choco chunk macadamia nut cookies

I have two nephews, cute as can be, who are brothers; Damian & Dominic. One day Grandma asked if they wanted macadamia nut cookies, which sounds like you’re saying macaDamian nut. Dominic then said,”No Grandma…I want macaDominic cookies.” So here is a cookie, just for Dominic. Instead of using the traditional white chocolate with macadamia nuts, I’ve used dark chocolate. I based the recipe off a recipe I found on the brown eyed bakers blog.

Ingredients:

• 2 c. all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 c. butter melted (make sure it is cooled before using)
• 1 c. packed dark brown sugar (you can use light, but I thought they tasted much better with the dark)
• 1/2 c. granulated sugar
• 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 c. chopped macadamia nuts
• 1 c. dark chocolate chunks

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees
• In one mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt
• In another bowl, mix together (by hand or using an electric mixer) the dark brown sugar, the granulated sugar, and the melted butter until fluffy
• Once combined, add the eggs and the vanilla and continue mixing
• Add flour mixture and mix. Add macadamia nuts and chocolate chunks and mix.
• Scoop approximately 2 tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball. Place on baking sheet. Flatten them slightly
• Bake time: 12-15 minutes depending on your oven
• Makes about 20 cookies. =)

At first I was scared, because I thought the dough was too big, but it worked out just fine. ^_^ I’m so used to making mini cookies. They turned out really good though. I was quite pleased, as were my friends and family. My goal is to bake as much as I want and make everyone else tubby while I try to shed all the pounds. heh.

I’ve really baked alot lately. I haven’t been taking pictures, nor have I been blogging about them. Shame on me really, but tax season is not kind to accountants. =(  Til next time!

– chelle

Apple muffins, sweet and tart

These muffins are super tasty; I can’t really explain how good they are. It’s important to use a tart apple to get a proper balance between sweet and tart.

Apple muffins

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (or butter)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt

• 1 large tart apple (cored and diced)
• 1 tbsp flour

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream sugar and coconut oil(or butter), add eggs and yogurt, then almond extract and cinnamon. Add in dry ingredients, mix till mostly smooth.  Remove core and dice the apple(peeling optional), then coat the pieces with a tablespoon of flour before adding into batter. Fill evenly into lined muffin tin. Bake for 25-30mins, till top is golden brown.

-L

lovely fudgy brownies

This is my new favorite brownie recipe, I came up with it while trying to use up some cans of condensed milk. It has a shiny crispy skin on top and dark moist center, and can be thrown together rather fast. Melting and mixing can be done in one bowl; so there’s less to clean up.

Fudgy Brownies

• 12oz chocolate chips
• 14oz can condensed milk
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (or butter or shortening)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• pinch salt
• oil for pan

Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt chocolate, coconut oil(or butter or shortening) thoroughly in (a heatproof)mixing bowl over slow simmering pot of water. Take off heat, mix in condensed milk first, then eggs, and vanilla. Add rest of ingredients, mix till smooth (use an electric mixer or do it in a stand mixer bowl to begin with). Pour batter into an oiled 12x16in baking dish, spread evenly. Bake for 20-25mins depending on the material of the baking dish. The top should be dry and shiny, the center dark and moist.

-Lina

mexican wedding cookies

Mexican wedding cookies (aka ojarascas) are one of my all time favorite cookies. My brother’s friend’s family owns a bakery and they used to give my brother a tin of these every Christmas, which I was very grateful for. They’re so simple, not too sweet, and I love how they crumble and just melt in your mouth. I also enjoy the almond flavor in them. I’ve been told that even though they are called Mexican wedding cookies, they’re usually given during holidays or other special occasions. So, the cookbook my sister got me for Christmas is Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook. Lo and behold, there was a recipe for Mexican wedding cookies. I’ve been wanting to make them since Christmas, but this past Sunday was the first time I had a chance.

