got distracted and forgot to take pictures of all the processes in between! :)

Tadah! Finish product

Wait, this is the final product

Serve up and eat :)

While doing that, and trying to entertain your guess start getting work done on your pineapple tarts!

Add sugar and pineapple

Keep string for a ridiculously long time...

Should then look something like this.

Insert some steps in between... I am not so good at this writing an instruction thing am I?

Bake it for 12 - 15 minutes and tadah! 

Taste of home. I kid you not! Oh sedapnya!

Okay this is the cool part, they both taste amazing.

Like I am not even kidding you effing good amazing super fattening kind! 

Mmmmm!

Wait, I shall put out the recipe later, aunt is calling me for some smoothie! 

We have been smoothie-ing everything since yesterday! 

Its a new toy we got for the kitchen and we are all having the "new toy" moment

xo.

131. Recipes

I am going to give you recipe's from last weeks dinner! :) Super easy to make, rather yummy and above all, almost fool proof!

Lisa's Salad.

I believe the best Salad's you can get is one that is made up of all your favorite-est ingredients!

Unless you want a gourmet Caesar Salad, on an average salad, I say anything goes!

I got the recipe of Jamie Oliver's website for Beautiful Courgette Carbonara minus the Courgette. (:

I think it is upmost importance that the eggs you mix into the Carbonara is as fresh as you can get them because, it makes a world of a difference! And this tip I learnt from The Hjelmstads.

I always thought eggs, were just eggs. But when you try using fresh eggs on this type of recipes, it makes a world of a difference! Not to mention avoids any weird tummy aches.

And after you make your Cabonara you should be left with just the perfect amount of egg whites for a deliciously good Creme Meringue!

I used this recipe.

It was really good, and really easy to make! Got to say, probably one of the best meringue recipes ever!

I just made myself hungry. How now?

106. Tried and tested recipes!

I have always wanted to make a blog category about really simple, but good recipes I find online, I have tried and tested. And obviously have to taste quite good.

I guess the emphasize here is simple, good, tried and tested recipes.

But for now, here is my haven't-failed-me-yet muffin recipe!

I personally think it is one of the best muffin/cupcake recipe ever! And it is super simple to make!

Ingredients :

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
2. Stir together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the center. In a small bowl or 2 cup measuring cup, beat egg with a fork. Stir in milk and oil. Pour all at once into the well in the flour mixture. Mix quickly and lightly with a fork until moistened, but do not beat. The batter will be lumpy. Pour the batter into paper lined muffin pan cups
3. Variations: Blueberry Muffins: Add 1 cup fresh blueberries. Raisin Muffins: Add 1 cup finely chopped raisins. Date Muffins: Add 1 cup finely chopped dates. Cheese Muffins: Fold in 1 cup grated sharp yellow cheese. Bacon Muffins: Fold 1/4 cup crisp cooked bacon, broken into bits
4. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden.

Recipe taken from : http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Ever-Muffins/Detail.aspx

The main reason about why I love my cupcakes/muffin is mainly because, there is almost n way you can go wrong with some new additional flavours to fit your personal taste!

For instance, the last batch I made, some had raisins, some had chocolate chips, some had while chocolate chunks, some had Oreo's in it, some even had Reese Peanut butter cups stuck in the middle of the muffins! And they all still tasted ridiculously good.

For easier recipe searching, I am going to call this tab, CookingWithLisa. :)

Out of curiosity, What is your favorite cupcake/muffin flavour?