Prinjolata

As I mentioned last week, we are now in carnival week in Malta and we also have a special raditional sweet for this. Its called a prinjolata and originally I thought it would be disgusting, but found the recipe and tried it out and it is very nice and light and from the pic above it looks lovely no?

So here is the recipe:

200gr butter

100 grs slivered almonds

150gr icing sugar

2tsp vanilla essence

sponge cake

candied peel, cherries and melted choc to decorate

So beat the butter till it comes looking white add the essence, sugar and almond and beat till combined. In a pudding basin, put slices of the sponge and alternate between sponge and butter cream. Leave overnight in the fridge to set. The next day do more buttercream as needed, and cover the outside. Sprinkle the candied peel, cherries and choc and you have your carnival sweet!

rie

pumpkin pie & cranberry muffins

This weekend I have been in baking mode and made some goodies. Here are some pics and the recipes can be found on joyofbaking.com (BTW this website is fantastic for recipes!)

Also I have found the following article saying why not to eat Nutella due to it being green unfriendly :( I will just finish off this tub I have and try to avoid it like the plague!first two pics, cranberry muffins

pumpkin pie and it truly is delicious!

christmas menu recipes

Asparagus gratin ( for 4 people)

12 asparagus

6 pcs roast ham cut in half

3 oz cheddar

2 tsp mustard

1 1/2 oz plain flour

15 fl oz milk

breadcrumbs

flaked almonds

Preheat oven. Peel the asparagus and cook in boiling water for 4 mins. Now in a dish place the asparagus rolled in the ham. In a pan melt butter add flour stirring, milk , mustard and cheddar. Stir 2 more mins and place on top of the asparagus. Sprinkle bread crumbs and flaked almonds and bake till golden.

Roast Chicken

1.5 kg chicken

8 fl oz white wine

1/2 oz butter

8 fl oz chicken stock

for the stuffing: 1 oz butter

2 celery sticks finely chopped

1/2 tsp dried taragon

2 tbsp chopped parsley

1 tsp grated lemon rind

4 oz bread crumbs

1 onion finely chopped

Preheat oven 180 degrees celcius, in a pan melt 1 oz butter and cook onion till soft combine with it the herbs, rind, breadcrumbs and spoon into neck cavity. Place the chicken in a flameproof dish add the wine, stock & extra butter and cook for approx 1 and a half hours or till skewer comes out clear, basting frequently.

Rosemary potatoes

1 kg small old potatoes

5 springs rosemary

olive oil

sea salt & pepper

Preheat oven, peel potatoes and make deep diagonal cuts almost cutting right through. Strip rosemary from stalks and chop them. Place potatoes in a roasting tine sprinkle the roasemary, salt & pepper and olive oil abd bake approx 1 and a half hour or till golden brown and cooked through.

Braised Red Cabbage with apples

900 gr red cabbage

450 gr apples peeled, cored and chopped small

450 gr onions chopped small

1 clove garlic chopped small

1/4 whole nutmeg grated

1/2 tsp ground cinammon & ground cloves

3 tbs brown sugar

3 tbs white wine vinegar

10 gr butter

Preheat oven, cut cabbage in quarter and remove hard stalk and shred rest of cabbage. Next arrange a layer of cabage, chopped apples, onion, garlic and mixed spices and carry on till casserole is full. Add the vinegar and butter on top and cook very slowly for 1 and a half hours stirring around twice while cooking.

Spiced cheesecake

4 eggs

200 gr spiced biscuits

750 gr rikotta cheese

200 gr whipped cream

150 gr caster sugar

100 gr butter

vanilla essence

Crush biscuits & combine with melted butter. Line base of a hinged cake tin with buttered baking paper & pour mixture in it and leave in fridge. Blend cheese in blender and add sugar plus essence. Seperate eggs, blend yolks with cream add to cheese. beat the whitrs of 2 eggs only till soft peaks form add to cheese and pour into cake tin. Bake approx 1 hr or till firm.

hope you enjoy doing them and eating them just as much as I did.

recipes

As promised here are my last 2 recipes I did this week. These were taken from a publication on aromatherapy (those that you collect every week!)

