naturalcuisine

Extra, extra! Read all about it! :)

2008-04-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

My blog now has a new home which I totally love!!! It’s so much brighter and its design suits me better. From now on I’ll only be posting on Culinarty.

What does my blog say about this? It’s so enthousiastic because it can now show you bigger photos of undistorted quality whithout the use of a third party like Flickr.

I can now install many useful plugins that I wasn’t able to use here. Some of them are already installed and others are yet to come. I really needed this type of flexibility!

I’ve transferred all the posts and comments there so you’ll be able to browse through older posts. The import took away the links attached to readers’ names and I suspect that’s due to some Blogger settings over which I have no control, so sorry about that.

Today I’ve published my first post on Culinarty. Yay, I’m like a kid all enthousiastic over my new toy :)) ! Hope to see you there!

Lume, lume, mare anunt mare! :)

2008-04-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

Blogul meu are casa noua!!! Mi-a tot soptit el ca ar vrea o schimbare asa ca i-am oferit-o pentru ca o merita cu varf si indesat. De acum inainte ma gasiti pe Culinarty.

Care e parerea blogului meu? E foarte fericit pentru acum isi poate expune poze mari in voie fara a pierde foarte mult din calitatea lor initiala.

E multumit pentru ca are de ales intre foarte multe plugin-uri utile unele dintre ele fiind deja instalate. Altele tin de surprizele pregatite pentru voi toti cei care ma vitizati, iar surprizele se dezvaluie pe parcurs, nu-i asa ;)

De acum inainte voi posta doar acolo. Va astept cu mare drag sa-mi treceti pragul in noua casa, una cu un design mult mai frumos fata de cel vechi. Sper sa va placa :)

Chocolate - Apricot Cupcakes Filled With Crème Patissière

2008-04-25T02:16:00.000-07:00

This recipe is my contribution to Nutriferia’s CHOCOLATE DESSERTS Roundup. Don’t forget to participate until 9 May! Even if I’m more of a savoury gal I sometimes crave something sweet and that usually implies chocolate :).

Cupcake ingredients (for 12 cupcakes)

5 Tbsp brown sugar (you might want to reduce the quantity if the chocolate and the jam you’ll be using are really sweet)
150 g/ 5.3 oz flour
100 g/ 3.5 oz milk chocolate
2 eggs
3 Tbsp apricot jam
1 Tbsp mashed compote apricot
100 g/ 3.5 oz unsalted butter
2 Tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice
1 tsp baking powder

Crème patissière ingredients

3 medium egg yolks
2/3 of a vanilla bean
1 ½ heaping Tbsp of flour
1 ½ cup of milk
2 ½ Tbsp caster sugar

Decorate with

Grated milk chocolate ( I was out of dark chocolate but I’m pretty convinced it woud’ve worked better)
12 (compote or fresh) apricot slices (you can also use peaches, that’s what I did)

Directions

It’s always a good idea to make the crème pastissière first because this way it will have enough time to cool before filling the cupcakes.

In a medium bowl mix well sugar and egg yolks using a wooden spoon. Add ½ Tbsp of flour and mix well, then another ½ Tbsp of flour, mix again to make sure the flour is evenly distributed and continue until you’ve tossed in all the flour.

Cut the 2/3 vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds. Pour the milk in a heavy-bottomed pan, toss in the vanilla seeds and bring to a boil over medium heat. When you see the milk foaming and rushing upward quickly remove the pan from the heat. Gradually whisk the hot milk in the egg-sugar mix. Pour the mix in the same heavy-bottomed pan and stir over low heat. It’s important to speed up the stir when it starts bubbling. When the stirring becomes more difficult and the crème patissière is a little bit thicker than a pudding you need to remove it from the heat and set aside to cool.

Preheat oven to 180 C/ 360 F.

