Plum Blossom Cake

 For Mom's 84th Birthday!

Beatty's Chocolate Cake

I tried Ina Garten's famous chocolate recipe from the cookbook - Barefoot Contessa at Home. It is rich and moist, an instant favorite of the family.  

Ingredients

Cake
All-purpose flour - 1 3/4 cups
Sugar - 2 cups 
Good cocoa powder - 3/4 cups 
Baking soda - 2 tsp
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Kosher salt - 1 tsp
Buttermilk - 1 cup, shaken
Vegetable oil - 1/2 cup 
Extra-large eggs - 2 , at room temperature (Used egg replacer)
Pure vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Freshly brewed hot coffee - 1 cup
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Good semisweet chocolate - 6 ounces 
Unsalted butter - 1/2 pound, at room temperature
Extra-large egg yolk - 1 , at room temperature
Pure vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Confectioners' sugar - 1 1/4 cups, sifted
Instant coffee powder - 1 TBSP

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Butter two 8-inch x 2-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans. I used 3 6" round cake pans.
2. Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. 

3. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

4. Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.

5. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes. 

6. Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. 

7. Dissolve the coffee powder in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Don't whip! 

8. Place 1 layer of cake, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookie

The orange flavor is a great addition to the traditional cranberry shortbread in this recipe. It is perfect with a cup of coffee or tea.

Ingredients

Unsalted butter - 1 cup, softened to room temperature

Confectioners' sugar - ½ cup 
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Orange zest - 1 TBSP
Salt - ¼ tsp
All-purpose flour - 2 cups
Dried cranberries - ½ cup, chopped

Steps

1. Cream the butter and sugar together using a stand mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
2. Add vanilla, orange zest, and salt and beat until incorporated. Add flour and cranberries and beat until mixture forms into a dough.
3. Use your hands to shape the dough into a ball. Then, roll the dough into a log, 2-inches in diameter or to your preference. 
4. Wrap the log tightly with plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours, up to overnight.

5. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a half sheet baking pan with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
6. Cut the dough into ¼-inch to ½-inch slices, and place on the baking sheet about ½-inch apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until just starting to brown on the edges.

7. Allow cookies to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Green Onion Pancake(葱油饼)

Green onion pancake is a Chinese staple dish. Every family does it a little differently. This method uses oil roux to make the pancake more crispy. 

Ingredients

Yields 4 large pancakes.
Dough
All-purpose flour - 2¼ cups 
Salt - ¼ tsp
Water - 1 cup, warm
Oil - 1 tsp
Roux
Vegetable oil - 3 TBSP 
All-purpose flour - 1/3 cup 
Salt - ¼ tsp
Additional Filling
2 bunches scallions (finely chopped, about 2 cups)

Steps

1. In a medium mixing bowl, mix flour, salt, and warm water with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until a sticky dough forms. The dough should be sticky, but not wet. You can add up to 2 tablespoons more flour if you feel the dough is really wet.
2. Use a teaspoon of oil to coat the top of the dough round. Don’t worry about the dough sticking to the bowl for now. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 1 to 2 hours.
3. Combine all ingredients for the roux together in a bowl. Set aside.
4. After the dough has rested, use a teaspoon or two of oil to coat your work surface. Take the dough out and use a little more oil if you feel the dough is sticking to your hands or work surface. Is should be soft and pliable, and the oil keeps everything from sticking together.
5. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces and roll each piece out lengthwise into a long strip. Next, take about ¼ of the roux, and spread it across the entire length of the dough with your hands. Take ½ cup of the chopped scallions, and spread them generously and evenly across the length of the dough.
6. Roll the dough, folding and tucking in the edges every so often so you don’t have any scallions leaking out of the sides. You end up with a little bundle of joy that you should set aside and cover with a piece of plastic wrap to avoid drying out. 

7. Repeat for the other three pancakes. At this point, you can also let the dough rest for 30 minutes to make rolling easier.

8. Place the dough ball with the spiral pattern facing up on your work surface. Flatten it with your hands or a rolling pin, so the dough round is about ¼-½-inch thick. 

8. Heat a cast iron pan over medium heat, and add 4 tablespoons of oil. Place the pancake in the pan. The pan should be hot enough so the dough is sizzling, but browning slowly. Move the dough around the oil to cook the sides of the pancake. When the bottom is slightly browned (about 2 minutes), turn the pancake over gently, being careful not to splash the oil. Turn it over if you think more browning is needed.

9. Transfer the scallion pancake to a preheated oven at 350F, and let bake for another 5 minutes for more crisping. 
10. Take the pancakes out of the oven and cut into wedges to serve. If you like, now’s the time to sprinkle some extra salt on top to taste.

Sugared Cranberry

This is a great snack to make using leftover cranberries from Thanksgiving. It is also pretty to use for cake decoration. 

Ingredients

Water - 1/2 cup water
Sugar - 1 and 1/2 cups, divided
Fresh cranberries - 3 cups, rinsed and dried

Steps

1. In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar. Bring to a boil and let it simmer on low heat for 3 minutes. 

