Happy Chinese New Year 2010....

Tomorrow will be the first day of the year of the Tiger in the Chinese calender as well as Valentine day. Today will be the reunion for all Chinese families with their love ones. More food and feasting awaits all who are celebrating. Here is wishing everyone of my Chinese readers....

A HAPPY & PROSPEROUS CHINESE NEW YEAR...

FILLED WITH WARMTH, GOOD FORTUNE, AND HAPPINESS...

Cheesy Savoury Cookies....

Savoury cheese cookies...........

I made a batch of cookies using cheddar cheese yesterday. These cookies are suitable for those who prefer the saltish cookie to the sweet ones especially for diabetics like my mother in law. I made 2 flavors, one I added curry powder to make it a bit spicy and another I added my left over herbs of rosemary, thyme and sage from my fridge. Here is the recipe.....

Putting on the toppings.........

Ingredients: (makes around 200 cookies)

500 g self raising flour- sifted

250 g cheddar cheese- grated ( keep 4 tbsp for toppings)

3 tsp meat curry powder 0r chopped fresh herbs

Method:

Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl. Slowly add in the milk and work into a dough. Then take a handful of the dough and roll between 2 plastic sheets to about 3 mm thick. Then cut out the dough using a cookie cutter and placed in a lightly greased baking tray. ( I use a nonstick baking paper which makes things so much easier). Top with the reserve grated cheese and bake in a preheated oven at 175 degrees celcius for 10 minutes ot til lightly brown. Leave to cool on rack completely before putting into containers.

Melt In The Mouth Peanut Cookies.

I do not really like peanuts but my boys love it so much. So I have to make this for them every Chinese New year. I made a big batch yesterday so they will have a good time with their favorite cookies. Here is the recipe to share. These made around 200 cookies.

Ingredients:

700 g peanuts, roasted and shelled

500 g castor sugar

2 tsp vanilla essence

700 g plain flour - sifted

2 cups peanut oil

For glazing:

2 egg yolks

2 tsp milk

Method:

Blend peanuts til fine and crumbly. In a large mixing bowl, combine blended peanuts, sugar, vanilla essence, and flour. Make a well in the centre and pour in the peanut oil. Mix well with a wooden spoon. Shape into balls of about 10 gms each. Make a shallow dent with the back of a chopstick and press a half piece of peanuts into each dent. Brush cookies with egg glaze and bake it in a preheated oven of 175 degrees Celcius for 20 minutes or til golden brown.

Shaped into 10 g balls..........

Decorate with peanuts on top and egg glazing........

Bake in oven til golden brown..........

Leave to cool on a rack................

CNY Pineapple Tarts 2010.......

Baked pineapple tarts.........

I did not make any cookies last year as I was still recovering from a major surgery. So this year I try my hands on my favorite cookie that is pineapple tarts. Pineapple in chinese hokkien dialect is call 'Ong Lai' and can also means 'Luck' for 'Ong' and 'Come' for 'Lai" so you see Chinese hanging paper pineapples in front door of house to beckon in the good luck. So here is my good luck cookies for this Chinese New year.....

Pineapple jam for fillings............


Preparing the jam fillings..............

Tarts ready to roll over................

Ready for the oven......................

In the oven @ 175 degrees celcius for 12 mins...........


For those who want to make these tarts get the recipe here

Next I am going to make some peanut cookies as my boys have been fighting over a box of peanut cookies which one of them bought few days ago.