Ingredients:

• 1 c. pecan halves
• 1/4th c. confectioner’s sugar for now
• 3/4th c. confectioner’s sugar for later
• 1 c. confectioner’s sugar for rolling
• 2 c. all purpose four
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 stick unsalted butter @ room temperature
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. pure almond extract

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• In a food processor, combine the pecans and 1/4th confectioner’s sugar. Pulse them until the pecans are finely ground.
• In another bowl, add the flour and salt. Whisk in the pecan/sugar mixture.
• In the bowl for your electric mixer (paddle attachment), beat the butter and 3/4th cup confectioner’s sugar on medium/high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and the almond extracts.
• Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until the dough comes together
• Roll dough into 3/4″ balls (mine varied from 3/4″ to 1″) and 2 in. apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the pan at the half time point. (Mine were perfect as 12 minutes, but it all depends on your oven. If you see cracks/crinkles on top of your cookies, then they’re done)
• Place cookies on cooling rack and allow to cool completely. In a small bowl, pour the remaining cup of confectioner’s sugar. Once cookies are completely cooled, roll cookies in the sugar.

above: flour, sugar, pecan mixture

(i realized i hadn’t taken a photo of the dough until i was almost out of it)

(see the cracks/crinkles?)

The finished product. This lil container was handed off to my local starbucks where I share all my baked goods with them. The rest were consumed by family and coworkers. I will definitely be baking a lot from this cookbook of mine. I’ve tried two recipes so far and haven’t been disappointed. Next week, SUGAR BUNS!!

– chelle

Coconut cranberry muffins

Coconut is actually healthier than you think. Coconut fat won’t clog your arteries and your body will try to use up coconut oil (for energy) rather than storing it as body fat.

Coconut cranberry muffins

• 1 can 14oz coconut milk (full fat)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar (to 2/3 cup, if you prefer sweeter)
• 1 c almond flour (or coconut flour)
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 2 cup flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 2/3 cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
• 1 c flaked coconut (or sliced almonds)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix together wet ingredients with sugar. Then incorporate the flours, baking powder/soda, and salt. When the mixture is almost smooth, add in the dried cranberries. Scoop batter into lined or greased muffin tin, press in coconut flakes on top. Bake for 30 to 35mins till light golden brown. -Lina

Cinnamon apple madeleines, using coconut oil

I finally got the bump in the madeleine.

I haven’t baked madeleines much lately. The non-stick pans are great. I’ve switched to coconut oil for baking in the last few months. It’s healthier and better for the environment than palm oil. Measuring coconut oil can be hard, depending on the weather it can be either solid or liquid. In the summer months it’s clear looking and runny, like a vegetable oil. When I put it in the fridge it became too hard to scoop out.

Coconut oil melts at about 76°F. Since the weather has cooled, the coconut oil is a soft solid at room temperature. When you spoon it, it resembles large clumps of wax, not smooth like palm shortening. I eyeball the measurements usually, but you can melt it and pour into measuring cups for more precision (and let it re-solidify if you want a solid shortening). I don’t find the taste of coconut very prominent in the end results, but if you really hate coconut then you might notice it. Buying it in the larger jars makes the price more reasonable, and it does last a long time (shelf life and usage).

Cinnamon apple madeleines

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar*
• 1 tsp molasses*
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup apple sauce
• 1/3 cup melted coconut oil**
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of salt

*or a scant 2/3 cup brown sugar

** you can use melted butter or organic shortening instead

For more of an apple flavor, maybe add a splash of apple brandy.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix sugar and molasses thoroughly, beat in eggs, apple sauce, coconut oil, and cinnamon. Then mix the rest of the dry ingredients till smooth. Fill madeleine pans and bake for about 12mins, till the edges are browned. This makes 2 dozen full size madeleines.

The side scraping paddles are great for brownie batter too.

-Lina

smoked salmon brown rice sushi

Leftover short grain brown rice (short grain white rice always good too), the last few pieces of smoked salmon in the package (smoked wild coho salmon, but any kind works), and half a cucumber = quick sushi. With the saltiness of the salmon, you don’t have to season the rice or use any soy sauce.

Refer to https://eatyet.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/egg-nori-roll/ for rolling instructions.

