How to create a 3D Winter Wonderland - Classic Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Are you ready for the holiday baking season?  Traditionally, I have always been busy baking goodies for friends and family during the holidays!  What are your favorite things to share around the holidays?  This year, I have created these whimsical 3D Winter Wonderland Sugar Cookies.  Be sure to check out the tutorial above on how I make them.



These 3D cookies are made out of Classic Sugar Cookies and decorated with Royal Icing.  Not only these cookies are crispy (with a hint of butter and vanilla), they are also more sturdy and can hold up to the decorations better than other kind of cookies.   According to my Little Girl, these cookies are perfect for dunking in a cup of hot cocoa! Does she talk like a foodie or what?!  In addition to these Classic Sugar Cookies, I also made a variation of a chocolate flavored ones.




In this 3D Winter Wonderland, you will find Christmas Tree, Snowman, Reindeer and Santa’s Sleigh that are all made of cookies.  As shown in the video above, they are cut from from a 3D cookie cutter set that I bought online from awhile ago. 







In addition to Snowman and Christmas Trees, I also created a few gift box/present cookies to place in front of the Christmas Tree!  We’ve got to have some presents for the holidays, right?  The great news is that you don’t need a cookie cutter to make these gift boxes.  Check out my video tutorial and I’ll show you step by step on how to make them.  They are easier to make than they look, and they are super delicious with a layer of chocolate sugar cookie stacked in the middle! 










So, which one is your favorite?  I personally love the present/gift box and the Santa’s Sleigh cookies the best.  Best of all, just a few simple sprinkles and icing can transform these ordinary sugar cookies into something so amazing!  I hope you’ll give this recipe a try and make them for your family and loved ones.  My kids and I had so much fun decorating these cookies together.  They could be a fun holiday activities with your kiddos as well.  Stay tuned for more fun and festive holiday recipes!




Tools and Ingredients Used:
3D Christmas Cookie Cutter Set (Click here for more information)
Natural Food Coloring (Click here for more information)
Meringue Powder (Click here for more information)
Valrhona Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (Click here for more information)
Silver Dragee (Click here for more information)
Fall Color Sprinkle Pearls (Click here for more information)
Christmas Sprinkle (Click here for more information)
Star Shape Sprinkle (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
Organic All-Purpose Flour (Click here for more information)
Rolling Pin with Adjustable rings (Click here for more information)
Pizza Roller (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Rolling Mat (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cup Set (Click here for more information)
Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)



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How to Make Creepy Eyeballs Halloween Brew – Kids Friendly Party Recipe 鬼異眼球萬聖節特飲

Will you be hosting a Halloween party this year?  If you do, you’ve got to check out this Creepy Eyeballs Halloween Brew Recipe 鬼異眼球萬聖節特飲!  When I tested out this recipe with my kids, they were so excited and had so much fun with it!  Yes, this is a kids friendly recipe.  But if you want to turn it into a cocktail for the grown ups, you can add 1/2 a cup of liqueur of your choice, such as vodka, tequila, or gin.  Or, simply substitute the club soda with some sparkling wine.  It’ll be just as delicious!



This recipe is so easy to prepare!  If you haven’t watch the tutorial yet, you’ve got to check it out now.  Not only you’ll see how simple this recipe is, but you'll also get to check out the special guest who demonstrated the tutorial for us.  Since I made this recipe just for my family, I kept it to a rather small portion.  If you are serving this at a party, you might want to multiply the recipe to accommodate the number of guests that you have. 



In today’s recipe, I added some dry ice for the smoky and spooky effect.  It’s so much fun to use and it’s simply amazing.  It totally transformed the drink and took it to a whole new level.  The dry ice is actually easier to obtain and more affordable than I thought.  I was wondering and googling where to buy the dry ice.  Turned out, it was available in several local supermarkets near me.   If you plan on using dry ice in your drinks, I suggest that you call your local markets to make sure they have it in stock before driving there.



I kept the dry ice in an insulated ice chest as suggested by the packaging (do not keep in the freezer or a closed environment as the dry ice will release carbon dioxide when it “melts”.)  I highly recommend that you get it right before or a couple of hours before the party if you plan to use it.   And make sure you follow the safety instructions on the package.