Tomato Barley soup

75 gr pearl barley
2 tbs oil
1 onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 large courgette diced
400 gr canned chopped tomatoes
2 tbs tomato puree
1 tbs mixedherbs
450ml veg stock
salt & pepper to taste

Cook barley in boiling water for 20 mins and drain. Heat oil in pan add onion & garlic cook stirring for 5 mins or till beginning to soften. Add barley and courgette stirring for 5 mins. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook for 30 mins or till barley is tender.

Spiced Cod with puy lentils

3 cloves garlic finely chopped
1/2 tsp each of ground cumin, turmeric
1/4 tsp each of paprika, chilli powder
zest & juice of a lemon
3 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp chopped parsley & coriander
cod fillets
175 gr puy lentils
1 tsp fresh thyme
2 carrots
small red chilli deseeded
1 ltr veg stock

mix together garlic, spices, lemon, oil, parsley & coriander and marinate cod for an hour in the fridge. Pre heat oven and bake fish for 15 mins or till cookedthrough. Menawhile put lentils in a saucepan with rest of the ingredients, bring to the boil & simmer for 30 mins till lentils are cooked through, drain & serve together with cod.

enjoy cooking!

teething again?

Gregory had a bad day today... he wouldn't eat apart for milk (and half a cracker), he's been cranky most of the day, was all the time wanting to stay attached to me, cried completely over nothing and also thankfully slept a lot. Since I could see him biting a lot, I believe its all the fault of his teeth which don't feel like making an appearance yet! At least he ain't crying in pain...I think I prefer him cranky rather than crying.

On a seperate note, I am still managing to do things and if it weren't such bad weather, I would have! so fir now my activites at homke involve continuing adding articles to the site mamascircle and cooking!

Yesterday I did a veggie pie which came good and will post the recipe next and barley soup and today did maltese bread pudding and spiced cod with lentils (which I will also post).

veggie gratin

Yesterday I tried a veggie gratin and it came delicous so I thought of sharing it with you guys...


You will need:

250 grs potatoes peeled and cut in half
450 grs broccoli in small florets
1 red bell pepper cut in chunks
2 onions cut in wedges
500grs mascarpone cheese
150 grs cheddar cheese
100 grs breadcrumbs
seasoning
parsley

Method:

pre heat oven & butter an ovenproof dish. Now in boiling water put the potatoes for 12 mins & boil the broccoli for 5 mins. saute the onions & pepper till soft & melt all the mascarpone & half the cheddar after which add seasoning and parsley. Next put the veggies in the dish top with the cheese mix, breadcrumbs and the rest of the cheddar shredded. Bake for 20 mins or till golden brown and enjoy it this mouth watering dish!

chicken couscous with spicy tomato sauce

I haven't posted any recipes for quite a while...here is what I tried today, which came nice and thought of sharing!

1/4 cup water
1 small chicken cube crumbled
1/4 cup couscous
15gr butter
1/2 small grated carrot
1/2 small grated zucchini
1 tbs chopped fresh coriander
4 chicken breast fillets
1 onion chopped
425gr tomato puree
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp chilli powder
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup extra water

bring water & stock to a boil stir in couscous and leave till water is absorbed. Stir in butter, zucchini, carrot & fresh coriander. Cut pocket in each fillet and spoon couscous in each pocket (secure with toothpicks). Cook chicken in a heated non stick pan till browned and cooked. Remove from pan and put now onion stir till soft than add the spices, tomato, wine & water. Simmer for 5 mins add chicken and simmer for a further 10 mins. I served this with mashed potato

picnic recipes...but not necessarily

Yesterday we did a picnic by the beach..it was really great as there weren't too many people besides, we had clear skies, cool air , waves splashing against our legs and the stars so clear and bright.... peaceful and relaxing! anyhow that s beside the point really LOL I did some new stuff to eat and came really nice so I thought to share along.

