Blog

Category: Dessert

Area: American

Ingredients:

• 1/4 ounce Yeast
• 1/4 cup Water
• 1 1/2 cups Water
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 Eggs
• 1/3 cup Shortening
• 5 drops Flour
• Sprinking Canola Oil
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 2 cups Sugar
• 1 1/2 cups Vanilla
• 6 tablespoons Boiling Water
• 1/3 cup Butter

Instructions:

Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 1/2-quart bowl. Add milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise until double, 50-60 minutes. (Dough is ready when indentation remains when touched.) Turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour. Gently roll dough 1/2-inch thick with floured rolling pin. Cut with floured doughnut cutter. Cover and let rise until double, 30-40 minutes.
Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 350°. Slide doughnuts into hot oil with wide spatula. Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface. Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side. Remove carefully from oil (do not prick surface); drain. Dip the doughnuts into creamy glaze set on rack.

Glaze:
Heat butter until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.

Category: Dessert

Area: Russian

Ingredients:

• 2 pint Strawberries
• 4 tbs Sugar
• 4 tbs Grand Marnier
• 1 cup Cream
• 1/4 cup Sour Cream

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, combine hulled and quartered strawberries, 4 Tbsp sugar and 4 Tbsp liqueur, stir to combine then cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours, stirring once or twice.

Two photos of cut strawberries in a bowl with one having sugar being added to the bowl Two photos of cut up strawberries for Strawberry Romanoff

Just before serving, in a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup cold heavy cream and 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Using a spatula, fold in 1/4 cup sour cream just until well blended.

To serve, stir strawberries then divide between 6 serving glasses or bowls. You can spoon a little syrup over the berries if you like. You can also use this syrup to soak a cake. Spoon cream over strawberries, dividing evenly. You can also use an ice cream scoop with trigger release for a nice rounded puff of cream. Serve right away or chill and enjoy within 2 hours of assembly.

Category: Dessert

Area: British

Ingredients:

• 225g Butter
• 350g Plain Flour
• 100g Caster Sugar
• 280g Mincemeat
• 1 small Egg
• Topping Icing Sugar

Instructions:

To make the pastry, rub 225g cold, diced butter into 350g plain flour, then mix in 100g golden caster sugar and a pinch of salt.

Combine the pastry into a ball – don’t add liquid – and knead it briefly. The dough will be fairly firm, like shortbread dough. You can use the dough immediately, or chill for later.

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C. Line 18 holes of two 12-hole patty tins, by pressing small walnut-sized balls of pastry into each hole.

Spoon 280g mincemeat into the pies.

Take slightly smaller balls of pastry than before and pat them out between your hands to make round lids, big enough to cover the pies.

Top the pies with their lids, pressing the edges gently together to seal – you don’t need to seal them with milk or egg as they will stick on their own. (The pies may now be frozen for up to 1 month).

Beat 1 small egg and brush the tops of the pies. Bake for 20 mins until golden. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 mins, then remove to a wire rack.

To serve, lightly dust with icing sugar.

Category: Dessert

Area: Croatian

Ingredients:

• 450g Flour
• 55g Caster Sugar
• 2 parts Yeast
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 6 oz Milk
• 2 Beaten Eggs
• 30g Butter
• 140g Walnuts
• 85g Butter
• 85g Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• To Glaze Milk
• To Glaze Icing Sugar

Instructions:

Mix all the ingredients for the dough together and knead well. Cover the dough and put to rise until doubled in size which should take about 2 hours. Knock back the dough and knead lightly.

Divide the dough into two equal pieces; roll each piece into an oblong about 12 inches by 8 inches. Mix the filling ingredients together and divide between the dough, spreading over each piece. Roll up the oblongs as tightly as possible to give two 12 inch sausages. Place these side by side, touching each other, on a greased baking sheet. Cover and leave to rise for about 40 minutes. Heat oven to 200ºC (425ºF). Bake for 30-35 minutes until well risen and golden brown. Bread should sound hollow when the base is tapped.

Remove from oven and brush the hot bread top with milk. Sift with a generous covering of icing sugar.

