Fortune Cookies

The idea of making fortune cookies just came out of the blue...and as soon as I got that idea I started to look for the messages that was gonna put inside them...quite a challenge I must say...cause me and my sister had to look for over 80 messages!!....well, we were very picky, but it was definitely worth it, every minute we spent searching and writing and also baking, cause they were a hit at new year's eve...after 12 o`clock we all opened our cookies and saw our future comming ahaha.

We cut pink, green and blue papers....the pink papers were only about love, the green ones about money and the blue ones about health and some other stuff....they turned the perfect tradition for the new year, so I'll be making them year after year, but of course I'll be updating them...for next year I plan to dip them in chocolate.....only the tips....but for now I'll introduce to you my fortune cookies recipe, hope you make this a new tradition too!

These are the ingredients: (makes about 80 fortune cookies)

- 3 cups flour

- 1 cup butter, cold

- 1 1/2 cup sugar

- 1 egg

- 1 tsp lemon zest

- 1/2 cup warm milk

- Fortune messages (if you want my opinion you should look for the messages one day ahead, because they can take a while)

- Preheat your oven at 392º (200ºC), and butter your pan, set aside.

- In a medium bowl mix butter and sugar until creamy, then add the egg and the sifted flour, finally add milk until you get a dough that doesn't stick to your fingers.

- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes or until firm,

- Roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick, and cut circles with a glass or a cookie cutter.

- Put the message in the center of the cookie (you can fold it as I did, or place a longer message, as I did later and think its better).

- Then fold the cookie into half and press the edges so it won't open in the oven.

- Press the middle of the cookie to fold it in half again.

- Finally fold the cookie until the corners meet.

-Place the cookies in the buttered pan, at a small distance between one another, since they barely increase their volume, and bake them for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until they are slightly golden.

And done! Happy baking =)

Christmas Cake / Pan de Pascua

Hi! today I'll be sharing with you this great recipe. Well...this one was made by my mom...eating Christmas cake or Pan de Pascua as it is called in Spanish is the most typical christmas tradition in Chile, among with the Cola de Mono (it means mokey tail ahaha) which is a kind of an eggnog but with alcohol in it...I like it without the alcohol...well, the thing is that everyone seems to just love this two things...including me, but how could I not love this beautiful cake....the taste is incredible, and me and my family eat A LOT for Christmas, I really mean it...my mom makes about 15 of these cakes each Christmas, cause she gives away like the half =( so I really recomend it for christmas or well...for whenever you want.

Holi! hoy compartiré con ustedes esta excelente receta. Bueno....esta la hizo mi mamá....comer pan de pascua es una de las mas típicas tradiciones navideñas en Chile, junto con la cola de mono, que es como el rompope pero con alcohol... a mi me gusta sin alcohol....bueno, el asunto es que a todo el mundo parece encantarle estas dos cosas... incluyéndome a mi, pero como no adorar este hermoso pan de pascua...el sabor es increíble, mi familia y yo comemos MUCHO en navidad, hablo en serio....mi mamá hace como 15 de estos panes de pascua durante cada navidad, porque regala como la mitad =( así que realmente lo recomiendo para navidad o bueno.....para cuando quieran.

Ingredients: (makes 2 7 inch cakes)

- 250 grs butter

- 4 cups flour

- 2 cups sugar

- 200 grs walnuts

- 200 grs almonds

- 200 grs chocolate, chopped

- 200 grs crystallized fruit, grounded

- 2 tbsp lemon or orange zest

- 1 tsp cinnamon powder

- 1 tsp clove (powder)

- 1 tsp baking soda

- 4 eggs

- 330 cc. black beer

- 1 tsp baking powder

Glazing:

- orange juice

- icing sugar

- Preheat oven to 375º (180ºC), butter and flour your pans, set aside.

- Beat butter and sugar until creamy, then add eggs one by one and then incorporate the walnuts, chocolate, zest, clove and malt, beat in to incorporate everything and finally add the flour, baking soda and baking powder.

- Fill the pans up to 3/4 of it, and put them into the oven for about an hour or until a knife or a cake tester comes out clean.

- For the glazing just mix orange juice and icing sugar and pour it on top of the Christmas cake =)

Ingredientes: (para 2 panes de 17 cm de diámetro)

- 250 grs de mantequilla

- 4 tazas de harina

- 2 tazas de azúcar

- 200 grs de nueces

- 200 grs de almendras

- 200 grs de chocolate, picado

- 200 grs fruta confitada, molida

- 2 cdas de ralladura de limón o naranja

- 1 cdta de canela en polvo

- 1 cdta de clavo de olor (en polvo)

- 1 cdta de bicarbonato

- 4 huevos

- 330 cc. cerveza negra o malta

- 1 cdta de polvos de hornear

Glaseado:

- jugo de naranja

- azúcar flor

- Pre-calentar el horno a 180°C, enmantequillar y enharinar los moldes, reservar.

