Gingerbread Dough

There is no smell like Gingerbread Dough smell.

Ingredients:
-Dough
750 g flour
3 tbs baking powder
2 teas cinnamon
1 teas cloves ground
1 teas ginger powder
1/4 teas cardamom powder
pinch of salt
190 g honey
150 g sugar, caster or icing
70 g butter, melted
juice and zest of 1/2 lemon
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
-Icing 'glue'..if you want to make a house
1-2 egg whites and enough icing sugar to make thick but still runny paste.
Method:
Mix all ingredients and make stiff dough. Cover and leave it rest for 20-30 minutes.
Dust working surface and roll out the dough 5 mm thick. At this stage you cut shapes, or 'house walls'. For a house you need to cut rectangles of following sizes;
12 x 19 cm - 2 times, 10,5 x 16 cm - 2 times and 16 x 18 - 2 times (you'll need to cut upper corners of those rectangles, so they support roof - see picture). From the rest of dough, cut out stars, ginger men, harts... Bake 10-15 minutes at 160*C. If you need to reshape (trim) your dough, do it while still warm.
Leave it cool completely, before you start assembling.






To do this you'll need some cans,
to hold walls up-right, while
corners (which you have spread with icing)
dry and become solid.
It usually takes couple of hours. Then you can
stick roof in the same way. After that
comes decorating part!
My Snowman is made of Raffaello truffles, which I have rolled into icing sugar.




'Gingerbread' Tijesto

Obozavam miris (i ukus) ovoga tijesta!

Potrebno:
-Tijesto
750 gr brasna
3 kasike praska za pecivo
2 kasicice cimeta
1 kasicica karanfilica
1 kasicica djumbir praha
1/4 kasicice kardamom praha
malo soli
190 gr meda
150 gr sitnog secera
70 gr putera, otopljenog
sok i kora 1/2 limuna
1 vece jaje
1 zumance
-Secerno 'ljepilo' za kucu
1-2 bjelanca i dovoljno secera u prahu da smjesa bude gusta ali jos uvijek 'tecna'.
Nacin:
Umijesite cvrsto tijesto od svih sastojaka, pokrijte i ostavite odmarati 20-30 minuta. Na pobrasnjenoj povrsini razvaljajte na debljinu od 5 mm i vadite oblike ili 'zidove' kuce. Za zidove cete trebati po 2 pravougaonika sljedecih dimenzija:
12 X 19cm, 10,5 X 16cm, i 16 X 18cm (od ovih cete odrezati gornje uglove, da bi mogli podrzati krov - vidi sliku).
Pecite 10-15 minuta na 160*C. Kada izvadite i prije nego se ohladi, odrezite/dotjerajte oblike. Ohladite prije nego zapocnete 'gradnju'.
Kada podignete zidove, ivice namazite bjelanjkovom smjesom, pa zidove ucvrstite sa konzervama. Ostavite da se stegne prije nego stavite krov na isti nacin. Poslije ovoga dolazi dekoracija, koju cu prepustiti vama.
Od ovoga tijesta mozete praviti i druge oblike.

Raffaello Truffles

Very popular dessert in Balkan countries. No baking involved (if you buy pre-roasted hazelnuts)!

Ingredients:
100 ml water
260 g milk powder
135 g coconut + extra for rolling
200 g sugar
165 g butter
40 g plain biscuits (milk coffee or sim.), processed into fine crumbs
Whole roasted hazelnuts (120g)
Method:
Put sugar and water into a saucepan, bring to boil. When sugar dissolved, add milk powder, coconut and biscuit crumbs. Take off the heat and mix well. Cool slightly.
Cut butter into small pieces, add to the mixture and mix vigorously until incorporated. Refrigerate until firm.
Take 1/2 tbs of the mixture, put a hazelnut in the middle and roll between your palms to form a ball. Throw into a bowl with some coconut, shake and roll to coat each ball. Refrigerate until firm.


