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### Kitchen Experiments

Who doesn't love to *experiment* in the kitchen? I think we all do! Putting together ingredients, trying out new cooking methods and tools, new cuisine, cooking hacks... Life in the kitchen is so exciting (and stressful at times)! 

Growing up, I really did not have a lot of experience in cooking. Both my parents cook delicious meals and they are the king and queen of the kitchen (and at home, of course). Some friends and family even seek their "expertise" and ask them to cook whenever there are special occasions like *fiestas* or any other big celebrations. Those days, food catering were not yet too popular. As for me, I was only at the sidelines extending a hand when required. 

That changed when I started my life overseas. I first lived with my friends who also were away from home for the first time. Amongst us, it was I who was bold enough to try cooking different dishes. So the cooking was always assigned to me (they do the washing, lol!). 

My friends were the first to see and experience my kitchen experiments. Now that I have a family of my own, so it's my kids and husband who get to be my supporters and critiques. 

### Churros on a Weekend

Last week, I was not sure what to make for my children. They have been asking for <a href = "https://peakd.com/hive-148441/@arrliinn/ntdpqfqo"> donuts</a> but I was not in a mood to knead dough and I didn't want to wait for *resting* time. 

I recently binge-watched Nadiya Hussain on Netflix, and I think it was at <a href = "https://www.netflix.com/title/81185359?s=a&trkid=13747225&t=cp"> Nadiya's Time To Eat</a> that I saw her making easy donut batter that she just pipes through directly as she deep fries. 


![churros1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/arrliinn/EoGzpikHE9EivMYsLAvW3GC7jhWT8DGHd4mo3GA31xsPv2EBCbVF1JjDEBUvP6HaSRi.jpg)

I tried to look up for the episode again, but Google was too smart for me, I ended up reading Churro recipes. 

Unlike donuts the dry ingredients need to be slightly cooked in milk first, then put in a piping bag then deep fried. 

**My problem:** 
I didn't have a piping bag. 😂 Since we moved to this current apartment, I could not find it anymore. What I've got are only the nozzles. 

Nevertheless, I still tried to improvise and used a plastic bag and attached the nozzle. The problem though, was the dough was too thick and it was a pain to squeeze it out. 

**The Solution:**

I just scooped the dough with a teaspoon and voila! 

My churros are not ridged sticks, but small donut balls. 😂

#### The Chocolate Dip. 

Making the ganache was another. 

Me being someone who just "eyes" the ingredients as opposed to actual measurements definitely miscalculated when I decided to use this little sauce pan here. It's not even a sauce pan. It's a small Turkish coffee aluminum pot. 😁

BTW, you can just call me, Miss Calculation. 😅😁

![chocolate.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/arrliinn/EpA2WKbX59bR6aGSyRhpS97xqs8QpumVxhCu6x9vvGQttbCyGWAygsVVAyGtjNpqdSU.jpg)

#### Still a hit! 

Donuts and chocolates. Need you ask for more? Hmm, maybe a cup of black coffee, yes. 

The mini donut balls were a hit to the kids. It didn't take them long to finish them all. 

![churros.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/arrliinn/Ep5q4kvQDYqo1M5EL1Z7qpred4gTUdeHuCwQsWtYUfC87s5LUQrnCa5Jta1QPQLGhpx.jpg)

**Gone in a jiffy!**

![IMG_20210402_112539.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/arrliinn/Ep1ZMcW51Ytas4XKKeWQKpE2DCoVdRVXiR6YMLuUprA6RrwNTZgvBVCu5uiFLmwpKT2.jpg)


#### The Recipe? 

I honestly just eyeballed my ingredients and whipped them together. My family prefers sweeter dough, so I definitely add more sugar to my mix. 

The ingredients are staple to our pantry:
* all purpose flour
* milk
* eggs
* butter
* sugar
* cinnamon + sugar for dusting
* oil for deep frying

For the ganache, I used:
* 100% unsweetened pure cocoa powder
* icing sugar
* milk
* all purpose cream
* cornstarch slurry to thicken

Here though, is the recipe I referred to if you'd like to make a "proper" one - <a href ="https://natashaskitchen.com/churros-recipe/">Easy Churros Recipe</a>. 

That's it! 

Until see you all at my next kitchen adventure! 


<div class = "pull-left">https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/arrliinn/48QseLfV1mV4oMfjna96bLrXv89fXNuekeU1Ra62SgRV2LtX5VWWLR1pwHnNzgTnmz.png</div>

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