Pignoli Cookies- The Recipe

Pignoli cookies

Close -up view - Pine nut cookies/ Pignoli cookies

When I posted some of the pictures on Pignoli cookies on FB, I have several enquiries on these cookies. My friends kept wondering what these were all about. Some friends even asked for some samples at work and I happily obliged. Eventually, pine nuts are edible seeds derived from the cones of pine trees. These pine nuts are mostly cultivated in Korea, USA and and several European countries. In Malaysia, you can get these pine nuts in several specialty bakery supplying stores. These pine nuts are expensive here, and I don't really think it's a good idea to sell these cookies for Eid. I won't reveal the cost of 500g of pine nuts here in Malaysia, as some people may think that I am being ridiculous with the price. The pine nuts should always be kept in the refrigerator as we have a humid climate in Malaysia. They can go rancid if we leave these nuts in the pantry. I knew, because I have bought these nuts before, and I forgot about them in the kitchen cabinet until they became flour, as a result of being attacked by bugs.These cookies may looked simple, but what an impact they had given my friends. My particular friend was all sunny and happy when she told me how they tasted the day after I had given these cookies to her. "They tasted like macaroons, not so sweet, and I couldn't stop eating them". Frankly speaking, I wanted to adjust the amount of sugar used in the original recipe, as I found the cookies to be quite sweet. But since, my friend told me that, I would just post the original recipe as used by me.

THE RECIPE

Almond paste - ingredients = 8 ounces of almond - finely ground twice (Please use food processor, instead of blender. However, you can use the dry mill attached to the blender- but be careful with the amount of almond that you can use, as the space of the mill is quite limited). 8 ounces of icing sugar. 1 egg white. How = Firstly, grind almond and sugar in the food processor. Make sure they are well blended. Next, add in egg white. The almond paste should be quite sticky and resembles a paste.

THE COOKIES

Ingredients = Almond paste that you have just made. 1/2 cup of fine sugar. 1 egg white. A pinch of salt.1 - 2 cups of pignoli nuts/ pine nuts. How= Preheat oven to 120c. ( I have lowered down the temperature, so that the cookies will not burn. They make take more than 30 minutes to be fully baked). Line your baking sheets with baking paper. In the bowl of food processor, place almond paste, sugar, egg white and salt. Process until it is well mixed and comes out as a thick paste. Put the pignoli nuts into a big bowl. Using a teaspoon, drop a small amount of dough into the pignoli nuts. Roll the cookie around so that all the nuts are coating it. Remove the cookie from the pignoli and form it into a small ball. Place on the prepared baking sheets. Make sure you don't put the cookies too near to each other on the baking tray, as these will expand. Rotate the pans at least once during the baking process. The cookies are done when they are slightly golden on the top. Do not overbake these as they'll hardened after you have taken them out from the oven. To store these- sprinkle some fine sugar in your biscuits' tin, before placing a dollie or cut-up baking paper. Arrange these cookies layered by dollies. They will stay crunchy and chewy with the existence of the sugar and the layers of the dollies will make your cookies stay intact.

Happy baking, everyone....

Eid's Biscuits 2011 - Pignoli Cookies

In the oven - piping hot

Cooled on the rack

Pignoli Cookies or Pine Nut Cookies - ready to be consumed on Eid

I started baking Eid's biscuits quite late for this year. I was tired with work commitments and kept procrastinating my baking job. And finally, I took the pledge today and started baking cookies for this year's Eid celebration, even missing a shopping spree in KLCC with Mr Husband and son. These cookies are the ones that I've been dying to bake a few months ago. I was inquisitive with pine nuts. No, pine nuts are not peanuts - they are simply PINE nuts.This recipe calls for almond paste, it does not use butter at all and only uses egg whites. Since I am running out of time, need to prepare food for breaking fast or iftar, I could only post some pictures of the cookies and would find time to type out the recipe.. Happy Sunday every one..

