food&drinks

Roesti, potatoes with a twist

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roesti

Roesti (read other things about roesti) or Swiss hash browns, is a traditional Swiss dish which is mainly made of potatoes and was once eaten mostly in Bern but is now served all overSwitzerland. It often is used to accompany spinach and fried eggs.

To make you will need 1 pound large baking potatoes, 1 tablespoon salt, 3 1/2 ounces smoked bacon, thinly sliced, vertically, 3 1/2 ounces onion, diced, 1 sprig thyme, 3 1/2 ounces mushrooms, diced, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 ouncesbutter, and 6 slices Gruyere.

To prepare boil the potatoes in their skins for 20 minutes, drain, and cool and peel. Use a cheese grater to grate them into a large mixing bowl and add salt. In a frying pan, sauté the bacon and onions, add the thyme leaves and mushrooms and cook until soft. Combine with the potatoes and mix being careful not to mash them too much.

Heat oil in a frying pan and add 3 or 4 spoonfuls of the mixture then use a spatula to flatten. Brown it over a high heat. When the bottom side is cooked flip it over. Repeat with remaining potato mixture. Place 1/2 tablespoon of butter and a slice of Gruyere on both sides and melt under a hot grill.

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Portuguese soup, ethnic warmth

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portuguese_soup
Soup isn’t always just soup. In Portugal it is a tradition that is passed on from generation to generation.

The traditional Portuguese soup recipe calls for 1 cup vegetable oil, 2 cups chopped onion, 2 bay leaves, 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced, 1 medium head cabbage, chopped, 6 potatoes, peeled and cubed, 2 cans kidney beans, 1 can beef consommé, 2 2/3 quarts water, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 pounds potatoes, scrubbed and diced, 3 tablespoons butter, and warm crusty bread.

To prepare, place a large pot over medium flame and cook onions and potatoes, until tender, then add sausage and cook for 5 minutes. Next add water, bay leaves, cabbage, beans, consommé, garlic, powder, pepper, and salt and bring to a boil. Lower flame and simmer for between 30 and 45 minutes.

Add vinegar and more continue to simmer for an hour. Serve soup with warm bread.

This recipe can be used with kale instead of cabbage, garbanzo beans or chick peas instead of kidney beans, and chourico instead of smoked sausage.

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Dutch doughnuts, sweet treat

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dutch_doughnuts
Doughnuts are a treat and can be something of a guilty pleasure but enjoyable nonetheless. The Dutch doughnuts add a little extra twist to the classic doughnut.

To prepare you will need 1 cake compressed fresh yeast, 1 cup lukewarm milk, 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 egg, 3/4 cup dried currants, 3/4 cup raisins,1 Granny Smith apple – peeled, cored and finely chopped,1 quart vegetable oil for deep-frying, and 1 cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting.

First break up the yeast and stir into some warm milk. Allow to stand for a few minutes to dissolve. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl and add the yeast mixture and egg and mix into a smooth batter. Add the currants, raisins, and apple, cover the bowl and leave in a warm place to rise until double in size.

Heat oil in a deep-fryer and use 2 metal spoons to shape scoops of dough into balls. Drop carefully into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown.

The doughnuts should be soft but greasy. Drain finished doughnuts on paper towels and dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serve on a dish.

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Spanish Flan, sweet dessert

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spanish_flan
The flan, also known as crème caramel or caramel custard in some countries, is a tasty simple sweet dessert that may be served at fancy dinner parties as part of a variety for guests.

It differs from plain custard because of its sugary base which becomes its topping when inverted.

The recipe calls for 1 cup white sugar, 3 eggs, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1 can evaporated milk, and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.

Ahead of preparation preheat an oven to 350 degrees F.

Then in a medium saucepan over a medium low flame, melt sugar until it turns into liquid and golden in colour. Slowly and carefully pour the hot sugary syrup into a 9 inch round glass baking dish making sure to turn the dish to ensure that the sides and bottom are evenly coated. Place aside.

In a large bowl, beat eggs; then beat in the condensed milk, evaporated milk, and vanilla until the mixture is smooth. Pour the egg mixture into the baking dish and cover with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes. When finished allow to cool completely.

After the flan has been completely cooled and you are ready to serve, carefully invert the flan on a serving plate with edges.

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Antipasto, open your appetite

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antipasto1
Antipasto is the quintessential Italian opener. This serves as an appetiser for dinner and can also be served when entertaining guests.

This recipe serves four and requires 2 cups chopped cauliflower, 4 cups pearl onions, 2 cups chopped red bell peppers, 2 cups chopped green bell peppers, 2 cups chopped celery, 2 cucumbers – peeled, seeded and chopped, 2 cups carrots, chopped, 2 cups vegetable oil, 1 cup black olives, 1 tablespoon pickling spice, 1 cup pitted green olives, 4 cups mushrooms, 2 cups distilled white vinegar, 1 can tomato paste, and 1 1/2 cans flaked tuna.

To prepare first soak cauliflower, carrots, pearl onions, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, celery and cucumbers in lightly salted water overnight. In another bowl boil vegetable oil, vinegar, carrots, tomato paste and pickling spice for 10 minutes.

Cook vegetables and cauliflower in water until cauliflower is tender and crisp. Add black olives, green olives, mushrooms and tuna to the mixture. When cooked remove from heat and refrigerate. When chilled, arrange on a platter and serve.

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Ravioli, magnific italian food

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ravioli
To make the pasta use 6 cups all-purpose flour, 6 eggs, 3/4 cup water, and 2 teaspoons olive oil.

