CONDENSED MILK DELIGHT

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Today's recipe is so tasty and simple to prepare and is already available on YouTube to watch all steps. 
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CONDENSED MILK DELIGHT (Video)

 

RECIPE

Ingredients:

•     1 can of cooked condensed milk
•     150g Biscuits of your choice (Ex.: Maria biscuits)
•     3 Packs Fresh Heavy cream - 30% Fat (3 x 200ml)
•     Juice of 1/2 Lemon
•     4 egg whites
•     Fruits to decorate (Ex: Blueberries)

Method:

Place the contents of a can of cooked condensed milk in a large bowl. Then crush the biscuits in a mincer.

In another bowl, add 600ml of cream and the juice of half a lemon. Beat the cream until it´s firm.

Put the egg whites in a bowl and beat them.Add the cream to the cooked condensed milk and mix well with a wooden spoon. Meanwhile, beat these ingredients with the mixer until they´re cream-coloured.

Place the beaten egg whites in the mixture, folding carefully until they have disappeared. 
Pour the mixture into a small or large dessert glass, as you prefer, placing a layer of the mixture, a layer of crushed Maria biscuit, another layer of the same mixture and finally, another layer of crushed Maria biscuit, decorating to taste with fruits. I used blueberries.
 

Hope you like it !

Enjoy your dessert !!!

LEMON CAKE

 

I love Lemon!  Lemon aromatizes food, dishes, drinks, creams and drinks. It can be used in so many ways, but its greatest asset is the benefit it gives us by improving our immunity system.

It´s packed with Vitamin C, prevents premature ageing and some types of cancer, detoxifies the body, speeds up the healing process and is anti-inflammatory.
 
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LEMON CAKE (Video)

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 160g Unsalted butter (at room temperature)
•  250g Plain Flour
•  200g Sugar
•  1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•  Peels of 1 lemon
•  1 whole egg + 3 egg yolks
•  2 Tablespoons of Lemon juice
•  160ml Buttermilk
•  1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
•  1/2 teaspoon of salt
•  Zest of 1 Lemon + 120 ml water
•  250ml Lemon Curd for Coverage (See the recipe at https://goo.gl/veaNsE )

 Method:

Begin by preheating the oven to 180º C (350º F) and grease a mould with butter and flour it. 

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and lemon zest. 

In another bowl, beat the butter with 150g of sugar until it is a light and fluffy mixture.Beat at low speed, the whole egg and egg yolks one ingredient at a time. Put the lemon juice in this mixture and beat again. Add the butter and sugar. 

Buttermilk can be bought at any supermarket, however, if you don´t have it, you can easily make it at home: just join 160ml of milk + 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and wait about 10 minutes until it´s curdled. 

Whisk alternately the flour and buttermilk starting and finishing with the flour mixture.Pour the cake batter into the mould and smooth the top. Let it cook in the oven for about 25 minutes for a centred opening cake mould. If the mould isn´t centred, bake another 10 minutes. 

While the cake bakes, make a syrup for the cake by joining the remaining 50g of sugar with 120ml of water. As soon as it boils, add the lemon peels and simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and remove the peels from the syrup. 

Check with a toothpick if the cake is ready and remove it, letting it cool for about 15 minutes. 

Punch the cake with a fork, cover with syrup and let it cool. 

Finally, decorate the cake with the lemon curd.
 

Enjoy it!!!

ROASTED CHESTNUTS AND St. MARTIN

Portuguese chestnut is a dried fruit that is consumed in Portugal in the autumn from October to January. Traditionally there are "the Magustos" the popular parties where families and friends gather for the celebration of St. Martin and the roasted chestnuts are accompanied by "Jeropiga" (Typical Portuguese alcoholic drink with a sweet flavour).

This season is related to St. Martin, a popular Catholic saint of Europe. It was the 4th century, in a very cold autumn that swept across Europe, where a Gaulish knight, named Martin, tried to return home when he encountered a beggar during a storm, begging him for alms. As Martin had nothing with him, he removed the mantle that warmed him from his back, cut it in half with his sword, and gave it to the beggar. At that moment, the storm disappeared and a radiant sun began to shine.