Welcoming Ramadhan Al-Mubarak

The holy month of Ramadhan is like a light in a deserted soul

I miss spending Ramadhan in my home town- Melaka

Tomorrow, marks the first day of Ramadhan- the fasting month for all Muslims. In Malaysia, tomorow is the day when Muslims will start to fast. I welcome Ramadhan with full of heart and soul. Always been fascinated with this holy month, when prayers are held and hearts are purified with Quranic readings. I truly hoped that I could do a lot of baking this month as Eid is coming over after Ramadhan. I've got several orders for Eid biscuits, but I am not sure whether I would manage to complete all orders, God willing. I hoped too that Ramadhan would inspire me with baking assignments, time is always available for me to bake some cookies and cakes and I would always be happy to bits. On a final note, to my Muslim friends, may Ramadhan light up your souls... and keep you blessed. Happy Ramadhan...

Sometimes ...

Now, baking seemed to be a luxury

What we really need in life -is our inner strength

Life's been busy- really busy, that I don't have the time and energy to do my baking vocation. Apparently, I have so many baking projects outlined, but they had to be kept on hold. In actual fact, I miss my baking moments so much, that browsing my recipe books, seemed to be a luxury. Not that baking can't unstress my mind, it's just that at the moment, I have lost some of my energy. Work definitely has taken a toll on me. When will I have the time to do my favourite past time I do wonder as my hands are aching to do all sorts of baking experiments. To do something out of your own passion, is something that I cannot afford now. Eventually, it is difficult at times to be yourself in a challenging world, or even to stay normal in an upside-down environment. Being someone who holds another job in another arena, means I am having less time in the kitchen. Well, I am praying for another opportunity to do baking projects. Until then, recipe books will definitely be my best friends and time is definitely my enemy...... ;(

P/S: Sometimes, all that we need is our inner strength and determination to stay "alive" in a very stressful world. Oh, wish that I've taken a culinary degree instead....

Macaroonage in July

Red Velvet Cupcake, and 5 pieces of macaroons -lemon, blueberry, cranberry macaroons - the other two I've forgotten the flavours.


Perfect indulgence... hmmm

July has been a busy month for me. So, to celebrate the end of one important event, I went to Whisk- just to savour the delectable and sweet macaroons. I have always been fond of Whisk. There are local baking aficionados who jump into the bandwagons by baking macaroons and selling them in the local malls' flea markets, but nothing beats the macaroons by Whisk. I know, because I've bought a big-sized macaroon for RM2 and ended up being frustrated. Thus, whenever I feel that I need something sweet, coffee et all, I always think of Whisk. So , I had a bit of macaroonage that afternoon with my friend, and went home happy. Hmm... that's what we call sweet escapade...

Chocolate Rose Bouquet

A wedding flower bouquet- roses and all are made entirely from Belgian Chocolate

Ms chocolatier, Sujatha - she was reluctant to pose for the picture, but I have managed to coax her up.

Bangsar Shopping Centre, (BSC) has been around for years - but I have only managed to visit it last May. It definitely has its own charm, despite being relatively unknown for some people. What caught my eyes here was this little chocolate stall, Chocolate Chapters. Its abundant personalised chocolate designs were magnificent. You could just have anything in your mind, and ask them to create it for you- teddy bears, baby booties, truffles cake or even chocolate cigars. Yes, cigars! But what really made me marvel with this chocolate stall, was the wedding rose flower Bouquet - I could not help but admire the intricate rose petals created from chocolate. Those roses were definitely chocolate wonders. The company even has its own website- http://www.chocolatechapters.com/. Manned by soft-spoken nice young lady Sujatha, you'll definitely ask questions on these beautiful intricate creations. For those crafty, amazing art creation, I truly believe they deserved to be mentioned here. Eventually, I bought some personalised chocolates for a special occasion, and what a delight to present those chocolates as gifts. Life is sweet, and it is even sweeter with some Belgian chocolates to make up your day. Send chocolates to your loved ones and you'll definitely see them smile. Yes, chocolates, love and smile....

I am being nostalgic again

Me -in my 20's (years ago)- West Sussex, UK

The Big Ben- the UK has shaped me a lot in terms of my perspectives in life.

I am just being nostalgic, remembering my 20 something years. Forgive me if I am being a nostalgic freak- just can't help it-thinking that how time flies by. Going to be mid 30s this year, but still longing for those happy 20 something moments. Time flies by, but memory lingers on -especially those happy moments. This year, after having happy dreams of visiting UK - I have decided to set 2013 as a year to revisit my 20 something years - to Uk of course... God willing! That is going to be my target... Yes, happy moments, happy twenty something years... When you reach your 30's you'll reflect your youth days with a smile....