blueberry muffins

I've been smothered in paperwork lately. Everything's been a rush and everyday is just another blur. I've been pretty oblivious to many things around me.

To the little things in life, I'm sorry.

I haven't paid much attention to you.

In fact, I've been so preoccupied with emails, incomplete forms and deadlines that I've forgotten about these little gems tucked neatly away in my freezer (okay, so it's mum's freezer). They're the perfect excuse for a little 'soothe-my-soul' baking. And the perfect recipe? Blueberry vanilla muffins. Breezy, fuss-free and amazingly delicious.

There's seriously no better way to start the day than with a good muffin and a satisfying cup of Starbucks's toffee nut latte in hand (Coffee Bean and Tea Leaves's belgium chocolate will do well too!).

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Blueberry-Vanilla Muffins
(from Joanna Farrow: 30-minute Vegetarian)

INGREDIENTS

150g ground almonds
150g brown sugar
50g self-raising flour
175g unsalted butter (melted)
4 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
150g blueberries

Makes 10 muffins

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1. Line a muffin tray with 10 paper cases.
2. Mix together ground almonds, sugar, flour and butter.
3. Add egg whites and vanilla and mix to a smooth paste.
4. Spoon batter into cases and scatter with berries.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 220 C for 15 minutes until just firm in the center. Leave for 5 minutes before transferring onto a wire rack.

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A cookie by any other name...

What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
- Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet, 1600)

I do think Shakespeare speaks the truth with the simplest of words (well, sometimes).

That was until I met these thick chewy cowboy cookies.

That's the day I realized that I'm pretty much a superficial airhead with double standards. Ouch.

You see, if mum was to offer me some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, I would bluntly refuse. I have my suspicions on the mention of oatmeal-anything. I could never appreciate the dry, bland flakes despite all the health benefits mum so painstakingly recite to me every other morning. I abhor oats and had a steadfast belief that they have no place in the concoction of delicious, lip-smacking, soul-satisfying treats.

With that said, it's really hard to believe that the cowboy cookies I adore are basically chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

I can't twirl my mind around the fact these cookies are loaded with oats. And I can't make myself call them oatmeal cookies. (I refuse to call them oatmeal cookies!)

But these cookies are really good. I actually do (ironically) like them better than the standard chocolate chip cookies. I love their slightly crisp edges fresh out of the oven; picking them up and feeling their weight upon my fingers - heavy, hearty and wholesome. There's just something utterly satisfying about that.

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Cowboy Cookies

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup butter (slightly melted)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick oats
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Makes approx. 3 dozen 3-inch cookies

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1. Preheat oven to 180C.
   
2. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl, omitting salt.
3. In another bowl, mix salt, egg and melted butter together.
4. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients.
5. Roll dough into balls and place on baking mat, leaving 2-inch in-between to allow for spreading.
6. Bake in preheated oven for approx. 10 minutes.

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Calories aside, I'm a happy girl.

happy things

Little Miss Grouchy needs a little reminder...

weheartit.com

I have a tendency to forget that there's so much I should be thankful for.

Like... maybe/possibly/most definitely the fact that tomorrow is another day to fill up with the 'best things in life'. *smiles*

It's up to me anyway, isn't it?

back to basics

The best things are always the simplest. Brimming with goodness yet fuss-free and unpretentious.

I tend to overlook these simple joys because of the later 2 reasons.

Ever since Karen introduced me to baking, I've been addicted to the delectable chemistry that is nothing short of magical. I love how cookie dough spread into yummy crisps and cake batter fluff up to assume that ambrosial shade of gold. It's nothing short of amazing when a stick of butter transforms into silky dollops of cream smeared upon smaller than palm-sized fairy cakes. Although, of course, that's not how it always happens. I've had my (more than) fair share of culinary failures.

Chocolate chip cookies. This is the 1st time I'm attempting these cookies. For ever-so-long, I've been distracted by fancier recipes that promise intricate desserts.

These neglected wholesome cookies have been waiting patiently on my to-do list.

I can't believe I've waited so long to try these out. Chewy and buttery with a pleasing sweetness. They're nothing like those store brought brands I've survived on till now.

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Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS

2 1/4 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 sticks butter (soften)
3/4 cup fine sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups chocolate chips (I used a mixture of semisweet and bittersweet)
1 cup nuts (substitute with 1 tbsp of flour if omitting)
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1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
3. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla in another bowl until light and creamy.
   
4. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
5. Fold in chips and nuts.
6. Scoop dough via tsp onto prepared baking tray and bake for 9-11 min
   

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Sometimes its hard to believe how seemingly simple treats can be so utterly satisfying.

breakfast at noon

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”

Dr. Seuss

I'm getting a little too spoilt.

Don't judge : )

lazy afternoons

I love lazy afternoons.

Perhaps that's because those dreamy days don't happen often enough. With variable combination of shifts, I spend bright cherry hours of the day within the modest walls of the hospital (or catching up on sleep). While I enjoy the cool air-conditioning against the scorching weather, I can't help but feel a surge of envy when I looked upon people strolling under the rays of the sun.

I miss doing things I love while the sun still shines, just that once every little while. I dream of idle afternoons spent lying on my bed reading the latest addition of Sophie Kinsella novels. I envisage myself bobbing along with my favorite tunes from Lenka without having to fret about causing disturbance.

Even simple things like baking. It felt different in the day. Everything seems to carry a sheen from the abundance of natural light.

Lazy afternoons. They're pretty in these little ways.

I've been lucky to enjoy a few of these afternoon lately.

I've been on leave since last Saturday - days I've specially taken off work to concentrate on studying before my exams. But although I need the time, I can't break the desire of wanting to enjoy those precious moments. With much abandon, that's exactly what I did. Those light, fairy meringues are the exact definition of guilty pleasure. I baked my heart out when I ought to be cramping words that make no sense into my head. I played songs on my itunes without restraint and snapped boundless pictures of those cute as button confections. It felt incredible, yet so wrong altogether.

Not that it matters now, since it's over and done with. It's back to studying, but I'll be sneaking lazy periods in between, that I'm sure.

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Meringues

INGREDIENTS
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French Meringues
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4 egg whites
2 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pinch cream of tar tar
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Chocolate Meringues
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(+) 1/4 cup cocoa
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1. Preheat oven to 90C.
2. In a bowl, whip egg whites with cream of tar tar until foamy.
3. Add sugar to egg whites in small batches and continue beating mixture until glossy and stiff peaks form.
4. Fold in vanilla. For chocolate meringues, fold in cocoa powder.
5. Pipe mixture onto parchment paper and bake for 3 hours or until meringues lifts off pan easily.
6. Allow meringues to cool off in oven.

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Helpful tips.

a handful of love

Love is:

• those few kind words
• a little consideration
  
• that smile
• little friendly gestures
• laughing together

Nothing much, but the world seems brighter today. For that, I am thankful.