Now on to the cupcakes. Line muffin cups with bottom-pierced paper liners. Coarsely chop chocolate and butter and melt in a bain-marie. Remove when melted and allow to cool for a few minutes.

In the meantime beat eggs and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Toss in jam, apricot purée, orange juice and melted chocolate and stir gently.

Mix together flour and baking powder, add to the bowl and stir again.

Fill each cup 2/3 full and bake them for about 20-25 minutes or until the cupcakes pass the toothpick test.

Set aside for a few minutes allowing to cool. Using a teaspoon remove a cone from each cupcake. Fill the hollow with crème patissière.

Decorate with grated chocolate and apricot (or peach) slices.

Indulge!

For those of you celebrating Easter on Sunday, I hope you spend these precious moments with those dear to you. Happy Easter!

Briose cu ciocolata si gem de caise, umplute cu crème patissière

2008-04-25T01:42:00.000-07:00

Aceasta reteta este contributia mea la roundup-ul organizat de Nutriferia ce are ca tema DESERTURILE CU CIOCOLATA.

Ingrediente pentru briose (12 bucati)

5 linguri zahar brun (s-ar putea sa fie nevoie sa reduci cantitatea in functie de cat de dulce e ciocolata si gemul folosit)
150 g faina
100 g ciocolata cu lapte
2 oua
3 linguri gem de caise
1 lingura piure de caise din compot
100 g unt
2 linguri zeama de portocale
1 lingurita praf de copt

Ingrediente pentru crème patissière

3 galbenusuri medii
2/3 pastaie de vanilie
1 ½ linguri cu varf de faina
1 ½ cana cu lapte
2 ½ linguri zahar alb fin

Pentru decor

Putina ciocolata razuita
12 felii de caise proaspete sau din compot (eu am epuizat caisele asa ca am folosit piersici)

Preparare

Intai vom face crème patissière ca sa aiba timp suficient sa se raceasca inainte de a umple briosele cu ea.

Intr-un bol mediu si cu ajutorul unei linguri de lemn se amesteca zaharul cu galbenusurile. Se adauga ½ lingura de faina si se amesteca din nou pentru a se incorpora complet si uniform inainte de a adauga urmatoarea ½ lingura de faina. Continua asa pana ce ai incorporat toata faina.

Taie pastaia de vanilie pe lungime si scoate toate bobitele acelea aromate. Pune laptele intr-un vas, adauga bobitele de vanilie si lasa-l la foc mediu pana incepe sa fiarba. In momentul in care se ridica spre suprafata si deci incepe sa fiarba ia repede vasul de pe foc. Toarna gradual laptele in vasul cu galbenusuri amestecand tot timpul cu telul. Apoi pune tot amestecul la foc mic si asteapta sa dea un clocot tot amestecand din cand in cand. Cand incepe se fiarba incepe si sa se intareasca deci e important sa amesteci cat mai des in acele momente evitand sa se prinda de fundul vasului. Cand devine greu de amestecat si e consistenta cel putin ca o budinca, se ia de pe foc. Se lasa sa se raceasca intr-un coltisor mai racoros.

Preincalzeste cuptorul la 180 C.

Pana se va raci crema, briosele vor fi si ele gata. Inainte de a face mixtura de briose e bine sa-ti pregatesti tava. Pune in fiecare adancitura o forma de hartie pentru briose pe care ai gaurit-o cu o scobitoare (inlesnind evacuarea aerului cald).

Acum mixtura. Untul si ciocolata se taie in bucati si se topesc la bain-marie. Cand amestecul s-a topit complet se ia de pe aburi si se pune deoparte pana cand din fierbinte se transforma in caldut.

Intre timp sa bat ouale impreuna cu zaharul la mixer. Apoi se amesteca usor gemul si piureul de caise in "spuma" batuta cu ajutorul unei linguri de lemn. Se adauga zeama de portocale si ciocolata cu untul topit si se amesteca din nou.

