Thursday, November 28, 2024

You Tiau Fried Dough Sticks Recipe

 You Tiau, also known as Chinese fried dough sticks, is a popular snack or breakfast item. This simplified recipe uses baking powder and baking soda instead of yeast, making it quick and easy while maintaining a delicious, airy texture.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 egg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp softened butter
  • ½ cup cold water + 2 tbsp extra if needed

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Dough:
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, egg, and butter. Gradually pour in the water while mixing.
    • Knead the dough using an egg beater with dough hooks or by hand until it comes together. Rest the dough for 10 minutes.
  2. Knead and Rest:
    • After the initial rest, transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead by hand for about 5 minutes until smooth.
    • Wrap the dough in plastic wrap or cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for 4–5 hours. The dough can refrigerate overnight
  3. Shape the Dough:
    • Roll out the rested dough into a long strip using a rolling pin. Flatten it into a rectangular shape about 3 inches wide and 1/16 inch thick.
    • Cut the rectangle into 1/3-inch-wide strips. Stack two strips on each other and press down the center lengthwise with a damp chopstick to seal them together.
  4. Fry the Dough Sticks:
    • Heat oil in a deep pan over medium heat. Test the temperature by dropping a small piece of dough into the oil; it should bubble and float to the surface.
    • Gently stretch a strip of dough by holding both ends, then carefully place it into the hot oil. Fry one strip at a time.
    • Use chopsticks to turn the dough stick continuously until both sides are golden brown and puffed up.
    • Remove and drain on paper towels. Repeat until all strips are fried.

Tips:

  • Serve warm with soy milk, congee, or your favorite dipping sauce.
  • For extra crispiness, ensure the oil temperature stays consistent during frying.

Enjoy your homemade You Tiau!

Monday, November 25, 2024

Easy Pecan Pie Recipe

This classic pecan pie is simple to make and perfect for any occasion.  With a rich, nutty filling and a flaky crust, it’s sure to impress!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups pecan halves or pieces
  • 1 pie crust (from 1 package of frozen Pillsbury or similar)

Directions:

1.   Preheating the Oven:

2.   Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).  Place a cookie sheet in the oven to preheat.

3.   Preparing the Filling:

4.   In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, melted butter, corn syrup, salt, and eggs until smooth and well combined.  Stir in the pecans.

5.   Assembling the Pie:

6.   Pour the pecan mixture into the frozen pie crust.

7.   Baking:

8.   Place the pie on the preheated cookie sheet and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the center is set.

·         After 15 to 20 minutes of baking, cover the edges of the crust with strips of foil to prevent over-browning.

9.   Cooling and Chilling:

10.                     Let the pie cool for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to ensure the filling is fully set.

Enjoy this easy pecan pie with a scoop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for the ultimate dessert experience!


Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

There’s nothing like the comforting aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls, and they’re surprisingly easy to make!  Using my basic sweet dough recipe from November 16th, this simple method will guide you to perfect cinnamon buns.  To elevate the flavor and texture, pour heavy cream over the rolls before baking — a clever trick for extra tender, gooey results.

Ingredients:

For the Rolls:

  • Sweet basic dough
  • 6 tbsp butter, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream

For the Glaze:

  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 oz. (1/4 package) cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp milk

Directions:

1.    Preheating the Oven:

2.    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

3.    Preparing the Filling:

4.    In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, vanilla extract, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  Set aside.

5.    Rolling Out the Dough:

6.    On a lightly floured surface, roll out the sweet dough into a 12x11-inch rectangle.

7.    Assembling the Rolls:

·         Brush the dough evenly with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

·         Starting from the long side, roll the dough into a tight log.

·         Slice the log into 8 equal pieces.

8.    Arranging and Adding Cream:

9.    Place the rolls cut-side down in a greased 9-inch round baking pan.  Pour the heavy cream evenly over the rolls, then cover with foil.

10.                       Baking:

11.                       Bake for 35 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and cooked through.

12.                       Preparing the Glaze:

13.                       While the rolls are baking, mix the confectioners’ sugar, softened cream cheese, vanilla extract, and milk in a bowl until smooth.

14.                       Glazing and Serving:

15.                       Drizzle the warm rolls with the cream cheese glaze. Serve immediately and enjoy!

These easy cinnamon rolls are soft, gooey, and packed with cinnamon flavor — perfect for any occasion.  Enjoy!


