Beef broth made into two course dinner

I love good comforting food on Sundays, but preferably something that doesn't require me to spend my entire morning at the stove chopping, stirring and cooking. And of course it shouldn't cost a fortune.

Well, this recipe is the perfect choice! You just have to throw everything in a pot, let it simmer for about 2-3 hours and that's it :) And if you add a few more minutes you can turn it into a two course meal!



 Ingredients:
appr. 500gr rib steak with bone in, but if you use 1kg it's even better!
1 onion lef whole
1 garlic clove, unpeeled
8-10 black peppercorns
1 small bay leaf
1 tsp salt
 a generous pinch chilli flakes
1 potato
1 tomato (I used two cherry tomatoes that were lurking at the back of the fridge)
1kg carrot, peeled
500gr parsnip, peeled
small bunch of celery
If you can get them a small piece of savoy cabbage and a small kohl-rabi would give extra depth of flavour.
A big bunch of parsley, finely chopped for sprinkling

Put all the ingredients, except the parsley in a big pot. Add enough water to cover everything and about an inch more. Bring to the boil and simmer on a low heat for 2-3 hours.

 When everything is cooked through pour the broth through a sieve and sprinkle the chopped parsley on top.

 Serve the veg on a separate tray so everyone can take as much or little as they want.

For the second course, reserve your meat. Boil a few spuds in their skins and serve with the meat. You can serve some sauce (gooseberry is delicious!), or mayo, or horseradish sauce with it, maybe some salad.
Enjoy!

Oh, and don't forget the dessert! ;) Like my world's best chocolate cake...

Simple chocolate cake

This is a lovely moist chocolate cake we made with my little one for her big sister's birthday. It's fairly quick and easy. And absolutely delicious!!

 Ingredients:
6 eggs, separated
6 heaped tbsp. flour
6 even tbsp. sugar
1 generous pinch of baking soda
for the cream:
2-3 tbsp. custard powder
1 pint warm milk
6 tbsp. sugar
100 gr butter
1 heaped tbsp. cocoa powder

Pre-heat the oven to 180 C. Line a round cake tin with baking parchment. For the sponge beat the egg white until very stiff (you can upturn the bowl and it still stays in). In a separate bowl beat the egg yolk with the sugar. Add the flour and baking soda. Fold in the egg white. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 20-30 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted comes out clean.
For the cream prepare the custard following the instructions on the box/ sachet. In my case I needed 1 pint milk and 2 tbsp. sugar, made a paste then added the warm milk and gently boiled the mixture stirring all the time until it thickened.
Beat the butter and remaining sugar in a separate bowl. Add the cocoa powder. Mix with the cooled custard and fill the sponge.
Refrigerate for a few hours and then it's ready to serve!

Yumm yumm!

Fried dough - lángos

When I was a kid and we went to the market with my Grandma I could always smell the fried dough (or langos as it was called) all through the place. Freshly fried, dripping with fat ot or oil, with garlic sauce, sour creme and grated cheese, served on a piece of paper... It was amazing!
I tried it at home since once or twice, but it never was the same.
However today I was stuck for lunch ideas to serve with the soup. Then I decided I'll give this a go. And it was a success, kids loved it too!

Ingredients:
400 g flour
2 medium potatoes, cooked, peeled, mashed (or someleftover cooked potatoes)
7 g dried yeast
100 ml warm milk + extra
1 small tsp sugar
2 tbsp salt
1 tbsp oil
oil or lard for frying

Sift the flour into a large bowl. Add the potatoes. I used a sieve to press them through so they get very fine. Mix 100 ml milk, the yeast and sugar in a mug and leave in a warm place until the mixture gets frothy.

 Pour the yeast mixture to the flour, add the salt and the oil. Mix with a wooden spoon carefully adding more milk until it starts to come together.

 Knead with your hands until a soft dough forms. Cover and leave to rise for about an hour.

 Heat some oil or lard in a large frying pan. Take a small appleful of dough and pull with your hands into a flat patty. Don't worry if there are holes on your langos :) When the oil is hot fry on both sides until brown.

 You can serve this with some garlic sauce on top. Crush a few cloves, mix with water and salt and leave to stand for an hour or so.

 Bon appetite!

You can serve these with sour cream, grated chese, tomatoe sauce or even chopeed boiled egs on top. If you try them let me know how you like these and which topping was your favourite! ;)

Mini cottage cheese scones

I love savoury treats! And this one is soooo tasty! And so simple. And stays fresh for ages. Not that it stands any chance in our house of being around for ages... If I make a trayful they are usually gobbled up in an hour :)

 So, here is the recipe.
Ingredients:
200 gr butter
250 gr cottage cheese ( the drier, crumbly version, I usually get this in the Polish shop)
appr. 100 gr cheddar cheese, grated
250 gr flour
1 tsp salt
egg, beaten, to glaze

 Mix all your ingredients well, except the egg, using your hands. Leave to rest for an hour. Roll out to about 2cm thick, slash the top with a knife. Using a small round cutter cut out shapes, place them on a greased baking tray. Brush with the beaten egg. You can sprinkle them with sesame or sunflower seeds if you wish. Bake in a pre-heated (200 C) oven for 15-20 mins, until golden brown. Don't overdo them or they'll be dry!