2. Stir in the cranberries to fully coat in the syrup then remove from heat and stir 1 minute.

3. Remove cranberries with a slotted spoon and transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet or a metal rack to let cranberries dry out for 1 hour.

4. Roll cranberries in batches in the remaining 1 cup sugar to coat.

Blueberry Scone

I tried scones for the first time following this recipe. I skipped the topping, used fresh blueberry. They were buttery fluffy delight with juicy burst of blueberry. 

Ingredients

All-purpose flour - 2 cups, plus more for hands and work surface
Granulated sugar - 1/2 cup
Baking powder - 2 and 1/2 tsp
Ground cinnamon - 1 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup, frozen
Heavy cream - 1/2 cup, plus 2 TBSP for brushing
Egg - 1 large (used egg replacer)
Pure vanilla extract - 1 and 1/2 tsp
Fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw) - 1 heaping cup
Optional topping: coarse sugar and vanilla icing

Steps

1. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl. 

2. Grate the frozen butter using a box grater. Add it to the flour mixture and combine with a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingers until the mixture comes together in pea-sized crumbs. Place in the refrigerator or freezer as you mix the wet ingredients together.
3. Whisk heavy cream, egg, and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Drizzle over the flour mixture, add the blueberries, then mix together until everything appears moistened.
4. Pour onto the counter and, with floured hands, work dough into a ball as best you can. Dough will be sticky. If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour. If it seems too dry, add 1-2 more Tablespoons heavy cream. Press into an 8-inch disc and, with a sharp knife or bench scraper, cut into 8 wedges.

5. Brush scones with remaining heavy cream and for extra crunch, sprinkle with coarse sugar. (You can do this before or after refrigerating in the next step.)
6. Place scones on a plate or lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. (I left it in the fridge overnight so that I can bake it fresh in the morning)
7. Preheat oven to 400°F.
8. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. After refrigerating, arrange scones 2-3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet(s).

9. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until golden brown around the edges and lightly browned on top. Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes before topping with vanilla icing.

Leftover iced or un-iced scones keep well at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for 5 days.

Notes

• Freeze Before Baking: Freeze scone dough wedges on a plate or baking sheet for 1 hour. Once relatively frozen, you can layer them in a freezer-friendly bag or container. Bake from frozen, adding a few minutes to the bake time. Or thaw overnight, then bake as directed.
• Freeze After Baking: Freeze the baked and cooled scones before topping with icing. I usually freeze in a freezer-friendly bag or container. To thaw, leave out on the counter for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Warm in the microwave for 30 seconds or on a baking sheet in a 300°F (149°C) oven for 10 minutes.
• Overnight Instructions: Prepare scones through step 4. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Continue with the recipe the following day.
• Over-spreading: Start with very cold scone dough. Expect some spread, but if the scones are over-spreading as they bake, remove from the oven and press back into its triangle shape (or whatever shape) using a rubber spatula.

Easy Cinnamon Rolls

Followed this easy cinnamon roll recipe to make this for breakfast. I made the dough to step 5 and covered with plastic wrap  to let rest in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning, removed from the refrigerator and allow to rise in a warm environment, about 1 hour. Then continue to step 7.

Ingredients

Rolls
All-purpose flour - 2 and 3/4 cups
Granulated sugar - 1/4 cup
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Active dry yeast - 2 and 1/4 tsp
Whole milk - 1/2 cup
Water - 1/4 cup
Unsalted butter - 3 TBSP
Egg - 1 large (used egg replacer)
Filling
Unsalted butter - 3 TBSP, at room temperature
Ground cinnamon - 1 TBSP
Granulated sugar or packed light or dark brown sugar - 1/4 cup
Icing
Confectioners’ sugar - 1 cup
Pure vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp
Strong brewed coffee or milk - 2–3 TBSP

Steps

1. Whisk the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast together in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Combine the milk, water, and butter together in a heatproof bowl. Microwave until the butter is melted and the mixture is warm to touch (about 110°F). Pour into the dry ingredients, add the egg, and stir until it forms a soft dough or use your mixer.

3. On a lightly floured surface using floured hands, knead the dough for 3 minutes. Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover loosely, and let rest for about 10 minutes.
4. Roll the dough out in a 14×8 inch rectangle. Spread the softened butter on top. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle it all over the dough.

5. Roll up the dough tightly to make a 14 inch log. Cut into 10-12 even rolls and arrange in a lightly greased 9-inch round cake pan or pie dish.

6. Tightly cover the rolls with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free environment for 60-90 minutes.

7. After the rolls have doubled in size, preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake for 25-28 minutes until lightly browned. If you notice the tops are getting too brown too quickly, loosely cover the rolls with aluminum foil and continue baking.

8. Whisk the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and coffee/milk together. Drizzle or spread over warm rolls.

Cover leftover frosted or unfrosted rolls tightly and store for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 5 days in the refrigerator.