About Delightsofculinaria

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Orange Roughy with Carrots

Orange Roughy with Carrots
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This is very light and healthy dish. The fish is prepared in a rice cooker.This type of cooking method is quick and the fish and carrots are full of flavorful.

Ingredients:
4 wild Orange Roughy filets ( cut in half if desired)
4 medium carrots peeled,grated
olive oil
salt and pepper
your favorite seasoning

Directions:
Place the fillets (in one layer) in the rice cooker.
Sprinkle a little salt, pepper and seasoning.
Cover with grated carrots.
Drizzle olive oil and a little salt and pepper or seasoning.
Repeat with second layer.
Close lid and cook for about 20-25 minutes.
Serve with your favorite side. I like it best with mashed potatoes.

Grilled Salmon

Grilled Salmon
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Ingredients:
2 -2 1/2 Wild Salmon fillet skin on
Marinade-
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 heaping tablespoon mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika or regular paprika
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
salt

Directions:

In a small mixing bowl combine all ingredients for marinade.
Rub it on both sides of the fillet.
Let it marinade for 30 minutes.

Start  your grill.
Brush oil or spray cooking spray on the grates.
Place salmon skin side up first.
Grill about 8 minutes each side.

Somsa or Samosa with Pumpkin filling

Somsa or Samosa with Pumpkin filling
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Samosa or Somsa is a very popular hot snack in countries like India, Central Asia, Israel,Arabia,Mediterranean and Africa.Each region has their own way of preparing it.

It’s made from layered dough and can be filled with variety of fillings like beef,lamb with onions, potatoes, or pumpkin.Some regions fry the samosa, but where I am from they always baked in the oven or in tandoor oven.The dough comes out buttery and crispy on the outside with juicy filling inside.

Fall has arrived,even though it doesn’t look like it did here in California with temperatures still in the 90’s, but it did! So baking this hot snack is perfect. Pumpkin is a very healthy vegetable that can last for 6 months,and there is a lot of dishes,desserts,salads and even juices you can incorporate this healthy vegetable in. When my kids first saw me making these, they went “eeeew!!!! salty pumpkin? I am not eating it..” but.. guess what? when they tried it, they changed their mind. They are used to eating pumpkin like in pies,cookies,muffins and everything that is sweet, but thats not the only way you can use pumpkin.

This particular recipe is with Pumpkin filling, but I am including a recipe with meat filling also.Enjoy this hot snack with a cup of green tea.

Ingredients for dough:
4 1/2 – 5 cups flour (I used unbleached all purpose)
1 1/2 cup warm water
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 stick melted butter.

Whisk together water,egg, and salt. Add flour and knead the dough well.
Let it rest for at least 30 minutes.Meanwhile prepare the filling.

Pumpkin filling:
3 cups peeled, diced into small pieces pumpkin
2 small-medium sweet onions or one large chopped
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2- 3/4 inch butter cubes (depending on the size you are making.)

Mix all the ingredients except butter.

Meat filling:
1 1/2 lbs. beef or lamb minced (preferably making your own)
2 onions chopped
salt and pepper.
1 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder.
1/2- 3/4 inch butter cubes (depending on the size you are making.)

* black sesame seeds can be sprinkled on top before baking, I just didn’t have any:(

Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Slice the dough in half.Roll it out thin and grease the dough with melted butter.

Roll it up and cut into 2-2 1/2 inch pieces.

Dip and press the dough in to flour.

Roll it out

 Add filling and 1-2 cubes butter, pinch the sides together

In a shape of a triangle

Place somsas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil.
Coat the top with slightly beaten egg using a brush.Sprinkle sesame seeds.
Bake for about 45 minutes.Apply egg coating once again as soon as it
is taken out of the oven.

Grilled Halibut with red pepper and tomato sauce

Grilled Halibut with red pepper and tomato sauce
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This is a healthy and light dish. Fillet of Halibut is marinated in herbs,garlic and white wine then grilled to perfection and served just like that or with sweet red pepper sauce on top .You can use cilantro or parsley instead of rosemary and basil.

