Tiramisu Ice Cream Torte

My son Vigor is 13!

Ingredients:
1 sponge cake, bought or made (4 eggs, 6 tbsp sugar, 4 tbsp flour, 1 tbsp corn flour; I added 1 tsp instant coffee), cut horizontally in 2
1 cup strong coffee with 3 tsp sugar
1L (4 cups) coffee ice cream
Chocolate and cocoa for decorating
Method:
Take ice cream out of fridge to soften. Prepare cake tin (sponge has to fit in it), cover with plastic foil.
Spoon/brush coffee over each 1/2 of sponge cake. Mix ice cream well, until you achieve spreadable texture. Place 1 sponge into tin, spread 1/2 of ice cream,place another sponge, press slightly, the spread the rest of ice cream on top. Put in freezer for 2 hours. Make chocolate decorations/ shavings - your choice.
When torte has hardened, dust with cocoa and place decorations on top.

Tiramisu Sladoled Torta

Potrebno:
1 biskvit za torte, kupljen ili napravljen (od 4 jaja, 6 kasika secera, 4 kasike brasna, 1 kasikom 'Gustina'; dodala sam 1 kasicicu instant kafe), prerezanu na pola
1 solja jake kafe, sa 3 kasicice secera
1L (4 solje) sladoleda od kafe
Cokolada i kakao za ukrasavanje
Nacin:
Izvadite sladoled iz zamrzivaca da omeksa. Pripremite obruc za torte u koji biskvit uklapa; oblozite folijom/celofanom.
Svaku polovicu biskvita prelijte (kasikom) sa kafom. Stavite 1 biskvit na dno kalupa, prerucite 1/2 sladoleda. Preko stavite drugi biskvit, malo pritisnite, pa onda i preostalu 1/2 sladoleda. Smjestite u zamrzivac na 2 sata. Pripremite vase cokoladne dekoracije, po vasem izboru.
Kada se torta stisnula, pospite kakao i ukrasite cokoladom.

Chocolate and Fresh Ginger Biscuits

In my grater family I have Catholics, Orthodoxes and Muslims, so celebrating our similarities and differences is something that we take seriously. It usually starts in November (my sons birthdays), and last for 3 months. A lot of biscuits is baked, eaten and given as a gift during this period.
Chocolate Ginger Biscuits are 'must-have' in my home, especially during upcoming holidays.
Ingredients:
5-7 cm fresh ginger, peeled and grated
185 g flour
2 tbs cocoa
115 g wholemeal flour
1/4 teas salt
1/4 teas black pepper, freshly grounded
225 g butter, softened
185 g brown sugar
2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
2 teas vanilla essence
chocolate (dark or white) for decorating
Method:
Mix all dry ingredients well, add butter, ginger, vanilla and egg yolks. Make a soft dough. Using food processor is OK. Divide into 2, and make square logs. Wrap with paper/wrap and refrigerate. When hard enough, cut into 3-5 mm pieces. Bake over silicon paper 8-10 min on 180*C.
Melt chocolate and decorate top of biscuits, when slightly cooled.
Last for 4 weeks in cool, dry spot.

Keksi sa Svjezim Djumbirom i Čokoladom

Potrebno:
5-7 cm djumbira, oguljenog i rendanog
185 gr brasna
2 kasike kakaa
115 gr integralnog brasna
1/4 kasicice soli
1/4 kasicice crnog bibera, svjeze mljevenog
225 gr putera, omeksalog
185 gr baon secera
2 zumanca, blago umucena
2 kasicice vanile
Čokolada po vasem izboru, za dekoraciju
Nacin:
Pomijesajte sve suhe sastojke dobro, dodajte puter, zumanca, djumbir i vanilu, pa umijesite tijesto. Podijelite na 2, oblikujte u 'kockaste' valjke. Zamotajte u celofan/foliju i stavite u frizider da se stegne. Rezite na 3-5 mm snite i pecite na papiru za pecenje oko 8-10 min , temperatura 180*C. Kada se malo prohlade, ukrasite ih topljenom cokoladom.
Traju do 4 sedmice na suhom i hladnom mjestu.

Simplified Bosnian Pita - Maslenica

As 'Bosnian Pita' is most popular page on my blog, I've decided to show simplified technique to all who want to learn making pastry, but are indecisive, because it looks difficult. This version of 'Pita' doesn't require very thin pastry, and even if the pastry tears a bit is OK, because only folding is involved. 'Maslenica' is pita with 'maslo' (Ghee); I started practicing on this sort of Pita.

