Mexican Black Bean, Corn, Capsicum and Avocado Salad

It looks nicely colourful and it's delicious. You can serve it as vegetarian meal or side dish / salad. Would look good on Christmas table too!

Ingredients:

2 cans black beans  (or 1 cup dry, presoaked, cooked), rinsed

1 cup corn kernels (frozen OK), cooked

1 red capsicum, diced

1 red chilli( long/mild), diced

4-6 spring onions, sliced (or 1 Spanish onion, diced)

1/2 bunch coriander leaves, sliced

1 lime, juice and zest

1/3 cup olive oil

2 avocados, diced

salt, sugar and pepper to taste

cayenne pepper (optional) to taste 

Method:

Mix all ingredients (except avocado) 2-3 hours before serving, season and leave in fridge. Just before serving, dice avocado and mix in. Enjoy!

Meksička Grah Salata sa Avokadom, Kukuruzom i Paprikom 

Izgleda lijepo saroliko i pikantna je. Mozete je servirati kao vegetarijanski obrok ili kao prilog / salatu. Izgledala bi lijepo i na Bozicnoj trpezi.

Potrebno:

2 konzerve crnog graha (ili 1 solja suhog, natopljen i skuhan), ispranog

1 solja kukuruznih zrna (smznuti mogu), skuhani

1 crvena mesnata paprika, sjeckana na kockice

1 cili papricica, crvena blago ljuta, sjeckana

4-6 kom. mladog luka, sjeckana (ili 1 ljubicasti luk, sjeckan)

1/2 vezice korijander lisca, sjeckano

1 limeta, sok i ribana korica

1/3 solje maslinovog ulja

2 avokada, sjeckan na kockice

so, secer i biber prema ukusu

kajen biber (opciono) prema ukusu

Nacin:

Pomijesajte sve sastojke, osim avokada, na 2-3 sata prije sluzenja i zacinite. Promijesajte i ostavite u frizider. Neposredno prije sluzenja isijecite avokado i umijesajte laganim pokretima. Sluzite i uzivajte.

Conchas - Mexican Sweet Buns

Perfect for breakfast or snack; great alternative to hot cross buns!
Conchas = shells

Ingredients:
4 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbs yeast
1 tbs milk powder
60 g butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 cup warm water
Topping-
1 cup flour
1/2 cup icing sugar
120 g butter, softened
cocoa, turmeric, matcha tea....for colouring
Method:
Use your bread maker to make a soft dough of all ingredients. Alternatively, make dough by hand, let it double (covered).
Divide dough into 16 balls. Place then onto a lined baking sheet; make sure there is enough space between them.
For sweet topping - mix all ingredients into a smooth paste. Divide into 4 equal pieces. Colour each piece with matcha tea, cocoa,...or leave them plain white. Divide again each piece into 4, so you'll have 16. Place each ball (one by one)between sheets of cling wrap (or baking paper), roll out into a thin circle. Cover prepared buns with butter dough, and make decorative patterns (don't cut yeast dough, just butter dough surface). Let them rest for 30-45 min.
Preheat oven to 180*C. Place buns into oven and bake for 12-15 min.
Consume warm or cold.



Conchas - Meksički slatki hljepčići

Perfektno za doručak ili užinu sa kafom / čajem!
Conchas = školjke

Potrebno:
4 solje brasna
1/3 solje secera
1/2 k soli
1 k cimeta
1 K mlijeka u prahu
60 gr maslaca, otopljenog
1 jaje, umuceno
1 solja tople vode
Za povrsinski sloj-
1 solja brasna
1/2 solje secera u prahu
120 gr maslaca, omeksalog
kakao, turmerik, matcha caj...za bojenje tijesta
Nacin:
Umijesite tijesto od navedenih sastojaka, rucno ili uz pomoc mjesilice. Ostavite da naraste, pa podijelite na 16 jednakih dijelova. Oblikujte loptice i stavite ih na kalup oblozen papirom, sa razmakom izmedju.
Umijesite dekorativno tijesto od navedenih sastojaka; podijelite na 4. Svaki dio obojite sa kakaom, cajem,... ili ostavite bijele. Svako dio ponovo podijelite na 4, tako da dobijete 16 komada. Razvaljajte jednu po jednu lopticu na krugove (providna folija ili papir ce pomoci), smjestite ih na pripremljeno tijesto. Narezite ukrasne sare na povrsinskom tijestu i ostavite 30-45 min da narastu.
Ukljucite rernu na 180*C i pecite skoljke oko 12-15 minuta. Konzumirajte tople ili hladne.

Peri Peri Chicken

I'm back...
For a while, I was spending time doing my 'old' hobby - sewing. Since I didn't do it for a few years, I got out of routine - it took me whole week to complete an outfit.
It became problem finding a nice outfit for 'petite' person. Average person in Australia is 1,6 m tall (ME), yet regular sizes are made for persons over 1,7 m. I'd like to know who makes decisions on commercial clothing and their sizes?!
Anyway...
Peri Peri is traditional recipe of South America, but I found information that Portugal has similar recipe, and so does Africa. The key here is smokey flavour of chillies.

