Chicken Balls

These chicken balls are super tasty and quite easy to make.  Mine did not actually turn out round but it still tastes great.  I used chicken breast and a tiny bit of pork but you can totally omit that.

Ingredients

500 gm chicken breast, cut to smaller pieces
100 gm pork, optional

½ cup (125ml) icy cold water
1 Tbsp fish sauce
½ tsp salt
½ Tbsp sugar
½ Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp cornflour
1 tsp baking powder


Method

• Mince the meat in a food processor until a paste is form. Add 5 Tbsp water (a Tbsp of water at a time) to get a smooth paste.
• In a separate cup, mix together the remaining water, fish sauce, salt, sugar, oil, cornflour and baking powder.
• Remove the chicken paste from the food processor and put in a big bowl. Pour the liquid mix to the paste and stir well slowly until the liquid is absorbed into the paste (use either your hand or a fork).
• Cover bowl with clingwrap and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Boil a pot of water. Once the water has boiled, remove the pot from the heat.
• Add pepper to the paste and stir to combine. Scoop the paste onto your wet hand. Push the paste through your thumb and 2nd finger by making a fist. (Best to refer to the video below for a visual). Use a wet spoon to scoop and drop it into the hot water. To prevent the paste from sticking to your hand and spoon, wet the spoon and hand with water.
• Continue until the chicken balls form a layer in the water. Now turn on the heat but do not let it boil. Just simmer slowly without bubble....if not your chicken balls will not have 'bounce'. While cooking the chicken balls, any leftover paste should be kept in the freezer.
• Fill a big basin with icy cold water. When the chicken balls starts to float, leave for a few more seconds. (Cut one in half to see if it is cook. The inside should not be pink). Scoop out and let it cool in the cold water.
• After the chicken balls have cooled, use as required or freeze

Elephant cutout Cookie

Aren't these fellow cute....

White Cupcake

I have made numerous cupcakes and today I tried a new recipe for the white cupcakes.  It turned out as fluffy as a box mix and tasted delicious. I think I can finally say that I have found the best white cupcake recipe. These cupcakes will not last a day with my kids.  I frosted it with chocolate buttercream.


Ingredients

2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups (175 grams) sifted cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar, divided
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (120 ml) milk, room temperature
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

* if you do not have cake flour substitute with 1 cup of all purpose flour less 2 tablespoon and add 2 tablespoon of corn starch. Sift well.




Method

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

• While eggs are still cold separate the eggs, placing the yolks in one bowl and the whites in another bowl. Cover the two bowls with plastic wrap and allow the eggs to come to room temperature before using (about 30 minutes).

• In a mixing bowl sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

• In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Add 3/4 cup of the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat in the vanilla extract. Then, with the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour.  

• In a clean bowl of your electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, (or with a hand mixer) beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. With a rubber spatula gently fold a little of the whites into the batter to lighten it, and then fold in the remaining whites until combined. Do not over mix the batter or it will deflate.

• Evenly fill the 12 muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 18 - 20 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely. With a knife or offset spatula, spread frosting on each cupcake. These cupcakes are best served the same day, but they can be stored at room temperature for a few days.

Another cross cake