Gingerbread Cookies

Okay, since I am still waiting for D to come back from work (so he can help carry the last bit of Christmas shopping I have to do - I know, I am so behind), I'm going to try and get this post up quickly.

First, I want to apologize for the bad pictures. It was dark, I was tired, and my camera hasn't been the same since I dropped it at the beach. I am hoping Santa will bring me a new camera for Christmas. :D

I have been searching for a good and easy gingerbread cookie recipe. I like to make a gingerbread house each year, and I usually get the boxed set which are impossible to eat without breaking your teeth. I came across one on www.allrecipes.com. It boasted excellent remarks from other bakers. I tweeked it a little bit, and I can say this one is a keeper. I plan to make my house tonight, so hopefully I'll get pictures of it and post them up in the near future.

The pictures I have here are the cookies I made for family and friends to give out during the holidays. I have gotten wonderful feedbacks. So maybe this recipe will be one of your family favorites too.

Recipe:

Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tablespoon orange zest (I used zest of 1 whole orange)

2 tablespoons molasses

3 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Sift together all the dry ingredients.

2. Cream butter and sugar together. Add egg, mix well. Mix in orange zest and molasses.

3. Add dry ingredients and mix until well combined.

4. Chill dough for at least 30 minutes.

5. Roll out to about 1/4" - 1/8" thick (flour surface as needed) and cut out shapes using cookie cutters or if you are creative, knife. Place shapes on cookie sheets about 1" apart.

6. Place cookie sheets in freezer for about 15 minutes. This helps the cookies keep their shape.

7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cookies are lightly toasted on the edges (less time if you like a softer cookie and longer if you like a harder one).

9. Cool on cookie rack and decorate to your hearts content.

Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do. Happy Holidays!!

Pastelaria Koi Kei in Macau

Pastelaria Koi Kei

As I was flipping through a magazine that I had picked up in Asia Destination Macau, I came across an article about the streets of Old Taipa Village, a historical area of Macau.  And one of the places featured was a cookie store I had been to, Pasterlaria Koi Kei.  It is highly recommended by both locals and repeat tourists.  It is the number gift purchased in Macau.

Macau's Old Red Light District

The store is located on the narrow street of Rua da Cunha commonly known as the food street in Cantonese.  The area was previously a happening red light district, but now it's home to a few residents, restaurants, and shops selling cookies, candies, BBQ pork, jellies, and many other famous Macau snacks.  

The streets were fairly quiet since it was close to 11pm.  All the other stores were closed and most residents were already in bed.  But as we approached our destination, I noticed that every person walking away from us was carrying a yellow brown plastic bag.  And then that's when I saw it. 

Busy Pastelaria Koi Kei

With bright lights and people spilling out, Jess groaned, "Oh no, we'll be here all night.  Last time we were here, mom went nuts and bought 4 big bags of cookies."  She decided to stay outside and wait for mom since she didn't want to fight with the mob of shoppers, and I was thinking she had the right idea.  

But the clerks were shouting, "Free samples," and were passing out cookies and candies that would put any Costco to shame.  I wanted some of their 300 plus varieties of treats, so I took a deep breath and ventured in.  Before I knew it I was given original almond cookie, chunky almond cookie, walnut almond cookie, a handful of mini almond cookies, almond cookie with pork floss, and many, many other varieties of almond cookies.  These were not cut up pieces or sample sizes.  These were full size cookies right out of the boxes!  I was getting so parched from tasting, I had to leave the almond cookie area.  

Jess Making It Out Alive

I walked around to the dried fruits and candies section, which had less people, and before I knew it, Jess was right beside me asking me to pass her some samples.  The clerks were wonderful.  When we wanted to try something and they didn't have a sample available, they would just grab a new box and open it for us.  We tasted everything!  Most items were yummy, but some were really an acquired taste, like pork fat candy - well I don't know if that's what it is, but it was a candy with meat in it that tasted like a piece of cold fat.  I'm gagging just thinking about it, but there were several people buying boxes of them including my mom. 

After an hour in the store, my mom bought four bags of cookies and candies which Jess is holding in the photo above, but then thinking she didn't have enough mom went back in and bought two more bags.

Pasrelaria Koi Kei's Famous Yellow Brown Bag

I bought six boxes of mini almond cookies, two boxes of phoenix egg rolls with seaweed and pork floss, one bag of lemon ginger candy, one bag of mango peanut nougat, and a box of variety almond cookies.  All my stash fit into one bag, so you can see how much mom bought.  She did go nuts in there!

Mini Almond Cookies

I know some of you out there might say, "These are available where I'm at."  Pastelaria Koi Kei does sell their products in many Asia super markets around the world.  But as an auntie told us, "This is where they make all these treats.  This is the original store and bakery.  Everything comes out of here.  The selections are greater and fresher.  Plus you won't be able to experience this kind of shopping back home."  But with our giant stash of treats we did get to share a little bit of our experience at Pastelaria Koi Kei with all our family and friends.  

Pastelaria Koi Kei

Rua Do Cunha, No. 11-13 

R/C Taipa Macau

Tel: (853) 2882 7458

Beautiful Cookies

I baked these the same night I made the chocolate chip cookies.  I am making my dad a fish theme Father's Day cake, and I needed a fish cookie.  I found the smallest batch of sugar cookie recipe I could find, and wa-la in my trusty The Martha Stewart Cookbook is a half batch of sugar cookie recipe.

I started decorating them last night after my husband D called to say he was going out with the boys.  But he came home early since he wanted to go see You Don't Mess With The Zohan rather than play poker.  I had an hour to put things away and get something to eat fast, so I suggested we go to the sushi place across the street from our apartment.  I'd been there once and loved it and couldn't convince D to go before hand.  Once there though he was impressed.  I was so sad I didn't bring my camera, but D said we could come back soon to take pics!  So look for it in a future post.

Anyway... this is a picture of the fish I decorated.

But the real reason I wanted to make the cookies was to make these...

I had seen these cookies in Peggy Porschen's Romantic Cakes and have been searching for fancy butterfly cookie cutters.  

Well, I finally found a set at Sur La Table and here's the result.  I haven't tried the other styles, but I'll save those for next time.  

Until then, cheers!

Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Last night I made chocolate chip cookies for my husband to take to work.  I usually make little treats for his clients and colleagues for the weekend.  In the past I've made mini cupcakes, lemon cookies, and decorated sugar cookies.  But everyone's all time favorite are these crispy chocolate chip cookies.  One of the clients ate an entire plate of them while chatting with my husband.  They are that yummy!

It's a recipe I found in The Martha Stewart Cookbook, but it is also available online.  Apparently these cookies are also Alexis' favorite.  They are so simple and quick to do.  I make them mini size at half the batch with the original amount of chocolate chips.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

The cookies are thin and crispy and perfect with a cold glass of milk, a cup of coffee or tea, a BIG scoop of ice cream, or just as is.

Enjoy!