For 2-4 fillets pieces
Ingredients:
1 lime or lemon squeezed
1 tablespoon chopped basil
1 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary(about 2 sprigs)
3-4 garlic cloves
3 tablespoons white wine
salt and pepper
olive oil

Directions:
Using a mini blender combine all the ingredients except olive oil.
Place fillets in a bowl and pour marinade over.
Let it marinade for at least 30 minutes.

Before grilling, apply olive oil to both sides of the fish.
Grill about 5 minutes each side.
* to make sure fish wont stick to the grates spray a non stick cooking spray or brush  olive oil on the grates.

Sauce:
1red sweet pepper ( I used cubanelle ) diced
2 small-med  tomatoes blanched diced
1/2 cipollini onion finely chopped
1 elephant garlic clove or 3 regular garlic cloves finely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh basil finely chopped
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and fresh ground pepper.

Directions:
Using a saute pan; heat olive oil on medium heat.
Add onions and garlic.Cook them for about 2 minutes.
Add peppers. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Add tomatoes and basil.cook for 3 minutes and add cream.
Cook the sauce for about 3-4 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper.
Puree the sauce using a mini or hand blender.
Pour the sauce over the fish.

* My kids like to add this sauce on pasta.

Russian Potato Piroshki

Russian Potato Piroshki with Moms famous dough recipe-Пирожки
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Traditional potato Piroshki with caramelized onion and fresh dill are authentic Russian food that is still celebrated the most.Its a hand pie out of fluffy soft dough and potato,caramelized onion, and dill filling.

This soft and fluffy dough recipe for piroshki comes from my mom. When making food like piroshki,pelmeni,manti or vareniki, we like to get together with mom and sisters at her house and make them together and just talk and drink some tea or coffee. The time runs much faster especially with pelmeni and vareniki and it brings so much childhood memories when we always used to make them with mom when growing up.

Dough recipe:
2 cups warm milk
4 cups + 8 heaping tablespoons flour
2 eggs
2 tablespoon sour cream
2 tablespoons oil
1 tablespoon yeast
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar

Directions:
In a medium bowl whisk together 1 cup warm milk,1/4 teaspoon salt,sugar,yeast, and 8 tablespoons flour.

Cover and set a side for about 10 minutes.It should rise and be foamy.

While it’s rising, In a large mixing bowl whisk or use a hand mixer to mix 1 cup warm milk,sour cream, oil, eggs,salt.
Add 2 1/2 cups flour and mix/whisk.
Add the foamy yeast mixture.

Mix/whisk and add the rest of the flour and mix carefully.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the warmest area. I like to cover it with a blanket on top to keep it warm and rise quicker. It should double in size.( about 1 hour)

Potato filling with mushroom:
5 potatoes peeled and cooked in salted water
1 med or 2 small onions chopped
1 stick butter (118 grams)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups dry shiitake mushrooms soaked in boiling water,drained and cut in pieces.
salt and black pepper
2 tablespoon finely chopped dill(optional)

Directions:
Heat a saute pan on med-high heat.
Add olive oil and butter.
When butter melts add onions.
Saute onions until they will have a caramel color.
Add mushrooms and cook for another 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
Add salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
Add dill if desired.

* Omit mushrooms if you don’t like them.

Steps in making Piroshki:
Note: The dough will be sticky, I like to apply oil on my hands so the dough won’t stick to them.

Cut a piece of dough in size of tennis ball and place it on well floured board or surface.
Using your fingers stretch the dough a little.
Place about 1 1/2-2 tablespoons of filling.

Carefully pinch the sides together.

Place it on well floured board or baking pan seam side down. Continue with the rest of the dough.

Heat a frying pan with lots of oil on med-high heat.

Place piroshki seam side down and deep fry piroshki in batches turning them over once.
Line a large plate or a bowl with paper towel and place fried piroshki to drain.

If you like garlic then here is another step for you;
Melt about 2 tablespoons salted butter with 7-8 crushed garlic.
*You can also use olive oil or a combination of both.
And either dip your pirozhok in the garlic and butter or
mix piroshki in a bowl with garlic and butter.
I know it’s much more calories but it’s so good!

