Walnut Cookies

Haven't updated my blog about a month.

I was just too lazy and busy...

Too many things were getting on together, I can't cope with all of them at the same time.

So, not much time and energy left to update the blog.

I still keep on baking during weekend because of my mum who loves biscuits.

I tried this recipe from a chinese book I bought from a taiwanese website.

This is absolutely delicious!

It taste like the old traditional walnut cookies I used to have in Malaysia.

I think I'll bake more & replace the walnuts with cashew nuts or peanuts.

Enjoy!

Recipe:

Cookie batter:

120g icing sugar

150g butter (unsalted)

230g plain flour

50g cornstarch

1/2 tsp soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 egg

Decoration:

1 egg (slightly beaten)

some walnut halves

Bake half of the flours (110g plain flour + 25g cornstarch) at 180'C for 15 min. Let it cool down before use.

Sieve all the flours including the baked flours, icing sugar, soda & baking powder.

Add the butter & egg, blend everything into a soft dough.

Cover the dough with plastic film & let it rise at room temperature for 30 min.

Roll into small sized balls, place 5 cm apart, flatten slightly.

Brush some egg on top then slightly press one piece of walnut into the batter.

Bake at 170'C in preheated oven for 18 - 20 min, then switch off the heat & let it stand for 10 min before removing from the oven.

End of Exams~~~ fondant au chocolat

I always have exams after Christmas, so it's full of revisions during that time.

It's not really a holiday for me.

But it all ended just today !!!!

I treated myself recently with chocolates (only during my exams revisions).

I'm not surprised that I've put on some weights >___<

I just couldn't resist the melting chocolate cake, it's too great to describe it.

It's definitely a hot & comforting dessert for winter to warm your heart.

Well, I'll have to stop eating desserts & back to normal diet...

Recipe (2 ramekins):

40g unsalted butter

40g dark chocolate (72%)

1 egg

15g sugar

20g all purpose flour

1 tbsp milk

1tbsp ground almond

1 tsp cocoa powder

1/8 tsp soda

Melt the butter and chocolate over hot water.

In another bowl, beat egg with sugar until large bubbles form.

Add the beaten eggs into the chocolate butter, stir until smooth.

Fold in milk, flour, cocoa, soda & ground almond until smooth.

Pour into the ramekins until 80% full.

Cool in the fridge for 15-30 min.

Bake at 180'C in a preheated oven for 8-10 min.

Serve hot.

Chocolate Banana Muffins

I went back to Basildon last Friday for Christmas & to help in my mum's takeaway.

Although there's no college to work for, I still work hard in baking.

My mum promised to give boxes of cookies to her colleagues.

So, I was very busy in baking cookies.

Well, I did have sometimes to bake some muffins for my breakfast.

Recipe:

100g unsalted butter

200g self-rising flour

2 eggs

100g sugar

110g banana

1/4 cup milk

30g chocolate chips

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Beat the softened butter with sugar until smooth.

Add one egg at a time and then beat until smooth.

Blend the banana and milk together, then add it into the batter, mix well.

Fold in the flour until smoothl.

Add chocholate chips and mix well.

Bake at 180'C in a preheated oven for 25-30 min.