Classic Chocolate Glazed Éclair

Do you love pastries?  My family is definitely a huge fan of pastries!  We love all sorts of pastries, ranging from doughnuts, cupcakes, to scones and cookies.  However, among all these pastries, éclairs is probably on top of our list of favorite pastries. 



This classic éclair recipe consists of the basic Choux Pastry, which is similar to the cream puff shells.  I filled them with the decadent classic vanilla bean pastry cream.  The pastry cream is slightly sweetened so that you can truly taste the sweet aroma of the vanilla bean.  I then top these éclairs with a simple dark chocolate glaze that brings a hint of bitterness to compliment the pastry cream beautifully.   You can also use milk chocolate for the glaze as well if that’s what you prefer.  My kids love dark chocolate (I guess that runs in the family), so that’s pretty much my default preference. 




I love that you can see all the little specks of vanilla bean seeds throughout the pastry cream inside (see picture below).  Isn’t it gorgeous?  I’m telling you, they tasted even more amazing than their look!  If you haven’t done so, please check out the video tutorial at the top of the post.  It’s definitely easier to prepare than they look!  I’ll list the ingredients and tools used in this recipe at the end of the post for your convenience.


 
I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and tutorial.  Stay tuned for more fun and scrumptious recipe next week!


Ingredients and Tools used:
Vanilla Bean Paste (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
Corn Starch (Click here for more information)
Pastry Bag  (Click here for more information)
Ateco Large Round Pastry Tip (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cup (Click here for more information) 

Easy Halloween Treats – DIY Oreo Owls

I know there’s still more than a month away from Halloween.  However, I learned from my previous experience that it’s always a good thing to plan things ahead.  If you’re also a last minute person like I am, you probably knew that most of the stores ran out of costume sizes and styles a couple of weeks before Halloween, every single year!  I mean, seriously?  Well, that happened to me more than once.  So I took a mental note to myself, “let’s make running around frantically for a last minute Halloween costume search a thing of the past!”  Besides costumes, I’m also planning the treats in advance as well.



If you attend or host a Halloween party, or plan to bring treats to the kids’ school parties, you know the festive treats are just as important as the costumes!  Today, I want to save you a few hours of Pinterest search and share this fun and easy DIY Halloween Treat with you: The Oreo Owls!  whoo…whoo…whoo…?  Sorry for the cheesy introduction, I couldn’t help it!   This Oreo Owl treat is super simple to prepare and kids will definitely love the ingredient list.  Have you watched the video tutorial (at the beginning of the post)?  If not, you’ve got to watch it until the end because there’s a little surprise that you don’t want to miss!  I hope you like today’s video and DIY treat.  Please stay tuned for another fun treat next week!  Stay sweet!





Ingredients Used:

Vanilla Pizzelle Cookies (Click here for more information)
Chocolate Pizzelle Cookies (Click here for more information)
Nutella (Click here for more information)
Oreo Cookies (Click here for more information)
M&Ms (Click here for more information)

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel here.  That way, you won’t miss out on any video and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new tutorial published. 

Hawaiian Poke Bowl

Every once in a while, my family loves to dine out and try new restaurants.  We can’t help but noticed one of the latest restaurant trend is Poke Bowl!  It sure seems like there’s a new Poke Bowl restaurant open up every month in the nearby cities!  Poke (pronounced as poʊˈkeɪ) is a raw fish salad served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine.  Poke is the Hawaiian verb for "section" or "to slice or cut".  Traditionally, the fish/seafood used for poke are ahi tuna, octopus, or salmon.  You can definitely explore and make it with different type of shellfish or seafood that you prefer.  Today, I chose salmon and made the poke with a hint of spiciness.  You can definitely adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less chili sauce to your liking.



If you follow me on Instragram, you might recall that I shared a picture of my Homemade Salmon Poke a few months ago.  Since some of you asked me about the recipe, I decided that it would be best to share it here on my blog along with a video tutorial.  Thank you for your patience in waiting so long.  Well, what can I say.  This recipe is totally worth the wait!  Also, this Hawaiian Poke Bowl is super easy to prepare and only needs a few ingredients.  It’ll be one of the best poke bowl that you’ll ever eaten, no exaggeration!



The key to a successful Poke Bowl?  Make sure you use the best quality of seafood.  I used the sashimi-grand salmon here and the marinate ingredients for the poke are just a few Asian pantry staples.  I’ll list all these ingredients at the end of this post for your reference.  This recipe is so easy that you can put dinner on the table in less than 15 minutes!  Check out the video at the beginning of this post for the complete tutorial.  You’ll also find out how to make this gorgeous avocado flower as well.  It’s super easy and the creaminess texture of the avocado is the perfect compliment to the slightly tangy and spicy salmon poke as well. 