Bruschetta with Greek Salad

2 tbsp olive oil
1 lemon, juice only
150g/5½oz vine cherry tomatoes,
halved½ shallot, peeled and finely sliced
50g/2oz feta cheese,
crumbled salt and freshly ground black pepper
french roll
some more olive oil, back pepper and garlic granules

Cut the french roll in halves put on olive oil, balck pepper and some garlic granules, put under a hot grill till toasted. Mix the rest of the ingredients and put on top of the bread.

Chicken Wraps

2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 orange, juice only
2 tbsp light soy sauce
3 tbsp clear honey
½ tsp mild chilli powder
chicken breast cut into small pieces
8small tortillas
8tbsp mayonnaise
torn iceberg lettuce

Mix garlic, orange juice, soy sauce, honey & chilli, add the chicken cover and marinade for 1 hour. Take off the cover, and cook in the oven for approx 30 mins or till chicken slightly browned (cooked through of course!) and most of the marinade evaporated. Put some mayo on the tortillas, add lettuce and chicken and wrap around!

Lemon Drizzle Muffins

2 eggs, beaten
85g/3oz caster sugar
240ml/8fl oz milk
100ml/3½fl oz vegetable oil
300g/10oz plain flour
3 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
4 lemons, zest only

For the topping
50g/2oz icing sugar
1 lemon, juice only

Mix all the above, put in muffin tin lined with paper cases and cook till golden or screw comes out clean. When rady and cooled, mix sugar with lemon juice and pour over muffins.

Hope you enjoy this simple quick yet delicious recipes!

Maltese Bread Pudding

1 kg bread less the crust (preferably bread that has a hard crust)

1 pkt of mixed fruit or sultanas or both should you desire

50 gr sugar

milk

cocoa powder

1 tablespoon vanilla

pinch nutmeg

1 teaspoon mixed spice

50 gr butter

So this is very simple first heat oven 200 celsius and grease an oven dish. Than soak the bread in the milk for 20 mins add the rest of the ingredients mix well put in the dish and bake till the top is crusty and it feel firm inside. Ain't that one simple recipe? I didn't put the amount for milk or cocoa the reason being that milk you pour enough to cover the bread and the cocoa ou do as much as you like it chocolatey....

Happy baking people!

Recipe corner

I haven't given you a recipe for a while and yesterday I did this Sicilian cheesecake which was really scrumptious and so I thought of passing it on. Now if there is someone from Sicily out there I would love to know if this is really something they do there but anyway its how it is named on my recipe book....

125 gr crushed plain chocolate biscuits
90gr melted butter
2 tsp gelatin
1 tbs water
1kg rikotta or some cottage cheese
110 gr icing sugar
2 tsp vanilla essence
120 gr grated dark chocolate

Line the base and sides of a cake pan with baking paper. combine crumbs and butter and press firmly over the pan base. REfrigirate. Sprinkle gelatin over water, stand over a pan of simmering water till dissolved and cool slightly ( I never use gelatin instead I freeze the whole cake for 2 hrs and its the same result), Beat cheese, sugar and vanilla, add the grated chocolate and if using the gelatin, spoon over base of cake pan and refrigirate or freeze for a couple of hours.

Enjoy!

The Recipe corner

Hi all and welcome once more to the recipe corner of my blog. Last week I did raspberry muffins & strawberry cake....both came really good but the cake was my favourite. Here are the recipes for you and enjoy baking!



Strawberry cake:



1 cup butter

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

11/2 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

3/4 cup mashed strawberries

In a bowl beat butter till creamed and fluffy. Gradually add sugar till light & fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs one at a time. Stir together the dry ingredients & add to the batter till thoroughly blended. Turn half the batter into greased loaf tin then add the strawberries and the rest of batter. Bake in 325 degrees oven till cake tests done ( about 60 mins).

