Bey's Soup

Soup from the Ottoman's Empire time. The first three rulers of the Ottoman realm were titled Bey.

Ingredients:
5-6 chicken pieces, with bones (500 g)
2-3 carrots
1/2 bunch of parsley leaves
2 stalks celery
1/4 lemon
2 tbs ghee (clarified butter)
1,5 tbs flour
300 g Okra, fresh or caned (small preferably, or cut big ones)
2 eggs
150 ml sour cream
salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste
extra parsley leaves to garnish
Method:
Cook chicken pieces with carrots, celery and parsley leaves in 3 L water. Add 1/4 lemon and some salt and pepper. When cooked, strain liquid; dice chicken and vegetables.
In a large saucepan, heat ghee and flour. Cook for few minutes, should stay pale. Pour the strained liquid, add diced ingredients. Bring to boil, then add okra and cook until soft. Add beaten eggs and sour cream. Season to taste and garnish

Begova Čorba

Potrebno:
5-6 komada piletine, oko 500 gr
2-3 mrkve
1/2 sveznja persuna
2 stabljike celera
1/4 limuna
2 kasike masla
1,5 kasika brasna
300 gr bamije, svjeze ili konzervisane (manje ili rezane vece)
2 jaja
150 ml kajmaka/pavlake
so biber i sok limuna po ukusu
malo svjezeg persunovog lisca za ukras
Nacin:
Skuhajte piletinu sa korjenastim povrcem i 1/4 limuna. Malo posolite i pobiberite. Ocijedite supu, a povrce i meso izrezite na kockice.
U vecu serpu zagrijte maslo pa proprzite brasno. Treba da ostane blijedo. Uspite supu i dodajte isjecene sastojke. Dovedite do kljucanja, pa ubacite bamiju. Kuhajte dok ne omeksa, zatim ubacite ulupana jaja i kajmak. Dotjerajte ukus sa zacinima i na kraju ukrasite svjezim persunovim liscem.

'Russian Salad' - A Classic of Balkans

I can't imagine New Year Eve without 'Russian Salad'. It's classic of Balkan countries, and I never heard any Russian mentioning something simmilar.
It goes well with any meat; it can last for whole week!

Ingredients:
4-5 medium potatoes, red, cooked in their skin, peeled
2-3 medium carrots, cooked
4 eggs, cooked
500 g peas, cooked
300-400 g cornichons / gherkins
250 g chicken (ham) salami, diced (optional!)
400-500 g mayonnaise (Tommy or SW, or make your own)
salt, pepper, lemon juice, sour cream, mustard to taste
Method:
Dice all vegetables, eggs and salami, mix well. Add mayonnaise and seasonings. Refrigerate, covered with plastic foil.
One pictured is without salami.



Ruska Salata

Potrebno:
4-5 srednjih crvenih krompira, kuhanih u ljusci
2-3 srednje mrkve, kuhane
4 jaja, kuhanih
500 gr graska, kuhanog
300-400 gr kiselih krastavcica
250 gr pilece salame ili sunkarice (nije neophodno!)
400-500 gr majoneze (tomy ili domace - recept)
so, biber, sok limuna, kajmak/pavlaka, senf po ukusu
Nacin:
Isjeckajte svo povrce, jaja i salamu na kockice. Dodajte majonez i ostale zacine, dobro promijesajte. Smjestite u frizider, pokriveno prozirnom folijom.
Verzija na fotografiji je bez salame.

Honey Nuts - 'Medenjaci'

Best recipe I found, so far!... FAT free!

Ingredients:
250 g sugar
100 ml water
5-6 tbs honey
700 g flour
3 egg yellows
1 egg
1 tbs baking soda
1 teas cinnamon
1/2 teas cloves, ground
1/4 teas cardamom
Pinch of white pepper
Egg whites and icing sugar for glazing (optional)
Method:
Boil water and sugar until dissolved. cool slightly. Add honey. Sift flour, baking soda and spices, add beaten eggs and sugar mixture. Make a soft dough, cover with glad wrap and leave it for few hours, or overnight. Heat the oven to 180*C and prepare tins. Take pieces of dough (big walnut size) and roll between your palms (oil them for easier rolling). Set them on tin, making sure to leave space between them bake for 5-7 minutes. For icing mix egg white and icing sugar, and brush over each little cake.
Stored in a tin (cool place) they can last for 2 months.

