I Used To...

Great book with very easy explanations - in Norwegian.

I used to collect cooking books...

I still do. I have a lot... 

No, I have not counted them...

♥

But lately I note that another collection is starting to take shape - knitting and crocheting books. Even if I know how to knit and crochet, it is always good with new inspiration and to learn new techniques! Just like I know how to cook, but it is still good with new inspiration and to learn new techniques...

Do I sound like I am trying to justify myself here...?

☺

Inspiring book and the description of the shawl I am hoping to make is in this book

Here are three of the latest ones that have found their way to my bookshelf the last month

Original book is in Norwegian, but you can now also get it in English (as you see!)

Nope, my hands are not idle in the winter evenings. 

☺

At the moment I am knitting socks to use up some old yarn after making some of the Christmas balls.  I have promised myself NOT to buy any new yarn until some of the old stock has been used up! I have finally cracked how to do the heel nicely! Very satisfying!

So proud of myself!!!

But I have also promised to try to crochet somebody very special a rather intricate shawl. Even if I have got myself a special lamp - with a magnifying mirror which is excellent for doing bead work -  I prefer daylight to do that so it will have to be a weekend project.

So, what is YOUR project these days (or evenings)?

Tried and Tested: Eshkeneh - Persian Onion Soup

 

My mother-in-law has taught me most of the Iranian dishes I make, but this one I taught her!

 

I found the recipe of this favourite dish of ours in a book given to me many years ago by dear friends in Chicago. The book, "New Food of Life" by Najmieh Batmanglij is an excellent book if you are looking for an introduction to Persian cuisine. She has written many cook books, but I keep coming back to this one.

 

Eshkeneh or Persian Onion Soup is simple and easy and very tasty and perfect on a cold days!

 Here is my take on it:

 

4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced

2-3 cloves of garlic
1 cup fresh or 3 tablespoons dried fenugreek leaves (Norwegian: bukkehornkløver)
3 eggs

2 tablespoons flour,

1 teaspoon turmeric (Norwegian: gurkemeie)

3-4 peeled potatoes
1.5litre water

2 dried lime or 4 tablespoons of lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil

 

Saute the onions and the garlic in a large pot with some oil on medium heat until golden brown - dont' burn them!

 

Add flour, turmeric and some salt and pepper and stir and cook for a minute or two.

 

Then add the fenugreek and saute for a few minutes, stir well to mix all the ingredients.

 

Add 1.5l of water, salt and pepper to taste.

 

Add the peeled and chopped potatoes.

 

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 50 minutes on medium-low heat.

 

Break the eggs into a small bowl, stir well and add to the soup and blend well.

 

Adjust the seasoning before serving (Tip: Add a spoon of sugar if it is too sour).

Serve hot with warm bread and plain yogurt.



A Noble Cause - Free Cook Book

Two Swedish guys have collected some mouthwatering recipes from some of Swedens most active food blogs with the view of raising money for Doctors without Borders.

They let you download the book as a PDF for free here in the hope that you will donate some money by sending a text to a special number in Sweden dedicated to Doctors without Borders.

Not sure how this works from abroad, but you can read more about it here.

Oh, and yes, the book is in Swedish!

Tried and Tested: Hummingbird Bakery's Vanilla Cupcakes





Very conveniently The Professor bought me this book on Saturday ;-)

Here we go with the first recipe from the weekend's festivities which is also my contribution to this month's challenge from Sota Saker.
This month's challenge is to bake something under the heading "Foreign".
Ok, ok, perhaps cupcakes are not all that foreign, but the recipe I used is British/American!:

Anyway, these are absolutely the best cupcakes I have ever tried!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

For 12 (small) cupcakes you need

(I actually recommend that your double the recipe):

120 g plain flour

140 g caster sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

a pinch of salt

40 gram unsalted butter (room temperature)

120 ml milk

1 egg

 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

*
Vanilla frosting

(see below)

*

Decorations
(hundreds & thousands or other edible sprinkles)

Sift the flour and mix with sugar/baking powder/ salt and butter till you have a sandy consistency.

I used a hand held mixer for ease.


Pour in half the milk and beat until the milk is incorporated

Whisk the egg with the rest of the milk and the vanilla extract in a separate bowl. Pour this into the flour mixture and continue beating till it is incorporated.

DON'T OVERMIX!

A handy tip is to put the papercases in a cupcake tray so they keep their form

Spoon the mixture into the paper cases (2/3 full) and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 mins.

Oven temperature 170 degrees.

Vanilla Frosting

I am not mad keen on frosting.
I think they are often too sweet so I am still on the lookout for something different.
But this is a rather traditional recipe and which I sometimes use on carrot cakes.
However, we often don't bother with any frosting as the cupcakes are so delicious in themselves,
but the downside is that they don't look so 'festive'

300g icing sugar

50 g unsalted butter (room temperature)

125 g cream cheese

I added a small spoon of  raspberry jam to give it some color

combine the icing sugar and butter first and then beat in the cream cheese till fluffy.