Russian Potato Piroshki with Moms famous dough recipe-Пирожки

Ingredients

  • Dough recipe:
  • 2 cups warm milk
  • 4 cups + 8 heaping tablespoons flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoon sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 tablespoon yeast
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • Potato filling with mushroom:
  • 5 potatoes peeled and cooked in salted water
  • 1 med or 2 small onions chopped
  • 1 stick butter (118 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups dry shiitake mushrooms soaked in boiling water,drained and cut in pieces.
  • salt and black pepper
  • 2 tablespoon finely chopped dill(optional)

Instructions

  1. Directions for dough:
  2. 1.In a medium bowl whisk together 1 cup warm milk,1/4 teaspoon salt,sugar,yeast, and 8 tablespoons flour.
  3. 2.Cover and set a side for about 10 minutes.It should rise and be foamy.
  4. 3.While it's rising, In a large mixing bowl whisk or use a hand mixer to mix 1 cup warm milk,sour cream, oil, eggs,salt.
  5. 4.Add 2 1/2 cups flour and mix/whisk.
  6. 5.Add the foamy yeast mixture.
  7. 6.Mix/whisk and add the rest of the flour and mix carefully.
  8. 7.Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the warmest area. I like to cover it with a blanket on top to keep it warm and rise quicker. It should double in size.( about 1 hour)
  9. Directions for Onions and mushrooms:
  10. 1.Heat a saute pan on med-high heat.
  11. 2.Add olive oil and butter.
  12. 3.When butter melts add onions.
  13. 4.Saute onions until they will have a caramel color.
  14. 5.Add mushrooms and cook for another 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
  15. 6.Add salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
  16. 7.Add dill if desired.
  17. * Omit mushrooms if you don't like them.
  18. Steps in making Piroshki:
  19. Note: The dough will be sticky, I like to apply oil on my hands so the dough won't stick to them.
  20. 1.Cut a piece of dough in size of tennis ball and place it on well floured board or surface.
  21. 2.Using your fingers stretch the dough a little.
  22. 3.Place about 1 1/2-2 tablespoons of filling.
  23. 4.Carefully pinch the sides together.
  24. 5.Place it on well floured board or baking pan seam side down. Continue with the rest of the dough.
  25. 6.Heat a frying pan with lots of oil on med-high heat.
  26. 7.Place piroshki seam side down and deep fry piroshki in batches turning them over once.
  27. 8.Line a large plate or a bowl with paper towel and place fried piroshki to drain.
  28. If you like garlic then here is another step for you;
  29. Melt about 2 tablespoons salted butter with 7-8 crushed garlic.
  30. *You can also use olive oil or a combination of both.
  31. And either dip your pirozhok in the garlic and butter or
  32. mix piroshki in a bowl with garlic and butter.
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Healthy Veggie Sandwich

Healthy Veggie Sandwich
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Ingredients:

-1 slices whole wheat or whole rye bread ( I use  Fitness bread) cut in half
-basil pesto spread
-mixed greens,arugula,spinach,or lettuce (your choice)
-slice of Havarti,Gouda,or Swiss cheese
-sliced avocado
-1-2 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
-Sliced tomato
- slice of grilled or fried eggplant
-salt & pepper
-balsamic vinegar

Directions:
Spread basil pesto spread on the both pieces of bread.
Layer sandwich in this order:
-lettuce or greens
-cheese
-mozzarella cheese
-balsamic vinegar
-eggplant
-tomatoes
-avocado
-salt & pepper
- other half of bread

Vegetarian Chili

Vegetarian Chili
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This is a colorful and healthy bowl of chili with satisfying flavor even for meat eaters. You can add meat to this recipe if you like, just brown ground beef first then proceed with the rest of the recipe.It’s our meatless week so I will be posting some meatless or vegetarian recipes.There are different variations on how to serve chili. I like it just like that in a bowl even without sour cream , but I also served it with brown basmanti rice or you can make it as a burrito with cheese and sour cream which is my kids favorite.

Ingredients:
4 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion chopped
5 cloves garlic minced
2 celery stalks(sticks)chopped
1 green bell pepper seeded and chopped
1 squash diced
1 zucchini diced
1 red chili pepper diced
4 cups assorted cooked beans or canned.
7 0z. can green chiles
1can 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1 tablespoon cocoa ( I used dutch cocoa)
1 1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 tablespoon salt +/-( I used pink Himalayan )

* You can also add corn and mushroom to this recipe depending on your preference.

