Swedish Cinnamon Buns

Hello everyone. I’m back with my kitchen diaries and today, I’m going to share to you a famous Northern European delicacy, truly a Scandinavian confectionery. Although it’s been baked all over the world but I have never enjoyed it as good as the Swedish Kanelbullar. I got this recipe from my Swedish family and apparently, it’s a very old receipt. Hope you enjoy!

Swedish Cinnamon Buns

Ingredients:
 50 g yeast
100 g butter
2 dl milk + 2 dl water
1½ sugar
1 egg
1 tsp ground cardamom
½ tsp baking powder
16- 17 dl flour

Cinnamon Buns Filling:
100 g butter
1 dl sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon

For glazing:
1 beaten egg
pearl sugar (optional)

Method:
1) Crumble yeast in a bowl and mix with melted butter, add milk and water. Add sugar, egg, cardamom, baking powder and flour.
2) Knead the dough for approximately 10-15 minutes. Let the dough rise while covered at room temperature for a minimum of 30 minutes.
3) Roll out the dough about 3mm thick and 30 cm wide. Spread butter on top. Mix sugar and cinnamon, spread it on top of the dough.
4) Roll the dough and cut into slices and place upward in muffin liners. Place the cinnamon buns in an oven safe/ baking tray. Cover with cloth and let rise for about 60 minutes or until the buns have doubled in size.
5) Brush the top with beaten egg mixture and sprinkle sugar pearls.
6) Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes at 225 degrees Celsius. Let it cool before serving.

Enjoy! :)

#CinnamonBuns #CinnamonRolls #SwedishBuns #KanelBullar #Scandinavia

The Chanel That Was

As an Instagram addict, I saw a lot of bloggers posting photos about the bags they acquired last year, 2017. Well, 2017 has been a good year and I have also purchased my dream Chanel bag- The Classic Flap Bag. So this inspired me to write a blog about my Chanel purchases from 2017, Chanel addict here! Okay, it’s not a lot but I’m truly contented of my Chanel collection right now. Well, almost! Still saving up for my next Chanel dream bag. 

My first Chanel purchase for the year 2017 was in February, a valentines gift for myself, a red colour nail polish.

I got this dream bag on my birthday and I’m so loving it. From the materials to the design, it’s the perfect bag! I admit, I wouldn’t mind having more of The Classic Flap Bag in different colours. I’m not really a fan of the Chanel perfumes, just not really my scent but when I accidentally tried the Allure at a duty free shop, it brings back memories. Then I remembered I already used this perfume back in college. Now, I’m loving the Allure smell, very alluring indeed.

These sunglasses were actually a Christmas present from my Swedish family. Well, let me tell you the story, my second family gave me money as my Christmas gift so I went straight to Chanel boutique. Lol! I’m really happy to have my first ever Chanel sunglasses. And my last Chanel purchase, The Coco Mademoiselle Fresh Moisture Mist. I was gifted a small perfume tester and I so love the smell but I took the mist because it's so fresh and lighter than the perfume.

So here are my Chanel purchases, what’s yours? Crossing my fingers to have more Chanel this year and be able to buy my second dream Chanel bag.

Want to see more of my Chanel collection? Click here and here.

Kisses

The Wonders of Mahabalipuram

Ahhh, India! Finally crossed out of my bucket list. Although I wanted to see Taj Mahal in Agra but because of our Indian friend’s advice plus my thorough research about security, it ended up in Chennai. But the visit to Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about 60 kilometers south of Chennai, was definitely the highlight of this beautiful, exotic trip.

Staying at a beach resort in Mahabalipuram, the area was recommended as one of the best beach destinations of South Asia but it’s definitely not on my list especially the strong, perilous waves.

Mamallapuram, or Mahabalipuram, is a town on a strip of land between the Bay of Bengal and the Great Salt Lake, in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Founded by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, Mahabalipuram is famously known for The Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, Descent of the Ganges, Krishna's Butterball and Tiger Cave; these monuments and temples were carved out of granite in the 7th and 8th centuries.

