Category Archives: Food Blog

Pumpkin Beer Bread

Everywhere I look, it’s Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins… and I’m loving it.
I can’t get enough of Pumpkins, I eat them all year round (thanks you frozen pumpkin).
But since I’ve been thinking a lot about Pumpkins lately (no surprise there), I wanted to find more ways to use them. And today I am sharing with you my Pumpkin Beer Bread Loaf. Just like a normal whole grain loaf but with Pumpkin in it, and a little something extra… beer!
The result is a soft textured loaf, hearty with a hint of sweetness and a nice crispy crust.
I’ve kept it plain and simple so you can eat it with anything from cheese to Nutella. Don’t worry you can’t actually taste the beer.
The color of the bread needless to say, is beautiful.
So those of you who are still looking for a new Pumpkin adventure, make this Pumpkin Beer Bread, you’ll love it 🙂

⏰ Prep time: 15 minutes
🎃 Cooking time: ca 30 minutes
🍴 Makes: 2 Loafs

_______________________________________
INGREDIENTS:

4 – 4 ½ cups all purpose flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp. salt
1 package instant dry yeast
3/4 cup lukewarm water
1/2 cup light beer,
2 tbsp. oil
1 tbsp. sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree, freshly made or canned
a small handful of Pumpkin seeds
more flour for rolling out dough

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a bowl mix the two flours with the salt.
2. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the beer, the sugar, oil and 3 cups flour. Add the pumpkin puree. Beat until smooth.
3. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough.
4. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours.
5. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in two greased 9×5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30-45 minutes. Brush with a little milk and sprinkle with the Pumpkin seeds.
6. Bake at 375 F for 30 – 35 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
7. Remove from oven and place on wire racks to cool.

Enjoy !

Myra XO

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

9 Replies

There’s a new cookie in town!
These chocolate chip cookies are perfectly soft, chewy, and just all around pretty darn delicious. You’ll never need another cookie recipe again! I’ve made them with Spelt flour and coconut sugar and without butter, does that make them healthy? Let’s say YES.
But really, no. It just doesn’t make them as super unhealthy as regular store-bought cookies. And seriously if you’re gonna be a little naughty, ya better do it right. RIGHT?
And although these do still have some sugar, it’s half of the usual amount. And boy, are they good! So what are you waiting for go make ’em TODAY!

TIPS & NOTES!
1. Coconut oil is super healthy!
2. Coconut sugar makes the cookies even chewier and there are also some health benefits in coconut sugar. Coconut sugar contains a fiber known as inulin which helps slow glucose absorption. Coconut sugar also contains small amounts of vitamins and minerals like iron and zinc and phytonutrients.
3. Chill the dough for one hour before baking to prevent the cookies from spreading too much.

Makes 20
INGREDIENTS:
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, soft-at room temperature
• 1/4 cup baking margarine, soft-at room temperature
• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp. coconut sugar, tightly packed
• 1 tsp. liquid stevia or more coconut sugar
• 1 large egg (room temperature )
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. spelt flour
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Combine coconut oil and margarine with the sugars in a large bowl. Stir very well.
2. Add egg and stir well.
3. Stir in vanilla extract. Set aside.
4. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.
5. Gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients — stir well so that all the flour is absorbed.
6. Stir in chocolate chips.
7. Place dough in refrigerator and chill for 30-60 minutes.
8. Pre-heat oven to 177° C / 350° F and prepare cookie sheets by lining with parchment paper.
9. Scoop dough by rounded 1 1/2 Tablespoon onto prepared cookie sheets, placing at least 2″ apart.
10. Bake for 11 to 12 minutes, cookies may still seem slightly soft in the centers, that is OK, they will cook completely on the cookie sheets. Don’t over-bake or your cookies will be too hard.
11. If desired, gently press additional chocolate chips into the tops of the warm cookies.
12. Allow to cool completely. I like to eat them cold from the fridge, they get extra chewy.
Enjoy!
Myra XO

Classic Lasagna

8 Replies

Nothing beats classic lasagna!
And this is the easiest recipe you will ever make. It’s FOOL PROOF , anyone can make it even if you have never cooked before. Follow the recipe exactly and you will be super happy with the result. Also, it can be made ahead of time and it’s freezer-friendly!
This recipes does take some time to make and a little bit more effort – but I promise you, it’s worth it. I even double the recipe some times and put one lasagna in the freezer.
The lasagna has layers of classic meat sauce, bechamel and cheese. A.K.A. layers of goodness!
This one of those dishes that tastes even better the very next day! So if you have leftovers, lucky you!

Serves: 6-8

Cooking time: approx. 1 hour

INGREDIENTS:

• 9 fresh lasagna noodles
• 1 pound ground beef
• 4 oz. finely chopped bacon
• 1 onion peeled and diced small
• 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and grated
• Salt and Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 1/2 Cup Pasatta (tomato sauce)
• 1 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1 tbsp. bouillon powder
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 C. red wine or water
BECHAMEL:
• 1/2 Cup Butter
• 1/2 Cup Flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 4 Cups milk
• a grating of nutmeg, about 1/8 tsp.
• 1 bay leaf
ADDITIONAL:
• 3 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

DIRECTIONS MEAT SAUCE:
• Preheat oven to 350° F / 180° C . Lightly oil a 9×13 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the bacon and fry until it starts releasing a bit of fat, add the ground beef and onion and cook until beef has browned, add the garlic. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef as it cooks; season with pepper, to taste. Drain off excess fat. Put back on the heat. Stir in the pasatta, bouillon powder and Italian seasoning until well combined. Add the wine or water and let simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
• Remove from heat.

