Chinese New Year Almond Cookies

Chinese New Year is a time for reunion, celebrations and feasting!! I haven't spent Chinese New Year back home for such a long time. 5 years in fact so what's the best thing to do to make myself feel better?? Bake some CNY goodies!! Didn't have to do so last Chinese New Year as my then fiance's father blessed us with loads of goodies when he came over. No 'special' delivery this year so I'll just have to bake some! Home baked goodies will definitely be better than the expensive ones being sold in Chinatown. Agreed?

Almond cookies are one of the traditional cookies that's enjoyed during the festivities. It so happened that Su-Yin over at Bread et Butter posted up the recipe so i didn't have to look too far for a great recipe. The result of this easy recipe was a meltingly crumbly cookie with a pretty cracked appearance like what it should be. Simply lovely!

Adapted from Bread et Butter

Ingredients (Makes about 50)

2 cups ground almonds

2 cups plain flour

3/4 cup golden icing sugar

1 cup light olive oil

pinch of salt

1 egg, beaten

Method

1. Dry fry the ground almonds in a wide non-stick pan (over medium heat), until they start to become fragrant and lightly browned, taking care not to burn the almonds.

2. Heat the oven to 180 deg C. 

3. Place the ground almonds, flour, sugar and salt in a bowl, and mix with a spatula until well combined.

4. In a food processor, pour in the dry mix and slowly trickle the oil while pulsing, until a cohesive dough is formed.

5. Form the dough into 2cm balls, and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Press down lightly with a chopstick or straw to form the indentation you see in the cookie.

6. Glaze lightly with the beaten egg.

7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.

Quinoa Stir-fry with kale, chilli and nuts

Here's me on my quinoa kick again! :) Absolutely love it after cooking it for the 1st time so I was on a lookout for more delicious combination of ingredients. This time, it's one that's quite like a Chinese Fried Rice. I may just replace the rice aspect of a fried rice with quinoa from now on. ;)

Oh yes! I just found quinoa flour in one of my local shops so I hope to do some baking with quinoa soon!! 

Adapted from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's recipe
Ingredients (Serves 3)
100g flaked almonds
200g quinoa 
3 tbsp olive oil 
2 onions, peeled, chopped
3 garlic cloves, peeled, finely chopped 
1 small red chilli, seeds and membrane removed, finely sliced 
2.5cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely sliced 
140g kale, stems removed and shredded 
150ml vegetable stock 
Salt and freshly ground black pepper 
Soy sauce, optional


Method
Heat the oven to 180C. Place the almonds on a baking sheet and bake until slightly golden and fragrant, stirring once, about six to eight minutes. Leave to cool.


Cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the packet. While it's cooking, warm olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat, then add the onions and fry until softened and beginning to turn golden. Add the garlic, chilli and ginger, and sauté for a couple of minutes. Throw in the kale and stir-fry for a couple of minutes. Add the stock and simmer until the kale is tender and most of the liquid has evaporated. Add the quinoa, stir to combine. Finally add the nuts, season to taste and serve hot or cold, with a splash of soy sauce, if you like.