Maple Swiss Roll by Iron Chef Sakai

Really loved this Swiss roll endorsed by Iron Chef Sakai. It comes in Maple, Matcha, Chocolate and plain. The maple Swiss roll was not overly sweet, it had a pudding like filling kinda like Creme Brûlée. As part of the current annual Kyushu fair at Tampines Mall, I rushed to get a few rolls. Chocolate was bittersweet and nutty, plain was nice and fluffy but the best was the maple, not so sweet and simply delicious. Loooooove it!

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Adik’s birthday at Earle of Swensens

Mango Shrimp

Mango Shrimp

Baked Mussels

Baked Mussels

Lobster Pasta

Lobster Pasta

Poultry Combo

Poultry Combo

Birthday boy and his charbroiled t-bone steak

Birthday boy and his charbroiled t-bone steak

Daddy and a very happy birthday boy

Daddy and a very happy birthday boy

Mummy and birthday boy

Mummy and birthday boy

The Birthday boy's sizzling pan Apple Crumble

The Birthday boy's sizzling pan Apple Crumble

This year we celebrated Adik’s 23rd birthday at Earle’s with really great steaks and sausages. The meat was cooked to perfection, juicy and tender. We ordered Charbroiled T-bone steaks, Grilled Lobster pasta, Surf and Turf, Grilled Cod with Rice, Poultry Combo, Mango Shrimps, Baked Ocean Mussels and for dessert, an Apple Crumble in a sizzling pan topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream which was really yummy.  My favourite main I would have to say would be the Poultry Combo. The smoked duck was out of this world and the snail sausage was soooo good. The smoked duck didn’t taste gamey at all, perfectly smoked…wishing I had some now :)  I’ve always found Earle to provide a much better selection then its normal outlets. The cuts of meat here were much better then the ones I tried at outlets in the city where it was either overcooked, dry and frankly quite a dissapointment despite requesting for a medium steak.It’s been six months since we’ve been to Vivocity, wonder when are we going to Earle’s again though.

Earle Swensens is located at:

Vivocity #02-117 1 HarbourFront Walk
Tel: 6272 3306

Cherry Cheesecake Recipe or Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Nothing beats your own homemade cheesecake, and its pretty easy :)
Simple Cheesecake
Simple Cheesecake

Ingredients:
CRUST
2 cups Italian Shortbread, bashed
4 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons butter
1 teapoon cinnamon

FILLING

8 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

TOPPING
21 oz canned cherry pie filling
1 1/2 cups whipped cream

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 175 C degrees.
2. Bash shortbread with a can and add to a mixing bowl.
3. Add sugar and mix well.
4. Add butter and using a pastry blender or a fork, blend butter until incorporated with the bashed shortbread. Mix with cinnamon.
5. Prepare springform pan by spraying with a vegetable spray or rub inside with some butter to coat.
6. Press the crushed mixture onto the bottom of the springform pan.
7. In a large mixing bowl, add cream cheese, sugar, eggs, lemon juice, vanilla extract and flour and using an electric mixer, beat until smooth.
8. Pour mixture over the base crust.
9. Bake in preheated 175 C oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
10. To test for doneness, insert a knife or large toothpick in center and if it comes out clean, then the filling is set and cooked.
11. Remove from oven and let cool.
12. Spread cherry pie filling over top.
13. Spread whipped topping over cherries.
14. Chill for 1/2 hour before serving.

* 1 cup of dark chocolate chips folded into the mixture after step 7. Omit the cherry topping and whipped cream.