cold water – yummy food share

Silky Mandarin Pancakes from Scratch

2025-10-24

Have you ever wondered how restaurants make those incredibly thin, soft, and pliable wrappers served with dishes like Peking duck or moo shu pork? You might assume they require special equipment or years of training, but I’m here to share a secret: you can make these delicate pancakes right in your own kitchen, and it’s easier than you think! This recipe walks you through a fascinating technique that results in perfectly round, paper-thin wrappers. While the process involves a bit of resting time, the active work is straightforward, making it a medium-difficulty project perfect for a lazy weekend afternoon. The flavor is simple and neutral, designed to be the perfect, chewy vehicle for all sorts of savory fillings. Get ready to impress yourself and your guests with these wonderfully versatile homemade pancakes. Before you begin, let’s gather your ingredients. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, using pantry staples you likely already have. The key is the method, not a long list of exotic items. For the Pancakes (makes 15 double-layer pancakes, resulting in 30 wrappers): All-Purpose Flour: 600g (about 4 ¾ cups) Boiling Water: 300ml (about 1 ¼ cups) Cold Water: 150ml (about ⅔ cup) Salt: ½ teaspoon Neutral Oil: for brushing (such as vegetable, canola, or sunflower oil) A quick note on the ingredients: The magic here comes from using both boiling and cold water. This is a classic technique for creating what’s known as a “hot water dough.” The boiling water gelatinizes some of the starches in the flour, which limits gluten development. This results in a dough that is exceptionally soft, tender, and easy to roll out very thinly without springing back. Standard all-purpose flour works perfectly, so there’s no need to search for a specialty flour. Ready to create some magic? Let’s get…

Golden Sweet Sesame Swirls

2025-09-10

If you’re looking for a baking project that will fill your kitchen with an intoxicating aroma and reward you with a truly spectacular treat, you’ve found it. These Golden Sweet Sesame Swirls are a masterpiece of texture and flavor. While the process takes a few hours, most of that is hands-off time while the dough works its magic. I’d classify this as a rewarding weekend bake rather than a difficult chore. The result is a stunning pastry with a crisp, golden exterior that gives way to soft, flaky layers inside. At its heart lies a sweet, buttery filling, all topped with a crunchy, nutty layer of toasted sesame seeds. They are incredibly satisfying to make and even more delightful to eat. Let’s gather our ingredients. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, using pantry staples you likely already have. For any ingredients you might not have on hand, I’ll suggest some easy-to-find alternatives. For the Dough: 300g All-Purpose Flour 3g Instant Yeast (or one packet of active dry yeast) 1g Salt 160g Cool Water 15g Granulated Sugar For the Oil Roux (for lamination): 40g All-Purpose Flour 30g Neutral Oil (like vegetable, canola, or sunflower oil) For the Sweet Filling: 30g All-Purpose Flour 30g Granulated Sugar 18g Neutral Oil For the Topping: 1 tablespoon Granulated Sugar A generous spoonful of White Sesame Seeds A quick note on the ingredients: The “Oil Roux” is a simple paste of flour and oil that we’ll spread onto the dough. This is the secret to creating those beautiful, flaky layers. For the oil, a neutral-flavored one works perfectly, but if you want a richer, more buttery flavor, feel free to use melted unsalted butter in both the roux and the filling. If you only have active dry yeast, simply activate it in the…