Week 8 ( Save $8 )
With the Lunar New Year's celebration in full swing. How awesome would it be to make some personalized fortune cookies with store bought Pizzelle cookies !
With this simple method, you can make these fortune cookies anytime. Customize the little paper fortune for what ever the occasion. What an ideal fun gift!!
Pick up a box of Pizzelle Italian Waffle cookies. Each box contains approximately 40 thin crispy wafers.
Next you will need little fortune messages to insert into each individual cookie. You can either type and print out a sheet of fortunes and cut down to 2 -2.5 inches x 5/8 inch. Print enough messages and cut down. Or you hand write each message on tab post-it notes. They are the ideal perfect size.
Look for a bowl or a glass tumbler that has a thin rim for shaping the cookie. Keep the printed messages close by and now you are ready to start microwaving the cookies.
Using a half sheet of spotty damp paper towel, place the cookie ( ** with the wrong side up) in the middle of the paper towel and fold over the long ends to cover the cookie. Microwave the cookie for 20 to 25 seconds.
Note: The paper towel and cookie will be hot. The cookie will be softer and you have to work really quick because it just takes seconds before the air hits the cookie and it starts to harden again. Approximately 10 seconds.
Open the paper towel and quickly insert the fortune message while it's still in the microwave. Fold the paper towel over the cookie and fold the cookie over while pinching the edges of the cookie, it will resemble a taco.
Take the wrapped folded cookie ( while still pinching the edge) Find the centre of the cookie and place the cookie on the rim bowl or glass and bend the cookie by the corners (do not over bend, the cookie will crack).
Hold for a few seconds and remove the paper towel quickly (the paper towel may stick to the cookie ). Place the cookie on a tray to dry by turning them over a few times.
Keep dampen the paper towel each time you microwave the cookie. If you find the cookie has harden before you get it to fold over. Just simply sprinkle some more water on the paper towel and microwave again. It just takes practice and at the end of the process you would have become an expert fortune cookie maker. Plus you would have figured out what method works or does not work for you.
Add your twist to the finished cookies, dip one side in chocolate, adding sprinkles, the possibilities are endless! Yum!
**Note: that the cookies have two sides. The top finished more polished fancier side and the bottom which I call the wrong side. It really does not matter whether you fold the cookies on which sides if you are not too fussy.
ENJOY!!
Week 7 ( Save $7 )
Ghung Hay Fat Choy! to those who are celebrating Lunar Chinese New Year on the16th!
What is the meaning behind the Year of the Dog and the Chinese calendar?
According to the ancient Chinese Astrology, the calendar is based upon twelve year lunar cycle. Your sign is determined by the year which you were born. Each sign are represented by one of twelve animals. The Chinese calendar is believed to be over 5000 years old.
2018 and the Earth Dog sign according to the Chinese people says that this year people will be a happy and cheerful year. At times frustrating, tiring and exhausting especially with trying to balancing work and everyday life. Your financial will be very good but pay extra attention to your health. Be more active and eat healthier. A new year means change : time to get rid of those bad habits!
Earth Dogs, your are sincerity, loyal ,clever, independent and sincere. Yet you are emotional, sensitive, stubborn and conservative. You are not afraid to take on any challenges that affects you on a daily basis. With all these characteristics, Dog people have great relationships with all people.
Lucky numbers : 3, 4, 9
Lucky colours: red, green and purple
Famous people who are born under the Dog include: Donald Trump, Winston Churchill, Bill Clinton, Prince William, Michael Jackson, Confucius, Uma Thurman, Ellen DeGeneres.
ENJOY!
Week 6 ( Save $6 )
Oh February, I thought you would never arrive! A month filled with celebrations: birthdays, our first official holiday, a new Lunar Year and of course Valentines.
Why not celebrate February by making these super easy chocolate covered strawberries. Simple to make and the results are fancy! Just two ingredients to create these lovely beauties: chocolate and strawberries.
When buying strawberries, look for big red plump unblemished fresh berries with green stems.
For the chocolate, buy a good dark chocolate bars for dipping. I suggest any cocoa percentage over 50%, depending on how sweet or bitter you like your chocolate. (read : all about chocolate, to follow after instructions). Avoid using semi-sweet chocolate chips. I find they leave white marks on the chocolate when dried plus they do not melt very well.
1. Rinse and dry the strawberries gently
Make sure the strawberries are completely dry.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
3. Place your chocolate melts or chocolate bar pieces in a ceramic bowl large enough to dip the berries.
4. In a large pan, bring the water to boil on your stove. Place your bowl of chocolates into the hot water. Make sure there is enough water and turn down to low heat.
5. Melt the chocolates completely and stir until smooth
6. Holding the stems of each strawberry, dip half of your strawberry into the melted chocolate on one side. Now, dip the other half of your strawberry. Allow the extra chocolate to drip back into the bowl. (Or just make one straight dip)
7. Place your dipped berries on the lined pan. Keep dipping and adding more chocolate until all the strawberries are done.
8. Allow the tray of dipped berries to dry, approximately 30 minutes. Or place the tray in the refrigerator until they get harden.
9. Remove the strawberries and place them on small baking cup liners or air tight container and keep them refrigerated.
Tips: It's best to dip the strawberries hours before gift giving or serving.
All about Chocolate
Basically, the higher percentage content the more intense and less sweeter the chocolate. Comparing a 70% bar to a bar of 55%, the dark chocolate in the 55% will be much sweeter than the 70%. The percentage on the label also informs you about the sugar content. The 70% bar contains 30% of sugar and the 55% bar contains 45% sugar.
Milk chocolates contain cream or milk in addition to the sugar and the cocoa bean.
Semi-sweet chocolates must contain a minimum of 35% cocoa and does not contain any milk products. We commonly know semi- sweet chocolates as baker's bars or chocolate chips. Semi- sweet chocolates are made with less cocoa butter (or cocoa fat) than some other types of chocolate. It also contains sugar, vanilla and an emulsifier. This is so they hold their shape and do not melt as easily. Semi- sweet chocolates are the perfect sweetness and works well in all baking recipes.
ENJOY!
Pick up a box of Pizzelle Italian Waffle cookies. Each box contains approximately 40 thin crispy wafers. 
Using a half sheet of spotty damp paper towel, place the cookie ( ** with the wrong side up) in the middle of the paper towel and fold over the long ends to cover the cookie. Microwave the cookie for 20 to 25 seconds.
Take the wrapped folded cookie ( while still pinching the edge) Find the centre of the cookie and place the cookie on the rim bowl or glass and bend the cookie by the corners (do not over bend, the cookie will crack).