Word of warning - if you overbeat it can quickly become runny.

When the cupcakes are cold spoon the frosting on top and decorate as you like!

Turning 15!

We have been celebrating Our Boy's 15th birthday this weekend.

Initially, he felt he didn't have 'time' for a birthday party as he was busy revising for the exams... 

but he was still pleased when some of his friends and neighbours joined us for tea & cake plus a bottle of 'bubbly' on Sunday afternoon.

:-)

The Professor took him out for a couple of hours in the middle of the day and I wizzed round and decorated the garden and moved the dining table into the garden.

Superstrong mum!
They were both very surprised when they returned...!

;-)

 However, 2 minutes before the guests arrived the rain started...
We  had to grab it all and run in to set up the table inside!

Our Boy gets to choose his own cake(s) every birthday
and this time he has requested the following

'menue':

Earl Grey Tea

*

New York Blueberry Cheesecake

(recipe from Leila Lindholm's book:'A Piece of Cake')

*

The Hummingbird Bakery Vanilla Cupcakes

(recipe from my newest cook book:The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook . These are the best cupcakes ever!)
*
Home made Ice Cream with Daijm Chocolate

(from Ben & Jerry's book:'Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book)

I will post all recipes later in the week.

And next weekend he is having some friends over for a sleepover as exams are then officially over!

There will probably be more baking on the cards for me, I think.

It is not bad being15...

:-)

I was thinking we are coming to an end of the cake eating season...

Actually, no there are more celebrations to come later in the month!

High time to put some extra sessions in at the gym, I think!

Organising Recipes Tip!

 I have collected food recipes for as long as I can remember and have several ring-binders full of newspaper/magazine clippings and handwritten notes in addition to numerous cook books...The clippings are a rather messy system and in time the paper they are printed/written on becomes stained and even brittle. They are way too many to keep in the kitchen so many of the books and folders live in my study room - two floors above the kitchen.

All the recipes in this blog have been "Tried and Tested" and are our firm favorites and become a natural reduced version of all the folders and clippings and books.

As I don't have a computer/Ipad in the kitchen (yet)... I found it annoying to have to look them up on the blog each time I wanted to make any of them.

I have ordered a printout of my blog for 2010 and I am waiting in great anticipation to see it! I know you can also choose to have even just certain entries printed from Blog2Print, but as this was a rather expensive enterprise, I have been thinking of a way of collecting my recipes from the blog in a more comprehensive and tangible way.

A few weeks ago I bought a simple laminate machine to make labels for my kitchen jars and this laminate-idea developed into printing off my recipes, laminating them and putting them in a cute ring binder to keep in the kitchen.

Now they are durable, on hand in the kitchen and can withstand a splash or two!

:-)

Recommended Viewing: Julie & Julia

Having spent most of today spring cleaning the house I rounded the afternoon off watching a film I have been recommended many times: "Julie and Julia" with one of my favourite actresses - Meryl Streep. Meryl never ceases to amaze me and she fills the role beautifully.

I loved the film and thoroughly recommend it. 

It is a must see for anybody who loves cooking and blogging. Actually lovely to think the film is based on two true stories.

Now I want to get a copy of Julia Child's cookbook 

"Mastering the Art of French Cooking".

:-)

New 'Kid' on the Block

Most bakers and lovers of home made food are familiar with the long list of British men and women making their appearances on TV teaching and inspiring the great British public to cook:

• Cutie Jamie Oliver
• Sexy Nigella Lawson
• Interesting Nigel Slater
• Bad Boy Gordon Ramsey
• Trusty Delia

and so on....

The last entry on this stage is former-model-turned-chef Lorraine Pascale, the hosts of the baking program "Baking Made Easy".
Baking isn't necessarily 'rocket science', but it does require that you have good ingredients, the right tools and know a few tricks.

I enjoy her programs and may well buy her new book.

And yes, she does make it look like it is easy!

The Importance of Rewards and Small Goals

As part of my weight loss endeavour I think it is important to recognise efforts and reward myself along the way!

I am delighted to report I have lost almost 1/2 stone

(which in "normal" terminology means 6.5 pounds or just about 3 kg).

This means my first major goal of 10 kg before Christmas is not too unrealistic!

My reward might therefore be a bit naughty and not quite in the spirit of weight loss, but I have sooo long wanted to get a copy of lovely Leila Lindholm 's book "A Piece of Cake"...

I think Our Boy and his Norwegian Friend will have to be the official recipients of the outcomes of Leila's recipes!

I am sure they won't mind...