And if you are having a party they are excellent as nebbles with your beer!
Let me know if you try them! :)

A twist on the pancake mix

If you like pancakes but hate the standing in front of the hob for endless hours and flipping pancakes this recipe is for you. It uses a basic pancake mix with added yeast but is ready so much faster!

First of all you have to make a thick pancake mixture. I suppose you can use pretty much any recipe, I used my usual one, only adding more fluor and less milk.

Ingredients:
2 eggs
appr. 250 gr flour
400 ml milk
1 tbsp sugar
pinch of salt
7 gr dried yeast
oil for greasing the tin
for the topping: coarsly ground walnuts, caster sugar

In a little warm milk dissolve the yeast and leave it stand until frothy. Meanwhile mix the rest of the ingredients well. Add the yeasty mixture, mix again. Leave to stand for about half an hour or so.
Pre-heat the oven on the highest temperature. Grease a tin well with the oil and put in the oven. When it's hot pour in the mixture and sprinkle with the walnuts and caster sugar. Bake for 15 mins or until the top is golden and the cake leaves the side of the tin.

 And you can cut it up and serve hot! With some home made apricot jam, yumm!

Oh, yes. Yours will be probably higher than this as I had two hungry little girls eagerly waiting for this so I didn't leave the yeast long enough to dissolve properly...

Carrot & oat bread

We were getting a bit bored with just the usual bread so I tried to experiment a bit with different ingredients. This one came up as a winner so far. :)

 Ingredients:
900 g flour
1 tsp salt
7 g dried yeast
1 tsp caster sugar
700 ml water
2 handfuls of porridge oats
half cup sunflower seeds plus extra for sprinkling
1 large carrot, grated
2 tbsp wheat germ
1 egg, beaten mixed  with a tsp salt

Mix the yeast with appr. half cup of warm water and the sugar. When frothy mix with the rest of the ingredients. Knead on a floured surface until firm smooth and elastic. Put in a gresed bowl, cover and leave in a warm place until doubled in size.
Grease a baking tray, shape your bread and cover. Leave it for half an hour. Then brush with the egg, sprinkle with seeds and bake in a pre-heated (200 C) oven for 45 mins or until sounds hollow when tapped on the base.

 

Mediterranean chicken

If you have stuck for dinner ideas for today you still have time to get the ingredients for this simple and delicious dish! It's ready in about an hour and you just have to throw the ingredients into a large tray, pop into the oven then sit back and relax until it's done.

I have seen a few versions of this kind of dish (chicken + spicy sausage + some other ingredients), this is the way I make it :)

Ingredients (feeds 4 people):
1 kg chicken drumsticks
1 kg baby potatoes, washed
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
250 - 400 g baby tomatoes
2 red onions, thickly sliced
about 15 cm ( :D ) chorizo or other spicy sausage, sliced
50 ml olive oil
1 tsp red paprika
salt, pepper

Wash all the ingredients and pop them into a large baking tray. Mix the oil, paprika, salt and ppaprika and mix well with the meat and veg using your hands. Bake in a pre-heated oven (200 C) for abot 45-60 mins, until brown all over on the top.
Serve with a green salad and enjoy!

 

My first try with liver - a success

When I was a kid my Mum used to make a lovely liver dish with potatoes. I just simply loved it! However, after getting married and starting to cook myself I never had the courage to make something with liver. It seemed difficult to prepare and I never saw nice looking liver in the shops. Then a few weeks ago I went into a local butchers. And there it was. The nicest liver I've ever seen. Already cleaned and sliced. So I dug out that old recipe and gave it a go. The result? It disappeared in a few minutes.

So here is the secret recipe for you all:
Ingredients:
1 large omion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp oil
1 heaped tsp red paprika
1-2 peppers, sliced
1-2 tomatoes, chopped
250 gr calf liver, sliced into long strips
salt, pepper
For the potatoes:
2 large onions, finely chopped
1 kg potatoes, diced
2 tbsp olive oil or some lard
salt

Heat the olive oil in a large fying pan or saucepan. Add the onions and sautee until starts to brown. Add the potatoes and the salt, reduce the heat and cover with the lid. You can add a little water so the spuds wont burn. Simmer with the lid on until the potatoes are soft. If you can use an iron pan you can sear the potatoes, it will be most delicious!
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion and sautee until they soften. Take off the heat and stir in the paprika. Add the peppers and tomatoes and put back on the heat. Cook, stirring frequently until they are almost soft, then stir in the liver. Cook for about 8 minutes, until done. Do not overcook, as the liver will be very tough then. Take off the heat and season with salt and pepper. Serve with the onion potatoes.
It's really yummy with some pickles like gherkins or sauerkraut :P

Creamy courgette chicken

I learnt the original version of this recipe from a friend. It has been cooked in my kitchen several times since - despite my elder girl not liking the courgette, but I keep trying... 

A veru quick and simple recipe, but great flavours!