- Batir la mantequilla y azúcar hasta que esté cremoso, luego agregar los huevos de a uno e incorporar las nueces, chocolate, ralladura, nuez moscada y cerveza negra, batir hasta que todo esté incorporado, finalmente agregar la harina, bicarbonato y polvos de hornear.

- Llenar los moldes hasta 3/4, hornearlos durante una hora o hasta que al insertar un palito de brocheta, éste salga limpio.

- Para el glaseado simplemente mezclar jugo de naranja con azúcar flor y verterlo sobre el pan de pascua =)

Lemon Meringue Pie Cupcakes

I made this lemon meringue pie cupcakes yesterday because I really needed to bake some of these cuties...and what a better way to enjoy a warm afternoon than with something really citric...mmmm....this is how they look on the inside:

Can you see it??....it was soooo delicious!

Ingredients:

Cupcakes: (makes about 30)

- 3 cups flour

- 2 cups sugar

- 1 tbsp baking powder

- 3/4 tsp salt

- 4 large eggs

- 1 cup room tº milk

- 1 cup butter at room tº

- 2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

- Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt until well combined, you can do it with your electric mixer if you want.

- In a large measurement bowl whisk the eggs, milk and vanilla...then add it slowly to the dry misture and beat until all the ingredients are well combined.

- Divide the batter evenly among the liners, about 1/3 and make a hole in the middle, like this:

Then in the middle of the hole add about a teaspoon of the lemon mixture.

Ingredients:

- 1/2 can condensed milk

- 1/4 cup lemon juice

- 2 egg yolks

Directions:

- Mix the condensed milk and lemon juice for about a minute and then add the egg yolks, mix until well combined. And now you can fill your cupcake.

When they´re done put then in the oven for about 20 minutes or until golden.

This is how they look when they´re ready....mmmm....but there´s one thing missing....

The meringue! Beat 4 egg whites until hard peaks are formed and add syrup (6 tbsp sugar and 6 tbsp water, bring it to a boil until thick). And beat well until it is cooled (7 minutes aprox). Finally add some icing sugar (1/4 cup) and beat for another minute.

Decorate your cupcakes!

And for a final touch use your kitchen blowtorch if you have one....but if you don´t then don´t worry....because they look good anyway.

But is so fun to burn them ahahahahaha!

And one last one picture......awww...so cute! Hope you like them.

Tiny Pizzas...Yum!

Yesterday we had spaghetti night at my sister´school...I was gonna go with her and my boyfriend, but we found out that they had cancelled at the last minute....but we decided to still eat something yummy....so we made tiny pizzas...with all kinds of filling. Since we were at home there was also my brother and my great-aunt...my parents were out, but we made some for them too. Each one of us made our own pizzas.....they turned out fantastic!

Ther we have: Ham, salame, corn, mediterranean sauce, bolognese sauce, mushrooms, cheese, caramelized onion, basil, scallion, green pepper, orange pepper, and for seasoning: oregano, merquen (smoked chile), salt, cayenne pepper, and dill.

Here´s how they look after they came out of the oven:

This is a ham, cheese, salame, mushroom and green pepper pizza.

And this is a ham, cheese, onion, mushroom and orange pepper pizza.....this was mine....so goooood!

Pizza dough: (24 tiny pizzas aprox)

- 4 cups flour

- 2 large eggs

- 1/2 cup warm milk

- 1 tsp salt

- 12 tbsp oil

- 2 tsp baking powder

- cayenne pepper, dill, oregano, etc.

Directions:

Put all the dry ingredients and mix, and then add the rest of the ingredients, knead the dough until it is firm (about 1 minute) wrap it with plastic foil or put it in a ziploc bag (remember to remove the air) and let it rest in the fridge for half an hour. Meanwhile wash and cut all the ingredients you want for filling the dough, and butter and flour your molds.

Prepare your pizza and put it in the oven for 15 minutes....enjoy!

For making the caramelized onion:

- 2 small onions or 1 big onion

- 1 cup of water, aprox.

- 1 beef stock cube (or 1 tbsp soy sauce)
- 1 tbsp sugar

- 5 tbsp oil

Directions:

Heat your frying pan and add the oil, then sitr in the onions when the oil is hot, and fry until they tender (about 10 minutes), then add some water for another 10 minutes more....finally add the stock cube and sugar...yum!

Chicken enchiladas

These are my dad´s favorites...and no wonder cause they are perfect for when you just want to prepare a quick lunch and if you want you can make the filling ahead and prepare them in just minutes, this is what you will need:

- 12 flour tortillas

- 2 chicken breasts cooked and cut into cubes

- 1 cup heavy cream

- 150 grs chopped nuts

- 200 grs mushrooms

- 1 cup grated cheese

- Salt and pepper

- Preheat your oven at 375º (180ºC).

