Strawberry and Walnut Tart

Beauty of this recipe is it's flexibility; you can use any nuts that you like, and any fruit that is in season.

Ingredients:
Crust-
1,5 cup flour
3 tbs sugar
pinch of salt
125 g butter, cold in pieces
1 egg, beaten
1 tbs ice cold water
 Filling-
1 cup walnuts
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
pinch of salt
4 tbs butter, softened
1 tbs flour
10-12 strawberries, halved 
2 tbs honey mixed with 1 tbs water for brushing pears
Method:
Prepare a tart tin. Preheat oven to 180*C.
Put flour and butter into a food processor. Whiz until incorporated, add egg and water. Pulls until a ball starts to form. Take out and knead a bit. Roll out (floured surface) to a 28cm circle. Put it into a tart tin. Form 2 cm edges with your fingers.
For  filling - Process walnuts and add all other ingredients. Pulse until paste forms. Pour it into crust.  Place prepared strawberries  on top of walnut paste. Brush with honey/water mix, and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until slightly golden. Dust with icing sugar (optional). 

Tart sa Jagodama i Orasima

 Ljepota ovoga recepta je u tome da mozete koristiti bilo koje orasaste plodove, i voce koje je u sezoni.

Potrebno:
Podloga-
1,5 solja brasna
3 K secera
prstohvat soli
125 gr maslaca, iz frizidera, isjecenog
1 jaje
1 K hladne vode
Punjenje-
1 solja oraha, mljevenih
1/4 solje secera
prstohvat soli
4 K maslaca, omeksalog
2 jaja
1 K brasna
10-12 jagoda, prepolovljenih
2 K meda pomijesane sa 1 K vode
Nacin:
Pripremite posudu za pecenje. Ukljucite rernu na 180*C.
U elektricnoj sjeckalici, mijesajte brasno sa maslacem; dodajte sve ostale sastojke i mijesajte dok se ne pretvori u tijesto. Izvadite, mijesite jos malo. Razvaljajte na 28 cm krug. Prebacite ga u posudu, oblikujte prstima ivice 2 cm visoke.
Pomijesajte sve sastojke za za punjenje u jednolicnu masu. Uspite preko tijesta.
Rasporedite polovice jagoda po  masi, premazite medenom tecnoscu. Pecite oko 30-40 min ili dok blago ne porumeni. Pospite secerom u prahu (po zelji).

Low Fat Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:

1/2  medium pumpkin, cut into chunks (Butternut or Jap)

1 l skim milk

Vegetable stock powder

white pepper

Coconut essence (optional)

Method:

Cook pumpkin with milk until soft.  Add vegetable stock, salt and pepper. Puree contents using stab mixer (or blender); if you like thinner soups add boiling water. Check the taste and add coconut essence if you like oriental tastes (optional). Serve hot! 

Ukusna nemasna krem čorba od tikve / bundeve

Potrebno:

Pola srednje tikve / bundeve (neka slatkasta vrsta)

1 L obranog mlijeka

Vegeta, po ukusu

Bijeli biber, po ukusu

Esencija kokosa (ako zelite)

Nacin:

Stavite tikvu i mlijeko kuhati. Kada omeksa, dodajte vegetu i zacine. Izmiksajte sadrzinu; ukoliko zelite rjedju corbu dodajte kljucale vode. Provjerite ukus pa dodajte par kapi kokosove esencije, ako volite orijentalne ukuse. Servirajte dok je jos sredje vrela.

Black Forest Cake (Schwartzwald Torte) - revised and improved

...One of those 3 that I made last weekend!

Ingredients:
6 large eggs
200 g sugar
100 g butter, melted
50 g cocoa
75 g flour
1 large jar (670g) stoned (sour) cherries
60 ml 'Kirsch' (or cherry brandy)
(extra sugar if needed)
3 X 300 ml double cream (50% fat)
80 g icing sugar
2 tbs corn/potato flour (or arrowroot)
Method:
Preheat oven to 180*C. Grease a 22 cm tin, dust with flour.
Whisk eggs and sugar until thick and fluffy. Add melted butter; whisk with a lower speed, then switch off. Sift cocoa and flour on top; fold in gently.
Turn the mixture into tin, spread leveling the surface and bake for 30(+) minutes. Take out and cool. Cut cake twice horizontaly, to get 3 layers.
Empty the jar with cherries into a bowl / pan (add sugar to the juice if too sour), add kirsch. Mix in 2 tbs of cornflour. Cook or microwave until thick. Cool. Spread each layer of cake with 1/3 of prepared jelly . Whip cream with icing sugar; spread 1/3 onto first layer, place second layer, spread 1/3 cream and place final layer. Decorate with cream and shaved chocolate.
Refrigerate for 2 hours before slicing.

