Peanut Butter Cookies

 

Ingredients:

1 1/4 Cups of all-purpose flour

1/2 Cup of unsalted butter, softened

1/2 Cup of peanut butter

1/2 Tsp of baking powder

3/4 Tsp of baking soda

1/4 Tsp of salt

1 Cup of sugar

1 Egg

1. Beat the butter for 2 minutes or until creamy.Add 1 cup of sugar, beat for 2 more minutes.

2. Add 1/2 cup of peanut butter and 1 egg and beat till evenly mixed.

3. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/4 cups of flour, 1/2 tsp of baking powder, 3/4 tsp of baking soda, 1/4 tsp of salt.

4.  Stir the dry ingredients into the peanut butter mixture.

5. Wrap the dough in clear plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours. (Your cookie will shape better if the dough is chilled)

6. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. Shape the dough  into 1 inch balls.  Place the balls 3 inches apart on a cookie sheet.

8.  Flatten the dough with a fork in a lattice pattern.

9.  Bake for 9-10 minutes or until light brown.  Cool on baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. 

10. Serve and enjoy! 

Pigs in a Blanket

 Ingredients:

2 Cups of bread flour 
1 1/2 Tsp of instant dried yeast 
1 Tbsp of sugar 
1 Tsp of salt 
2 Tbsp of unsalted butter (soft)
1 Egg
1 Cup of whole milk
1 Pack of 10 hot dogs (I cut the hot dogs in half)


Egg Wash
1 Egg
2 Tbsp of water 

Recipe makes about 20 pigs in a blanket.

1. In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup of bread flour and 1 1/2 tsp of instant dried yeast. Add 1 tsp of salt and 1 tbsp of sugar and whisk again.

2.  Add 1 egg and 1 cup of milk to the dry mixture, and mix.


3. Add the remaining 1 cup of bread flour to the mixture and knead.  You will feel the dough become elastic after kneading for about 10 minutes.  

4.  Add butter and continue kneading.  Kneed for about 10-15 minutes until the dough is soft and smooth.   You can try to stretch the dough, if it can stretch into a thin sheet without breaking, the dough is ready.

5.  Place the dough into a lightly flowered bowl and cover with a damp cloth. 

6.   Let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size. About 1 - 1.5 hours depending on the room temperature. (You can also set it outside under the sun)

7. Cut the dough into 20 even pieces, then roll the dough into a ball and let them rest for 10 minutes ( cover with a damp cloth - to prevent the dough from drying out).
 
8. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into an oval shape.  Place the sausage in the center and cut both sides of the dough into 7 strips. 

9.Cut the hot dogs in half.

10. Fold the strips alternating left and right over the sausage.

11.  Place the rolls on a greased baking sheet.  Cover the rolls and let it rise until it almost doubles in size 25-30 minutes in a warm place.


12. In a small bowl, make egg wash by beating 1 egg adding 2 tbsp of water.  Brush the rolls with egg wash.

13. Preheat the oven and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes then reduce heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for another 5 minutes of until golden brown. remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

14.  Serve and enjoy!
 


Recipe from Daily Delicious 

Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:
2 Cucumbers
3 Cloves of garlic (you can put less or more
3 Red chili peppers
3 Tbsp of sesame oil
1/2 Tsp of pepper
1/2 Tsp of salt

1. Cut the cucumbers into 1/2 inch cubes. In a bowl, sprinkle the cucumbers with 1/2 tsp of salt.  Let it sit for a few minutes, then drain the water and set aside.

2. Dice the red chili peppers.

3. Mince the garlic.

4. In a bowl, toss together cucumbers, chili peppers, garlic, 1/2 tsp of pepper and 3 tbsp of sesame oil. Chill the cucumber salad for about 1 hour before you serve and enjoy!
 

Stir-Fry Green Beans with Chicken

Ingredients: 

2 Cups of fresh green beans, trimmed

1/2 Pound of ground chicken  

3 Cloves of garlic 

2 Tbsp of fresh ginger root

1/4 Tsp of salt
4 Tsp of sugar

2 Tsp of ground black pepper

6 Tbsp of black bean sauce

4 Tbsp of soy sauce

2 Tbsp of rice wine

4 Tbsp of vegetable oil
3 red chili peppers (optional)

1. Mince the garlic and ginger.

2. In a bowl, mix together 6 tbsp of black bean sauce, 4 tbsp of soy sauce, 2 tbsp of rice wine, 4 tsp of sugar, 2 tsp of ground black pepper and set aside.

3. In a large pan, with high heat, add 2 tbsp of oil add ground chicken and stir-fry until fully cooked.  Remove the chicken and set aside on a plate.

4. Heat the remaining oil and stir-fry the green beans for 7-8 minutes or until tender.

5. Add the garlic and ginger, stir-fry for another minute.

6. Add the chicken to the stir-fry.

7. Stir in the black bean sauce.

 (Optional: I like a little spice, so I cut up some red chili peppers and added it to the stir-fry)

8. Once the green beans and chicken are evenly coated with black bean sauce, remove from pan, serve and enjoy!  (I like to eat my stir-fry with a bowl of rice)

Cold Noodles with Peanut Sesame Dressing

Ingredients:
2 Bundles of noodles
2 Cucumber
1 Carrot
1 Cup of bean sprouts
1/3 cup of diced cilantro

For Peanut Sesame Dressing: 

1/2 Cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 Cup soy sauce
1/3 Cup warm water
1 1/2 Tbs of sesame oil
2 Tsp of sugar
1 Medium garlic clove, chopped

1.  Bring 1 pot of water to a boil, cook the noodles, when done drain and set aside

2.  Blanch the bean sprouts in boiling hot water, drain and set aside
3.  Julienne the carrots and cucumbers

4.  In a blender combine 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup warm water, 1 1/2 tbs of sesame oil, 2 tsp of sugar, 1 medium garlic clove- chopped. when evenly blended remove and pour into a small bowl.
5. In a serving dish combine noodles, carrots, bean sprouts, cucumbers, drizzle 3 tbs of peanut sesame dressing.  Sprinkle cilantro on top, serve and enjoy! :)   (I like to add more peanut sesame sauce, feel free to add as much or as little as you like)

Chicken with Garlic Chives

Ingredients:

1 Boneless chicken leg meat

1 Bundle of Chinese chives (jiu cai or chinese leek/garlic)

3 Tbs of soy sauce

2 Tbs of cooking wine

1/2 Tsp of salt

1/2 Tsp of pepper

1. Slice the chicken into 2 inch strips

2. Cut off the stems of the Chinese chives and then cut the bundle in half

3. Stir fry they chicken add 3 tbs of soy sauce, 2 tbs of cooking wine, salt and pepper

4. When the chicken is fully cooked, add the Chinese chives and stir fry for 30 seconds, turn off the fire. Serve and enjoy! :)  I like my dish with a side of rice