Category Archives: Food Blog

Super simple Pastry Dough

Super simple Pastry Dough!

And when I say simple, I mean really simple and pretty much fool proof and no fail. This flaky pastry dough keeps amazing in the fridge for a few days and also in the freezer for about a month. We always have some in the freezer.
Sometimes I prepare various tins filled with dough, pop them in the freezer so I can make a pie or mini tarts at a moments notice.
What I love about this recipe is that you can use it for both sweet or savoury pies.
The most important thing with pastry is that it has to be, and stay as cold as possible at all times until it goes into the oven. When using ice water use as little as possible, a high fat content is essential in the butter you use, 80% preferably. Cut the butter in small cubes and place it in the freezer for 5 minutes while you set up your food processor and get everything ready.
After that it’s five minutes work and your done.

Prep time : 10 min

Cooling time : 2 x 30 min

Cooking time : 20 min

Serves : 8

1 x 20cm/8in spring form tin or 8 small tins

INGREDIENTS:

– 200 gr / 7 oz. cold butter
– 300 gr / 10 1/2 oz all purpose flour
– a pinch of salt
– about two tablespoon of ice cold water (maybe three)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Fill a glas with ice cubes and add water.
2. Cut your butter into small cubes, place them in a bowl a place this in the freezer while you get out your flour and food processor.
Measure the flour and place in the bowl of the food processor. Add all the butter, divided evenly over the flour. You want to process as little as possible and as quickly as possible.
Add the pinch of salt.
Pulse the food processor a few times until the mixture resembles sand, add the ice water one tablespoon at a time. Pulse again. To test, grab some pastry between your fingers and press together, as soon as it holds , it’s ready. Tip out on to a work surface and shape into a ball. Wrap in cling film and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before shaping.
When ready to use, roll out the pastry to desired shape, place in tin that has been oiled slightly, pierce the pastry with a fork and place a piece of parchment paper on top. Add some baking beans. Return to the refrigerator for another 30 minutes to cool completely before baking.
Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the parchment paper and baking beans and bake for for 5 more minutes.
Now they are ready to be filled with your favourite filling, sweet or savoury.
Enjoy!

Köfte with Tahini Yogurt sauce

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Köfte are Middle Eastern sausage-shaped meatballs, often grilled on a stick. They can be made from either ground lamb, beef, or a combination.They’re perfect for the barbecue, or can be fried in the pan or even baked in the oven. This recipe is simple and delicious and all it needs is a salad and good flatbread.

You can watch a quick video here

INGREDIENTS:

Köfte:

500 gr minced Beef
1 small onion, grated about 1/4 cup
1 clove garlic, grated
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp dried parsley or 1 tbsp fresh
1/2 tsp dried mint
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp all spice
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 egg

Tahini Yoghurt sauce:

1 cup (greek style)Yoghurt
Squeeze of lemonbjui
1 tbsp. Tahini
1/2 tsp dried garlic and 1 tsp dried onion powder
Salt & pepper

Flatbread to serve.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine all ingredients for the Köfte in a bowl and mix until evenly combined. Shape the meat mixture into sausage shaped meatballs, wetting your hands as necessary to prevent sticking. At this point you can also form the meat around skewers about 4 1/2 inches long. To secure the meat on the skewer, open and close your fingers along it, moving up and down the skewer and flattening the meat. Refrigerate the skewers until you are ready to grill.
Otherwise heat a frying pan to medium hot and cook the Köfte for about 5 minutes until cooked thru. Mix the ingredients for the Tahini sauce. Serve over flatbread with a salad, yogurt, and plenty of sauce. Enjoy!

Cakey Sweet Potato Brownies

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Let’s have a chat about these Brownies, these super soft and cakey Brownies.

They’re so unbelievably good that I don’t even know where to start. I’m not kidding either, they taste like Chocolate Birthday cake, and that’s not even my own comment. Someone actually said that while eating one of these babies. Very soft and chocolaty and pure indulgence. But…the most amazing part is that they are fat free, and I made them sugar free too. I have made them at least 9 or 10 times the past month and we just can’t get enough of them. I honestly don’t know what magic happens when you put sweet potato mash in a brownie recipe but believe me, it’s real magic.
I microwave a medium sweet potato in the morning (after piercing it with a skewer a few times) and forget about it until I am ready to bake. You could even do this the night before. For a video click here.
Then you mash the peeled sweet potato and add it to the batter, instead of butter. If you don’t want to bake with Stevia you can omit the applesauce and Stevia and substitute it for 1/4 to 1/3 cup Maple syrup or regular sugar.

INGREDIENTS:

2 eggs
1/4 cup apple sauce * see note
1/2 cup Greek yoghurt
1/2 cup mashed sweet potato
2 tsp. liquid Stevia extract * see note
2 tsp. Vanilla extract
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
6 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup small chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

Pre heat the oven to 180C/350F
Line a square tin 20x20cm/8″x8″ with baking parchment and oil lightly.
Pierce the medium sized sweet potato a few times with a skewer and microwave on high for about 3 minutes, turn the potato over and microwave for 2 to 3 more minutes until soft.
I always place the potato on a folded paper kitchen towel.
Let cool completely, remove the skin and mash.
In a bowl beat the two eggs, add the yoghurt, the apple sauce, stevia, vanilla and mix until combined. Add the sweet potato mash and mix well. Now add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. You’ll notice the batter is quite thick, but spongy, this is good.
Pour batter into the prepared pan and place on a rack in the middle of the oven. Bake for about 20 minutes. Test with a wooden skewer to see if the brownies are done.
Remove from the oven and let cool completely before cutting into 9 squares.
These are best kept in the refrigerator if not eaten the same day. I have roughly calculated the calories in one square and they are about 100 calories each. Awesome right? If you make them with maple syrup or sugar they will be a bit more, but still very OK.

Enjoy!

NOTE: omit the applesauce and Stevia and substitute it for 1/4-1/3 cup Maple syrup.

Cod and Shrimp in a Lemon cream sauce

21 Replies

This recipe for Cod and Shrimp in a lemon cream sauce is probably the easiest recipe on the blog. The seafood is baked in a delicious cream sauce in the oven, so there’s barely any hands-on time involved, and the result is a melt in your mouth dinner, that even your most demanding guests will love.
You can serve it with anything you like, such as rice, pasta or French bread to mop up the amazing sauce and a nice salad on the side or your favorite veggies.

INGREDIENTS:

4 x medium white fish fillets (cod, tilapia , hake etc…)
1 cup clean peeled shrimp
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 garlic clove, peeled and grated
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 cup white wine
1 tbsp. fresh dill or 1/2 tsp dried dill
1 tbsp. fresh chives or 1 tsp dried chives
1 tbsp. capers (optional)
Salt & pepper
butter for baking dish
1/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs or one to two tbsp. dried
some olive oil or melted butter for drizzling over breadcrumbs
Fresh parsley or chives and lemon wedges, to serve

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 200C / 400F

Season fish and shrimp with salt and pepper on both sides and place in a butter baking dish, add the capers if using.

Place cream, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, wine, dill, chives, salt and pepper in a small pan and bring to a very low simmer, until smooth. Pour sauce over fish and shrimp. Sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and drizzle with a teaspoon or two of olive oil or butter.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until fish is just cooked. Remove from oven.
Scatter some Parsley or chives over the fish and serve straight away.
Serve with rice, pasta or bread and a vegetable of choice.

Enjoy.

If you make this recipe please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you. And please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations!