The winner of the Culinary Smackdown Battle--Cookies

WOW is exactly what came to my mind when I saw all the amazing and delicious cookie entries from the Culinary Smackdown Battle—Cookies!  I want to thank everyone of you who participated in this contest.  However, as you all know, only one person can win!  It’s truly hard to just pick one winner because, to me, all of you are truly talented and generous in sharing your delicious cookie recipes.  All of you are winners to me.  Out of 120 entries…there are quite many that stand out and make it even harder for me to pick just one winner.    Before we go to the winner announcement, here’s a recap on the prizes:

1) Giada De Larentiis Embroidered Apron – a $15 value

2) Home brand Potholder – a $5 value



And the winner is……

Strawberry-Nutella Thumbprint Cookies from Sinfully Spicy

Picture from  Sinfully Spicy

Congratulations to Tanvi from Sinfully Spicy!  Check out her post on these cookies.  I love her notes and her detail pictorial on the recipe as well!  Well done, Tanvi! 

So, Tanvi, please grab the badge below and be the host for April’s Culinary Smackdown Battle.  Have fun and enjoy!  I look forward to the theme that you’re going to come up with for next month’s contest.       

Before we go, here are a few recipes that I selected as Honorable Mentions.  They are (in random order)…

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies from My Five Men

Picture from My Five Men

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies have the classic flavors combination and they are so much fun to eat!  If you haven’t check out My Five Men’s blog and her recipes, you should.  I really enjoy reading her blog and the little stories that she shares with us…and all her mouth watering recipes!


Apple Jacks Cookies from Sweet as Sugar Cookies

Picture from Sweet as Sugar Cookies

What a creative use of Apple Jack cereal to add flavors and colors to these cookies!  Lisa from Sweet as Sugar Cookies hosts a linky party every Saturday called Sweets for Saturdays and it’s a great success.  Link up your recipe and  meet other foodies and bloggers for fun.  You’ll be glad you did.  Did I tell you yet?  Lisa is a really sweet person, sweet as sugar cookies!  ;)

Chocolate Chip Goodness from Could I Have That?

Picture from Could I Have That?

Boy oh boy, I don’t think anyone can resist these Chocolate Chip Goodness!  They are simply mouth watering.  Samantha from Could I Have That? has a beautiful blog.  She is talented.  I love her photography and her modeling of wonderful outfits she picks each week.  Her blog and recipes are fun to read.

Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookies from You Made That?

Picture from You Made That?

These Lemon Curd Thumbprint cookies are just too cute to eat.  Each one is unique and looks like a beautiful daisy to me.  Suzanne from You Made That? is creative and artistic.  Her recipes and crafts are always amazing and beautiful.  If you want your guests to ask you the same question “You made that?” because they are amazed by the wonderful products or treats you created, you’ve got to try Suzanne’s recipes and crafting tips. 

Double Vanilla Delights~Rainbow Cookies from Munchin Munchies

Picture from Munchin Munchies

Looking at these colorful Rainbow Cookies makes me feel happy! I’m sure I’ll be even more happy if I can have a few bites!  If you haven’t visit Munchin Munchies, you don’t know what you’ve been missing out!  I love her creative and beautiful recipes.  They are always fun to make and fun to eat.  Her munchins are super adorable too!   

Thank you again for everyone who participated in this contest!  Hopefully, we’ll have another fun event like this real soon!  :) 

Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful day you all.

Friendly Reminders

Just a quick note to remind you that the deadline to submit your entry to the Culinary Smackdown Battle—Cookie is 3/29/2011.  You still have 1 day left to submit your recipe if you haven’t done so.  The winner will be announced on 3/31/2011.  So, don’t forget to hop back here to check out the winner announcement.  The prizes for this contest are:

1) Giada De Larentiis Embroidered Apron – a $15 value



2) Home brand Potholder – a $5 value




Another reminder is the Virtual Bake Sale to benefit the Japan earthquake victims.  The auction for the bake sale will be held at The Tomato Tart’s Blog on 3/30/2011.  Please visit her blog to check out all the goodies available for the bake sale.




Thank you for stopping by today and have a wonderful week ahead.

