Enjoy
Head Chef
Male loyalty is a thorny issue
By Hedy Khoo
May 10, 2010
IF you are a two-timing skirt-chaser, your friends might disapprove, but others may egg you on and envy you.
Never mind that in reality, you have to be a masochist to cheat in love. Unless one of your women likes the idea of polygamy, it will not be a pretty sight when you get found out.
While some men might tolerate and close one eye to the womanising ways of friends, it's a different story when it comes to soccer teams.
Infidelity in football is unforgivable. Forget about finding a sympathetic confidante among your friends.
Nothing less than absolute allegiance to the team of your choice will be tolerated, not even by your childhood buddy, who will help cover your tracks when your girlfriend calls him to check on your whereabouts.
The one and only true choice for this special day is your mother.
TNP PICTURES: HEDY KHOO, KUA CHEE SIONG
Apron strings attached or not, get down to flour level and start baking that cake. At least, if you cannot make up your mind between durian and chocolate, you can have it both ways.
Plus, mummy will protect you if hysterical girlfriends show up, or if you insist on bringing two jerseys with you to bed tonight.
INGREDIENTS
225g self-raising flour
225g unsalted butter
150g caster sugar
150g mashed durian
5 eggs
Pinch of salt
METHOD
Preheat oven to 200 deg C.
Separate egg yolks from whites. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Beat butter and caster sugar until light and creamy. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add mashed durian and mix thoroughly. Fold in egg whites, followed by the flour.
Divide mixture equally into two 20cm springform pans.
Lower oven temperature to 180 deg C. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
Check if cake is done by poking the middle with a skewer. If it comes out clean, your cake is done.
Allow cake to cool on wire rack. Slice the top crust and sides off the cake. Slice into layers of about 1cm thick. You should be able to get about three layers.
DURIAN CREAM FILLING
350g durian flesh
110ml whipping cream
Whip cream until soft peaks form. Fold in durian flesh.
DURIAN BUTTER CREAM ICING
120g icing sugar
100g butter
2 tbsp whipping cream or milk
Whip all ingredients together until mixture turns creamy.
SUGAR SYRUP
Heat 6 tbsp water and add 3 tbsp sugar. Allow to cool and set aside.
CHOCOLATE GANACHE ICING
300g good quality dark chocolate
100ml whipping crea
Chop chocolate into little pieces and set aside in a bowl.
Heat cream until it comes to a gentle simmer.
Pour cream over chocolate and allow to sit for a few minutes.
Stir with a wooden spoon until chocolate is thoroughly melted.
Allow mixture to cool, then whip until mixture is consistently smooth and slightly stiff.
ASSEMBLING THE CAKE
Place one layer of cake on the wire rack.
Brush on sugar syrup, then spread a layer of the durian cream filling. Repeat for the remaining layers.
To seal the cake, spread the butter cream icing all over the cake evenly.
Finally, spread the chocolate ganache over the top and sides of the cake.
Head Chef
Male loyalty is a thorny issue
By Hedy Khoo
May 10, 2010
IF you are a two-timing skirt-chaser, your friends might disapprove, but others may egg you on and envy you.
Never mind that in reality, you have to be a masochist to cheat in love. Unless one of your women likes the idea of polygamy, it will not be a pretty sight when you get found out.
While some men might tolerate and close one eye to the womanising ways of friends, it's a different story when it comes to soccer teams.
Infidelity in football is unforgivable. Forget about finding a sympathetic confidante among your friends.
Nothing less than absolute allegiance to the team of your choice will be tolerated, not even by your childhood buddy, who will help cover your tracks when your girlfriend calls him to check on your whereabouts.
The one and only true choice for this special day is your mother.
TNP PICTURES: HEDY KHOO, KUA CHEE SIONG
Apron strings attached or not, get down to flour level and start baking that cake. At least, if you cannot make up your mind between durian and chocolate, you can have it both ways.
Plus, mummy will protect you if hysterical girlfriends show up, or if you insist on bringing two jerseys with you to bed tonight.
INGREDIENTS
225g self-raising flour
225g unsalted butter
150g caster sugar
150g mashed durian
5 eggs
Pinch of salt
METHOD
Preheat oven to 200 deg C.
Separate egg yolks from whites. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Beat butter and caster sugar until light and creamy. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add mashed durian and mix thoroughly. Fold in egg whites, followed by the flour.
Divide mixture equally into two 20cm springform pans.
Lower oven temperature to 180 deg C. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
Check if cake is done by poking the middle with a skewer. If it comes out clean, your cake is done.
Allow cake to cool on wire rack. Slice the top crust and sides off the cake. Slice into layers of about 1cm thick. You should be able to get about three layers.
DURIAN CREAM FILLING
350g durian flesh
110ml whipping cream
Whip cream until soft peaks form. Fold in durian flesh.
DURIAN BUTTER CREAM ICING
120g icing sugar
100g butter
2 tbsp whipping cream or milk
Whip all ingredients together until mixture turns creamy.
SUGAR SYRUP
Heat 6 tbsp water and add 3 tbsp sugar. Allow to cool and set aside.
CHOCOLATE GANACHE ICING
300g good quality dark chocolate
100ml whipping crea
Chop chocolate into little pieces and set aside in a bowl.
Heat cream until it comes to a gentle simmer.
Pour cream over chocolate and allow to sit for a few minutes.
Stir with a wooden spoon until chocolate is thoroughly melted.
Allow mixture to cool, then whip until mixture is consistently smooth and slightly stiff.
ASSEMBLING THE CAKE
Place one layer of cake on the wire rack.
Brush on sugar syrup, then spread a layer of the durian cream filling. Repeat for the remaining layers.
To seal the cake, spread the butter cream icing all over the cake evenly.
Finally, spread the chocolate ganache over the top and sides of the cake.
