In nearly all the baking videos I've watched that uses yeast, no one talks about 1st, 2nd or 3rd rising. I'm old school and sticking to my old ways of baking through several risings with the appropriate ingredients added accordingly - 1st rising(sponge: milk, flour, sugar and yeast. This small portion will tell me if my yeast is still good. If not, then I don't have to throw away the whole batch) to 2nd rising(adding everything else except the filling) to 3rd rising(adding the fillings) - a departure from how others do it.
This method was taught to me by Philip Heyer (aka Aklay), a Michelin-rated French chef who used to be the pastry chef to the Sultan of Brunei. But Philip taught me this for baking regular bread. I don't know if it still applies to pastry or cake. But doing it this way has always come out right for me, so I'm sticking to it.
Cornbread Trigger After my Stollen Bread project, my fingers were trigger-itchy for the rolling pin. But with what? I was a wannabe-baker in search of inspiration.
Just a few days ago, Pamela and I were hanging out for coffee and Stollen bread. Then she started talking about her younger years in Alabama where her Mom used to make the best cornbread on the planet. The cornbread thought excited me. That was it! My next project was cornbread.
Cornbread came up in a conversation with Pamela. She's also my kombucha guru and hair-mess management guru
I only had cornbread once at Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurant back in Canada. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. It remains a distant but salivating memory - and a benchmark. I later learned that Kenny Rogers Roasters was more known for its cornbread than anything else they serve.
Now, I'll make that cornbread memory a reality. I tried 2 recipes. One is a clone Kenny Rogers Corn Muffin and the other one was by a guest Mom at Jamie Oliver's site, using lotsa cheese.
Kenny Rogers Clone Cornbread using Corn on the Cob
I planned on using my corn flour, but somehow ended up buying steamed corn on the cob. It got me thinking, if I can get the right consistency, why not? In parenthesis is what the original recipe is.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup melted palm sugar (instead of 2/3 cup granulated sugar)
1/4 cup honey
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 coconut cream (instead of 1/2 cup milk)
2 1/2 cups corn on the cob (instead of 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal and 3/4 cup frozen yellow corn)
Preparation:
combine the liquid together in a blender - eggs, coconut cream, melted palm sugar and melted butter.
knife the cooked corn kernels off the cob and add to the liquid mixture. Blend together.
combine the dry mixture together in a big bowl - flour, baking powder, and salt
pour blender content into the big bowl and mix together with a spatula
grease the baking tray with butter and pour the bowl content into it
bake into the pre-heated oven at 400° for 20 minutes or until the toothpick comes out dry
when done, remove from tray and put on grate for racking. Portion when cooled and freeze what won't be eaten
Cornbread with Lotsa Cheese
Ingredients:
butter for greasing
1.25 cup cornflour
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
350 grams grated Mozzarella
1.75 cups coconut cream
2 tablespoons melted palm sugar (I'll use 3 next time)
Preparation:
Mix the dry ingredients separately: cornflour, bread flour, baking powder, salt
Combine wet and dry ingredients and pour batter into a butter-greased baking deep dish and put in the oven at 200°C for 30-35 minutes. It's done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out dry
When done, remove from baking dish and onto a wire rack for cooling
Slice up and enjoy
Cheese? I thought cheese was part of the traditional cornbread recipe. Apparently, after viewing a few more recipes and videos, it's not. But it's a wonderful addition - albeit a huge addition. The original recipe of Meredith Steele was 15 oz (roughly 430 grams - that's nearly half a kilo!) of part-skim Ricotta cheese. Since I already had Mozarella for my pizza, I simply used Mozarella. The resultant cornbread was dense, heavy and filling - but still yummy.
Note: Because I used a dryer Mozarella (compared to Ricotta), the batter became dense and almost doughy. I had to add 3/4 cup of coconut milk from the original recipe of only 1 cup. For consistency, I viewed a few videos on how thick/liquidy the final batter should be - and I added the cream accordingly.
Ending Thoughts The final cornbread was hefty, dense, filling and intensely flavorful (thanks to Mozarella cheese, coconut cream, lavish butter greasing and duck eggs). The 2 tbsp of palm sugar rounded off the corners without making it sweet. But a tad sweeter would be more pleasant...maybe 3 tbsps next time.
Is it any better than the real Kenny Rogers? In fairness, NO, it's not. This is my very first cornbread (and it's not bad by any yardstick) and it's unlikely that I can top a recipe that founded a multi-million dollar franchise. But I'm very happy with this cornbread. Maybe for my next one, I'll skip the cheese, use cornmeal instead of cornflour to make it lighter. But as a general rule, I don't make the same project twice. I'm off to my next one. What? I'll begin my search tomorrow.
