Horse Swiss Roll for CNY 2014

 

Gong Xi Fatt Choy! Chinese New Year is around the corner soon, this year falls under end of January - 31st January. For those who does not know about 12 chinese zodiac, these 12 animal signs in the Chinese zodiac are known to the Chinese as the Twelve Earthly Stems.

Some say the Chinese zodiac animals derive from an ancient tale of Buddha holding a race and asking all the animals to participate. The first 12 were given a place in the calendar. The Rat won by riding on the Ox’s back and the Pig came last because he stopped to have a meal. And this new year will be the year of Horse (Wood)

The spirit of the horse is recognized to be the Chinese people's ethos – making unremitting efforts to improve themselves. It is energetic, bright, warm-hearted, intelligent and able. Ancient people liked to designate an able person as 'Qianli Ma', a horse that covers a thousand li a day (one li equals 500 meters).

In conjunction of this coming CNY of "Wood" horse, I've created this wood horse by using chocolate swiss roll. Simple decoration step by step is available in my video blog below. 

See below for Hankerie's recipe

Ingredients

1. 3 eggs
2. 80g caster sugar
3. 85g plain flour
4. 10g premium unsweetened cocoa powder
5. 60g milk
6. 40g vegetable oil 

Whip Cream filling Recipe

1. 200ml whipped cream
2. 20g caster sugar

Decoration

1. Refer to youtube below.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180ºC.
2. Grease and line baking paper on Swiss roll tin.
3. Sieve plain flour and cocoa powder, set aside.
4. Put eggs and caster sugar into a large mixing bowl and whisk until light and creamy (it should be very thick at this stage).
5. Once the egg is creamy, stir slowly the milk and vegetable oil.
6. Fold the dry ingredients from step 3 very gently using a spatula.
7. Pour the mixture into Swiss roll tin carefully.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown and springy to touch.
9. When the chocolate sponge is baked, remove from oven, tip upside down on baking paper and carefully remove paper from sponge.
10. Spread with whipped cream and roll into swissroll. Chill in the fridge at least 30 minutes.
11. Follow the youtube below- http://youtu.be/5vgJ1tDGN_c for decorating this horse swiss roll.

Wish everyone Happy Chinese New Year 2014 in advance.