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken, split cut down the spine (or pieces with bones and skin)
1 red onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1-2 bird's-eye chillies, chopped
1 tbsp sweet smoked paprika
1 lemon, juice + zest of 1/2
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 small bunch of fresh basil
3-4 tbs olive oil
For serving - thyme
Method:
Place all ingredients (except chicken) into a food processor. Liquidise content, pour over chicken and marinate for 2 hours at least.
Preheat oven to 200*C, roast chicken until golden brown and aromatic. Sprinkle with thyme, before serving.



Piri Piri Pile

Evo mene nakon cijele sedmice borbe sa jednim 'kostimom'. Morala sam da sasijem nesto za sebe, jer je ponuda odjece za niske osobe ovdje katastrofalna. Obzirom da nisam sila jako dugo, izasla sam iz 'slifa' i trebalo mi je vise vremena nego obicno...
Piri Piri je recept Juzne Amerike, ali Portugal i Afrika isto imaju svoju verziju. Kljucni okus ovdje je dimljena paprika.

Potrebno:
1 cijelo pile izrezano duz kicme (ili komadi sa kozom i kostima)
1 ljubicasti luk, sjeckan
2 cena bijelog luka, protisnuta / sjeckana
1-2 male papricice (okrugle, mirisljave, malo ljute)
1 K dimljene crvene paprike u prahu
1 limun, sok + korica od 1/2
2 K sirceta (bijelo vinsko)
1 K 'Worcestershire' sosa
1 manji svezanj svjezeg bosiljka
3-4 K maslinovog ulja
Za servirati - majcina dusica / timijan
Nacin:
Stavite sve sastojke (osim piletine) u sjeckalicu; ukljucite i sjeckajte sve dok ne postane skoro tecno. Prelijte preko piletine i marinirajte najmanje 2 sata. Ukljucite rernu i pecite na 200*C, dok ne postane zlatno zuto i aromaticno. Pospite sa timijanom prije serviranja.

Chicken Fajitas

Another popular Mexican dish!

Ingredients:
1/2 kg chicken breast or thigh fillets, sliced in strips
2 tbs olive oil
1/2 lime, juice only
1 teas cumin powder
1/2 teas oregano powder
1/2 teas chilli powder
2-3 garlic cloves, crushed
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbs oil, extra
1 onion, sliced
1 large capsicum, sliced
1 small bunch of coriander
8 corn tortillas
Grated cheese(optional)
Guacamole, or diced avocado (optional)
Method:
Mix oil, lime juice, chilli powder, cumin, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper, and meat. Marinate chicken in the fridge for 30 minutes at least. Grill or pan fry the chicken over medium-high heat until cooked. (Reserve the marinade.)
Heat the oil in a pan. Saute the onions until tender. Add capsicum and the remaining marinade and saute until the peppers are tender, about 5-7 minutes.
Remove from heat and mix in the coriander and chicken.
On each tortilla put some of chicken mix, avocado, cheese...roll and enjoy!

'Fajita'(Fahita) sa piletinom

Potrebno:
1/2 kg pilecih prsa ili karabataka, isjeceno na 'prutice'
2 kasike maslinovog ulja
sok od 1/2 limete
1 kasicica kima u prahu
1/2 kasicice oregana prah
1/2 kasicice chili praha
2-3 cena protisnutob bijelog luka
so i biber prema ukusu
1 kasika ulja, dodatno
1 crvrni luk, isjeckan
1 velika paprika, isjecena
1 mali svezanj korijandera, lisce
8 tortilja
Rendani tvrdi sir (po zelji)
gvakamola ili sjeckan avokado (po zelji)
Nacin:
Pomijesajte ulje, sok limete, chili i ostale zacine sa mesom. Ostavite u frizider na najmanje pola sata. Ispecite meso na grilu ili na tavi, marinadu rezervisite.
Zagrijte preostalo ulje, proprzite luk, dodajte papriku; dinstajte oko 5 minuta. Skinite sa vatre, pa dodajte korijander i meso.
Na savku tortilju stavite malo mjesavine sa mesom, avokado i sir ako zelite i zamotajte. Prijatno!

Mexican Baked Beans

All Wonderful flavors of Mexico in one dish!

Ingredients:
1/2 kg Borlotti beans
bay leaf, peppercorns, salt
2 tbs oil
2 onions, diced
3-4 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbs paprika, smoked preferably
1 chilli, sliced
1 yellow capsicum, strips and dices
1 large carrot, diced
300 g speck, 6 thick slices + rest of it diced
2 teas cumin powder
1/2 teas oregano powder
1 potato, grated
salt, pepper, 'Vegeta' (veg. stock powder)
3-4 Chorizo sausages
Method:
Cook beans with salt, pepper and a bay leaf, until soft, but whole. (Presoaking overnight will help a lot, or using a pressure cooker.) Drain.
Heat oil in a large pot, fry onions, diced speck, carrot, diced capsicum and chilli. Add spices, then beans and 1-1,5 cups water. Cook for 1/2 an hour. Grate potato and check the taste.
Preheat oven to 200*C, oil an dish.
Spoon beans mixture into the oven dish, arrange sausages (halved lenghtwise), paprika strips and speck on top; sprinkle with paprika. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until thick and sausages baked.

