First of all, let me say it out loud: HAPPY NEW YEAR, luvly dumplings!! May God bless us with obvious enlightment to inspire us to finally start that diet program we have been planning since 5 years ago. Amin. 

Have you ever tasted Durian? Durian, or we call it Duren is one of my fav fruits. It has this particular smell that most people can't tolerate (I don't understand them, frankly) with custardy and sweet edible part. The strong stench of this fruit is known to make people either love it or totally hate it. There's nothing in between. 

I know, I know, the internet is not lacking of choco chips cookies recipe, there are already like 1001 different choco chips cookies recipes out there and each of them claim as the best recipe ever. It is not that hard to make this classic cookies, the key is to put the choco chips generously. I remember when I was a kid, getting a bag of choco chips cookies was a luxury although there were only afew choco chips in it.

It is almost shameful to post this recipe because you can actually find the recipe to make Rice Krispies squares on the back of every Rice Krispies box. But you know I am shameless. I like easy recipe, add my own twist on it and blatantly post it on this blog. 

Today's recipe is no different, it's the simple Rice Krispies squares recipe that everyone seemed to know how to make it with eyes closed, with a bit of Indonesian touch; Pandan flavor. 

This is a revised version of my previous Nastar recipe. A lovely friend of mine told me that she tried the recipe and she had difficulties making it and it didn't turn out as lovely. After few modifying attempts, am pretty much happy with this one I am about to write. I hope this version works well too for you guys who are brave enough to give my recipe a try. I really appreciate it and at the same time admire your bravery :D

Nastar is one of typical cookies that served on special occasions like Holy days. My mom serves it two times a year; on Ied Fitr and Christmas. I think its a very good way to make something small becomes memorable and sweet. I mean Nastar is simply a cookie filled with pineapple jam, there's nothing more to it. If my mom had served it everyday, Nastar surely won't end up as one of my favorite cookies. Am keeping it my mom's way; only bake the cookies on Ied Fitr and Christmas (and when I am going to potlucks and need to bring something to impress people, and on that rainy season to accompany my cup of tea, oh and last one when I feel nostalgic and miss home so much).. Pardon? this means I bake it every time?.. Well no, those occasions I mentioned are special, and Nastar is the cookie for those kind of occasions. This way I can't blame my weight gain on holiday seasons (it was that special occasions that made me this larger belly circumference). 

Anyway, back to the recipe. I make my own pineapple jam and I am using my old version of the jam recipe because it works. The only twists I added were only on the dough recipe. 

When I was a kid, almost every evening my dad had his coffee time and he (almost) always had his jar of snack to enjoy with, it can be cassava chips, banana chips, bakpia pathok, ampyang, etc... Ampyang is one of javanese sweet savory snack made of peanut and palm sugar, with a hint taste of ginger. This snack mostly made in a home-industry. 

I bought a bag of roasted peanut today so I can make myself some ampyang. I imagined to have it for my tea time this afternoon. Unfortunately the peanut was stale (apek), seemed like it has been in the store for too long altho it hasn't passed its expiry date and bad peanut makes bad ampyang. It was pretty annoying. I want my brittle!

I snacked on a bucket of fresh wild blueberry in the kitchen, sulking on my lost hope of enjoying ampyang when I suddenly got this idea; why don't I make brittle from blueberries instead?  If I think about it, google must have it, et voila, I found an easy recipe and I gave it a try. It turned out pretty awesome (altho its nothing compare my ampyang.. -sulk.. sulk.. sulk.. )

Another simple recipe for Me-Time break cookies.

Its cookies time! What else can I say more, this post simple about cookie recipe with mocha flavor. Yumm!! I consider this as adult cookies tho since I use real strong coffee, the caffeine it has might keep kids awake pass their bedtime, and none of us want that to happen, won't we?? 

I bought a bag of green tea powder the other day and haven't done much with it. I was looking for recipes with green tea powder but didn't find the one that suits my craving and suddenly I remembered my brownies balls recipe and I thought; hey, perhaps I can use green tea powder instead for the same recipe. So I tried it, et voila! It turns out even better then I expected. Yay!!

Autumn is coming, lets take out our fancy tea sets and homemade biscuits. Its tea time! 

I have some food that I associate with holidays. This cookie is one of them. When I was a kid, my mom bake this cookie only once a year, on Ramadhan, its one of our staple cookies during the festivity. To revive that childhood's Ramadhan atmosphere, I tried to make this cookies myself and it turned out perfect!

When I was a kid, pastries with cream puff and chocolate was expensive, I didn't eat much of those fancy food, but I did munch a lot on this one particular bread: ROTI GAMBANG. The taste was simple, its sweet, moist, molassesy, spicy and bready. Its been years I dont find that bread anywhere, yet I never forget how it tastes. One day I stumbled upon a German cookies Recipe called Pfeffernusse, and yes, it tastes exactly like my childhood memory Roti Gambang! umm.. well, I must admit this cookies taste a bit richer and more complex then Roti Gambang, I take it as a fancy Roti Gambang.
Euphoria!!!