Matcha (Japanese Green Tea) Mousse Cheesecake with Pistachio Crust

I’ve purchased this square mini baking pan for a while but haven’t had a chance to put it to good use.  In my mind, I’ve created recipes using this pan, recipes such as mini cheesecakes or individual quiches for future parties or gatherings (yeah, I day dream about food all the time! LOL).  When I found out the theme on Dessert Wars for March, I couldn’t be happier!  To celebrate St. Patty’s Day, the theme for March is GO GREEN!  Matcha (Japanese green tea) is one of the flavor I’ve always wanted to incorporate into a cheesecake.  While matcha might not be a popular ingredient in western desserts, it’s commonly used in Asian cuisines especially baked goods. 



Japanese bakery shops are one of my favorite places to visit.  They always infused western desserts with a unique twist of their own.  I love Japanese bakeries especially their cakes.  Japanese cakes are known for their moist, creamy, light and airy texture, and not overly sweet taste.  This Matcha Mousse Cheesecake with Pistachio Crust is definitely a delightful creation that fits into all of the descriptions above.  In addition to that, the pistachio crust certainly enhance the over all flavor and texture of the cake.  This crust is crunchy and slightly crumbly with a lovely nutty and buttery flavor.  I can’t wait to make these Matcha Mousse Cheesecake with Pistachio Crust again and serve them in our next family gathering. 

If you haven’t check out the Virtual Bake Sale to benefit the Japan earthquake victims, please click here for more details.  Thank you for those who helped spread the words or signed up to donate a baked good, or plan to bit on some products.  I truly appreciate your help and supports. 
   



For now, I need to hurry up and submit this recipe to Dessert Wars!  It’s my first time participating their contest and I’m really excited about it.  Look at the prize package for March below and you’ll know why.  They do have many generous sponsors.  If you have a wonderful recipe to share, jump right in for the fun.  Be sure to read the rules here before you enter though.




The March prize package includes:

Whisk  and cupcake necklace from Moon & Star Designs
Beanilla  Sampler Pack of Vanilla Beans
Lenox Personalized Musical Cupcake
1,000 ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies & Cakes
Unlimited Layers: A Recipe for Turning Your Passion into Profits
Organic Valley $50 Gift Certificate
Organic Prairie $50 Gift Certificate
Theme Kitchen $50 Gift Certificate
BEKA Cookware Crepe Pan
 

 
 
***Update*** I’m so thrilled and honored that I’ve won the Dessert Wars contest for March.  I enjoyed creating the recipe, making these treats and meeting other bloggers through Dessert Wars.  Thank you for hosting such a fun contest.  Click here to see the Winner Announcement post. 

A Virtual Bake Sale to Benefit the Japan Earthquake Victims

It’s devastating and heartbreaking to watch the news and videos about the tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  I can’t quite comprehend what the Japanese are going through now.  How frighten and helpless to watch their houses, their towns, and their families being swept away by the waves and nothing much they can do about it.  It reminds me how fortunate I am to sit comfortably at home, sharing a hot meal with my family and loved ones.    

Picture from National Geographic Daily News

 
Instead of sitting here, thinking of another recipe and cook up a storm, I want to ask something of you, my readers and friends.  My fellow blogger Sabrina from The Tomato Tart is organizing a virtual bake sale to help the victims over in Japan.    

All proceeds will go to Second Harvest Japan. There will be an auction for items over at her website on March 30, 2011, and the winner will have their baked goods shipped directly to them from the producers. Won’t you help her out by participating in the bake sale?

You don’t have to be food blogger or baker to participate. You can either bid on an item or donate a baked good. Just contact Sabrina over at The Tomato Tart and tell her that you want to help out. She’ll send you the details. Or simply by spreading the words about this bake sale, I truly appreciate your help.

To participate, please contact Sabrina at the address below.

 
I’ll be baking the famous Triple Chocolate Almond Cookies for the bake sale.  If you’re interested in the recipe, please click here.



It’ll be a long journey for the Japanese to recover.  My prayers are with the victims and those who are affected by this natural disaster in any way.  Yes, they might have lost their personal belongings and properties, but let’s not lose hope.  Please lend a helping hand and show that we care.  I hope you’ll join me in the bake sale.  Thank you for stopping my today and have a wonderful rest of the week.

Mini Egg Tarts (迷你蛋撻)--Hong Kong Bakery Style

Before we start our regular post, I just want to take a moment of silence with you to remember those who are affected and have lost their home, family, loved ones, or their lives in the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  My heart goes out to the victims.  Let us all lend our hands to those who are in need, in whatever way we could.
        

