CNY Special: Little Mouse Butter Cookies 金鼠抱喜

It’s been a long long while since my last uploaded any recipe as the work and family life as taken up a big part of my time, commitment as a working mom/daughter/wife is just too daunting. Anyway, this is one worth keeping. It’s a tested recipe by other blogger (see original link below) but the design is original ;)

 

Little Mouse Butter Cookies 金鼠抱喜

The Ingredients: 

• 90g unsalted butter at room temperature 
• 40g icing sugar, sifted
• 15g egg yolk (use medium egg)
• 170g cake flour (super fine flour), sifted
• A pinch of salt (I omitted this)
• 30-40 roasted almonds or cashews

The Making:

1. Preheat oven at 150°c, brush the baking tray with butter or spray with a layer of cooking oil, and place a piece of parchment paper over.
2. Cream butter and icing sugar using K mixer on high speed until the mixture became pale and creamy, add the egg yolk.
3. Add the flour bit by bit, the salt, and continue mixing until you get a well mixed, non-sticky dough.
4. To make the cookie into shape, I used a bear cookie cutter and modified the ear shape using my cake modeling tool (see picture). Make sure use both hands to hold onto the nut.
5. Bake in middle tray for 10-12min, or until golden brown. Let cold before you store them in air tight container. 

Useful Tips: 

• to avoid the cookies from cracking, make sure the cookie dough is thick enough - around 1cm. I made mine a bit too thin so quite a few had broken ears and necks *sob*
• This recipe yield about 30 cookies. To make more just double the ingredients.

Happy baking & wishing you and your family a happy Chinese New Year filled with blessings and happiness.

Original recipe adapted from NasiLemak Lover, you may want to visit her website here :) http://nasilemaklover.blogspot.com/2016/01/nut-hugging-bear-cookies-2016-cny.html

{CNY Special} Prosperous Abalone dish with Mushrooms 鲍螺万象迎新年

It's the 7th day of Chinese New Year, which also coincide with the Valentine's Day. We had a simple family gathering where my siblings and dad came over for a family luncheon. It's potluck style and as the hostess, I decided to make an auspicious dish to celebrate the Lunar new year.   

Managed to cook this dish in under 30 minutes and it's emptied almost immediately when we started dining. 

The topshell was arranged into a rose shape, it was spontaneous but I though their appearance was rather beautiful. *smile* My late mom would approved this if she's around.

The platter of food.. Recipe for the sesame chicken cubes (the center piece) will be shared separately.

Note: I did not serve the abalone nor top shells to my little ones (I prefer serving them unprocessed food), however they enjoyed the broccoli and other dishes to the max.

 

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes 

Ingredients:

• 1 can of abalone in brine 高汤炖鲍鱼一罐*

• 1 can of sliced topshell 鲍鱼汁螺片一罐*

• 300gm of broccoli, cut into florets 西兰花一颗约三百克

• 3 cloves garlic, crushed 蒜头三颗，切细

• 8 King Eryngii Mushroom, roughly shredded 杏鲍菇八颗，捌段

• 100g Enoki mushroom, washed, 金针菇一百克，洗净

*Note: I used the Soon Thye Hang (顺泰行海味） canned abalone and topshell, you can choose other brand or flavor too but their brine sauce is my favorite.

The Making 做法:

1. Blanch the broccoli florets with hot water, drain the excess water and place aside. 用热水把西兰花烫熟，让多余的水流掉，西兰花放一旁待用。

2. Heat up 2 tablespoon of cooking oil in the wok, toss in the garlic and sautée for a minute till turns golden color. 在热锅烧热两汤匙油，加入蒜头炒至金黄色。

3. Add the mushrooms and broccoli, quick fry on high heat for about 2 minutes, add a tablespoon of the abalone sauce to flavor. Scope out and put into the serving dish. 

* you may add some sliced ham too for richer flavor

把杏鲍菇，金针菇加入锅中混入两汤匙的红烧鲍鱼菇汁快炒，再加入烫熟的西兰花大火炒约两分钟即可离锅，放在一个空碟上。

* 也可加入切片火腿添味

4. In the same wok, heat up the abalone with sauce, once the sauce starts to boil (should be around a min) turn off the heat. Arrange the abalone nicely over the broccoli and pour the sauce all over them. Repeat the same for the topshell but only add few spoonful of sauce over the topshell will do. 把罐头鲍鱼连汁倒入锅中，滚后即可熄火（约一分钟左右）把鲍鱼排在西兰花上方，然后把剩余的汁倒入碟中。罐头螺片也如法炮制，但只需要加几汤匙的螺汁在螺片上，不用太多。

That's it, your CNY dish is ready to serve. it's really just that simple! *wink* 

一道”鲍螺万象”轻轻松松上桌啦，趁热吃吧！

祝各位，新年快乐，心想事成！

Abalone Soup Noodle with Bean Curds 鲍鱼汁捞面，好好吃

bilingual | 双语版

I found a leftover can of NZ Wild abalone which I bought during Chinese New Year, we were not exactly in the mood to celebrate when my late mom departed us during CNY, so it had been left idle in the kitchen shelf for months.

