Sweet potato oatmeal cookies

This time I would like to share a recipe called Sweet Potato Oatmeal Cookies. This is actually a new thing for me to process sweet potato as cookies and cakes since usually I just eat it steamed or boiled (just it, without any addition of other ingredients). But the nutrition behind this sweet tuber made me think that it would be a perfect choice to transform it into my daily snacks with other modifications. 

For those who do not know much about it, sweet potato is one of high fiber carbohydrate sources which could help your digestive system and prevent constipation, and also makes you feel full longer. Different from other types of carbs (especially simple sugar like sucrose or other sweets), sweet potato has lower GI which could regulate your blood glucose levels (this is recommended to be consumed for diabetic people as rice substitute).

The rest of ingredients also have many benefits; oatmeal with its soluble fiber content, chia seeds that has abundant level of omega-3 with low energy yield, cranberry with its ability to prevent urinary tract infection and maintain heart's health, and the relaxing, warm effect from ginger. 

All of the ingredients used are very easy to be found in the supermarkets and organic stores. Therefore, it could be a good "challenge" for everyone's mind to try (or even start) a new healthy lifestyle. However, it does not mean that you should stop eating any other processed food sold in the stores' racks (high fat wafer cream, butter cookies, ice cream, candies, etc. that's all nice!), but keep reminding yourself that the percentage of your healthy eating habits should be set beyond the not-so-healthy one. And always remember that what you eat today will be your investation for your future days!

Banana cake with sesame seeds and almond

Today is the last weekday of my (2 weeks) holiday, and I will enter the fifth semester of my uni next Monday. Time flies so fast, and the subjects are also getting more difficult. Yet, keep fighting is the key to survive, doesn’t it? :)

Anyway, I will share my latest experience in baking; yes! Banana cake had been successfully done in the kitchen. This time, I used white sesame seeds and almond as the additional ingredients. I also made the taste to be not-too-sweet since the ripened banana has already given its natural sweet taste. You will not need any mixer or even scrapper here; just a whisk, spoon, fork, measuring spoon, and bowls. How simple!

Tapai cupcake

Made this cupcake using tapai / fermented cassava mixed with raisins for the filling. Also, blueberry jam on top of it :)

Egg muffin

First time making egg muffin with leek and garbanzo nut.

I didn't use any recipe, just mix everything and stop when it's getting enough :)

Enjoy with mayo and chilli sauce. Best served hot/warm. 

(Carrot) Cake

Good deals behind the cake: 

It was made using palm sugar as part of the sweetener, shredded carrot, raisin, and spekkoek powder for the aroma (commonly used for making lapis legit cake). The texture is really moist even if you keep it for 3 to 4 days :)

*Spekkoek powder is the mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, and cardamom powder.

Chocolate cake

Holiday is the time for doing other things besides the daily routines (yes, university life takes anything...). This time, I used some days of the 2-weeks-short-holiday to try making chocolate cake. From the three times "trial & error", I got two different kinds of cake with the same ingredients yet different technique of making; the first type with "thick", soft texture and another one with the chiffon texture. Both are nice, but it depends on your preference. My dad prefers to have the thick one, but my mom likes the chiffon.

"Thick" & soft texture

Chiffon-like texture

Mango Jelly Pudding

Actually, the made of this jelly pudding was just a coincidence. My mom bought a lot of mangoes since the mango fruit season has come up this past few weeks. Then, I found the last mango that was almost over ripen. Nothing to do at home, I decided to make an experiment with mango jelly and plain agar.

Sweets

Just ordered Infinite Delight cookies with their Little Venice packaging a week ago. I bought three flavors; two are my favorite (matcha delight and choco mint) and the seasonal one which is gingy snap :)

Pan & Flip

Spicy Tuna

Having a late lunch with some friends at Pan & Flip, a western restaurant near our campus. We ordered the Spicy Tuna and Pesto Sauce pasta. Other than that, they also serve some pancake menus. Unfortunately, we didn't order it :(

Infinite Delight

Two favorites

Just knew this cookie store while my faculty's event was being held. Yes, Infinite Delight serves many kinds of cookies such as matcha, choco mint, cheese cake, red velvet, and many more. Ups..., one thing you should not miss is the Indonesian tastes one!

Marbled Cheesy Cocopandan

Having no activity during holiday doesn't mean spending the time staring in front of TV all day long or doing nothing. Playing in the kitchen might become one interesting thing!



Trying to make a 'quite' healthy cake (contains no yolk) using steam method, very easy to be tried at home. I call it Marbled Cheesy Cocopandan :)

Aromatherapy

Started to collect aromatherapy since a year ago; when I went to Bali and found one of gift shop selling these things. Actually, I've been interested in it for a long time, especially when I visited temples and smell the uniqueness of incense sticks' aroma (kind of sandalwood). Up to now, I have had the incense sticks, essential oils, cones, and the holder. Love it!

Egg tart

The idea was first coming when my Mom asked me to made it. After searched many recipes in internet and mixed it all up, the modified recipe was made!

Refreshing mind

The picture of fresh green leaves above perfectly describes my feeling now. Well, I AM officially entering my 3-months holidayyy (yippieee)!!! Also, becoming a perfect time for hibernation after having a so-what hectic semester (and preparing for the more-hectic semester in August *sob).

Anyway, am trying to manage my holiday plan as good and efficient as possible (due to the possibility that this IS my last long holiday). Will post the result later! :)

Wake up

Finally, I'm back from a looonnggg rest from blog due to the 2^nd semester I have worked on (sorry for the lack of post...). There are many things that I want to share, including my "new" experiment. It’s all in preparing phase; so, give me a couple of days to publish it (I swear ;))

A little bit intermezzo for you, I found one of my essays that were created in senior high that talks about my perception about friends. It’s only the last part of it, just read for filling your time J

"If my best friends have bad attitude(s), I’ll talk to them; tell that it’s not good. But, if it’s still doesn’t work, just accept it and understand that that’s who they are. Just let them be their selves and don’t try to force them, because it will break your friendship. And the most important for us is, no one is perfect, right? It’s also valid for us. We also not perfect at all. We can’t force our idea to be the same with others, because God creates us with many differences to make us can complete each other. And remember, no one is always right; we also have done some mistakes in our life.

So, from now, learn to respect and appreciate our friends. Don’t ever judge them, but make yourself to be the best friend for your friends; then, your life will be peaceful and filled with happiness."

When you turn 18

2013 ahead

2013 will come in a couple of weeks. New year and new resolution(s) to achieve must be prepared. Do you have any? I have ;)

- Keep calm and avoid repeating the old same mistakes
- Make eating time schedule (reduce fried and high-sugar dish)
- Build a more-intense relationship with family and friends
- Keep fighting for 2nd and 3rd semester (yeayyy!!!)
- Keep reading books (waiting-list books esp.)
- Continue my postponed piano course
- More wise on money management (no need to buy any unimportant stuff!!!)

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.”

-Abraham Lincoln

Taal

Ranchi :)

Inhale