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Egg tarts (蛋撻) or egg custard tarts are baked pastries commonly found in Hong Kong and many other Asian countries, which consist of an outer pastry crusts that are filled with egg custard.  Egg tarts (蛋撻) were introduced in Hong Kong in the 1940s by Chinese tea diners (茶餐廳), one of my favorite place to go after school, with my classmates, to enjoy an afternoon tea. The egg tarts were then introduced in western cafes, bakeries and even dim sum restaurants.  Nowadays, there are many variations of these egg tarts, but the traditional ones are the most popular, still.  Hong Hong egg tarts have two main type of crusts, they are the “cookie” crusts and puff pastry crusts.  Some high-end pastry shops even top these egg tarts with bird’s nest (a delicacy made from the salivary excretions of the swiftlet).  I know that doesn’t sound too appetizing but many believe the bird’s nest has many health benefits, such as aiding digestion, alleviating asthma, improving focus, and an overall benefit to the immune system.  Although I’m no expert in confirming these health benefits, I can tell you that the bird’s nest is very, very ,very expensive; averaging a whooping $60 USD per ounce (by weight, yes, it’s ounce, NOT pound).





Back to these egg tarts, I personally preferred the “cookie” crust (actually, it a very simple pastry crust) over the puff pastry crust, and it is also the kind of recipe that I’m sharing with you.  This crust is buttery, crumbly, crispy on the edges and very delicate.  If you preferred the puff pastry ones, by all means go for it.   I have yet to attempt to make my own puff pastry, so I don’t have a recipe available.  Fortunately, many supermarkets do carry the ready to use puff pastry in the frozen baking/pie crust section to make lives easier.  I made these egg tarts in mini size and they are perfect 2-bite treats.  My kids love them in minis.  Perfect for their little hands and mouths.  :)  And of course, every thing look super cute in mini size.



The egg custard filling is smooth and soft.  The texture resembles crème brûlée or pod de crème, very creamy and not too firm.  It’s exactly how a perfect egg tart should be.  I love the fact that these egg tarts are made with simple ingredients and they turn out to be amazingly tasteful.  It’s best to enjoy them with a cup of hot Hong Kong-style milk tea!  These egg tarts surely brings back many childhood memories.  All sweet and warm memories.     
 


**Note: In case if you’re wondering how the mini tart molds look like, please click here.

Mocha Meringue Kisses

You’re right, more meringue cookies.  I really think I need some help over here.  NO, not help with eating my cookies!  I’m officially hooked with meringue cookies, both making and eating them!  Well, I don’t think there are any therapies out there for this kind of addiction, are there?  Why am I hooked?  Probably, it’s because these cookies are so versatile.  I get to make them into different shapes and different flavors, pretty much like French macarons.  On the other hand, they are much forgiving than macarons.  For sure you don’t have to worry if your meringue cookies turn out to have “feet” or not, cracked tops, or worse, sticking on your baking sheet!  Yeah, unfortunately, all of the above issues happened to me during macarons making in the past, they are too temperamental.  Quite the opposite, meringue cookies turn out to be perfect every single time.  Any way you want to shape them, they are willing to play along, just like a good husband or boyfriend should be. hahaha….okay, that’s a bad analogy.



These Mocha Meringue Kisses are crunchy, crispy and airy.  They melt in your mouth and burst with espresso flavor.  Pop a few of these in the morning and you can skip your cup of joe.  Or even better, pop a few of these while sipping your cup of joe, there you go!   :)

Pork Chops with Vegetable Rice (排骨菜飯)—An award winning recipe, no kidding!

I meant to share this delicious recipe with you all since a while back but never got a chance to do so.  There were always something that got in the way.  Either I had a new dessert creation that I couldn’t wait to post (that happened more than once), or like the giveaway post that’s time sensitive (I want to make sure the winners get the prize(s) before Valentine’s Day).  And the most recent Culinary Smackdown Battle!  By the way, if you haven’t enter your cookie recipe for the Battle, come join us for the fun here.

However, I have a big reason to share this recipe with you sooner, like now!  Yes, you’ve got it, this recipe that just won the Asian Home Cooking Contest!  I’m so thrilled and couldn’t be more happy to share this great news and this wonderful recipe with you.   It’s a wonderful feeling knowing someone out there appreciate your recipe and the love you put into your dishes.

