Great idea for the Fourth of July or a summer dinner. Instead of whipped cream you can use sour cream, just mix 1 cup sour cream with 4 tbsp of sugar, adding a little vanilla. But this cream can be is slightly runny for the next day....
Read more
Category Archives: By Country
Black Currants and Gooseberry Nalivka (Homemade Liqueur)
I've already made so many different types of nalivka (homemade liqueur) from sour cherry, plum and different fruits/berry combinations but this last summer I had a lot of black currant and gooseberry, so besides baking cakes and pies from these berries, I used the remaining berries to make sweet-sour homemade liqueur.
Nalivka is a sweet fruit...
Read more
Madeleine Cookies with Lavender
Another option for Madeleine cookies, this time with lavender flowers. Usually I don't make large portions of these cookies but if you have left overs, just warm them up in a microwave the next day. Or just cook half and cover the rest of the dough and leave in the
refrigerator until the next day....
Read more
Beef Burger with Mozzarella and Basil Oil
Less is sometimes more with burgers and to keep it simple this burger is topped with delicious toppings like mozzarella, tomatoes, and lettuce. The basil oil adds great flavor as well. A great tip we learned with my husband for burgers is if you make a small indentation in the middle of each burger patty. the patties won't shrink...
Read more
Boquerones, Spanish Tapas with Anchovies
Boquerones is a type of Spanish appetizer (tapa) and the main ingredient is anchovies, small fish marinated in vinegar and olive oil. The first time I tried boquerones tapas was in Barcelona, you can find them everywhere in south of Spain, any bar or restaurant.
This appetizer can be made with the addition of red marinated peppers, for example piquillo...
Read more
Sunflower Kozinaki
Another Slavic sweet and easy recipe from my childhood that can be prepared quickly from sunflower seeds or nuts.
Kozinaki (Gozinaki) are Georgian and Armenian sweets with walnuts and honey, traditionally prepared for the New Year and Christmas.
Instead of walnuts they can be made from hazelnuts, sunflower seeds or sesame seeds. It's definitely kid's favorite!...
Read more
Orzo with Tomatoes, Pepper and Feta
Edamame with Spices
I began to grow edamame a few years ago, they are easy to grow and perfect for freezing, very tasty and healthy. Last year I save some of them for seeds for this year, and the rest of them go into my freezer so I cooked them the whole year....
Read more
Vareniki
Vareniki (varenyky, pirogi) are stuffed dumplings from Ukraine made from unleavened dough and different fillings. Some of the more popular fillings are vegetables, boiled potatoes, salted cabbage, baked pumpkin, fruits and berries, meat, mushroom, cheese, poppy seed or buckwheat. My favorite fillings are meat, potatoes with onions and mushrooms, cottage cheese or curd cheese and cherries. Vareniki with berry...
Read more
Tzatziki
Tzatziki is a classical Greek yogurt and cucumber sauce. If you don’t have Greek yogurt, take 1 cup plain yogurt with no additives, strain it and mix with 200 g of sour cream. Also use small or medium cucumbers, preferably without large seeds.
This sauce is great to serve with pita bread, fresh vegetables, meat or fish....
Read more