Rafaelo Kuglice

Potrebno:
100 ml vode
260 gr mlijeka u prahu
135 gr kokosa + za uvaljati
200 gr secera
165 gr putera
40 gr 'petit' keksa, samljevenog
Cijeli ljesnici (peceni) za unutrasnjost Rafaela (120gr)
Nacin:
Prokuhajte vodu i secer, kada se istopi dodajte kokos, mlijeko u prahu i keks. Smaknite sa vatre i dobro promijesajte. Prohladite.
Izrezite puter na sitne komadice, ubacite u smjesu i energeticno mijesajte dok se ne istopi. Stavite u frizider.
Kada se stislo, uzimajte 1/2 kasike od smjese, ubacite 1 ljesnik i valjajte izmedju dlanova da oblikujete kuglice. Uvaljajte u kokos i stavite u frizider do sluzenja.

Forest Fruit and Coconut Cake

Ingredients:
6 eggs
2 cups caster sugar
250 g butter, melted
2/3 cup sour cream, warmed
1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup SR flour
1 cup coconut, dessicated
300 g mixed berries (rasberries, bluberries,...) fresh or frozen
Icing-
250 g cream cheese
2/3 cup icing sugar
2/3 cup milk powder
Method:
Preheat oven to 180*C (160* fan forced). Prepare a rectangular slice tin.
Beat eggs and sugar until fluffy, add melted butter and sour cream. Mix well, then sift flours on top of mixture, add coconut; fold in slowly by hand (spatula). Finally add fruit and pour into tin. Bake for 1 hour (or more) or until inserted toothpick doesn't come out clean.
For icing - put all ingredients into a bowl (cream cheese should be soft -room temperature), mix on a high speed until soft and fluffy. Spread the top of cake with icing. Serve with some extra fruit on top (optional).

Kolaci sa kokosom i sumskim vocem

Sastojci:
6 jaja
2 solje secera
250 gr maslaca, otopljenog
2/3 solje kajmaka/pavlake
1 solja brasna
1/2 solje samodizajuceg brasna
1 solja kokosa
300 gr sumskog voca/bobicastog
Krem-
250 gr krem sira (Philadelphia)
2/3 solje prah secera
2/3 solje mlijeka u prahu
Nacin:
Ukljucite rernu na 180*C (160 sa fenom). Pripremite cetvrtasti kalup za kolace.
Umutite jaja sa secerom u pjenu, dodajte otopljeni puter i kajmak. Promijesajte. Na povrsinu prosijte brasna, dodajte kokos, pa lagano rucno sjedinite. Ubacite voce, promijesajte i sve prerucite u kalup. Pecite oko sat vremena ili duze (provjerite sa cackalicom).
Za kremu - mikserom sjedinite sve sastojke, pa premazite kolac po povrsini. Mozete ukrasiti sa vocem, po zelji.

Cottage Walnut Pesto Mushrooms

'Weight Watchers' recipe. Unusual combination, excellent taste, low calories.

Ingredients:
12 large, or 6 giant mushrooms, stems removed
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
30 g walnuts, chopped
120 g Cottage cheese
1/2 cup carrots, grated
10-20 g bread crumbs
1/2 tbs soy sauce
1-2 tbs Basil Pesto
Method:
Preheat oven to 180*C. Sprinkle mushrooms with 1/2 bread crumbs.
Place walnuts, cheese, onion, and soy sauce into food processor. Process until fine.
Stir in carrot and pesto. Mix well and spoon the mixture into mushrooms. Sprinkle with the rest of bread crumbs. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Serve hot or cold.

Šampinjoni filovani Sirom, Orasima i Pestom

Potrebno:
12 vecih, ili 6 ogromnih Sampinjona, odstranite drske
1/2 srednjeg luka, sitno sjeckanog
30 gr oraha, sjeckanih
120 gr uzrncenog sira
1/2 solje rendane mrkve
10-20 gr suhih mrvica hljeba/kruha
1/2 kasike soja sosa
1-2 kasike Basil Pesto
Nacin:
Ukljucite rernu na 180*C. Pola kolicine mrvica pospite po gljivama.
U elektricnoj sjeckalici isjeckajte sve sastojke, osim mrkve i pesta, koje cete dodati naknadno i promijesati. Ovime filujte gljive, pa pospite sa preostalim mrvicama. Pecite 10-12 minuta. Sluzite toplo ili hladno.

Cheesy Lentil And Spinach Soup

For my followers from Northern Hemisphere...Something to warm you up.

