Thursday 31 March 2011

Chocolate mousse

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This is a classic and I am sure everybody has the best recipe of it. It has always been a must do in all parties at my home as everybody loves it, despite its simplicity. This is a gentle one, fluffy, creamy and very addicting! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 chocolate bar
7 oz (200 gr.) sugar
8 eggs
3,50 oz (100 gr.) unsalted butter

Beat well the egg yolks with sugar until fluffy and creamy. Melt the chocolate broken into small pieces and when melted add the above mixture, alternating with the butter. Beat the egg whites until very firm and carefully wrap into the chocolate cream. Place in a bowl and chill until ready to serve.

Saturday 26 March 2011

Pumpkin jam with almonds

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This jam is one of my time favorites, and this is a recipe I used to make very often when we had pumpkins in the country house. It is really long- lasting when preserved well, perfect with some light cheeses, crackers or biscuits.

Ingredients:

2,2 pounds pumpkin/ squash
1 pound sugar
Rind of half a lemon
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup (200 gr.) ground almonds
1 / 2 tsp cinnamon

Place a saucepan on the stove with the pumpkin, cut into cubes, previously cleaned and stripped of bark. Boil until tender and then drain it well, saving a bit of that water. Reduce it into puree and set aside. In the water saved from cooking mix the sugar, lemon and cinnamon stick and let it boil up in slow heat for few minutes until foamy. Pour the puree and beginning to thicken add the coarsely chopped almonds and cinnamon. Keep stirring until it thickens again. Remove the cinnamon stick and lemon and let cool. At this point add the 1/2 tsp of cinammon. Put in jars and keep them closed preserved in the fridge.

Friday 25 March 2011

Farofinha

Farofinha

I have always loved to eat this dish as a side, with rice, black beans and a good steak. It is a very typical one in Brazil, and these days it has been expanding to my country too.

Ingredients:

Cassava flour to taste
1 tsp. tablespoons olive oil
Diced bacon to taste
1 egg

Fry the bacon in a pan with the olive oil and when it's golden, crack the egg, beat it well, add it to the bacon and stir quickly. Enter the cassava flour and mix slightly until it has a sandy texture. Place in a bowl and serve with black beans.



Tuesday 22 March 2011

Almond cake

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This is a luscious almond cake, and if you happen to be an almond lover, then you will love this! It is quick to make and, most of all, really delicious! The frosting can be replaced by any other, but in this case I have used the yolks I didn't need for the cake.

Ingredients:

For the cake:
1 cup (250 gr) sugar
1 cup (250 gr) peeled and ground almonds
1 tablespoon wheat flour 

6 egg whites 
Port wine to taste
For the frosting:
1+1/2 cup (300 gr) sugar
6 egg yolks
2 whole eggs
1.5 dl water


Add the flour, sugar and almonds. Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until firm. Add them carefully to the almond misture and pour it into a greased rectangular baking pan, lined with parchment paper. Bake the cake in moderate oven for + - 30 minutes (you might want to check).
Once cooked cut the cake in half and sprinkle both sides with a little port wine. Fill one of the parties with the soft eggs and put them together. Put the rest of it on top. For the custard: In a saucepan, combine water and sugar. Cover and let it boil, then remove the cover and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir the egg yolks and beaten eggs quickly. Bring back to boil to thicken. Remove from heat and beat with sticks and wire.


Source: Recipe from here.

Sunday 20 March 2011

Banana and strawberry smoothie

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I love the recipes you can find in the St Dalfour website, not even mentioning their jams, which I think are great! This really easy smoothie was made on a Saturday morning, when all I want is a bit of rest and a good breakfast... Enjoy!

Ingredientes:

1 heaped tablespoon (St Dalfour or other) Strawberry fruit spread
1 banana
½ cup Yoghurt
1 teaspoon Honey
1 cup of Milk

Place all ingredients in a blender and whisk together. Serve with pancakes or bread.

Tuesday 15 March 2011

Sausage pie


This sausage pie was probably the very first recipe I learnt to make when I was a kid. And so, when I was thinking with which recipe to start my blog, the choice was very obvious for me! Nowadays, I can almost do this recipe with my eyes closed, and the thing is- everybody at my place loves it! Here goes the recipe:

Ingredientes:

1 cup (200 gr.) of flour
1/2 cup (100 gr.) of butter
2 tablespoons milk (or water)
1 egg
A pinch of salt
For the filling:
4 eggs 
 
1 cup (200 ml) milk
1 / 2 cup cream
Slices of ham, chourizo sausage, frankfurter sausages, bacon and other meats to taste


Start by preparing the dough, mixing the flour with the salt and the egg, butter and milk (or water). Knead all ingredients well and then put in a pie tray, spreading evenly until the dough is well spread and without holes.
For the filling, beat the eggs with the salt, the meats broken into small pieces and sliced ​​sausages. Adjust the amount of milk and cream according to the size of the pie tray, so that it covers the tray without being overloaded. Transfer it in a hot oven, until well browned. Serve with a salad and crisps.