DIRECTIONS BECHAMEL:
1. Heat a large pot with a thick bottom, add the butter and melt.
2. Add the flour and stir with a whisk until well combined.
3. Add the milk slowly, stirring constantly, until very well combined and there are no lumps at all.
4. Add the bay leaf and nutmeg.
5. Simmer for about ten minutes until flour is fully “cooked”
6. Remove from heat.
ASSEMBLE LASAGNA:
1. Spread 1 cup tomato mixture onto the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish; top with 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the bechamel sauce and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat . Top with remaining noodles, tomato mixture, 1 cup mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan.
2. Place into oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until bubbling.
3. Let cool 15 minutes. This is an important step! *
4. Serve, garnished with parsley, if desired.
*Letting the Lasagna rest for 15 minutes will ensure that you can cut beautiful squares or portions.
*MAKE-AHEAD: Cover lasagna tightly with foil. Refrigerate up to 24 hours. Bake for 40 minutes. Uncover; bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until completely cooked through and golden on top.
*TO FREEZE UNCOOKED: Cover lasagna tightly with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months. To bake, remove plastic wrap, cover with foil and bake for 90 minutes. Uncover; bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until completely cooked through.
*COOKED from frozen: sometimes I will make this recipe and divide it into four portions and pack them into foil baking dishes. Then freeze, when I’m in a hurry I will only have to defrost and place on a plate and microwave, and believe me….still really delicious.

Chinese Spring Rolls with three dipping sauces

13 Replies

春捲
chūn juǎn

These are great as a party food or also as a finger food for movie night. We even have them for dinner and serve them with some cucumber sticks or salad. Either way they’re delicious and a real crowd pleaser too. And really not as difficult as they may seem.
The vegetables are adjustable to whatever you may have lying around in your fridge or whatever is in season, add any of the following, the total should come up to one pound of vegetables approximately for this recipe. At least 4 or 5 different kinds is best. The ones marked with an asterix are the vegetables I have used in my Spring Rolls.

carrots*, shredded or cut into sticks
bamboo shoots
shiitake (soaked and stem removed)
chestnut mushrooms*
cabbage, shredded*
paksoi*
sugar snap peas*,
green beans
finely sliced red bell pepper
onions*,
beans sprouts*,
peanuts,
basil,
cilantro*,

PREP TIME : 30 MINUTES
COOKING TIME: 15 MINUTES
MAKES : 10 MEDIUM OR 20 SMALL

INGREDIENTS SPRING ROLLS:
4 oz. rice noodles soaked
1 tbsp. vegetable oil for frying, divided
1 lb. mixed vegetables
1 tsp. grated ginger
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or dry white wine
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. Ketjap Manis
1 tsp. Sambal Oelek or more
1 teaspoon sesame oil
black pepper, to taste
2 tsp. Boemboe Sate (sate seasoning)

For the meat or tofu:
• 8 ounces ground pork/chicken or scrambled tofu
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine or white wine
• 1 tbsp. black bean sauce
• ¼ teaspoon white pepper

FOR WRAPPING:
1 package 8″ square spring roll wrappers
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tablespoon water for sealing the spring rolls
• Canola, peanut or vegetable oil, for frying

DIPPING SAUCES;
Sate Sauce:
• Sate sauce see Chicken Saté (Saté Ajam)

Sticky Red Chili Sauce:
• 1 tbsp. Lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. honey or agave if vegan
• 1 tbsp. sambal oelek
• 4 tbsp. Ketchup
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.

Garlic Lime Cashew Sauce:
• 1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked in boiling water for one hour, drained
• 1/4 cup water or more
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lime juice, or to taste
• 1 tbsp. aple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp. maple syrup
• 1 heaping teaspoon tahini
• 1 small garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• salt and pepper, or to taste
Mix in a high speed blender until smooth.

INSTRUCTIONS SPRING ROLLS:
1. Place the noodles in a large bowl, cover with boiling water and leave for 2 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water, then set aside.
2. Heat a large frying pan or wok, add half the oil.
3. When hot, add the meat or tofu to the pan and fry for a few minutes, adding the seasoning after the first minute, cook until cooked thru. Transfer to a large bowl.
4. Put the pan back on the heat and add the remaining oil.
5. Add the vegetables when hot and stir fry for 5 minutes approximately. After the first minute of cooking you add the spice mix and the remaining ingredients. Tossing to coat everything.
6. Place into the bowl with the rice noodles.
7. Toss everything together.
8. In a small bowl, blend the cornflour and 2 tablespoons of cold water.
9. Next, lay two spring-roll wrapper, smooth-side down, on a clean surface as a diamond shape, with one corner pointing down towards you.
10. Spoon 3 tablespoons of the filling on the bottom corner of the double wrapper. Brush each corner with the cornflour mixture, then start rolling up from the bottom. When the filling is covered, pull the corners in from each side (to seal the ends as you go). Continue rolling until the filling is tightly covered, then press to seal the top corner.
11. Lay the finished rolls on a large plate that has been oiled lightly and cover with a damp tea towel. Continue until you’ve filled all the wrappers.
12. Heat the oil in a large wok or saucepan over a medium heat.
13. Carefully lower the spring rolls into the oil and deep-fry for 2–3 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
14. Serve with the dipping sauces.

Enjoy!
Myra XO