Ingredients:
1 tbs olive oil
1 brown onion, finelly chopped
1 large garlic clove, pressed
1 teas cummin powder
1/2 teas turmeric powder
1/2 teas coriander powder
1,5 cups red lentils
5 cups water
4 vegetable stock cubes
250 g baby spinach, chopped (frozen is OK)
100 g Grated cheese, for serving
Method:
Heat oil, fry onion. Add garlic and spices, cook for 1 minute.
Stip in the lentils, add the water and stock.
Bring to the boil, lower heat and cook uncovered for 25 minutes.
Blend or process the soup, and stir through the spinach.
Serve with crusty bred/French toast, sprinkled with cheese.


Supa/Čorba od leće i špinata sa sirom
Za one kojima je zimski period nastupio!

Potrebno:
1 kasika maslinovog ulja
1 veci luk, sitno sjeckan
1 vece ceno bijelog luka, protisnutog
1 kasicica kima u prahu
1/2 kasicice turmerika u prahu
1/2 kasicice korijandera u prahu
1,5 solja (300gr) crvene lece
5 solja (1,25 L)vode
4 kasicice Vegete
250 gr spinata, sjeckanog
100 gr rendanog sira, za posluziti
Nacin:
Zargijte ulje pa proprzite luk, dodajte bijeli luk i zacine i przite jos 1 minutu.
Uspite lecu i vodu, pospite Vegetom. Kada prokljuca, smanjite i nepoklopljeno kuhajte oko 25 minuta. Izmiksajte u kasu, ubacite spinat.
Servirajte sa przenicama ili hljebom, posuto sa rendanim sirom.

Sesame Wafers

It takes only 10 minutes to make and bake these.

Ingredients:
50 g sesame seeds
1 tbs butter, melted
185 g brown sugar
3 tbs flour
1 egg
1 teas vanilla
pinch of salt
Method:
Preheat oven to 180*C, line tins with baking paper.
Mix all ingredients into a smooth mixture. Take teaspoon full of it and drop onto sheets, making sure you leave enough place for spreading.Bake 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown. Leave it cool in the tins, before you serve/store them.


Hrskavi keksici od sezama

Potrebno:
50 gr sezamovog sjemena
1 kasika otopljenog putera
185 gr braon secera
3 kasike brasna
1 jaje
1 kasicica vanile
malo soli
Nacin:
Zagrijte rernu na 180*C, postavite papir za pecenje na plehove.
Pomijesajte sve sastojke, dok se ne postane jednolicna masa. Kasicicom vadite masu i stavljajte na papir, ostavite dosta mjesta izmedju, jer se tokom pecenja rasire.
Pecite 4-5 minuta, ili dok ne postanu zlatnozuti. Neka se ohlade na plehu, pa ih tek onda vadite.

Paella

Easy way to feed large number of people. Traditionally made by men on Sundays, because women needed break from cooking. It can be made with anything found in the fridge.

Ingredients:
for 6-8 people
1 kg Marinara mix (or choose your favorite seafood)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, chopped
favorite vegetables (capsicum, green beans, peas, corn...)chopped
2-3 cups Arborio (risotto) rice
4-6 cups fish (or chicken) stock
salt, pepper, parsley leaves
1/2 cup white wine
Saffron (optional)
Method:
Heat oil in a large pan. Fry onion for a few minutes, add garlic, sea food, vegetables and fry for 5 minutes, stirring all the time. Add rice, mix well. Pour stock, cover and let it cook until water absorbed (15 minutes). Don't stir, just shake the pan, during this process. When rice cooked, add all the spices and wine. Stir well and let it evaporate. Serve hot.




with Saffron






Paela (Pajeja)

Potrebno:
za 6-8 osoba
1 kg Marinara mjesavine (ili sami odaberite morske plodove)
1/4 solje maslinovog ulja
2 crvena luka, sjeckana
3-4 cena bijelog luka
povrce (paprika, mahune, grasak, kukuruz...)
2-3 solje rizoto rize
4-6 solja riblje (pilece) osnove
so, biber, lisce persuna
1/2 solje bijelog vina
safron (po zelji)
Nacin:
Zagrijte ulje u dubljoj tavi, proprzite crveni luk, pa dodajte bijeli luk, morske plodove, povrce i pirjajte oko 5 minuta. Dodajte rizu, promijesajte i zalijte supom. Ostavite kuhati 15 minuta, dok riza ne upije svu supu. Povremeno protreskajte posudu. Kad je riza kuhana, dodajte zacine i bijelo vino . Promijesajte i ostavite da vino ispari. Sluzite odmah.