Kuih rose: A nyonya recipe

Kuih Rose: A nyonya recipe
Recipe courtesy of Angeline Wan

I had just settled back into the comfort of the sofa after a sumptuous meal of delectable rojak, mouth-watering satay and savory tomato rice with chicken curry when a soft voice drifted to my seat.

"Like to try some Chinese New Year cookies?"

I looked up. My niece was holding a jar filled with kuih rose. As I glanced at the golden brown cookies and caught a whiff of the aroma that wafted from the open container, I knew it was an irresistible offer. I was soon relishing the sweet crunchy cookies that just crumble in the mouth.

"Must get the recipe from Angeline," I told my wife.

My niece was soon sharing her mum's secret recipe
while my wife tried to make a mental note of the  ingredients and measurement. 
My wife was surprised to find out that her mum had used the 'agak-agak'(rough estimation) method for her measurement and unlike most other kuih rose recipes she did not  use the all-purpose flour.  Angeline said she had always used her mum's recipe and the cookies had always turned up nicely.
Having tried the sweet crunchy, tender crispies with their unique coconut fragrance, we did not require further assurance. 

A 'honeycomb' of kuih rose made by Angeline

Things you may require

A kuih rose brass mould

1. Kuih Rose brass mould

2. A hand-held whisk

3. Wire sieve

4. Wok
5. Oil for deep frying

Ingredients

1. 3 cups rice flour

2. 1 cup sugar

3. 3 eggs

4. Thick coconut milk(santan) from one coconut  

Method

1. Combine the sugar and coconut milk.
    Whisk until sugar has dissolved completely.
2. Add in the eggs.
    Whisk until well blended.
3. Strain mixture through wire- mesh sieve
4. Add the sieved rice flour and stir to form smooth
    batter. If too thick add water until you get the 
    right consistency.
5. Heat oil in a wok.
6. Preheat the brass mould in the oil.
7. When mould is hot enough, dip it in the batter.
    Make sure only the side and bottom of the mould  
    is coated with the batter.
 8. Return the mould to the hot oil in the wok.
    Let the batter turns golden brown and dislodges
    itself from the mould.
9. Remove and drain on paper towel.
10. Let the cookies cool down before storing in  an
      air-tight container.

Time to snack on the addictive kuih rose

How to make a (mango) fruit picker

How to make a (mango) fruit picker.

Those who have tall mango trees may have gazed longingly at the ripe, succulent fruits on the high branches and are left wondering how you can get at the hard-to-reach  fruits. Climbing the tree is not advisable, as the branches are rather fragile. Perhaps, a better alternative is to use a fruit picker. 

Here is a simple and inexpensive method of making your own fruit picker.

Things you may require

1. A 1.5 liter, plastic bottle 
2. A sharp plant scissor
3. A long, round wood pole
4. A sharp knife or parang/ machete

     
Instructions

1. Get a 1.5 liter plastic bottle and remove the cap. Mark a spot          
    about 20 cms or 8 inches  down from the mouth of the bottle.  
  

2. Using a plant scissor make a hole at the marked spot.    
    ( Try flattening one side of the plastic bottle with your fingers 
       and make a small cut with the pointed end of the scissor).
     

3. Insert the pointed end of the scissor in the hole and cut all 
    round the plastic bottle until you are left with the top portion.
 .

5. Get a round wood pole, about six feet long or longer if required.
    
     Use a sharp knife or parang to shave off one end of the pole until it can fit perfectly into the mouth of the bottle.

6. Insert the shaved end into the mouth of the bottle and ensure it 
    is well secured.

7. Now you have your own fruit picker and ready to pick at the 
    hard-to-reach mangoes.
    Carefully, let the ripe mango slip into the cut end of the bottle 
    and give the pole an upward push. If the mango is ripe, the stalk 
    will snap easily and the fruit will fall right into the bottle.
    

Notes: You can try picking other fruits with the picker.