Want a fancy restaurant style dish in under 30 minutes? Well..this is it! Fish with orange beurre blanc sauce is perfect and easy seafood dish. The sauce is velvety smooth and will go great with different types fish, shrimp, scallops, and lobster.

Beurre blanc sauce is a french specialty sauce made with reduction of orange juice,white wine, and shallots. Then cold butter pieces are blended to create a smooth buttery sauce.

In this recipe I used fresh wild salmon seasoned with salt and pepper, then pan seared to perfection. Served with fried yellow potato rounds, sauteed spinach with crispy turkey bacon and crispy onion string pieces.

 

Ingredients for beurre blanc sauce:

Makes about 3/4 cup. 

1 piece shallot minced

2/3 orange juice squeezed ( or tangerines)

1/4 white wine

zest from one orange

1 stick very cold butter sliced

salt

Salmon:

2-4 fish pieces

salt and pepper

2 tablespoons oil

1 tablespoon butter

Potatoes:

5-6 peeled and sliced potatoes

salt

2-3 tablespoons oil

1 tablespoon butter

Spinach:

2 slices of turkey or pork bacon chopped

1 tablespoon oil

about 4 cups spinach

crispy onion strings

salt

 

Directions:

 

Combine orange juice,shallots,zest,and wine in a pan or saucepan. Bring to simmer on med-high heat.

Cook until liquid evaporates by half.

On low heat, whisk in butter slices one at a time. The sauce should thicken. Season with salt.

Strain through fine-mesh strainer.

Reheat sauce on low heat only.

Salmon:

Heat a frying pan on med-high heat.

Add oil.

Season fish with salt and pepper.

Transfer fish to a frying pan skin side up.

Pan-fry until half of the fish is cooked,then flip and continue frying until the other side gets cooked.

Potatoes:

Heat a frying pan on med-high heat. Add oil and butter. Season potatoes with salt and fry on both sides until fully cooked and browned.

Spinach:

Heat a large pan with oil. Throw in chopped bacon(or shallots). Cook until brown and crispy.Turn off the heat. Throw in spinach. Using kitchen tongs toss spinach around until its wilted.season with salt.Throw in some onion string pieces.

Arrange everything on a dinner plate in this order;potatoes,spinach,salmon,sauce.

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Smetanik cake is a Russian sour cream cake with sour cream frosting. It’s not overly sweet and the cream feels really light and smooth. If you love moist cakes you can add sugar syrup to moisten it, if you’re more on the drier type cake then skip this step. You can also add raspberries (my fave..) or any other berries for a little sour sweetness. My family loves this cake, it’s one of our favorites.

 

Ingredients:

6 eggs

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 1/4 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon baking soda + 2 tablespoons vinegar(combined)

1 1/2 cup flour

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

 

Cream/frosting:

8 ozs cream cheese

8 ozs condensed milk

1  1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Sugar syrup

1/2 cup cold boiling water with 1 tablespoon sugar for soaking

Optional-

raspberries,strawberries,blueberries,or bananas.

Direction:

Heat oven to 325 F degrees

Prepare two 9 inch cake pans lined with parchment paper and greased or sprayed with non-stick baking spray.

Beat eggs with sugar using electric mixer on high speed.

Add in sour cream,vanilla,and baking soda mixed with vinegar.

Continue to mix on medium-high speed until well incorporated.

Sift flour directly in the bowl with cake batter.

Mix gently using a whisk, always working one direction.

Divide mixture in half.

Add cocoa to one half,and mix it in with a whisk.

Pour cake batter into prepared cake pans. (1 for white cake,1 for chocolate cake)

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until when toothpick inserted and comes out clean.

Let cool.

Cream-

Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese on high speed, scraping the sides when needed.

Bring down the speed to medium and gradually add condensed milk.

Add in powdered sugar, sour cream, and vanilla.

Bring the speed up to high and continue mixing for about another minute or so.

 

Assembling-

Slice really carefully both cakes in half.

Cut off tiny amount of cake from around the sides of the cake.Set aside, we will need it for later.

Starting with chocolate layer, spray or pour (using a spoon) some sugar syrup on the cutted side of the cake layer.