Medenjaci ...do sada najbolji i bez masnoce

Potrebno:
250 gr secera
1 dl vode
5-6 kasika meda
700 gr brasna
3 zumanca
1 jaje
1 kasika sode BB
1 kasicica cimeta
1/2 kasicice karanfilica u prahu
1/4 kasicice kardamoma
prstohvat bijelog bibera
bjelanca i secer u prahu za glazuru (po zelji)
Nacin:
Prokuhajte vodu sa secerom, ohladite. Umijesajte med.
Prosijte brasno, sodu i zacine, dodajte umucena jaja i secernu smjesu. Umijesite; ostavite nekoliko sati ili preko noci da se odmara.
Ukljucite rernu, pripremite plehove i rukama oblikujte kuglice velicine veceg oraha (nauljeni dlanovi ce pomoci). Stavite na povrsinu na kojoj cete peci, sa razmakom. Pecite 5-7 minuta. Izvadite ; ako zelite galzirati pomijesajte bjelanjak sa secerom u prahu i cetkicom nanesita na svaki medenja. Mozete ih i posuti secerom u prahu.
Na hladnom i suhom mjestu traju do 2 mjeseca.

Cardamom-Spiced Meat Loaf

Found on OPRAHS' website (adjusted!). I followed my intuition and put only 1/2 teas of cardamom - it was still overpowering!

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
2 carrots, finely grated
1 onion, finely chopped
1 zucchini, finely grated
2 cloves garlic,crushed
2 teaspoons ground cardamom (I ADDED 1/2 TSP)
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper/paprika
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 kg mince
2 eggs
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1/2 cup (plus 2 tablespoons ketchup)
1/3 cup plain yogurt
2 teaspoons salt
Method:
In a large pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion, and zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the cardamom, cumin, cinnamon, red pepper, and black pepper; cook 30 seconds. Set the vegetable mixture aside to cool slightly.
Preheat the oven to 180*C. In a large bowl, combine mince, eggs, bread crumbs, 1/2 cup ketchup, yogurt, salt, and cooked vegetable mixture just until well blended but not over-mixed.
Shape the meat-and-vegetable mixture into a 10" x 5" loaf on the prepared pan, pressing firmly, or make a log. Brush the remaining 2 tablespoons ketchup on top and sides of the meat loaf. Bake 1 hour. Let the meat loaf stand 10 minutes to set juices for easier carving. Served with zucchini/red cabage with cous-cous.

Mesna vekna/rolat sa Kardamomom

Sastojci:
2 kasike putera
2 mrkve, rendane
1 luk, sjeckan
1 tikvica, rendana
2 cena bijelog luka, protisnutog
2 kasicice kardamoma ( JA SAM STAVILA SAMO 1/2 KASICICE)
1/4 kasicice paprike , ljute
1/4 kasicice crnog bibera, svjeze mljevenog
1 kg mljevenog mesa
2 jaja
1 solja suhih mrvica hljeba/kruha
1/2 solje kecapa (+2 kasike)
1/3 solje jogurta, cvrstog
2 kasicice soli
Nacin:
Zagrijte ulje, proprzite luk, zatim dodajte povrce, bijeli luk i zacine. Prohladite.
Zagrijte rernu na 180*C. U vecoj posudi pomijesajte sve preostale sastojke, dodajte proprzeno povrce, umijesite i oblikujte veknu (ili stavite u kalup za veknu). Premazite sa 2 kasike kecapa i pecite 1 sat. Ostavite 10 minuta da se odmara prije rezanja. Srevirano sa kus-kusom, tikvicama i crvenim kupusom.

Russian Black Bread

Authentic or not, I like this easy version!

Ingredients:
2-2 1/4 cups water
3 tbs oil
2 cups rye flour
2 cups wholemeal flour
2 cups bakers flour
1 tbs sugar
3/4 tbs salt
1 tbs cocoa
2 teas instant coffee (I added chicory-coffee syrup)
2 teas yeast
1/2 tbs caraway or cumin seeds
Method:
If you're using bread machine, put all ingredients inside and program for making dough. (Or, knead by hand for at least 10 minutes, let it rest for 1 hour). After that, take the dough out on a floured surface, knead for couple of minutes, divide in 2, shape into loaves, put into pans and let double. Bake 40-45 minutes at 180*C.

