How to Make Chinese MahJong Coconut Osmanthus Jello 麻雀(麻將)椰汁桂花糕

Have you heard of one of the most popular Chinese card game called MahJong (麻雀 or 麻將 in Chinese)?  It’s one of my In-Law’s favorite game to play with friends and family.  I made these Chinese MahJong Coconut Osmanthus Jello 麻雀(麻將)椰汁桂花糕 to celebrate my Mother-In-Law’s birthday.  They were fun to make and absolutely fun to eat as well, especially if you’re eating the winning set of “tiles”!



When I was a little kid, I remember sitting next to my parents and watch them play MahJong during the Chinese New Year.   That was how I learned the rules for the game.  Back then, I was secretly hoping that they need to take a bathroom break so that I can sit-in as a substitute!  Those were some fun memories.



I got the MahJong Silicone Mold to make these Coconut Osmanthus Jello and the mold is super easy to use.  I’ll list the product link as well as the required ingredients at the end of this post for your convenience.  To mimic the actual MahJong tiles, I make these jello in 2 layers.  The bottom layer is made with coconut milk and the top layer is made with dried Osmanthus. 



For this recipe, I tested out a few times to get the perfect flavor and consistency.   My kids love the version with milk mixed with coconut milk.  I personally love a stronger coconut milk version.  I’ll list both of them in details in the recipe below so that you can choose for yourself. To color the wordings of the “MJ tiles”, I used my homemade beet root red food coloring (red), matcha green tea powder(green), and homemade red cabbage blue food coloring (blue).  I’ll list the links to the tutorial below for your reference.  Otherwise, you can use store-bought natural food coloring as well.



This plate above is the famous winning hand called 十三么.  Which is considered a rare hand to win because it’s not easy to collect all these tiles in a game.  But it’s a challenge that many MJ players would dream to get this hand in the game. 



These Coconut Osmanthus Jello not only look whimsical and realistic, they are also very refreshing and delicious!  If you know someone who love to play MahJong, you’ve got to try this recipe out!  Wish you all good luck in the game and have fun making this treat.  Remember, Eat, Drink, and Be Happy!  Thank you for stopping by and I’ll see you all next week!



Below is a picture consists of (one of each of) all the tiles in the MahJong Game.  You can look at this picture and reference back where to add the colored gelatin mixture when you make the recipe!  Have fun!




Link to Homemade Beet Root Red Food Coloring Tutorial
https://goo.gl/v7G49A
Link to Homemade Blue Food Coloring Tutorial
https://goo.gl/K6BDHM

Ingredients and Tools Used:
Chinese MahJong Silicone Molds (Click here for more information)
Calphalon Baking Pan (Click here for more information)
All Natural Food Colorings (Click here for more information)
Organic Coconut Milk (Click here for more information)
Unflavored Gelatin Powder (Click here for more information)
Dried Osmanthus (Click here for more information)
Large Measuring Cup (Click here for more information)
Strainers Set (Click here for more information)
Matcha Powder (Click here for more information)
Flat Top Wooden Spatula (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cup Set (Click here for more information)



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Mixed Fruits Jelly Cake (櫻花雜果大菜糕):

Spring is finally here!  I hope you’re enjoying the warmer weather of the season like I do.  Today, I’ve a whimsical and super fun recipe prepared for you to welcome Spring!  Check out this Mixed Fruit Jelly Cake (櫻花雜果大菜糕) recipe.  It’s gorgeous, refreshing, and definitely a perfect treat for your tea party or any typical afternoon tea!  It’s gorgeous enough for gatherings and simple enough to prepare even on a weekday!



This is a 2-layers dessert, the bottom layer is a Sakura (Cherry Blossom) milk jelly layer.  I used Sakura paste to flavor this layer and enhanced the color with my homemade beet root natural food coloring.  I’ll list the ingredients and link to the beet root color recipe at the end of the post for your convenience.  In this recipe, I used some milk in the Sakura layer.  You can substitute with soy milk or almond milk for a vegan version.



The top layer of this dessert is a simple clear jelly.  But before I added the jelly, I arranged some mixed fruits in between the 2 layers.  I used strawberries, blueberries, green grapes and tangerines for a variety of colors and flavors.  You can simply choose any fresh fruit that you enjoy. 



If you’ve already watched my video tutorial, you’ll see the Jelly cake mold that I used for this recipe.  It’s originally made for creating “sushi cake”!  Of course I couldn’t help but used it to make a dessert dish with this mold first! However, I think a sushi in cake form would be something different and just as refreshing and delicious too!  What do you think?  Interested to see a tutorial on that?  Simply leave me a message on this post to let me know and you might get your wish granted! 



I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and tutorial.  Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more fun and easy recipe next week!