Faina se amesteca cu praful de copt, se adauga in bolul cu spuma si se amesteca din nou.

Umple fiecare forma cu amestecul obtinut fara a le umple chiar de tot (se lasa putin spatiu gol).

Se dau la cuptorul prealabil incalzit pentru 20-25 minute.

Testeaza-le cu ajutorul unei scobitori: daca scobitoarea scoasa din briosa are firmituri lipite de ea ar trebui sa le mai lasi in cuptor, daca insa e perfect curata, briosele sunt gata. Daca presezi putin bolta unei briose in jos si ea isi revine (e elastica si sare inapoi) inseamna ca sunt perfecte. Daca nu le simti elastice e posibil sa fi stat prea mult timp la cuptor.

Lasa-le cateva minute sa se raceasca apoi si ajutorul unei lingurite decupeaza un con in interiorul fiecarei briose. Gropita obtinuta se umple apoi cu crème patissière.

Se poate decora cu felii de caise (sau piersici) si ciocolata razuita.

Savureaza!

Daca te numeri printre cei care sarbatoresc Pastele duminica iti doresc sa te bucuri de aceasta sarbatoare alaturi de cei dragi tie. Paste fericit!

Healthy Brunch – Heart of the Matter

2008-04-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

Ingredients for 4 toasts

4 wholegrain rye toasts
1.7 oz /50 g low fat farmers’ cheese
1 tsp fresh dill – chopped
1 handful /3 Tbsp of celery root (cut into) sticks
the juice of half a lime
a few/ 1 Tbsp of beet (cut into) sticks
4 half an inch thick eggplant slices
A drizzle of olive oil
Freshly ground pepper mix (green, red, black and white)
A few shreds of red cabbage

Ingredients for the fruit salad (serves 2)

2 kiwi fruits
1 mango
The juice of a mandarin orange
A few walnuts

Directions

The first step is getting the celery ready. Put the celery sticks in a small mixing bowl and pour the lime juice over them. Put aside allowing the celery to soften and infuse.

Align the eggplant slices and drizzle with olive oil then season with the freshly ground pepper mix. Grill them until they soften quite a bit. Cut each slice into halves and put 2 slices on each toast, then add a mix of celery and beet sticks on the top.

Mix together farmers’ cheese and chopped dill and distribute the mix evenly on the 4 toasts. Top with a few shreds of red cabbage.

For the fruit salad just mix together diced mango, kiwi fruit slices and some walnuts. Spoon the mandarin juice over the mix.

I’ve made this brunch for this month’s Heart of the Matter theme hosted by Joanna .

Mic dejun sanatos (nu doar) pentru cei cu probleme cu inima

2008-04-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

Ingrediente pentru 4 toasturi

4 felii de toast din faina integrala de secara
50 g branza de vaci (dietetica)
1 lingurita marar proaspat tocat
3 linguri telina taiata betigase
Sucul unei jumatati de lime
Cateva / 1 lingura betigase de sfecla
4 felii (goase de 1 cm) de vanata
Putin ulei de masline
Amestec de piperuri
Cateva fasii de varza rosie

Ingrediente pentru 2 portii salata de fructe

2 kiwi-uri
1 mango
Sucul unei mandarine
Cateva nuci

Asamblare

Primul pas este pregatirea telinei: batigasele de telina se pun intr-un bol mic si se adauga sucul de lime, apoi se pune deoparte pentru ca telina sa se inmoaie si sa preia din aroma sucului.

Se grileaza feliile de vinete stropite cu ulei de masline si condimentate cu putin amestec de piperuri proaspat macinat. Cand sunt gata, se injumatateste fiecare felie, se pun 2 jumatati pe fiecare toast, apoi se adauga betigasele de telina si cele de sfecla distribuite egal.

Branza de vaci se amesteca cu mararul tocat si se rasfira peste fiecare felie, apoi se adauga fasiile de varza rosie.

