Coconut Crisps

The cookies are refreshing as it is especially when there's nothing in the cookie jar!..and during the hunger pangs in the middle of the nite..
A heartfelt thanks to my dearest mate from downunder, VG..got this from her..u may browse here and just a reminder, the dough may be soft. U may add flour or chill the dough before shaping it..but whatever it may be, this is a good sweet nostalgic taste for me, with the coconut touch..

Choco-Berry Thumbprint

A chocolatety base - smothered in zesty lemony cream cheese frosting - topped with syruppy strawberry nibblets.

Need I say more?

Oh yes..best way to eat? Slide the whole thing in...mmm...and close your mouth.

*wink*


Ingredients

125g butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla
2 oz semisweet chocolate (melted)

Sieve the following
1 and 1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp salt

Cream the butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Add yolk, vanilla and chocolate. Mix well. Add in the seived flour, cocoa and salt. The dough will be a bit soft.Don't panic. Scoop into a plastic bag and chill in the fridge for about 1 hr or so till it firms up.

Shape into balls the size of a big fishball. Roll the ball into a bowl of castor sugar and coat well. Tap off excess sugar, place onto baking sheet and using yr thumb, press onto the centre to make an indentation. Bake in a preheated 175 degrees oven for about 15 - 20 mins. Cool on wire rack. When ready to serve, add the topping of cream cheese frosting and sugared strawberries.




Cream Cheese Frosting
250g cream cheese
1 and 1/2 cup icing sugar
zest of 1/2 a lemon or orange
juice of a lemon or orange

Cream the above until well incorporated and thick.
Store any excess in an airtight container and keep it refrigerated.

Sugared Strawberries

4-5 strawberries, diced
1 tsp castor sugar

Combine the above and drain off any excess liquid.

High School Rock Buns

Rock Buns or Rock Cakes..whichever you may want to call them..are classic nostalgia. I actually love the rocky-look against the chewy interior. A cross between a cookie and a cake, it's a great tea-time snack or to binge on with a glass of milk. Most of us would remember making these during your early high school years in the Home Economics class. I simply altered the recipe to my preference. I love making them as they don't require me to use any high-end kitchen gadgets. All you need are your hands as it is a rubbing-in method. Simple. Straightforward. Fast. Dead easy..Make some today!

Ingredients

250g butter (not too soft)
250g sugar
500g flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp mixed spice (cinnamon,nutmeg)
zest of 1/2 a lemon
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 and 1/2 cups mixed fruits
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Glace cherries - halved or quartered (optional)


In a bowl, sift flour,salt,baking powder,lemon zest and mixed spice. Add butter. Using fingertips, rub butter into the dry mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and mixed fruits/chocolate chip. Beat eggs and milk together and pour slowly into the mixture. Add until the mixture is just binded. You don't need to add all. It should be a little crumbly but still decently moist.

Drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Try not to make them look perfectly round as they are supposed to look rough (that's why they're called Rock Buns). Space them apart and add a piece of cherry on top(Optional). I like to sprinkle a little bit of sugar on top. Bake in a preheated 200 degrees oven for abt 15 mins. Take them out after that as they will continue to bake even during cooling. Place them on a wire rack. Cool completely b4 storing them in a super airtight container.

I get abt 60.

Gooey Brownie

As the name suggest, it's gooey in the middle. There are loads of different types of brownies out there. Choose the one that appeals to your personal taste. Will post another brownie soon, which is MY favourite so far. Tungguuu..

Jacques Choc Chip Cookies

Made these from a recipe by Jacques Torres. I love CHEWY cookies and I must say that Frenchman really knows his chocolate...Dunk it in a glass of cold milk..aarrghh....and remember to close your mouth while eating..

250g unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 teaspoons baking powder
1teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
450g or less chocolate chips

Method

Cream butter and the two types of sugar. Beat in the eggs followed by the rest of the ingredients, like u would for any cookie recipe. Adjust yr flour.For consistency, a softer batter(with less flour) yields a chewy cookie while a stiffer batter (more flour) yields a crispier cookie.
Drop spoonfuls of batter onto yr cookie sheet,giving ample space for the cookie to spread a little.

Bake in a preheated 175 D oven for 20 mins or so, depending on the size.Cool completely on the wire rack b4 storing.