Making Tapioca Pearls for Bubble Tea

Since many wanted to know how to make these tapioca pearls, I decided to share my secret :) Tapioca Pearls come in a wide variety of colours, and sizes. You want to make sure you get the dark brown/black coloured ones.

Ingredients:
Tapioca Pearls
Brown Sugar
White Sugar
Water

Directions:

1. You want to start off by boiling enough water so that the amount of tapioca pearls you put in doesn't touch the bottom.
2. When the water is boiled you want to put your tapioca pearls in. Don't put it in before the water has reached it's boiling point, or they will melt away.
   
3. You continue to boil your tapioca pearls at med-high for approximately an hour, stirring every few minutes to insure that they aren't sticking to the bottom of the pot.
   
4. At this point, you can strain the tapioca pearls.
5. Now in the same pot you're going to make a simple syrup by placing a ratio of 2 sugar to 1 water (ex. if you use 1 cup each of white and brown sugar, use one cup of water). When the sugar has dissolved, turn off the heat and put your tapioca pearls in the syrup.
   
6. Let your tapioca pearls sit in the simple syrup for approximately 30 minutes so that they're sweetened, and your finished!

You can make your bubble tea with any flavouring that you want. Just be sure to sweeten your tea with the simple syrup your pearls were soaking in, and use any black or green tea.

Fudgy Brownies

Ingredients:
4 squares unsweetened chocolate
3 1/4 cups of butter
2 cups of sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup of flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Melt butter and chocolate on stove top until smooth
3. Transfer to a bowl, and add sugar, eggs, and vanilla
4. Stir until blended
5. Add flour and mix well
6. Pour mixture into greased rectangular pan and bake for 30-35 minutes
7. Take toothpick and poke the middle, toothpick should come out clean with some crumbs
   

Short Bread Cookies

I haven't made this recipe in a while, thus the reason why I don't have any pics of it. But you can also use this recipe in a cookie press to shape the cookies. Enjoy :)

Ingredients:
1lb butter (creamed)
1cup icing sugar
4cups flour

Directions:

1. Cream butter until smooth, then add one cup of icing sugar
2. Add four cups of flour, one at a time (can be made in cookie press, or roll into little balls and press down with a fork)
3. Decorate with candied cherries on top (if you desire)
4. Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes

Butter should be used in this recipe, as it doesn't taste the same if you try to use margarine