The kitchen finesse

Spring onion pesto

2012-03-13T21:37:00.001+01:00

It is just about time I post a new recipe. Last time I shared a recipe with you it was still snowing and now it is already spring time. Lately I have less time for my blog, I know, but I am very busy with my work and my little baby also keeps me entertained. I have so many things in my mind to share with you, sweets, great meals, cool drinks... I am excited just thinking about it.

For a month or so I try to eat healthier (and loose weight) - less sweets, more greens. The project goes very well, I have more energy and feel great and my weight is soon back to normal. Today I prepared something that I am sure many of you will like. If you fancy pesto then you will love this. Spring onions give a nice twist to the cream and provide many health benefits. Definitely a must try but keep a couple of spearmints in your pocket.

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Here comes spring

2012-03-01T17:25:00.003+01:00

I know it is neither a recipe nor a food photo, but I felt like sharing a little piece of spring with you. Because it is spring out there! I can smell it in the air, which is nicely warm, the birds are singing all day long and my flowers started to bloom.

Hello SPRING, it is just about time, I was desperately waiting for you!

Comfort food in the cold

2012-02-03T21:14:00.002+01:00

I believe that soup is the most warming, comforting food you can get in the winter, and in the Siberian minus 15C cold it is more of a lifesaver. Yep, we are freezing here. Instead of preparing myself for the Spring, I am stuck in the extreme cold and snow. To me winter supposed to end on the 31st of January. It should snow in December, that I find romantic. I love to do my Christmas shopping in snow but that is about it.

So to keep myself warm, I had to cook something that heats me from the inside. Simple yet very tasty soup with chickpeas, chorizo, tomato and hot hot hot very hot chili. Trust me, a sip from this and you will have no problem with the cold.

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Cinnamon bundt cake and sexy caramel

2012-01-27T20:40:00.000+01:00

Dear reader!
Close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine!
Imagine the warm smell of the cinnamon, feel the silky powder.
Do you feel it?
Are you overwhelmed from this sensual smell?
If you like this, than the cake is meant to be yours.
The taste is just like the smell, crazy joy in every bite.

Now just think about the juicy apple
...sweet and sour at the same time.....mixed with hot thick caramel.
Here is the word to describe this heavenly sauce:
...sexy!

No more words.
Open your eyes and take a bite.

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Yogurt-Potato Salad and a New Year

2012-01-04T20:26:00.000+01:00

Happy New Year to all of you! I wish you a blessed 2012, filled with laughter and joy. A new year, a new start, promises of new adventures. A new year is like a blank page, or a new diary. It feels like we can erase the last year's bad things, failures because those do not count anymore. This is a brand new year with new promises, new plans, where nothing can go wrong (or at least this is what it seems like on the first of January). It is simply a fresh start. Do you also feel the excitment for the new year? I surely do.

I am sure that all of you had a wonderful holiday season with way too much food I suspect. I personally cannot even think on layered cakes and heavy meals. So I brought you something very light and not too complicated to make. The potato is in a nice harmony with the yogurt and the lemon juice adds a fresh twist to the whole, and when you think it cannot get better, then the caper berries make a surprising appearance. Now, how about this for a fresh start?

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Happy Holidays Everyone!

2011-12-22T14:04:00.001+01:00

Six days to go

2011-12-18T20:56:00.005+01:00

This is a perfect gift idea for those who would like to give something home made, but actually have no time for baking. I am slowly getting into this category. I have so many things in mind, but have very little time to bake. Actually I am saving all my energy for next week, because the first time I am going to bake -or at least try to- macarons from a very authentic recipe (any guess whos recipe I am about to use?) . If the project is a success I will definitely let you know more.

To prepare these cute presents you will need (1) jars, (2) twine and (3) decoration. And of course a good (4) recipe. You can use your favorite or the one below. Just fill the jars with the dry ingredients, and write a simple directions of use and voilà! I swear it took me max. 15 minutes to prepare the jars and decorate them. The ornaments are also home made. For that you'll need Efaplast (air dry clay) and cookie cutters. Just roll out the clay, cut out the desired shapes, let it dry and paint it or decorate with whatever you want. They can be also used as Xmas ornaments. Is it simple or what?

