Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Authentic Chinese Chicken Dumplings

We all have one favorite cuisine of our own. And if we are into cooking, we all make a try once or more times to make that one particular dish by our own. I have been in love with dumplings or you might call it as momos or dimsums. Recently i tried to make a recipe of my own, as they are not some rocket science. The dumplings that i made turned up very juicy, irresistible and easiest. I am sharing my own recipe with you, hope you enjoy trying it out, if you like do tell me in my comments.

I am sorry for any flaws in my as this is a unprocessed image.

Well these are the ingredients for the dumplings.

100gms of boneless chicken
4 stalks of spring onion only the white part
8 small garlic pods
1/2 inch of ginger
4oz of finely chopped cabbage
2oz of finely chopped spring onion the green part
2tsp soy sauce
1tsp vinegar 
1tsp green chilly sauce
1/2tsp chinese salt
1tsp chilly flakes
1/2tsp dry mint leaves powdered
1/2tsp sesame oil
1/2tsp sugar
salt to taste

For the Wrapper
200ml all purpose flour
50ml Wheat flour
salt to taste
water at room temperature

Method:

Combine the chicken, garlic, white parts of spring onions, ginger. grind it till you get chicken mince and all the other ingredients are finely mixed. Take out in a bowl, and add all the rest of ingredients one by one, mix everything well preferably with your hand. Let it set in refrigerator for about 15 to 20min.

for the wrapper combine all the ingredients and knead a stiff dough. Roll out a large round disc with 1mm thickness, cut out small several rounds by stamping with cookie cutter or a sharp edged glass. Now fill the dough with the chicken mixture. Apply water on edges. Fold into 'D' shape, press the edges with a fork. You can try several shapes. See that the edges are well sealed.
Heat water in a steamer, add a piece of crushed ginger to the water this will give additional flavor to your dumplings because ginger leaves a very extraordinary fragrance when boiled. Oil the steaming plates and place your dumplings, close the lid and let the dumplings steam for about 10 to 15min or till done properly. Serve with Chinese Sauce.


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How I Shot My First Cupcake and Other Stories


Writing this post is as exciting as making my first set of cupcakes was. I understand making a cupcake is not some rocket science, but making it just the right way like those wonderful cake artists do. I don't have the right inspiration or great artists around me from whom i can learn some great tricks. So i always keep hunting for such exclusive dishes online, and come with something like this.




I never learnt any cake recipe in any manual classes, neither my food photography is been taught to me. I learned to shoot food all by myself.
It's very important if you want to shoot any food photography, that you have the right light, prop and background. If you are less at anything you might end up with a bad photo. If you cannot invest in expensive props, cutlery or anything or that sort, do not worry. Because you can find some beautiful plates and saucers, forks, spoons right in your kitchen. Trust me i haven't invested in anything for this photograph. All the things i already had in my kitchen rack itself.


You don't have to be professional at each and everything. I believe if you have the right talent, the right urge and interest to become a food genius all you need to get started. This is a very basic cupcake recipe that comes from our mother's age and not any fancy ingredients have been used in.
Regarding the shooting of this cupcake? Yes it really got me interested just because i loved it vibrant colors on the black table liner. I always love to line up a candle around my food, it shows so much peace. For me Food is Peace :)

You see how the simple lit candles can throw a very different look to your food? Just like this using simple yet elegant props and decoration can make the simplest food light up your shoot. If you are a shopping junky its an add up. Whenever you go for any shopping make it sure that you pick up atleast one item to add in your kitchen to use the next time you are going to cook or shoot your food. May it be anything a table liner, a cutlery, a decoration, or just simply a new ingredient to try out in your next new recipe.
Until my next post. Have a great cooking and shooting time :)

PS. Please do not copy or violate any images and contents of this post. Ask do not Steal :) Thanks for visiting.