Ever wonder what dry ice is made out of?  Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide.  It sublimates at –109.3F.  With its extremely cold temperature, we need to handle it with cautions and never touch the dry ice with your bare hands as you might get frostbite!  I was wearing gloves and using tongs when I had to add the dry ice to my drinks.  Don’t worry, the dry ice is totally safe!  Because of its heavier weight, the dry ice immediately dropped to the bottom of the glass/punch bowl.  Just make sure to sip your drink slowly so the dry ice is all melted by the time you finish your drink.  And it mostly will.  And please refrain yourself from getting the dry ice inside your mouth because it can burn your skin/mouth! 
 


Moving on to anther ingredient of this drink, the creepy eyeballs!  They are made out of canned lychees filled with fresh blueberries.  Lychee is one of my favorite tropical fruit to enjoy (check out this lychee martini recipe that I shared in the past and see how they look when they're fresh).  With a little bit of grenadine syrup added to the lychees, they sure looked like bloody eyeballs!  I’ll list the ingredients used at the end of the post for your convenience.



I hope you enjoyed today’s fun and easy recipe!  Leave me a comment if you have questions or if you’ve tried the recipe.  I would love to hear from you.  Remember, Eat, Drink, and Be Happy!  Stay tuned for more fun recipe next week!  Wish you all a happy and safe Halloween! 

Ingredients and Tools Used:
Grenadine Syrup (Click here for more information)
Cranberry Juice (Click here for more information)
Club Soda (Click here for more information)
Halloween Beaker Glasses (Click here for more information)
Halloween Glass Flask (Click here for more information)
Large Slant Cut Glass Bowl (Click here for more information)
Stainless-Steel Tongs (Click here for more information)
Insulated Foam Box (Click here for more information)


Disclaimers
Please follow manufacturer and safety instructions when handling dry ice.


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Kid’s Bento Lunch Boxes Ideas

One of my favorite activities of the day is packing cute bento lunch boxes for my Kiddos.  As soon as October started, I’ve been making the lunch boxes with Halloween theme.  These lunch boxes are fun and festive.  It’s a way for me to send some love for the kiddos while they are at school.  The picture above is a spaghetti lunch box with Hello Kitty wearing a witch’s hat.  Kitty is made out of a slice of Muenster cheese.  The decorations are seaweed and soy wrappers.  The little pumpkin is a slice of carrot decorated with cut out seaweed. 



I love the Frankenstein bento as well.  It’s made out of a slice of Muenster cheese topped with a piece of green soy wrapper.  Click here to check out the package of soy wrapper that I used.  (I’ll list the tools and other ingredients at the end of this post for your reference as well.)   I absolutely love the soy wrappers as they are so colorful and easy to use.  Best of all, they are made with natural ingredients such as spinach, turmeric, and paprika to obtain those gorgeous bright colors. 




Here’s a simple one with ghosts and a broom stick.  Click here to check out the video tutorial on how to make the witch’s broom and the little ghosts were made out of mozzarella cheese balls decorated with cut out seaweeds.







The picture above is a bowl of Miso Noodle Soup that I made for my Hubby.  I’m sure we can all use some sunshine.  I feel happy just by looking at the cute face on the egg.



Have you heard of Gudetama?  It’s a Japanese cartoon character of an lazy egg (see picture above).  Click here to check out their Facebook page for some funny videos.  My kids and I always enjoy watching them together!



This little girl with spaghetti hair is one of my favorite.  It’s simple and adorable!






The little chick above is made with smoked salmon filled egg, check out this video for the tutorial and recipe.







My kids’ all time favorite got to be these piggy ham and cheese sandwiches along with Minions (see picture below)!  These lunch boxes are inspired by The Despicable Me 3 movie that we watched over the summer. The Minions are hard boiled eggs soaked in water and turmeric for the yellow color.  The decorations are cut out seaweeds.  I hope you enjoy today’s bento compilations and lunch box ideas!  If you have any questions, suggestions, or recipe requests, feel free to leave me a comment below. 