For the sauce use 1 can crushed tomatoes, 1 cup tomato puree, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup tomato paste, 3 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons minced basil, 1 tablespoon minced parsley, 1 tablespoon minced oregano, 1 garlic clove, minced, salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

For the filling use 1 carton of ricotta cheese, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 egg, lightly beaten, 2 teaspoons minced basil, 1 teaspoon minced parsley, 1 teaspoon minced oregano, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Place flour in a large bowl, make a well in the center and add beaten eggs, water and oil. Stir to form a ball. Turn onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.

In a pot combine the sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. In a bowl, combine the filling ingredients and refrigerate until ready for use.

Divide pasta dough into fourths, place teaspoonfuls of filling 1 inch apart over half of pasta sheet. Brush around filling with water, ffold sheet and press down to seal. Cut into squares with a pastry wheel.

Boil salted water and add ravioli. Simmer and cook until ravioli float to the top and are tender. Drain. Cover with sauce and serve.

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Eggs Florentine, breakfast with “glam”

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eggs_florentine

For a breakfast with a little more glam and prep time try Eggs Florentine. Eggs Florentine is poached eggs served on toasted sourdough bread with spinach and Hollandaise sauce.

To prepare you will need 4 eggs, 1 bunch of baby spinach, 3 tsp of white vinegar, 2 thick slices of sourdough bread, butter, Hollandaise dressing, 5 black peppercorns, 1 bay leaf, 2 egg yolks,2 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp of salt.

Make the Hollandaise sauce by combining the vinegar, peppercorns, and bay leaf in a saucepan over low flame. Allow to simmer until the mixture reduces to 2 teaspoons. Remove from heat,strain, and set aside.Use a heatproof bowl over a medium saucepan with water. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and bring the water to the boil.

As the water boils use egg yolks and vinegar and whisk until combined. When the water has boiled place the egg mixture over the saucepan and use a whisk to mix for 3 minutes until thick and has doubled in volume. Whisk the mixture and warm melted butter a few drops at a timeuntil incorporated. Mix lemon juice and add salt and pepper.

To prepare the eggs put vinegar in a frying pan with water and boil over a low flame. Break 1 egg into a saucer and use a large spoon to make a small eddy in the water. Then add egg in the middle and poach for 1 or 2 minutes. When cooked transfer to a plate. Cook spinach in water and drain. Toast bread and put on a plate. Add spinach, poached eggs and drizzle with hollandaise sauce.

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Macaroni and Cheese pie

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macaroni_and_cheese
The macaroni and cheese is one of the simplest meals available and with the right spices can be extra tasty. To make you need cooking spray, 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni, 1/2 cup butter, 2 cans evaporated milk, 1 tablespoon black pepper, 3 eggs, salt, 4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, and paprika.

To prepare, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and spray a small casserole dish with cooking spray. In a saucepan add water and salt and bring to a boil before adding macaroni. Add oil to prevent macaroni pieces sticking together. Once cooked, remove macaroni and drain.

Melt butter in a pot over a low flame and add evaporated milk and pepper until warm. Beat eggs in a bowl and add evaporated milk mixture whisking until smooth.

Continue to warm over the low flame until thick and add macaroni and stir. Put macaroni mixture in a dish. Add shredded cheese and top with more macaroni. Do this until macaroni is finished, then top with cheese. Bake for about 20 minutes in a casserole.

To add extra flavour to a macaroni and cheese you may also add finely chopped onions and chopped bell peppers. In some recipes the onions and peppers may be blended with the milk and egg mixture for added taste.

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Chicken pot pie, one pot delight

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chicken_pot_pie

A pot pie is baked savoury dish encased in a flaky pastry and baked in a pie tin to ensure it maintains its shape. There are several varieties including an Australian meat pie and various British regional types. In America, the pot pie can be filled with various types of meat including beef, chicken, or turkey as well as vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and green peas.

The chicken pot pie may be the most popular and is simple to make. The ingredients are 1 poundskinless, boneless chicken breast, cubed, 1 cupsliced carrots, 1 cupgreen peas,1/2 cupsliced celery,1/3 cupbutter,1/3 cuponion chopped, 1/3 cupall-purpose flour,1/2 teaspoonsalt,1/4 teaspoonblack pepper,1 3/4 cupschicken broth, and 2/3 cupmilk.

First preheat an oven to 425 degrees F. Then in a saucepan combine the carrots, chicken, peas, and celery, add water and cook for 15 minute then drain.

In a separate pan over a medium flame cook onions and butter add flour, salt, and pepper. Slowly add the broth and milk and cook until thick. Put the mixture in a pie crust then cover with the liquid, add the top pie crust and make a few slits in the top. Bake for between 30 and 35 minutes or until pastry is golden brown.

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Pasta primavera

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PASTA_PRIMAVERA_017.tif
Pasta primavera is a dish made from pasta and fresh vegetables. Sometimes chicken is added but the meal is usually vegetables only. Ingredients such as broccoli, carrots, peas, onions, and green bell peppers, and tomatoes can be used. The pasta used can be bowtie or penne.

To make pasta primavera you will need 3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips, 2 medium zucchini, cut into thin strips, 2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips, 1 onion, thinly sliced, 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips, 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs, 1 pound bowtie pasta, 15 cherry tomatoes, halved, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan.

Next preheat an oven to 450 degrees F and on a large heavy baking sheet, toss all the vegetables with oil, salt, pepper, and herbs.

Put half of the vegetable mixture onto a large baking sheet and arrange evenly. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes.

Cook the pasta in a separate bowl of water until al dente for about 8 minutes. Next toss the pasta with the vegetables in a large bowl and combine.

Add the cherry tomatoes and enough of the left over cooking water to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.

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