Date and Walnut Loaf

It's been a long time since I wrote my last post. Meanwhile, I've returned from Bosnia to my beloved Australia. New year has begun and I have to tell you that I expect big changes in my life in 2016 . Some of them already started to develop...I'm much happier person today, than I used to be 6 months ago...Life's good again!

Ingredients: 

1 cup self-raising flour
½ cup sugar
½ tsp bicarb
2 tsp cinnamon
½ cup chopped dates
½ cup chopped walnuts
30 g butter
2/3 cup water


Method: 
Preheat oven to 180*C; prepare a loaf pan (25 X 7.5 cm). Sift flour, sugar, bicarb and cinnamon into a bowl. Add the chopped dates and walnuts and mix well. Heat butter and water in a saucepan (or microwave) until water just reaches the boil. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, add the hot liquid and mix well. Spoon into greased loaf pan; bake for 35-40 minutes.

Vekna sa Datulama i Orasima

Dugo vremena je proteklo od mog posljednjeg napisanog posta. U medjuvremenu sam se vratila iz Bosne. Nova godina je otpocela i moram vam reci da ocekujem velike promjene u mom zivotu u 2016-oj. Neke su se vec otpocele desavati...Puno sam sretnija osoba danas, nego sto sam to bila prije 6 mjeseci...Zivot je divan ponovo!

Potrebno:

1 solja samodizajuceg brasna

1/2 solje secera

1/2 k side bb

2 k cimeta

1/2 solje sjeckanih datula

1/2 solje sjeckanih oraha

30 gr maslaca

2/3 solje vode 

Nacin:

Ukljucite rernu na 180*C; pripremite kalup za veknu.

Prosijte sve suhe sastojke u posudu, dodajte sjeckane datule i orahe. U drugu posudu zagrijte vodu i maslac do vrenja; uspite u suhe sastojke i dobro izmijesajte. Prebacite smjesu u kalup za veknu. Pecite 35-40 minuta.

Raw Chocolate Cake

Between my tests and monitoring food temperature, I had to make something for kids who asked for anything sweet. I'm not raw food follower, but I'm not against it either...especially if it's quick, easy and delicious.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of walnuts (or other nuts)

2-3 tbs coconut oil
2/3 cup pure cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups of soft pitted dates, chopped
1-2 tbsp pure honey (or agave syrup)

pinch of cardamom (or cinnamon), optional

Method:

Heat gently coconut oil and honey, stirring until melted. Add all other ingredients; mix really well. Line a small cake pan with foil; spoon mixture inside and refrigerate until firm. Slice and enjoy!

Prijesni Čokoladni Kolač

Izmedju testova i mjerenja temperatura hrane, nadjoh malo vremena da napravim djeci nesto slatko. 
Nisam pobornik 'raw' ishrane, ali nisan ni protivnik...posebno ako je priprema brza, lagana i ishod ukusan.

Potrebno:

1 1/2 solja oraha, komadi

2-3 K kokosovog ulja

2/3 solje kakaa, najbolje kvalitete

1/2 k soli

2 solje mekanih datula, sjeckane

1-2 K meda ili agavinog sirupa

prstohvat kardamoma ili cimeta, opciono

Nacin: 

Blago zagrijte kokosovo ulje i med; mijesajte dok se ne otopi. Ubacite sve ostale sastojke, dobro izmijesajte i postavite u manju cetvrtastu posudu oblozenu folijom. Stavite u frizider da se stegne, rezite i uzivajte.

Lebanese Filled Biscuits (Maamoul) - 500th Post!

Here we are - 500th post. It took almost 5 years (celebrating next week).

Recipe makes 20 large biscuits (capacity of the mould I used for biscuits is 2 tbs / 1/8 cup)

Ingredients:

Biscuit dough-

1 cup clarified butter (melt butter then cool it; discard white milky part )

3 tbs icing sugar

2 1/3 cup flour, +

1 tbs milk (cold)

Date paste- (or use walnut filling)*

1 full cup dried dates, pitted, chopped

1/2 tbs butter

1 tsp water

cardamom / cinnamon / vanilla (your choice)

*Walnut filling

1 cup walnut meal

1-2 tbs sugar

1-2 tsp orange blossom water

Method:

Rub butter into flour, add sugar and milk and make soft dough. (Of course, all this can be done in a food processor). Wrap and let it rest in a cool spot.