Add good amount of cream.  If adding any berries or bananas, arrange them on top of cream.

Place white cake layer on top of cream, and repeat the steps. If adding berries or bananas, Arrange them on every other layer.

Using a shredder, Shred cake pieces in to tiny crumbs.

Add the crumbs to the sides and top of the cake. Or you can use chocolate/vanilla wafers or chocolate wafer candy (shredded)

Decorate with berries or as desired.

Refrigerate for at least 6 hours.

 

 

 

 

 

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These stuffed mini peppers are a quick and easy appetizer or snack. No cooking or baking required. Just mix the chicken filling and stuff the peppers. It’s really easy to make and delicious!

 

Ingredients: 

1 canned white chicken

1 cup shredded colby jack or cheddar cheese

2 cloves garlic crushed

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or garlic parsley seasoning

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

4 ozs. cream cheese

2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise

* green onion,parsley, or dill (optional)

 

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together using a kitchen aid or hand blender.

Stuff mini peppers with chicken and cheese filling.

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This is a nutritious and vibrant spring salad with spinach, arugula, asparagus, and strawberries. Crisp green leaves and bright sweet strawberries are tossed in a light balsamic vinaigrette, then topped of with turkey bacon and feta cheese. It’s so delicious  and healthy.

 

Ingredients-

Dressing:

3 tablespoon balsamic vinegar*

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil*

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon squezed lime juice

fresh ground black pepper

* Good quality balsamic vinegar and olive oil is a must for perfect results of this dressing.

I used balsamic vinegar from Trader Joes and Organic California Olive Ranch Olive oil.

Salad:

Baby Arugula

spinach (baby spinach)

Asparagus sliced 

fresh strawberries quartered 

Cooked turkey bacon (fried/baked)

Feta,blue,or gorgonzola cheese

optional ingredients:

candied walnuts or pecans

sliced red onion

 

Directions:

Using a hand blender or blender mix balsamic vinegar,sugar,salt,black pepper, and oil. Then add lime juice and pulse couple times.

( You can adjust salt or sugar to your liking). If the dressing to thick,you can liquify by adding a little bit of water.

Toss spinach, asparagus, arugula ,strawberries, bacon, and candied nuts with some dressing.

Top with cheese and serve.

 

 

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Dulce de leche Tiramisu cake is a well loved classic cake with a twist. This cake is replaced with sponge cake for lady fingers and with creamy dulce de leche frosting. Always perfect dessert for any occasion.

 

Ingredients for cake:

8 eggs

1 1/3 cups sugar

1 1/3 cup flour sifted

Cream:

4 ozs. cream cheese

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 can (8 ozs) cooked condensed milk or dulce de leche

17.5 ozs. mascarpone cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Other ingredients:

3/4 cup coffee

1/2 cup Kahlua liqueur

toasted hazelnuts (optional)

 

Directions:

On high speed beat eggs with sugar.

When the batter is stiff and light, add flour and mix it gently and well on low .

Pour the batter into 10 ”* round baking pan and bake for about 35-40 minutes.

Let the cake cool.

*if using 9” reduce to 7 eggs,1 1/4 cup sugar and flour.

Cream:

In Stand/hand mixer beat cream cheese with dulce de leche.

Add mascarpone cream and beat not more then a minute, just until well combined.

In a separate bowl beat together heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar.

Gently fold in whipped cream into dulce de leche cream.

In a small bowl or spray bottle combine coffee with kahlua liqueur.

Assembling:

Divide the sponge cake in half.

Soak the bottom layer with coffee mixture.

Spread good amount of frosting.

If desired, sprinkle toasted crushed hazelnuts.

Soak the other half of sponge cake, and place it on top of the bottom layer.

Spread frosting all over the cake reserving some frosting for decoration.

Decorate as desired. Dust with cocoa powder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silky smooth homemade nacho cheese with no processed velveeta cheese. Very easy to make with minimal and simple ingredients. You can adjust the heat of nacho cheese sauce by using only peper jack cheese for hot,cheddar cheese only for mild, and  both cheeses for medium. You can also add jalapeños for extra hot. Serve it as a dip with tortilla chips, pour it over chili or chili cheese fries ( one my favorite junkies in my teen years ).

