Homemade Cilantro Crackers @ Vegan Prawn Crackers

Do you believe these are homemade vegan crackers a.k.a. vegan prawn crackers????

Yeap, they are homemade crackers alright ! And it's totally vegetarian. Don't you love the sound of it ? Actually, I have no idea what comes to me. Have never thought of making my own crackers before in my life ! Since it has been so hot over here, I thought probably just the right timing for drying up some homemade cracker dough. So finally, I gathered up all the ingredients and give it a go.

And here's what I did.

 Ingredients :
(A)
400gm   potatoes, mashed

(B)
300gm   tapioca flour
1 tspn  baking powder
1-1/2 tspn  salt
1/2 tspn   pepper

(C)
100ml   water
50gm   cilantro

Method :
(1)  puree ingredients (C) and set aside.
(2)  combine ingredients (B) into a big bowl and mix well.
(3)  now, combine all ingredients (A), (B) & (C) and knead till soft dough is formed.
(4) divide dough into 4 portions and roll them up separately.
(5) then steam them for 60 mins or 90 mins for bigger sizes.
(6) leave them cool before keeping them refrigerated overnight.

The next morning, withdraw cooked dough from the fridge and leave to rest for 30 minutes before start slicing them. The dough look quite like those chinese gnocchi that I made not long ago.

Next, arrange those sliced dough to a clean & dry tray and then sun dry them for 2 days. I managed to sun dry them up within a day. Just imagine how hot it is over here. Or you may dry them in a dehydrator at 50'C for about 8 hours.

Finally, heat oil to deep fry the crackers till they float to the surface. Then immediately remove and drain on paper towels. And stored the cooled crackers in containers. I think this is the most worth trying food I ever made. So, what do you think?
*
I'm sending this to Suresh & Shaz @ Muhibbah Malaysian Monday.

Baked Eggless 'Nian Gao' Vanilla Cake

Guess what is this monkey doing? This monkey is actually enjoying an egg. I think it's a male monkey and this fellow is actually a THIEF. He stole eggs from my in-law's chicken barn almost everyday. What he did was just sitting around the area and check whenever the chickens started making noise! So, everyday my mother-in-law is like an egg marathon competitor.....see who's going to get the egg first ~ human or monkey !!!! hahaha.... Honestly, they are both equally good. Sometimes, my mother-in-law get it first and then sometimes the monkey. Oh my goodness, don't you love the village  life! :o)

If you're out eggs, don't worry! You can still make yourself an awesome eggless cake just like this one here. Since I'm using butter and condensed milk in this recipe, so it's not a vegan but a vegetarian cake.  This is actually the first time I'm making cake with 'nian gao'. Sounds pretty interesting, isn't it!  It is actually quite tasty with the addition of chewy gluey sweet glutinous rice cake in between. You'll be surprised.

And here's what did.
Ingredients :
(A)
2-1/2 cups  all purpose flour
2 tbsp  corn flour
2 tpsn  baking powder
1 tspn  baking soda
2 tbsp  sugar
1/2 tspn  salt

(B)
300ml  condensed milk
113gm  butter, melted
2 tbsp  vinegar
2 tspn   vanilla extract

* 1-1/2 cup nian gao, cubed (best in smaller chunks)
   1 cup  almond slices

Method :
(1) combine ingredients (A) into a big mixing bowl.
(2) stir ingredients (B) into (A) and mix well with a hand mixer.
(3) pour batter to a 10" baking lined with parchment paper, top with nian gao & sliced almond.
(4) bake at preheated oven 175'C for about 45-50 mins or 9x13" tray for 30 mins.
(5) then leave to cool for 20 mins before removing cake from tray.

Normally, there will be loads of leftover 'nian gao' after the Chinese New Year and mostly will be ended up in deep frying. I mean it's alright to have the deep fry food once a while but not so often. Besides, 'nian gao' isn't very nice to get them steam if they're no longer fresh & soft. So, here's another way to help you clearing off the 'nian gao' in your fridge. Hope you guys will love it too! Enjoy & have fun.

And then before ending this I would like to thank the following wonderful & thoughtful blogger for sharing such lovely awards with me. I am honoured to be apart it.

Merci, Vivian @ Vivian Pang Kitchen & Ah Tze @ Awayofmind. Do hop over to check their kitchens out!

Hereby, I would love to dedicate this award to all my blogger friends, NEW & OLD BUDDIES! Thanking all for supporting me all these years without failed. Love you guys. ((hugs)) & kisses.

Cheapest Valentine Roses

HEY, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL ! Have any of you already receiving roses from your loved ones? Talking about roses, today roses actually cost double than usual rate. Hubby is so so so stingy! He's not buying me any. FORGET IT cause I'm not expecting any from him either. hehe.... By the way, I prefer edible roses......something like this one here. If you've no idea what to gift away for this year Valentine's Day, may be this will help. Come on, let's join in for some fun.

Ingredients :
4 cups   all purpose flour
1 tbsp  sugar
1/2 tbps  yeast
1 cup lukewarm milk
1/2 cup  yogurt
1/2 cup  corn oil
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
1/2 tspn  salt

* extra egg for glazing
* chocolate chunks or red bean paste (into 24 portions)

Method :
(1) stir together sugar, yeast & milk and let to rest for 10 mins or till bubbling.
(2) once the yeast mixture is ready, combine all ingredients to form a soft dough and knead till smooth.
(3) then keep dough cover and let to rest for an hour or till double it size.
(4) place the ready dough to working table and knead till smooth, then divide into 24 portions.
(5) roll each portion into round shape thinly and them make four cuts to each corner in between 90 degree each.Do not cut cross the centre.
(6) place fillings to the centre, roll up dough up starting from opposite petals. Then follow by the other way round.
(7) place all nicely wrapped dough to baking tray and let to rest for about 30 mins.
(8) finally, brush on egg glazing and bake at preheated oven 200'C for about 15 mins or till golden brown.

For those of you who has yet received any roses from your other half. Don't be sad. Go ahead just make yourself some really nice edible roses. I bet you're going to enjoy it ! Ahemm...... WE GOING TO MAKE OTHERS ENVY ! *wink* hahaha..... 
( bread, valentine's special )