CasualCook

       NAKED CHOCOLATE CAKE It's a 3 layer, super rich, super moist chocolate cake with a rich melt-in -your mouth chocolate frosting and covered with chocolate ganache drip. These cakes can be made up to one day ahead. I've been wanting to make a "naked cake' for a while now. I just think naked cakes has a unique look and very impressive. There are 2 types of naked cakes. The cake in today's photos is called a semi naked. There's a minimal amount of frosting swiped around the sides. Where else a true naked cake means the side of the cake are bare. Both styles are simple and has a rustic look. You can jazz the cake up with some fresh berries, cookies, candies, nuts or some colourful sprinkles . Let your creativity run free, which makes this recipe more fun. Tips of making Naked Chocolate Cake : All purpose flour - Do not use cake flour.   When combined with light cocoa powder   cake flour is too fine. : Brown sugar - Brown sugar is naturally   moist, s...

               EGGLESS CHOCOLATE                          M&M COOKIES Aren't these cookies so beautiful? My kids absolutely love chocolate cookies but by adding M&Ms it tastes a whole lot better and it looks prettier too. These slightly crispy, buttery and chocolatey cookies are a big hit among adults and kids alike.  This recipe uses just a few basic ingredients - flour, butter, sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla essence. It is also really easy to make, no refrigeration is needed, no mixer is needed. Just whip up the ingredients, then bake and enjoy! Tips for making M&M cookies : Make sure your butter is softened to room    temperature but not melted. If butter   is too soft, the cookies will spread too much    while baking. : Use the best quality butter and cocoa    powder it makes a huge difference.    : The use of li...

          BANANA WALNUT BREAD Banana bread is as delicious as it smells and this easy banana bread recipe will have your taste buds salivating while it's still baking in the oven. Just a few simple steps and you can snack on your very own slice of warm and fresh baked banana bread. WHAT IS BANANA BREAD Simple comforting treat that's perfect for  breakfast or as a snack . A quick bread which has cakey texture rises with the helped of baking soda.  Cut into slices and served with butter or cream cheese unlike cakes that are cut  into wedges and usually richly frosted. TIPS FOR BAKING BANANA BREAD : You can use any type of bananas found in the grocery store. Use very ripe bananas with nearly black skin. This will make your banana bread even more richer flavor. Mash the bananas with a fork until they are chunky apple sauce consistency. Some texture is good for banana bread  : Yogurt adds more moisture to the banana bread. Sour cream is a wonderfu...

                 MEXICAN COFFEE  BUN                          a.k.a ROTI BOY          Coffee flavored buns bring me infinite joy! You become addicted to them really quickly. These soft buns are surely a delight but when they are filled with a  little salty butter on the inside and are balanced out with the slight bitterness of the coffee..That is a next level delight. Tips for making Mexican coffee bun • Yeast - if the yeast doesn't rise, it could be due to the fact that the yeast is spoiled or the water was overheated and killed the yeast. You will have to discard the mixture and prepare it all over again. • For the filling - Before starting to make the bread dough, cut the butter into small cubes and place them in the freezer . It will be easier to handle the cubes when they are cold. • Coffee butter crust - Don't pipe all the way down. This ...

YAM BASKET   Yam basket or Yam ring is a common dish served in Chinese Restaurants in Malaysia. The yam basket is served as a bowl and is filled with sauteed vegetables. A good yam basket should be crispy and fluffy at the same time. The ring is made out of steamed yam and is deep fried. I prefer to make yam basket with a slightly thinner wall but not too thin that they lose their stability when form a ring.  A thinner basket also ensures the yam is properly cooked through. To make the frying easier, I made a mould out of aluminum foil. Dropping the whole ring into the oil will cause the bottom to get burnt easily when it comes into direct contact with wok. Next, comes the filing. You can have  anything you want for the filling. I love  filling it with vegetables and chicken. The crispy yam ring compliments the slightly spicier filling from the dry chillies and to add texture I added toasted cashews. You can also keep this dish vegetarian. There are many options and ...