New Year's (Part One) : Roti Jala

Ever since I could remember, its been my family's tradition to usher in the new year together with a potluck dinner. But as the grandkids have all grown older (and attending NYE parties of our own - yours truly included), this year's was pushed as a Jan 1st Hi-tea at my aunt's place. The fare was really Malaysian in flavour - curry puffs filled till their almost bursting, sardine sandwiches, cucur bawang, roti jala and carrot cake (well, this was the only non-msian itemlah).

Churning out the lacy pancakes or roti jala as they are called here, can take some expert hand movement and lots of practice to get them juuust perfect. But once you've gotten the hang of it, these works of art can impress!


Roti Jala (Lacy Pancakes)
(Recipe from Malaysian Favourites Cookbook, published by Preston 2007)
Ingredients:
600g plain flour
410ml evaporated milk
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
750-850ml water
Oil

Method:
1. Sift flour and salt into a bowl, make a well in the middle and add the beaten eggs in.
2. Add in milk and water. Stir with a whisk or fork until well blended. Strain batter with a sieve into a different bowl to remove lumps.
3. Heat a bit of oil in a flat frying pan.
3. Pour batter into a roti jala mould (its like a cup with holes in it) and rotate over hot pan to form a rounded star shape (kind of like you're drawing a daisy flower pattern).
4. Once cooked (it lifts off pan easily), serve with chicken curry.