Ruski Crni Hljeb/Kruh

Potrebno:
2-2 1/4 vode
3 kasike ulja
2 solje razanog brasna
2 solje brasna od punog zrna psenice
2 solje brasna za hljeb/kruh
1 kasika secera
3/4 kasike soli
1 kasika kakaa
2 kasicice instant kafe
2 kasicice instant kvasca
1/2 kasike kima
Nacin:
Ako imate masinu za hljeb/kruh, stavite sve unutra i programirajte mijesenje. Ili, zamijesite tijesto od navedenih sastojaka - voda mora biti mlaka- mijesite bar 10 minuta. Ostavite nadolaziti 1 sat. Premijesite tijesto na pobrasnjenoj povrsini, oblikujte po zelji i smjestite u posudu u kojoj cete peci. Ostavite da postigne duplu velicinu, pa onda pecite 40-45 minuta na 180*C.

Shortbread Bells

                                                                                                                                         With oil dough

They melt in your mouth!
There are 2 options for the dough; one with oil, other one with cream cheese. Both are wonderful!

Ingredients:
-(Oil dough)
500 g flour
1/2 teas baking powder
200 ml sour cream
200 ml oil
jam and icing sugar

-(Cream cheese dough)
200 g butter, soft
80 g cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar (50 g)
lemon zest or vanilla essence
350 g flour

Method:
Mix first 4 ingredients (5 ingredients in second option) and make a dough. Leave it to rest for 20 minutes.
Roll the dough out to thickness of 2 mm on a floured surface; dust with flour all the time. Cut out circles 5 cm diameter; place them on a baking sheet, and put 2 sides together close to one edge to form a bell/Lilly shape. Put jam in a little bag, cut the corner off, and squeeze the jam into bell cavity. Bake 10 min on 160*C.
When slightly cooled, dust with icing sugar.


                                                                       Cream cheese dough


Prhki Zvončići

Tope se u ustima!
Imate opciju za tijesto sa uljem, ili sa krem sirom. Obje su podjednako divne.

Potrebno:
(Tijesto sa uljem)
500 gr brasna
1/2 kasicice praska za pecivo
200 ml pavlake/kajmaka
200 ml ulja
dzem i secer u prahu

(tijesto sa krem sirom)
200 gr maslaca, omeksalog
80 gr krem sira, sobna temperatura
50 gr secera
ribana korica limuna ili vanila
350 gr brasna

Nacin:
Umijesite tijesto od prva 4 sastojka (5 sastojaka u drugoj verziji), ostavite odmarati 20 minuta. Na pobrasnjenu povrsinu, razvaljajte tijesto do debljine od 2 mm. Vadite krugove precnika 5 cm. Poredajte na pleh, pa prstima savijte krajeve jedne strane da formirate zvoncice.
Stavite dzem u manju plasticnu kesu, odrezite joj vrh pa u svaki zvoncic istisnite malo dzema. Pecite 10 minuta na 160-170*C. Kada se malo prohladi, pospite secerom u prahu.

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.

Gingerbread Dough

There is no smell like Gingerbread Dough smell.

Ingredients:
-Dough
750 g flour
3 tbs baking powder
2 teas cinnamon
1 teas cloves ground
1 teas ginger powder
1/4 teas cardamom powder
pinch of salt
190 g honey
150 g sugar, caster or icing
70 g butter, melted
juice and zest of 1/2 lemon
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
-Icing 'glue'..if you want to make a house
1-2 egg whites and enough icing sugar to make thick but still runny paste.
Method:
Mix all ingredients and make stiff dough. Cover and leave it rest for 20-30 minutes.
Dust working surface and roll out the dough 5 mm thick. At this stage you cut shapes, or 'house walls'. For a house you need to cut rectangles of following sizes;
12 x 19 cm - 2 times, 10,5 x 16 cm - 2 times and 16 x 18 - 2 times (you'll need to cut upper corners of those rectangles, so they support roof - see picture). From the rest of dough, cut out stars, ginger men, harts... Bake 10-15 minutes at 160*C. If you need to reshape (trim) your dough, do it while still warm.
Leave it cool completely, before you start assembling.






To do this you'll need some cans,
to hold walls up-right, while
corners (which you have spread with icing)
dry and become solid.
It usually takes couple of hours. Then you can
stick roof in the same way. After that
comes decorating part!
My Snowman is made of Raffaello truffles, which I have rolled into icing sugar.




'Gingerbread' Tijesto

Obozavam miris (i ukus) ovoga tijesta!

