Sweet Beignets

~Sweet Beignets~

I had been wanting to visit Louisiana where they make their well-famous beignets, gumbo, jambalaya and etc. I never get the chance BUT I finally got to taste the beignets for the first time when I was at the Disneyland with my mother and girls last summer 2009. We were looking for a simple breakfast before hit on the road back home. Disneyland have the New Orleans Cafe so we thought of trying that. My mother ordered the beignets and I told my mom "Let me try that". It was UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS. I got to order more to bring home :D!

As you know that movie, "Princess and the frog" came out for DVD recently and it made me miss those beignets. I was so craving for that. I goggled myself and found that recipe very simple because I have all of those ingredients at home. I asked my girls if they want something different like Louisiana-styled dinner like Chicken Gumbo and Beignets. All I got those words "YES, YES, YES".

It wasn't that hard to make beignets, I SWEAR! I had noticed that mostly of beignets needs the active yeast dough in order to arise the dough. This recipe doesn't require the active yeast so I decided go for it. It was delicious too. I used my deep fryer for those beignets - if you guys don't have one, go BUY that because it's worth to have one in your kitchen!

If you do miss those beignets then this one may bring your memories back :D..

Here's the recipe and the tip is that I used my hand as "rolling pin" to spread out the dough with the flour because it's a very sticky dough. I cut it into squares then roll it out as balls which it's more easier that way:

• Corn oil, for frying, or another oil with high smoke point, such as safflower or peanut
• 3 1/2 cups sifted flour, plus extra for rolling
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar, for serving

Directions

Fill a large, heavy-bottomed, wide-mouthed pot halfway with corn oil and heat over a medium-high flame until oil reaches a temperature of 360 degrees F.

While the oil is heating, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. In another large bowl whisk together sugar and eggs. Stir canola oil and milk into sugar-egg mixture. Stir dry ingredients into egg mixture until a biscuit-like dough forms.

Lightly flour a work surface and turn out the dough. Sprinkle dough lightly with flour and, using a rolling pin, gently roll the dough out to a thickness of 1/8-inch. Using a sharp knife or dough scraper, cut into 2-inch squares. You will have scraps leftover but do not try to remix these as that will cause tough dough; just fry as are.

Use the dough scraper to lift dough squares off the work surface. Fry the beignets in small batches about 4 minutes, or until golden, turning several times to color evenly. Using a slotted spoon gently remove the beignets and drain thoroughly on paper towels. Place powdered sugar in a sieve and shake over the beignets to cover with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

Enjoy it with your favorite drinks like coffee, tea or milk. It surely felt so heaven that I was actually in Louisiana by having my beignets and hot tea during breakfast!

Stuffed Tomatoes

Can you image the cottage cheese and tomatoes goes together?! I am sure that some people would say "EWWWW, cottage cheese and tomatoes altogether?!".

Sophia had showed me on the TV that she wanted to try that stuffed tomatoes as snacks. I found myself "whoa, what a simple snack and I can do it". So I made it for myself and Sophia. My other two daughters are not crazy over the tomatoes but they will learn to like when they are little bit older even though!

It was so unbelievably delicious after we first tried. I did taught my daughters the simple motto: "Don't judge yourself what you see because you haven't tried it yet". Good enough, it came true for my girls by LOVE those foods after they tried it for first time!

If you have cherry tomatoes and cottage cheese in your refrigerator then you can make it right away! It's pretty cheap to afford that healthy snack because only you need was 2 ingredients!

Bunches of cherry tomatoes and cottage cheese (a must on your shopping list!)

You want to cut a little bit top half. One trick to make the tomatoes to sit well by cut a little bit on the bottom. You want to scoop the seeds out but not to scoop it all SO EMPTY because you need some kind of support to hold the cottage cheese.

Stuff those cottage cheese (as your preference, lowfat, small curds, large curds and etc) into that tomatoes.

Sprinkle some salt and ground black pepper. I added dill for more spice up on that stuffed tomatoes. You can add ANY spices as you desire but not OVERKILL the flavor :D..

Enjoy those simple healthy snacks. It's a great for anyone who are a healthy-consicious, vegertarian, or losing some weight. My friend who is losing weights and REALLY love my stuffed tomatoes- man, I wish you had seen her because she went gone to HEAVEN with that :D...