The Shore Temple

Descent of the Ganges

Krishna's Butterball

The Five Rathas

Tiger Cave

Photo from Expedia.com

Winga Baw Elephant Camp

My recent trip to the beautiful country of Myanmar (Burma) was more like a birthday getaway, meaning I have to see elephants. :) But I have always wanted to visit the Shwedagon Temple, as well as the temples in the ancient city of Bagan. However, due to time constraints, I was only able to see the former capital Yangon.

The highlight of this trip was, of course, visiting an elephant orphanage in Bago. Winga Baw Elephant Camp was recommended by a friendly Burmese driver/tour guide and the 2-hour car trip was totally worth it. It was such a heartwarming experience to bottle-feed the orphaned baby elephants. I'm forever grateful to the staff of Winga Baw Elephant Camp for entrusting me with this obligation, as I am truly an elephant lover and this encounter was really an unforgettable one.

In the camp, you can have a close encounter with both baby elephants and big elephants. And for about 5 dollars, you can feed them with a basket of bananas. You can also witness some of the elephants in their natural habitat as the elephants are allowed to roam in the nearby jungle. And they always return in the camp at nightfall.

If you're looking for an elephant orphanage to visit around Yangon, I definitely recommend Winga Baw Elephant Camp.

Winga Baw Elephant Camp
Address: Beside Payagyi Bawnatgyi Road, Bago, Myanmar

Admission: 20 USD per person

My Lovely Vintage Finds in Bangkok

Yes, I love vintage... Vintage cars, vintage Chanel, vintage costume jewelry and sometimes, vintage apparels. I have always been enamored of the 1920's, the epoch full of sophistication, elegance and great sense of style. With my antique taste, I do believe I'm an old soul. Vintage fashion would always stir my curiosity and keep me wondering how the previous owners would glamorously don the lovely pieces.

Since I've been to Bangkok countless times, I have discovered some wonderful vintage places around the city and I wouldn't call it thrifting as these are trendy vintage boutiques. So today's blog, I'm going to show you some of my gorgeous luxury vintage finds.


I. Burberry Scarf and Fendi Hanky.

I got these vintage Burberry scarf and Fendi hanky for US $10 each at Eco Shop in Terminal 21. The Fendi hanky is a perfect bag accessory, use it like a twilly or just tie it around the bag handle. The Burberry, I normally use as a neck scarf and I just love the book print.


II. Karen Millen Dress

The story behind this dress is funny! While out with friends in Bangkok, I needed a scarf badly since that night was a little chilly. Told them I will just look for a cheap scarf on the street but there wasn't. And since we're close to Terminal 21, so I just went there to look for a scarf but I found this dress instead, fell in love and bought it! But I made a lot of changes to this chiffon dress. Bought it for US $50 at Basement of Samantha, a vintage fashion shop in Terminal 21.

This is how the dress looks after I redesigned it.

III. Chanel Travel Line Handbag

You wouldn't believe how much I paid for this CHANEL handbag! I bought it for US $75, it was actually US $100 but I haggled so I got it for that price! And yes, authenticated and it's original! The bag was actually damaged on the bottom part so have to send it at a bag spa to have it repaired but then the outcome is perfect.

Will You Make A Difference?

For friends and family in Asia and Europe who entrusted me to donate clothes and other stuff, I already gave them to the orphanages in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Your contribution has made a lot of unprivileged children delighted.

If you want to make a difference, it's never too late to start. We cannot help everyone but everyone can help someone and make them happy.

''Sooner or later you realize that real fulfillment comes only from helping others. All of the rest is just temporary.'' - Elie Tahari

House of Joy Orphanage in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.

Historical Georgetown

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and named after King George III of United Kingdom and Ireland, Georgetown- the capital city of Penang, is one of the oldest cities in Malaysia. Founded in 1786 by Captain Francis Light of the British East India Company, Georgetown was one of the first British settlements in South East Asia then it became a British Crown Colony in 1867.

Despite the extremely hot weather in the month of March, walking around Georgetown was totally worth it. I am in awe of the historical sites and preserved century-old buildings. Having the reputation of Malaysia's gastronomic capital, never miss to try the street food around. It is the perfect definition for the term ''where east meets west''. Exploring the small alleys was like going back to its rich past where the spice trade was rampant. I wish I had taken more photos.