Meksički Zapečeni Grah / Pasulj

Potrebno:
1/2 kg graha/pasulja 'Šarenac'
lovorov list, biber u zrnu i so
2 kasike ulja
2 crvena luka, sjeckana
3-4 cena bijelog luka, protisnuta
2 kasike crvene paprike, dimljene po mogucnosti
1 ljuta papricica, izrezana
1 zuta paprika, isjecena na prutice + kockice
1 veca mrkva, isjecena na kocke
300 gr mesnate slanine. isjecena na 6 reznjeva , ostatak na kockice
2 kasicice kima u prahu
1/2 kasicice origana u prehu
1 krompir, rendani
so, biber, Vegeta
3-4 Chorizo kobasica (moze i Kranjske, ali je ukus drugaciji)
Nacin:
Skuhajte grah sa biberom, solju i lovorom. Ocijedite.
Zagrijte ulje u vecoj serpi, proprzite luk, mrkvu, slaninu i papriku (kockice samo). Nakon nekoliko minuta ubacite zacine, grah i zalijte sa 1 (+)soljom vode. Kuhajte oko 1/2 sata, zatim dodajte izrendani krompir i provjerite ukus.
Zagrijte rernu na 200*C, nauljite tepsiju.
Istresite grah u tepsiju, poredajte raspolovljene kobasice, prutice paprike i slaninu na povrsinu, pospite tucanom paprikom. Pecite 15-20 minuta, ili dok kobasice ne porumene, a grah se stisne.

Chilli Con Carne

This wonderful Mexican dish is one of favourites in my family.

Ingredients:
2 tbs oil
2 onions, chopped
2 clove garlic, chopped or pressed
1 stick celery, chopped
1 chilli, chopped
2 teas cumin
2 teas paprika
1 teas oregano
500 gr mince
400 g caned tomatoes, chopped
3 tbs tomato paste
800 g canned red kidney beans
1 cup beef stock
salt, pepper, chilli to taste

Method:
Heat the oil, soften onions, add garlic, celery and spices. Cook 2 minutes, then add mince and cook it until change its colour. Add tomatoes and paste, stock and beans.
Cook for 15 minutes; add salt, pepper and chilli powder if needed.
Serve with rice or polenta.


Meksicki grah sa mljevenim mesom i chili paprikom

Potrebno:
2 kasike ulja
2 glavice crvenog luka, sjeckan
2 cena bijelog luka
1 stabljika celera
1 chili papricica
2 kasicice kima
2 kasicice paprike
1 kasicica origana
500 gr mljevenog mesa
400 gr paradajza, sjeckanog (konzerva)
3 kasike gustog kuhanog paradajza
800 gr konzerva crvenog graha (ili kuhanog)
1 solja govedje supe
so, biber i chili prah po ukusu

Priprema:
Zagrijte ulje, proprzite luk. Dodajte celer, bijeli luk i zacine. Promijesajte, pa dodajte meso. Kuhajte dok meso ne promijeni boju. Uspite paradajz, gusti paradajz, grah i supu. Kuhajte 15 minuta. Dotjerajte ukus sa solju, biberom i chili prahom.
Sluzite sa kuhanom rizom ili palentom.

Nachos

Made by my boys!

Ingredients:
20 g butter
1 large onion, diced
1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/3 teas chili powder
1 teas paprika
1/2 teas cummin
400 g caned tomatoes, diced
2 tbs tomato paste
1 teas brown sugar
200 g corn chips
1 1/2 cups cheese, grated
1 can red kidney beans

Method:
Preheat oven to 180*C. In a pan melt butter, add onion and garlic and fry for 3-5 minutes.Drain tomatoes and reserve 2 tbs juice: Add it to the pan along with spices, paste, sugar and beans. Cook for 5 minutes. Arrange 1/2 of chips on a ovenproof plate, sprinkle with 1/2 cheese, and 1/2 of tomato mixture. Do the same with the other half, leave cheese to be on top.
Bake for 12 minutes, or until cheese is melted.


Meksicki Nachos

Potrebno:
20 gr putera
1 veliki luk, sjeckan
2 cena bijelog luka, protisnutog
1/3 kasicice chili praha
1 kasicica paprike crvene
1/2 kasicice kima, prah
400 gr konzerviranog paradajza
2 kasike ukuhanog gustog paradajza
1 kasicica braon secera
200 gr kukuruznog chipsa
1 1/2 solja tvrdog rendanog sira
1 konzerva crvenog graha

Nacin:
Zagrijte rernu na 180*C. U tavi zagrijte puter pa proprzite crveni i bijeli luk. Dodajte zacine i sjeckani paradajz iz konzerve sa 2 kasike soka. Dodajte gusti paradajz, grah i secer, kuhajte jos 5 minuta.
U vatrostalnu posudu poslazite 1/2 chipsa, pospite sa 1/2 paradajz mjesavine i 1/2 sira. Isto ucinite sa ostalim dijelom, neka na povrsini bude sir.
Pecite 12 minuta ili dok se sir ne istopi.