Here are our top picks for this year’s Christmas treats!

Rich miniature fruit cakes @ Delectables by Su-Yin

Expect nothing less from our resident Kitchen Goddess. Melt-in-your-mouth delectably rich fruit cakes topped with cute little penguins bringing you a message of hope, love and peace. For details, check out her blog at www.cookingismypassion.blogspot.com

Traditional favourites @ Colus Cakes

Based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Colus Cakes offers quick and convenient online order service for all your party cakes. Flavours for Christmas cakes are limited to two options – the Chocolate Mud cake or Carrot Cheesecake. For details, visit their website at www.coluscakes.com

Cupcakes @ Bijoux Food Company

Snow White Sparkle collection for Christmas or the Countdown Box for New Year’s eve. A great affordable gift for friends and an even better gift for yourself! Pre-order these cupcakes at 03-2697 0131 or visit their outlets at:

Bisou, 58 Jalan Doraisamy, Asian Heritage Row.

Bijou, Ground Floor, Damai Sari Mont Kiara, Damai No. 3, Jalan Kiara 2, Mont Kiara.

Bianco, Tropics Shopping Centre, Damansara Perdana.

Snowflake Cookies @ Dolce Cupcakes

The internet is a wide and twisted web with hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Eunice of Dolce.SwayMyWay.com started from a little blog into a growing home business specialising in cupcakes. Get these pretty snowflake cookies at only RM12 per pack of three.

Novelty Christmas Cakes @ Choffles Cake Studio

Choffles Cake Studio specialises in producing dummy wedding cake, sugar showpiece, novelty cakes for all occasions, corporate gifts and more. Established in 2001, Choffles has since become one of the most preferred Cake Studio within the Klang Valley for its affordable novelty creations. Their outlets are located at:

PJ Branch: 17-1, Jalan PJU 8/5A, Bandar Damansara Perdana.

Sunway Branch: 23-G, Ground floor, Jalan 11 / 28B, Sunway Metro, Bandar Sunway

Did you ever think a bottle of milk can be so adorably decorated? What about putting together a cute, practical table centrepiece using eggnog and cake cups? Check out these simple creations that add a perfect finishing to your home parties.

Our top web picks for this holiday season:

Clockwise from left to right: Look at Frosty Go milk treats and Creamy Eggnog from Better Homes & Gardens. Edible gifts with Christmas tag templates and Icebox Cookie Recipe from Martha Stewart.

The beauty of having a Christmas tree is in the time spent with the family to set it up. It need not be expensive or grand to create an impression. Think outside the box, express your individuality through your Christmas tree and bond with your family during this special season.

Aren’t you bored of the traditional round ornaments, tinsel stars and  angel toppers? It’s time to get rid of the old ornaments recycled year after year. Let’s spice up this year’s Christmas tree with a unique theme.

To get started, here are a few things you might want to consider in your quest for a brand new look!

stripes & polka dot ornaments from Tang's

Why do we give in to the traditional style when our personal space spells funky chic or uber-modern?

While it is not necessary to decorate your Christmas tree to match the interior of your house, you may want your tree to look like it belongs in your home and not an object that looks entirely out of place. So, if you are an out-going fun-loving party girl, bring it on with a tree that’s ‘loud’ and stylish.

Once you have defined the look and style you want for your tree, it’s time to decide on a theme. Do you have a special interest you are very passionate about? Or a hobby you enjoy doing with your loved ones? Choices are abundant at shops and departmental stores but if you can’t find what you are looking for, there is always the alternative DIY.

Westin Hotel's Wild Wild West Xmas Tree Using Cutleries & Cowboy Hats

Idea 1: Kitchen Goddess

Are you a Kitchen Goddess? Do you love spending time baking or cooking, and coming up with creative dishes for your friends and family? Then, let’s take your interest one step further and put your cooking flair (and ingredients) onto the tree.

Instead of the living room, you can place a mini tree on your kitchen counter top and organise a pre-Christmas baking party with friends of similar interest.

Decorate the tree with:

• Colourful Recipe Cards
• Mini wreaths made from crushed cinnamon sticks glazed with stardust glue
• Cookie Cutters in various shapes and sizes
• Anise dipped in stardust and tied with velvet ribbons
• Sugar dough in pretty colours and shapes
• Starbuck’s cute little coffee cup ornaments

Idea 2: Model Collectors

This is the easiest yet! No worries about spending that extra Ringgit on those silly ornaments. Just tie your collectibles with ribbons or fish rods and hang them onto your trees. Finish off with fairy lights.