Anyway, I decided to make a quick but luxury meal - canned abalone soup noodle, with broccoli and bean curds, and the kiddos absolutely loved them. E finished his bowl of noodle in record fast time (like 3 minutes?!) and instantly asked for a second bowl. So I quickly cooked another fresh batch of noodle, which only took me 3 minutes, topped with some soup and wa-lah, he finished it within minutes. If only he eats this fast everyday. :)

Our serving. Kids have theirs without the abalone slices, as its too chewy for their liking. You can try to cut the abalone into small dice and the kids may be able to enjoy it.  

The wild abalone I used, slightly smaller than a palm size. Got this from Soon Thye Hang during their CNY promo, you may checkout their website for a branch near you.

Preparation time: 10 min 十分钟准备

Cooking time: 10 min 十分钟烹煮

Serving for: approximate 4 pax 越四人份

Ingredients 材料：

• 1 canned abalone in clear stock 清汤鲍鱼一罐 （红烧也可）

• 1 stalk broccoli, cut small 西兰花一棵，切小段

• 1 carrot, cut flora / round shape 红萝卜一个，切片/花状

• 12 slices bean curd 豆腐皮数片

• 12 flat noodles 扁面条12个左右

• Water half cup 水半杯

We like this organic flat soya noodle, has a nice scent and not too soft to bite. 
我家爱吃这有机黄豆面条，有淡淡的豆香又不会太软。

The Making 做法：

1. Boil a pot of water (just enough to cover the broccoli), cook the broccoli and carrots for about 2 minutes, scope aside.

用中型锅煮滚水后，放入西兰花和红萝卜烫熟 （越两分钟），捞起待用。

2. Toss the noodles into the boiling water, cook for 3 minutes, or as per the time indicated on the packaging. Scoop the noodles, lightly soak in a bowl of cold water, then equally distribute them in the dinner plates. 

用同一个锅把面条煮熟（三分钟左右），捞起，过冷河，适量分布在碟子里。

3. When the noodle is cooking, use a wok, heat up the abalone sauce (DONT cook the abalone!), add half cup of water as the sauce is quite salty. Once bubbles are forming, toss in the broccoli, carrots and beancurd. Let it simmer for about 1-2 minutes. 

在煮面条同时，烧热锅，把鲍鱼汁加小半杯水煮滚后，置入红萝卜，西兰花和豆腐皮，滚越一至二分钟，熄火。

4. Scoop the soup and cooked veggies over the noodles, top with abalone slices, serve hot and enjoy!

把热鲍鱼汁和料倒在面条上，把切好的鲍鱼片摆在面上，热腾腾的鲍鱼捞面即可上桌！

IMPORTANT: Abalone is a type of Mollusca which falls under the shellfish family (like clams, scallops), so there is a risk of allergy reaction. Please be cautious when introducing to young toddler for the first time and do avoid introducing to little ones below 2yo if possible. Afterall canned abalone is a processed food and contains preservative.

注意事项： 鲍鱼属于贝壳类（像蚵，扇贝），部分人可能会有过敏反应，小朋友如果是第一次尝试的话要注意是否有过敏反应。我个人不建议给两岁以下的孩童食用， 而且罐头食品始终难免有防腐剂和较重的调味料。

Useful Tips 小提示…

• The abalone sauce is very rich in taste and I find it rather salty, so I added some water to dilute it. Adjust it according to your personal liking. 

我个人觉得鲍鱼汁太重味了，所以加入少许水调稀，你可依照你的味蕾来调整。

• You may serve this dish as a main dish without the noodle but add on some mushrooms, it is actually one of the favorite CNY dishes during Chinese family's reunion dinner which signifies a wealthy life ("Bao" in the abalone means full or filled)

在汤汁里加入几颗冬菇，省略面条，这也是道很道地的新年佳肴之一。鲍鱼鲍鱼，让你年年饱满哦…

{CNY Special} Fried Prawn in Sweet Sauce 干煎明虾

This is a traditional Chinese New Year dish that my mother in law cooks every year. This time I'm determined to learn from her, who knows one day it may be my turn to prepare the CNY eve dinner. :P

It is unbelievably easy and but is absolutely delicious!

