Friday, June 28, 2013

Sweet Porridge (Ba Bao Zhou)


Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 cup Mogami blended rice 
  • 1/2 cup Barley
  • 1/4 cup black bean
  • 1/3 cup red or green bean
  • 20 pcs Lotus Heart
  • 1 small packet of Ginkgo nuts
  • 3/4 cup Mogami sweet rice
  • 1/3 cup Millet
  • 1/3 cup Lycium 
  • 10 pcs of Dates

Directions:
  1. Bring a pot of water to broil then add in Mogami blended rice and barley.
  2. In a pressure cooker, add in black beans, red/green beans, and lotus hearts and cook on high for 15 mins then low heat for 15 mins.
  3. Then transfer to the pot and cook for 30 mins.
  4. Add everything else into the pot then cook for another 30 mins on low heat and stir frequently.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Bow Ties with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cream


Ingredients:
  • 1 (12 ounce) package farfalle pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 cups half-n-half
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • rosemary


Directions:
  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.
  2. Heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Cook sausage and pepper flakes until sausage is evenly brown. Stir in onion and garlic, and cook until onion is tender. Stir in tomatoes, cream, and salt. Simmer until mixture thickens, 8 to 10 minutes.
  3. Stir cooked pasta into sauce, and heat through. Garnish with rosemary.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies


Ingredients:
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup chopped pecans


Directions:
  1. Combine eggs, vanilla and raisins in a small bowl; cover and let stand for 1 hour.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  3. In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar together. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, and baking soda; stir into the creamed mixture. Then stir in the raisin mixture, rolled oats, and nuts.
  4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an unprepared cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Almond Meal Banana Muffins


Ingredients:
  • 9 oz sliced almonds
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 oz sugar
  • 3 bananas
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt



Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 300ยบ. Prepare muffin tins.
  2. Combine almonds and baking powder in the food processor until finely ground but don’t let it run too long or else it will end up as almond butter. Set aside.
  3. Combine eggs, sugar, bananas, and vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy. Combine with almond meal.
  4. Pour into each muffin tin and top with thinly sliced bananas and almonds. Bake for 40 minutes and let cool before serving.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Butterbeer


Ingredients:

  • 1 cup brown sugar 
  • 4 tablespoons butter 
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt 
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream, divided 
  • Four 12-ounce bottles cream soda, chilled



Directions: 

1. In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar with 2 tablespoons water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees, stirring occasionally which is about a minute of cooking. Turn off the heat and add the butter, salt, vinegar, and 1/4 cup heavy cream. Stir until smooth. Cool mixture to room temperature before using.
2. In a medium bowl, beat together the remaining cream (1/2 cup) with 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar syrup.
3. In each glass, mix together 1/4 cup brown sugar syrup with 1/4 cup cream soda. Pour in the rest of the cream soda until it is nearly to the brim of the glass. Top with whipped cream.