Pentru salata de fructe altereaza staturi de cubulete de mango cu felii de kiwi si rasfira din cand in cand cate o jumatate de miez de nuca. Toarna sucul de mandarina peste bucatile de fructe.

Acest post este a 2-a mea contributie la Heart of the Matter, gazduit luna aceasta de Joanna.

Scrambled Eggs – My Way

2008-04-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

Ingredients (serves 2)

4 eggs
1 ½ Tbsp fresh dill – chopped
1 tsp herbes de Provence
1 Tbsp fresh parsley – chopped
15 cherry tomatoes
50 ml / 1.7 oz milk
4 spring onions (or scallions)
1 large orange bell pepper
Salt –to taste
Fresh ground pepper-mix (black, white, red and green) - to taste
2 Tbsp grape seed oil

Directions

In a medium bowl, beat together eggs and milk (for a softer texture). Toss in the chopped dill, parsley and herbes de Provence, salt and pepper to taste and mix well until blended.

Cut the pepper into halves, discarding ribs and seeds, then slice it. Thickly slice the white part of the spring onions.

In an omelet pan or skillet, heat the grape seed oil over medium heat. Toss in bell pepper slices and white part of spring onions. Sauté them for a few minutes.

In the meantime thickly slice the remaining spring onions and cut the tomatoes into halves.

Give the egg mixture another "beat" and pour it in the skillet. Toss in tomatoes and the remaining spring onions. Using a spatula or a flat wooden spoon mix well and cook until the tomatoes soften a little bit (give it a stir from time to time).

Serve immediately and...enjoy :).

Barbara of Winos and Foodies is hosting 'A Taste of Yellow' for LiveStrong Day so I’m thinking I’ll submit this post for her roundup.

Omleta à la Lore

2008-04-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

Ingrediente pentru 2 portii

4 oua
1 ½ lingura marar proapat tocat
1 lingurita verdeturi de Provence
1 lingura patrunjel proaspat tocat
15 rosii cherry
50 ml lapte
4 cepe verzi
1 ardei gras portocaliu
Sare – dupa gust
Piper proaspat macinat – dupa gust
2 linguri ulei de samburi de struguri

Preparare

Se bat ouale si li se adauga laptele (pentru o textura mai usoara), mararul si patrunjelul tocat, sarea, piperul si ierburile de Provence. Se amesteca bine din nou.

Ardeiul se curata de seminte, se taie in jumatate si se feliaza. Se taie rondele partea alba a cepelor verzi.

Se pune uleiul intr-o tigaie la incazit, se adauga rondelele de ceapa si ardeiul gras la calit.

Intre timp se taie ceapa verde ramasa si se injumatatesc rosiile cherry.

Se mai bate amestecul de oua si se adauga in tigaie atunci cand ceapa si ardeiul s-au calit. Apoi se adauga rosiile cherry si ceapa verde. Cu ajutorul unei palete se amesteca totul si se lasa pe foc pana cand rosiile devin putin mai moi (amestecand din cand in cand).

Se serveste calda si e minunata ;)!

"Hang on to spring" salad

2008-04-12T04:33:00.000-07:00

Another post that will hopefully bring spring at your table. Year after year I sit and watch as spring is getting shorter and shorter here and that’s something that doesn’t make me a happy girl. I even expect not to have any spring at all soon and just pop into summer without this wonderful "introductory" season. It’s like I can feel these spring days getting fewer and fewer. I for one have always preferred the shy warmth of spring over the melting heat of summer but the weather doesn’t care about my preferences so I’m determined to enjoy spring until its last shy sunshine. And I’m starting with the "hang on to spring" salad.

Today’s post is my second contribution to the Nutriferia Roundup: Springtime salads. Don’t forget to participate until the 17^th.

