Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Sprinkle Bakes


http://www.sprinklebakes.com/2013/10/chocolate-turtle-pumpkin-torte.html

So I just stumbled upon the cooking blog Sprinkle Bakes and for the avid baker like me I am more than a little excited to try some of her recipes. Have a I mentioned here that I work very part time in a local bakery? For me that is a way to do my beloved baking and not have our family eating it all :)  I was looking for some new recipes and this looks so good. Can't wait to try it!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Meat Salad

Here in Latvia they have a lots of salads. And at parties when they have a cold buffet people all bring something they could put together with what they had at home. Deli's here also have a huge selection of sometimes 20 or more salads. This is one of my favorites here and is a heartier version of potato salad. I had never made it at home until I found this recipe in my cooking magazine. Četras Sezonas- November 2013 edition. Here is the recipe with a few changes- I skipped the anchovies and capers.

Boiling the meat:
400 gram beef (I used pork)
2 branches of rosemary
3 cloves garlic
3 bay leaves

Salad:
630 grams boiled, peeled and cubed potatoes
270 g. peeled, boiled, cubed carrots
130 g. boiled eggs, chopped.
280 g. dill pickles, chopped.
300 g. canned, drained peas

Dressing:
150 g. mayonnaise
3-4 t. Dijon mustard
7 cloves garlic- crushed.
3 t. Worcestershire sauce
300 g. sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
  • Boil meat in about 1-2 inches of water with the spices until thoroughly cooked. Drain. Cool and chop finely.
  • Boil potatoes, carrots and eggs. Cool, peel, chop so that they are uniform in size. 
  • Chop pickles and add that and peas to meat, potatoes, carrots and eggs. 
  • Mix dressing separately. Then add to potato mixture  Mix well, season to taste.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Macaroni and Cheese

http://www.food.com/recipe/fannie-farmers-classic-baked-macaroni-cheese-135350
It has been brought to my attention that I have not been posting lately. The fact is I had no idea so many people even used or looked at this blog.

The fact that I haven't been posting doesn't mean I have not been cooking. Quite the contrary-yesterday I spent the whole day in the kitchen. Making food to celebrate my birthday. I made 3 cakes, a vege tray, a yummy meat salad and cheese fondue with curry meatballs, french bread and steamed broccoli for dipping.

But rather than sharing any of those party recipes today I want to share with you a comfort food. There are those foods that bring us warm, happy feelings from childhood and this is one of mine.

I don't make it often from scratch since it time consuming, and here in LV we can't get it in the boxed version. But when I do make it this is a recipe that looks like a good one, though I haven't tried this exact one I have made this several times and like topping it with cubed bread for a nice crunch.

Macaroni and Cheese