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Tools and Ingredients Used for Bento Boxes:
Bento Box 1 (Click here for more information)
Bento Box 2 (Click here for more information)
Hello Kitty Shape Cutter (Click here for more information)
Sandwich Cutters (Click here for more information)
Seaweed (Click here for more information)
Soy Wrappers (Click here for more information)
Bento Picks 1 (Click here for more information)
Bento Picks 2 (Click here for more information)
Bento Picks 3 (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Kitchen Scissors (Click here for more information)
Turmeric (Click here for more information)

How to Make Unicorn Poop Rainbow Sour Lemon Meringue Cookies 檸檬彩虹蛋白曲奇:

Are you ready for another magical and whimsical recipe?  A recipe that involves a mysterious, fascinating, and imaginary create!  Yes, I'm talking about the Unicorn! After all, everything associated with the Unicorn has been so gorgeous and adorable, even with its byproduct such as... its poop!?



Sorry, I just couldn’t help it!  I had so much fun making these Sour Lemon Meringue Cookies with my Little Girl.  We were laughing, joking, and goofing around in the kitchen as we bake and enjoy each other's company…and these cookies, of course!



If you haven’t watched my video tutorial yet, you’ve got to check it out.  I guaranteed that you won’t be disappointed! I’ll show you step by step procedures on how to create the perfect rainbow swirls that shaped these cookies.  They are actually easier than you think.  Plus, you’ll get my tips and secret on how to make the perfect meringue cookies!        



These rainbow colored Sour Lemon Meringue Cookies are made from all natural food coloring deprived from fruit and vegetables (I’ll link my food coloring tutorials below this post).  If you don’t have the time to make your own coloring, I’ve found out that my local health-food store/supermarket do carry some all natural coloring options.  I’ll list the product links below this post so that you can check them out as well. 



If you’ve baked meringue cookies before, you know that they don’t like moisture!  So, we bake them at low temperature for a long time.  Plus, we need to be careful on the flavoring option as well.  Since I made these in lemon flavor, I use lemon zest to give these cookies the refreshing lemony aroma.  But for the tartness, I used citrus acid (which is really sour and in powder form) instead of fresh lemon juice.  That way, I won’t be adding too much moisture into the batter. 



These cookies are so light, crispy, and packed with lemony aroma.  The sweetness and tartness is perfectly balanced!  Give them a try and you’ll fall in love with them.




I hope you enjoyed today’s post and recipe!  Remember, Eat, Drink, and Be Happy!  Stay tuned for more fun recipe next week!




Ingredients and Tools Used:
All Natural Food Coloring (Click here for more information)
Wilton 1 A Round piping tip (Click here for more information)
Citrus Acid (Click here for more information)
Edible Gold Leaves (Click here for more information)
Disposable Piping Bag (Click here for more information)
Silver Dragees (Click here for more information)
Freeze Dried Strawberry (Click here for more information)
Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Corn Starch (粟粉) (Click here for more information)
Edible Gold Stars (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)

How to Make All Natural Blue Food Coloring Tutorial:
https://goo.gl/8nT8Sm

How to Make All Natural Red Food Coloring Tutorial:
https://goo.gl/zTcc2h

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Tea Flavor Cookies - 4 Ways (Original, Matcha Green Tea, Earl Grey, and Rose)

My Little Girl and I love tea parties.  We often host our own “party” at home for afternoon tea.  From savory sandwiches, petit fours, French Macaron, hot chocolate, to classic English tea, you name it and we’ve tried them all!  One of our favorites got to be these Tea Flavor Cookies!  Not only they are quite easy to prepare, they are also very delicious!  The bonus is that they are super adorable, don’t you agree? 



Today, I’m going to show you how to make them, not just 1, but all 4 flavors.  I’ll show you how to turn 1 basic cookie dough into 4 different flavors: the Original flavor, Matcha Japanese Green  Tea, Earl Grey, and Rose.  If you have some other tea that you enjoy more other than those that I listed,  by all means, substitute with the tea or tea bags of your choice.



If you haven’t check out my video tutorial yet, go ahead and watch it.  I’ll show you step-by-step on how to turn your cookies into these cute little tea bags shapes.  Best of all, there’s no special cookie cutters required!   But of course, you can use your favorite cookie cutters to stamp out the dough as well.   







