Perfect Puff

I got a new toy, it's called perfect puff, you can see the photo on the left hand side. I brought one box of pancake mix to test my latest toy. The bottom of the pan is not flat, managing to make seven of perfect ones is quite a challenge.

For the first experiment, found out that the bottom of the pan is not flat, managing to make seven of perfect ones is quite challenge, I have to move around the pan to let it cook more evenly on fire.

The second experiment, I put jelly filling inside. The way I got the best results is to put one tbsp inside each of the holes then when it starts bubbling put the filling and another tbsp pancake mix in, finally got some almost perfect ones.

The kids have more fun eating it, even if they are not perfect looking.

叉燒 Cha Siu (BBQ pork)

Found this recipe from Nigella Lawson cookbook，taste like Hong Kong style Cha Siu。

材料 Ingredients：

• 肋骨 Pork spare rib 12 pcs
• 蘋果汁 Apple juice 1 cup
• 楓樹糖漿 Maple syrup 1/4 cup
• 油 Oil 2 tablespoons
• 生 抽 Soy sauce 2 tablespoon
• 八角 Star anise 2 pcs
  
• 桂皮 Cinnamon 1 stick
• 蒜 頭 Garlic 6 cloves
  

烹 調 步 驟 Steps:

1. 材 料跟 排 骨 醃一晚 Marinat all ingredients together over night.
2. 放入400F 焗爐內焗60分鐘 Bake them at 400F for about 60 mins.
   

Mom's Chinese New Year Cake

材料 Ingredients：

• 糯米粉1包 Glutinous rice flour 1 bag
  
• 占米粉半包 Rice flour 1/2 bag
  
• 黃糖半包 Blown sugar 1/2 bag
  

做法 Steps：

1. 用2碗熱水來攪均粉。 Use 2 rice bowls of hot water to mix the flour.
2. 半碗水慢下，搓15分鐘左右，變成粉團 Add another 1/2 bowl of water slowly, until it can form a dough. then knead the dough for about 15 mins.
3. 再加2碗水成漿可慢慢流下。 Add another 2 bowls of water until the dough can slowly run.
4. 倒進盤中蒸熟大約半小時。 Spray the oil onto the mold, and steam for half an hour or until done.
   

**蒸的時間看模子大小決定。 Steam time depends on the size of the mold.

菠蘿洋蔥炒牛肉 Stir Fry Beef with Pineapple and Onion

材料： Ingredients:

牛肉1/4 lb Beef 1/4 lb
洋蔥3個 Onions x3
菠蘿1/4個 「新鮮或罐裝都可」 Pineapples 1/4 (fresh or canned)
生抽1/4 茶匙 Light soy sauce 1/4 tsp
生粉1/4 茶匙 Corn starch 1/4 tsp
油少許 A little oil


做法 Procedure

1. 牛薄片，用生抽、生粉和油醃一會備用 Slice the beef into thin slices, and marinate with the light soy sauce and corn starch for a while.
2. 洋蔥切片後下鍋略炒，聞到香味後備用 Slice the onions and stir fry in a wok. When you can smell the onions' fragrance, set aside.
3. 同鍋下油用大火炒牛肉，再下洋蔥和菠蘿略炒即可 Add a little oil into the wok and stir fry the beef in high heat. Add the onions and pineapples, and stir fry until done or the pineapples are warm, but not hot.

豉汁蒸排骨 Pork with black bean sauce

材 料: Ingredients:

• 飛 排 1 lb Ribs 1 lb
  
• 蒜 頭豆 豉醬 1／2湯匙 Garlic and black bean sauce 1/2 tbsp
  
• 蒜 頭 6 粒 （ 切 小 粒 ） Minced garlic 6 cloves
  
• 生 抽 、 老 抽 、 糖 、 各 適 量 Light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar to taste
  
• 生 粉 及 麻 油 Corn starch and sesame oil
  

烹 調 步 驟 : Procedure

1. 先 調 和 生 抽 、 老 抽 、 糖 、 蒜頭豆豉醬 、 蒜 頭 ， 再 跟 排 骨 醃 一 會 。 Marinate the ribs with the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, garlic and black bean sauce, and the garlic.
   
2. 放 入 雪 櫃 醃 約 30 分 鐘 。 Put in the fridge for half an hour.
   
3. 加 入 生 粉 ， 拌 勻 。 Add corn starch and mix well.
   
4. 最 後 加 入 麻 油 、 水 。 Add water and sesame oil and mix well.
   
5. 醃 好 之 一 字 排 放 在 鍋 碟 上 ， 燒 一 鑊 水 ， 水 滾 時 放 入 排 骨 ， 蒸 20 分 鐘 ， 即 成 。Put onto a plate and boil water in a pot. When the water boils, put the plate into a steam basket and steam for 20 minutes.
   

鹵水蛋 My Favorite Egg Dish

This is one of the most common Cantonese stock.

鹵水汁材料 Chinese marinate sauce (some called master stock) ingredients:

• 川花椒1／2湯匙 dried szechuan pepper 1/2 tbsp
  
• 八角1／2湯匙 dried aniseed 1/2 tbsp
  
• 丁香1／2湯匙 flos caryphylli 1/2 tbsp
  
• 桂皮1條 cinnamon stick x1
  
• 水5杯 water 5 cups
  
• 鼓油1湯匙 light soy sauce 1 tbsp
  
• 老抽1湯匙 dark soy sauce 1 tbsp
• 薑數片 ginger several slices
  
• 蔥2條 green onions 2 stalks
  
• 鹽少許 salt to taste
  
• 黃糖少許 brown sugar to taste
  
• 酒少許 wine to taste
  

• 烚蛋6隻 hardboiled eggs x6
  

做法： Procedure

1. 鹵水材料煮滾，加入蛋。 Combine everything but the eggs and boil, taste, and add eggs when right.
   
2. 慢火煮半小時便可。 Simmer 1/2 hour.
   

*我們喜歡與牛腩一起鹵，時間會長一些。 We like adding stew beef to this, but it lengthens the cooking time.
*鹵水汁與雞和炸豆腐都可。Can be combined with chicken or tofu.
*鹵水汁下次可再用，如果味道不足加多一些材料。 -也可買一樽已做好或像茶包式樣的香料。The sauce can be reused, but more ingredients may need to be added next time to taste. Bottles of premade sauce or mixed spice pouches can be used as well.