Mini Apple Pies Recipe

Apple pie is more than just a dessert; it’s a cherished symbol of American heritage, often associated with family, home, and warm memories.  During World War II, soldiers famously spoke of fighting for “mom and apple pie,” cementing its place in American culture.  For the holiday season, I love making apple cakes and pies.  The comforting aroma of spices fills the home, creating a cozy atmosphere.  This easy mini apple pie recipe is perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings without a trip to the drive-thru.

Ingredients:

  • 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
  • 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups apples (about 3 large), peeled and diced into 1/3 inch cubes
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1½  teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1 egg whisked with 1 tablespoon cold water (for egg wash)
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar (for topping)
  • ¾ teaspoon cinnamon (for topping)

Directions:

1. Making the Apple Filling:

In a large saucepan, combine diced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and water.  Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Stir in the dissolved cornstarch and cook for an additional 3–4 minutes until the mixture thickens.  Remove from heat and let the filling cool completely.

2. Prepping for Baking:

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  In a small bowl, mix the 3 tablespoons of light brown sugar and ¾ teaspoon of cinnamon.  Set aside.  Whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon of cold water for the egg wash.

3. Assembling the Mini Pies:

  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out each puff pastry sheet into a 12×12-inch square.  Cut each sheet into 12 rectangles.
  • Arrange six rectangles on a baking sheet.  Spoon a generous amount of apple filling onto the center of each rectangle, leaving about a ½-inch border around the edges.  Brush the borders with the egg wash.
  • Cover each rectangle with another piece of puff pastry. Gently stretch the top piece to cover the filling completely and press the edges together.  Use a fork to crimp and seal the edges.
  • Make four small slits on the top of each pie with a sharp knife for ventilation.  Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

4. Baking:

Repeat the assembly process with the remaining puff pastry rectangles.  Bake the mini pies for 18–20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and puffed up.

5. Serving and Enjoying:

Let the pies cool slightly before serving. These mini apple pies are perfect as a quick snack or a cozy holiday treat!


Thursday, November 21, 2024

Easy Pumpkin Muffins Recipe

If you’re a fan of pumpkin or warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, these easy pumpkin muffins are perfect for the season, especially as Thanksgiving approaches.  Using pumpkin purée is a great way to add flavor to simple bakes, and this recipe is a wonderful option if you have some leftover purée.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup self-rising flour
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup raisins (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 medium or 6 small muffin liners

Directions:

1.    Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2.    Prepare the muffin tin by lining it with muffin tin liners.

3.    In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg, vegetable oil, pumpkin purée, milk, and sugar until smooth and well combined.

4.    Add the self-rising flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and raisins (if using).  Mix gently until just combined; avoid overmixing.

5.    Divide the batter evenly among the muffin tin liners.

6.    Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

7.    Allow the muffins to cool slightly before enjoying.

These muffins are moist, flavorful, and perfect for breakfast, a snack, or a festive dessert.

  

Tip: if you do not have self-rising flour you can use the All Purpose flour 

1 cup All Purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsl salt


Wednesday, November 20, 2024

The Living Principles

The Living Principles Take a walk on the path of truth.  Because the earth 's paths are bumpy, they only showed partial reality and not get you anything useful insights.

Think of the life God gives you an opportunity to do good and help others.  Do not stand between the lines to look back and just struggling with what you 've done or forgeten to do.  If just thinking about the past, whether positive or negative, you will be at risk of dropping to do good deeds.  In contrast, let's take a helping hand to people who need you.  Some words of love and encouragement for the blessing of Christ as divine.  A smile can heal many bad things and relieve the pain.  Take life by preserving hope and bright attitude. And you will be rewarded.
Try to keep your maximum calmness.  Do not look for continuous operation, as you can not have peace and quiet of righteous living and good works.  Do not say that the external pressure make you panic spirit: noisy reality of the world must depend on internal harmony of fulfilling their daily duties, and never become pretext to cause upset or troubled.  You always bring peace envoy and love.
In each of us there is a curious thing demons are interested in promoting other people's lives, to judge by actions, explain and magnify mistakes, as it is the judgment of cough..You just think: if we observe others, criticize and defame us, we consent to or protest?  So, do not judge
An optimist is a person trying to live a good and outward to other people to be happy.  Sadly when exposed to those who see evil everywhere, and just thinking about it wrong.  Living with people like that is unfortunate.  They are the ones who ruin the day of anyone who lives in contact with them.  How to face your life?  Are you ready to discover where you, or direct you to what the purest and most beautiful?
Life is one long struggle journey.  Be content with your past in the present to enjoy your achievements you do.  Do not rush when you are on your way.  Do not expect to jump through a few steps, but step by step, you make your destiny is to fight and to win. What you get is your conquest, is due to the success of your wants and hardships.  Do not worry about what other people life.