Place dates in a a bowl add 1 tsp water and microwave it on high for 20 seconds. take out and mash with fork, add butter and cardamom  then knead into a paste.

Shape  'sausages' both from dough and paste. Cut into 20 pieces (each). Dust mould with flour then place a disc of dough into it, following by a ball of date paste. Enclose the dough at the top, bang slightly molud onto working surface to reliese your biscuit. (If you don't have mould, after enclosing dough roll between your palms into a ball, press slightly and decorate top with a fork.) Place them onto lined pan. 

Preheat oven to 165*C; bake biscuits for 10-12 minutes, or until bottom starts getting golden colour (top should stay pale). Take out, cool on a rack then dust with icing sugar and serve. 

Keep in a box for up to 1 week (cool spot).

Libanski Punjeni Keksi (Maamoul)

Evo ga... 500-ti post. Trebalo mi je skoro 5 godina za ovo (proslava sljedece sedmice).

Recept je za 20 vecih keksa (zapremina modle koju sam koristila je 2K ili 1/8 solje)

Potrebno:

Tijesto-

1 solja masla (procisceni maslac - otopite maslac i ostavite da se ohladi; bacite mlijecni dio)

3 K secera u prahu

2 1/3 solje brasna, +

1 K hladnog mlijeka

Fil / pasta od datula- (ili koristite nadjev od oraha*)

1 puna solja datula (bez kospica), isjeckanih

1/2 K maslaca

1 k vode

kardamom (ili cimet, vanila - po vasem izboru)

*Nadjev sa orasima-

1 solja sjeckanih / mljevenih oraha

1-2 K secera

1-2 k vodice od narandzinih cvjetova

Nacin:
Utrljajte maslac u brasno, dodajte ostale sastojke i umijesite glatko tijesto. (Sve ovo mozete uraditi i u sjeckalici). Zamotajte tijesto i ostavite na prohladnom mjestu.
Stavite datule u posudu, poprskajte sa 1 k vode i kuhajte u mikrovalnoj oko 20 sekundi (najjaca snaga). Izvadite, viljuskom izgnjecite, dodajte maslac i kardamom, te umijesite u pastu.
Oblikujte valjak od tijesta i paste, isjecite oba na 20 komada. Pospite brasnom modlu, ubacite rastanjeni komad tijesta, zatim kuglicu paste i zatvorite na vrhu. Lupkajte lagano modlom o povrsinu da oslobodite kekse. (ako nemate modlu, napravite kuglice, blago rastanjite i ukrasite otiscima viljuske.) Smjestite ih na tepsiju (sa papirom). Ugrijte rernu na 165*C; pecite kekse oko 10-12 minuta ili dok donji dio ne pocne zutiti (gornji dio treba da ostane blijed).
Rashladite malo, pospite secerom u parhu i posluzite.
Mogu stajati do 1 sedmincu u zatvorenoj kutiji na hladnom mjestu.

Sticky Date and Pear Cake

It is pear season in Australia, which means they're very cheap at the moment.
Pear cakes are on top of the list of my favourites; this-one belongs to the special group of irresistible-ones.

Ingredients:
1 cup dates (dried)
1 cup water
1 tsp baking soda
125 g butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 large (or 2 small) egg
3 ripe pears, peeled and diced
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups SR flour
Topping-
3/4 cup brown sugar
60 g butter
1/2 cup cream (35% fat)

Method:
Boil dates, water and baking soda for 2-3 minutes; take off the heat, slightly mash with a fork and let it cool.
Preheat oven to 170*C; prepare 20-22 cm cake tin, line with baking paper.
Beat butter, sugar and egg until light and fluffy. Add pears, flour, cinnamon and date mixture. Mix well. Pour into the tin and bake for 50-60 minutes. Take out and let it cool.
For topping- boil all ingredients in a heavy bottomed pan. Take off and let it cool.
Take the cake out of tin and pour topping over it. Slice the cake and enjoy!