 

Ingredients:

4 oz. pepper jack cheese,shredded

4 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk, divided

2 teaspoons hot sauce

pinch salt

Directions:

In a medium-sized saucepan,toss together cheese and cornstarch,  until evenly coated.

Stir in 1 cup evaporated milk, the hot sauce and salt.

Cook, stirring often, over medium-low heat until thickened, smooth and bubbly.

Stir in additional evaporated milk, if needed, until desired consistency.

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Adapted from kitchensimplicity.com

 

These are fantastic french breakfast muffins that are a little guilt free. It’s a healthier version recipe with whole wheat and oat flour,and coconut oil (click here on how to choose your coconut oil). Coconut oil is much healthier then butter or shortening and surprisingly… taste of it is not noticed in the muffin. They are perfect and delicious goodies for breakfast, brunch, snack, or a little treat with tea. They are our family favorite. Very simple and easy to make and incredibly tasty.

These healthier version of french breakfast muffins are not dry,wet, or hard, but very soft and absolutely delicious…to the part where they can be very addicting!!!  It’s hard to eat just one…you’ll want seconds..or  thirds, or maybe more.

 

 

 

 

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Cherry Clafouti is a french country-style egg custard dessert slightly similar to quiche.Sweet cherries are covered in pancake-like batter  then baked until puffed and nicely browned.It”s a really quick and easy custard type dessert that has no need to be cooled or stored in a fridge before serving.Clafouti also can be versatile by replacing cherries with any berries,plums, or peaches.It can also be served for breakfast or brunch.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups pitted fresh or canned cherries(drained)

4 eggs

1 1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon kirsch liquor  (optional)

powdered sugar for dusting

butter for greasing the pan

Directions:

Heat oven to 325F degrees.

Butter a 10 inch round pan (do not use a springform pan or removable tartlet pan).

Arrange cherries evenly on the bottom of a pan.

Whisk eggs and milk together.

Add sugar,vanilla,kirsch(optional),salt and flour.Continue whisking until all lumps are removed.

Pour the custard over cherries and bake for 1hour – 1 hour and 15 minutes.The custard should be lightly browned and firm to touch when done.

Dust with powdered sugar while still warm or cooled.

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Easter bread(paska/kulich) is a Russian traditional classic Easter bread. It’s made of sweet yeast dough mixed in with dried fruit like raisins.This recipe comes from my grandmother (Moms Mom),that passed away long time ago,who was an awesome cook and famous for her borscht recipe.Now I think you can see where I got love for cooking….It passes along the line I guess.

Easter bread is made with lots of egg yolks and butter.Similar to brioche or Italian Panettone.It’s a richer version of sweet bread yet is wonderfully light and soft and sweet.Traditional Easter bread is made in round cylinder type molds.But,really it doesn’t matter what shape it is.I like to use regular bread pan or spring foam pan or even muffin pan.I also made some personal breads using a small round mold from Sur La Table ( .40 cents each or .75 for larger one).So you can get panettone molds or choose any mold /pan you like.This recipe is my favorite.It stays fresh like from day 1 (not dry) for few days for sure.

Ingredients:

10 egg yolks

2 cups warm milk

1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon yeast

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup melted butter (3 sticks)

1 tablespoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 tablespoons oil

2 cups + 4 cups canadian flour (highly recommended)*

1 -1 1/2 cup raisins (I prefer jumbo or golden raisins) soaked in hot water for 10 min and drained.

* If you can’t get canadian flour ,your second choice would be bread flour, and third choice all-purpose flour. Most Russian stores and Winco Foods carry Canadian flour.

Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

3 tablespoons choice of milk,heavy cream,squeezed lemon juice,or squeezed orange juice

 

Directions:

Combine warm milk with 2 cups flour and yeast.Mix well and set aside covered.

In a stand mixer,whip egg yolks with sugar.

Gradually add vanilla,salt,oil and butter to egg yolks.Add milk and flour mixture to egg yolk and butter.Mix until well combined.

Replace whisk attachment with dough hook attachment.

Add in 4 cups of flour and raisins.

Mix dough well.

Cover dough with plastic cover and towel.