Cornbread and kombucha light dinner
Notation:
cornflour vs cornmeal - Because I used cornflour instead of cornmeal, the traditional grainy texture was replaced by a refined cake-ish texture. But they're both made from whole corn kernel so the taste was no different - just texture. But corn starch is NOT a substitute - it's made from endosperm of the corn kernel and has no nutrient or taste. It's mainly used as a flavorless soup thickener.
eggs - for any egg recipe, I always use duck eggs. Why? Duck eggs have a bigger yolk and it's richer. The egg white is less. So more flavor.
Ending Thoughts There is something satisfying about cornbread as a comfort food. It's not bread for any grand occasion, but just a hearty everyday bread.
Between the 2 recipes, I would choose xxxxxxxxxxx.
(Sep 23, 2021) Tall claims about Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep) have been made by realized masters including Vipassana guru, S.N. Goenka and Tibetan Buddhist, Lama Thubten Yeshe, who authored Bliss of Inner Fire (Tummo Yoga). What exactly is Yoga Nidra? more »»
(Oct 4, 2021) My first dabble in cinnamon rolls was in New York when someone gave me a Cinnabon - a multi-national chain selling the very popular cinnamon rolls. Like stollen bread, it was epiphany - love at first bite. Somehow, none of the subsequent cinnamon rolls I've tasted compared to Cinnabon. That was my benchmark. Now, since I'd been on a baking roll here at my digs at Nawa Saraan in Chiang Mai where I have a fully functioning bakery at my disposal, I'm rolling up my sleeve to sink my teeth into that Swedish tradition, Kannelbullar, or cinnamon rolls.....more »»
Chiang Mai INFORMATION
Chiang Mai Map
Chiang Mai, Thailand
IMPORTANT PLACES
Bus Station Train Station Chiang Mai International Airport Nong Buak Hard Park - free yoga classes daily
HOTEL
Arun Dara Villa - 7 exclusive rooms, 1 swimming pool for every room, grand opening
Nawa Sheeva Hotel - big rooms, high ceiling, salt-water pool, restaurant, cafe
Nawa Saraan Hotel - low density (4 spacious rooms), stone garden setting, Koi fish pond, Old City location
Arun Suite - 3 bedrooms in a 3-storie guesthouse within Old City, ideal for families
MOTORBIKE RENTAL
Tawan Bike - motorcycle rental | +66 91 635 2863 | Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
Chiang Mai FYI / Tips
crop-burning season in Chiang Mai is between late Feb to early April. But laws change everytime. This year, 2019, there is a 61-day ban on burning so the farmers started burning early. When my plane was approaching Chiang Mai on Jan 24, 2019, there was already a thick blanket of smog covering the entire city (and beyond). But within the city itself, you won't feel it (but that doesn't mean the air is healthy). To monitor air conditions in real time, refer to site: Chiang Mai Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI)
hot season begins March and lasts until June
wet season begins July and lasts until September
best time to visit Chiang Mai is mid-September to mid-February - after the monsoon and before the burning
you have to try Khao Soi, this is north Thailand's culinary staple
the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located in the Old City
to exchange your dollars to Thai Baht, the Super Rich Money Exchange give the best rates. There are many branches scattered around Chiang Mai
get a red cab (songthao) outside the train station for Baht 50 (instead of paying B100 if inside the train station) to Old City - if you haggle nicely enough...I did!
shared red taxi (songthao) - B30 standard fare plying all over Old City
for only B50/day, best to rent a bike to go around the Old City - it's a 2.5km2 with lots to discover
FREE daily yoga classes from 9:00am to 10:15am at Nong Buak Hard Park (southwest corner of Old City). Resident and passing-through teachers take turns conducting yoga classes.
Blues/Jazz Bars in Chiang Mai
North Gate Jazz Coop - at Chang Phueg Gate, great Tuesday jam session, Blues on Sundays at 11pm by the Chiang Mai Blues band
Boy Blues Bar - at the Night Bazaar. Mondays at 9:30pm is open mic
My Secret Cafe - near Wat Phra Singh. Tuesdays at 7:30pm for the changing front-act and 9:00pm for the Panic Band
Taphae East - 88 Thapae Rd. (just north of Night Bazaar). Fridays at 9:30pm by Chiang Mai Blues Band
Chiang Mai Cost Index
B60 Chiang beer
B250 1 hour drop-in yoga session
B200 one hour Thai body massage at WAYA Massage(highly recommended)
B50 noodle soup with meat
B50 coffee
B40 pad thai
B30/kilo wash-only laundry
B50/kilo wash+iron laundry
B100-150 dorm bed/night
B250 fan room/night
B30 internet cafe/hour
B170-190 Movies Sat-Sun and public holidays
B130-150 Movies weekdays
B100 Movies Wednesdays (movie discount day)
B750 1/2 day Thai cooking lessons
B900-1000 1 full day Thai cooking lessons
B400 Muay Thai boxing ticket
B2500 starting room rate at the luxury hotel, Nawa Sheeva(highly recommended)
Transportation
B450 bus, Chiang Mai to Bangkok
B160-180 bus, Chiang Mai to Pai
B1250 bus, Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
B1650 slow boat, Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
B210 bus, Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, 3-4 hours
B360 Green VIP bus, Chiang Mai to Mae Sai (Thai border town for visa run to Tachileik, Myanmar)
B50 bicycle rental, 24 hours
B200 motorbike rental, 24 hours
B273 #51 sleeping train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Book Online - direct booking with State Railway of Thailand. Best to register first. If going to BKK from CNX, click "Northern Line".
