Back!

I know I 've been gone for a long time but it's not like if anyone was waiting for my return, huh? I don't really know what happened... hmmm, let's see... did I cook less? Probably yes, especially over the past 4 weeks but I'll try to keep up with posting at least 1 recipe per month.

Spring is here... so no need for soups and warm, heavy food... BBQ and salad season is open. :) However, today was one of those rainy, grey sundays. My couch needed affection and was very persuasive. So after watching a movie 'Agora', catching up with House MD I had a sudden craving for pancakes. I put my latest music purchase 'Echo Mountain' from K's Choice on and I headed for a pancake session.

No, pancakes weren't the only thing i ate today. As I'm sitting here typing these lines, trying to feel less guilty about not keeping up with New Year's resolutions and pretending that I have a large audience following my blog, waiting impatiently for my posts, I'm enjoying the smell of marinated beef filet simmering in the oven :)


Oven-grilled beef

200 g beef filet
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp ras-el-hanout (Moroccan spice mix)
1 tsp oil
salt & pepper

Marinate the beef in spices over night and place in an oven dish. Pour over oil, cover with foil and cook in a preheated over (180°C) for about 20 minutes)

Serve with rice, steamed vegetables and a salad.

Composition of Ras el Hanout: cardamon, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, ground chili peppers, coriander, cumin, ginger (plus other spices...)
Literal translation would mean: head of the spice-shop. Ras el Hanout is the main ingredient in some tagine recipes such as 'Mrouzia' (a typical moroccan sweet-salty lamb & almonds tagine). Only grannies, and downtown spice-sellers know what's really in this mix. Its composition is kept secret which makes the meals made with ras el hanout even more delicious :)

Better than chocolate?

That's an absurdity! There's nothing better than chocolate! Come on!
Yes, there is... the other replied: chocolate and fruit is :)

Think, think, think...

The argument can continue... without me though and I stick to the fact that I can't think of anything better than a flat that smells like chocolate cake! mmm.... close you eyes, focus on this thought and smile!

Today, I made a cake for a friend's birthday... upside down chocolate cake! It smells SO nice and I can't wait for tomorrow to finally be able to taste it


Upside-down Chocolate&Fruit Cake


3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
100g dark chocolate
1/3 cup sugar
5 Tbsp butter
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup flour
1 Tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1 tsp vanilla sugar

1 large pear (sliced)
1 large banana (sliced)
1 Tbsp softened butter
1 Tbsp brown sugar

Melt the chocolate in a bain-marie, stir in milk until homogeneous. In a bowl combine eggs, sugar and butter and mix until obtaining a foamy mixture. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and vanilla sugar and stir. Add the chocolate+milk and continue stirring. Texture should be creamy and thick.

Butter a cake pan (30x20cm), overlay brown sugar and top with sliced fruits (be creative). Pour the batter over and cook for about 20 min in a pre-heated over at 180°C.

Serve the cake in a plate as soon as it's done and get ready for your self-indulgence :)

Fish, sea food and ...

I bought a record 2 weeks ago and I'm still listening to it almost non-stop! How sick is it?!
I don't care... music is good and so are the lyrics... and if you're wondering what I'm talking about or are one of the few that I didn't bore with my new addiction, it's a band called Mumford & Sons which I discovered while looking for a CD to buy in Saturn.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KCg_QEHtkY)

The weather has been awesome the past week, sunny, no negative temperatures and today... well today was warm, 13°C! You could almost think that it's Spring and believe it is! But I don't and I won't. Winter is lurking... besides, Spring doesn't start before March 22nd, right?! :)

This WE I felt like having a gourmet dinner and on Friday evening I was looking for inspiration. It came when I went out for a walk with a friend and that we decided to have fish for dinner. We went to the Viktualienmarkt and there scallops and trout called for our attention.

Here it goes for tonight:


Walnut-crusted trout
(recipe taken from www.epicurious.com and slightly modified)

• 1 large rainbow trout, skin left intact (cut open in 2)
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1 tsp grated garlic
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  
• 3 Tbsp all purpose flour
• 1 egg white, beaten to blend
• 1 Tbsp argan oil

Combine walnuts 1 tablespoon flour in processor. Grind walnuts finely; transfer to plate. Place remaining flour on another plate. Sprinkle fish with garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Chill for 2 hours. Bring out of fridge, dip into flour to coat; shake off excess. Using pastry brush, brush flesh side with egg white. Place fillet, egg white side down, onto walnuts; press to coat with nuts. Transfer to waxed paper-lined baking sheet, nut side up. Pour over argan oil in a thin filet. Cover with baking sheet in a papillote style and cook in a pre-heated over (180°C) for 15 minutes. Remove cover, turn grill on and roast for about 5 min until nuts turn golden.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pecan-Crusted-Trout-with-Orange-Rosemary-Butter-Sauce-1663#ixzz0gqopbLAp

Coquilles St Jacques in cream

1 3/4 cups water

3/4 cup dry white wine

1 small onion, chopped

Bouquet garni (see Mom's Tip)

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 pound very fresh scallops

8 ounces mushrooms, washed and chopped

6 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

1/2 cup heavy cream

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Coquilles-St-Jacques-109410#ixzz0grOaihwh

1 3/4 cups water

3/4 cup dry white wine

1 small onion, chopped

Bouquet garni (see Mom's Tip)

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 pound very fresh scallops

8 ounces mushrooms, washed and chopped

6 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

1/2 cup heavy cream

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Coquilles-St-Jacques-109410#ixzz0grOaihwh

(adapted from epicurious.com)

• 1 cups water
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 tsp thyme + 1 tsp oregano
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 pound very fresh scallops
• 8 ounces mushrooms, washed and chopped
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

Heat the water, wine, onion, herbs, and lemon juice to a boil in a saucepan. Add the scallops, cover, and simmer on very low heat until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove the scallops with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Add the mushrooms to the scallop poaching liquid and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Strain, discarding the onion and reserving the liquid and mushrooms separately.

Cut the scallops into 1/2-inch-thick slices. If too long, cut in half horizontally.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and whisk in the flour. Do not let it get dark. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of the scallop liquid and mix until blended. Over very low heat, blend the flour mixture into the scallop liquid. Add the cream and simmer and stir until blended and thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the scallops and mushrooms, and stir.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Coquilles-St-Jacques-109410#ixzz0grPfsFwR

The desert and pictures will follow soon :)