2 1/2 cups all−purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp almond essence
blanched almonds for decoration
beaten egg for glazing
1. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Cream the margarine
(or butter) and sugar together until light, white and fluffy. Beat in the egg
and almond essence. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients to make a stiff
dough.
2. Form the mixture into balls about 1 − 1.5 inch diameter and place these
on a greased baking tray. Place half an almond (split lengthways) on
each ball and press to flatten slightly. Brush with beaten egg.
3. Bake in a moderate oven (350 deg F / 180 deg C) for 20 minutes or
until golden. Cool on a wire rack. This quantity makes about 45
biscuits.
Archive for the ‘Chinese Foods’ Category
Almond Biscuits
Sunday, June 7th, 2009Bean Sprout Salad
Wednesday, June 3rd, 20092 tablespoon Sesame seeds
1 pound Fresh bean sprouts thoroughly washed and drained
3 Garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 md Scallions −− trimmed & minced
1 − 1″ cube ginger, peeled and minced
2 tablespoon Oriental sesame oil
1/3 cup Soy sauce
2 tablespoon Cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Mirin (sweet rice wine)
2 teaspoon Light brown sugar
1 teaspoon Spicy sesame oil
PREHEAT OVEN TO 300F. Toast the sesame seeds by spreading them
over the bottom of a pie tin. Roast for 12−to−16 minutes, stirring often,
until they are golden. The seeds can be toasted in advance and stored
in an airtight container.
Place the bean sprouts in a large heatproof bowl and set it aside.
In a medium−size skillet set over moderately low heat, stir−fry the garlic,
scallions and ginger in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, until they are limp. Add
all the remaining ingredients, increase the heat to moderate, then boil the
mixture, uncovered, for 1 minute to slightly reduce the liquid. Pour the
boiling dressing over the bean sprouts, toss well, then cover the bowl and
chill the salad for several hours. Toss again before serving.
Cantonese Roast Duck
Saturday, May 30th, 20091 duck, about 5 pounds, fresh or frozen
1 tablespoon salt
1 scallion
3 slices fresh ginger
Glaze:
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Few sprigs fresh cilantro, for garnish
1. Thaw the duck, if frozen. Remove any excess fat, and rinse and pat dry
with paper towels. Rub the entire surface of the duck, inside and out,
with the salt. Cover and refrigerate for several hours, or, overnight.
2. Put the scallion in the cavity and lay the slices of ginger on top of
the duck. Add at least 2 inches of water to a large flameproof roasting
pan with a lid and put the pan on the stove. Place a large rack in the
roasting pan and bring the water to a boil. Choose an oval casserole large
enough to hold the duck and small enough to fit into the roasting pan.
Place the duck in the casserole and then put the casserole on the rack.
Cover and steam for 1 hour, checking the water level from time to time
and adding more boiling water if necessary. Save the duck broth to use in
soups or stir fry dishes. When done, remove the duck from the casserole
and place it on a rack to dry.
3. Combine the ingredients for the glaze in a small saucepan and bring to
a boil. With a pastry brush, paint the hot glaze over the surface of the
duck. Allow duck to dry for 1 hour.
4. Preheat the oven to 375F. Roast the duck, breast side down, for 20
minutes. Turn over and continue to roast for 40 more minutes.
5. Transfer duck to a chopping board and allow to cool slightly. Using a
cleaver, disjoint and cut the duck through the bone into bite size pieces.
Arrange the pieces on a serving platter, garnish with cilantro and serve.
Garlic Chicken
Wednesday, May 13th, 20094 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 lb.)
1 egg white
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1 Tablespoon dry white wine or sherry
4 green onions
1 teaspoon minced gingerroot
3 teaspoons minced fresh garlic (about 6 medium cloves)
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
Hot cooked rice
SAUCE
1 teaspoon crushed chili paste (sambal oelek) or more to taste
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 Tablespoon water
2 Tablespoons dry white wine or sherry
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
Place chicken breasts in freezer for 1 to 2 hours or until very firm
but not frozen solid. Slice crosswise into thin shreds. In small bowl,
lightly beat egg white, then mix in 1 TBS cornstach and 1 TBS wine,
stirring until cornstarch is dissolved. Add chicken and mix well to coat
all pieces. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, slice green onions on the diagonal into very thin slices.
Mince gingerroot and garlic. Combine Sauce ingredients, mixing well.
Heat wok or frying pan, add oil, and stir−fry chicken until no longer pink.
Remove chicken with a slotted spoon. Add onions, ginger and garlic to
wok and stir−fry about 30 seconds, until ginger and garlic are fragrant
but not brown. Return chicken to wok, restir sauce ingredients and add
to wok. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is well combined, hot and
bubbly and thickens slightly. Turn off heat and splash with about 1 tsp
of dark sesame oil. Serve over rice.
Pork with Broccoli in Oyster Sauce
Thursday, May 7th, 20091 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon MSG (optional)
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 cups sliced lean pork (about 1 pound)
1 bunch (about 2 pounds) fresh brocolli, sliced
2 slices ginger, shredded
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
Mix together first five ingredients and set aside.