Torta Crne Šume (Schwartzwald Torte)

...jedna od one tri koje sam pravila proslog vikenda!

Sastojci:
6 vecih jaja
200 gr secera
100 gr maslaca, otopljenog
50 gr kakaa
75 gr brasna
1 veca tegla crnih, ociscenih visanja (670gr)
60 ml 'Kirsch-a' (ili seri-brendi)

(jos secers ako su visnje kisele)
3 X 300 ml 'duplog' slatkog vrhnja (50% masnoce)
80 gr secera u prahu
2 K gustina (ili slicno)
Nacin:
Ugrijte renu na 180*C, pripremite kalup za tortu (22cm).
Umutite jaja sa secerom u svrstu gustu masu, dodajte maslac; iskljucite. Prosijte brasno i kakao na povrsinu, pa lagano sjedinite rucno.
Uspite u kalup i pecite 30(+ minuta.
Ohladite i prerezite 2 puta, kako biste dobili 3 sloja.
U teglu sa visnjama uspite kirsch. Prebacite u posudu (serpu) dodajte 2 K gustina, promijesajte i kuhajte ( ili u mikrovalnoj) dok se ne zgusne. Prohladite , pa na svaku koru nanesite 1/3.
Umutite krem sa secerom u prahu. 1/3 krema stavite na donju koru, postavite drugu, zatim stavite drugu trecinu krema. Postavite posljednju koru, pa kremom dekorisite povrsinu. Ukrasite struganom cokoladom.
Rashladite tortu najmanje 2 sata u frizideru prije rezanja

Tiramisu Torte

EASY and delightful! This is one of 3 that I made past weekend...all for young Birthday girls.

Ingredients:
Sponge-
6 eggs
1 cup sugar
2  tsp instant coffee
2 tsp cocoa
(1/4 cup hot water to melt coffee and cocoa)
100 g flour
Syrup-
3/4  cup coffee (sweetened) + 1 tbs rum or other liqueur
Cream-
250 g Philadelphia cream cheese, room temp
300 ml double cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
80 g Icing sugar
For decorating-
cocoa and shaved chocolate
Method:
Preheat oven to 180*C,  prepare 22-23 cm spring form tin.
Beat eggs and sugar until thick and fluffy. Lower the speed then add melted coffee/ cocoa mixture. Fold in flour (by hand). Bake for 25-30 min.  Take out, cool on a rack, then cut in half to get 2 sponges.
Mix coffee with rum, spoon over both sponges.
Beat cream cheese with sugar and vanilla. Ad eggs, one by one. Take cream out of fridge; add to cream cheese mixture. Beat until incorporated and thick.
Place a sponge on a serving dish, spoon 1/2 of prepared cream, follow with another sponge and rest of the cream. Decorate with cacao and chocolate shaves. Refrigerate for 1 hour + before serving.

Tiramisu Torta

Jednostavna za napraviti i sasvim odusevljavajuca...Jedna od 3 koje sam napravila proslog vikenda - sve za rodjendane djevojcica!

Potrebno:
Biskvit-
6 jaja
1 solja secera 
2 k instant kafe
2 k kakaa
(1/4 solje vrele vode za kafu/ kakao)
100 gr brasna
Sirup-
3/4 solje jake kafe (zasladjene) + 1 K ruma ili drugog aromaticnog pica
Krem fil-
250 gr krem sira, sobna temp
300 ml masnije pavlake (50% masnoce)
1 k vanile
2 jaja
80 gr secera u prahu
Za dekoraciju-
kakao i strugana cokolada
Nacin:
Ukljucite rernu, pripremite kalup (22-23cm)
Mutite jaja sa secerom, dok ne postane gusto. Smanjite brzinu miksera, dodajte kafu i kakao rastopljene u vodi. Rucno sjedinite i brasno.
Pecite 25-30 min. Izvadite, prohladite i razrezite na 2 sloja.
Pomijesajte kafu sa rumom. Kasikom nanesite na oba sloja.
Mutite krem sir sa secerom i vanilom. Ubacite jedno po jedno jaje.
Izvadite pavlaku iz frizidera, pa i nju ubacite u smjesu. Sjedinite muteci mikserom. 
Postavite jedan sloj na posluzavnik, stavite 1/2 pripremljene kreme. Postavite drugi sloj i preko njega drugu polovinu kreme. Ukrasite kakaom i struganom cokoladom. Rashladite u frizideru najmanje 1 sat prije sluzenja.