note -- big difference between booking direct with the State Railway and booking with an online 3rd party agent. 12GO was charging B1330 for the same trip that only cost me B941 with the State Railway.
note -- Oct 2022, I took the #10 Train from CNX to BKK, upper berth, 2nd class, a/c, sleeper, B941. The train was clean, fast, comfortable and modern. If you have heavy luggage that will cost more money in flight checkin, I would suggest this train. Otherwise, the flight now is so much cheaper it doesn't even make sense to take the bus or train.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai by Train from Bang Sue Train Station
10:22pm - #51 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 12:10pm, sleeper, 3rd class B270 (non sleeper), 2nd class B438, B728 upper deck, B798 lower deck
Loei to Chiang Mai by Bus
From Loei town center, take a tuk-tuk ride to the bus station, B30. There is only one bus station.
As of June 28, 2020 (still on Covid schedule), there are only 3 night trips: 8:30pm, 9:30pm and 12 midnight. 9 hours, B470.
The bus makes the following stops at the following times from a 9pm Loei departure: Phu Ruea (9:50pm), Phitsanulok (12:40am), Uttradit (2:20am), Lampang (4:35am)
Final bus stop is at the Red Bus Arcade, Chiang Mai, 9 hour-trip, arriving 6am (from 9pm Loei departure).
Take a red songthaew to Old City, B50. They'll try to charge you B100, but they'll take B50 (just assure the driver you won't tell the other passengers).
How to Get a 60-Day Thai Tourist Visa and then Extend by another 30 Days
This process is BEFORE Covid 19. Not sure what it is now.
60-Day Thai Tourist Visa
NOTE: There is no need to go back to your country to get the Thai tourist visa. Any major city with a Thai Embassy will do. Apparently there is also no need to have an invitation from a Thai establishment to justify the visa.
Bring the following to the Thai embassy:
a) proof of money (bank statement will suffice)
b) flight booking to Thailand
c) onward flight back to your country from Thailand
d) filled-in tourist visa form
e) 2 passport pictures
f) hotel booking in Thailand (they didn't ask me for this but better be safe)
g) passport with at least 6 months validity
After handing over all the documents, they will ask you to come pick your passport with the visa the following day from 4 to 5pm. That's it!
NOTE: after 2 successful attempts, I was already questioned the 3rd time.
30-Day Extension
NOTE: When your 60-day visa is close to expiry and you want to extend your stay. No need to leave Thailand.
bring the following to the Immigration Office:
a) passport (make sure your Tourist Visa hasn't expired yet)
b) Baht 1900
c) photocopy of your passport + visa duration date stamp + TM6 card (white immigration card) and sign all the copies
d) completed TM7 visa extension form (available at the Immigration Office)
e) one 4cmx6cm passport picture
submit the above to the Front Desk. They will give you a stub with your number on it. Take a seat and wait for your number to be called
when your number is called, your picture will be taken. Then go back to your seat. They will call you again.
when they call you again, they'll give you your passport with your extended visa. That's it!
when there are no lines, the whole process can take only 10 minutes
arrive early - in case there is a snag (visa snag, documentation snag, transport ticket snag, etc.), you will have ample time to troubleshoot the problem if you arrive early (to the airport, to the bus terminal, etc.)
put detailed itinerary on the Calendar apps of your smart-phone according to timelines - this is where you do all your thinking and planning. Once written down, you don't have to think anymore while you are on the journey...you just follow the steps. This frees your mind for something else that might happen while you are already en route
avoiding scams - as a general rule, I ignore the touts or anyone I don't know who call out to me. The calling comes in many forms - "Hi! Where are you from?", "Excuse me! Excuse me!", "Where are you going?". I don't look them in the eye and I remain non-verbal with them. If you reply to them, you just gave them an 'in' to hound you. In order not to look rude, I smile and wave the 'not interested' hand to them, without looking at them.
power bank - hand-carry your power bank. Do not check it in. You can be called in when you are already inside the plane to go all the way to the loading dock so you can personally remove the power bank...and chances are, you'll have to surrender it to them. And you might delay the plane departure!