Potrebno:
-Tijesto
750 gr brasna
3 kasike praska za pecivo
2 kasicice cimeta
1 kasicica karanfilica
1 kasicica djumbir praha
1/4 kasicice kardamom praha
malo soli
190 gr meda
150 gr sitnog secera
70 gr putera, otopljenog
sok i kora 1/2 limuna
1 vece jaje
1 zumance
-Secerno 'ljepilo' za kucu
1-2 bjelanca i dovoljno secera u prahu da smjesa bude gusta ali jos uvijek 'tecna'.
Nacin:
Umijesite cvrsto tijesto od svih sastojaka, pokrijte i ostavite odmarati 20-30 minuta. Na pobrasnjenoj povrsini razvaljajte na debljinu od 5 mm i vadite oblike ili 'zidove' kuce. Za zidove cete trebati po 2 pravougaonika sljedecih dimenzija:
12 X 19cm, 10,5 X 16cm, i 16 X 18cm (od ovih cete odrezati gornje uglove, da bi mogli podrzati krov - vidi sliku).
Pecite 10-15 minuta na 160*C. Kada izvadite i prije nego se ohladi, odrezite/dotjerajte oblike. Ohladite prije nego zapocnete 'gradnju'.
Kada podignete zidove, ivice namazite bjelanjkovom smjesom, pa zidove ucvrstite sa konzervama. Ostavite da se stegne prije nego stavite krov na isti nacin. Poslije ovoga dolazi dekoracija, koju cu prepustiti vama.
Od ovoga tijesta mozete praviti i druge oblike.

Raffaello Truffles

Very popular dessert in Balkan countries. No baking involved (if you buy pre-roasted hazelnuts)!

Ingredients:
100 ml water
260 g milk powder
135 g coconut + extra for rolling
200 g sugar
165 g butter
40 g plain biscuits (milk coffee or sim.), processed into fine crumbs
Whole roasted hazelnuts (120g)
Method:
Put sugar and water into a saucepan, bring to boil. When sugar dissolved, add milk powder, coconut and biscuit crumbs. Take off the heat and mix well. Cool slightly.
Cut butter into small pieces, add to the mixture and mix vigorously until incorporated. Refrigerate until firm.
Take 1/2 tbs of the mixture, put a hazelnut in the middle and roll between your palms to form a ball. Throw into a bowl with some coconut, shake and roll to coat each ball. Refrigerate until firm.


Rafaelo Kuglice

Potrebno:
100 ml vode
260 gr mlijeka u prahu
135 gr kokosa + za uvaljati
200 gr secera
165 gr putera
40 gr 'petit' keksa, samljevenog
Cijeli ljesnici (peceni) za unutrasnjost Rafaela (120gr)
Nacin:
Prokuhajte vodu i secer, kada se istopi dodajte kokos, mlijeko u prahu i keks. Smaknite sa vatre i dobro promijesajte. Prohladite.
Izrezite puter na sitne komadice, ubacite u smjesu i energeticno mijesajte dok se ne istopi. Stavite u frizider.
Kada se stislo, uzimajte 1/2 kasike od smjese, ubacite 1 ljesnik i valjajte izmedju dlanova da oblikujete kuglice. Uvaljajte u kokos i stavite u frizider do sluzenja.

Forest Fruit and Coconut Cake

Ingredients:
6 eggs
2 cups caster sugar
250 g butter, melted
2/3 cup sour cream, warmed
1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup SR flour
1 cup coconut, dessicated
300 g mixed berries (rasberries, bluberries,...) fresh or frozen
Icing-
250 g cream cheese
2/3 cup icing sugar
2/3 cup milk powder
Method:
Preheat oven to 180*C (160* fan forced). Prepare a rectangular slice tin.
Beat eggs and sugar until fluffy, add melted butter and sour cream. Mix well, then sift flours on top of mixture, add coconut; fold in slowly by hand (spatula). Finally add fruit and pour into tin. Bake for 1 hour (or more) or until inserted toothpick doesn't come out clean.
For icing - put all ingredients into a bowl (cream cheese should be soft -room temperature), mix on a high speed until soft and fluffy. Spread the top of cake with icing. Serve with some extra fruit on top (optional).