-L

Curry quinoa lentils and brown rice

It’s the end of the month and I’ll push this one over the finish line. I like to get at least one post per month. This is healthy whole grains, high in protein, tasty, and way easy. And everyone should have a rice cooker.

Curry quinoa lentils and brown rice pilaf(?)

• 2/3 cup quinoa
• 2/3 cup brown rice
• 1/3 cup lentils (any type that is whole with skin)
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 dried chili
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 1/2 cup water

Wash and strain the grains, if you aren’t washing it then you’ll need more water (1/2 cup), but quinoa requires washing. Put everything in a rice cooker, and let it cook on regular.

If using the stove top, put everything into a small heavy bottom and bring to a boil with the lid on, then turn it down to a low simmer and cook covered for 35-40mins. Remove bay leaf and chili, give it a mix in the pot before serving.

You can use vegetable or chicken stock if you like, just watch the salt. This goes great with almost anything.

-L

Amaretti blueberry shortcake

This was the birthday cake I made for my grandmother a few weeks ago. Like the Japanese style strawberry short cake, this is 2 layers of sponge cake with cream chantilly (whipped cream) as frosting. The crumbs are crushed amaretti cookies.

Amaretti blueberry shortcake

sponge cake:

• 6 eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract + 1/2 tsp almond extract (or just 1 tsp of amaretto)

cream chantilly (whipped cream):

• 1 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract + 1 tsp almond extract (or amaretto)

rest:

• apricot preserve
• 1 pint of fresh blueberries
• 8 to 10 amaretti cookies
• parchment paper

Preheat oven to 350. Beat eggs and sugar till very pale yellow and is 3-4 times the original volume using a mixer. Cut parchment paper into circles to fit two 8in round cake pans (fold the paper in halves till you can’t anymore and snip the ends to fit). Oil pan with the parchment thoroughly otherwise it’d be hard to get the bottom out of the pan. Sift in flour and baking powder, fold with large metal spoon and add the vanilla while folding. When fully incorporated pour into pans and bake for 25mins. Check the other cake post for more images.

Beat cream and sugar till it forms soft peaks, add extracts and beat a little more. Put away till cake is completely cooled.

When cakes are cooled peel off the parchment paper, spread on apricot preserve, cover layer with blueberries then spread the whipped cream over. Put on the next cake layer, and thin coat of preserve. Frost cake with the remaining cream.

Crush about 8 or 9 amaretti cookies in either a food processor or in just a freezer bag with something heavy. To get the crumbs on the cake you will need either a cake stand or a second person holding the plate of cake on an angle over a large baking sheet to catch run off.

Top with any remaining blueberries. If you don’t have amaretti cookies, you can just crush up nilla wafers, ginger snaps, graham crackers, or almonds.

-Lina

Sweet potato latkas

some edges got a little too dark, watch the oil temps

Sweet potatoes are something I’ve been experimenting with recently. In general I don’t like really sweet vegetables (yams, pumpkin, squash, carrots, parsnips, etc.) But they (sweet potatoes, and the other veggies) are very good for you, high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. In the coming days I will post more on sweet potatoes.

Latkas are potato pancakes that can be made in different ways. They can be served plain or topped with almost anything; apple sauce, sour cream, or just ketchup (personal fav).

• 1 medium/large sweet potato*
• 1 small/medium onion*
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp  pepper
• oil for frying

* the ratio is about 3:1 of sweet potato to onion

Peel then shred sweet potato and onion, mix together with the rest of the ingredients. Heat up a heavy bottom pan (I prefer cast iron) with 1/4 – 1/2 inch of oil on medium high. I used grape seed oil, it has a very high smoking point, great for frying. Scoop mixture into pan (about 1/4 – 1/3 cup per portion), try to spread out mixture to about 4 inch in diameter, it should be a thin layer. When edges turn golden brown (3mins?), flip and cook until bottom is browned. Drain on paper towels. Add more oil in pan when needed. They should be crispy on the edges and tender inside. You can also keep them warm in the over while frying up more.

I think used half the mixture (made about 8) and then refrigerated the rest to use the next day.

-L