Idea 3: Child-Friendly

If you have young children, the decorations have to be non-choking hazards. Do away with tiny ornaments and decorate the tree with soft toys and polaroid pictures of your children. If they are old enough to write, get them to write for mommy and daddy little Christmas love notes with crayons and colour pencils, then hang them onto the tree.

Idea 4: Fashionistas

Play with soft fabrics and blings. Decorate the trees with:

• Polka dot ribbons or lace
• Baroque-themed fabrics
• Miniature shoes
• Gold, silver beaded strings
• Mini mirror balls
• DIY embellishments

Pretty ornaments from Parkson

Sometimes, colour scheme comes before deciding on the theme. Sometimes, it’s the other way around depending on the options there are in the market,  since most shops often carry common colours that are popular and in-demand such as white, gold, bronze, silver and red. It is also important to co-ordinate the colour scheme of your tree to either complement your space or stand out from a monotoned room.

Candy-colour-themed tree ornaments available at Tang's, KL Pavillion

Finally, it’s time to take to the streets for your Christmas tree shopping. Be wary of your total budget and keep in mind that larger trees will require larger ornaments and more decorations. The size of your tree should also complement the size of the space where you want to place your tree. A small tree will look oddly ‘retarded’ in a large living room with high ceilings.

Before purchasing a tree, it is also best to plan your storage space and decide on where you will keep your tree and the decorations after Christmas. The best storage space is one that will not interfere with your daily house chores because the tree and the boxes of ornaments will take up one full year until the next Christmas.

For the best place and value for last minute artificial Christmas tree shopping, head over to Petaling Street.

The beauty of having a Christmas tree is in the time spent with the family to set it up. It need not be expensive or grand to create an impression.  More importantly, let us not forget the true spirit of Christmas.

Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Here’s my favourite little herb to work with – The sweet Thai Basil (bai horapa).

It’s large crisp leaves and fragrant oils often remind us of Thai flavours. They grow on purplish stems, topped with pretty, reddish purple flower buds. Both leaves and edible flowers are sweetly perfumed with a mix of distinct basil scent and that of anise or licorice. Therefore, it is sometimes referred to as ‘anise basil’ or ‘licorice basil’.

Plentiful in Thailand, bai horapa is eaten almost as a vegetable. It is used in large quantities, in whole leaves and sprigs, in many types of dishes, including curries, stir-fried dishes, salads and soups. We often find sweet basil leaves snuck into stir-fry’s or floating in pools of steaming hot Vietnamese ‘pho’.

Contrary to what most believe, Thai basil really is an extremely versatile herb.

Just to help prove my point…

Here’s a range of delicious basil inspired side dishes I’ve whipped up quickly to match my afternoon roast. All you really need is a little fresh basil tree and a few pantry basics.

Quick & Easy Recipes:

Buttery Basil Mashed Potato

Basil Salsa with Pretty Baby Plum Tomatoes

Bai horapa is available year- round from specialty produce markets and local grocery stores. It is also easy to grow, and seed packets can be purchased from local nurseries. You can root a fresh stem easily by placing it in a glass of water outside the refrigerator. As with many leafy herbs, this basil can be kept fresh by placing it in a glass with the cut ends in water, covering it with a plastic bag and storing it in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can wrap the herbs in paper towels before bagging them in plastic for refrigerating. They will stay fresh for about a week.

Don’t forget the garnish!

Fact Reference: Copyright © 1995 Kasma Loha-unchit : It Rains Fishes.

There is nothing like fresh, tart plum tomatoes just as they are. Here’s a quick and healthy fix packed with juicy flavours of fresh herbs.

Dressing:

1 tbsp olive,

1 tsp sea salt flakes

5 sprigs of chopped basil

1 tsp lemon juice

Half 500gms of baby plum tomatoes and toss in dressing. Serve chilled.

Alternatively, for those who do not like the raw taste of tomatoes, try this other quick step that will only take you less than 5 minutes to prepare!

Sautéed mushrooms tossed in a crisp juicy salad

Sautee 5 large sliced mushrooms in a dash of sea salt, 1 tbsp Worchestire sauce and 2 tbsps of olive oil. Toss warm mushrooms in garden veges. YUM!

Melt ½ cup of good butter and stir in 4 sprigs of chopped fresh basil.