Make it a simple life.  Simple living is not just an act of virtue, but also a behavioral understanding.  Attitude simply makes people become cute, and easy to embrace.  The presence of sympathy cause you where you live, in your work environment.  The simple life will entice many friends.  Only the new simple life brings true happiness.
If your conviction in your opinion, you preserve and maintain.  Some people are able to live the good ideas have convinced themselves that the good and honorable.  The dare die for such a cause as well.  Do not change your mind as long as your not going to find themselves mistaken.  But also do not forget to respect the opinions of others..You can change the way of thinking, but not so that you have the right to force others to think like you.. Please avoid any argument you can make is satisfied because you won the contest.


Humility is not flaunt his own man, nor conceal or deny their value. The humility is to respect what people value, what is true, but not arrogant, and is always expressed gratitude: keep it as a rule of life.

According to the philosopher Descartes, man is a thinking being.  He said: I am thinking, should I be.always thinking about the good and useful?  Stay away from negative ideas.  Do not just think about the body, the pain, disorders, disorders of you.  When you pay attention to the health and happiness of their development, try to change your life into the right path.

Please ask to be strong in faith.  Life is always difficult, but faith is the most effective remedy that people have in hand.  So please pay attention to potential sources of strength in the deep realms of you.  Thanks to wield that power, you can step by step, overcoming difficult physical, mental and moral, is not lacking in the lives of human beings.
Living at peace with his conscience as security for a happy life.  Rich riches brought material comfort, but only the harmony of the new spirit brings peace, joy, happy smile..You think, speak, and live as people enjoy the taste of kindness and love.  Do not be satisfied with a temporary material.  Do not be a slave to materialism.  Do not just worry possessed of wealth for many, as if no value besides other important and more essential.  You remember that we have a wealth becomes meaningless death.  You have value because of what you do, not what you have.  Do not let others evaluate you according to material possessions.  The true value of your possessions is your spirit, in addition to all that can be considered redundant.


Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Cinnamon Sausage Recipe

Cinnamon sausage, a traditional dish from Northern Vietnam, is a must-have in meals, parties, and celebrations in the region.  Its unique flavor carries a sense of home, evoking nostalgia for those far away.  Traditionally made with lean pork and pork fat, cinnamon sausage is blended with cinnamon spice and cooked by steaming or grilling.  However, in this modern variation, ground turkey or chicken is used as a healthier alternative while maintaining the dish's signature taste and texture.

Ingredients:

  • Meat Mixture Ingredients:
    • 1 1/2 lbs ground turkey or chicken
    • 1/4 cup oil
    • 2 tsp cinnamon powder
    • 2 tbsp annatto oil
  • Marinade Ingredients:
    • 5 tbsp water
    • 2 tbsp fish sauce
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1/2 tsp black pepper
    • 1/2 tbsp baking powder
    • 1 tsp chicken powder
    • 2 tbsp sugar
    • 1 tsp cinnamon powder
    • 3 tbsp potato starch or cornstarch

Directions:

1.    Preparing the Meat:

·         Place the ground turkey in a large mixing bowl.

·         In a separate bowl, mix all the marinade ingredients until well combined.  Pour the marinade into the turkey and chill the meat in the refrigerator for 30–40 minutes (or freeze briefly) to keep the meat cold and firm during processing.

2.    Grinding the Meat:

·         After chilling, transfer the mixture to a food processor or meat grinder and process until smooth.

·         Add the oil and cinnamon powder to the meat and adjust seasoning to taste.

3.    Preparing the Annatto Oil Mixture:

·         In a small bowl, combine the remaining annatto oil with cinnamon powder to create a vibrant, flavorful topping.

4.    Shaping and Cooking:

·         Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

·         Line a non-stick baking tray with aluminum foil.  Brush the surface with a layer of the annatto oil mixture. Spread the meat mixture evenly on the tray, smoothing it with a spatula.

·         Brush the top with the remaining annatto oil mixture.

5.    Baking or Steaming:

·         Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes.  Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the meat—if it comes out clean, it’s ready.

·         Alternatively, you can steam the sausage until cooked through, then pan-fry for a crispy outer layer if desired.

Serving Suggestions

Cinnamon sausage pairs wonderfully with sticky rice, bánh giầy (glutinous rice cakes), bánh Æ°á»›t (steamed rice rolls), or as a side dish in family meals.  Enjoy the delicious blend of fragrant cinnamon and savory meat!