 Ingredients:
2-3 tbsp olive oil
400g chicken breast fillet, cubed
3 courgettes
2 garlic cloves
1 heaped tsp dill
1/2 tsp lovage
1 good pinch powdered rosmary
1 heaped tsp parsley
salt, pepper
1/2 tub soured cream
2 tbsp flour
250 ml cream
500g pasta, cooked to packet instructions

 Cut the courgettes into quarters then slice them.

 Heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook the chicken until starts to brown. Add the crushed garlic cloves and cook, stirring, for a minute.

 Add the courgettes and all the spices.

 In a bowl mix the soured cream, flour and cream.

 Stir the mixture into the chicken and courgettte and bring to the boil. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then take of the heat.

Enjoy!

Mexican pork

Another mouthwatering recipe for winter. I really love the cinnamon in it!

 Ingredients:
1 red onion, finely chopped
half green pepper, diced (or you can slice it into long strips, but I tried to hide this as kids won't eat it if spotted)
2-3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground coriander
pinch of ground cumin
1 tsp paprika
generous pinc of chilli flakes
1 packet (appr. 500g) pork chops, sliced into thin strips
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 large carrort, finely grated
1 tin red kidney beans. rinsed
salt, pepper

 Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion and pepper and cook until soften.

 Take off the heat, add the paprika, stir the add the meat and other spices, stir again and put back on the heat. Cook until pork is almost done.

 Add the beans, carrot, chopped tomatoes. Stir, and simmer for 15-20 mins.

Serve with rice, a green salad and a tortilla and top with soured cream.
Enjoy!

Oriental pork stir fry

This recipe contains plenty of veg, some meat and is bursting with flavours.  A definite hit for the dinner table! My kids love it - except the bits of onion it, but hey, noone can like everything! :D And they still eat the rest of it. Especially the 'little trees'!

Ingredients:
400g pork chops
2-3 tbsp honey
1 lemon zest and juice
2 small red chillies
appr. 5 tbsp soy sauce
2-3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 head of broccoli, broken into florets
3 onions, thinlky sliced
1 pepper (any colour :) )
4-5 carrots, thinly slices
2 handfuls of green beans
a packet of mushrooms (appr. 250g)

 Deseed and chop the chillies.

 Cut the chops into thin strips and mix with the honey, chillies, crushed garlic, lemon juice and zest and soy sauce. Leave to marinade for 30 mins at least but best for overnight.

 Chop and wash your veg.

 Heat a little oil in the wok or a large heavy based frying pan and cook the pork, adding all of the marinade as well, until cooked through.

 Add the vegetables and stir.

 Cook until veggies start to get tender. Serve with boiled rice and extra soy sauce!

Potato Bread

For the last three months I've been making carrot and sunflower seed bread everyday and it kinda got boring by now. So I tried something new! I had some leftover potatoes and this went down a treat - with me. It turned out the kids don't like cumin seeds... They asked for the carrot bread again  :(

So if you don't like cumin seed either you can jusgt leave it out ;)

Ingredients:
500 g flour
250 g cooked  potatoes, mashed
1 sachet dried yeast (7g)
150 ml milk
3 tbsp oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp sugar
lard for greasing

Mix the sugar, yeast and milk. Leave until frothy. Then put all ingredients in a large bowl and knead. If too soft add more flour. Shape two breads and place on a greased baking tray. Leave to rise for about 45-60 mins.
Brush with water and place in a pre-heated (170 C) oven for about 60 mins or until the top is brown.r

Goulash Soup

This is one of my favourite meals, doesn't take too long to make - you just let it simmer on the stove and sew away... ehm, I mean, go about your chores in the house - doesn't cost a fortune and packed full of protein, iron, vitamins and all!

Ingredients:
2-3 tbsp oil
3 medium onions, finely chopped
1/2 red bell pepper
1 tomato, chopped or a tsp tomato puree
2-3 tsp paprika (you can be generous, it gives a full flavour and a deep colour to your soup!)
600-800 g stewing steak, cut into 1,5 cm cubes
2-3 celery stalks or 1/2 a small celeriac
8-10 medium carrots, chopped
4-5 turnips, chopped
a good pinch of ground cumin, or a few whole ones
10 peppercorns
salt
4-5 biggish potatoes, peeled and chopped

 Heat the oil in a large (and I MEAN LARGE!) pot. Add the onion and cook until softens. Add the finely chopped pepper and tomato.

 Take off the heat - otherwise the paprika would burn and turn bitter - and stir in the paprika.

 Put in the meat, stir and put back on high heat. I usually put in the celery here, or ou can put it in at the next step.You can add about half a cup of water, so it wouldn't burn. Lower the heat, place a lid on and simmer until the meat is tender.

 When the meat is done add the cumin, peppercorns, carrots, turnips.Stir, add more water and cok until the vegetables are done. Season with salt. Add the potatoes for the last 10 mins.

Ladle into soup bawls and serve with crusty bread!

This quantity serves 8 persons or 4 persons for 2 days. This is very nice the next day, too.
And when you don't have to cook you can do more crafting with the kids ;) I'm just not sure who enjoys it more, my little one or me...

From yet another of her fairy craft books...