Directions:
Heat a oil in a large heavy pot on med-high heat.
Add onions, garlic.Cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add bell pepper, red chili pepper,zucchini,squash and celery.
Cook for about 6-7 minutes stirring occasionally.
Add all the spices and green chiles. Stir and cook for a minute or two.
Add beans,tomatoes and broth.
Cook for 25-30 minutes.

“Oreshki” Walnut cookies – Печенье “Орешки”

"Oreshki" Walnut cookies - Печенье "Орешки"
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Oreshki- means small walnut shaped cookie. This traditional Russian dessert pieces are always favorite at parties and weddings. They are a combination of crunchy and soft cookies filled with dulce de leche ( cooked condensed milk) and walnuts pieces. You will need a walnut cookie mold “oreshnitsa” to make them. you can find it here :
http://www.amazon.com/Oreshnitsa-International-Company-OIC-120AV-Electric/dp/B0053WJ556/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1347860868&sr=1-1&keywords=Oreshnitsa 
or
http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Mold-Russian-Oreshki-Nutlets/dp/B007Z5NPJQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1347860868&sr=1-2&keywords=Oreshnitsa

Ingredients:
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 stick butter at room temperature
1 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon vinegar
3 1/2 cups flour

Directions:

Using hand mixer  whisk egg with sugar until pale in color.
Combine flour with butter using your hands to make it into crumbs.
Mix vinegar with baking soda.Add mayo and baking soda mixture to the egg mixture and whisk.
Add the mixture to the crumble and mix it together.

Divide the dough into small balls and bake them using the “Oreshnitsa”

Filling:
1 can dulce de leche
crushed or chopped walnuts

Combine all ingredients.Fill the cookies with filling and take two pieces and stick them together to make one whole oreshka cookie.

Baked Buffalo Wings

Baked Buffalo Wings
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This is a great alternative to regular all time favorite buffalo wings  appetizer. The wings are baked instead of fried which is already cutting off on that extra fat and calories. Want even less calories and fat take of the skin and dip it in the sauce, that’s why I make extra sauce, for that extra dip. If you like them extra hot you can add cayenne pepper to the marinade.

Ingredients:
20 chicken wings, split at joints,tips removed ( total of 40 pieces all together)
12 oz. Franks hot sauce
1 stick butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon paprika
salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup flour
Seasoning salt (optional)
celery

Blue Cheese Yogurt Dip:
1 cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
¼ cup finely chopped green onions (green part only)
¼ finely chopped red onion
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese (good one)
salt to taste
fresh cracked pepper
Mix all the ingredients in a medium size bowl.

Preheat oven on 400 degrees.
Directions for marinade:
Combine buttermilk, flour, onion powder,garlic powder, salt,pepper,paprika and seasoning salt (optional).
Add and mix it well with the wings.
Arrange wings on the baking/cooling rack and add some water to the bottom of the baking pan.

Place in the oven for 30 minutes.
Turn the wings over and transfer back in to the oven for another 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the butter and hot sauce on medium heat in small sauce pan until the butter is melted. Stir to combine the ingredients.

Remove the wings from the rack. Add the sauce and toss well to cover the wings with sauce.
Serve with celery and blue cheese or ranch dressing.

……and EXTRA sauce!!!!
Enjoy!

Baked Buffalo Wings

Ingredients

  • 20 chicken wings, split at joints,tips removed ( total of 40 pieces all together)
  • 12 oz. Franks hot sauce
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • salt
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • Seasoning salt (optional)
  • celery
  • Blue Cheese Yogurt Dip:
  • 1 cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup finely chopped green onions (green part only)
  • ¼ finely chopped red onion
  • ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese (good one)
  • salt to taste
  • fresh cracked pepper
  • Mix all the ingredients in a medium size bowl.

