theCooksCorner

Almond Biscuits

admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:13:16 +0000

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.

Bean Sprout Salad

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:10:44 +0000

2 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

admin — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:06:45 +0000

1 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.

Fortune Cookies

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:03:51 +0000

8 oz. All−purpose flour
2 Tbl. Cornstarch
4 oz. Sugar
1/2 teas. Salt
4 oz. Vegetable oil
4 oz. Egg whites
1 Tbl. Water
2 teas. Vanilla extract.
1. In a deep bowl, mix the following ingredients: 8 oz. Flour, 2 tablespoons
corn starch, 4 oz sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt, blend in 4 oz. oil, 4 oz. Egg
whites, 1 tablespoon water and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and beat until
smooth consistency.
2. Write your own “Fortune” on a piece of paper 2 1/2″ by 1/2″. Prepared
oven to 300F.
3. Scoop a tablespoon of cookie batter and spread evenly into a 4″ circle
on a well greased baking sheet.
4. Bake cookie for about 14 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Remove
one cookie at a time from the oven.
5. You have about 15 seconds working time before the cookie hardens.
Place the “Fortune” in the middle of the cookie.
6. Shape the cookie by folding it in half and grasp both ends. Place the
finished cookie in a muffin pan with the ends down to hold its unique shape.

Garlic Chicken

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 04:01:55 +0000

4 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

admin — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:51:31 +0000

1 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.

Turkey Bow Tie Skillet

admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:43:28 +0000

1/2 lb. ground turkey breast
1 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (14 1/2 oz.) can chicken broth
2 cups uncooked bow−tie pasta
1 (14 1/2 oz.) can stewed tomatoes
1 tablespoon vinegar
3/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, optional
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown turkey in oil. Add celery, onion, green pepper
and garlic; cook until vegetables are tender. Remove turkey and vegetables with a slotted
spoon and keep warm.
Add broth to the pan; bring to a boil. Add pasta; cook for 10 minutes or until tender.
Reduce heat; stir in tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, chili powder, garlic salt if desired and turkey
mixture. Simmer for 10 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese
and parsley. Serves 6.
Nutritional Analysis: One (1−cup) serving (prepared with low−sodium broth and
no−salt−added
tomatoes and without garlic salt) equals: 208 calories, 128 sodium, 22 mg cholesterol,
30 gm carbohydrate, 15 gm protein, 3 gm fat. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 meat

Sesame Chicken

admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:46:01 +0000

1 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.

Summer Fruit Trifle

admin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:41:50 +0000

1 package (18.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
1 1/3 cups water
3 egg whites
2 cups sliced strawberries
2 to 3 Tablespoons NutraSweet® Spoonful
Milk Custard (recipe below)
1 cup raspberries
2 nectarines or peaches, sliced
1 medium banana, sliced
1 pint blueberries
Light whipped topping
Make cake mix according to package directions, using water and egg whites; bake in a
13 by 9−inch baking pan. Cool on wire rack. Cut half the cake into 1−inch cubes (freeze
or reserve remaining cake for another use).
Process strawberries in blender or food processor until smooth; stir in NutraSweet®
Spoonful. Layer 1/3 of the cake cubes in bottom of 2−quart glass serving bowl. Spoon
1/3 of the Milk Custard and strawberry puree over cake and top with 1/3 of the raspberries,
nectarines, banana and blueberries. Repeat layers 2 times. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before
serving. Garnish with whipped topping.
Makes 12 servings.
Serving size: 1/12 recipe
Yield: 12
Exchanges: 1/2 Skim Milk, 1 Starch, 1 Fruit
Nutrition: 175 Calories, 4 g Protein, 35 g Carbo, 3 g Fat
Milk Custard
1 cup skim milk
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 to 4 Tablespoons NutraSweet® Spoonful
Heat milk just to boiling in small saucepan; remove from heat. Mix eggs and flour in
small bowl. Stir in 1/4 cup hot milk into egg mixture; stir egg mixture into milk in
saucepan.
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool until warm; stir in nutmeg

Taco Salad

admin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:30:18 +0000

1−1/2 Pound Ground beef
Bottled French dressing
1/4 Cup Onion, chopped
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
1/2 Teaspoon Dried oregano, crushed
1/2 Head iceberg lettuce, finely shredded
2 Tomatoes, cut in wedges
8 Ounce Can corn, drained
8 Ounce Can garbanzo beans, drain
1/2 Cup Radish slices
1−6 1/2 oz Package Tortilla or corn chips
1 Avocado, peeled and sliced
4 Ounce Cheddar cheese, shredded
Pitted black olives, sliced
Sour cream
Brown meat and drain off fat. Add 1/3 cup French dressing, onion, salt,
pepper and oregano. Simmer 5 minutes. Combine lettuce, tomatoes, corn,
beans, radishes and enough dressing to moisten. Toss lightly. For each
salad, serve meat mixture over tortilla chips. Top with lettuce mixture,
avocado, cheese, olives and sour cream, as desired.