Fortune Cookies

It is the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese calendar. The Chinese New Year has begun from 23rd January 2012 & all are in a celebratory mood especially the people living in China Town all over the world not to forget the country China itself. Last year I witnessed the New Year Celebrations in China Town, Manchester where the festivities were in full swing. The Lion dance, Dragon parade, the fire works, Kung Fu show and more. And of course how can I leave out the delicious food. Oh it was yum!!

Keeping New Year as a reason, I thought of baking some "Fortune Cookies". I had never tried it before & this was a good chance for me to bake some. A Fortune Cookie is a crispy biscuit made out of flour, egg whites, butter & sugar. The biscuits take very little time to bake but folding needs to be quick. As I read on about these cookies, I came to know that they were originated by Chinese Americans. Each biscuit contains a message, usually a proverb or a Chinese phrase. The biscuits are served at the end of a Chinese meal to wish good fortune.

"Physical Activity will dramatically improve your outlook today". This was the message for me when I opened my first Fortune Cookie. SO APT!! :)

Ingredients:

• 3 egg whites
• 60 gm icing sugar (if its not available, you can grind the granulated sugar to fine powder)
• 45 gm unsalted butter (melted)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract / flavouring
• 60 gm plain (all purpose) flour
• General predictions or funny future predictions written in small chits (around 25-30 messages for this recipe)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 Degree Celsius. Lightly grease a baking tray.
2. Place the egg whites in a glass bowl and whisk until just frothy. Add the icing sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract & stir until smooth. Now add the flour mix until smooth & leave for 15 minutes.
3. Take a tea spoon of mixture & pour it on the baking tray. Spread the batter to approx 3 inch circle with the spoon.
4. Bake for 5 minutes or until slightly brown around the edges.
5. Working quickly, remove from the tray by sliding a flat bladed knife under each round. Place a written fortune message in each cookie.
6. Fold in half, then in half again, over an edge of a glass or a palette knife. Do not burn your hands & be careful with the tray and the cookies. Place the folded cookies separately & let it cool down on its own.

7. Repeat the procedure from step 3. . Make 2-3 cookies only at a time, otherwise they will harden too quickly & break when folding.