Marvelous Cream – Bangkok

This is the last post from Thailand…

I loved the little dessert spots in malls in Bangkok.

Marvelous Cream was one of my faves, a Japanese themed cafe with fruits teas and desserts as well as ice cream and waffles. It was in a huge airport themed mall on the Japan floor.

I loved the little quotes on the menus. So Japanese.

Waffle-marshmallow sandwich anyone?

We did visit this all a few times, mostly because it was very near to us and also to escape the heat now and again.

I ducked in here almost every time to grab a fruit tea, they were amazing.

I love the packaging.

You got instructions with this dessert.

Yes that is my flavour.

So delicious.

I wish we had these dessert bars here. I’ve said that a lot haven’t I?

Phuket Cookery School – Ka Nom Kluay

Our dessert I was sad to see was not sticky rice and mango (Husbands favourite) but steamed banana cakes, but these were so cute and again simple to make I am glad I learnt how as I never would have chosen these.

We made little cups from banana leaves to steam our cakes in.

You need, for two people;
3 very ripe bananas
100g rice flour
20 tapioca flour for thickening
120g sugar
pinch salt
60ml coconut cream
50 grated young coconut

1. Mix all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and smash until a smooth mixture is formed. Pour the mixture into containers or cups, or banana leaves!

2. Steam them over boiling water for 20-30 minutes or until the cakes become springy.

 You can eat the cakes hot or cold, I ate one of mine with some coffee at the end of a long day of eating.

I had to, such a Thai dessert, quite light considering and I imagine stomach and mouth soothing too great after a hot Thai dish

Lahloo Tea – The Pantry

If you have read this blog for any length of time you have probably read about Lahloo Tea. This small company that want to re-educate people about the joys of proper tea and how wonderful it can be.

I always drank loose tea when I went to places that serve it but never beyond that. But now? Yes I am a convert. The flavour will always beat a tea bag every time.

Lahloo Tea have now gone one step further and have opened a place of their own, The Pantry in Clifton Village. I was desperate to visit before I left on my trip and just managed to do it, with my Mum visiting I needed no better reason, so we went.

You enter this cute cafe to a counter filled with all kinds of treats both savoury and sweet.

The cakes and biscuits are so pretty and perfectly formed.

And of course all the different kinds of Lahloo tea. The reason you visit!

We both picked the tart for lunch, Mum having the smoked haddock and me the three cheese, which both came with a beautiful celeriac salad and a refreshing cucumber and chilli salad.

They also have a wonderful breakfast menu (anywhere that does egg and solders is alright by me)

And we both of course ordered tea.

I ordered Jasmine Pearls, having heard lots about these, but never tried them. The tea is made from the little pearls you see below, is a very fragrant but delicate tea, and so refreshing.

My Mum went for a much darker tea, and picked Smokey. Another one I need to try.

As well as staying here to eat and drink everything is available for takeaway and there is a fully stocked tea shop for you, with all the Lahloo teas. Also lots of accessories. I so want a Matcha tea set!

So I was always going to be biased here but The Pantry really is lovely, so lovely I am jealous! Jealous that I don’t live near, and jealous that it’s not my cafe!

The whole place is lovely and as always the details are what make me love somewhere and they really have taken care with everything here, right down to lovely soap in the bathroom, which for me is a detail often forgotten but when a bathroom is nice I am always impressed.

And so then we left, but not before taking more treats with us!

Just a little post and a nudge to go visit!

Lahloo Tea - Clifton Village

Herman Friendship Cake

Bear with me on this recipe, I think it’s lovely but some people have thought it strange!

This cake comes from a recipe called Herman the German.

Basically you get given a little starter of yeasty cake mix, which you then look after, feed and grow it for 10 days by feeding the yeast.

You then split it into four, bake one part into a cake then give the other three parts away to friends who carry on the cycle.

It gives really tasty, moist cake and you can add whatever you want at the end.

If you want to start the cake…

1 packet Dry Yeast
2 cups lukewarm Water
2 cups Flour

In a glass or plastic container, dissolve yeast in warm water then add flour and beat till smooth. Cover and let stand at room temperature 48 hours. This makes two cups of the starter.
Use one cup of Herman and give the other cup to a friend, that’s two Herman cakes out in the world!

Below are the exact instructions I was given by my colleague Liz who passed Herman to me…

“Hello, my name is Herman. I’m a sourdough cake, if I have come to live with you it’s because one of you friends believes that you will keep me alive and then introduce me to more friends. I’m supposed to be kept on a worktop for 10 days without a lid on…
You can’t put me in the fridge (or I will die). If I stop bubbling, I am dead…. Follow the instructions in how to keep me alive below; it’s been a pleasure meeting you”

 Day 1: Herman has come to live with you, first of all pour him into a large mixing bowl, cover loosely with a tea towel.

Day 2: Stir well

Day 3: Same as yesterday (easy huh?)

Day 4: Herman will be very hungry!! Add 1 cup of plain flour, sugar and milk and then stir well.

Day 5-8: Stir well

Day 9: Hungry again, add the same as Day 4 and stir well…

… Then divide the mixture into 4 equal amounts and give 3 away to your friends (only trustworthy ones please) with a copy of these instructions. Herman no. 4 will stay with you.

 Day 10: Herman’s hungry again… Stir well and add the following:

1 cup of sugar
2 cups plain flour
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla essence
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder 
½ tsp salt
2/3 cup of cooking oil
2 cooking apples (in chunks)
1 cup of raisins (optional)
½ cup of walnuts (optional) 
(other optional ingredients pineapple, cherries, chopped chocolate etc)

Method: Mix everything together & put into a large greased roasting tin.
Sprinkle with ¼ cup of melted butter and ¼ cup of brown sugar.
Bake for 45 minutes at 170-180 (gas mark 5).
When cold cut into finger shaped pieces. Freezes well and is delicious warm with cream and custard… enjoy!!

I added to mine almond essence, ground almonds, flaked almonds, white chocolate chunks and raspberries. Delicious!

Give it a go, start one with your friends and see how far it spreads!

Red Velvet Cupcake in a Jar by Not Martha

Ok so I haven’t made this. But I had to share with you, Not Martha is too good. Check out her blog.

This time she has put little cakes in jars. I love this and wish I could do it for my wedding but would be more suited to a picnic wedding I think. 

She makes it sounds easy… can it be? Would you give this a go?

See the full post at Not Martha