Plum Blossom & Chrysanthemum Pastry

Ingredients:

1. red bean paste* (480 g/ 16 oz)

Make water dough:

2. all-purpose flour (120g/1cup)

3. white sugar (1 tbsp)

4. shortening (30g / 2.5 tbsp) add to the dry mix.

5. water (60ml / 4tbsp)

6. 1 egg

7. 1/8 tsp salt mix, wash twice before baking

8. 1 tsp white season seeds

Make oil dough:

9 .all-purpose flour 100 g (4/5 cup)

10. shortening (60g/5.5 tbsp)

* You could buy it from most Asian groceries. Alternatively, you could buy canned Aduki beans, and blend it into a paste. Then, heat it with sugar and vegetable oil in a saucepan with low heat for 30 minutes. The ratio of bean, sugar, and oil is recommended10:1:2.

Methods:

Prepare the doughs (30 minutes) * If join online cooking events, please finish this part ahead.

1. Make the water dough: combine all the ingredients to a mist ball. Covered with plastic wrap and let it sit for 15 minutes. Divide into 16 pieces.

2. Make the oil dough: combine all the ingredients to a mist ball. Covered with plastic wrap and let it sit for 15 minutes. Divide into 16 pieces.

3. Divide red bean paste into 16 pieces. Roll it into a ball shape.

Prepare for making flowers (15 minutes; if set it aside for the best results, 30 more minutes):

1. Flatten a piece of water dough and wrap in a portion of oil dough.

2. Press it and roll it into a thin long layer.

3. Roll it up from the bottom to the top.

4. Repeat 1-3. The purpose is to make layers in the dough.

5. Cover it and let sit for 15 minutes (optional).

6. Press it and roll it into a pancake shape. 0.5 inches thick and 3 inches in diameter.

7. Repeat until finish all the pieces.

We will do one of the flowers, depending on time.

Make plum shape flowers (15 minutes)

1. Cut into 4 pieces, using fork or chopstick to squeeze the middle of each petal.

2. Repeat it for the rest.

Make Chrysanthemum shape flowers (15 minutes):

1. Cut in into 16 petals; not to break the middle.

2. Turn each petal 90 degrees;

3. Repeat it for the rest.

Bake it up (30 minutes):

1. preheat oven to 350 F Degree.

2. mix egg and salt. Wash the surface using egg mix twice before baking.

3. sprinkle some white season seeds

4. Bake it for 25-30 minutes. Cover with a foil for the last 10 minutes to prevent the top becomes yellow.

Cooking time: 1h

Yields: 16 flowers

Recipe by: Kathrine Kwa

Developed by: Brin Xu