Nannas Chinese Chews Recipes

CHINESE CHEWS RECIPE (DATE-NUT BARS)

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare an 8x8 pan by lining it with parchment paper and folding it over the edges of the pan to make for easy removal and cleanup. (If you don't have parchment paper, use foil and grease it well.)
• Cut up the dates into small pieces with kitchen scissors. (They're really sticky to chop with a knife and don't do well in a food processor or blender.) It's best to cut a pitted date in half the long way, then cut those pieces in half the long way again. Then, snip each strip into pieces.
• If starting with walnut halves, chop them until you have one cup.
• In a glass bowl or other microwave-safe bowl, melt your butter in the microwave, covering it with wax paper to prevent splashing. Stir in the sugar.
• Add the eggs and vanilla to your bowl and mix with a spoon until blended. Add the flour and salt and stir. Stir in the dates and nuts until blended.
• Pour the batter into your baking pan and use a spatula to even it out. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. A toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center should come out clean.
• Let the pan cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Then lift out the Chinese Chews by grasping the parchment paper and transferring everything to a cutting board. Cut into squares (I did 16 large ones, but smaller squares work well, since they are rich tasting.)
• If you're not planning to freeze them, dust with confectioner's sugar. Transfer the bars to a rack to finish cooling. They taste best when completely cooled.
• Store at room temperature in an airtight container. You can freeze them without the confectioner's sugar and add the sugar when they are thawed.

NANNA'S GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Place mashed potatoes, flour, egg, nutmeg and salt& pepper in a bowl.
• Knead lightly with your fingertips to make a firm but soft dough.
• Divide dough into 4 even-sized pieces and then roll into long sausage shapes on a lightly floured surface.
• Cut the rolls into small 1 inch pieces.
• Press each piece over the back of a fork, pressing lightly with 2 fingers.
• Bring a large pot of salted boiling water to simmering point.
• Drop six to eight gnocchi in water and simmer for 3- 4 minutes, or until they rise to the surface.
• Remove with a slotted spoon.
• Serve with your favourite pasta sauce and parmesan cheese.

CHINESE CHEWS

Steps:

• Sift dry ingredients into a mixing bowl.
• Stir in dates and nuts.
• Add eggs.
• Mix thoroughly and spread into a greased 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 inch cookie sheet.
• Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes.
• Cut into squares or finger lengths.
• Remove to a cooling rack and roll in confex sugar if desired (I DO).

CHINESE CHEWS I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Mix dry ingredients except confectioner's sugar. Add nuts and dates.
• Then add eggs which have been lightly beaten. Mix well.
• Press mixture into ungreased cookie sheet as thin as possible. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
• Cut into 1 -2 inch squares while hot. Roll into balls as soon as the squares are cool enough to handle then roll in confectioner's sugar. Allow to cool completely before eating.

NANNA'S BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
• In a blender, combine milk, eggs, oil, sugar, banana pieces, and vanilla extract. Process until smooth. In a large bowl, sift together all the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add banana mixture to dry ingredients. Mix well. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 55 to 60 minutes until golden brown, an a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.