Kolaci sa kokosom i sumskim vocem

Sastojci:
6 jaja
2 solje secera
250 gr maslaca, otopljenog
2/3 solje kajmaka/pavlake
1 solja brasna
1/2 solje samodizajuceg brasna
1 solja kokosa
300 gr sumskog voca/bobicastog
Krem-
250 gr krem sira (Philadelphia)
2/3 solje prah secera
2/3 solje mlijeka u prahu
Nacin:
Ukljucite rernu na 180*C (160 sa fenom). Pripremite cetvrtasti kalup za kolace.
Umutite jaja sa secerom u pjenu, dodajte otopljeni puter i kajmak. Promijesajte. Na povrsinu prosijte brasna, dodajte kokos, pa lagano rucno sjedinite. Ubacite voce, promijesajte i sve prerucite u kalup. Pecite oko sat vremena ili duze (provjerite sa cackalicom).
Za kremu - mikserom sjedinite sve sastojke, pa premazite kolac po povrsini. Mozete ukrasiti sa vocem, po zelji.

Cottage Walnut Pesto Mushrooms

'Weight Watchers' recipe. Unusual combination, excellent taste, low calories.

Ingredients:
12 large, or 6 giant mushrooms, stems removed
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
30 g walnuts, chopped
120 g Cottage cheese
1/2 cup carrots, grated
10-20 g bread crumbs
1/2 tbs soy sauce
1-2 tbs Basil Pesto
Method:
Preheat oven to 180*C. Sprinkle mushrooms with 1/2 bread crumbs.
Place walnuts, cheese, onion, and soy sauce into food processor. Process until fine.
Stir in carrot and pesto. Mix well and spoon the mixture into mushrooms. Sprinkle with the rest of bread crumbs. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Serve hot or cold.

Šampinjoni filovani Sirom, Orasima i Pestom

Potrebno:
12 vecih, ili 6 ogromnih Sampinjona, odstranite drske
1/2 srednjeg luka, sitno sjeckanog
30 gr oraha, sjeckanih
120 gr uzrncenog sira
1/2 solje rendane mrkve
10-20 gr suhih mrvica hljeba/kruha
1/2 kasike soja sosa
1-2 kasike Basil Pesto
Nacin:
Ukljucite rernu na 180*C. Pola kolicine mrvica pospite po gljivama.
U elektricnoj sjeckalici isjeckajte sve sastojke, osim mrkve i pesta, koje cete dodati naknadno i promijesati. Ovime filujte gljive, pa pospite sa preostalim mrvicama. Pecite 10-12 minuta. Sluzite toplo ili hladno.

Cheesy Lentil And Spinach Soup

For my followers from Northern Hemisphere...Something to warm you up. Ingredients: 1 tbs olive oil 1 brown onion, finelly chopped 1 large garlic clove, pressed 1 teas cummin powder 1/2 teas turmeric powder 1/2 teas coriander powder 1,5 cups red lentils 5 cups water 4 vegetable stock cubes 250 g baby spinach, chopped (frozen is OK) 100 g Grated cheese, for serving Method: Heat oil, fry onion. Add garlic and spices, cook for 1 minute. Stip in the lentils, add the water and stock. Bring to the boil, lower heat and cook uncovered for 25 minutes. Blend or process the soup, and stir through the spinach. Serve with crusty bred/French toast, sprinkled with cheese. Supa/Čorba od leće i špinata sa sirom Za one kojima je zimski period nastupio! Potrebno: 1 kasika maslinovog ulja 1 veci luk, sitno sjeckan 1 vece ceno bijelog luka, protisnutog 1 kasicica kima u prahu 1/2 kasicice turmerika u prahu 1/2 kasicice korijandera u prahu 1,5 solja (300gr) crvene lece 5 solja (1,25 L)vode 4 kasicice Vegete 250 gr spinata, sjeckanog 100 gr rendanog sira, za posluziti Nacin: Zargijte ulje pa proprzite luk, dodajte bijeli luk i zacine i przite jos 1 minutu. Uspite lecu i vodu, pospite Vegetom. Kada prokljuca, smanjite i nepoklopljeno kuhajte oko 25 minuta. Izmiksajte u kasu, ubacite spinat. Servirajte sa przenicama ili hljebom, posuto sa rendanim sirom.

Sesame Wafers

It takes only 10 minutes to make and bake these.

Ingredients:
50 g sesame seeds
1 tbs butter, melted
185 g brown sugar
3 tbs flour
1 egg
1 teas vanilla
pinch of salt
Method:
Preheat oven to 180*C, line tins with baking paper.
Mix all ingredients into a smooth mixture. Take teaspoon full of it and drop onto sheets, making sure you leave enough place for spreading.Bake 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown. Leave it cool in the tins, before you serve/store them.