'Ljepljivi' kolac sa Datulama i Kruskama

Sezona je krusaka u Australiji, sto znaci da su trenutno jako jeftine. Kolaci sa kruskama su mi medju najdrazima, a ovaj pripada skupini neodoljivih.

Potrebno:
1 solja datula (susenih)
1 solja vode
1 k sode bb
125 gr maslaca
3/4 solje secera
1 vece (ili 2 manja) jajeta
3 zrele kruske, oguljene i sjecene na kockice
1 k cimeta
1 1/2 solja samodizajuceg brasna
Preliv-
3/4 solje braon secera
60 gr maslaca
1/2 solje slatke pavlake / vrhnja (35% masnoce)

Nacin:
Kuhajte datule, vodu i sodu oko 2-3 minute; smaknite, viljuskom izgnjecite blago i ostavite prohladiti.
Ukljucite rernu na 170*C; pripremite obruc (20-22 cm) i oblozite ga neprijanjajucim papirom.
Miksajte maslac, jaje i secer dok ne postane pjenasto. Ubacite kruske, brasno, cimet i smjesu sa datulama i lagano izmijesajte. Uspite u kalup i pecite 50-60 minuta. Prohladite.
Za preliv- prokuhajte sve sastojke, smaknite s vatre i ostavite hladiti. 
Postavite kolac na servirajucu posudu, prelijte sa prelivom. Rezite i uzivajte!

Sticky Date Pudding

Very simple dessert, adored by my boys.

Ingredients:
Pudding / cake-
1 1/2 cups dried dates
1 1/4 cups water
1 teas baking soda
1/4 cup butter
2 large eggs
1 teas vanilla
1 1/4 cups SR flour
2/3 cup brown sugar
Butterscotch sauce-
3/4 cup + 2 teas brown sugar (180g)
1 cup + 2,5 Tbs cream
1 Tbs + 1 teas golden syrup
2 Tbs +1 teas butter
Method:
Put dates and water into a saucepan, bring to boil. Sprinkle baking soda over it, put butter pieces inside, cover it and switch off.
Preheat oven to 170*C. Prepare a cake tin.
Mix eggs, vanilla and sugar in another bowl, add cooled date mix and flour.
Mix well, pour into the cake tin and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Butterscotch sauce-
Cook (stirring) all ingredients for short time, or until melted. Pour 1/3 of this hot sauce over cake, which you have pricked (with a skewer or toothpick) all over the surface. Let cake cool. After both cake and sauce have cooled, place cake onto serving dish; pour another 1/3 of sauce over it. Last 1/3 of sauce leave for serving, along with whipped cream.

Preliveni 'ljepljivi' kolac od datula

Brz i jednostavan za napraviti - obozavan od strane mojih djecaka.

Potrebno:
1 1/5 solja (270 g) datula
1 1/4 (310 ml) solja vode
1 k sode bb
1/4 solje (60gr) maslaca
2 veca jaja
1 k vanile
1 1/4 (185 gr) solje samodizajuceg brasna
2/3 solje (150 gr) braon secera
Buterskoč preliv-
180 gr braon secera
300 ml krema (slatka pavlaka)
25 ml 'Zlatnog' sirupa
25 gr maslaca
Nacin:
Stavite datule i vodu kuhati; kada prokuha iskljucite, ubacite sodu i maslac, poklopite i ostavite hladiti.
Pripremite kalup za kolac, ukljucite rernu na 170*C.
Miksajte secer sa jajima, dodajte datule i brasno. Dobro promijesajte. Uspite u kalup i pecite 35-40 minuta, ili dok ne bude peceno.
Preliv-
Kuhajte sve sastojke kratko (mijesajuci). Izbockajte kolac sa cackalicom, pa ga prelijte sa 1/3 preliva. Ostavite hladiti i kolac i preliv.
Nakon izvjesnog vremena (kada je hladno), stavite kolac na posluzavnik, prelijte ga jos jednom 1/3 preliva. Zadnju 1/3 preliva ostavite za sluziti, zajedno sa umucenom pavlakom.

Date and Oat Crumb Squares

Another quick and easy dessert.

