Caramel popcorn

I love popcorn, it is my favorite snacks when I feel like to eat between meals other than fruits :)

Got an invitation from someone so nice with her kids, but some of them have allergy against gluten and diary products. I wanted to bring a dessert but definitely not a cake!!

So... I think popcorn is kid's favorite, isn't it? I think kids won't like plain popcorn... may be caramel! something sweet and yummy :)

Ingredients

1/2 cup corn kernels, popped, will make about 8 cups
1 cup nuts (almond, hazel nuts, walnuts...)

Caramel sauce:
1/2 cup or 113g butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup water
Optional: 2 tbsp cocoa powder and 1/2 tsp cinnamon


1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking soda

Instructions

1. Pop the corn, click here to see how to make popcornRemove the unpopped kernels and place them in a big mixing bowl

2. Line a baking sheet with baking sheetPreheat the oven to 120°c
Note: If you want to serve it immediately, omit this step, go to step 3

3. In a medium sauce pot, mix butter, sugar, salt, water, and any flavorings, stir until combine

Bring to boil over medium heat and boil 5 minutes until thickened. Stir frequently to prevent boiling over => be careful of bubbles

4. After 5 mins, remove from heat, stir in vanilla and soda, mix well
Note: Baking soda is used to soften the syrup mixture, won't become too hard that you can chew the sugar after baking

5. Quickly pour the caramel sauce over the popcorn and nutsUse a wooden spoon or spetula to stir until popcorn evenly coated

You can serve it hot immediately if you won't store it for later

If you want to store it for later:

1. Spread out onto the baking sheet to one layer

Bake for 30 minutes, stir it about every 10 minutes

2. After 30mins, take it out from the oven, let it cool down 

3. When completely cool down, store in airtight containers

Enjoy!

Taco soup

I love Mexican food, my friend gave me this taco soup recipe, every time I make it, people just love it! It's great for many people. This Christmas I made it for my husband's family and the soup is gone very fast!

Ingredients
2 cloves of garlic
1 onion
500g minced beef

1 can/ 398ml pinto beans (drained water)
1 can/ 398ml kidney beans (drained water)
1 can/ 398ml corn (drained water)
1 can/ 398ml tomato including juice
red or green chili
3 tbsp taco seasoning mix*

1 can/ 398ml tomato sauce
2 cups water
1 cup salsa (I used medium hot salsa)

Sour cream
Grated cheese
Tortilla chips

*You can make it yourself, click here to get the recipe

Instructions
1. In a large pot, pour oil, fry with garlic and onion with beef

2. Add in beans, corn, tomato, chili and taco seasoning

3. Add in tomato sauce and water
Let it boil for 15mins or until the beans become soft

4. Serve hot with sour cream, grated cheese and tortilla chips

Enjoy!

Homemade taco seasoning

It isn't easy to find taco seasoning here in Europe few years ago, so I made mine. Now I got some from friends from the States, I can save this recipe for later.

If you can't find taco seasoning, you can follow this recipe.

Ingredients
1 tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

Instructions
1. Mix everything in a bowl, use a food processor if you prepare big quantity

2. Store in air-tight container

Enjoy!

Mascarpone frosting

If you like decorating cakes and you get bored with buttercream or cream cheese icing, you can try to decorate with mascarpone frosting.

The texture is lighter than buttercream :)

This is mascarpone frosting on carrot cake

Ingredients of mascarpone frosting
226g mascarpone
32g or 1/4 cup icing sugar
2tsp vanilla extract
1 cup whipped cream 

Instructions
1. Beat mascarpone, sugar and vanilla extract, until they blend well and look smooth

2. In another mixing bowl, whisk whipped cream until the peak becomes stiff

3. Fold in whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture delicately, with the help of spetula

Be creative and decorate your cake nicely!

Enjoy!

French crepe

Saturday morning becomes our pancake morning, after I make the American pancake, I want to make French crepe! Thank you my cousin :) so nice to send me the recipe!

I thought it is very difficult to make French crepe as it is very thin! But actually it turns out I can make it like the ones you can buy in the supermarket or you can eat in the restaurant!! so happy!

