Conversions and Measurements

There are some cooking related conversions and measurements that I find particularly useful when I cook.

Common Abbreviations
Cup = C
Tablespoon = Tbsp
Teaspoon = tsp
Grams = g
Ounce = oz
Pound = lb

Oven Temperatures
275°F = 140°C
300°F = 150°C
325°F = 165°C
350°F = 175°C
375°F = 190°C
400°F = 205°C
425°F = 220°C
450°F = 230°C
475°F = 245°C
500°F = 260°C

Frequently Used Ingredients

Dry
1 C all purpose (AP) flour* = about 5 oz.
1 C cake flour = about 4 oz.
1 C bread/whole wheat flour = about 5 1/2 oz.
1 C sifted AP flour = about 4 oz.
1 C sifted cake flour = about 3 oz.
*note: 1 C flour, sifted: measure then sift; 1 C sifted flour: sift then measure

1 C cornmeal = 5 oz.
1 C granulated sugar = 7 oz = 200 g
1 C powder sugar = 3 1/2 oz = 100 g
1 C brown sugar (packed) = 7 oz = 200 g
1 C cocoa powder = 3 oz.

Other
1 stick butter = 1/2 C = 8 Tbsp
1 packet yeast = 2 1/4 tsp = 1/4 oz = 7 g
1 C egg = 5 whole eggs, 12 - 14 yolk, 8 to 10 whites
1 C fresh breadcrumbs = 2 slices of bread
1 serving pasta = 4 oz

Substitutions
1 C sifted cake flour = 1 cup minus 2 Tbsp sifted AP flour
1 C sifted AP flour = 1 cup + 2 Tbsp sifted cake flour
1 tsp baking powder = 1/4 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Going broke

Hiaz.... Nowadays i'm really more broke than usual.

After shifting back to DTTA. I think i must have been spending more on food, books and other stuff.

Too many shops and supermarkets around the place.

I now have 2 tins of "love letters" bought a 2 different places and also about 6 new books i bought from the old book fair at the BMC. that's about $10 for 6 books. Cheap but i should not be spending so much $$.

Furthermore now my pay will only come in at the end of the month.. OMG!

How to live??

Xmas Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

160 g cups flour
3 TB caster sugar
112 g cup butter
2 TB red and green sprinkles
1/4 teaspoon Mint essence
Chocolate to coat

Directions:

1. Mix the flour and sugar in a medium bowl. Cut in the butter until you get fine crumbs and mix the mint essence into the dough. Stir in the sprinkles and knead until smooth.
   
   
2. Pat the dough out into an 8x5 inch rectangle on a parchment lined baking sheet.
   Cut the dough into 1/2 inch squares, and separate them on the baking sheet.
   
   
3. Bake at 170 C for 12-14 minutes, and then transfer the cookies on the parchment to a cooling rack.
   
   
4. Coat with chocolate if you wished.
   
   
5. Store in a tightly covered container at room temp for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months.

Mochi Bread

Ingredients:

100 grams glutinous flour (mochiko flour)
20 grams cake flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp soy flour (can substitute with cheese powder)
1 tbsp milk
100 grams water
40 grams sugar
1/2 tsp salt
20 grams butter
10 grams shortening
1/2 egg (beaten)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 170 deg C.
   
   
2. Sieve glutinous flour, soy flour (or cheese powder), cake flour and baking soda together.
   
   
3. In a saucepan, bring water to boil, add water and salt. Add in butter and shortening. Remove from heat. Slowly sprinkle the flour mixture until well combined and form a dough.
   
   
4. Slowly pour the wet butter mixture into the flour mixture, stir until well combined and forms a dough.
   
   
5. Stir in the milk and stir in beaten egg, a spoonful at a time.6. Use a piping bag with plain nozzle, pipe out the batter.
   
   
6. Bake at 170 deg C for 15 - 20 mins, reduced to 150 deg C and bake for another 10 mins with oven door slightly ajar.
   
   
7. You can also sprinkling some sugar or cheese powder on top.

Shifted out

I have shifted out of my office on Jan 22.

But there was a minor accident about 3 days after i moved in. Thus, shifting again.

Level 5 to Level 18.

View is beautiful here . Can see the SEA. :D
Aircon is cooler too.

My desk and stuff here are very spartan. If anyone walks over to my place, without me at my desk, it will just looks like noone using the desk.