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven on 400 degrees.
  2. Directions for marinade:
  3. Combine buttermilk, flour, onion powder,garlic powder, salt,pepper,paprika and seasoning salt (optional).
  4. Add and mix it well with the wings.
  5. Arrange wings on the baking/cooling rack and add some water to the bottom of the baking pan.
  6. Place in the oven for 30 minutes.
  7. Turn the wings over and transfer back in to the oven for another 15-20 minutes.
  8. Meanwhile, heat the butter and hot sauce on medium heat in small sauce pan until the butter is melted. Stir to combine the ingredients.
  9. Remove the wings from the rack. Add the sauce and toss well to cover the wings with sauce.
  10. Serve with celery and blue cheese or ranch dressing.
  11. ......and EXTRA sauce!!!!
  12. Enjoy!
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Fruit Cake with Pastry Cream Filling

Fruit Cake with Pastry Cream Filling-фруктовый торт с заварным кремом
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Ingredients for cake batter – 2 sheets:
(  I doubled to make 4 sheets total)
3 extra large eggs
1 can condensed milk
1 1/4 stick butter,melted
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon baking powder combined with 1 tablespoon vinegar.

Cake cream #1:
Prepared pastry cream http://delightsofculinaria.blogspot.com/2012/09/pastry-cream.html#links
1 stick butter softened at room temperature.

Cake cream #2:
2 pints heavy whipping cream
1 cup powdered sugar

Fruits:
Raspberries
bananas- sliced
kiwi -sliced
Syrup (optional) -boil water with sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Using a stand or hand mixer, beat eggs until pale yellow.
add condensed milk and butter.Mix on medium speed.
Add baking soda with vinegar.
Mix on med-low gradually adding flour.

Line and spray a 9” round baking pan.Transfer half of the batter and bake for about 20 minutes.
Repeat for the second half.Let cool completely.
If you want 3 or 4 layer cake then you will need bake 2 more cake sheets.

Cream:
Using a hand mixer,whip butter until white and fluffy.
First 1 tablespoon at a time, add pastry cream and whip it together.
Continue the process with the rest of the cream.

In another mixing bowl whip together heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form.

Assembling:
Moist first cake. Spread some pastry cream on the first layer. Arrange bananas and kiwis on top of the cream.
Place second cake on top of the fruits and repeat the steps.(If you are making 3 layers,if not go to the next step)
Place the third cake on top of fruits and spread whipped cream on the sides and top of the cake.

You will have one cake left, you can cut it to pieces and make cake crumbs by using a blender or you can crush Maries type cookies or any other tea cookies.
Add crumbs to the side of the cake.
Top the cake with fresh raspberries.
Place it in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

Pastry Cream

Pastry Cream
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Pastry cream is a custard type filling for pies,tarts,cakes and all kinds of desserts and pastries.It can be used as prepared or can be added to other creams which you can use as cake filling or frosting.It is cooked on the stove and must be stirred constantly  so it won’t curdle and have lumps.

Ingredients:
4 egg yolks
3/4 cup  sugar
pinch of salt
1 1/3 cup hot milk or half and half
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Whisk eggs in a saucepan gradually adding sugar and salt.
Continue until the eggs are thick and pale yellow.

Whisk in flour and gradually by dribbles at first, add  hot milk or half/half.

Whisking slowly, then vigorously bring to a boil on medium/low heat.
Simmer slowly, stirring with a wooden spoon for 2-3 minutes.
Remove from heat and add vanilla.
Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming..
Let it cool.
You can keep it in the fridge up to 3 days.

Stuffed Tomatoes

Stuffed Tomatoes
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Ingredients:
Tomatoes
 -use equal amount
European bologna diced (smoked doktorskaya or vetchina)*
canned corn
shredded cheese ( I used mozzarella)
mayonnaise
salt if needed
chopped fresh dill

Directions:
Slice off the stem part of tomato and scoop out pulp and seeds.
Slice off a little of the bottom part of tomato so it will sit flat on the plate.
In a mixing bowl mix together all the ingredients except dill.
Stuff the tomatoes and sprinkle with dill.