Croissants - step by step

The key for good croissants is chilled dough and butter, and resting between rolling. Use the best butter you can find, as it makes big difference.
Following recipe is for 15-16 large croissants (I always freeze prepared and cut dough, and take out as many as needed), but you can half the recipe if you don't want to leave some dough for later.
Be aware!...they can be addictive!

Ingredients:
4 cups flour (600g)
1/4 cup sugar (50g)
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup warm water
2 tsp (1 packet) instant yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1 butter (250g)
Method:
Make a soft dough out of all ingredients (except butter); use bread maker, mixer or hands. Leave to double, then refrigerate for 1/2 an hour (at least, or wrap well and leave it overnight in the fridge). Take out on floured surface and roll out into an oblong shape (pic1). Take butter out of fridge, cut into thin (3-4mm) pieces. Dust a piece of butter with flour on both sides and roll out to 1-2 mm thin. Place it  onto dough, then repeat with other pieces of butter until you cover 2/3 of dough (pic1); make sure your edges (1 cm) of dough are free from butter. Now lift uncovered side of dough and fold as an envelope (1 over 2, then 2 over 3, as shown in picture). Roll out to an long shape (pic 2), turn 45 degrees and fold as shown in pic 3-4. Dust both sides with flour, place onto cutting board, cover with clean tea towel and refrigerate. Let it rest for 30-40 min.
Take out, roll again to an oblong shape (as pic 4 shows). If your working space is narrow, let dough hang down - it's OK. Turn dough and fold again (pic 5). Refrigerate, then after 30-40 min take the dough  out and roll out to a long rectangle. Cut shapes as shown. Roll base of the triangle towards the end (you can cut base as shown - it helps hold specific shape). Place onto lined baking sheet and let it rest on a warm spot.
Preheat oven to 180*C, brush croissants with an beaten egg white (optional) and bake for 12 -15 min, or until golden brown. Enjoy while warm!

'Croissants' - Francuski Polumjeseci

Kljuc za dobre 'Polumjesece' (Croissants) je dobro rashladjeno tijesto i maslac, kao i odmaranje izmedju razvlacenja. Upotrijebite najbolji maslac koji mozete naci, jer cini veliku razliku u okusu.
Sljedeci recept je za 15-16 velikih polumjeseca (ja uvijek pravim po navedenoj mjeri, zatim izrezem tijesto i zamrznem, zatim vadim onoliko koliko mi treba) - recept mozete prepoloviti.
Upozorenje!...mozete postati ovisni!
Potrebno:
4 solje brasna (600 gr)
1/4 solje secera (50 gr)
3/4 solje mlijeka
3/4 solje mlake vode
2 k (1 paket) instant kvasca
1/2 k soli
1 maslac (250gr)
Nacin:
Umijesite tijesto od svih sastojaka (osim maslaca - mozete upotrijebiti mikser, ruke ili pekac), neka naraste, zatim ga smjestite pokriveno u frizider (ili dobro zamotajte i ostavite u frizideru preko noci).
Pobrasnite povrsinu za rad, zatim postavite tijesto i razvaljajte ga u pravougaonik. Izvadite maslac iz frizidera, izrezite ga na komade 4-5 mm. Uzmite 1 komad, pospite brasnom i razvaljajte ga do debljine 2-3 mm. Postavite na tijesto, pa isto ucinite sa preostalim maslacem. Na ovaj nacin prekrijte 2/3 tijesta, ostavljajuci 1 cm pri krajevima slobodno, slika 1.
Prebacite slobodnu stranu tijesta preko maslaca, zatim to ucinite jos jednom, slika 2. Sada razvaljajte tijesto (od sredine prema sebi i od sredine u suprotnom smjeru, kao sto strelice na slici 2 pokazuju. Okrenite tijesto za 45 stepeni, pa ga preklopite na 4 dijela kao sto slike 3 i 4 pokazuju. Pobrasnite obje strane, stavite na dasku za rezanje, pokrijte krpom i smjestite u frizider.
Nakon 30-40 min, ponovite ovaj postupak valjanja, preklopite tijesto (slika 5) i ponovo vratite u frizider.
Nakon 30 -40 min, izvadite razvaljajte u veoma dugacak pravougaonik (slika 6). Izrezite na trouglove kao na slici, zatim savijte kifle (ako zelite specifican izgled, razrezite sredinu dna trougla zavijte kao sto je prikazano na slikama. Ukljucite rernu na 180*C. Postavite  polumjesece na tepsiju oblozenu papirom i ostavite na toplom mjestu. Prije pecenja ih mozete premazati umucenim bjelancetom (po zelji). Pecite oko 12-15 minuta ili dok ne postanu zlatno-zute.
Konzumirajte dok je toplo!