Raspberry Muffins

1 egg

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup cooking oil

13/4 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

21/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1 cup raspberries with 2 tablespoons sugar

In a small bowl beat egg add milk and oil set aside. In a large bowl stir flour, sugar, baking powder & alt. Add the egg mixture stirring till just moistened (the batter shouldn't be lumpy). Add the raspberries with sugar stir till just combined. Spoon into greased muffin cups & bake 400 degrees for 20 mins. Makes 12 muffins

Babywearing blogger & raspberries

My blog is officially now on the blogroll of babywearers - you can also see the widget at the side of my blog. Thanks to Stephanie @ Adventures in Babywearing. It is nice to connect with other people who have similar views to yourself in child rearing ad so share experiences as well as info. In fact I got some questions which I hope someone can help me with.





My 3 and a half month young man has as of 3 days ago, started wanting my breast as a pacifier to sleep, refuses the bottle (had been giving him breastmilk in a bottle once a day for over a month with no problems) and sometimes he cries non stop when I leave him in the care of my husband or other family member. Any help on what I can do to remedy these situations? Just in case it does make a difference, he is already teething and although hasn't had much pain in the last week, his saliva faucet is on big time! Could the first two be due to his teething and is there something I can do? Also read about stranger anxiety, which I thought could be what is also happening but they say that happens aroung 6-7 months.....your views are most appreciated.

*********

About 2 days ago I said I'd post a raspberry tart recipe....well I didn't do the tart, I did a cake which tastes great so here is how to make it and a pic.



1/3 Cup butter
1 Cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 Cup flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 Cup milk
2 Cup fresh raspberries ( used frozen variety but thawed)
Cream butter and sugar. Add well beaten egg and vanilla( I didn't have vanilla but the taste came very good anyway). Add dry ingredients alternating with milk, beating just enough to keep batter smooth. Pour into greased and floured 7 1/2 x 11 inch pan and spread or sprinkle raspberries on top. Bake at 375°F. 35 to 40 minutes. Drizzle with vanilla icing while warm(which I didn't do either)

Icing: 2 Cups of icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, enough milk to make a thin icing. Mix icing sugar and vanilla and mix in enough milk to make a thin icing.

Recipe corner

This simple snack although nothing special is quite a good quick fix for kids and adults alike and it only takes 20 mins to cook plus another 10 to prepare.

almond choc crescents

8 large sponge finger biscuits crushed

200gr chocolate grated(preferably dark)

1/2 cup ground almonds

120gr melted butter

1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry

1 beaten egg

Combine biscuits, chocolate, almonds & melted butter in a bowl. Cut the pastry in 4 squares. Divide mixture for each pastry diagonally and roll them from corner to corner and shape in crescent form. Brush with egg, place in lightly greased oven tray & bake till brown. Its best if you preheat oven first at 120 degrees celcius.

Another nice and quick chocolatey recipe is the chocolate cake. Again this takes 40 mins from start to finish and it comes fluffy and light.

Chocolate cake

cooking oil spray

125gr butter chopped

1 cup caster sugar

2 lightly beaten eggs

1 1/2 cups self raising flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 cup water.

Coat a baba pan ( see pic at the side) with spray, combine rest of ingredients and beat at low speed 5 mins & smooth. Pour in pan and bake 30 mins or skewer comes out clean.

Recipes

Did the hereunder recipes and came really delicious so thought of sharing them out with you.

Creamy Chicken with Spaghetti

2 Sliced Chicken breasts

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon cracked black pepper

250gr cream cheese

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 chicken stock cube

1 cup water

1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint

40 gr butter

spinach spaghetti ( even normal is fine)

Combine chicken, paprika and pepper in a bowl; mix well. Blend or process cheeses, stock, water & herbs till almost smooth. Heat butter in pan cook chicken then add cheese mixture and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Add pasta to boiling water cook till tender & serve with creamy chicken.

Strawberry Meringue pie

pastry for single crust pie

2/3 cup sugar

3 tablespoon corn flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups milk

3 beaten egg yolks

2 tablesppon butter

10 oz sliced strawberries ( 3 boxes)

4 teaspoon cornflour

Meringue for pie

Pastry: 11/4 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup shortening/lard, cold water

Stir flour & salt, then cut in shortening till they come like small peas. Sprinkle a bit of water and toss with a fork; repeat till all is moistened. Form dough into a ball and on a lightly floured surface flatten it with your hands and open rolling from centre to edge. Ease pastry into pie plate (9in.). Prick the sides & bottom with a fork and bake in 450 degrees oven for 12 minutes. Let it cool.

