Affordable Cooking Classes @ The Spice Queen Restaurant (Singapore)

I received this via email would like to share those who are interested. All the classes look interesting but unfortunately I am not able to attend all of them.

Epicurean World @ The Spice Queen Restaurant
24 & 26 Race Course Road
Singapore 218548
Tel: 64580572
62552440

Email: info@epicureanworld.com.sg
Website: http://www.epicureanworld.com.sg/
* All classes are priced at $40 each, in line with the current worldwide economic situation.
* The cooking classes will be conducted at Spice Queen Restaurant, unless stated.

COOKING CLASSES FROMAPRIL TO MAY 2009

INDIAN BREADS PART 1
Sit back and relax as Chef Devagi shares her love for Indian breads and chutneys with a menu of Cheese-Onion Naan with Hot & Sweet Ginger Chutney, Puri with Banana & Green Mango Chutney and Masala Potatoes.
Wednesday 22/04/2009 7pm-9pm $40

INDIAN BREADS PART 2
It’s another fun day of bread and all things nice with Chef Devagi. Potato and Cauliflower stuffed Chapatis, Dhall Makhani, Sesame Jaggery Flat Bread, Tomato Onion Chutney
Friday 24/04/2009 7pm-9pm $40

AN AFTERNOON A-FARE
An afternoon to remember as Chef Devagi shares her most requested menu for an afternoon tea! Enjoy delicious Chicken Broccoli Mushroom Quiche, Mini Orange Sauce Sugee Cakes, Warm Wholewheat Raisin Scones.
Saturday 25/04/2009 2pm - 4.30pm $40

EN-THAI-LY DELICIOUS
Join cookbook author Devagi Sanmugam for this perfectly delicious afternoon preparing Thai-style salads and starters the way the restaurants do:Seafood Tunghoon Salad, Mango/Green Papaya Salad & Son-in-Law egg.
Wednesday 29/04/2009 7pm – 9pm $40

YEAST SIDE STORY
Chef Devagi has proof that yeast breads are fun and easy to create! She will show how different doughs can be used for a variety of breads, including a sweet dough for doughnuts and cinnamon rolls, dough for the perfect hamburger and hot dog buns.
Saturday 02/05/2009 2pm – 4.30pm $40

ONE SAUCE THREE DISHES – PART 1
Chef Devagi goes creative. In each lesson she will teach how to make 1 sauce, paste or sambal and then use that to teach 3 dishes you can do with it.Tom Yam Paste – Tom Yam Soup, Tom Yam Cold Udon Noodles, Vegetables & Rice Noodle Salad.
Tuesday 05/05/2009 7pm – 9pm $40

ONE SAUCE THREE DISHES – PART 2
Chef Devagi goes creative. In each lesson she will teach how to make 1 sauce or sambal and then use that to teach 3 dishes you can do with it.Sambal Belachan – Nonya Style Sambal Prawns, Pineapple Sambal, Village Style Fried Rice
Thursday 07/05/2009 7pm – 9pm $40

Panini wannabe :-P

This talk about panini started in a parenting forum which I frequent and made me crave to have one. I love sandwiches but not those cold ones. If it is not hot, it has to be at room temperature *LOL* So all these talk about panini excited me but the problem is, it is not very easy to get a low price panini presser (even the over the stove kind would cost a lot more). There is one selling at departmental store but it costs a whopping S$300+ :-( So after doing my window shopping, I decided to get a multi-plate snack maker.

It has 3 interchangable plates and well it works pretty fine for me although you may have a problem with thicker sandwiches though. I started with something simple.

Egg mayo sandwich

Peanut butter+banana sandwich

So far I am pretty happy with this gadget. In fact I have made waffles and pocketed sandwiches with it. The waffles will be updated later ;-D

Chocolate & Banana birthday cake

My eldest daughter turned 9 in the middle of March. I wasn't in the mood to do any baking but it just didn't feel right not to prepare anything for her. So as usual, I baked a cake for her to share with her friends at the day care centre. I know kids just love chocolate so I decided to bake a chocolate & banana cake with a simple chocolate ganache. Excuse the decor as I was like really pressing for time :-( But I was very happy that all the kids enjoyed the simple cake I did.

A slice of the cake (extra cake I did to celebrate at home)

The original recipe is taken from BBC Goodfood I skipped the crumble topping and used brown sugar and replaced the chocolate with dark chocolate (my favourite).

Here is the recipe with my changes. I double the recipe and baked in an 9 inch baking pan and with some excess I pour into a small about 6inch pan or you can use a loaf pan.

Ingredients
100g dark chocolate, melted by double boil or microwave
150g butter , softened
175g brown sugar
3 eggs, lightly beaten
175g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
25g cocoa powder
2 large bananas, peeled and mashed

Ganache
170g cream (dairy or non-dairy)
170g semi-sweet choc chips or anything choc that you like (sometimes I use more for thicker ganache)

Method
1. Heat the oven to 180C
2. Cream together the softened butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy, gradually add the egg, beating well between each addition
3. Sift together the flour, baking powder and cocoa and fold in using a large metal spoon
4. Add the mashed banana and chocolate and mix well
5. Pour into a greased and line baking pan and bake for about 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean
6. Cool on a rack and then frost it with the ganache
7. For the ganache, heat the cream till you see bubbles at the side of the pan and add the choc and stir till all is melted, leave it to cool before use