the egg destroyer

Poached eggs - pretty easy right? All you have to do is crack an egg into a hot whirlpool, swoosh it around and scoop it out. Honestly, it's more intimidating than it seems (well, to me at least). But since I recently acquired Rose Carrarini's new cookbook How to Boil an Egg, I thought I'd give the eggs benedict/florentine recipe a try.

With my first egg, I cracked it into the whirlpool and stirred vigorously turning the egg into a hot mess in the saucepan which was briskly emptied into the sink - making a steaming hot mess. I used the cheater poached egg method (cracking an egg into a cling wrapped ramekin) for the second egg but that didn't work out as well as expected. I wasn't too sure about eating an egg that was cooked in cling wrap anyway.

Not giving up, I reread the recipe and I realised the fatal mistake I made. Stir gently after adding the egg, not vigorously. Urgh. Well, that worked better this time, but due to manhandling I sort of split the egg when I was transferring it onto the bacon. At least I can make a good hollandaise sauce! Mmm, butter.

Note: I didn't have vinegar which was required for both recipes, so I substituted in lemon juice.

spot the monkey

We only got to see the monkeys because there was a group of people who were feeding them despite signs instructing people not to. They went into hiding after the food was gone.

Photos taken on 17 January 2012 at Taman Kebun Bunga (Penang Botanic Gardens).

pizza night

We have pizza night every once and in a while at home. Pizza night meaning ordering pizza from the local joint on the phone and depending on the weather, walking or driving down to collect them. 

But hey, since we got a bread machine, might as well use that!

Instead of the usual flavours, I tried to recreate the pizza my aunt bought from a pub on Little Collins Street. Baby spinach, sliced mushrooms, ricotta and pineapple were scattered over the thin and crisp base and, I'm sure there were garlic and parmesan as well. Unfortunately, the one I made at home was quite bland compared to the one bought, but the flavours were rectified with Korean chilli flakes and a crack of sea salt for the mini spinach and ricotta pizza I was saving for later.

After two medium? and mini sized pizzas, there is still enough dough to make a couple more mini pizzas! I think I will try making a dessert pizza.