Pie filling method: In a saucepan combine sugar, 3 tbs cornflour & salt. Stir in milk and cook stirring constantly over medium heat till thickened and bubbly. stir 2 more mins. Take a cup of this mixture and add it to yolks then return to pan and gently boil for another 2 mins. Remove from heat stir in butter and vanilla and pour into cooled (don't worry if its not mine wasn't and came great) pastry shell and cover surface (surface touching the waxed paper or plastic wrap)and leave to cool. Meanwhile, combine strawberries & remaining cornflour cook stirring constantly till thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat and again cover and leave to cool. Then spread cooled strawberries on top of the pastry with cream and top it up with meringue. Bake for 12 mins or till meringue is set and golden.

Meringue: 3 egg whites, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar (you can use baking powder if you don't have it) & 6 tablespoon sugar.

Combine ingredients apart for sugar, add sugar gradually a tablespoon at a time and beat on high speed in mixer about 4 mins or till stiff peaks form.

Chocolate Crinkles recipe

Chocolate crinkles at front and figolli at the back

Dave said they taste great....and when yesterday I tasted them I had to completely agree with him. I was on a penitence of no sweets for the whole of lent so couldn't taste them before! I was dying to try them, figolli and the Madeira cake I did for the Baptism but managed to keep it and am so happy I did. But enough of my ramblings and here is the recipe!

11/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 squares unsweetened chocolate melted & colled

2 teaspoon vanilla essence

3 eggs

2 cups plain flour

2 teaspoon baking soda

sifted powdered sugar

In a mixing bowl combine granulated sugar, oil, chocolate & vanilla. Stir together flour and baking powder, stir into chocolate mixture, cover andchill in fridge for 1 hour. Using a table spoon of dough everytime turn into balls roll in powdered sugar and bake in a greased baking sheet for 10 mins in 375 degrees heated oven.

HAPPY BAKING!

Just got back from my yoga class which was a
wonderful experience. The asanas were demanding on my body but not too much;
just enough to make my body feel so alive that by the end of the class I felt
elated, happy and in balance with my inner self.



Yoga is a great way to relax, find balance in my
life and give me core strength in my body. I only wish to start finding again
time to do a home practice something which at the moment is really lacking as I
spend most of my time either playing with Gregory or reading among other things
and suddenly the day is over. At least I still do country walks and some
meditation while feeding my little pup!

Back to some mundane things, today I did a pea soup which came really good and so decided to give
you the recipe:

1 big onion chopped
1 big potato chopped
450 gr peas ( frozen)
750ml water
vegetable stock crumbled

Heat some butter in a pan, when melted add onion
and stir till softens. Add the potato stir for another 5 mins, add the
peas, water andstock bring to the boil then simmer for 15 mins. When ready
liquidize and should you wish before serving add some fresh mint.
However, I personally prefered it without the mint- Enjoy!!

Figolli recipe

Being that in about a weeks' time its Easter, here is the recipe for figolli- Maltese Easter sweet.

For the pastry: 800gr self raising flour; 12 oz sugar; 12 oz margerine; 1 lemon rind; 4 eggs; some vanilla essence.

Rub flour to margarine add the rest of ingriedents to form a soft dough. If needed add some milk.

For the filling: 400 gr ground almonds; 400 gr sugar; 2 egg whites; some almond essence.

Combine all ingriedents together. You'll probably need some water to get a sticky kind of dough.

Next roll out pastry cut forms and place in a well floured baking dish. Spread a 1 cm thick layer of the almond filling onto half of the pastry shapes leaving a bit of space around the edges, and cover each one with its corresponding half. Press edges together and coat with milk and bake in moderate hot oven approx 20 mins. or till golden brown. When figolli are cooled cover in melted chocolate or sugar icing.

This makes around 4-6 figolli