Mash 3 cooked medium sized potatoes.

Add in the basil infused butter and a good sprinkle of coarse sea salt.

Stir till well incorporated and smooth. Add a little milk if more liquid is required.

Tips:

• Press the potatoes through a sieve to get a smooth mash.
• Spoon mash into tiny ramekins and top with grated mozzarella. Melt and brown under the grill for a couple of minutes right before serving.

With Christmas and the New Year fast approaching, it’s time to stock up your cellars and brace yourselves for the festive celebrations! Those planning on serving wine for their wedding, year end annual dinner or house parties can also take advantage of this opportunity to stock up.

Their wine list includes premium Chateau wines to the mid-range table wines from the regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Piedmont, Tuscany, Moselle, Rioja, Napa Valley, South Australia and more. With bargains starting from as low as RM10, it is all the more reason to party harder this festive season. So, save the date and go bargain-hunting for your party must-have!

The consumption of fine gourmet chocolate is a growing trend. Similar to gourmet coffee, or wine, or fine arts, both the consumption and gifting of gourmet chocolates are a social stratification of class and refinement. While a box of festive chocolate assortments off the departmental store shelf still makes a great gift of spreading the holiday joy, the sophisticated taste buds of a growing affluent market demands for fresh, customised, high quality chocolates.

Before we dissect the complexities of compounds and formulas that separate  the mediocre from the superior, we are going back to basics, as a start to this month-long series of chocolate talk.  It is by no means exhaustive but detailed enough to avoid a novice chocoholic from making a chocolate faux pas. We sought the expertise of Chef Amer Amzah from Malaysia’s very own fine gourmet chocolatier, Fidani Finest Chocolate Creations.

1. Pralines, truffles, ganache. What are the differences?

Pralines are made from roasted nuts and sugar. Ganache is a soft filling made from cream/syrup and chocolate. Truffle is a paste made from cream and chocolate.

2. What is the difference between Belgian chocolates and Malaysian-made Belgian chocolates?

Belgian chocolates are chocolates that are finished products made originally in Belgium itself. Sometimes the name Belgian chocolates are widely used as chocolates that are made with Belgian recipe but it may be made in some other parts of the world. Malaysian made Belgian chocolates are like Fidani chocolates where we import the best ingredients from Belgium, using their recipe and their methods in making the chocolates. There might be some influence of local tastes such as the use of different types of fillings in the chocolates or the packaging itself but the main ingredient – the chocolate couverteur is still from Belgium itself.

3. Why are some locally-made gourmet chocolates so much more expensive than imported chocolate truffles sold at supermarkets?

Truffles are gourmet chocolate if they are hand-made. When the price is cheap it can only mean two things – either they are not hand-made or they are not using the good quality chocolates. Not all imported chocolates are expensive and neither are all locally-made gourmet expensive. It depends on the ingredients used and also the methods. Locally-made gourmet chocolates are expensive because the ingredients are imported and it takes time to train up chocolate artisans to craft such fine chocolates.

4. Which is better –Swiss, Australian or Belgian chocolate?

In my opinion, chocolates from Belgium are the best because they are the original chocolatiers. There’s a distinctive taste between Swiss and Belgian chocolates and of course one would never doubt that you can try any chocolates from any country but Belgian chocolates are still the best. Australian chocolates are new and they probably innovate from the Belgian, Swiss & French chocolatiers. In fact French chocolates are quite sought after. Most of the French chocolates are made by French chocolatiers that have a long history and the prices are never cheap!

According to Wise Geek, “Belgian chocolate is considered to be the gourmet standard by which all other chocolate confections are measured. Even the Swiss, known for their own high quality chocolate, imported the basic recipe from French and Belgian chocolatiers. What makes Belgian chocolate unique is the quality of ingredients and an almost fanatical adherence to Old World manufacturing techniques. Even in today’s world of automation and mass production, most Belgian chocolate is still made by hand in small shops using original equipment.”

What makes a good chocolate?

The origins of the cocoa beans which are later turned into cocoa butter and cocoa mass. Thus, the ingredients are very important. The Criollo is considered the Rolls Royce of cocoa beans and is the most delicate of the two. It’s more sensitive to deceases and yields less, thus it only represents about 5-10% of the world’s production and therefore the exorbitant prices of chocolates made using the Criollo beans. However, the final flavour and character of the chocolate depends largely on the chocolatier’s skills and experience in selecting and blending various types of beans.

