Pumpkin Cupcake, pumpkin bread, Sweet bean paste chicken

Saw some cheap pumpkin while doing my weekly grocery. Couldn't resist the offer, I carried one home.

Ever since I suffered a deep cut from slicing those tough skins off the pumpkin 2 months ago, I somehow got phobia.

Very sweet of my sister who offered to help me with that when she dropped by.

Managed to bake some pumpkin cupcakes. I didn't have time to do frosting as I needed to rush out for an errand. Gave a batch to give to a friend who was nice enough to give me her daughter's ballet outfit.

Unfortunately, the shoe size was a little too big for my daughter so I might need to get her a new pair if I couldn't get a second hand one. (afraid her interest will be short-lived)

Verdict: Nice and yummy



What you need:

200g all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup chopped walnuts (roasted)
1 cup raisins
8 oz pumpkin (steamed and mashed)
110g castor sugar
100g brown sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs

Method

Preheat oven at 190 degree celcius.

Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves together.

Add salt.

Whisk together the pumpkin, castor sugar, brown sugar and oil.

Add the eggs one at a time.

Add int the flour mixture in three additions, stirring till just combined.

Fill into muffin tins and bake till the cupcake are golden brown for about 20 - 25 mins.

Since I have more than enough pumpkin, I decided to bake a pumpkin bread too. As this is my first time tasting pumpkin bread, I don't know whether the texture is supposed to be moist and dense (kueh like).

I also make a blunder, instead of olive oil, I added Extra Virgin Olive oil instead.

Wonder whether it does affect the quality of the cake.

Verdict: Moist and dense.



Another new dish I tried out is Sweet Bean paste chicken. The paste was prepared by my mom.

Verdict: A real easy and yummy dish.



What you need:

2 tbsp Mommy's sweat bean sauce
2 tbsp minced garlic
2 Chicken tighs, chopped to smaller pieces

Method

Sautee garlic for about 1 min and add in sweet bean sauce. Fry till fragrant.

Add in chicken and stir fry till meat is coated with sauce.

Add in a little water and simmer till cooked and juice wanted to dry up a little.

Serve with rice.

Mommy's sweet bean sauce

What you need

620g preserved soya bean (grind)
250g minced onion*
125g minced garlic*
200ml peanut oil

Method

Heat oil, add onion and fry till fragrant.

Add in garlic and fry till fragrant.

Add in soya beans.

Simmer till fragrant

Add in sugar to taste (depending on your preference, a guide is to even out the saltishness of the soya bean, stir once a while.

Cooked till bean sauce becomes dark brown and remove oil.

Cool and store.