Ingredients and Tools Used:
Jelly Cake Mold (Click here for more information)
Sakura Cherry Blossom An Paste (Click here for more information)
Agar-Agar Powder (Click here for more information)
Edible Gold Leaves (Click here for more information)

April’s Fool Recipe – Apple Juice Jello in Disguise as A Glass of Beer

Do you know someone who loves Happy Hours or into a nice tall glass of icy beer?  Who doesn’t, right?  I guess most guys prefer a glass of beer over cocktails or red wine.  Here’s a good prank you can play this April’s Fool: Apple Juice Jello in disguise as a glass of beer!  If you haven’t done so, check out the video tutorial above.  It’s super easy to prepare.
 


My Little Boy loves to play pranks!  Mostly, they are pretty much harmless and give us some good laughs.  On the other hand,  I prefer jokes and other funny stuffs, but not quite into pranks.  Guess my boy influenced me somehow with his little pranks!   



I have to say, these little Apple Jello glasses look quite realistic as beer!  Since there are only 2 ingredients in this recipe, please make sure to use good quality apple juice that you would also enjoy drinking.  That will ensure these little treats taste delicious.  I definitely love these refreshing apple juice jello a lot, especially when my kids can enjoy them too.  Wish you all a fun and memorable April’s Fool Day!  Stay cool…even though if someone plays a prank on you! 
 





Ingredients and Tools used:

Mini 5 oz Mugs with Handles (Click here for more informatiion)
Unflavored Gelatin Powder (Click here for more informatiion)
Martinelli Apple Juice (Click here for more informatiion)
4 Cups Measuring Cup (Click here for more informatiion)
Egg Beater (Click here for more informatiion)




April’s Fool Recipe – Apple Juice Jello in Disguise as A Glass of Beer:

4 cups apple juice
4 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin

In a microwave safe bowl, place 1/2 cup apple juice and sprinkle gelatin powder on top. Give it a quick stir and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, heat the mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir well. Return to the microwave and heat for another 30 seconds or until the gelatin powder is completely melted.

Place the remaining 3 ½ cups of apple juice in a large measuring cup with a beaker. Pour in the gelatin mixture and continue to whisk until foamy.

Then, evenly divided into small beer mugs or serving glasses. Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or until set. Enjoy!
 
 
 

Osmanthus Jelly with Goji Berries (杞子桂花糕)

Osmanthus is a type of edible flowers.  It's usually in cream, yellow or orange color; the fragrant is long lasting with a floral sweet tone.  Osmanthus is originally from Asia and available in certain part of the U.S. as well.  According to the Chinese Wikipedia, Osmanthus is not only great for dessert but also has medicinal use, such as suppress coughing and phlegm, sooth dryness, and diminish toothache.  Honestly, I don't really need any particular reason to enjoy desserts, these benefits are just bonuses to me.  



After consuming all the heavy dishes from the Chinese New Year, I can use something light and soothing for dessert.  These Osmanthus Jelly with Goji Berries (杞子桂花糕) are simply perfect for the sweet ending.  I truly enjoy the floral and sweet flavors from the osmanthus.  I added goji berries to these little jelly for a nice tartness to balance out the sweetness. 




Here’s a closer look on the osmanthus.  Aren't they gorgeous?  They smell even better!  The refreshing, sweet and floral aroma is simply delightful.  I couldn't help it but took deep breathes and tried to inhale it all in.  I wish you can smell it through the computer screen too so that I don't sound like a drug addict! so that you know exactly what I'm talking about!  I got my osmanthus from an Asian supermarket.  You can also get them online here as well.




For this recipe, it couldn't be any easier.  Simply boil the ingredients together and let the mixture chill.  Of course, you can place the mixture in a container to chill and cut them into squares/cubes when they’re solidified.  I can’t help it but to put them in my favorite silicone molds and turn them into bite size morsels.  When they were done, I kept popping them one after another.  Not only they are gorgeous and delectable, but they are also good for you.




I made some in a heart shaped mold (see picture below) as well.  This dessert is not only good for CNY, but also beautiful for Valentine’s Day!  If you’re interested to check out the silicone molds that I used, simply click on the links below.

Heart Shaped Silicone Mold
Rose Shaped Silicone Mold
Flower Shaped Silicone Mold
 



I hope you enjoy today's post and recipe.  Stay tuned for more fun recipe and giveaways in the near future.  新年吃杞子桂花糕, 祝大家花開富貴!


Health and General Disclaimer:
No information, ingredient or product mentioned on this site is meant to diagnose, treat or replace professional medical advice.  They are my experience, my journey, and my opinions.  Please consult with your doctor before using any of the ingredients or products mentioned here.