I hope you enjoy today’s video and recipe.  Please stay tuned for more fun and easy recipe next week.

Ingredients and Tools used:
Light Soy Sauce (Click here for more information)

Rice Vinegar (Click here for more information)
Hawaiian Salt (Click here for more information)

Zojirushi Rice Cooker (Click here for more information)

Japanese Short Grain Rice (Click here for more information)

Sesame Oil (Click here for more information)

Black Sesame Seeds (Click here for more information)

White Sesame Seeds (Click here for more information)
Sriracha (Click here for more information)
 
Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel here.  That way, you won’t miss out on any video and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new tutorial published.

Mini Bunny Vanilla Bean Doughnuts 小兔子雲呢拿甜甜圈

Looking for after school snack recipes that are cute and easy?  You’re going to love today’s recipe and video tutorial!  Check out these Mini Bunny Vanilla Bean Doughnuts (小兔子雲呢拿甜甜圈)!  They are packed with cuteness and awesome vanilla bean aromas.



Instead of the traditional deep-fried method, these mini doughnuts are baked in a mini doughnut pan (I’ll list the tools at the end of this post for your reference).  Therefore, they are a little bit healthier and easier to prepare.  You don’t have to deal with kneading a yeasty dough nor deep frying in a big pot of hot oil.  Phew…. 



Since these doughnuts are baked rather than fried, the texture is more comparable to cakes or cupcakes, which is quite different than a traditional doughnut.  Nevertheless, these doughnuts are still light and fluffy.  Thanks to the vanilla bean paste that is added to the batter, you can definitely taste the vanilla bean flavor.  I love that these doughnuts are in mini sizes too.  Not only they are cuter that way, they are perfect for portion control too!  



As you can see from my video tutorial above, these bunny doughnuts are quite easy to prepare  Because there’s no machine nor mixer needed.  Plus, it’s super fun to decorate them into bunnies as well.  Just a quick dip in the icing, then draw out the facial expressions that fits your mood. 

These Mini Bunny Doughnuts were a big hit at home!  My kids loved them so much and they requested to have them as breakfast the next day.  What are your kid’s favorite after school snacks?  Tell me in the comment below.  I would love to hear from you.




Tools and ingredients used:
Nonstick Mini Donut Pan (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Vanilla Bean Paste (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cup (Click here for more information)


Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel here.  That way, you won’t miss out on any video and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new tutorial published.

Back to School Recipe Idea: How to Make Cutie Mouse Bento Lunch Box 可愛鼠鼠便當飯盒

For those who have young kids, how was your transition for going back to school?  I hope all of you had a positive and smooth process so far.  Mysteriously, for my family, we’re returned to our normal school day schedules and routines rather smoothly.  Well, except that I had already forgotten to set my alarm clock twice in a week.  Luckily, I managed to wake up even before my usual time and that's just so... not me!



Part of my morning routine is packing lunches and snacks for my kids.  This school year, one of my goal is to pack more fun lunch boxes for my Kiddos!



As parents, we don't likes to open "un-touched" (or barely eaten/consumed) lunch boxes after school?  That’s probably one of the biggest fear for the lunch-packers (is there an official term for this role?)  For the kids, it’s always more fun to open a lunch box and see surprises inside.  After all, I think a fun lunch box will definitely help with one’s appetite!  Today, let me present to you the Cutie Mouse in the Garden 可愛鼠鼠便當飯盒 lunch box. It’s a Bento lunch box, with an open sandwich, veggies, hard boil egg, ham, and cheese.  It is also accompanied by a cutie little mouse wondering in the garden looking for her cheese.



My Baby Girl had fun helping me out in decorating the lunch box as well.  If you haven’t watched the video tutorial yet, don’t miss out and go watch it now!  Make sure that you watch until the end for a little surprise too.  If you make this cute lunch for your kiddo, I’m sure they’ll feel the love and warmth that you send along with this lunch box!  Many of us can use some fresh ideas in packing fun lunches from time to time.  If you have any specific or special request, please commend below and I’ll try my best to create the videos and posts for you.  Stay tuned for another fun and easy recipe next week!  Take care.





Some Tools used in this post and other suggestions:
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Hello Kitty Bento Lunch Box (Click here for more information)
Hello Kitty Bento Lunch Box 2 (Click here for more information)
Hello Kitty Bento Lunch Box 3 (Click here for more information)
Small Bento Picks (Click here for more information)
Small Bento Picks 2 (Click here for more information)
Small Bento Picks 3 (Click here for more information)


Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel here.  That way, you won’t miss out on any video and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new tutorial published.