Hrskavi keksici od sezama

Potrebno:
50 gr sezamovog sjemena
1 kasika otopljenog putera
185 gr braon secera
3 kasike brasna
1 jaje
1 kasicica vanile
malo soli
Nacin:
Zagrijte rernu na 180*C, postavite papir za pecenje na plehove.
Pomijesajte sve sastojke, dok se ne postane jednolicna masa. Kasicicom vadite masu i stavljajte na papir, ostavite dosta mjesta izmedju, jer se tokom pecenja rasire.
Pecite 4-5 minuta, ili dok ne postanu zlatnozuti. Neka se ohlade na plehu, pa ih tek onda vadite.

Paella

Easy way to feed large number of people. Traditionally made by men on Sundays, because women needed break from cooking. It can be made with anything found in the fridge.

Ingredients:
for 6-8 people
1 kg Marinara mix (or choose your favorite seafood)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, chopped
favorite vegetables (capsicum, green beans, peas, corn...)chopped
2-3 cups Arborio (risotto) rice
4-6 cups fish (or chicken) stock
salt, pepper, parsley leaves
1/2 cup white wine
Saffron (optional)
Method:
Heat oil in a large pan. Fry onion for a few minutes, add garlic, sea food, vegetables and fry for 5 minutes, stirring all the time. Add rice, mix well. Pour stock, cover and let it cook until water absorbed (15 minutes). Don't stir, just shake the pan, during this process. When rice cooked, add all the spices and wine. Stir well and let it evaporate. Serve hot.




with Saffron






Paela (Pajeja)

Potrebno:
za 6-8 osoba
1 kg Marinara mjesavine (ili sami odaberite morske plodove)
1/4 solje maslinovog ulja
2 crvena luka, sjeckana
3-4 cena bijelog luka
povrce (paprika, mahune, grasak, kukuruz...)
2-3 solje rizoto rize
4-6 solja riblje (pilece) osnove
so, biber, lisce persuna
1/2 solje bijelog vina
safron (po zelji)
Nacin:
Zagrijte ulje u dubljoj tavi, proprzite crveni luk, pa dodajte bijeli luk, morske plodove, povrce i pirjajte oko 5 minuta. Dodajte rizu, promijesajte i zalijte supom. Ostavite kuhati 15 minuta, dok riza ne upije svu supu. Povremeno protreskajte posudu. Kad je riza kuhana, dodajte zacine i bijelo vino . Promijesajte i ostavite da vino ispari. Sluzite odmah.

Cauliflower/Broccoli with Cheese

'Brassica oleracea' vegetable family includes cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli and collard greens. Very good for you, but unfortunately many of us (especially children) don't like the taste. Maybe this recipe helps, like it did in my household. You can use it for all of above mentioned veggies. Ingredients: 1 small head of broccoli or cauliflower, washed, separated 2-3 tbs water 1/3 teas salt cling wrap to cover (if using microwave) 1/2 small onion, finely chopped 2 tbs sour cream 1 teas mustard (Dijon or German) 3-4 tbs grated cheese (Mozzarella, Tasty) Paprika (optional) for sprinkling Method: Microwave vegetables for 7-9 minutes (spoon water over it,salt it, cover with cling wrap). Drain when cooked. Prepare 'dressing' - Mix onion, sour cream and mustard. Spoon over the top of veggies. Sprinkle with cheese (and paprika) and microwave for 2 minutes more. Alternatively, cook or steam veggies, repeat method with dressing and cheese and put in oven/grill until cheese melts. Karfiol / Brokoli sa sirom Potrebno: 1 mala glavica brokolija ili karfiola, oprano i ocisceno 2-3 kasike vode + celofan za pokriti (za mikrovalnu) 1/3 kasicice soli 1/2 glavice crvenog luka, sitno isjeckanog 2 kasike kajmaka/pavlake 1 kasicica senfa 3-4 kasike ribanog tvrdog sira (koji se topi) crvena paprika (prah) po zelji Nacin: Stavite povrce u posudu prikladnu za mikrovalnu, pospite vodom, posolite i kuhajte 7-9 minuta, pokriveno plasticnom folijom. Iscijedite vodu poslije kuhanja. Pripremite preliv: Pomijesajte luk, kajmak i senf. Kasikom nanesite na vrh povrca, pospite rendanim sirom (i paprikom) i vratite u mikrovalnu na jos 2 minute. ILI: skuhajte/naparite povrce, slijedite metod sa prelivom, pa zapecite u rerni dok se sir ne istopi.