These Tea Flavor Cookies are crispy, buttery, and elevated with a hint of tea flavor.  I kept the tea flavor to the mild side because that’s how My Girl likes them.  If you prefer a stronger tea flavor, check out my recipe notes below and I’ll show you how to do that as well.






Out of the 4 flavors, I have to say, my favorite one is the Rose Tea flavor cookie!  The floral tone is simply beautiful and elegant in these tea cookies!  You’ve got to give these a try to see for yourself.  So, what is your favorite tea to enjoy?  Have you tried other treats that are also in tea flavors?  I can’t wait to hear from you!  Stay tuned for another yummy recipe next week!   



Ingredients and Tools used:

Rose Tea Buds (Click here for more information)
Rose Extract (Click here for more information)
Matcha Powder (Clickhere for more information)
Cookie Stamp Set (Click here for more information)
Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Salted Butter (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Measuring Spoons Set (Click here for more information)
Powdered Sugar (Click here for more information)
Rolling Mat (Click here for more information)
Pizza Wheel (Click here for more information)
Rolling Pin (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)
Heat Proof Measuring Cups (Click here for more information)







Disclosure: uTry.it is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo) 一口芝士包

Are you ready for summer vacation?  My family has been dreaming of our summer holiday since the beginning of the year!  We’re into the homestretch month now!  Although we’re still as busy as ever with school work and other activities, we’re getting very excited!  I guess seeing the light at the end of the tunnel really helps!  What are your plans for this summer?  Any good suggestion for activities?  Feel free to share with me in the comment below.  It’s much appreciated!



Besides the usual summer outdoor activities, I know I’ll be cooking, baking, and creating treats with my kids often!  It’s definitely something that we enjoy a lot and always look forward to do together.  In fact, we have already picked out some recipes that we're going to prepare together.  If you have any recipe request, please don’t hesitate to let me know.  I’ll try my best to make it share with you!



Today, I have this easy, fun, and super delicious recipe to share with you: Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo) 一口芝士包!  These cheesy little golden nuggets are naturally gluten-free.  It’s made with tapioca flour, and….lots of cheese!  It’s one of the cheesiest little 1-bite popper you’ll ever encounter!  They are crispy on the outside, slightly chewy on the inside, and super cheesy with the nutty parmesan and gruyere cheeses!  As you might already knew, the real Parmigiano Reggiano is on the pricy side.  Watch the video tutorial above and I’ll show you how to distinguish if you’re using the real ones!  These cheesy popper are so addictive and you’ll agree that they’re worth the extra bucks!



My recipe call for 2 types of cheeses, but you can use parmesan cheese alone, or use any strong, hard to semi-hard cheese (to substitute gruyere) if you like.  I usually prepare the full recipe, bake off of the amount that I needed, and keep the rest of the dough in the fridge for later.  That way, you can enjoy these warm and freshly baked cheesy bread whenever you crave for some. It’s a very forgiving recipe, as there is no need to knead or raise the dough, and your bread always comes out nice and delicious!



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

Tools and Ingredients Used:
Tapioca Flour (Click here for more information)
Mini Muffin Pan (24) (Click here for more information)
Mini Muffin Pan (12)  (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)
Cheese Grater (Click here for more information)

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)

Easter Bunny Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

We’ve been enjoying the warmer weather of Spring here in Southern California.  Well, it’s actually more like Summer temperatures!  It’s nice to see some sunshine rather than rain storms for sure.  Today, I have a fun and adorable recipe to share with you to welcome Spring!  Check out these Easter Bunny Vanilla Bean Cupcakes!  Yes, they sure are perfect for the Easter celebrations as well.



Check out my video tutorial above if you haven’t done so.  I’ll walk you through, step-by-step, on how to make these cuties, including the Bunny Butt White Chocolate decorations on top of these cupcakes.   They are filled with Oreo cookie crumbs inside!  Just the white chocolate alone makes a delicious treat.



The base is a Vanilla Bean Cupcake that I made from scratch.  These cupcakes are surprisingly easy to prepare and they turned out fluffy, light, and moist!  Best of all, this recipe makes exactly 12 cupcakes!  You can easily double or triple the recipe if you’re making them for a party. 



