A Fool’s Dream

I’m not a baker, and is extremely anxious about my relationship with the oven, flour, baking powder…

But!

I decided that I am going to make home baked christmas goodies for my fiance’s family.  My own family doesn’t care much about Christmas, and we certainly are not big into gifts.  So it is a bit of headache when I have to prepare Christmas gifts!  In the past years, I either was not here (out traveling) or I have said “No Gift Thanks!”.  I am afraid of people giving me stuff that I don’t need/want, so I prefer not to get them so I don’t feel like I have to do the same in return.  It didn’t work too much, I still received a lot of gifts I guess just out of habit.  I do however bring small gifts even when I said “No Gift” for being polite when visiting their house during the holidays, but it never was something big.  This year, I decided to challenge making my own goodies, just because I want to become acquainted with baking.  I am not going to challenge something really crazy to make, but I do want it to be shelf-stable and easy to munch on, and of course, yummy.

These are the ideas I have so far:

- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (who doesn’t love them?)

- Almond Crisps (the receipe can’t be simpler!)

- Bread Pudding (ok, this may be a dish on the dining table, but again looks simple)

I have bought some tins and is ready to get to work!

I spent Thanksgiving evening with my fiance’s family.  A 20 lb of turkey, plus the standard side dishes like mashed potatoes, squash etc, and 3 pies!  I ate just enough because I knew how easy it would be to overeat, and I was glad that I stopped at where I was.  I love to eat, but I am also quite particular about what I eat.  I don’t really watch my weight or go for the fat-free stuff when I cook/eat, as long as it tastes good, I’ll eat it.  However, I will make sure that I don’t overdo it.  I think for anyone wants to lose a few pounds, the key is to monitor eating, not to restrict.  What’s the meaning of life if you have to eat tasteless boiled vegetables?

There were of course plenty of leftovers to be taken home.  I made turkey fried rice on Friday for lunch, and maybe this can help you if you also have turkey that is waiting for a new recipe.  I don’t usually measure things so make up your portions here:

1.  Rice has to be cooked the night before.  A little on the dry side is preferred for frying, and jasmine/long grain rice is ideal.

2.  Get the turkey out of the fridge.  Use a knife or hand to tear it up into small bite size pieces.  Put some salt and pepper and mix well.  If you find a few chunk of fat/grease under the turkey skin, put it aside.

3.  Crack some eggs in the wok with a little oil and scramble it up nicely until all the little egg pieces are cooked and maybe a little golden brown.  Put it in a bowl.  If you like onions you can dice some up, and brown them now.  Also put it in the same bowl.

4.  Put the grease/fat into the wok.  You want to force the oil to come out, so use medium to medium high will be great.  After the fat/grease has turned brown and crunchy, take it out (or eat it!).  Throw the rice, a little bit at a time, into the wok and fry it with the turkey oil.  It will take a while, but make sure to fry it evenly.  Add salt to taste.

5.  Put the onions and eggs in, stir the fried rice well, then put the turkey pieces in and fry it for another 3 to 5 minutes or so. Put some chopped green onions in as well.

6.  Turn off the stove.  Scoop the fried rice into bowls, and sprinkle the top with chopped green onions.