Ingredients (serves 4)

5 spring onions (or scallions)
1 English cucumber
2 green garlics (immature garlics – leaves and stems)
1 Tbsp fresh dill – chopped
2 medium tomatoes
Crumbled Feta (to taste) + 2 ½ Tbsp for the dressing
Red cabbage – shredded (3x both hands hollow)
2 handfuls of thinly sliced fennel bulb
4 tsp grape seed oil
4 tsp dry white wine
4 olives – thinly sliced
The juice of half a lime
The juice of one Nova mandarin

Directions

Wash the vegetables and then make the dressing so that all those flavours will have enough time to combine. In a small glass bowl mix well wine, juices, oil, olives and crumbled Feta then put aside.

Finely slice cucumber and fennel, thickly slice green garlics and spring onions and mix well with the shredded red cabbage and dill. Add the dressing and give it another good mix. Cut tomatoes into quarters and then halve the quarters and place over the salad. Sprinkle with crumbled Feta and serve immediately. It’s always good to make this salad just before you serve it so that taste and texture are at their best.

You might have noticed that I didn’t add any salt or sugar. That’s because I was simply trying to add these two via the dressing ingredients. I used olives and Feta for the salt and the mandarin juice for its citrus sweetness and it worked pretty well for me. Still if you feel like adding salt or sugar please do so when making the dressing.

Hope I didn’t bore you all with just another salad post.

Bon appétit :)!

Salata "tine-te bine de primavara"

2008-04-12T04:13:00.000-07:00

Din nou un post care sper ca iti va aduce inca o portie de primavara in farfurie. Eu una regret ca primavara parca se scurteaza in fiecare an. Prefer oricand caldura gingasa a primaverii decat canicula verii, dar vremea nu tine cont de preferintele mele asa ca sunt hotarata sa savurez primavara (atat cat mai e din ea) pana la ultima raza timida de soare. Azi dimineata voi incepe cu salata "tine-te bine de primavara".

M-am gandit sa inscriu si aceasta salata la roundup-ul organizat de Nutriferia pentru acest inceput de aprilie despre care va spuneam si in postul anterior.

Ingrediente pentru 4 portii

5 cepe verzi
1 castravete
2 buc. usturoi verde
1 lingura marar proaspat tocat
2 rosii
Telemea maruntita (dupa gust) + 2 ½ linguri pentru dressing
Varza rosie tocata (3x causul a 2 palme)
2 pumni de fenicul (bulbul) taiat rondele
4 lingurite ulei din samburi de struguri
4 lingurite vin alb sec
4 masline injumatatite pe lungine si apoi taiate rondele subtiri
Sucul de la ½ lime
Sucul de la 1 mandarina

Preparare

Spalam legumele dupa care facem dressingul pentru ca aromele lui sa aiba suficient timp sa se amestece. Intr-un bol mic, amestecam bine vinul, sucurile, uleiul, maslinele si telemeaua maruntita, apoi punem deoparte si ne ocupam de salata.

Castravetele si feniculul se taie rondele subtiri si uniforme (eu am dat-o in bara la partea cu taiatul uniform :( ), iar usturoiul si ceapa verde se taie rondele mai groase. Toate se amesteca cu varza rosie si mararul tocat. Se adauga dresssingul si se amesteca din nou. Rosiile se taie in sferturi , apoi sferturile din nou in jumatate si se pun deasupra salatei. Se presara cu telemea maruntita si se serveste cat de rapid. E bine sa o prepari chiar inainte de a o servi pentru ca atunci are cel mai bun gust si textura.

Probabil ai observat ca nu am folosit sare sau zahar. S-a intamplat asa pentru ca am incercat sa le adaug prin ingredintele folosite la dressing. Maslinele si telemeaua si-au adus aportul de sare, iar mandarina a adus o aroma usor dulceaga si pentru mine a fost ok asa. Daca simti nevoia de mai multa sare sau zahar poti sa le adaugi pe ambele in dressing.

In speranta ca nu te-am plictisit cu inca o salata iti doresc pofta mare :)!