I can't remember if I mentioned, but I'm taking a handbuilding ceramics class at Togei Kyoshitsu, which I am totally loving! It's really fun and kind of soothing to sit there and mess around with clay; strangely, my favorite part is actually trimming the piece (probably because my initial efforts are all uh, kind of ugly). And check out the fish plate above--my first finished piece! I l-o-v-e my fish plate!
It just so happened that earlier in the week I had dinner with the girls and got this awesome mooncake mold (one of the girls had just gotten back from a trip to HK and China--jealous!), in the shape of a goldfish. COINCIDENCE???? Okay, yes. Yes it was. But who am I to look opportunity in the eye and ignore it? And how much more perfect can you get than a fish cookie on a fish plate?
So I whipped up a tiny batch of lime shortbread. I wanted to try to give it a more goldfish appropriate color and kneaded in a little bit of orange and yellow gel paste, but obviously didn't use enough. (Although my counter is still stained, grr.) To use the mold, you just pack the dough in until it's full, and make sure you press down to get all the details in. Then flip the mold over and give it a good, hard knock against your counter or table. It should release pretty easily (I didn't even flour the mold). I had some dough left over so broke out my other mooncake mold...waste not, want not!
I must say, I much prefer shortbread fish to mooncake fish--although when it's mooncake season again, I may do some experimenting and see if I can make my own. In the meantime, I'm going back to gazing at my fish plate and congratulating myself! (Did you notice the tiny fish stamped along the bottom?) Can't wait to see how my other pieces turn out!
8 comments:
Wow, these cookie moulds are wonderful!! Loved them. You have a great blog!
Mooncake molds are indeed very beautiful and handy. Your cookies are gorgeous! I'm in Korea and I had the chance to buy a mooncake mold (not a wooden one like yours, but still works) and have also found out a few other uses. I used mine to make mini savory pies, if you want to see them, I posted about it here:
http://testadoprovadoeaprovado.blogspot.com/2010/10/mooncake-shaped-mini-pies.html
I hope I have the chance to buy some wooden molds, they are so beautiful :)
Hi purabi naha! yes, I love these molds :) I've got another one too that I have to dig out...
Hi Renata--ooh, Korea! a country I've always wanted to visit. I will have to come check out your molds, but yeah I think these things are probably very versatile...I could see making some cute savory pies :)
I want that plate you made! Please send me hehe. So cute :) It's so cool making shortbread Chinese style... looks like a traditional Chinese sweets. Now I need hot jasmine tea with it :)
Hey Izumi :D I made a bunch of other plates and bowls/cups, can't wait to see what they look like when they're done!!
wish i had one of those :)
Amanda
softandstiffpeaks.blogspot.com
Your cookies really kept the pattern well! Could you post the recipe for the shortbread you used?
Sorry for the delay in responding to comments! I'm still on vacation so I'm a bit slow in checking in :)
Amanda, wouldn't it be great to have a giant cookie/food exchange? I would love it if I could share these!
Hi Anonymous--this recipe is a good base to start from. I follow this pretty closely except that I use regular granulated sugar instead of icing sugar, and if you want to add lime or lemon flavor, just finely grate the zest of a lime or lemon, add it to your granulated sugar, and rub them together until the sugar is damp (this really brings out the citrus flavor!). After you mold your cookies, make sure you refrigerate them, that definitely helps keep the shape!
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