Friday 10 October 2014

Totoro Bento & Steam Cake

A fire broke out in the unit above us just a few hours ago. Thank goodness it was confined to one room and the security guards managed to put out the fire before the firemen came. Nobody was hurt in the ordeal, but it was still quite frightening since it was so close to us.

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I will continue posting my Halloween bentos next week. For today, let me share this Totoro bento first, as I want to update the Totoro steam cake recipe. Sorry for taking so long to update the recipe, I did see your requests, but I'm just awfully slow at blogging.

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This Totoro bento is actually very easy to make. The brown portion is pork floss, the other ingredients used were rice, nori and pasta. I quite like how Totoro turned out, the pork floss makes him look quite fluffy.

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I made these Totoro steam cakes for my boys' breakfast.

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They are made using Morinaga pancake mix, same recipe as the previous few steam cakes I shared. If you do not have this pancake mix, you can click HERE to use this recipe instead. A reader shared with me that she used another pancake mix and it works too, so you might want to give that a try too.

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My tummy is rumbling as I type out this post at midnight, no steam cakes at home now, but I do have lots of snacks hubby brought back from Japan, lol. Alright, have a good weekend, will be back to update my blog again next week. :)

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Details for these steam cakes are in the recipe below.

TOTORO STEAM CAKE

Ingredients:
(makes 4-5 steam cakes)
150g Morinaga pancake mix
2 small eggs
30g sugar
45g milk
45g plain yoghurt
20g unsalted butter, melted
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tbsp plain flour
1/2 tbsp cocoa powder

Method:
  1. Whisk egg and sugar in mixing bowl.
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  3. Add in yoghurt and milk till well blended.
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  5. Stir in melted butter.
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  7. Sift in pancake mix, and baking powder and fold till well blended. Scoop out 1 tbsp of  plain dough to be used in step 6. Add in 1 tbsp of cocoa powder and mix well. Set aside 1 tbsp of the mixture and fill it in a pipping bag, you will need it for step 10 later.
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  9. Scoop 1 tbsp of batter from step 4, add 1/2 tbsp of dark cocoa powder, mix well. Spoon in pipping bag.
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  11. Using 1 tbsp of plain batter set aside from step 4, add in 1/2 tbsp of plain flour. Spoon in pipping bag.
  12. Fill cupcake cups with remaining mixture, fill till around 70% full. Tap cups lightly to remove air bubbles.
  13. Pipe on Totoro's details, start with the plain mixture, followed by the brown mixture. 
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  15. Steam cupcakes over preheated steamer on low heat for 12 minutes. When steaming, please cover pot lid with a cloth, to prevent water from dripping onto the cakes and spoiling the designs. 
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  17. Pipe out ears using brown batter from step 4. Pipe on a tray lined with baking paper, steam for around 3 minutes.
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  19. Make a cut with a knife on the cake, so that you can slot in the ears.
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Bunting---Dots-and-Stripes---Rainbow---11
Where to get same or similar items used in today's post:
  

22 comments:

  1. Ahh!! Relieved to hear you're all ok. I got a scare when I read your first sentence in my Blogger feed. Remember to check for structural and electrical damage esp near the ceiling so can claim early if necessary d:)

    Recipe sounds easy, I've never steamed cake before. Btw Step 5 says "dark cocoa powder", what's that? I've only seen "cocoa powder" leh, is different?

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    Replies
    1. Should be ok coz it's not the unit directly above mine. Quite scary, the whole room is black. Will tell my hubby to see whether need to check. It's just darker cocoa powder, not a must, can also use brown colouring, charcoal powder if you find the batter is still not dark enough.

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  2. 我的天啊。。庆幸大家平安无事。
    好可爱的蒸糕,我最近也开始玩这个了^^

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    Replies
    1. 谢谢你,的确是太幸运了,大家都平安无事。

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  3. Hello I would like to ask if I could buy ur be to sets. Do drop me an email @ brd_9@hotma.com.

    Am really in love with them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, I don't sell them, thank you so much for your interest.

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  4. Sorry it's brd_9@hotmail.com! Thanks!

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  5. Love the Totoro bento! Your steam cakes sure look yummy, makes me hungry too!

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  6. Thank goodness you and everyone else are safe Ming, sounds scary! Totoro bento and the steam cakes look cute and delicious!:)

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    Replies
    1. Tk u, Rina. :) Yes, coz it's so near to me, thank goodness it did not spread.

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  7. hi, i wonder if any pancake mix will do, if i can't find the morinaga one?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sue, I've not tried but a reader tried and said it works too. You can see her comment in this post. http://www.bentomonsters.com/2014/05/piggy-steam-cake.html

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  8. Can I ask where you purchased the adorable cups you made these steam cakes in?

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  9. Hi, 請問粉漿是不是把step 1-4 混合就可以了?

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    Replies
    1. 也可以,不过按着步骤做会较好。

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  10. Also I would like to know that should I use baking powder or baking soda?

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  11. Can I bake instead of steaming?

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    Replies
    1. No, I don't think so. But if you try, let me know if it works.

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  12. The cup you're using for the cakes look rather thick-- do you think a normal cupcake liner would work, or should I try to find thicker ones like yours? :) Cute ideas btw!!

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    Replies
    1. No, u need something thicker that can hold its shape. If you are using a cupcake liner, u have to put in in a ramekin or mini cake tin. Alternatively, they can also be done directly in a ramekin or mini cake tin. :)

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