Cajun Ribeye Steak with Cucumber Salsa
Tuesday, January 25, 2022Bread Machine Pumpkin Spelt Bread
Thursday, January 20, 2022Let the bread machine do all the mixing and kneading work for you! This easy-to-follow spelt bread recipe requires minimal work with a bread machine. All you have to do is shape the dough into a loaf and bake. It's fuss-free, quick, and so delicious. You can enjoy having fresh homemade bread any time of the year and it makes a perfect alternative to everyday white bread. Store completely cool bread well-wrapped, at room temperature, for several days and freeze for longer storage. If you don't want to include gingerbread spice, then leave it out or use cinnamon instead. Liquid whey is the liquid of strained yoghurt. You can either make it yourself or get it from the store or simply use water, milk or buttermilk instead for the recipe.
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- Have all the ingredients at room temperature. Place kneading blade in bread machine pan. Add the ingredients to the machine’s pan as suggested by the manufacturer. Usually liquid first, then dry ingredients. Select the DOUGH cycle.
- After 5 minutes, open the machine and touch the dough to check its consistency. The dough should form a soft ball around the kneading blade. If it is too dry, add ½ to 1 tablespoon liquid whey or water at a time. If dough is too wet, add 1 tablespoon flour at a time until the right dough consistency is reached. When the cycle is done, turn out the dough and shape into a loaf. (You can also make this in your stand mixer. Add whey, pumpkin puree and melted ghee in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Stir together until mixed. Add in the rest of dough ingredients. Mix on low for 3-5 minutes until a dough comes together. Increase the speed and knead for 8 minutes until the dough has become elastic and smooth. Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl, turning once to coat. Cover, and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Gently deflate dough, and transfer to a lightly floured work surface to shape the dough.)
- Place in a standard-size loaf pan and cover with lightly sprayed plastic wrap and allow to rise 40-50 minutes. Near the end of the rise, preheat oven to 180C/350F. Whisk the small egg until combined and brush the top of the dough. Sprinkle the sesame seeds over.
- Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Tent with aluminum foil after 25 minutes to prevent over-browning. Remove the bread from oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool.
Brussels Sprout Salad with Carrots and Macadamia Nuts
Monday, January 17, 2022Making a Brussels sprouts salad doesn't actually require much preparation. You can use a food processor to chop the sprouts and grate the carrots, which will require just 5 minutes. The longer you let it chill in the fridge, the more tender the sprouts will be. Toss with tender carrot tops or other herbs (cilantro, parsley, spring onions are all good) and toasted nuts before serving.
Salad | Dressing |
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- Place all the ingredients for the dressing in a bowl. Whisk everything together until well combined.
- Place Brussels sprouts, and grated carrots in a large bowl. Toss with dressing. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour. Stir in chopped carrot tops and chopped macadamia nuts just before serving.
No Knead 100% Whole Spelt Bread with Sunflower Seeds
Thursday, January 13, 2022The generous amount of toasted sunflower seeds lends a delicious and very distinctive nuttiness to this hearty no-knead wholemeal spelt bread. Crunchy and nutty from the healthy dose of seeds and whole grain, this bread makes a great sandwich, and super toast. If you don't have wholemeak spelt, just use regular wholewheat flour, and besides sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds are a great substitute. Another alternative is use a mix of different seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and flax).
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- In a large mixing bowl, add in spelt flour, dried yeast, raw sugar, 100 grams of toasted sunflower seeds and sea salt. Add in water and stir everything together. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel. Set aside on the kitchen counter for 17 hours at the room-temperature.
- Next day, grease and dust a 24cmx11cm loaf pan with some breadcrumbs or simply line the pan with parchment paper. Fold the dough from the side to the middle and tip the dough into the prepared loaf pan. Cover it with the kitchen towel and set aside for an hour.
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Place a tin with a cup of cold water on the bottom of the oven. Brush the top of the dough with yoghurt and sprinkle the sunflower seeds over.
- Bake in the middle of hot oven for 50 minutes or until the bread is browned and sounds hollow when tapping the underside. Let cool for 10 minutes in the loaf pan, then unmould onto a wire rack and let cool.
Egg White Chocolate Bundt Cake
Sunday, January 09, 2022This chocolate bundt cake is quick, foolproof and simply delicious. Besides that, it uses up all the egg whites left from preparing the raw food for my carnivorous cats. The cake has a moist and fluffy crumb and not overly sweet. I served it with a dust of icing sugar and fruit. You can pour a chocolate glaze over or serve with some whipped cream at side or atop a good vanilla ice cream if desired.
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- Butter a 24 cm bundtcake pan thoroughly and flour it well (besides flour, you can also use cacao powder or almond meal). Tip off the excess. Set aside.
- Place chopped butter and dark chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl. Stir occasionally as they soften. As soon as the chocolate begins to melt, remove the bowl. Preheat the oven to 175C/350F.
- Place egg white in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a balloon whisk. Beat until fluffy, then slowly add in sugar and continue beating until glossy and stiff.
- Sift the spelt flour and cornstarch together. Sift 1/3 of the flour mixture into the egg whites and fold to combine. Repeat with the remaining flour mixture in two additions. Now add in chocolate-butter mixture and fold until well combined.
- Spread the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the surface. Bake in the middle of hot oven for 20-22 minutes until a wooden skewer or chopstick inserted near the center comes out clean.
- Remove and leave the cake in the pan for 5 minutes, then carefully revert onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar and serve with whipped cream and fresh fruit if desired.
Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup with Peanut Crunch
Wednesday, January 05, 2022This silky smooth, super versatile vegetarian soup is perfect for the fall and winter months. It's naturally gluten-free and quick and easy to make. The crunchy garam masala peanut topping makes it over-the-top delicious! It can also be frozen for future lunches and dinners. If you need it dairy-free, just use thick coconut cream (without the coconut water) and a teaspoon of lemon juice instead of crème fraîche.
Peanut Crunch | Soup |
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- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. To prepare the peanut crunch, mix honey, oil, garam masala, tomato paste and peanuts together. Spread on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Season. Bake in the mddle of hot oven for 12 minutes. Remove and sprinkle the chopped rosemary over. Set aside to cool.
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook until softened. Stir in the ginger, garlic and chilli flakes and fry for 2–3 minutes, or until fragrant.
- Stir in the cubed sweet potatoes and stock. Turn up the heat and bring the pan to the boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer with the lid on for 20 minutes, or until the sweet potato is tender.
- Use a stick blender to process until smooth. Alternatively, tip it into a food processor and blend. Stir in crème fraîche. Taste and season.
- Serve in bowls topped with peanut crisp and a good grinding of black pepper.
Smoked Trout Salad with Escarole and Persimmons
Sunday, January 02, 2022This everyday lettuce salad is given a gourmet make-over with the addition of smoked rainbow trout, cherry radishes and persimmons. I’ve paired it with a creamy, tangy mustard vinaigrette that really brings out the best flavour of the smoked fish which will also be great with curly endivie or with butter lettuce or peppery arugula. If you like, add some jammy boiled eggs or boiled potatoes to the salad if want it a little heartier and more substantial.
Mustard Vinaigrette | Salad |
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- In a small bowl, whisk Dijon mustard, vinegar and lemon juice together. Slowly add in olive oil in a steady stream, whisking constantly until all the oil is added and dressing is creamy and emulsified. Season with the salt and pepper.
- Pile the escarole salad leaves on two plates and divide the persimmon wedges and cherry radishes between them. Flake over the smoked trout. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and garnish with the dill and lemon wedge.