Ingredients
Sauce:
100g sugar
1 star anise
40ml balsamic vinegar
Zest of 1 lemon
225g blueberries*

* I used strawberries

Pancakes:
125g flour
A pinch of salt
2tbsp sugar

2 eggs

300ml milk
30g melted butter
1tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions
Sauce:
1. Place sugar, star anise & balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan, bring to boil, stir to mix well

2. Add lemon zest & blueberries, stir well
Turn off the heat & set aside

Pancakes:
1. In a large mixing bowl, mix flour with salt & sugar
Add in the rest of the ingredients, mix well until smooth

2. On a frying pan, at medium heat, heat little vegetable oil
Use a ladle, cover the base of pan in a thin layer of batter
Reduce to low heat, let it cook until edges of pancake become golden brown

3. Flip pancake over and cook for 1min longer

4. Now you can serve - place the pancake on a plate, add some sauce

Enjoy!

Marinated barbecue chicken

I watched a cooking program on internet, I found this recipe quite good, so I want to share with you all.

What you need to know is that you have to make it one night ahead.

You can marinate pork or beef, the recipe is very similar to Korean barbecue sauce.

Barbecue chicken served with burger - too yummy

I made the bread, it is the recipe of bagel, I just shape it into ball, click here to get the recipe 

Ingredients
100g sliced chicken

2tbsp soya sauce
2tsp sesame oil
1 clove garlic, diced
1/2 echalotte, diced
1/2tsp red pepper powder*
1/2tsp cane sugar

* You can use dried or fresh red pepper, slice them into small pieces

Instructions
1. Mix all the ingredients together with a pair of chopsticks, the meat absorbs the sauce little by little when you stir them

2. Cover with a plastic wrap and store it in the fridge overnight

Ready to fry it on a pan or if the meat is a big piece, you can put it on a grill
Excellent to eat with rice :)

Enjoy!

Berries tart with mascarpone filling & chocolate crust

My cousin mailed me a lot of nice recipes from Harrods (UK)!! The pictures look very beautiful and stunning... yummm.... I can't wait to try one of the recipes!

This recipe is berry tart with mascarpone filling and chocolate crust.
Honestly I have never made any chocolate tart, it will be my first try :D It makes me feel excited when I try new recipes :D

The best thing is that I got both mascarpone and lime at home, which is quite rare for me to have these both ingredients at home :) Perfect, no need to fetch them in the supermarket!!

This is really a new combination for me - chocolate crust, lime mascarpone and berries! wow. I love it!

Ingredients

Original recipe of crust 
(21cm X 30cm rectangular mould or 11" round mould) :
300g chocolate cookies
100g butter

Crust (9" deep mould):
2 cups flour
3tbsp cocoa powder
3tbsp sugar
170g unsalted butter, cold and diced
1/3 cup brewed coffee, cold*

*I used 1 1/2tsp instant coffee and fill up to 1/3 cup water

Instructions

1. To prepare the crust, in a mixing bowl, mix all dry ingredients until they blend well

2. Add in butter, mix well with a wooden spoon or your finger tips, until butter blended well in the flour mixture

3. Add in coffee, little by little. You can see at the end the dough becomes non-sticky to the bowl = ready

4. On a lightly floured working surface, knead the dough briefly with your hand, press it flat

Wrap the dough with the plastic wrap

Store in the fridge at least 1hour before use (up to 2 days)

5. Take out the dough from the fridge and let it rest for 5 mins

6. Roll out the dough flat
Place it on the mould, remove the excess edge if there is any
Use a fork to pinch some holes at the bottom

7. Place the dough in the fridge for several hours to cool it down and relax the dough

8. After several hours, preheat the oven to 180°c
Put the dough in the oven and bake for 25-30mins

Remove the mould at least after 10mins
Let it cool down completely

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Filling:

250g mascarpone

4tbsp sugar

100g strawberries

Instructions

1. Mix all the ingredients and beat them until blended well

2. Store it in the fridge in an air-tight container

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Toppings:

Fresh strawberries**

Icing sugar

** I think you can use as much as you want, as long as you ensure it can cover the mascarpone filling

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Assemble:
1. Use a spetula to transfer the filling onto the chocolate crust

2. Place fresh strawberries on the top of mascarpone filling
Sprinkle icing sugar on the strawberries

Enjoy!