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Pho – Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup
Asian Recipes By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

There is a grace that permeates through every nook and cranny of my home when this pot is brewing in the kitchen. It is the thing that gives my body a sense of safety and nurture. It is the meal that I call home, and whenever I catch a whiff of the precious spices simmering along with the marrow bones, my neck instantly arches up and my nose points up into the air. "Yes, a fresh pot is brewing". An engaged and knowing smile crosses my heart and I know I must give in to the temptation to what Vietnamese call Phở. There must be some magical formula that causes the hard-working people of Vietnam to participate in the ritual of eating this morning, noon and night. It is too good to save for one time of the day, and if your cravings dictate when you eat, you too may…

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Ju-Rin – Someone give them a trophy!
Asian Restaurant Reviews By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

Plan B. This is what Ju-Rin ended up being for me this evening. I woke up in the morning and said to myself, "Today is the day that I will dine at Waqu." I called them at 2pm to leave a reservation on their answering machine only to receive an SMS at the last moment that they are fully booked. Damn! I should've known I was pushing my luck. Pizzaboy and I were left wondering around Crows Nest without any plans. We almost sat down at MuMu Grill when I confessed to him that I am now desperate to eat something Japanese. I suggest heading to Ju-Rin and trying our luck there. Pizzaboy is already upset by the Waqu situation and warns me about it happening again. "If we also get turned down by Ju-Rin we're going to McDonalds!" We walk into Ju-Rin without any reservations and the staff welcome…

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Mini Croquembouche – Not for the Faint-Hearted
Baking Recipes By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

Inspiration taken from Delicious Magazine Dec/Jan Issue Recipe for Pate a Choux adapted from Secrets of Baking by Sherry Yard Recipe for Caramel Sugar from Delicious Magazine Dec/Jan Issue Pate a choux 1 cup of bread flour or plain flour 1 teaspoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup of full-fat milk 85g unsalted butter 4 large eggs 1 large egg for egg wash Caramel Sugar 250g caster sugar 100ml water 2 tablespoons glucose syrup A tub of good-quality vanilla ice cream To make pate a choux 1/ Sift together the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Set aside. 2/ Bring the water, milk and butter to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat. At the boil, remove the pan from the heat and add the flour mixture all at once. Using a sturdy spoon, stir vigorously to combine. 3/ Return the mixture to…

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