Mediterranean Eggplant Salad

Mediterranean Eggplant Salad
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Ingredients:
1 eggplant peeled,and cut into 1/2 inch strips
2 red,orange or yellow bell pepper cut into thick strips
5 tomatoes blanched and sliced into 1/2 inch rounds
1/2 cup adjika ( store bought or homemade http://delightsofculinaria.blogspot.com/2011/07/adjika-georgean-style-salsa.html)
2-3 cloves crushed garlic
olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro or parsley
salt

Directions:
Heat oven  to 400 degrees

Drizzle plenty of olive oil on the bottom of deep baking pan( I used glass deep dish).
Arrange in vegetables in layers:
- Bell pepper
- eggplant
- using a spoon add adjika
- tomatoes

 Place in the oven for 20 minutes.
Let it cool completely.
Add salt, garlic and cilantro or parsley.
Mix well.

Grilled Fillet Mignon with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Grilled Fillet Mignon with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
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This is the best mushroom sauce that I ever tried. My friend Marina shared this recipe with me and I want to share it with you.It goes great with Filet Mignon but you can have it with any other type of steak or even chicken.
Ingredients:

Serves 6-8 people
6-8 Filets
10-12 ozs button mushrooms sliced
1 onion chopped
1/3 cup white wine
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon demi glace *
salt and fresh crushed pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

* You can make it yourself (which takes like over 20 hours to cook) or you can buy it online or in the store. I bought mine at William & Sonoma for $29.99, It’s pricy but really worth it.

Directions:
Heat a saute pan med-high heat and add olive oil.
Add mushrooms and onions, and saute until onions are soft and liquid is gone.
Remove about 4 tablespoons of mushroom and onion and reserve it for later.
Add white wine and let it evaporate. 2-3 minutes.
Add cream and simmer for about 5-7 minutes.
Stir in demi glace.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Using a hand or mini blender, pulse the sauce.
Add the reserved cooked mushrooms, mix and serve over grilled filets.

If the sauce is to thick, add more cream and reheat it.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

BBQ Chicken Pizza
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This recipe is for 2 pizzas. You can make it both the same or do another of your favorite. I usually make 2 different ones. To find more recipes, visit brooklyncraftpizza.

Ingredients for Pizza crust:
Dough recipe adapted from The Pioneer Woman.
 
2  14-inch pizzas

1 teaspoon Instant or Active Dry Yeast
1 1/2 cup warm water ( not lukewarm)
4 cups All-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cups olive oil

Directions:
Add yeast to warm water.Let stand for few minutes.
In a stand mixer, combine flour and salt. With the mixer running on low speed ( with paddle or hook attachment), drizzle in olive oil until combined with flour.
Pour water/yeast mixture and mix until combined.
Coat a separate mixing bowl with olive oil.
Form the dough into a ball, and toss to coat in olive oil.
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let it rise for 1-2 hours, or store in the fridge until you need it(up to 4 days).

Sauce and Toppings for 2 pizzas:
1/2 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
1/2 cup your favorite ranch dressing or http://delightsofculinaria.blogspot.com/search?q=buttermilk+ranch for homemade.
1 cooked chicken breast pulled apart or diced. ( you may use rotisserie chicken if desired)
3/4 cup sliced green onions green parts
1 red onion sliced
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese or more if you like extra cheesy.
16 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese thinly sliced.
1 cup fresh chopped cilantro
olive oil

Directions:

Heat oven on 415 degrees.

Combine BBQ sauce with ranch dressing.

Apply olive oil to your hands and take half of the pizza dough.
Slightly coat a pizza pan, a pizza stone or regular baking pan with olive oil.
Pull and stretch and spread the dough until crust is nice and thin ( you can use a rolling pin also, but this way its much easier).
Add about 2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce and a little salt and black pepper to the chicken and mix together.
Spread some sauce evenly on the crust.

Top with fresh mozzarella, mozzarella,green onions, red onions, and chicken.
Drizzle a little bit of sauce on the pizza.
Bake the pizza for 13-15 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and toppings are bubbly.

Sprinkle cilantro before serving.

 

Squirrel Cake #2 – торт белочка №2

Squirrel Cake #2 - торт белочка №2
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This recipe was adapted from my sister-in-law. It’s fairly sweet and moist with a little crunch.