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Toffee & Brittle

2011-12-12T15:01:00.001+01:00

Twelve days to Christmas guys! If you have not started to think on Xmas baking, it is the time! In the past week I have been busy preparing edible presents that keep long and most probably will survive the postal handling. It is all very important because this year we stay at home for Christmas, the first time. Instead of us going to Hungary, my parents come to visit which is great, but it also means that I do not get to see my friends this Xmas. I really miss them.

Usually I prepare a bunch of cookies, pralines, chocolate treats but this year I was looking for more simple sweet, which is (1) not heavy, (2) most probably everyone like, (3) does not require special cooling and (4) very easy to make. Easy is a key factor since I have a very demanding daughter (according to my husband she is just like me....) and a ..... new job! Yep, I have a permanent photo job at a magazine, so currently I am busy with photographing to the February issue. Cannot tell how excited I am about this assignment! I must say, this year has been fantastic, can not wait what good things next year is going to bring.

Anyway, so here we go, I ended up making these sweet, crunchy treats. I just provide some examples, but really you can spice it up whit whatever you like.

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(Honeycomb recipe is adapted from Donna Hay)

Twenty-five days to go

2011-11-29T12:04:00.003+01:00

I must check the calendar more frequently! It was kinda a surprise to me that Xmas is just around the corner. I was living in my own little world with my daughter and had no idea about what day it is. As I am getting older, the time seems to fly faster and faster. Well, it is time to wake up and start planning the Xmas dinner, all the goodies to bake and of course all the presents to buy. On the weekend I managed to make the list of "what to whom" and happy to say that I allready have three gifts from the list. Yeaahhh! At least I perform good under pressure. So there are about ten more presents to go to complete the list, plus the foodie gifts and I tell you, I have some pretty sweet things in mind.

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To get a kick of my holiday mood I turned on the Xmas music (as corny as it sounds, George Michael's "Last Christmas" really got me in the holiday mood....) and baked something that smells and tastes like Xmas. Bundt cakes are clearly wintery. The best when they are made with chocolate and they are moist, nicely melting in the mouth.... Not to mention the sweet smell of orange and the exotic star anise..... yum! (Clearly, it is not the best time to mention that I'm supposed to be on diet, right?)

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I heart squash

2011-11-20T16:44:00.001+01:00

I honestly do love every kind of squash and pumpkin. Beside they taste good, they also look good. I simply go crazy when I first see them on the market, and have to buy one of each and every type. And of course nobody eats them beside me so at the end of the winter I am stuck with tons of squash, but I just can not help it. They remind me of the cold winter evenings and bring up some nice childhood memories, like being in my grandmother's kitchen and my face and hands are all red from playing with snow. As I said, nice memories. I can even smell the roasted pumpkin when I think on this.

I still prefer it mostly roasted, and I celebrate the cold season with this simple meal. Nothing compares to the sweetness of the roasted squash. When I was a child, and my mother never fails to mention it to me or to anyone who is around, I loved it and aet so much that I literally turned yellow. How nice of her to keep these memories alive, and I hope everyone can hear the sarcasm in my voice. At least I can be thankful that we mostly have black and white photos of my childhood.

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These beauties have a lots of potential in the kitchen. If not roasted, I prefer it in soup, hot, creamy, spicy winter soup, with just a pinch of chili that adds a nice twist. Or just make a simple tart with prosciutto and believe me, people will just love it. Even those who absolutely detest squash should give this tart a try because it is heavenly. I just hope snow will come soon, these meals even taste better when it is really cold outside.

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Take a seat

2011-11-15T21:33:00.002+01:00

Finally, it is all set and ready to start. I am not new to blogging, but blogging in a language that is not my own makes the whole thing more exciting. First of all I do this for myself, my friends, my family but the thought that You out there would be also interested is exhilarating. I have many stories, photos and delicious treats to share with you, so come and take a seat at my virtual table.