Christmas Gingerbread Houses

Photography by *kaishin*

Well, the holidays are soon to be here, and thus the holiday baking begins...

First off, I want to convey the fun that is to be had when especially baking and decorating with friends. This year I decided that I wanted to make Gingerbread houses and gingerbread cookies. For the Houses, I had decided to focus on the fun part, thus used graham wafer cookies instead of baking gingerbread. My friend Rachael and I, spent about two hours making our houses and decorating it, while we gabbered and had many laughs.

For the cookies... see next post ;-)

Comments

Cranberry Shortbread Cookies

I revised an old recipe I had to freshen up the holiday classic of making shortbread cookies. I simply fell in love with the dough... ice cream like texture flecked with ruby red dried cranberries.... hmmm maybe La Casa Gelato could make a new flavour of gelato to add to their 208+ flavours... Photography by *kaishin* So, you'll need the following to get started: 2 cups sifted flour 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 1 cup unsalted rm temp. butter ½ cup confectioner's (powder) sugar ½ cup chopped dried cranberries 1 Tbsp flour (to coat cranberries) I n a small bowl sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In medium bowl, cream butter with electric beater on high, until ver soft and creamy. Then add sugar and beat until completely smooth. On low speed, gradually add dry ingredients in, scrapping bowl with spatula and beat until smooth. Mix the Tbsp of flour into the chopped cranberries, this is to prevent them from clumping up in the dough mixture. Then put cranbe...

Balsamic Vinegar Pancakes

Photos posted by Kaishin Chu © 2009. I created this recipe a few years back while we vacationed in Tofino in a log cabin. I had hoped to make buttermilk pancakes (a recipe originally developed in my college days), but we couldn't find any buttermilk to purchase at the local little market on our way into town. Since I often adapt recipes in lieu of missing ingredients, so in this case seeing that I had brought a container of strawberries macerating in balsamic vinegar, I thought I would use the vinegar with milk to create something similar to buttermilk. I figured it couldn't hurt. Photos posted by Kaishin Chu © 2009. The breakfast turned out amazing, the pancakes were fluffy yet substantial, moist and full of flavour, esp. with maple syrup... After the meal, the idea for a proper recipe was set forth. Last year, I dreamt up another delectable recipe using balsamic vinegar left over from macerating fruit, to make panna cotta... I'll save that recipe to share with you for a...

Italian styled Garlic Prawns with Spicy Sausages

Italian styled Garlic Prawns with Spicy Sausages © Kaishin Chu 2008 I made this for a potluck gathering, it turned out really well as it reheated under the broiler perfectly. Don't forget to have some good bread for dipping and soaking up the juices at the end. 2 Cups of fresh prawns or room temp. defrosted ones, shells off with tails on (easier as finger food) 1 cup spicy Italian sausages, sliced about 1/4" - 3/8" thick pieces 1/2 cup minced red onions 1/4 cup diced red and yellow peppers + 1 TBsp for garnishing 1 Tbsp. crushed or finely minced garlic 2 tsp. paprika Sea Salt and Peper 1/4 tsp. chili flakes chopped fresh parsley to garnish Use a decent amount of olive oil (2-3 tbsp) and butter (1-2 tbsp) to quickly heat the garlic, onion, chili flakes, and peppers, just till the aroma comes out. Then add the sausages in to cook. saute until cooked through. Then add Prawns, and sprinkle in the paprika, stir and sautee till just slightly undercooked, then turn off...

. dash of food .

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