Satay Beef Salad ...or...My oven - episode 3

My oven door 'exploded'!...It went down in a million little pieces; and it's not first time - 

a year ago it happened already... The front (external) door simply broke for no reasons, leaving only internal glass attached.  Now I'm  in search for another  part  (again)....grrrr!

NOT HAPPY 'Whirlpool' / Ikea!

 Ingredients:

1 Large slice of rump steak (salt, pepper, oil for grilling)

1 Spanish onion, sliced

1 medium carrot, grated

1-2 cups bean sprouts

small bunch of coriander leaves, roughly chopped

10-15 sugarsnap peas (mangetout) , sliced diagonally

Satay sauce dressing-

1/2 tbs oil

1/2 tbs red curry paste

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 can coconut milk

juice of 1/2 lime

1 tsp brown (or palm) sugar

a bit of fish sauce or salt to taste

(or, use commercial satay sauce) 

Method:

Make sauce first, if you're not using already prepared.

Heat oil, fry curry paste for 30 sec, then add coconut milk and peanut butter. Mix well, bring to boil and take off of heat. Mix in fish sauce, sugar and lime juice.

Grill or pan fry seasoned steak, leaving it slightly pinky inside; let it rest.

Meanwhile, mix all sliced ingredients for salad, place it into a shalow dish. Place sliced steak on top of salad and pour satay dressing. Enjoy!

Satay Salata sa Ramstekom...ili ...Moja rerna - epizoda 3

Vrata  moje rerne su eksplorirala!...Rasula se u milion malih djelica, i to nije prvi put- prije godinu dana se to vec jednom desilo...Prednja (spoljna) vrata su jednostavno popucala bez ikakvog razloga, ostavljajuci samo unutarnje staklo u okviru. Eto sad sam u potrazi za jos jednim dijelom (opet)...grrr!

NISAM ZADOVOLJNA 'Whirlpool' / Ikea!

Potrebno:

1 veci ramstek (so, biber i ulje za pecenje)

1 ljubicasti luk, sjecen na rebarca

1 srednja mrkva, rendana

1-2 solje izdanaka graha / boba

mali svezanj lisca korijandera, krupno rezanog

10-15 mangetout mahuna (pljosnate), rezane dijagonalno

Satay preliv-

1/2 K ulja

1/2 K crvenog karija

1/3 solje kikiriki maslaca

1/2 konzerve kokosovog mlijeka

sok 1/2 limete

1 k braon (ili palminog) secera 

malo ribljeg sosa ili so prema ukusu

(ili, koristite gotovi satay sos)

Nacin:

Najprije napravite satay sos, ako ne koristite gotovi.

Zagrijte ulje, proprzite kari, dodajte mlijeko i maslac. Promijesajte dobro, pa zacinite sa ostalim sastojcima.

Zagrijte tavu i ispecite meso, ostavljajuci ga blago ruzicastim unutra. Neka se odmori.

Pomijesajte sve sastojke za salatu i stavite na vecu, plitku posudu. Izrezite meso na trake i poredajte ga preko salate. Prelijte pripremljenim sosom. Uzivajte!