Place the bowl with dough in the warmest place in your house or microwave (don’t turn it on).Let the dough rise(about 2 hours).

Divide dough among all molds and let it rise.(about 20 minutes)

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

Bake for about 30-40 minutes depending on the size of your molds and until the outside is golden brown.

To make glaze:

Combine powdered sugar with milk,cream,lemon juice,or orange juice.

Apply to the tops of easter bread/paska when cooled at room temperature.

Combine warm milk with 2 cups flour and yeast.Mix well and set aside covered.

In a stand mixer,whip egg yolks with sugar.

Gradually add vanilla,salt and butter to egg yolks.Add milk and flour mixture to egg yolk and butter.Mix until well combined.

 

Replace whisk attachment with dough hook attachment.Add in 4-5 cups of flour and raisins.

Mix dough well.

Cover dough with plastic cover and towel.Place the bowl with dough in the warmest place in your house or microwave (don’t turn it on).Let the dough rise(about 2 hours).

Divide dough among all molds filling them half way.Heat oven to 325 degrees.Bake for about 30-40 minutes depending on the size of your molds and until the outside is golden brown.

 

When cooled at room temperature,remove from molds and apply glaze.Add sprinkles if desired.

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Summer days have been really warm for us,with slightly cool evenings.Perfect weather to grill something and enjoy your dinner with family or friends.There is several recipe blogs I always follow, and one of them is tatyanaseverydayfood.com where I got this recipe for delicious and moist cedar plank salmon.It’s one of the best salmon recipes I tried and can’t pass with out sharing it .

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  Credit :http://www.tatyanaseverydayfood.com/Recipe_Page/Main_Entry/Cedar_Plank_Salmon/Recipe_Page.html

Pickling tomatoes and cucumbers is very well-known in Russia and Ukraine. It’s a great way of preserving tomatoes in a brine and makes it enjoyable during winter months.These pickled tomatoes go well with famous Ukrainian fried potatoes and Uzbek plov. My dearest friend Nellya that lives in Ukraine shared this recipe with me,so the recipe is straight from Ukraine with Ukrainian method of pickling. Sterilizing jars for this recipe is not needed, but you will need a blanket or a thick towel.

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When you have some bananas that are getting a little bit too ripe,it’s just perfect to bake a batch of fresh healthy muffins.They are wholesome with whole wheat flour,chopped walnuts,mashed bananas and chia seeds.They are perfect for breakfast with little bit of softened butter and a cup of coffee of course .They store well for couple of days when wrapped in plastic wrap and also freezer friendly.

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Combination of tomatoes and eggplants is very popular in russian and Italian cuisine.They go perfectly together.This salad is delicious and simple to make consisting of  few ingredients.

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Eating food raw is the most healthiest diet with lots of benefits. Some of the benefits are;

1.The enzymes,vitamins and minerals are not destroyed by cooking.

2.Aids to weight loss and maintain healthy weight

3.Natural cure for disease including cancer.

4. Helps to Detoxify our bodies

5. Boost of energy

These are very delicious and you can eat as many as you want with out any guilt.A healthy alternative to regular creamy truffles.

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This is very delicious Korean noodle salad that is well known in Central Asia of Korean origin.There is many varieties of this salad,but I like the vegetarian style.You can add pan-fried strips of chicken,beef,or ground meat if desired.To get nice thin strips of vegetables I use this [amazon asin=http://www.amazon.com/Börner-Thin-Julienne-Vegetable-Slicer/dp/B000RH1TIS&text=thin julienne slicer.]

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Adapted from chekalova-recepty.ru

 

Portobello mushrooms can be called “vegetarian meat”. They are very juicy and meaty.They can be grilled sliced as a side to your steak or chicken or you can make a veggie burger if grilled as whole.

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This is a light and fresh breakfast,snack,or even dessert.Very simple to make  and nutritiously loaded with superfoods  .

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This is one of the easiest pan-fried prawn/shrimp recipes that is remarkably delicious.Well seasoned prawns/shrimp  are fried with onions then tossed with more fresh onion and jalapenos.The result is sweet,juicy,garlicky,and slightly spicy.Yum!It’s all time favorite in my family.[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:10]