Follow this recipe to make your pastry and prepare surface.
Prepare filling (your choice):
-Sauteed onions in olive oil (3), salt, pepper
-Cottage cheese 200g, 1 egg, salt (filling should be 'runny')
-Sauteed mushrooms, with some cream and salt
-Cooked mince with onion, salt pepper
-Capsicums...
This time I've chosen first 2.
When you stretch the pastry, spoon some extra oil in a thin stream (or melted butter mixed with some oil); sprinkle your filling in middle third, fold one side over it, repeat oiling/spooning mixture (now in half pastry which is folded already), fold again (another side over the middle). Do this process one more time: oil/sprinkle middle, fold one side, oil/sprinkle half fold over it. You'll get a square pita (with 9 layers). Each top (except final one) should be sprinkled with topping/filling.


Don' worry if looks 'wrinkled' or if pastry tears while stretching. This is 'Maslenica' - it's allowed, and you're practicing.
Oil top of pita. Bake at 180*C (fan forced) 25-minutes or until nice and golden.
Slice and serve with drinking yogurt (optional).

Maslenica - ili pita za pocetnike
Mnogo laksa verzija razvijanja jufke, posto je deblja i moze cak i da popuca. Ja sam se vjezbala na Maslenici, kao i mnoge druge pocetnice.
Slijedite ovaj recept za jufku, pripremite povrsinu i filing:
- sir sa jajima i kajmakom ('tecno' stanje)
- proprzeni luk sa soli i biberom
- gljive dinstane sa soli i malo kajmaka
- mljeveno dinstano meso + luk, zacinjeno
- paprike sjeckane...
Kada razvucete tijesto, koje moze ostati deblje, na srednju trecinu poprskajte nadjev i malo nauljite, preklopite jednu stranu, pa preko nje stavite nadjev i ulje. Preklopite i drugu stranu preko.(Vidi sliku gore). Sada to isto ucinite ponovo: fil na sredu, preklopi, fil i ulje ponovo, preklopi. Treba da dobijete znaci 9 slojeva, sa filom preko svakog sloja, osim posljednjeg, kojeg morate nauljiti. Ne brinite ako je tijesto popucalo, ili se zguzvalo. Tako treba, jer ste u fazi prakticiranja i dozvoljeno je. Pecite 25 -30 min na 180*C. Sluziti sa jogurtom (po zelji).

'Blind' Pie

This is an old recipe from times when families had many members and not plenty of food. It's called blind, because no one knew what they gonna get in their portion.
I would call it 'Comfort food' because it's very satisfying.

Ingredients:
2 large eggs
1 teas salt
3-4 tbsp olive oil (or melted butter)
1/4 teas black pepper
1 cup yogurt/buttermilk
1 cup wholemeal flour
1,5 cup plain flour
1 tbs dried onions
2 medium potatoes, grated
1/4 teas baking powder
milk to need (to make consistency of pancake mixture)
Cooked chicken meat (usually from making soup)
Cumin and Nigella seeds to sprinkle
Sour cream to serve (optional)
Method:
Preheat oven to 180*C; grease an ovenproof dish.
Mix eggs with buttermilk, oil and spices, add flour and enough milk to make it 'pancake mixture' consistency. Mix grated potatoes. Pour half the mixture into pan, arrange cooked meat, and pour the other half of mixture on the top. Sprinkle with seeds and bake for 40-45 minutes. Serve with sour cream.

Ćorava Pita

Stari recept moje stare tetke; Malo mesa koje se imalo moralo se razvuci za sve clanove porodice. Da ne bi bilo ljubomore, meso se sakrivalo u tijestu, tako da niko nije znao sta ce dobiti u svojoj porciji.
Potrebno:
2 jaja
1 kasicica soli
3-4 kasike ulja (ili otopljenog maslaca)
1/4 kasicice bibera
1 solja jogurta/kiselog mlijeka
1 solja 'crnog' brasna
1,5 solja obicnog brasna
1 kasika suhog crvenog luka (ili 1 manja glavica sjeckanog)
2 srednja krompira, rendana
1/4 kasicice praska za pecivo
Mlijeko po potrebi (tijesto treba da bude gustine kao za palacinke)
Kuhano pilece meso (obicno iz supe)
Kim i crni sezam za posuti
Kajmak/pavlaka za servirati (po zelji)
Nacin:
Zagrijte rernu na 180*C, pripremite posudu u kojoj cete peci.
Umutite jaja, dodajte zacine i jogurt. Uspite brasno, promijesajte,razrijedite sa mlijekom, dodajte krompir.
Uspite pola smjese u posudu, rasporedite meso po tome, pa uspite i drugu polovinu smjese preko mesa. Pospite sjemenom i pecite 40-45 minuta. Sluzite sa kajmakom/pavlakom.