Pork Chops with Vegetable Rice (排骨菜飯) is a Classic ShangHai dish. My husband and I both love ShangHai cuisine and this is what I would make whenever we crave for the 排骨菜飯. This Pork Chops with Vegetable Rice is comforting, delicious and satisfying. Of course, I put my own little twist on the recipe by adding the shallots toppings.  They are delicious!  Just make sure you get the bone-in, thin cut type of pork chops.  That way, the cooking time is shorter and you’ll get moist and juicy pork chops with a flavorful crust. 



Click here for the link of the recipe that I submitted to the contest.  This site have quite many other Asian dishes as well.  Although I haven’t try others’ recipes, but they all look wonderful and delicious.  Be on the lookout for their next recipe contest.  I can’t wait to see what the theme will be. 
Thank you for stopping by today and have a wonderful week.

Amazing Transformation—Roasted Potatoes with Herbs de Provence to Sausage Hash Brown

Yes, amazing transformation!  Unfortunately, it’s not on my body (I wished though)!  hahaha…of course, I’m talking about food here on my blog.  If you ever run out of side dish ideas, here’s a quick and simple recipe for you. Roasted Potatoes with Herbs de Provence.  I found some multi-color mini potatoes from the market the other day, they were perfect for roasting.  Simply drizzle them with olive oil, season with salt, pepper and Herbs de Provence.  Roasted in the oven until they are golden brown and fork tender.  I love the fragrant that the Herbs de Provence brings to this dish, it really made the flavor pops and not over-powering the natural flavor of the potatoes.



We couldn’t finished all of the potatoes that night, so, I saved them for the next day and transformed them into Sausage Hash Brown.  To make the sausage hash brown, I used some red onions, green, red and yellow bell peppers and ground pork (yeah, I didn’t have sausage at home so I made my own).  I think it’s healthier to make your own sausage because you can use leaner meat or even substitute with ground turkey.



Chopped up the vegetables, seasoned the ground pork.  Then, brown the meat and sautéed the vegetables until they are crisp-tender.  Tossed them back together and there you have it.  It’s that simple. 



For a finishing touch, I added a dollop of sour cream and sprinkles of green onions on top.  My kids gobbled up their hash brown in record time!  It was that delicious.



Last but not least, I'm submitting this recipe to Kitchen PLAY's Progressive Party. The US Potato Board is also sponsoring a wonderful giveaway here at Kitchen PLAY. Simply recreate any one recipe from this month’s Progressive Party, post about the experience on your blog and provide a link to your post on Kitchen PLAY to enter. All qualifying bloggers in each course will be entered to win $100 (6 prizes total).  The deadline is April 15, 2012. Please review the complete contest rules before entering. Good luck!

Culinary Smackdown Battle—Cookies

It was a pleasant surprise to found out that I’ve won the February’s Culinary Smackdown Battle - Hand Held Meat "Pies" on Pretend Chef’s blog. 

My entry was Prosciutto di Parma with Smoke Gouda Crescent.  If you’re new to my blog or don’t remember these crescents, click here for the post.   There’s a video tutorial along with the recipe if you’re interested. 



To carry on the “tradition” being the Culinary Smackdown Battle winner, it is my honor to host the Culinary Smackdown Battle for March.  Since the theme for the past 2 months is savory dishes, I think it’s time for some sweet treats.  One of my favorite sweet treats to make is cookies.  So, it will be the theme for this month’s battle.

Culinary Smackdown Battle - Cookies will be held throughout the month of March. Entries submission starts on March 1st, 2011 through March 29th, 2011. I will be announcing the winner on March 31st. To enter the contest, simply link up your entry below.  One entry per person please, and don’t forget to link back to this post on your recipe post so others can see what sweet treats were cooking back here. 

The cookie entry doesn't have to be a new creation.  It could be a previous blog post you already have.  The Smackdown Battle is open to anyone, anywhere in the world.  I'll select the winner at the end of the month and the winner will host the next month's contest.  The main purpose for this "Battle" is for fun and get to know other bloggers and foodies out there.

Okay, we all need some incentives for contest, don’t we?  Here are the prizes for winning the the Culinary Smackdown Battle.

1) Giada De Larentiis Embroidered Apron – a $15 value



2) Home brand Potholder – a $5 value



Giada De Larentiis is one of my favorite chefs from the Food Network, so I picked this beautiful apron as the prize along with the Potholder.  I think the green shade is pretty and perfect for spring.  Hope you like the prizes.  I'll be looking forward to seeing all of the wonderful treats you're going to submit.