Fruit Cake for the Makan Session

Going to Bro Nerse's house for this evening "makan session". Mr Black craved for CRABS! Another chance for a good get-together. Makan session starts at 5pm and boy were thare lotsa food. Crabs were the highlight of the evening. We had Bangkang Crabs. They were huge stuffs and were fleshy. Kak Ayu was the Chef of the day. Kudos to your wonderful culinary skills! Eventhough I'm not a crab eater, those babies sure looked mouthwatering and smelt delicious. Everyone tucked in like there's no tomorrow. Besides crabs, there were Sweet & Sour Garoupa, Tom Yum Seafood, stir-fry vege and other sides.

I brought Chocolate Pudding, Fruit Cake and simple Potato Egg dish. I was happy to see the Fruit Cake turned out well... Considering it was a last minute decision and all. Baking and preparing it was really easy with no complicated instructions. Kak Ayu, the recipes' below for you to try.

Everyone had a good time. Well... good company + good food = good time. Ain't that the equation always?!!! We were stuffed to the brim and that karaoke session seemed to dissapear SUDDENLY after everyone had their meals! It was taken over with endless chattering amongst us instead. Well... it's been ages since we all had our last get-together. Thanks to Mr Black's craving or this wouldn't happen at all???!

Ingredients for Fruit Cake
(Note - I replaced the traditional dried fruits with the dried fruits below)
Dried Dates - chopped roughly
Dried Apple rings - chopped roughly
Raisins
Sunflower seeds
1 cup brown sugar
60g butter - cubed
1.5 cups boiled water
1.5 tsp bicarbonate soda
1 tsp cinnamon powder
0.5 tsp nutmeg powder
1 egg - slightly beaten
2 cups AP flour
Honey - glazing (opt)
Method
In a heatproof bowl, pour in all dried fruits, brown sugar and butter. Add in boiled water and stir till butter melts. Add in bicarbonate soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and stir well. Add in the slighly beaten egg. Pour in AP flour. Mix well. Place a piece baking paper (aka tracing paper) in the baking tin and grease with a little butter to prevent cake from sticking. Pour the mixture into baking tin. Bake @ 180'C for 50 minutes (mid rack). Glaze top of cake with honey. Let cake cool before removing from baking tin.

Here's how Bangkang Crab looks like

Here's what we had at the "Makan Session"

Ingredient for Chocolate Pudding (the 2nd last pic from bottom)
1 pkt agar-agar powder (Rose brand 13g)
2 cups water
3/4 cup condense milk (I ran out of sugar. Can you believe that!)
(For sugar use 1 cup)
1 litre UHT Chocolate Milk (any brand)
3 tbsp VanHouten cocoa
2 tbsp Milo (opt)
Method
In a pan, heat water and pour in agar-agar powder under a low fire. Stir. In another bowl, mix well cocoa powder and Milo with some water. Pour into the agar-agar mixture. Raise fire a little and stir constantly. Add in UHT chocloate milk and condense milk. Note - Lessen condense milk / sugar if you want it less sweet. Stir till all combine and let cook for a couple of minutes. Pour into desired moulds. Let cool before putting in the fridge overnight. Serve chill with mix canned fruits and drizzle evaporated milk. You can also make Fruit Salad (pic above Chocolate Pudding) to go with it. It's awesome!

Ingredients for Fruit Salad (pic above Chocolate Puddings)
1 mix canned fruits
1 green apple - chopped
green grapes - halves
Sultanas
Evaporated milk
Condense milk
Yogurt (plain)
Method
Drain juice of canned fruits and pour content into a bowl. Add in chopped green apples, grapes and sultanas. Drizzle enough evaporated and condense milk till the fruits are coated. Scoop a couple spoons of yogurt. Note - DO NOT pour in liquid ingredients too much coz it'll 'flood' the salad and will look unappetising. You can also add in other varieties of dried and fresh fruits. To each his own aites!