- In a large bowl mix the diced chicken, nuts, mushrooms and cheese, then add the cream and finally season it with salt and pepper.

- Then fill the tortillas and wrap them, put them in a glass pan and cover them completely with cream, that way they won´t burn in the oven.

- Finally sprinkle some grated cheese and put the chicken enchiladas for about 15 minutes or until they are golden.

Pink and Black cupcakes....classy and sweet!

I made them for Valentine´s day this year...but they are great for any occasion, they are very fun to make and so delicious! Can´t wait to make them again!

Pink strawberry cupcakes, with cream cheese frosting

Ingredients:
- 1 cup strawberry yoghurt
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 cups flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 3 large eggs
- Red food coloring
For the cream cheese frosting:
- 1 3oz. cream cheese bar
- 3 tbsp butter or margarine, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 1/2 cup icing sugar

1. Preheat you oven at 375ºF (180ºC).
2. In a large bowl place yoghurt, vegetable oil, eggs and the rest of the dry ingredients. Then add red food coloring until you get the desired tone.
3. Fill the cupcake molds with an ice-cream spoon until 3/4 of the cup.
4. Put them in the oven for aproximately 15 minutes of until a toothstick comes out clean.

For preparing the cream cheese frosting:
1. Beat the package of cream cheese with the butter and vanilla, until light and fluffy. Then beat in milk and gradually add the icing sugar until the icing is consistent.
2. Dip the cupcakes into this frosting and add sprinkles if you want, eat right away of wait until the frosting has dried.
3. Take a bite out of these pretty cupcakes as soon as possible!

Like I did: Chocolate Cupcakes with mint buttercream


I got this recipe from http://www.marthastewart.com/, it is a vanilla cupcake recipe, but just add a cup of sweet or bitter cocoa, and you´re done! Here´s the recipe: http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.fc77a0dbc44dd1611e3bf410b5900aa0/?vgnextoid=1c766b7a81f63110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&backto=true


For the mint buttercream try this recipe, and just add mint extract: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxWmiHRTMz8


And here´s a picture of how they look inside =)

Oatmeal cookies....never say no to them!

I love this recipe because after you make this cookies you almost don´t have to do the dishes! You need very few things to make them....and they are great for snacks and for giving them when someone is not feeling so well, they always work!

Me encanta esta receta porque luego de que haces estas galletas no tienes muchas cosas que lavar! Necesitas solo un par de cosas para poder hacerlas....son buenísimas como bocadillos y para regalar cuando alguien no se siente bien, siempre funcionan!

Oatmeal cookies (makes about 70 cookies)

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup butter

- 2 cups sugar

- 3 large eggs

- 2 1/2 cups flour

- 1/2 tsp baking soda

- 5 tsp baking powder

- 2 cups oatmeal

- tbsps hot water

1. Preheat you oven at 375º F.

2. In a large bowl mix butter with sugar until smooth, then add eggs one by one. After everything is well mixed, add the rest of the ingredients. And if your dough is too dry or too thick add hot water until your dough looks like this:

Galletas de avena (aproximadamente 70 galletas)

Ingredientes:

- 1/2 taza de mantequilla

- 2 tazas de azúcar

- 3 huevos grandes

- 2 1/2 tazas de harina

- 1/2 cdtas de bicarbonato

- 5 cdtas de polvos de hornear

- 2 tazas de avena

- cdas de agua caliente

1. Pre calentar el horno a 180°C

2. En un bowl grande mezclar la mantequilla con el azúcar hasta formar una pasta suave, luego agregar los huevos de a uno. Luego de que todo esté bien mezclado, agregar el resto de los ingredientes Si la masa está muy seca o espesa, agregar agua caliente hasta que la masa se vea como esto:

3. Butter you pan, and add teaspoons of dough, remember they get a lot bigger in the oven so try to separate them as much as posible.

3. Enmantequilla la lata del horno y pon cucharaditas de masa, recuerda que las galletas crecen mucho dentro del horno, por lo que debes separarlas lo mas posible.

And this is hot they´ll look inside the oven:

Así es como se verán dentro del horno:

4. Bake them for about 8 minutes and let them cool for a while, then they are ready to be eaten!

After they were done, I sprinkled them with icing sugar and powdered cinnamon....they look even more yummier.

4. Hornearlas por aproximadamente 8 minutos y dejarlas enfriar un poco, entonces estarán listas para ser devoradas! Luego de que están listas, les espolvoreé con azúcar flor y canela en polvo...se ven incluso mas deliciosas.