Preparation time: 10 minutes 

Cooking time: 10 minutes 

Ingredients:

• 12 large fresh prawn, cleaned 

• 2 glove garlic, thinly sliced

• 1 thumb ginger, thinly sliced 

For garnish:

• 1/4 Red chili, thinly sliced 

• some parsley leaves 

For sauce:

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1/2 tablespoon dark soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce 

• 1 teaspoon sugar 

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon Shao Xin wine 

• 1 tablespoon corn flour, diluted with some water 

The Making:

1. Heat up 3 tablespoon of cooking oil in the wok, put the prawns into the wok and cook for about 3 minutes till cook (turns red). Dish out the prawn and place them on a dish.

2. Using remaining oil in the wok, sautée the garlic and ginger till fragrance, then add in the rest of the ingredients for sauce (except the corn orb starch).

3. Boil the mixture on high heat till thicken, then add in the corn starch and stir to mix well.

4. Toss the prawn into the sauce and mix them up. Serve them on a plate and add some parsley & red chili for garnishing.

Ready to serve. Look at the complete 8 course dinner made by my amazing mother in law.. Simply irresistible!

Here's wishing you a happy Chinese New Year, may you and your loved ones be blessed with abundance of good luck and always in great health.

Friendly Reminder...

• ensure your little one is not allergic to prawn or crustaceans, my little E will have rashes after eating prawn so he would have to pass on this dish. 

Melt-in-your-mouth Butter Cookies 即融牛油曲奇

Bi-lingual | 双语版

I had no intention to bake for this Chinese New Year initially, as I wanted to focus on my family and career plus to have a little extra time for my midnight sewing. But since it's long holiday thanks to Thaipusan and Federal day in the city I live, I have 4 days of off day. Since I have completed my CNY seeing wish list for my little girl, why not bake some goodies? 

I made few varieties of butter cookies this time. Nothing fancy (I know sheep cookies is an Internet phenomenon..), but these little muchies are really melt in your mouth kind of soft and my little ones are loving them. I'm sure they are suitable for old folks too which make them perfect CNY gift!

Here's how...

Ingredients:

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Baking Time: 12-15 minutes 

Serving: about 40 cookies each recipe

Original Butter Cookies

• 130gm Unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into cubes 

• 190gm super fine flour

• 10gm corn flour

• 50gm icing sugar (reduced from 70gm)

• 50gm/2 medium eggs, beaten

 

B) Chocolate cookies

• 130gm Unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into cubes

• 180gm super fine flour

• 10gm corn flour 

• 15gm cocoa powder

• 50gm icing sugar (reduced from 80gm)

• 50gm/2 medium eggs, beaten

The Making:

1. Sprinkles some flour over a baking tray, set the oven to 180°c.

2. Using a mixer, mix butter with the sugar on high speed until turns pale and fluffy.

3. Slowly add the egg liquid into the mixture and mix well, followed by the flour (add in few batches). You may add the green tea / cocoa powder now.

4. Once the mixture is well mixed, scope them into a piping bag, pipe them onto the tray to form a wreath shape, or any shape as you wish.

5. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cookies is golden brown.

Let cold and store in airtight containers. These cookies shall be good to keep for 3 weeks.

我家小瓜超爱吃牛油饼干，我原本没打算烘新年饼干，但反正有几天的假期，就给烤炉热一热吧。

超容易但超好吃的，要管成花圈状 （丹麦饼干就是这个卖相！）也行，简单的球状也行，就随你意吧。

A）原味牛油曲奇

•130gm无盐牛油(室温),切成立方体

•200克超细粉

•70gm砂糖

•50克/ 2中型鸡蛋，搅均

B）巧克力牛油饼干

•130gm无盐牛油(室温),切成立方体

•180gm超细粉

• 10gm 粟粉

•15gm 可可粉

• 80克 糖粉 （我减至50gm）

•50克/ 2中型鸡蛋，搅均

做法：

1.撒一面粉在烤盘上，将烤箱预热至180℃。

2.使用搅拌机，用高速搅拌奶油与糖，直到奶油发白和蓬松。

3.慢慢将鸡蛋液加入混合物，拌匀后再加入面粉和粟粉您现在可以在此时添加可可粉。

4.把混合物舀到piping管袋，管成花环形状。

5.烘烤12-15分钟，直到饼干呈金黄色即可取出。

待冷却后，存放在密闭容器中。这些饼干可以存放约三周。