Rum Balls

For the birthday dessert, I am thinking of making something small so we will not over eat but still can have some sweet at the end of the meal.  Instead of making a birthday cake, I decided to make rum balls. This recipe is also excellent for party snacks!

Ingredients
* Vegetable oil, cooking spray
* 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
* 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
* 3 large eggs
* 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
* 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark rum
* Coarse sanding sugar or chocolate sprinkles, for rolling

Directions
1) Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; set aside. Melt butter and chocolate in a small heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
2) Whisk together eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in chocolate mixture, then fold in flour. Pour batter into prepared baking sheet. Spread evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake until top is shiny and a cake tester inserted into center comes out with some crumbs attached, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
3) Break up brownie into small pieces; transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With machine on low speed, pour in rum, and mix until crumbs start to come together to form a ball.
4) Shape into 1-inch balls, and roll in sanding sugar to coat. Transfer to a baking sheet; refrigerate, uncovered, until cold, at least 2 hours. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Parmesan Zucchini Fries

 This is one of the best finger food.  Since we are eating crab during dinner, so it is good to have this on the side and eat with our fingers. This recipe is also a good idea for party food. Very easy to make and it is a delicious way to bring vegetables to the table.

Ingredients

* 1 1/2 pounds zucchini, trimmed

* 1/2 cup flour

* 2 teaspoons salt, divided

* 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided

* 3 large eggs

* 1 1/2 cups panko or plain bread crumbs

* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 425°. Arrange an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and a second one in the center. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut zucchini into thick French-fry-size sticks, about 3 inches long.

2) Arrange 3 shallow, wide bowls or pie plates in a row. In the first bowl, stir together flour, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper. In the second bowl, whisk together eggs, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. In the third bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, dill (if using), and 1/2 tsp. salt.

3) Working in batches, first dip zucchini in flour, shaking off excess. Transfer to egg mixture and toss until coated. Let excess egg run off, then coat zucchini in panko mixture.

4) Arrange zucchini, without crowding, in a single layer on the prepared pans. Bake 15 minutes and then rotate the pans. Continue to bake until panko coating is golden and crisp, 7 to 12 minutes more.

Shrimp Salad with Mango and Avocado

 This appetizer can be served as party snack as well. If you cannot find Belgian endive, you can use tortilla chips instead.

Ingredients

* 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
* Salt and freshly ground pepper
* 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
* 2 pounds cooked shrimp , diced
* 2 ripe avocados , seeded, peeled, and diced
* 1 mango, peeled and diced
* 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
* 6 heads Belgian endive (preferably 3 red and 3 white)
* Few sprigs cilantro , for garnish

Directions

1) In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt until salt dissolves. Slowly whisk in olive oil until well blended. Season with pepper.  
2) In a medium bowl, gently stir together lobster, avocados, mango, vinaigrette, tarragon, and cilantro.  
3) Remove bases of endives and separate leaves. Arrange lobster salad in the center of a large serving platter and place endive spears around the salad. Garnish platter with cilantro sprigs.

Curry fishball

If you have been to Hong Kong, you will know how much Hong-Kongese like their curry fish balls, because they are EVERYWHERE!  A while ago, a friend posted this curry fishball recipe on Facebook and immediately a lot of my friends started to make them. Thanks BuBu ma to share this recipe with us!

Ingredients
*2 tablespoon EVOO
*1/3 cup garlic, minced
*1/3 cup dry onion
*1/2 bottle Lee Kum Kee Curry Sauce
*~20 fishballs
*1 tablespoon Ning Chi Spicy pot sauce(add more if you like spicy)

Directions
1) Put EVOO to a medium size pot in low-medium heat, add in garlic and dry onion.  Stir fry until you smell the aroma comes out from the garlic and onion and they turn slightly brown, about 3-4 minutes.
2) Add in curry sauce and stir fry for 2 minutes. Turn up the heat to high, add in fishball and enough water to cover the fishballs. When it is boiling, add spicy pot sauce. Cook for about 10-15mintues, serve warm.

Mr. S Birthday Feast 2012- Tuna Poke

First Course of the feast is Tuna Poke. This is our favorite appetizer at all time and it is very easy to make. The most important thing is to get very fresh sushi grade tuna and marinate it at least an hour to 2 before serve.


Ingredients
*1/4 cup chopped green onions
*1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
*1/2 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
*1 1/2 teaspoons peanut oil
*1/2 teaspoon dark sesame oil
*1/2 pound sushi-grade tuna, cut into (1/2-inch) cubes
*1 garlic clove, minced
*3 piece wonton wrap


Directions
1. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a medium glass bowl. Cover and chill 2 hours.
2. Heat 1/2 cup oil in a sauce pan. Cut wonton wrap into 1/2. Drop wonton wrap one by one in hot oil for around 30 seconds on each side or until golden. Serve crispy wonton wrap with Tuna Poke.

Bacon Wrapped Dates with Cream Cheese and Almond

My friend KW made bacon wrapped dates one time at her party and I thought it was the best idea ever. Today, I am invited to go to a cookie exchange party and decided to make the bacon wrapped dates with a twist. I added cream cheese and almond to increase the flavor.


serve 30
Ingredients
*30 (1 by 1/4-inch) pieces cream cheese
*30 pitted dates (preferably Medjool)
*30 salted and roasted whole almonds
*10 slices bacon cut crosswise into thirds
*30 wooden picks

Directions
1)Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2) Stuff 1 piece of cheese and 1 almond into each date, then wrap one piece of bacon around each date and secure bacon with a toothpick if desired. Arrange dates, bacon seam down and 1 inch apart in a shallow baking pan.
3) Bake 5 minutes, then turn dates over with tongs and bake until bacon is crisp, 5 to 6 minutes more. Drain on a paper towel or parchment. Serve immediately.