Rugelach Pinwheels
From the Sweet On You Bakery via The Martha Stewart Show
Makes about 50 cookies

Made these cookies to give away to friends.




Dough
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, room temperature
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups sifted bleached all-purpose flour
Filling
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup golden raisins, chopped
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup apricots preserves, heated and cooled slightly
Topping
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1. Place cream cheese and butter in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and continue processing until fully incorporated. Add flour and pulse just until dough comes together. Divide dough into 2 equal pieces, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
2. Meanwhile, make filling. In a medium bowl, mix together granulated and brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and walnuts; set aside.
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 piece of dough into a rectangle about 1/8-inch thick. Spread a thin layer of preserves over dough; sprinkle with filling mixture. Roll dough into a log beginning with one of the long sides; wrap in plastic wrap. Transfer dough log baking sheet. Repeat process with remaining piece of dough. Place dough logs in refrigerator; let chill at least 1 hour.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar for the topping; set aside.
5. Slice chilled dough logs crosswise, about 1/4 inch thick. Toss each cookie in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place cookies 3 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake until lightly browned, 18 to 20 minutes. Lift parchment paper from baking sheets and transfer to a wire cooling rack; let cool.

I slipped!

We will be having a conference in Brugge next year in March, so I flew to Brussels on Monday morning. Wanted to check out the hotels and see which one was suitable. From Brussels airport, it is half hour into Brussels and then change another train for a 1 hour ride to Brugge. Left home at 0645 to catch the 0855 flight. Arrived in Brussels around 1130 and got into Brugge at 1345. Timed it very well as made it to my first appointment in time. Went to see 2 hotels, the Crowne Plaza and Golden Tulip. So second appointment finished at 1615 and since I was a little early, strolled down the street to see if I could find some of the restaurants that were pointed out to me that I should check out. Unfortunately, didn't find them and it was almost 1700 and I should have been heading for the station. To cut a long story short, as Brugge is a little town, most people either walk to their destination or they drive. So I walked back to Crowne Plaza and asked them to book me a taxi. Got to the station and the airport in time and flew back to London. On my way out of the airport, when I was within metres of the exit, my left leg kinda slipped and I lost my balance, and.... I was sent flying face down to the floor! Bruised both knees and my little finger got bruised and grazed as well. Luckily there was only 1 other person in front of me (so not much embarrasment there) and she helped me up and asked if I needed help. Told her that Pat was outside, so it was ok.

Got into the car and went home. On arrival and after taking off my shoes, I found that my left inside ankle was swollen! Then my wonderful daughter asked me to re-enact my fall and when I showed her the position I fell, she laughed till she almost cried! Hmmm... instead of pity from her, I get laughter! haha.

Anyway it's been 2 days since the incident and I have almost stopped limping but my both shoulders are still sore.

Thought I'd share this with you in lieu of my food pixs which I have not yet downloaded.

Back in UK and thank you to my friends

Arrived back to UK on Sunday morning at around 0530. Boy, what a change in temperature between SG and London. I was around 1 deg C and snowing!

As my dd is still in SG and having my laptop, I am writing this in the office (lunchtime). Just want to thank all my friends for taking time off to have lunch or dinner with me. Time is just too short, but that's all I have, so I have to be contented that I am able to be there yearly! It was good to be able to catch up with you guys and gals.

This is going to be a short post but over the weekend, I will post the recipes that some of you have requested for.

Sorry for not posting as I am still actually on my holiday. Will update when I am back next week.

Fridays are nomally a veg or fish day. Fish won, so we had fish and chips!


Ingredients:
650g (approx) skinless haddock , hake or cod fillet, cut into 4 equal-size pieces
50g self-raising flour , plus 1 tbsp
50g cornflour
1 egg white
125ml ice-cold sparkling water (tonic water or 7up)
1 lemon , cut into wedges
600ml sunflower oil , for frying

Method:
1. Pat the fillets dry with paper towels.
2. Put the 1 tbsp of flour on a plate and use to coat each fillet, patting off the excess.
3. Pour the oil for frying into a heavy, medium non-stick wok. Heat till hot.
4. Mix 50g flour, cornflour, a pinch of salt and some pepper.
5. Lightly whisk the egg white with a balloon whisk until frothy and bubbly, but not too stiff. Pour the sparkling water or tonic water into the flour mix, gently and briefly whisking as you go. The batter shouldn't be completely smooth.
6. Add the egg white, then lightly whisk in just to mix. Try and keep as many bubbles as you can so the batter stays light.
7. Dip the fish in the batter to coat, let some of it drip off, then lower into the hot oil. Fry for 5-6 mins, and turning the fish over halfway through so it is golden all over. Lift out and drain on kitchen paper. Repeat with remaining fish.

Fried Sweet Potato Noodles.

Saw this at the Chinese supermarket and cooked this like fried tang hoon. It is more chewy though but tastes good!

It's official! Winter is here. Our clocks turned back last Sunday, so we are now 8 hours time difference with Singapore as opposed to 7 hours from March to October.

Autumn was pretty mild - temperature averaging around 15 deg C, then wham, on Monday, it dropped to around 9 deg C. Last night when I left the office at 6.30, it started to hail, but when I reach home, it was sleeting! Then sometime in the middle of the night, it started snowing (goodness gracious - it's only end October!) not much at our place but just 1/2 from us at the foot hills - it snowed quite heavily as the motorway there had to be shut because the roads were not gritted which caused some accidents!

Let me tell you about my drama this morning - walked to my car and when I tried to open it, I found it was frozen shut. Called out to Pat and he asked if I had tried the other doors, which I promptly did, but to no avail. So he came out and ran his nails along the rubber of the door and managed to pry it open. Then I tried to scrape off the ice off the windows but as it was frozen, couldn't. So had to get Pat to get me a kettle of water to pour on the windows. That done, I was on my way.

As I was driving along, a sign flashed on my dashboard - "passenger door open" - remember earlier I tried opening all the doors? Well, because they had defrosted, the door was quite loose and I could hear the traffic outside, so no choice but to stop the car and close the door. So on my way again I went. As I was nearing the station, I thought I saw another sign flash up - this time it said my rear door was open! Horrors! - but as I was already quite near the station, just continued on my way . Reached the station and made sure this time all the doors were properly closed before going to work!

So my friends, that was my little drama for today!