HUP TOH SOH aka CHINESE WALNUT BISCUITS

I so love these wonderful chinese walnut cookies aka hup toh soh.....I prefer them over the traditional peanut cookies. They tastes better after a few days in the cookie jar.

Recipe adapted from Ann Low

Ingredients:

150g Margarine
250g Self-raising flour
50g Caster sugar (original 80g)
100g Walnuts, roasted and coarsely grind (original 80g)
1 Egg beaten + a pinch of salt for glazing

Method:

1. Sift the self-raising flour into a mixing bowl.
2. Cut in the margarine, add in the sugar and the chopped walnuts. Using a rubber spatula to blend the mixture. Then mix thoroughly till the dough does not stick onto the hands.
3. Pinch off some dough and lightly form into a ball, make a small dent in the centre. Place the biscuits onto a baking sheet, leaving some room between each biscuit.
4. Brush them with beaten egg. Bake in preheated oven at 180 deg C for about 30 - 35 minutes till golden brown.
5. Cool completely before storing in cookie jar.

BUZY BUZY WEEK BEFORE CNY.....

 These little sheep cookies are so popular this CNY.......so many mommies are baking them. Infact I wanted to bake German cookies for months (pstt......the potato starch has been sitting in my cabinet for almost 3 monts already).

Sheep German Cookies
Source of recipe: Fion of XuanHom's Mom Kitchen Diary
Yield: Approximately 68 pieces

Ingredients:
250 g butter
70 g icing sugar
250 g potato starch
170 g all purpose flour
some black sesame seeds, chocolate chips and sugar decorations

Method:

1. Cream butter and icing sugar till fluffy with a big wooden spoon.
2. Add in the flour and mix well (the dough is very soft and sticky). Wrap the dough with cling wrap and refrigerate for approximately 15 mins for easy handling.
3. Divide the dough into 10 g ball each and arrange on baking tray.
4. Decorate and bake at 160 degree for 25 - 30 mins.
5. Cool and store in air-tight container.

Happy baking!


FONDANT LEGO STAR WARS Theme Birthday cake for 4 year old Johan.

I received very short notice for this cake and I was amazed that I managed to complete the figurines and the cake between baking the sheep cookies.............and quite happy with the end result.

HELLO KITTY PINEAPPLE JAM TARTS AGAIN

This time I added more details....don't they look great!!

All beautifully packed

Hurry get out your baking utensils and start making some for your family and friends.  You can find the recipe here.

HELLO KITTY PINEAPPLE JAM TARTS

Wow...................I've been absent too long!!!

Chinese New Year is just round the corner.  This year, I'm not selling any cookies, so am sharing my pineapple jam tarts recipe in case you would like to bake some for your family and friends.

They will look great if I had added red bows and also pink nose.

HELLO KITTY PINEAPPLE JAM TARTS

Recipe adapted from:
http://resipicitarasawan.blogspot.com/2011/07/biskut-tart-nenas-bar.html

Ingredients:

220 g butter

30 g icing sugar (sifted)

1 egg size B (I used grade A yolk + half the egg white)

1 tsp vanilla essence

300 g flour

40 g milk powder

20 g custard powder

Adequate pineapple jam (approximately 260g) - make into 42 - 6 g balls. 
Pineapple jam recipe.

Method:

1. Sift all the dry ingredients and mix well. Set aside.
2. Cream butter and icing sugar.
3. Add in the egg and essence, mix well.
4. Finally, add all the dry ingredients and mix till combine.
5. Gently knead till the dough form a ball and does not stick to fingers.
6. Divide dough into 42 - 15 g balls. Reserve some dough for the eyes.
7. Take a ball of dough and flatten it, put a pineapple jam ball in the middle and wrap it.
8. Gently roll into a smooth ball.  Place into the cookie cutter. Push the dough in with its' embosser.
9. Remove carefully and place on baking tray. Repeat till all dough is used up.
10. Bake at 150 degree for 20 - 25 mins or till slightly brown.
11. Remove from oven and cool completely before storing in air-tight containers.

**Remember to lightly dust the cutter and embosser with flour.

To make the "Hello Kitty's" eyes, nose and bow with dough:

• For the eyes, mix some bamboo charcoal powder with a small ball of dough.  Knead till well combine.  Make into tiny balls and insert into the eyes.
• For the nose, color a small ball of dough pink.  Roll into tiny balls and insert into the nose.
• For the bow, color a small amount of dough red.  Roll out to 1/4" thick. Cut 2 small heart shape and place on the head. Place a tiny ball in the centre and flatten it slightly. Or buy some heart shaped sugar decoration and place on the head with some egg white as glue.

OR decorate with chocolate.  The doggies would look great with brown ears!!!

Be creative...........they can be in the shape of sheep, bears, pineapples, tangerine & etc....

Please share your creations with me!!

My "sunflower" pineapple jam tarts.

Happy baking and Happy Chinese New Year!!