Open Mouth Laughs/Happy Biscuits 笑口棗

This is one of the Chinese New Year's favorites as this snack will open and smile when it is fried. It is very inexpensive with only a few ingredients and it can be made in a jiffy and stores well for later craving. I thought that i have posted this recipe and i told my friend to look for it. I have to apologise, nowadays very kalang kabut. Must take another vacation to recuperate from the recent vacation.

Ingredients:

180g all purpose flour

2 tsp double action baking powder

80g sugar

3 tsp melted shortening

6 tbsp cold water

White sesame seeds for for coating

Oil for frying

Method:

1. Sieve flour and double action baking powder into a mixing bowl.

2. Mix sugar, melted shortening and water, add to sieved flour and mix to form a soft dough.

3. Rest dough for 30 minutes.

4. Divide dough into small pieces and shape it into round balls(size of balls is up to your fancy).

5. Wet the round dough balls with water and coat it with white sesame seeds.

6. Deep fry coated dough balls in moderately hot oil, turning the dumplings until they expand and open, then turn heat to high and fry till golden brown(oil has to be moderately hot intially(150 c or 300 f) as too hot oil will burn the exterior before the interior gets cooked and also the sesame seeds will be burnt. Increase the heat by turning on the flame or scoop out some of the oil. On the other hand, if the oil is not hot enough, the dough will disintergrate)

7. Remove and leave to drain on a cooling rack with kitchen towel at the bottom of rack to catch drippings. If the balls are large you would have to put in 300f oven to finish cooking and rid of excess oil.

8. Cool before storing in an air-tight container.

Serves