The baking recipes are some of my favorites and I have used them over and over especially the Christmas cookies and bars. I know fruit cakes are the least favorite Christmas treat but I have a recipe that will change your mind about fruitcakes. And I am sure I will post it sometime close to Christmas.
The rest of the recipes I have learned from relatives or friends and some I have just tried and sort of made up depending on what I have in the kitchen at that time or how much time I have to get it prepared. I love any kind of stir fry and so I just put anything, beef, chicken, pork, shrimp or none at all and make it all vegetables. Sometimes I spice it up or just plain and have soy sauce or other kinds sauces on the side.
Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Malaysian, Mediterrenean or Spanish, I will try anything and will probably be posted here soon.
I have decided to make pictures of the food larger than what I would usually post just so one can see it more clearly. There will be times when they will be in the tray it was baked or arranged nicely on a plate. It all depends on whether it will be personally consumed by me/ family, or guests or brought someplace. But I will try my best to get pictures of all.
So enjoy and I hope you will try some of them. They will be easy and I will write tips to make it eassier.
BAY BISCUITS
These biscuits are very similar to the Red Lobster biscuits. When I was managing a building, one of the residents worked at Red Lobster and when a friend and I ate there, I asked him about the biscuits and he told us it is like the Bisquick mix biscuits and brushed with melted butter with garlic powder and dried parsley. I did not believe it but found out it was the truth. So here is the recipe.
2 1/2 cups of Bisquick mix
4 tbsps of cold butter
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup cold milk
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Mix bisquick mix, cold butter, cheese and garlic butter. Work with two kinves or with your hands (which I prefer as I can feel the butter). Add milk and just work the dough together, it will be a bit sticky. Drop 1/3 of a cup into a baking tray. It should make around 12 biscuits. Bake in 400 oven for 17 minutes. It should be golden brown just like the pictures. Brush with the following mixture.
2 tbsps of melted butter
1/2 tsp of garlic powder
1/4 tsp dried parsley
a pinch of salt
Brush the baked biscuits after taking it out of the oven with the above mixture, This is best eaten warm but you can keep it and warm for about 10 seconds in the microwave. I prefer to eat it with a bit of butter. Serve with stew or soup. I like it with fried chicken and a bit of gravy. Delish!!!!
CINNAMON BUNS/ROLLS
41/2 cups all purpose flour (divided 2 1/4 cups)
2 tsps active dry yeast
1 cup milk
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup white granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
3 large eggs
FILLING
1 cup brown sugar
2 tbsps cinnamon
1/2 cup cold butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
GLAZE (optional)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tsbps half and half
375 degrees for 30 minutes
Mix the 2 1/4 cups of flour with the yeast. Heat milk, butter, sugar, and salt until warm to the touch. Slowly add to the flour and yeast mixture. Mix at slow speed with a mixer and add eggs one at a time. Then add other half (2 1/4 cups) of flour. If using mixer, beat mixture at slow speed and then at high speed for 3 minutes with dough hook and if doing by hand knead until the dough is soft, satiny and
smooth.
Shape dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled in size for 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
Once doubled, punch gently and let rest for 10 minutes.
Prepare filling.
Mix brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and flour.
Roll the dough into 12 inch square. Sprinkle filling evenly and brush edges with half and half to seal it. Roll the dough but do not roll too tightly.
Cut the roll into 12 equal sizes and put in glass baking dish (139x2). Cover with plastic wrap and let rise till doubled. Brush the top with half and half and bake.
Mix glaze and drizzle over the buns.
Tip: if you want gooey buns, mix brown sugar and melted butter and put in on the dish before putting the cut up roll and you will get gooey botton.
Enjoy with coffee or tea or milk.
SINGAPORE NOODLES
2 packages rice vermicellin noodles ( available in most oriental store)
chicken meat (from breast or thighs)
2-3 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
1 tbsp of ginger (chopped finely)
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 Tbsp of curry powder
2 carrots (cut in thin strips) see picture
2 stalks of celery (chopped thinly)
1/2 head of small cabbage chopped in strips
salt and pepper
chicken stock
Soak the noodles in cold water until soft.
Saute the chicken in 1 tbsp of oil until cooked. Add ginger, garlic and onions. Let cook until onion is soft. Add curry powdet. Then add carrots and celery and cook for 5 minutes. Add the cabbage. If it is getting too dry add a bit of chicken stock. Don\t over cook vegetables.
Drain the noodles and add to the vegetables. Mix and stir well to cook the noodles. Add chicken broth but the noodles have to be just moist and dry. Continue cooking until noodles are done. Taste to see if noodles are cooked. Do not overcook noodles. Add salt and pepper to taste.
APPLE CRISP
350 degrees /45 minutes
6-7 apples ( I use a mix of gala, golden delicious and granny smith)
TOPPING
1/2 cup of margarine or butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup of brown sugar for apple mixture
1 tbsp of cinnamon
2 tbsp of orange juice
Peel and chopped apples. Whatever size you prefer ( I chop mine in chunkier size).
Put in a bowl and sprinkle the last 3 ingredients. Put in baking pan.
Mix the topping and spread over the chopped apple mixture.
Bake. (sometimes I want the topping really brown and more crisp).
Enjoy with vanilla ice cream.
LEMON LOAF
350 degrees /50-60 minutes
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
grated rind of 1 lemon
LEMON GLAZE
juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup sugar
sometimes I double this and use the rind of the extra lemon in the receipe.
In large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at at ime.
In another bowl put in flour, baking powder, salt and lemon rind. Pour this over batter. Put in a greased loaf pan and bake for an hour. Check as depending on your oven, it could be done in 50 minutes. Test and make sure.
Mix the lemon juice and sugar and heat until sugar is dissolved. Spoon over top of loaf.
BANANA LOAF
350 degrees / 1 hour
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsps baking soda
pinch of salt
1 tsp of vanilla
2 eggs
3 large over ripe bananas
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla. Add egg one at a time. Pour dry mixture and beat. Add bananas one at a time until it is mixed well with the other ingredients.
Pour in greased and floured loaf pan. Bake.
You can add pecans or walnuts or raisins if you so desire.