'Spanish Wind' Torte

I don't know why it is called 'Spanish Wind'. What I do know is that there is no other cake/torte you can compare with this one.
Please note: Below is original recipe, which gives a huge (rectangle) torte. Pictured above is smaller, round version (9 eggs).

Ingredients:
-3 meringue layers, for each layer you'll need:
4 egg whites
225 g caster sugar
1 teas white vinegar
-Filling/icing
12 egg yolks
1 L milk
8 tbsp sugar
5 tbsp flour
300 g hazelnuts (or other nuts), roasted, processed
1,5 cups (375 g) butter, softened
Chocolate shavings for decoration
Method:
Preheat oven to 160*C (140*C fan forced). Have 3 pieces of AL foil ready.
Beat egg whites with a high speed mixer until stiff foam forms, ad sugar spoon by spoon, add vinegar. Beat until very thick and glossy.
Mark a rectangle (30 X 25 cm) on a piece of AL foil. Spread the meringue on foil, allow a bit for spreading, and bake/dry for 1,5 hours. Repeat with 2 more meringues. If you have fan forced oven, you can bake all layers at once. Let the meringues cool in oven with opened door.
For icing, Beat egg yellows and flour with a little milk. Pour the rest of milk in a saucepan, add sugar and bring to boil. Add flour/egg-yellow mixture and cook stirring all the time. You'll get a thick custard, which you need to cool.
Beat butter, add custard (must be cool) and beat it until creamy. Add nuts and mix well.
Peel AL foil from meringues, be careful - it's brittle. Top first layer with custard/nuts mixture, top with other layer, repeat until all used. Spread filling on top and around the cake. Decorate with chocolate shavings.


Torta 'Spanski Vjetar'

Potrebno:
-za svaki od 3 sloja
4 bjelanca
225 gr secera
1 kasicica sirceta
Krema:
12 zumanaca
1L mlijeka
8 kasika secera
5 kasika brasna
1,5 puter (375 gr), omeksan
300 gr pecenih, samljevenih ljesnika (ili oraha)
Cokolada za ukrasavanje
Nacin:
Ukljucite rernu na 160*C, ili 140* ako ima fen unutra. Pripremite 3 komada AL folije.
Umutite bjelanca u cvrst snijeg, dodajte secer i sirce i mutite dok ne postane cvrsto i gusto. Na foliju oznacite pravougaonik 30 X 25 cm. Nanesite snijeg, rasporedite ga, ali racunajte da ce se snijeg rasiriti tokom susenja. Pecite/susite 1,5 sat svaku koru. Ako imate fen mozete sve kore susiti u isto vrijeme. Ostavite da se ohlade.
Za kremu, umutite zumanca i brasno sa malo mlijeka. U posudu stavite kuhati ostatak mlijeka i secer. Kada prokuha uspite brasno/zumanca i kuhajte dok se ne zgusne. Ohladite. Umutite puter, dodajte ohladjenu kremu, pa sve zajedno jos mutite. Ubacite ljesnike,odvojite foliju sa kora (pazljivo) pa ovime filujte tortu.
Ukrasite struganom cokoladom.

Thai Fried Rice

Quick tasty dinner made from leftovers!

Ingredients:
2-3 portions of steamed jasmine rice (1 cup raw rice)
1 roasted chicken, shredded (or fry diced chicken meat/prawns)
1 egg (optional)fried as pancake, sliced
3 tbs olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1-2 hot chillies, sliced
1 tbs thai red curry paste
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrot, corn)
1 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs oyster sauce
3 drops sesame oil
2-3 green onions, chopped
3-4 tbs coriander leaves, chopped
Method:
Heat oil, fry onions, garlic, chilli and vegies. Add red curry, mix well; add rice, meat,egg. Fry and stir on a high heat for few minutes, until mixed well and rice separated. Pour sauces and sesame oil, mix again. Serve sprinkled with sliced green onions and coriander leaves.


