Monday, March 31, 2014

Turkey Breast Fillet With Roasted Sesame Seeds

Ingredients:

2 turkey breast fillet, skinnless and boned; sliced into circa 2 cm thick pieces
2 small scallions, sliced
Handful fresh baby spinach leaves
4 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 cups of rice
1 tbsp dark roasted sesame seeds
1 tbsp olive oil
salt&pepper
*

Another recipe for poultry lovers, this time a version for turkey breast. Slice the breast into stalks about 2 centimeters thick. Heat up the oil on a pan and roast the scallions for a moment. Place the turkey onto the pan and fry the pieces from both sides. Add oyster sauce, soy sauce and sesame seeds with a spoon of lukewarm water, lower the heat and cover the sauce pan with a lid. Stew the meat in the sauce until cooked and soft. Serve on the bed of fresh spinach leaves and with boiled rice.
Bon Appetit!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Papaya Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh papaya, seeded and peeled, cut into cubes
1/2 banana, cut into circles
1/2 orange, peeled
100 ml mango and guanabana juice
100 ml water
1 tbsp chia seeds
*

Another of her smoothie tips, just mix all the ingredients in a blender and voilĂ , healthy snack is ready.
Bon Appetit!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Poppy Seed Pork Tenderloin With Green Olives Salsa

Ingredients:

250 g - 300 g pork tenderloin
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup poppy seeds
1/2 pack dandelion salad leaves
salt&pepper

salsa:
1 tomato, chopped finely
1/3 cup green olives, chopped
1/2 avocado
1/3 small red onion, chopped finely
dash of freshly squeezed lemon juice
dash of Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon olive oil
salt&pepper
*

She almost stopped eating pork meat since she moved to the Netherlands, but when she saw a recipe on the Czech Apetit smart phone app, she realized she could give it a shot for a change. This recipe was super easy yet had a sense of novelty because of the poppy seeds which was not a very common ingredient and has proven to be difficult to find in the Netherlands (thank you Arab food market). Cut the tenderloin into medallions about 2 cm in width. Brush gently all the sides with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and roll from both sides in poppy seeds. Let rest in the fridge for about an hour. Prepare the salsa by simply chopping tomato, onion, green olives and avocado, mix altogether with a dash of lemon juice, olive oil, Tabasco sauce and season with salt and pepper. Fry the pork medallions on a tiny bit of butter and on high heat from both sides for a few minutes, cover the pan with a lid and let finish of on lower heat. Serve with bunch of dandelion salad leaves and the salsa along with some bread as per your preference.
Bon Appetit!

Saturday, March 22, 2014

The Berry Coconut Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 cup strawberries
1/3 cup blackberries
1 cup water
2 tbsp coconut milk
70 ml Alpro Soya Mild and Creamy strawberry and rhubarb drink
1 tbsp rasped coconut
*

Smoothies seemed to be everywhere now, on blogs, tumblr, in magazines. She was drinking smoothies in the morning for a long time now. It was her morning routine before she went to work. It gave her the energy she needed for a good start of the day and for her journey to work which took her about an hour. She only had breakfast after she arrived at work. The preparation was super easy, just put everything together and mix with blender. This version was a bit richer and mor fulfilling. She used soya milk products as she was lactose intolerant, but feel free to use yoghurt or alternatively also goat's milk products. Be careful on the coconut milk part as the milk is very rich and oily, it should only add a bit of taste and texture to the smoothie. More of her favourite smoothies were about to follow. 
Bon Appetit!

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Easter Salad

Ingredients:

1 jar of quail eggs in brine
1 pack of baby asparagus spears
1 bulb of beetroot, cooked and pickled, sliced thinly into rounds
50 g semi soft type goat's cheese, crumbled
 Bunch of fresh salad leaves, baby spinach or similar
Bunch of fresh water cress
Bunch of fresh dandelion salad leaves
Bunch of edible flowers

Dressing:
4 tbsp mayonnaise
Juice from 1/2 a small grapefruit
1 teaspoon agave syrup
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
salt&pepper
*

They were planning to cook a dinner for their friends and they agreed to make it in "Spring/Easter" theme. It was her role to come up with a starter and she immediately envisioned fresh flowery salad as you can see on the picture above. One visit to an Arab market and she had all the ingredients she needed for a try-out which ended up with a great success. This salad has a bit more pricey ingredients but is certainly worth the try if you want to make a good impression.
She cooked and pickled her own beetroot by cooking the cleaned bulb with cut-off ends for about 45 mins on mild heat with about an half a teaspoon salt and about a tablespoon vinegar. Once boiled soft, the beetroot needs to be cut into super thin round slices. At the same time, the baby asparagus with cut-off ends is roasted on a pan with a drop of olive oil, salt and pepper al dente. The dressing can be also prepared at this time by simply stirring the mayonnaise, salt, pepper, vinegar, agave syrup and grapefruit juice until compact mixture is created. The sauce shouldn't be too liquid. 
She opted for placing the ingredients on the plate in form of little nests. The bottom is created by the thinly slices pickled beetroot on which various salad leaves and the water cress are placed. On top of each nest come two roasted asparagus spears and side wise quail egg cut in half. The salad is then topped by a bit of crumbled goat's cheese and decorated by edible flower. All the nests are finally sprayed by the dressing. Serve the salad with some fresh brown bread or baguette and crisp white wine.
Bon Appetit!

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Mexican Style Kidney Beans Soup With Chicken Sausage

Ingredients:

1 tin of red kidney beans or 1 bowl of kidney beans soaked in water over night and pre-cooked
1 l chicken bouillon
1/2 carrot, diced
1/3 of small red chili pepper, chopped finely
Bunch of fresh coriander leaves, chopped finely
Pinch of nutmeg powder
1 tbsp tomato pure
1 teaspoon butter
1 chicken meat sausage
salt&pepper
*

Simple but hearty soup which can easily serve as a main dish, this soup actually came together because of necessity to use the rest of a tin of red beans. Melt the butter in a pot, throw in finely chopped chili pepper and roast for a bit. Add diced carrot, and the beans including the liquid and stir for a while. Pour over the chicken bouillon, tablespoon of tomato pure, mix together and boil until carrots are soft. Meanwhile roast the chicken sausage in oven or fry it on the saucepan and slice it into rounds. At the end, season the soup with finely chopped fresh coriander leaves, nutmeg powder, salt and pepper; and mash the beans a little bit to make the mixture a bit more compact. Serve with the sausage and bread if you like.
Bon Appetit!