Panna Cotta

Panna cotta is a molded chilled dessert popular throughout Italy. It looks and tastes wonderful with ripe red fruits such as raspberries, strawberries, or sweet cherries.

Ingredients

1 envelope unflavored gelatin (about 1 tablespoon)
3 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/3 cup honey or sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch of Salt
1-2 cups assorted fresh berries

Steps

1. Place the milk in a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes to soften the gelatin.

2. Pour milk mixture into a heavy saucepan and stir over medium heat just until the gelatin dissolves but the milk does not boil, about 5 minutes. Add the cream, honey, sugar, and salt. Stir until the sugar dissolves, 5 to 7 minutes. 

3. Remove from the heat. Pour into 6 wine glasses so that they are 1/2 full. Cool slightly. Refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours.

4. Garnish with berries or sauces.

Vegan Chocolate Cake

Quick and easy, super moist, rich of chocolate - what else can you ask for a chocolate cake, vegan or not?

Ingredients

Coconut milk - 1 cup
Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar - 1 TBSP
All purpose flour - 2 cups
Sugar - 1 and 3/4 cups or less
Cocoa powder - 3/4 cup
Baking powder - 2 tsp
Baking soda - 1 and 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Oil - 1/2 cup
Apple sauce - 2/3 cup unsweetened
Pure vanilla extract - 1 TBSP
Boiling water - 1 cup
Frosting with Vegan Chocolate Buttercream

Steps

1, Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two 9-inch cake pans and line them with parchment rounds.
2. Add vinegar in coconut milk and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk well to combine.
4. Add the oil, applesauce, vanilla and milk/vinegar mixture. Mix on medium speed with a stand mixer with the paddle attachment until well combined.
5. Lower the speed and carefully pour in the boiling water, continuing to mix into the cake batter until combined. The batter will seem very runny at this point.

6. Divide the batter evenly between your cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. After 10 minutes of cooling in the pan, carefully remove the cakes from the pans and let cool completely before frosting.

This recipe can also make 24 cupcakes, baking 20-25 minutes, or about 70 mini cupcakes, baking about 15 minutes.

Longevity Cake for Mom's 80th Birthday

This is three tier Chiffon Cake, 10", 8", and 6", with Swiss Meringue Buttercream frosting. The cranes are made with Marshmallow Fondant.

The remainder buttercream is not wasted :-)

Calla Lily Cake

This is Chiffon Cake with Swiss Meringue Buttercream frosting. The flower is made with Marshmallow Fondant.

Osmanthus Sticky Rice Cake

This is same recipe with the Black Sesame Sticky Rice Cake I made few years ago, with different flavoring.

Ingredients:

Glutinous rice flour - 1 and 1/4 cup
Rice flour - 3/4 cup
Sugar - 1/2 -2/3 cup
Water - 1 cup
Oil - 1 and 1/2 TBSP
Dried Osmanthus - 1 TBSP

Steps:

1. Whisk glutinous rice flour, rice flour, dried osmanthus, and sugar in a microwaveable bowl. Then add water and oil. Stir until smooth.

2. Microwave the barter on high for 2 minutes, take out and stir. Microwave again for a minute and stir. Repeat until the dough turns transparent and fully cooked
3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 15 minutes.
4. On a clean surface, place a large piece of plastic wrap and transfer cooked dough on one end. Lift the other half of wrap to cover the dough and knead it. Open the wrap, fold the dough, then cover with the wrap and knead again. Repeat a few more times until the dough is smooth and well mixed.

4. Shape the dough into logs. Wrap and place in the fridge for 2-4 hours. Then slice and serve.

Gold Coin Bakkwa (金钱肉干)

Bakkwa is a Chinese salty-sweet dried meat product similar to jerky. It originated from the Fujian province in China where it is considered a Hokkien delicacy. It traditionally takes the form of thin square slices. The Gold coin shaped ones are made during Chinese New year for good luck and prosperity.

Ingredients

Grounded Pork - 1 lb (40% fat)
Fish Sauce (鱼露) - 2 TBSP
Red Yeast Rice Powder (红糟) - 1 tsp
Soy Sauce - 2 tsp
Sugar - 1/2 cup
A little oil for spreading or using a bottle of oil spray

Steps

1. Mixed all the ingredients listed using a spatula and stir at one direction to form a sticky paste ( I used stand mixer with paddle attachment to mix). Let it sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour to marinate.
2. Grease a small muffins baking tray ( I have one with 48 cavities, perfect for this project). Place about 1 tsp of minced meat in the muffin cup, lightly press to flatten the minced meat to about 3 mm in thickness. Repeat to fill all the cups.

3. Place the pan in the oven and broil the meat for 5 minutes, there is no need to preheat oven. Take the meat out with the help of a tong.

4. Place the cooked coins on a cookie sheet with bottom up, nd broil at high for 2 minutes. Wait until the coins are cooled before serving.

Shanghai Style Rice Cake (上海松糕)

Ingredients

Rice - 1.5 cup

Glutinous Rice - 1.5 cup

Sugar - 3 TBSP

Dried fruit - 1 cup, diced (cranberry, date, raisin or others)

Steps

1. Soak rice in water overnight.

2. Drain water and then ground in Vitamix into coarse powder
3. Mix in sugar, and sift the mixture

4. Mix in half of the diced dried fruits
5. Line a steamer with cheese cloth, and spoon the mixed flour in, do not press down.

6. Put the other half dried fruit on top for decoration.

7. Steam at high hear for 30-45 minutes.

8. Wait for the cake to cool down before slice and serve.