Heat wok or pan until hot and dry. Add the oil, then the salt.
Turn heat to medium. Add the ginger and the garlic and fry until
golden brown. Turn heat to high. Add the pork and fry until outside
is lightly browned. Add the broccoli and stir−fry for 3 minutes.
Add the water, cover, and cook for 4 minutes. Pour in reserved
sauce mixture; stir while cooking until gravy thickens. Turn heat
down to low, cover, and cook for 2 minutes more. Place in covered
serving dish until ready to serve.
Sesame Chicken
Monday, April 13th, 20091 pound boneless chicken (or pork or steak)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 ounces small mushrooms, quartered
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips
4 scallions, chopped diagonally
boiled rice, to serve
Marinade:
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
few drops of Tabasco sauce
1−inch piece fresh ginger, grated
1 garlic clove, crushed
1. Trim the meat and cut into thin strips about 1/2 x 2 inch.
2. Make the marinade. In a bowl, blend the cornstarch with the rice wine or
dry sherry, then stir in the lemon juice, soy sauce, Tabasco sauce, ginger
and garlic. Stir in the strips, cover and leave in a cool place for 3−4 hours.
3. Place the sesame seeds in a wok or large frying pan and dry−fry over
moderate heat, shaking the pan, until the seeds are golden. Set aside.
4. Heat the sesame and vegetable oils in the wok or frying pan. Drain the
meat, reserving the marinade, and stir− fry a few pieces at a time until
browned. Remove with a slotted spoon.
5. Add the mushrooms and green pepper and stir−fry for 2−3 minutes. Add
the scallions and 1 minute more.
6. Return the meat to the wok or frying pan, together with the reserved
marinade, and stir over a moderate heat for a further 2 minutes, or until
the ingredients are evenly coated with glaze. Sprinkle the sesame seeds
on top and serve immediately with boiled rice.
Empress Chicken Wings
Sunday, April 5th, 20091 1/2 pounds Chicken Wings
3 tablespoons Soy Sauce
1 tablespoon Dry Sherry
1 tablespoon Minced Fresh Ginger Root
1 Clove Garlic, Minced
2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
1/3 cup Cornstarch
2/3 cup Water
2 Green Onions And Tops, Cut Into Thin Slices
1 teaspoon Slivered Fresh Ginger Root
Disjoint the chicken wings; discard tips (or save for stock). Combine soy
sauce, sherry, minced ginger and garlic in a large bowl; stir in chicken.
Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Remove chicken;
reserve marinade. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Lightly coat
chicken pieces with cornstarch; add to skillet and brown slowly on all sides.
Remove chicken; drain off fat. Stir water and reserved marinade into same
skillet. Add chicken; sprinkle green onions and slivered ginger evenly over
chicken. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes, or until chicken is tender.
Mandarin Pancakes
Tuesday, March 17th, 20092 cups flour
3/4 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1. Place flour in a bowl. Add boiling water, stirring with chopsticks or a
fork until dough is evenly moistened. On a lightly floured board, knead
dough until smooth and satiny, about 5 minutes. Cover and let rest for 30
minutes.
2. On a lightly floured board, roll dough into a cylinder; cut into 16 equal
pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten slightly into a pancake.
Brush top of each pancake with a light coating of sesame oil.
3. Place 1 pancake on top of a second pancake, oiled sides together. With a
rolling pin, roll to make a circle 6 inches in diameter. Stack and roll
remaining pairs of pancakes the same way. Cover with a damp cloth to
prevent drying.
Cooking:
1. Place a nonstick frying pan over lm heat until hot. Add 1 pair of pancakes
and cook, turning once, until lightly browned and bubbles appear on the
surface, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from pan and separate
into 2 pancakes while still hot. Stack cooked pancakes on a plate while
cooking remaining pairs of pancakes.
2. Serve pancakes hot. If making ahead, reheat pancakes in a microwave
oven or wrap in a clean dish towel and steam in a bamboo steamer for
5 minutes.
Fried Won Tons
Sunday, March 1st, 20091 lb. Won ton skins
1/2 lb. Fresh ground pork
1/2 lb. Fresh prawns
4 Dried mushrooms, soaked for 2 hours
8 Water chestnuts, finely chopped
2 Stalks green onions, finely chopped
2 small Eggs, beaten
1/4 ts Pepper
1 1/2 ts Salt
Yield: About 60 to 70.
Shell and devein prawns. Mince fine. Stem mushrooms and mince caps.
Mix with prawns, pork, water chestnuts, green onions, half of the
beaten eggs and all of the seasonings.
WRAPPING:
Place won ton squares on working surface so corners face up, down,
left and right. Place 1 teaspoon filling in the center of each skin.
Dip a little of the beaten egg onto the bottom corner, bring top
corner to meet bottom corner. Press to seal. Moisten left corner
and bring right corner to meet it. Press to seal. This should give
you a little bundle that looks kind of like a nurses hat.
FRYING:
Heat 4 cups oil in wok. Fry wrapped won ton until golden (about 2
minutes). Turn over once. Drain and serve hot.