Fortune Cookies

I have been busy making fortune cookies for my Sunday school class. I make these for our family Valentines boxes as well. There are so many fun ways to wrap them and the great part is that the messages are from me. For instance my Sunday school cookies will have messages in the cookies about the lesson I will teach them that day. For the Valentines boxes each one will be personalized with their names on them and nicely wrapped for their boxes. This year I found some adorable round clear plastic containers with red hearts on them at the dollar store.

I have tried many different recipes and I will tell you from my experience this is the best one ever.

There are no two ways about it, fortune cookies take time, but if you work methodically and carefully you will have lovely favors for your guests that truly are a labor of love. The wonderful thing about making your own fortune cookies is that you can write your own fortunes! These fortune cookies taste just like those you get at the Chinese restaurants, only better...delicately crisp and sweet. What I like about this recipe is that you use a griddle and I can control how many I work with at a time. I found out the hard way when you make the baked ones you have to really work quickly!

Be sure to have the fortunes written and cut before doing your baking. The fortune papers should be no more than 2-1/2" x 1/4".

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp oil
• 3 Tbsp water
• 1/4 cup cornstarch

Mix water and cornstarch together. Beat the egg and sugar until thick and ivory colored, add oil and stir, then add water/cornstarch mixture and stir until smooth. Have an electric griddle at 340 degrees. Pour one level tablespoon (use a measuring spoon for accuracy) of batter onto griddle. Spread the batter out with the back of a spoon, starting in the center making small circles and moving slowly out towards the outer edge making larger circles until you have made the batter into a 4" circle. Allow to bake slowly, about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown on the bottom. You might need to experiment with the temp on your griddle. I have found that mine needs to be a little higher than 340, so don’t be afraid to test a couple before you get the hang of it. With a sharp metal spatula and your fingers, slowly and gently pry the pancake away from the griddle starting along the edges. Turn and brown the other side for a few minutes.

With spatula, carefully remove from griddle. Take your time removing it from the griddle, but once it is off, you must work quickly, as it is malleable only while hot. Lay fortune paper on cookie, fold cookie in half without creasing. Then fold in half again by placing it on the edge of a measuring cup and pulling down on both ends until they meet. Rest cookies in egg cartons or muffin tins so they will stay bent while cooling. Makes 15-16.

They will get better as you go along. I ruined my first ten, but then got the idea of how to bake and fold them, and every one turned out perfect after that.

Additional tips:
• Wipe all crumbs off the spatula, griddle and folding surface after each cookie.
• As you gain experience, you can cook two on the griddle at one time, I am up to five now!
• Peel each pancake off the griddle slowly, using the spatula and your fingers - do not pull it up with your fingers alone or the surface will be rough.
• Use a spatula that is sharp and made of thin, flexible metal.
• Use exactly the same amount of batter for each cookie so they will all be the same size.

Suggested fortunes for weddings:
• The greatest gift is love.
• Love conquers all.
• To love is to forgive.
• Love always and deeply.
• Love begets love.
• Those who have love, have wealth beyond measure.
• In the end there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.
• There is no limit to loves forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.
• Love is like wildflowers...it is often found in the most unlikely places.
• Much more grows in the garden than that which is planted there.
• We cannot do great things; only small things with great love. Mother Teresa
• Count your blessings by thinking of those whom you love.
• Only love lets us see normal things in an extraordinary way.
• Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. H.L. Mencken
• Hearts are not to be had as a gift, hearts are to be earned. W.B. Yeats
• If you want the rainbow, you must to put up with the rain. D. Parton
• Love asks me no questions, and gives me endless support... Shakespeare
• Love is for the lucky and the brave.

Package fortune cookies in cellophane bags, Chinese take-out cartons, small boxes or silken rice-paper napkins. Be sure to store them in an airtight container to retain crispness.

*** I have added chocolate and different food colorings to these in the past as well.

Let me know if you try these...have fun!

~ enjoy