The miracle became known as "the summer of Saint Martin." Since then, by the time of St. Martin's Day on November 11, the weather improves and there is a radiant sun.

Some of the many benefits of the portuguese chestnut are:

•     High carbohydrate and fiber source for energy supply and improved bowel      functioning
•     Low in fat
•     High in minerals through iron and proteins that will satisfy the need for food
•     Rich in potassium, vitamin A, B and E, calcium, phosphorus, iron and folates.

  Ingredients:

•     400g Chestnuts
•     salt

Method: 

Turn the oven to 180º C (360º F). Wash the chestsnuts well and cut them with a knife until the middle of the chestnut or in a cross. 

Add a reasonable amount of salt to cover the base of the tray. Add the chestnuts and wrap with salt. Place the tray into the middle of the oven and roast until you see that the shell begins to bend. Be careful not to let the nuts burn.

 The cooking time may vary, but 20/25 minutes is enough for them to be ready!

They are a delight !!!  
Enjoy your food!


 

DELICIOUS PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

Pistachio is native to Asia and belongs to the oilseed family which has health benefits: cancer prevention, heart enhancement, diabetes control, improved vision and digestion.
 

Ingredients:

•     150g Pistachios without shell
•     600ml Heavy cream
•     100ml Whole Milk
•     100g Brown sugar
•     3 whole eggs
•     2 Yolks
•     1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Method:

In a medium pot, put the cream, milk and half the sugar until it starts to boil. Meanwhile, in a mincer, chop half of the pistachios well together with half the sugar, but do not let it turn into a butter. Place this mixture in the milk by stirring constantly to make it homogeneous.

In a bowl, add the 3 eggs and 2 egg yolks by beating them slightly. Remove a cup of the hot mixture and slowly pour in the eggs to warm them slowly stirring vigorously so that they do not scramble. Gradually, add the warm eggs to the cream and reduce the heat to low. Simmer slowly, stirring occasionally and allowing to thicken for 5 minutes. 

Remove the pan from the heat and pour the preparation through a mesh sieve, squeezing well, in order to remove any liquid that it may still have. Add the vanilla extract and mix well. 

You can cool it off naturally if you have time and then put it in the freezer overnight. 

If you´re short on time, you can put in a larger bowl with ice and water or only ice until it cools and then leave it at least 2 hours in the freezer. 

Another option is to use a machine to make the ice cream following the manufacturer's instructions.

Finally, as soon as the ice cream is frozen, top it with the other half of the pistachios (a little chopped) and garnish as you desire!

 
It is truly delicious!

HEALTHY CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Chocolate Mousse when made with good ingredients can be very nutritious, healthy and tasty. 

This recipe is made with dark chocolate (bitter). This ingredient improves the functioning of the heart, blood circulation and prevents cancer due to anti oxidants, stimulates the central nervous system and triggers a feeling of well being due to the release of the hormone serotonin (mood and joy).


Ingredients: 

Recipe for 6 people

•     1 Black Chocolate Tablet (minimum 70% Cocoa)
•     6 eggs
•     3 teaspoons of brown sugar
•     1 teaspoon Coffee (optional)

 Method: 

Break the chocolate into pieces and melt it in a bain-marie (water bath).
The link where I explain how this method is performed is: https://lifeandflavours.blogspot.pt/2017/10/bain-marie-or-water-bath-is-scientific.html 

Beat the egg whites until they´re firm and put them in the refrigerator.Then beat the egg yolks with the brown sugar for about 10 minutes. Stir this mixture very well until it starts to form bubbles.Add the melted chocolate and coffee (optional) to the eggs, mixing well to a homogeneous mixture.

To finish, carefully fold in the egg whites so that they are still whole but not visible in the mousse.Take the dessert to the refrigerator in small bowls or in a larger one and let it set for about 5 hours. 

Your delicious dessert is ready!  Enjoy it!

Please leave your comments about the recipe. I´d like to hear from you! 

CRISPY APPLE CHIPS

Apple is a highly nutritious and very healthy fruit, as mentioned in my Apple Pie recipe (https://lifeandflavours.blogspot.pt/2017/08/apple-pie.html). 

