Tuesday, May 31, 2011

CHICKEN WITH BEER AND ONION SOUP



A dish that can be prepared in 30 minutes and with just  3 ingredients, nevertheless, it is so tasty and full of flavor that you might think there is something missing!. Just grab your favorite beer and cook an amazing chicken within no time and no effort.


Chicken with Beer and Onion Soup

Ingredients:                                    


·         1                      Chicken, Small or a mix of breast and legs cut in pieces
·         1                      Onion soup, pack
·         1                      Beer, can (pale not dark)

Side dish:        Boiled white rice or French Fries



Preparation:


1.       Cut the chicken into pieces and put them in a cooking pan.

Raw Chicken Pieces

2.        Spread the Onion soup powder over the top of the chicken.
Onion Soup - Powder
3.       Pour in the beer. Cover the pan and cook in medium to low fire for approximately 20 minutes.   Check the meat to see if it is cooked and if necessary give it a few more minutes until becomes tender.
With Beer
4.       Once cooked, serve with white rice or French fries.

 


  Note: My favorite side dish for this chicken is with no doubt “WHITE RICE”

Saturday, May 28, 2011

ZUCCHINI BREAD

A slice of this aromatic bread (but I doubt you can have just one… ), is just what you need.  The blend of species and zucchini in the right proportion will fill your senses and soul.


Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:                                                                                    
190g                 All purpose flour
40g                   All wheat flour
3g                     Baking Soda
3g                      Baking Power
5g                     Salt
5g                     Cinnamon
½ tsp                Nutmeg
100g                 Granulated Sugar
100g                 Brown Sugar
½ cup   +2 tsp   Vegetable Oil 
2                      Eggs, small (Whole)
100g                 Zucchini, grated
80g                   Walnuts (toast them for a while and then break into pieces)
Preparation:
1.       Coat the pan with fat (spray or melted butter)
2.       Sift together 150g of the all purpose flour with the baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3.       Combine sugar, brown sugar, oil and eggs and mix with the hand mixer.
4.       Add sifted dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
5.       Combine the zucchini with the remaining apf  (40g) and the whole wheat flour. Put the zucchini mixture and walnuts into the batter.
6.       Transfer the dough to the pan.
7.       Bake in 325ºF/170ºC for about 50 minutes to 1 hour until cooked inside.
8.       Cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack and let it cool.

I hope you enjoy making and eating  it as much as I do!
 

Thursday, May 19, 2011

MY " BOLO DE BOLACHA"

(BISCUITS AND COFFEE CAKE - SAKURA CAKE)


Do you want to make an impressive cake with no time?  Here you have my "Bolo de Bolacha" which was described to me as " A Bite of Happiness" when I recently made and gave it to someone.  

I can assure that once you grab a bite you will be delighted by the smoothness and rich flavor. It will be for sure your  “bite of happiness”.


Don´t be suspicious on the easiness of preparation or ingredients used. 
No baking time needed, and you can also give it any shape you want.  
Just follow the instructions below and, best served straight from the refrigerator.


Ingredients:
  • 300g to 320g Maria Biscuits
  • 2,5 dl coffee (plus 2 TBSP of coffee liquor )
Coffee Cream:
  • 150g powder sugar
  • 250g unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 1 coffee spoon of instant coffee

  • 2 eggs
Topping:
  • 100g almonds, toasted
Preparation:
Coffee Cream:
1.       Beat very well the butter with the powder sugar; add the eggs one by one mixing very well after each addition.
2.       Mix in the instant coffee and stir very well.
Assembling the cake:
1.       Select the plate for assembling and serving the cake; in another recipient (flat bowl) put the coffee (with the coffee liquor- optional).
2.   Soak the biscuits one by one in the coffee (don´t put more than one at a time or they will become soggy, it´s necessary for them to be wet outside but still dry inside), and place them in stacks in the plate where you are going to serve the cake. Put the first biscuit in the center and 6 more (or as many as you want to make the shape you want) around it.
3.       Spread some coffee cream over the top of biscuits, smooth the surface very well and place another layer of biscuits also soaked in coffee. Repeat this procedure until finish all the biscuits, being the last layer of coffee cream.

4.       Decorate with almonds (Slivered or chopped or a mix of both).
5.   Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.