These cupcakes are topped with a Sweet Vanilla Bean Frosting.  I piped the frosting with a Wilton Grass piping tip to mimic the fluffy fur of the bunnies.  I’ll list the tools that I used at the end of the post for your reference.  If you have a sweet tooth, this is a wonderful smooth and sweet frosting that you’re going to love.  But if you prefer a not-too-sweet frosting, you can actually use my Swiss Meringue Vanilla Bean Buttercream recipe instead.  Click here to check out that recipe if you’re interested.



See how light and fluffy the cupcakes and frosting turned out!?  Each bite is packed with vanilla goodness.  You’ll be amazed by how combining a few simple ingredients can turn out to be something so scrumptious!



Here’s the inside look of the Oreo filled white chocolate bunny (see picture above).  As I said, it’s super cute and delicious on its own.  But they sure make the most adorable topper for these cupcakes.



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

How to temper chocolate
http://goo.gl/xLE6kn

Ingredients and Tools Used:

Vanilla Bean Paste (Click here for more information)
Oreo Cookies (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
White Chocolate Chips (Click here for more information)
Cake Flour (Click here for more information)

Powdered Sugar (Click here for more information)

Pink Pearl Dust (Click here for more information)

Lemon Extract (Click here for more information)

Wilton Cupcake Pan (Click here for more information)

Bunny Butt Candy Mold (Click here for more information)

Easter Cupcake Liners and Picks Combo Kit (Click here for more information)

Baking Powder (Click here for more information)

Baking Soda (Click here for more information)

Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)

Heat Proof Measuring Cups (Click here for more information)

Measuring Spoons Set (Click here for more information)

Rolling Pin (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)





Easter Bunny Vanilla Bean Cupcakes:
Makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients for the Oreo Filled Bunny Butt White Chocolate:
6 ounces of white chocolate
6 Oreo Cookies, finely crushed
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon pink luster dust

To Prepare the Bunny Butt Chocolate:
Temper and melt the white chocolate (https://goo.gl/Tevin2). Fill the bunny candy mold with a teaspoon of melted chocolate. With the back of a spoon, spread the melted chocolate to coat the mold.

You only want a thin layer of chocolate, carefully spoon out any excess. Let it set at room temperature for a few minutes. Apply a second coating of chocolate into the cavities of the mold.

When chocolate is completely set. Fill each cavity with half a teaspoon of crusted Oreo. Top the Oreo with remaining white chocolate and let chocolate set completely. Invert the mold and the chocolate should come out easily.

In a small dish, mix the lemon extract and luster dust with a small cake decorating brush. Paint the paws of the bunny chocolate with the pink luster dust mixture. Store in air tight container until ready to use.

Ingredients for the Vanilla Cupcakes:
1 3/4 cups cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
a pinch of kosher salt
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon plain yogurt
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

To Prepare the Vanilla Cupcakes:Preheat your oven to 350F. Line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners.

In a large measuring cup, add milk, oil, butter, yogurt, egg, and vanilla bean paste. Whisk until well combined. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Turn mixer on low speed and mix for a minute to combine.

Add the milk mixture into the stand mixer in a slow and steady stream. Scrape the sides and bottle of the bowl and mix for another 20 seconds.

With a large ice cream scoop, fill each cupcake liner 3/4 of the way. Bake for 20-25 min or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cupcakes on a wire rack completely before frosting.

Ingredients for the Fluffy Vanilla Bean Frosting:12 tablespoons softened unsalted butter (room temperature)
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

To Prepare the Fluffy Vanilla Bean Frosting:In a large bowl, sift powdered sugar and set aside.

In the stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter for 5 minutes until fluffy and pale.

Add half of the powdered sugar and whisk well. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add in the remaining half of the powdered sugar. Add milk and vanilla bean paste. Continue beating the frosting for another 5 minutes or until light, smooth, and fluffy.

To Assemble:
Place frosting into a large piping bag fitted with the Wilton #233 grass icing tip. Fill the pastry bag with frosting and pipe frosting onto the cooled cupcakes. Top with decorated bunny chocolate and bunny ears tooth picks. Enjoy!