Peking Dust Recipes

Steps:

• Make a slit on the flat side of each chestnut.
• Place in boiling water and simmer for 40-45 minutes.
• Drain them and allow them to cool.
• Shell them making sure to get all of the 'meat' and you need to remove ALL of the skin.
• Grind them into a fine powder.
• Stir in salt and sugar.
• Whip your cream to your desired thickness and fold in your caster sugar and vanilla, if using this.
• To Serve:
• Either form the chestnut mixture into one large mound or form smaller mounds in individual serving bowls. Top with the whipped cream mixture.

Steps:

• 1. Shell chestnuts. Place in cold water and bring to a boil. Boil 3 minutes then drain. 2. Add milk and vanilla extract to chestnuts and heat (but do not boil). Simmer, covered, until chestnuts are tender (20 to 30 minutes). Drain, discarding milk. 3. Mash chestnuts together with butter, sugar and brandy. (The mixture should have the consistency of mashed potatoes. If it doesn't, add some heavy cream.) 4. Meanwhile heat the oven to 275 degrees. Beat egg white with cream of tartar until stiff, but not dry. 5. Fold in salt, then sugar, then remaining vanilla extract. Transfer egg mixture to a pastry tube. 6. Line a baking sheet with foil. Squeeze egg mixture out of tube in the shape of a nest. Bake until golden (40 to 50 minutes). Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Then transfer to a serving platter. 7. Meanwhile transfer the chestnut mixture to the pastry tube. Then squeeze it out in thin threads over the baked egg nest to form a mound on top. 8. Whip heavy cream (see HOW-TO, _Cream: To whip). Then sweeten it with powdered sugar. Arrange as a topping over chestnut mound. Garnish with maraschino cherries and serve. VARIATION: * For the brandy, substitute rum.The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

Steps:

• 1. Shell and blanch almonds. Peel oranges and separate into segments. Rub a serving platter generously with peanut oil. 2. Combine sugar, water and light corn syrup in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring, over medium heat. 3. Dip nuts and fruit, one piece at a time, into the syrup to coat. Place on the oiled serving platter to cool and harden. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.