I sometimes find white, sweaty blotch markings on my chocolate bar. What is that?

It can be either fat bloom or sugar bloom.

FAT BLOOM – This phenomenon is a thin layer of fat crystals on the surface of chocolate. By this, the chocolate will loose its glossiness and soft texture. White layer appears, which gives the finished article an unappetizing look. This phenomenon should not be confused with the formation of molds.

Fat bloom is caused by the recrystallization of the fats and / or a migration of a filing fat to the chocolate layer. Storage at a consistent temperature will delay the appearance of fat bloom.

SUGAR BLOOM – Sugar bloom is contrary to fat bloom, a rough and irregular layer on top of the chocolate. Sugar bloom is caused by condensation: e.g. When chocolate is taken out of the refrigeration. This moisture will dissolve the sugar of the chocolate. When the water evaporates afterwards, the sugar will re-crystallize into rough, irregular crystals on the surface. This gives the chocolate an unpleasant look.

Sugar bloom is kept away when temperature shocks from cold to warm zones are avoided. When chocolate comes out of a cold room, it should be stored in a warm area long enough before opening the packaging. In that way, direct condensation on the chocolate is avoided.

What is the best way to store chocolates?

The ideal storage temperature of chocolate is between 12 and 20° (54 and 68°F). At higher temperature, the chocolate will soften and will lose its gloss. Lower storage temperatures are less risky. When products are brought to room temperature, condensation should be avoided, otherwise sugar bloom will arise. Fluctuating temperature should be avoided, because they will accelerate the appearance of fat bloom.

How can I keep my chocolates from melting on board airplane?

Basically, chocolates should not melt if they are hand-carried onto the plane. However, if you plan to leave them in the luggage, it’s better if you have a cooler bag to store the chocolates or you’ll have to pack them properly.

Chocolate seems like a common gift at functions. How can I make my presentation more interesting?

The presentation of chocolates can be enhanced with the customization of the gift. For example, in Fidani, we provide customisation from chocolates, printing on the chocolates & ribbons and also the packaging itself. The chocolates can be arranged to the customer’s preference and alternatively, customers are allowed to bring their own packaging for us to help them customized their gifts. We also have chocolate artisans to craft 3 dimensional structures from coral reefs, heart shape chocolates, chocolate roses, houses and even treasure boxes.

Fidani retail outlets can be found at First World Plaza Genting Highlands, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), Langkawi International Airport and Jetty Point, Penang International Airport, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Labuan International Airports. The company is Halal-certified and specialises in customising its chocolates for the corporate and wedding clientele.

Has Christmas preparations gotten you stuck in tangles? Well, I’d like to help you rid worries of after-dinner desserts!

There is no time for that extravagant fruitcake or the well-woven cherry pie you’ve been itching to practice on! You have guests to attend to, a turkey to stuff and baste and a handful of kids screaming through your hallway. The last thing you need is hours stuck in the kitchen getting your hands dirty with flour and sticky pastry.

Look out for shortcuts at the supermarket! They are excellent for those who want to be creative and still have something made personally from your very own kitchen.

Stack I say.

This Christmas, take a tip from Su and play the quick and easy ‘stack’.

There are several essential ‘must-haves and must-knows’ before you begin.

• Always use a large, deep, clear glass bowl/jar/container
• Stacking in a plastic container never turns out looking as delicious
• Choose to share or have it in individual servings (stacking items must be sized appropriately)
• Mix textures! (crunchy or smooth? Try crushing cookies, perhaps using mousse/custards?)
• Only stack matching flavours! No bananas topped with orange mousse please….Haha, try bananas and chocolate fudge, orange and dark chocolate mousse.
• Stick to 2-3 different layers; anything more can be a little too complex to be enjoyed.

I’ve came up with a trifle stack filled with yuletide inspirations.

Here are some other deliciously easy to prepare stack ideas to get you started:

Oreo Cookies + Chocolate Ice-ream + Crushed Cadbury Flake Bar

Chocolate Mud Cake + Kirsch Syrup + Bottled Cherries + Whipped Cream + Dusting of Cocoa Powder

Italian Sponge Fingers + Soaked in Malibu + Canned pineapple+ Fresh mango slices + Vanilla Custard

How about an egg nogg trifle?! Hmm… I can picture it now.

All these ingredients can be found down your local supermarket aisle. So there is no excuse for a dessert-less Christmas party!