CNY Bakes - Kue Nastar & Rose Pineapple tarts

What an overdue post! Chinese New Year will end tomorrow and boy this is the most eventful month by far and how I wish it was a different February all together. Kieran is having fever AGAIN! 3rd time in 3 weeks...argh

I made a total of 4 batches of pineapple tarts and this year I was feeling adventurous so I decided to do away with usual round pineapple tarts but tried Kue Nastar instead. Kue Nastar is the same term for pineapple tarts but more commonly known in Indonesia. The difference? Melt in your mouth rolled pastry. :)

I sourced for a new recipe online and decided to try this particular one that only use 4 ingredients and best of all, it's creaming method so no more hassle of rubbing butter with flour. Teehee

Thanks Sonia from Nasi Lemak Lover for the wonderful recipe. This is also the year when I went to Tanjong Katong Complex, Ailin Bakery to buy their Sarawak Pineapple paste..indeed it is very very nice. I would not discount the possibility of me baking a few more batches of this pineapple tarts!

I rolled them into 1/2 size of a ping pong ball

Kue Nastar (adapted from Sonia of Nasi Lemak Lover)

350g butter (I used Lurpak or Golden Churn)

100g condensed milk

510g all-purpose flour/plain flour

2 egg yolks

How?

- Cream butter and condensed milk until it is fluffy and light in color (about 3 - 5 minutes)

- Add in egg yolks one at a time and beat until just combine.

- Lastly, add in flour and mix it thoroughly. The dough should not be sticky.

- Using cookie press, pipe out strips of dough on baking sheet.

- Place pineapple paste and roll it gently.

- Brush with egg yolk (I use 2 egg yolk with small amount of condensed milk and water)

- Bake at preheated oven of 180C for 18 minutes

Besides Kue Nastar, I used the above dough for enclosed version and using a crimper, made it into rose-shaped pinapple tarts. The most beautiful I've made so far and I am very very pleased with the result. Who know, I may decide to sell my bakes next year. Stay tune!

CNY - Massive photos update

Technically CNY isn't over but everyone is back to their daily routine - work, school and the stress that came with it.
CNY came too fast this year and I wasn't entirely prepared. To make it worse the boys fell sick one day apart from each other. Imagine we drove from Singapore to Klang with 2 whiny and needy boys that refuse to nap! We survived but the next few days were nightmare and it hit me why I will never be a stay-home mom - my boys drive me nuts!!! Haha

 My sick boys

Our routine every year is the same.. Slacking at Grandma's house while the uncles and aunties played gin rummy. By late noon we would leave and go home to stuff ourselves silly with CNY goodies.
Day 2 highlight will be Grandpa's birthday and he's 88 years old! Still going strong and may he stay strong and healthy.. We did not head over to gramp's place this year because Kieran was not well and he was very very cranky. He rested and he took a 3-hr nap! It was blissful during that period. Haha

 

HUAT AH!!

CNY Bakes - Cornflake Cookies with Cranberries

Chinese New Year is just around the corner. I dread the spring cleaning.. as a matter of fact, I have started cleaning since Dec 2012 but I can't seem to complete my cleaning spree! Weekends are always spent with my boys, or me slacking at home catching up on my sleep. I shall start cleaning tonight, starting with arranging the boys cupboard, kitchen cabinet then washing their CNY clothes. Speaking of which, I only gotten myself 2 top from Love, Bonito and a pair of Gap jeans (during Black Friday sale, woohoo!). Still need to get another dress for Grampa's birthday dinner and a bottom to go with another top.

I digress, this post is about CNY bakes. I made it a point to bake more variety and quantity this year, to give away to family and friends. ^_^
Cornflake cookies is one of my many fave cookies and was glad one forumer posted her recipe on Munch Ministry. Thank you Molly Tay for sharing your recipe and giving us tips along the way.
I added cranberries to the cookies for that extra crunch though. You can add other like almonds, macadamia nuts too.

Cornflake cookies (Molly Tay's recipe)

100g unsalted butter, room temperature

100g castor sugar

175g self-raising flour

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract (I added this for that extra oomph)

3/4 cup crushed cornflake

Chopped cranberries

How?

- Using a wooden spoon, cream butter and sugar together.

- Add egg and vanilla extract. Mix well.

- Add flour and mix until just combined (do not overmix as it will cause the cookie to turn hard)

- Add chopped cranberries.

- Round 1 tsp of dough and cover it with crushed cornflake. Flatten it abit using a fork.

- Bake at 170C for 18 - 20 minutes.