Squirrel Cake #2 – торт белочка №2

Ingredients

  • 5 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup walnut pieces
  • Syrup:
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • Cream:
  • 2 cans dulce de leche ( cooked condensed milk)
  • 4 ozs. cream cheese softened at room temp.
  • 10 ozs. whipped topping (such as cool whip or any other brand. )*
  • 1 cup walnuts pieces( or more)
  • * you can substitute 2 cups heavy whipping cream + 1/2 cup powdered sugar( whip it),but there will be a slight difference in taste.

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a bowl using hand or stand mixer, whip the eggs with sugar until fluffy and pale in color. ( at least 10 minutes.)
  3. Gradually add flour and mix on low.
  4. Add walnuts, and mix gently.
  5. Spray with non-stick cooking spray/grease a 9x13 glass baking dish.
  6. Transfer the batter to baking dish.
  7. Bake for about 40 minutes.Check with toothpick if it comes out clean its done, if not then bake a little more.
  8. Let it cool completely.
  9. Syrup:
  10. Combine water with sugar and bring to a boil. set a side and let it cool.
  11. Cream:
  12. Mix using a hand or stand mixer cream cheese with dulce de leche until well combined.
  13. Add whipped topping. (or whipped cream).
  14. Mix together.
  15. Assembling:
  16. Slice the cake in half.
  17. Place a half of the cake back in to the glass baking dish (the one that it was baking in)
  18. Pour/spray some syrup on both of the cakes.
  19. Spread plenty of cream ( alot!)
  20. Place the other half of the cake on top of the cream.
  21. Spread the rest of the cream on top and on the sides of the cake.
  22. Add plenty of walnut pieces on top.
  23. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
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Enjoy with hot or cold cup of tea.

Pelmeni”Russian dumplings”- пельмени

Pelmeni"Russian dumplings"- пельмени
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Pelmeni is very well known popular Russian dish that originated in Siberia. It’s made from unleavened dough that is rolled in to thin circles and filled with minced meat ( chicken,beef,pork or lamb.combination of meats is also popular), spices,onions and/or garlic.Then they are cooked in water,drained and served with lots of butter and some sour cream.You can eat them as soup as well without draining them and sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper and some chopped green onions.
I like to make them in large quantity, then freeze them for later. They will stay good for long period of time with out loss of quality or flavor.Best kept in a heavy duty ziplock bag.”

Ingredients for dough:
about 230-250 pieces
 
5 eggs
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
8 cups flour

Filling:

2 lbs. ground meat ( I used chicken-thigh meat if making homemade ground meat )
1 onion shredded or minced
salt -about 1 1/2 teaspoon +/-
1 heaping teaspoon fresh ground black pepper.

Direction for dough:

whisk together water,milk,eggs and salt.
Mix using a dough hook adding flour.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for 40 min.

I wasn’t able to take step by step photos but here is a link where you can see -http://tasterussian.com/russian-pelmeni-recipe.html.

Stuffed mini peppers

Stuffed mini peppers
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This is one of the variations that I make stuffed peppers.I like to use mini peppers for couple of reasons; # 1. It’s great for parties or potlucks,#2. You get to taste more pepper. Of course if you prefer to use regular bell pepper then go ahead.I personally like to eat them with the liquid, because that’s how my mother would serve it to us as kids.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground chicken or beef
1 cup rice cooked aldente
1 onion finely chopped
1 carrot shredded
1 can (8oz.) tomato sauce
1 package mini sweet peppers (from Costco)
Salt and pepper to taste.
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream.
6 cups water or chicken stock
* optional ingredients
cumin powder
sour cream ( Instead of cream)
1/4 cup oil
1-2 bay leafs

Directions:

Wash and remove the stems and seeds from peppers.
Combine ground chicken or beef,rice, half of the onion, salt and pepper. Mix well.(*cumin )
Stuff peppers with ground chicken filling.
Arrange it in a pot.

Heat a  deep saute pan on medium heat and add onions and carrots.
Saute for about 5 minutes or until onions are soft.
Add tomato sauce and bay leafs.

Cook for another 5 minutes and add water.
Season with salt and pepper and pour over peppers.
Cover lid and bring to boil over high heat.
When starts to boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 30 minutes.
Pour heavy cream over peppers.
Serve in a bowl with liquid or on a plate with sour cream.