Easy Desserts Back-to-Back: Recipe 1 - Caramelised Bananas with Gula Melaka on Hot Waffles

Now that my kids are older, they've been regularly requesting for dessert after dinner *gasp*. 

I've had to put on my thinking cap to come up with some simple desserts that the whole family can enjoy.  This is one of the easy desserts that i make regularly. 

Caramelised Bananas with Gula Melaka on Hot Waffles
Serves 2

This fusion, western-local recipe marries the sweetness of pisang emas with gula melaka on toasty hot waffle for an all round family friendly dessert.  For extra indulgence, top it with a scoop of vanilla icecream.

• 2 medium size ripened pisang emas
• 2 pieces of store bought waffle, lightly toasted
• A knob of butter
• 1/2 tbspn brown sugar
• 3 Tbspn of chopped gula melaka
• 1 Tbspn of chopped nuts (walnut / pecan / roasted peanuts

Method

1. Cut the banana into chunks. Melt the butter in a pan and add the brown sugar.  Once the sugar starts to caramelize, add the bananas and swirl quickly to just soften and coat them with the mixture.  Set aside.  
2. Melt the gula melaka in a small saucepan and let it cool.  I usually make extra to keep for other uses as well.
3. Top the waffle with the bananas, sprinkle the chopped nuts and drizzle the gula melaka on top.  Serve immediately.

 

Kid friendly recipe - Mini Nutella Croissants

I can't gush enough about how versatile puff pastry is.  I've used it to make curry puffs, nian gou puffs, cinnamon and banana puffs; and now these mini nutella croissants/rolled puffs. 

These store bought, frozen puff pastry is super convenient.  Just make your desired filling, spread it on the pastry, roll em up and bake.  These little yummy croissants make a tasty snack or light lunch for the family. 

This recipe is also kid friendly.  I got my son to do almost the entire preparation and it was a fun bonding activity for mother and son.  The prep is easy and practically mess free.  He's been asking for more baking activities since then so I've been on the lookout for more of such simple recipes :)


Mini Nutella Croissants
Makes 10 mini croissants

Ingredients

• Nutella spread
• 5 pieces of frozen puff pastry, thawed (10x10cm)
• 1 small egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180celcius
2. Arrange the pastry on a non stick baking tray.  Using a pair of cooking scissors, snip each piece of pastry into half and arrange it neatly on the tray.
3. Spread a generous teaspoon of nutella on each pastry and roll it up, the open seam facing down.
4. Gently brush with the beaten egg and bake for 20minutes until golden and slightly puffed up.

A perfect recipe for those small fingers

Spread, roll, bake. Couldn't be easier.

Makes a good party snack or light bite

Easter Recipes back-to-back: Hot Cross Buns

This weekend is Easter, a cornerstone event in the Christian faith where Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead on the 3rd day. 

Easy Brownies with AMC Cookware

The more I use my AMC Cookware, the more I love how fuss-free it makes my cooking.  Nowadays I hardly use my non-stick pans or my electricity-guzzling oven or even my regular pressure cooker. 

Fried Nian Gao - Spring Roll Style

 

I love nian gaos, but it's getting harder and harder to find good quality ones.

For the past few years, i would receive nian gaos wrapped in banana leaves from well meaning friends during every chinese new year. And the subsequent cny, the poor fellas would still be in my fridge and i would then have the excuse to throw em away because they've all turned hard as rocks.