No-Frills Recipes ... cooking, baking & excerpts on travel

This is my first attempt at making flourless cookies.   These nutty cookies had a good combination of peanuts and walnuts flavour.  If you prefer a chewy cookie, do not bake too long and  do not place the cookies too near to each other as they tend to spread easily while baking. Gluten-free Peanut Butter Cookies ~  花生酱饼干 Ingredients  1 cup smooth peanut butter 120 gm caster sugar 1 large egg 50 gm lightly toasted walnuts, chopped 1/4 cup rolled oats 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda Method Mix peanut butter, caster sugar, bicarbonate of soda and egg till well combined. Stir in the chopped walnuts and oats. Roll a tablespoon of dough, flatten it slightly.  Arrange on a parchment lined baking tray, about 2 inches apart.  Repeat with the balance of dough. Bake in a preheated oven @ 180 deg.C for 10 - 12 mins. Remove from oven, cool them before transferring onto a wire rack to cool completely.  Store in an air-tight cooki...

After stuffing myself with so much goodies during the festive season, it's time to revert to a healthy and nutritious diet.   So for breakfast I had these Overnight Oats and as the name implies these oats were prepared the night before, kept refrigerated.   I sprinkled on some granola and had them with some fresh cherries. Overnight Oats ~   隔夜麦片 Ingredients 1/2 cup instant oats 3/4 cup milk 1 tsp chia seeds 1 tsp sultanas 1 tsp dried cranberries granola fresh fruits of your choice Method Mix the instant oats, milk, chia seeds and dried fruitsin a container, preferably with a cover. Cover and keep refrigerated. Add in some granola and serve with fresh fruits of your choice.

This recipe has both orange zest and juice which gives these muffins an awesome orange flavour.  Topped with cereal, this will make an excellent nutritious breakfast to start off your day! Orange Muffins with Cereal Topping  ~    香橙麦片玛芬 Ingredients 85 gm melted butter 125 gm plain flour 1 egg 1/4 cup milk 1/2 tsp vanilla 60 gm caster sugar 1 tsp baking powder 2 tsp orange zest 1 Tbsp orange juice a pinch of salt For the topping :   6 Tbsp cereal + 3 tsp Demerara sugar, mix well. Method Sift plain flour, baking powder and salt into a mixing bowl.  Whisk in the sugar and orange zest, mix well, set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg, milk, vanilla and orange juice. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and mix till just combined. Scoop batter into a paper lined muffin pan.  Sprinkle with the cereal topping. Bake in a preheated oven @ 190 deg.C for 20 mins. ...

These flourless cookies made with oats and cereal topping are crispy and crunchy, more or less like cereal bars really, just that they are shaped in the form of cookies.  Healthy and nutritious for breakfast or just to snack on! Crispy Ceral Oat Cookies ~  香脆燕麦饼干 Ingredients                            140 gm cereal topping 75 gm rolled oats 70 gm vanilla sugar 90 gm salted butter 1/2 tsp baking soda 1.1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 Tbsp golden syrup 1 Tbsp milk Method Melt butter with the golden syrup, let cool, then mix in milk. Mix cereal, baking soda and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in rolled oats and sugar. Pour the milk mixture into the rolled oats mixture, mix to combine. Form into balls the size of walnuts and place 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven @ 10 deg.C for about 12 to 15 mins. till golden brown. Cool and transfer ...

These oatmeal cranberry cookies are quick and easy to prepare and they can be a hit with both the kids and adults.  Rolled oats are used in these cookies and the ingredients are easy to put together.  You can bake them in a shorter time if you prefer them to be soft and chewy in the centre or if you prefer crispy cookies, just bake them a little longer.  You can also make this as a gift for X'mas and the batter can be prepared, keep refrigerated and the cookies baked the next day. Recipe for Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies  Ingredients 226 gm butter 195 gm plain flour 100 gm soft brown sugar 30 gm caster sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp salt (reduce or omit if you're using salted butter) 1/2 tsp cinnamon 260 gm rolled oats 100 gm dried cranberries 40 gm choc chips Method Sift flour with bicarbonate of soda and salt, set aside....

