Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Y is for Yaffle and Yak Kwa.

Y
Yaffle is an uncommon English name for the YaffleEuropean Green Woodpecker, reminiscent of it's laugh-like call (technically urban, you get them in green areas of town). It spends a lot of its time on the ground hunting ants and doesn’t drum on trees as much as other woodpeckers. It is an attractive looking bird and it occurs in most parts of Europe and western Asia. I absolutely love the colours of this bird and would like to see one. We used to get lots of woodpeckers drumming on our trees in the Carolinas including one which is considered to be somewhat rare, the Pileated Woodpecker.

I love ginger so I thought these would be an excellent cookie to share: from Food.com
 

Yak Kwa (Korean Ginger Cookies)

By Celticevergreen 
Yield, 20 cookies
 

About This Recipe

"These simple cookies are perfect for adding to your holiday repertoire." Yak Kwa
 

Ingredients

    SYRUP

    • 1/4 cup sugar
    • 1/4 cup honey
    • 1/8 teaspoon salt

    COOKIES

    • 1 gingerroot, peeled ( 2 inches)
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • 2 cups flour, plus more for dusting
    • 1/8 teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
    • 3 tablespoons honey
    • 2 tablespoons rice wine or 2 tablespoons sake
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • oil, for frying
    • cinnamon ( for serving)
    • pine nuts, crushed ( for serving)

Directions

  1. Combine sugar, honey, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and cool. Set aside.
  2. Blend ginger and 2 tbsp water in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour through a strainer and set aside.
  3. Combine flour, salt, and sesame oil in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add ginger juice, honey, rice wine, and 2 tbsp water and process until a smooth, pliable dough forms.
  4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll it out into a 1/4 inch thick circle, about 12 inches wide. Using a small cookie cutter, cut dough into 20 cookies.
Have a great day
Jo (2)

30 comments:

  1. Hi Jo - we see the green woodpecker here ... Especially up at the nursing centre - they are so delightful to watch ... Someone heard a cuckoo ... So at least.they are stillarou d having made that journey from Africa. Love ginger - so good recipe for Y and I'd forgotten about yaffle being a woodpecker - fun choices ...

    My Y is on hold til I see what's happening with the PC - cheers Hilary

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    1. It looks like a pretty bird, never seen it though. I am glad the cuckoo is still around, to me that symbolises spring in England. I love ginger too.

      What a bummer with your computer, it wasn't up to the challenge even if you were.

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  2. I lived in Korea, but I'm not sure I ever had a ginger cookie...hmmmm. I'll have to try it! (http://www.reflectionsenroute.com)

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    1. Well I hope you try these. I enjoy Korean food and am a Kimchee lover too.

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    1. It is isn't it? Hilary has seen it, I never have.

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  4. I haven't seen a green woodpecker in our garden but we do get the Great Spotted variety which are very colourful.
    I haven't got a sweet tooth but I do love anything with ginger so am tempted ... except we haven't got a kitchen just now ... Day 1 of the makeover and the cupboard units have just been stripped out so I'm afraid we'll just have to eat out every day LOL

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    1. Gosh I feel sorry for you Sue, having to eat out every day, what hardship.

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  5. This cookie looks delicious. Will surely try them out!

    That birds colors are so wonderful!

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    1. They do look good. Being a diabetic I don't think I will try them.

      I know, I would love to have seen this bird.

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  6. I haven't seen a Green Woodpecker for years but the Greater Spotted on visits our birdfeeder from time to time. I didn't know of the Yaffle name before so I've learned something again.

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    1. I would think the Yaffle name would be northern somehow. I may be quite wrong. Would love to see one. Used to get lots of different woodpeckers in our back yard in NC.

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  7. I wonder if he inspired Woody Woodpecker's laugh?

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  8. Am making those cookies! I have the ginger root, but will try rice flour (am trying gluten free) and I have Saki in my fridge. Love ginger. We have small wood peckers here at our feeder, and a large one called the Northern Flicker--they are fun to watch.

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    1. Yes, I like watching woodpeckers, we used to get a rare one in our yard, a Pileated Woodpecker. Huge bird and fascinating to watch.

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  9. Yaffle. What a neat name for that gorgeous bird. Thanks for stopping by my blog today, Jo, and I hope your allergies give you a break soon.
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

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  10. I'm going to have to try these ginger cookies - thank you for the recipe Jo. and I'd never heard of a Yaffle ... following along now ..Your blogs are great.
    Fil at
    Fil’s Place - Old Songs and Memories

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    1. Thanks Fil. I hope you enjoy my non A to Z blogs too. I still have recipes. Already written Thursday's blog with a recipe I just tried. It was good.

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  11. That is a beautiful bird. Y had only a few I am interested to see if we match up tomorrow.

    Brandon Ax: Writer's Storm

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    1. Yup it is beautiful. Those friends in the UK who have seen it are very lucky. I bet we do match tomorrow.

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  12. I love ginger cookies too, this version sounds so good!


    Nancy at Hungry Enough To Eat Six
    2014 A to Z Challenge Participant

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    1. Doesn't it? I wish I lived by you then I could have a small taste of those wonderful pies.

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  13. I've neither seen nor heard a woodpecker for a few years now. A shame really, they do put on quite the show.

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    1. That's a pity Jeff, we used to get lots of them in our back yard at the coast and in particular, often saw a Pileated Woodpecker.

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  14. We have a lot of woodpeckers around here too, though I've never heard of or seen a Yaffle.

    xoRobyn

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  15. Ginger is great for morning and motion sickness so you may have a medicinal product there Jo!

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    1. Knew about motion didn't think about morning sickness. In fact it's why they give you ginger ale after an anaesthetic. Wonderful stuff ginger, I like it pickled too.

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