Tajlandska 'przena' riza


Potrebno:
2-3 porcije kuhane hladne rize (oko 1 solja nekuhane)
1 peceno pile (ili proprzite komadice piletine/skampe)
1 jaje (po izboru)peceno kao palacinka i isjeceno
3 kasike maslinovog ulja
1 veliki crveni luk, isjeckan
2 cena bijelog luka, protisnutog
1-2 ljute papricice, isjeckane
1 kasika crvenog Tajlandskog karija (ne mora)
1 solja sjeckanog (smrznutog) povrca - mrkva, grasak, kukuruz
1 kasika soja sosa
2 kasike 'oyster' sosa (sos od skoljki)
3 kapi sezamovog ulja
2-3 mlada luka, sjeckana
3-4 kasike korijander lisca, sjeckanog
Nacin:
Proprzite luk, bijeli luk, papricice i povrce nekoliko minuta dok ne omeksa. Ubacite kari, rizu, jaje i meso. Przite i mijesajte cijelo vrijeme, dok se riza ne zagrije. Prelijte sosevima i sezamovim uljem. Servirajte na tanjir pa pospite sjeckanim mladim lukom i korijanderom.

Rainbow Torte

I avoid using artificial colours or additives in my food, but once a year it is OK, especially if it's someones wish to have it for their Birthday.
One other reason is the 'wow' factor that you get when cutting this cake.

Ingredients:-
-7 layer sponge:
7 egg whites (medium)
2 cups sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup milk, room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
3 cups plain flour
3 teas baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Food colours: Yellow, Red, Blue
-Icing:
3 cups milk
1 cup sugar
5 tbs flour
2 tbs corn flour (starch)
mint oil, or other flavouring
1 teas vanilla
500 gr butter, room temperature
Method:
Sponges-
Prepare as many 22 cm tins, as you have (I had two); line with baking paper, and make some extra baking liners ready (I had 4). Preheat oven to 160*C (fan forced).
Beat egg whites with a high speed, until you get a stiff foam. Add sugar, spoon by spoon, mix well. Pour butter, milk, sour cream and vanilla. Mix until all incorporated. Switch mixer off, and sift flour, baking powder and salt on top of meringue. Fold in with spatula. Divide mixture into 7 little bowls, and let the fun begin: in each bowl add food colouring until you're satisfied with shade. Be careful - use pipette or similar. Bake each colour sponge separately, 10-12 min. Repeat if you don't have 7 tins. Let it cool.
Icing-
Mix flours with a little milk until smooth and silky.
Put the rest of the milk and sugar into a saucepan, bring to boil. Pour flour/milk mixture into boiling milk, and cook on slow heat, until thick. Let it cool completely (not in refrigerator).
Beat butter well, add 'custard' and beat together until you get smooth creamy texture. Top each sponge/layer with this icing, take care to put layers in order, and then spread icing on top and around the cake.
Hide colours well; it makes a nice surprise for a cutting/celebrating person when they realise all the colours inside.





Torta 'Duga'

Sastojci:
-7 biskvitnih slojeva-
7 bjelanaca
2 solje secera
250 g maslaca, otopljenog
1 solja mlijeka, mlakog
1/2 solje kajmaka/pavlake
2 kasicice vanile
3 solje brasna
3 kasicice praska za pecivo
1/4 kasicice soli
Prehrambene boje: Zuta, Crvena, Plava
-Krema-
750 ml mlijeka
1 solja secera
5 kasika brasna
2 kasike gustina, ili slicno
1 kasicica vanile
ulje mentola ili aromu po zelji
500 gr maslaca
Nacin:
Pripremite kalupe za torte (ja sam imala 2) i oblozite ih paprirom za pecenje. Ukljucite rernu na 160 *C (sa fenom) ili 175*C bez fena.
Umutite bjelanca u cvrst snijeg, dodajte secer i jos mutite. Dodajte zatim maslac, mlijeko, kajmak i vanilu. Dobro promijesajte, iskljucite mikser pa prosijte brasno, prasak za pecivo i so na povrsinu. Lagano rucno sjedinite masu. Podijelite u 7 zdjelica i svaku obojite u jednu od duginih boja. Pecite svaku posebno 10-12 minuta. Ohladite.
Za kremu- kuhajte mlijeko sa secerom, uspite brasno (koje ste umutili sa malo mlijeka i vanilom)i skuhajte kao puding. Dodajte aromu koju ste izabrali.  Ohladite. Umutite sa maslacem u kremu, pa svaki sloj premazite ovom kremom. Ostavite za odozgo i okolo.
Sakrijte dobro slojeve, kako biste napravili pravo iznenadjenje onome koji reze!