During the years we lived in Southeast Asia, we took advantage of cheap fares and proximity to travel often to neighboring countries. Vietnam was a favorite and we went there at least three times. I’ll share a few of our photos from Saigon, Hanoi and Vung Tau at the bottom of this post, for those who might be interested.
Ingredients
2 scant tablespoons or 8g instant coffee granules
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 can (1 1/4 cups by volume or 397g) sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup or 60ml ml milk
1/2 cup or 120ml canola or other light oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered sugar, optional, for serving
Method
Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C and prepare your 12-cup muffin tin by lightly rubbing it with oil or use non-stick spray to coat or by lining it with paper liners. I ended up getting four extra muffins out of this batter because I decided not to fill the muffin cups too full. If you have an extra muffin pan, you can do the same.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your flour, coffee powder, salt and baking powder.
Whisk the condensed milk, oil, eggs and vanilla extract together in a smaller mixing bowl.
Pour your wet ingredients into your dry ones and stir until just combined
Divide the batter between the muffin cups.
Twelve and four spares.
Bake in your preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the muffins are golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Allow the muffins to cool for a few minutes then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if using.
Enjoy!
If you’d like to enjoy a glass of Vietnamese coffee along with these, here’s a good link to instructions.
And the filter thingy is really inexpensive on Amazon.com – only $2.49
***This is an affiliate link so I will earn some small change (literally six cents) if you buy when you click through. I’m gonna buy myself some bubble gum, if one can even get bubble gum for a nickel anymore.***
Here are some very random photos from our trips to Vietnam, with the disclaimer that I don’t always take the most touristy of photos.
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| Struggling through the narrow, low Chu Chi Tunnels that were used by the Viet Cong during the war. I don't know the guy in front of me. |
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| In an underground board room with mannequins posing as Viet Cong. Why we are smiling, I cannot tell you. |
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| How families travel. |
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| Many of the homes are tall and narrow. |
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| The local florist shop. In Malaysia floral wreaths are sent to shops or businesses for grand openings, but these might well be for funerals. Anybody out there know the tradition in Vietnam? |
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| Floral street vendors |
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| The tomb of Ho Chi Minh - It was a holiday that day so the queue to get in was enormous. These are not tourists but mostly locals, there to pay respects. His body is on view, embalmed and preserved, despite his wishes. |
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| So many motorcycles. Everywhere. |
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| I took this photo because this is the communal water fountain, in the park outside Ho Chi Minh's childhood home. Still open for sharing at the height of the SARS epidemic, 2003. Everybody used those same plastic cups. |
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| More typical housing. I love the plants growing everywhere. |
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| The bay in Vung Tau. |
And that's it for the tour! Thanks for stopping by!