Category: Vegetarian

Area: Filipino

Ingredients:

• 1 large Egg Plants
• 1 cup Breadcrumbs
• 50g Sesame Seed
• 2 Eggs
• To taste Salt
• To taste Pepper
• For frying Vegetable Oil

Instructions:

Slice eggplant into 1 cm (0.4-inch) slices. Place them in a bowl and sprinkle them with salt. allow them to sit for 30 minutes to render some of their liquid and bitterness.
2. After 30 minutes wash eggplant slices from salt and pat dry with a kitchen towel.
3. In a large bowl/plate place breadcrumbs and sesame seeds. In another bowl beat 2 eggs with pinch salt and pepper.
4. Heal oil in a large skillet over high heat.
5. Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in crumbs, and place in hot oil. Fry 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel.

Category: Dessert

Area: Croatian

Ingredients:

• 450g Flour
• 55g Caster Sugar
• 2 parts Yeast
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 6 oz Milk
• 2 Beaten Eggs
• 30g Butter
• 140g Walnuts
• 85g Butter
• 85g Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• To Glaze Milk
• To Glaze Icing Sugar

Instructions:

Mix all the ingredients for the dough together and knead well. Cover the dough and put to rise until doubled in size which should take about 2 hours. Knock back the dough and knead lightly.

Divide the dough into two equal pieces; roll each piece into an oblong about 12 inches by 8 inches. Mix the filling ingredients together and divide between the dough, spreading over each piece. Roll up the oblongs as tightly as possible to give two 12 inch sausages. Place these side by side, touching each other, on a greased baking sheet. Cover and leave to rise for about 40 minutes. Heat oven to 200ºC (425ºF). Bake for 30-35 minutes until well risen and golden brown. Bread should sound hollow when the base is tapped.

Remove from oven and brush the hot bread top with milk. Sift with a generous covering of icing sugar.

Category: Seafood

Area: Portuguese

Ingredients:

• 8 Sardines
• 2 tbs Olive Oil
• 3 cloves Garlic
• 1 tbs Paprika
• 1/2 Lemon
• 4 sprigs Rosemary
• 1 Red Chilli

Instructions:

STEP 1

Put all of the ingredients, except the sardines, into a bowl and mix together with some seasoning. Pour into a baking dish, add the sardines and toss really well. Cover and chill for a few hours.

STEP 2

Heat a BBQ or griddle pan until hot. Cook the sardines for 4-5 minutes on each side or until really caramelised and charred. Put onto a serving plate, drizzle with oil, sprinkle with a little more paprika and squeeze over the lemon wedges.

Category: Dessert

Area: Canadian

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Water
• 2 parts Yeast
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 6 tblsp Butter
• 2 Eggs
• 1 ½ tsp Salt
• 2-1/2 cups Flour
• for frying Oil
• garnish Lemon
• garnish Sugar
• garnish Cinnamon

Instructions:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, add warm water, a big pinch of sugar and yeast. Allow to sit until frothy.
Into the same bowl, add 1/2 cup sugar, warm milk, melted butter, eggs and salt, and whisk until combined.
Place a dough hook on the mixer, add the flour with the machine on, until a smooth but slightly sticky dough forms.
Place dough in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to proof for 1 1/2 hours.
Cut dough into 12 pieces, and roll out into long oval-like shapes about 1/4 inch thick that resemble a beaver’s tail.
In a large, deep pot, heat oil to 350 degrees. Gently place beavertail dough into hot oil and cook for 30 to 45 seconds on each side until golden brown.
Drain on paper towels, and garnish as desired. Toss in cinnamon sugar, in white sugar with a squeeze of lemon, or with a generous slathering of Nutella and a handful of toasted almonds. Enjoy!

Category: Beef

Area: Croatian

Ingredients:

• 2 cans Cannellini Beans
• 3 tbs Vegetable Oil
• 2 cups Tomatoes
• 5 Challots
• 2 cloves Garlic
• Pinch Parsley
• 1/2 kg chopped Chorizo

Instructions:

Heat the oil in a pan. Add the chopped vegetables and sauté until tender. Take a pot, empty the beans together with the vegetables into it, put the sausages inside and cook for further 20 minutes on a low heat. Or, put it in an oven and bake it at a temperature of 180ºC/350ºF for 30 minutes. This dish is even better reheated the next day.

Category: Vegetarian

Area: British

Ingredients:

• 400g Roasted Vegetables
• 1 can Kidney Beans
• 1 can Chopped Tomatoes
• 1 Packet Mixed Grain

Instructions:

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Cook the vegetables in a casserole dish for 15 mins. Tip in the beans and tomatoes, season, and cook for another 10-15 mins until piping hot. Heat the pouch in the microwave on High for 1 min and serve with the chilli.