Elixir Espresso

Finally, I got a chance to come here again, Elixir Espresso ! Last year in July, Deryk and I came to visit Sydney for 3 days...It was rainning in the morning so we got no choice...Just have to find a place for breakfast..then we walked pass by the Strand arcade...and saw this cafe..looks quite nice, let's try...and we found out that we made the right decision! ...so nice coffee and breakfast...

Same place but different time..I just was sitting alone this time...but feel not so lonely cuz many people was sitting around me..quite fun looking what they ordered, what they eat :P

Oh..my goodness, this time it got the campos sign on a cup of coffee and the door showing that they served Campos coffee...wow wow...I heard from my friend that Campos coffee is one of the best coffee in Sydney but the cafe is in Newtown where I still don't know how to go...

My skinny cappuccino (AUD 3.30 take away)...so beautiful, rite? The taste was superb... The aroma of coffee, the smoothness of the milk froth, the strenght of caffeine ...ahhh...I felt so good ! Mocha here also the best (but quite expensive among other cafe..AUD 4.5 take away) This cafe has 10% service charge..

You can see I put the sugar sachet next to the coffee...made it looks perfect ? haha....

Still hungry...so I ordered Toasted Turkishbread with peanut butter....looks so flat but the taste...perfect I'm telling you....so crispy outside, chewy inside and a bit of salty...just my liking... (but for the condiment, I think it would better to be butter and jam...ok, next time!)

The cappuccino I had last year...I think last time they haven't served the campos coffee yet...but still good anyway..

Yesterday night, I was reading some coffee lovers talking about good cafe in CBD...and many people recommend that Elixir Espresso serves the best coffee in Strand Arcade...Lucky me :D

Shop G11, The Strand Arcade,

412-414 George Street,Sydney,

NSW, 2000, Australia

Tel: (02) 9233 1005

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Normally, Peipei, my niece, doesn't really eat my sweets...Last time I baked Cranberry Coffee Cake..when she saw i put the frozen cranberry in the batter...she said..''Ja, I will give this for grandma...I am not gonna eat it''

haha..I think she is afraid of sour fruit or doesn't like cake with fruit !

BUT !! I am still good !!! She loves my cookies....

The day before I came to Sydney...Peipei asked me to bake her favourite thing again...Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies......She really really loves it....Everytime she comes to see me, always ask for it...

Tan tan tan !!!! ..........the chocolate and butter aroma wake Peipei up...

Looks so good, rite? I put Chocolate more than 1 cup actually...

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon Corn Syrup
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or can use instant espresso coffee powder)
1 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 F (170 C). Cream the butter with the sugars using an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy (approximately 30 seconds)
2. Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract for another 30 seconds.
3. In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and beat into the butter mixture at low speed for about 15 seconds. Stir in the espresso coffee powder and chocolate chips.
4. Using a 1 ounce scoop or a 2 tablespoon measure, drop cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart. Gently press down on the dough with the back of a spoon to spread out into a 2 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges. Bake a little longer for a crispier cookie.

Due to my small oven, I have to bake cookies for many batches...for 2 first batches, I used the Ice cream scoop..quite big one... As you can see at the top of the cookies tray...

The rest of the dough, I just used tablespoon.....looks cute though...(and good cuz can give to more people..hehe...)

Ummmmmmmm........................

My journey to Sydney

TG 995 : 23.59 on 14 Apr 2008...that was my flight fly to Sydney....Just a bit excited ! Thank you all you guys came to see me at the airport ...>_< Ann, Tang, Nok, me, Mum, Ake, J'Join..

Before walking to the Gate...had some snack at Thai Airways lounge first... just ok..not so good...

In the flight, of course, I, a drunk girl, have chosen the Bourgoge Pinot Noir Vignes, Albert Bichot 2002 ...not really know about Wine anyway..

It took about 9 hours from Bangkok to Sydney...

20 Mins before landing.....so beautiful...I like it !

Almost landing...Can you see the Sydney Opera House?

Finally....Sydney, here I am !

Again, some of Thais can read my kratoo in Pantip here

Oreo Yogurt Cupcakes

I have been falling in love in this recipe since i first saw it in sweet for my sweet last year. The recipe was created by My Kitchen:My laboratory. Finally, I decided to make it just before i have been to Sydney...

Oreo Yogurt Cupcakes

225g cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
85g unsalted butter, cut into pieces
150g sugar2 eggs, beaten
1 cup(240ml) nonfat unsweetened yogurt
1 tsp vanilla essence
80g Oreo cookies, roughly crushed
Whole Oreo cookies for decorating

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C and grease or line a 8-inch round tin.
Sift together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy.Dribble in eggs slowly, about 1 tbsp at a time, beating constantly for about 2 mins.
3. On LOW speed, beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture until just combined. Beat in ½ of the yogurt. Then beat in 1/2 of the remaining flour mixture, followed by the remaining yogurt, and vanilla extract. Finally beat in the remaining flour mixture.
4. Lastly, fold in the crushed cookies.
5. Pour into prepared tin, arrange whole Oreos on top and bake for about 40 - 50 mins till skewer inserted comes out clean.

Cool in pan for 5 mins. Unmold and cool completely

So cute !

After I tasted my cupcake...i was thinking ''this cupcake was a bit dry...It's just ok...but why it was dry...must be something wrong..cuz everyone who baked before all said it is so good...'' I was thinking, thinking and thinking...May be I reduced too much sugar? or I have to put the oreo cream in the batter too? (i thrown away the cream inside, just put the biscuit)

Oh...my goshhh...I have found out the reason !!! I read in the recipe..it said 1 cup(240ml) nonfat unsweetened yogurt ... then I just put 1 cup of yogurt while I forgot that 1 cup of yogurt in Thailand is only about 125 ml....which means I have to use 2 cups of yogurt...hahaha...so silly....

Some of Thais can read my kratoo in Pantip here