Afghani Bread

My obsession with world breads continues! It's amazing that most of them use the same ingredients, but textures, shapes and tastes are so different.

Ingredients:
3 cups flour (unbleached preferable)
1 1/3 cups water
1 1/5 teas salt
1 teas yeast
Nigella seeds
Method:
Put all ingredients in a bowl, and mix with a wooden spoon (until incorporated). Turn over on floured surface and cover to rest (45 minutes). Preheat oven to 200-220*C. Oil baking pan (like pizza pan) and quickly transfer dough onto it. Be careful, dough is very heavy/wet. Stretch the dough and press middle with your (oiled) fingers, or cut dough in a few places and lightly stretch (pic 2). Sprinkle with nigella seeds and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden.
Perfect to use with Dukkah.

Avganistanski hljeb/kruh

Potrebno:
3 solje brasna
1,3 solje vode
1,5 kasicice sol1 kasicica suhog kvasca
Nigella sjeme (eh sad,...negdje kazu da je to crno sezamovo sjeme, Turci ga zovu crni kim, a negdje se govori o sjemenu luka (Stari Bosanski naziv 'Čukurek / Čurekot')
Nacin:
Umijesite tijesto od navedenih sastojaka; veoma je tesko i ljepljivo! Stavite na pobrasnjenu povrsinu i ostavite 45 minuta na toplom.
Zagrijte rernu na 200-220*C. Nauljite tepsiju i nadoslo tijesto prenesite na nju. Malo razvucite tijesto, i pritisnite na vise mijesta prstima, ili ga  nasjecite  i lagano razvucite. Pospite crnim sjemenkama i pecite 10-15 minuta. Perfektno da posluzite sa Dukkah.
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Chocolate Cherry Beauties

Today is first day of Summer in Australia, and day that I usually start baking for Christmas. It's relieving to know that outside temperatures are unusually low this year. My list is including: Scottish Shortbread, Austrian 'Zimtsterne', Wiener Poppy Seed Mini Muffins, Italian 'Panetonne', Coconut Biscuits, Poppy Seed Spirals, Chocolate and Fresh Ginger Biscuits, and Sesame Wafers, Hazelnut Truffles and more (recipes coming!). At last but not at least, Gingerbread House from scratch.

Ingredients:
185 g flour
30 g cocoa
1/3 teas salt
185 g butter, softened
105 g icing sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teas almond or vanilla essence
30 g almonds, toasted, chopped
Glace cherries for decorating
a bit of melted chocolate (to stick cherries)
Method:
Mix all dry ingredients, add butter, egg yolk and essence. Make a soft dough, wrap in cello paper and keep in a cool spot for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat oven to 190*C, prepare baking tins. Baking paper helps a lot.
Form small balls from dough, put on a baking sheet, and middle of every ball press with your finger (or shape dough into a log and then cut discs). Bake 8-9 minutes. When slightly cooled, dot a bit of chocolate in the middle and decorate with half of a cherry.
Keep in a cool spot for 2-3 weeks.



Čokoladne Ljepotice sa Trešnjama

Pecenje kolacica za predstojece praznike pocinje! Uvijek ispecem puno keksica, jer mogu dugo stajati i zgodni su za pokloniti.

Sastojci:
185 gr brasna
30 gr kakaa
1/3 kasicice soli
185 gr putera, omeksalog
105 gr secera u prahu
1 zumance
1 kasicica esencije vanile ili badema
30 gr pecenih, samljevenih badema
malo chocolade, istopljene
usecerene tresnje za decoraciju
Nacin:
Pomijesajte sve suhe sastojke. Dodajte puter, zumance i esenciju i umijesite tijesto. Ostavite odmarati (zamotano) na hladnom mjesu bar 20 minuta.
Ukljucite rernu i pripremite pleh za pecenje. Od tijesta uzimajte male loptice, koje cete oblikovati dlanovima, pa svaku prstom malo pritisnite na sredini (ili formirajte valjak, izrezite na diskove). Pecite 8-9 minuta, izvadite prohladiti.
Istopite cokoladu , pa na svaki kolacic stavite malo, zatim 'zalijepite' polovice usecerenih tresanja za dekoraciju.