introduction

i like cooking!! i try to make tasty things that look nice so people can enjoy them. here's a collection of tried-and-true stuff i've made. most of them are amalgamations of both online, cookbook or hand-me-down recipes, or recipes i've liked but altered (and will provide a link for.) this is mostly for my own easy access. i also want to change the format but i lack the patience and knowledge to do so... for now... this uses the metric system, but i would like to make a js button that converts between metric and imperial soon. enjoy!!

brownies

• prep time: 40 mins
• makes: 16 small brownies
• calories per portion: ~200cal

these are pretty good, basic brownies. they're the fudgy/gooey style, not the firm style.

ingredients:

• 170g unsalted butter
• 225g dark chocolate
• 175g granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 200g flour
• some choc chips, depends on your tastes

method:

1. preheat oven to 175C and line baking tin of ~20x20cm
2. melt butter and chocolate (in pot)
3. add sugar to pot once melted
4. take off heat and add eggs
   
   warning: if you add the eggs when too hot, they might scramble. you will definitely be safe at ~50C or lower, but if you don't have a thermometer, just wait until they reach room temperature.
5. THEN add flour n a pinch of salt
   
   i don't remember why, but i think it's important to add the flour after the eggs. *shrug*
6. bake for 25mins. rotate half way thru.
   
   note: if you stick a knife/chopstick/whatever in to see if it's cooked, it won't work. these are fudgy!! so the stick will never come out clean, it's not supposed to.

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pork soup

• prep time: 35 mins
• makes: 6 small servings
• calories per portion: ~50cal

this tastes so good and it's really light. i always go crazy with the ginger which gives it a nice kick. og recipe from nyt. they call it a chicken noodle soup, but i prefer to have it with rice, so i left that out. there's also other small changes just to adapt to what i have at home.

ingredients:

• 1.5tbsp sunflower/vegetable oil
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  but you can never have too much garlic
• 450g minced pork
• sprinkle of chilli flakes
• salt and pepper, as much as you prefer
• 475ml chicken stock/broth
• 1.5tbsp soy sauce
• quarter of a cabbage, sliced
  or lettuce, or spinach, or any green-leafed vegetable works well
• 2tbsp finely chopped ginger
• 1/4 white onion, sliced
• a handful of coriander
• carb of choice, rice,noodles, bread...

method:

1. heat oil in a pot, and fry the garlic and onions till golden brown (2-3 mins medium heat).
   
   if you want, you could do the garlic separately and make it crispy, and then sprinkle on top of the dish at the end for increased crunch.
2. add the pork and chilli to the pot, and season with salt and pepper. cook until browned (not until all is dark brown, that's burnt! a grey-brown colour. ~5 mins) separate large chunks with spatula.
3. add your chicken broth with an equal amount of water, and the soy sauce. let it simmer. season if needed, but you probably won't cuz of the soy.
   
   if you don't have chicken broth just use double water with one or two chicken flavour stock cubes.
4. add the cabbage, coriander and ginger. stir.
5. let it simmer till you're ready to eat!

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ginger biscuits

• prep time: 30 mins
• makes: 20 small
• calories per portion: ~117cal

i loooove eating these in the winter with tea but they work all year around. they're super simple and quick to make. if you have leftovers, you can crush them up and use them as a base for a cheesecake! i got the original recipe from bbc good food.

ingredients:

• 100g salted butter
• 75g brown sugar
  ideally large sugar granules, makes for a crunchier texture)
• 1tbsp fresh grated ginger
  if you dont have this, just substitute it for ground ginger. the fresh ginger really gives it a good kick tho so i would encourage using fresh.
• 100g golden syrup
• 250g self raising flour
• 1.5tbsp ground ginger
• 1 egg yolk
• some squares of really dark chocolate
  optional!

method:

1. preheat oven to 190C or 170C + fan. line 2 baking trays w/ grease proof paper.
2. put wet ingredients (butter, sugar, fresh ginger and syrup) into pan, and melt together on a low temp.
3. while melting, put dry ingredients (flour, ground ginger) into a bowl and mix.
4. once pan mixture has cooled, add to dry ingredients with yolk. stir till dough-y.
5. separate into balls of cookie dough, 20g or 40g per ball depending on if u want small or big (more decoratable). if using chocolate, take ~1/2 a square per biscuit and wrap it with dough. flatten each ball and place 3cm apart.
6. bake for 10 mins or till golden brown!

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