Ingredients:
-Crust
185 g oats (flakes)
185 g flour 185 g brown sugar
1 teas cinnamon
1/2 teas baking soda
50 g walnuts, chopped
225 g butter, cut into small pieces (cold,from fridge)
-Filling
500 g dates, chopped
185 g brown sugar
150 ml water
1 teas vanilla
Method:
First make filling. Put all ingredients into a saucepan and cook until soft.
For crust, process all dry ingredients, add cold pieces of butter and process until crumbs form. Spread half of this into a slice pan (20 x 30 cm), press slightly with spoon or your hand. On top of this spread filling, then follow with another half of crumbly mixture. Bake 20 minutes at 160*C in a fan forced oven.


Datule i Zob u Kockama

Potrebno:
-za 'korice'
185 gr zobi (presovane pahuljice)
185 gr brasna
185 gr braon secera
1 kasicica cimeta
1/2 kasicice sode BB
50 gr sjeckanih oraha
225 gr putera, hladnog, sjeckanog
-za fil
500 gr datula
185 gr braon secera
150 ml vode 1 kasicica vanile
Nacin:
Najprije napravite fil, tako sto cete sve sastojke staviti u serpu i poklopljeno kuhati dok ne omeksa.
Za kore, sve sastojke osim putera pomijesajte, zatim dodajte puter i vrhovima prstiju trljajte dok se ne formiraju mrvice. Elektricna sjeckalica je idealna za ovo, ukoliko je imate. Polovinu ove smjese istresite na tepsiju (20 x 30 cm), pritisnite blago rukama ili kasikom. Preko ovoga istresite datule, pa onda drugu polovinu zobenog tijesta. Pecite 20 minuta na 160 -170 *C.

Apple, Date and Caramel Cake

I love baking cakes...but I usually don't eat them.
This is one of exceptions!

Ingredients:
2 medium apples, peeled, cored and chopped
200g finely chopped dates
1 teas baking soda
1 cup boiling water
125 g unsalted butter, soft
1 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teas vanilla essence
1 cup flour
1/2 cup SR flour
pinch of salt
50 g roasted nuts (your choice), chopped
Topping:
120ml milk
90 g butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teas vanilla
110 g nuts, flaked

Method:
preheat oven to 180*C. Prepare a 22 cm cake tin.
Place apples, dates, soda and boiling water in a saucepan, bring to boil and let cool.
Beat butter and sugar, mix in vanilla and egg; sift flour and salt, fold in with apples mixture and nuts. Spoon into cake tin.
Bake for 50-60 minutes.
10 minutes before the cake is ready prepare the topping-
Heat milk and butter in a saucepan, add vanilla sugar and nuts and cook for 5-8 minutes.
When cake is ready take out, flatten the top and pour the topping over it.
Return to oven for 10-15 minutes, until the topping is golden brown.
Serve with cream (optional!).




Karamel torta sa jabukama i datulama

Potrebno:
2 jabuke srednje velicine, sjeckane
200 gr datula, sjeckanih
1 kasicica sode bb
1 solja vrele vode
125 gr putera, omeksalog
1 solja sitnog secera
1 jaje
1 1/2 kasicica vanile
1 solja brasna
1/2 solje samodizajuceg brasna
malo soli
50 gr oraha/ljesnika/badema (po izboru)
Preliv:
120ml mlijeka
90 gr putera
3/4 solje braon secera
1 kasicica vanile
110gr oraha, krupno sjeckani

Nacin:
Zagrijte rernu na 180*C. Pripremite 22 cm obruc za torte.
Stavite isjeckanu jabuku, datule i sodu bb u posudu, prelijte vrelom vodom i prokuhajte. Ohladite.
Mutite puter sa secerom, dodajte vanilu i jaje. Dodajte brasno,orahe, so i mjesavinu sa jabukama.
Prerucite u obruc i pecite 50-60 minuta.
Zadnjih 10 minuta pecenja pripremite preliv - Zagrijte mlijeko i puter, dodajte secer,vanilu i orahe i kuhajte 5-8 minuta, dok se malo ne zgusne.
Izvadite tortu iz rerne,malo zaravnajte povrsinu, prelijte karamel prelivom i vratite na jos 10-15 minuta u rernu.
Mozete sluziti sa kremom ili bez, po vasem izboru!