Simple Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil Bundt Cake
Tuesday, September 26, 2023What better way to celebrate pumpkin season than with this lightly green coloured dessert, studded with uniquely hull-less Styrian pumpkin seeds.
This simple bundt cake features the rich, nutty flavour of pumpkin seed oil from Styria, a province in southeastern Austria. Styrian pumpkin seed oil is made by pressing roasted, hull-less pumpkin seeds from a local variety of pumpkin, the "Styrian oil pumpkin". In addition to its characteristic dark green color, pumpkin seed oil also has a distinctive nutty taste.
Pan Seared Scallops with Butternut Squash and Brown Butter Hazelnuts
Sunday, September 24, 2023This is an elegant meal that is really easy to prepare. Scallops take only 3-4 minutes to cook until caramelized yet succulent. The trick to achieving that golden crust without overcooking the scallops is to heat your cast iron or stainless steel skillet over high heat for a few minutes until very hot and the scallops should be dry when they hit the pan. Pairing the plump, juicy and perfectly browned sea scallops with creamy butternut squash puree (parsnip puree would be fabulous too) that's roasted with garlic and thyme and brown butter hazelnuts is simply heavenly.
Carnival Squash with Parmesan and Honeycomb
Friday, September 22, 2023A hybrid between sweet dumpling squash and the acorn squash, the carnival squash (or carnival pumpkin) is nutty and sweet in flavour. They are excellent in salads, soups, or roasted as a side dish. The skin of carnival squash is bright, has so many varied patterns and completely safe to consume.
Roasting brings out the best in this squash. And honeycomb and freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano are just really special touches that take this autumn squash to the next level. This definitely deserves a place on your dinner table this season.
Peruvian Chicken Kebabs with Ají Verde
Thursday, September 21, 2023Juicy, succulent and bursting with vibrant flavour, these Peruvian chicken skewers are easy to prepare and perfect for grilling outside in the summer. But you can always make it in a grill pan any time you want. Serve them alongside a delicious, creamy ají verde, a spicy Peruvian green sauce.
Ají Verde is made with plenty of cilantro, scallion, lime, ají amarillo (Peruvian yellow chillie), mayonnaise, garlic, cotija cheese and huacatay (Peruvian black mint).
Since I can't find huacatay and ají amarillo, so I replaced some cilantro with fresh mint leaves, and used jalapeño chilli pepper instead. Ají Verde sauce is terrific served alongside roasted chicken or grilled meats, and it's equally good with grilled seafood. You can even use it as a salad dressing.
Salted Duck Eggs
Tuesday, September 19, 2023This salted egg recipe made with fresh duck eggs using the brine method is a great way to preserve eggs and super easy to make. They take about 30 minutes to prepare and the result is definitely worth the wait! YES, you have to wait for at least 30 days (up to 60 days), depends on the size of eggs. Chicken eggs will require less (2 weeks at least). Once the duck eggs reached the ideal state, remove them from the brine to avoid them becoming too salty. Store them, uncovered, in a plastic box, and use them within 2 weeks. Hard-boiled duck eggs still in the shell can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Salted eggs work great as part of a meal. In China, the boiled ones are often enjoyed with congee as a breakfast. Salted duck eggs are all about the YOLKS. The egg whites taste very similar to uncured one, but the yolks taste like salted roasted chestnuts. A perfect well salted duck egg should have a a firm white that's not too salty and a rich egg yolk that's CREAMY, OILY and golden orange in colour. You can use the yolks to fill the Chinese rice dumplings and mooncakes, or to make stirfries.
Cucumber Spaghetti Salad with Dill Dijon Dressing
Sunday, September 17, 2023Classic Buttery Hamantaschen
Friday, September 15, 2023Hamantaschen, triangular-shaped cookies stuffed with any of a variety of fillings, are a traditional treat often served during the Jewish holiday Purim. But you can always bake them any time when those cravings hit. They are most often filled with fruit preserves, chocolate, or poppy seed fillings.
The dough is easy to make and yields a rich, buttery, lemon-scented cookie that is full of flavour. It keeps the shape during the baking, as long as you don’t overfill your cookies and your filling has the proper thick texture. Another tip to keep hamantaschen in shape is to CHILL them overnight before baking. You can use any hamantaschen filling you like, poppy filling is our favourite.
Pistachio and White Bean Dip with Tomato Salad
Thursday, September 14, 2023Don't underestimate the power of a simple can of beans. Blended with pistachios, parsley, garlic, cumin, olive oil, and lemon, they effectively transform into a creamy, luscious dip. Topped with a vine-ripened cherry tomato salad and sprinkled with dukkah and extra pistachios, this quick and delicious dip makes a simple yet impressive starter or a light lunch.
Ricotta Fritters with Coffee Sugar
Tuesday, September 12, 2023These airy crunchy fritters are a mix of drained ricotta, blanched almond flour, lemon zest, egg and panko breadcrumbs. They are then fried to beautifully golden and crispy with a tender, fluffy centre, served scattered with some espresso sugar. If desired, serve those delicacies with some extra berry coulis or coffee syrup.
Smoked Paprika Prawns Cucumber Bites with Green Goddess Cream
Sunday, September 10, 2023Accordion Cucumber Salad
Friday, September 08, 2023The Asian salad dressing is terrific for all salads, but it pairs particularly well with cucumbers for a spicy, crunchy, and refreshing salad. I like to accordion slice the cucumber for fun, but cut the cucumbers as you prefer. It's gluten-free and keto friendly. If you are looking for a soya-free option, then use tamari or coconut aminos instead.
Keto Ricotta Tomato Tart
Wednesday, September 06, 2023This easy, keto friendly, naturally gluten free tomato tart brings out the wonderful flavour of juicy, ripe grape tomatoes with a rich, creamy cheese filling. The filling is similar to a no-bake cheesecake, featuring a slightly dense, smooth mix of ricotta cheese, freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and fresh goat cheese, with lemon juice and zest to add a bright and tangy note that balances and enhances the flavour of rich cheeses. Use a mix of heirloom tomato varieties for the topping if you can. Change up the herbs if you want. The crust can be baked one day ahead. You can use other tart base (like this turmeric crust, Gruyere spelt crust or this einkorn crust) if you ain't on keto.