This is a relatively simple sugar reduced cookie recipe, full of peanut butter flavour with added oats and choc chips. Decorated with a sugary top, these will make a lovely gift for your relatives and friends during this X'mas season!    Recipe for Chocolate Peanut Cookies - 巧克 力 花 生 曲奇 餅 (adapted from 'Baking - 200 Moreish & Comforting Recipes' with modification) Ingredients 250 gm chunky or creamy peanut butter 1/4 cup canola oil 70 gm dark brown sugar 70 gm caster sugar 2 large eggs 3 Tbsp plain yoghurt 2 tsp vanilla 150 gm plain flour 20 gm cocoa powder 40 gm rolled oats 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1/4 tsp salt 50 gm choc chips 50 gm raw sugar Method Whisk or sieve flour, cocoa powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt in a large bowl, add in rolled oats and mix well, set aside. Beat peanut butter, oil and sugar in a large mixing bowl.   Add in eggs, yoghurt and vanilla till just combined. Mix in the flour mixture and add i...

These Cornflake squares are good for snacking and not only that, they can be addictive too.  Crispy and crunchy with a hint of fruit, just delicious to go with a good cuppa of hot tea or coffee! Recipe for Cornflake Squares  ~    四方 形 玉米片     Ingredients 90 gm cornflakes 100 gm butter, melted 60 gm brown sugar 50 gm dried cranberries 1/2 tsp vanilla Method Line an 8 inch square pan with parchment paper, set aside. Mix the cornflakes, butter, brown sugar, cranberries in a mixing bowl. Firmly press the mixture into the pan. Bake in a preheated oven @ 180 deg.C for 25 to 30 mins., or till golden brown and let cool in the pan before cutting.   I'm submitting this post to the Little Thumbs Up event, organised by  Zoe of   'Bake for Happy Kids'   and Doreen of 'My little favourite DIY' and hosted by  'Bakericious' Theme for  August is Brown sugar and Molasses a...

Have you ever tried making cookies with booze?  I did, as I had all the ingredients at hand and moreover I was dying to get rid of the Guinness in my fridge.   No regrets when I was greeted with 'tipsy', chewy and aromatic cookies!

These mouth-watering cookies are chewy in the middle and crunchy at the edges and they're just too nice to stop at one.  Not only are they delicious but with rolled oats and almonds add-ons, they're nutritious as well. Chewy, crunchy and nutty cookies which will have you reaching out for more!............. Recipe for Chewy Choc-chip cookies ( adapted from chunky chewy choc-chip cookies with modifications ) Ingredients 4 oz brown sugar 2 oz caster sugar 6 oz self-raising flour 2 oz plain flour 1.1/2 oz rolled oats 2.1/2 oz nibbed almonds, lightly toasted 7.1/2  oz butter, melted 1 egg lightly beaten 1 egg yolk  2 tsp vanilla 7 oz choc-chips Pinch of salt Method Sift the the 2 types of flour in a large bowl.  Add in sugar, oats, nuts and mix well with a handwhisk. Add melted butter, egg, egg yolk and vanilla essence, mix to a soft dough. Stir in choc-chips.  Cover and let dough rest i...

Itching for a snack?  Ahhh.... think these crispy cornflake slices are just what you need to satisfy your craving along with a hot cup of coffee, tea or even a glass of  milk.

Good old fashioned Cornflake Cookies .....  I'm sure that these cookies are a common sight in many households during CNY as they are very easy to make.  Old fashioned they may be, but as long as they're crunchy and aromatic, they'll be well received and they have always been a hit amongst my nieces and nephews, each year. These are real crunchy, not overly sweet and nutritious. Ingredients 240 gm butter 140 gm caster sugar 240 gm self-raising flour 80 gm crushed cornflakes 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla A pinch of salt Crushed cornflakes for coating Method Sift the flour with salt, set aside. Cream  the butter and sugar till light and fluffy, but not overdoing it. Add in the egg, vanilla, mix well. Fold in sifted flour and crushed cornflakes. Let the mixture rest for a while in the fridge for about 20 mins. Lightly roll them into balls and toss them into the crushed cornflakes to coat. Place them onto paper lined baking trays, about 1 in...