vegetarian apple & carrot cake

I wanted to try baking this Vegetarian Apple & Carrot Cake and if it is a success, it will be my next Chinese New Year cake.  It is the family's tradition to observe vegetarian diet on the 1st day of Chinese New Year.

Ingredients [A]
> 180g margarine/butter 
> 1 tbsp golden syrup
> 100g 50g castor sugar

Ingredients [B] 
150g green apple slices, mixed with
100g sliced carrot and 1/2 cup water,
cooked till soft and blended finely

Ingredients [C] 
> 200g self-raising flour
> 1/4 tsp mixed spice
> 40g ground almond
> 100g raisins, chopped
> 1 tsp grated lemon peel

Method
[1]  Greased and lined a 20cm/8" square baking tin.
[2]  Beat Ingredients [A] till light and fluffy.
[3]  Add in Ingredients [B] and mix well.
[4]  Lastly add in Ingredients [C] and mix till well-combined.
[5]  Pour mixture into baking tin.
[6]  Bake at 170 160°C for 35-40 minutes or till golden brown and cooked.
[7]  Remove, leave to cool and cut into pieces. 

Recipe courtesy of Agnes Chang, Baking Made Easy

soy, honey and ginger roast chicken

Ingredients
> 1/3 cup soy sauce
> 1/4 cup honey
> 3cm piece fresh ginger, peeled, finely grated
> 2 garlic cloves, crushed
> 1 tsp sesame seeds
> 4 (340g each) chicken maryland pieces

Method
[1]  Combine soy sauce, honey, ginger, garlic and sesame seeds in a glass or ceramic dish.
[2]  Add in chicken.  Toss to coat.  Cover.  Refrigerate for 2 hours, if time permits.
[3]  Preheat oven to 160°C.  Arrange chicken and marinade in a large baking dish.
[4]  Bake for 50 minutes or until chicken is golden and cooked through.
[5]  Turn the pieces of chicken halfway during cooking (25 minutes).

Recipe courtesy of taste.com.au

fatt gou (发糕) for prayers

Ingredients
> 200g rice flour 
> 50g corn flour 
> 80g icing sugar
> 240ml water
> a few drops of red colouring 
> 1 packet of ENO

Method
[1] Mix all ingredients together except ENO.
[2] Boil water in wok. 
[3] When the water is boiling, add in ENO and give it a quick stir.
[4] Pour into small moulds, line with paper cup.
[5] Steam for 15 minutes.

Note:  This recipe makes about 15 pcs. of "huat kuih".

playdough

You will need to work quickly for step (3) as you want to add the water while it is boiling hot.  Please assist children with boiling water and maintain constant supervision.

Note: After step (7) when dough is done, divide the dough into smaller portions and add in food colouring as preferred.


Recipe courtesy of Learn with Play at Home

responsibility & independence