Another ingredient is cinnamon. Cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka and among the benefits of it´s tea, has anti-inflammatory properties, improves blood circulation, contains antioxidants, helps the digestive system and lost of weight, improves concentration and reduces cholesterol and diseases cardiac disorders.

A different and delicious way of eating apples is crispy "chips" and is an easy recipe to do.   I advise you to do it in more quantities since we will use the oven.



Ingredients:

•   3 / 4 Apples
•   1 Small lemon
•   2 Tablespoons of brown sugar
•   1 Teaspoon of cinnamon
•   1 pinch of salt
•    Water

Preparation:

Wash the apples and cut into not too thin slices with the mandolin. A mandolin is a very useful kitchen utensil that cuts the vegetables and fruits in various sizes.If the slices become very thin, they may burn in the oven.

Mandolin

 
Then moisten with enough water and juice of one lemon. This will prevent the apple´s oxidation.Preheat oven to 180 ° C ( 360º F).In a bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon and pinch of salt, mixing well.Line the baking trays with parchment paper and arrange the apple slices side by side, as shown in the picture below.

Sprinkle the apples with the mixture and bake for 20 min. Frequently check if the apples are not burning.  

After this time, turn the apples to the other side carefully, so you don´t burn yourself and sprinkle again with the mixture, leaving again in the oven another 20 min. 

When they become toasted, turn off the oven and allow them to cool inside it.


Enjoy your chips!

CRANACHAN WITH RED FRUITS AND SPELT WHEAT

Cranachan is a very fresh and simple traditional Scottish dessert which is usually prepared with raspberries and oats. My recipe is made with frozen red fruits and spelt wheat (dinkel wheat) , and is equally tasty.

Spelt Wheat is rich in B-complex vitamins, giving us benefits as reducing bad cholesterol (LDL), increasing blood circulation, regulating blood glucose and boosting the immune system.

RECIPE

 Ingredients:

• 600ml Fresh cream
• 80g Spelt Wheat or Oats 
• 400g Red Fruits or Raspberries    
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Whisky

  
 Preparation:

Separate the fruits in 2 halves of 200g and leave one apart with 2 tablespoons of sugar forming a sauce.

Heat a large pan on medium heat and place the Spelt Wheat on, stirring and turning until slightly roasted. After this process, allow it to cool completely.

Meanwhile, with a mincer, puree the fruits that have been with the sugar.

Whip the cream to sttiffish peaks and then carefully mix the honey, the whisky and the 2 tablespoons of sugar.

The pudding can be plated in a larger bowl or in small dessert bowls.
In a bowl, pour the fruit puree, followed by the whipped cream. Top the pudding with the remaining fruits and roasted spelt wheat. Leave in the refrigerator to cool for about 4 hours.

Indulge yourself with this sweetness!

APPLE PIE

Yesterday I decided to make an Apple Pie. It is a very easy recipe to prepare.

Apple is very beneficial to our health containing various vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, B1, B2, niacin, vitamins C and E, pectin and minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, potassium and iron. Some of the benefits are: improvements in the nervous system, reducing anxiety, improves sleep, slow ageing, prevents throat infections, purifies the blood and prevents stone formation.

Recipe :  

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Puff pastry pie
• 1,5 kg peeled and cored apples (becomes1 Kg)
• 1 medium lemon
• 50g unsalted butter
• 80g Brown Sugar
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon
• 1  small cup of Port Wine 

 METHOD:

Peel the apples and remove their centre. Cut half the apples into "half moons" and the other half into small cubes, squeezing lemon on top so that they don´t go dark (oxidation).
In a large pan, melt butter with brown sugar and cinnamon on medium heat. As soon as it starts to boil, add the larger apple pieces and the Port Wine, letting them cook for about 10 minutes.  
Turn the oven to 180º C (360º F). Add the remaining apple pieces and cook for another 4 minutes. Remove frying pan from heat and allow to cool.
Extend the dough with the sheet of parchment paper in a pie dish by adapting it and punching it with a fork. Pour the stuffing into the dough, spreading carefully.
Bake the pie in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

Allow to cool and sprinkle with cinnamon powder.
 
Enjoy your Apple Pie!