Monday, July 15, 2013

Kingklip crumbled in couscous with creamy leeks

Kingklip with leeks

I must admit, we're not eating fish as often as we should. I can't even figure out why, because we really like eating fish and most dishes are quickly done.
Anyway, we finally had fish after three weeks or so and I found that very appealing recipe (in German language), but somehow I failed to execute it. As you can already see on the picture, the whole crumbling story didn't work out for me. The recipe stated explicit not to use egg and flour to crumble the fish, just season and press the couscous firmly onto the fish. The reason was, not to overpower the taste of the fish. Well, that worked out for me until I started frying the Kingklip and by trying to turn it, the crust just crumbled away.
I'm not sure, what the cause was. Either I didn't press the couscous enough into the fish, or maybe it doesn't work with frozen fish or I shouldn't have put lemon juice on it. Maybe it was just my old pan, either way, I sprinkled the couscous over the fish, because I didn't want to leave it out. It gave the dish a nice crunchy texture and I would have loved the crumbling to work out. So good luck to you and let me know, if you figured out, where my mistake was.
It's always very frustrating for me, when a recipe doesn't work out, the way it's described. Especially, when it sounds easy and the pictures look nice and tempting. I think I was angry the whole day, even though it was still a very tasty dish. But that's just me.
I also want to mention, that I used a store bought chutney. Normally I try to avoid using any store bought ingredients, I could do myself. And chutney is one thing, I could easily do myself. Though I didn't have any mangoes, but chutney in the fridge, I cheated a bit. Besides, my chutney was made from apricots and peaches and not mango.
A day later I found a mango-chili-marmalade in my fridge I didn't even know off and I could imagine, that could have been a nice substitute too. Anyway, guilty as charged, next time I definitely do the chutney myself...
Thursday, July 11, 2013

A surprisingly nice tuna salad

Tuna salad

I have days, when I really struggle a lot to find something I could dish up. There are millions of recipes out there, but nothing seems to be right. And then I open the fridge and close it again, go through my cupboards and still don't know, what to do.
Wednesday was such a day and I hate them. It feels like I don't have two brain cells to rub together. And the more I open and close my fridge and cupboards, the less of an idea I have of what to cook.
That's the point, where I have to take a deep breath, decide on one component and work my way forward. Mostly I pick an ingredient we haven't had for a while, like tinned tuna this time.
So I searched the internet for quick and easy recipe, as after the indecisive search I was running out of time and found that great simply recipe (in German language).
I didn't change much, but I substituted the mayonnaise partially with Greek yogurt, as I don't like to use mayonnaise only. I also added juice of half a lemon to get a nice taste and add some more acidity.
The salad was quickly made, apart from waiting for the rice to cook through, and was fresh, satisfying and very tasty. So tasty, that I ate it the next day again... and it was even better.
I think it's a brilliant dish to have either for lunch or dinner. You can also prepare it the day prior and put it in a Tupperware and take it along to work.
I 'm pretty sure, this Tuna rice salad will be dished up in our house more often .
Monday, July 8, 2013

Peppers stuffed with mince and Feta

Stuffed peppers

I wanted to publish that recipe for a long time already, not only because I love it, but also because it changed my attitude toward stuffed peppers. Not that long ago, you could have chased me by just mentioning that dish. Mostly burned pepper mush with a nasty skin, preferably stuck to my palate. It just wasn't mine, partially because I was convinced, that I only like raw peppers.
Now thank to that recipe, I started using peppers in my cooking more and more and in any preparation form.
So what makes the difference? To begin with, the peppers stay nice firm, as they are just steamed. In my opinion, the fresh taste is also very well preserved and you don't get that overcooked pepper taste. The skin is obviously still there, but as the pepper stays firm itself, it's not bothering at all.
During the winter time, I make that dish quite often, as the peppers are fresh and affordable, and it's quickly done, light and very tasty - and suitable for our whole family.
You can serve it with rice, noodles, potatoes or bread.
I should also mention, that I found the recipe in my favorite German recipe database chefkoch.de under
Illes gefüllte Paprikaschote „der anderen Art“ . Illepille, thank you. You will see, I didn't change much, as it wasn't necessary for our liking.

So here is my recipe for Peppers stuffed with mince and Feta

Monday, July 1, 2013

I'm back again - with a new look and with an Almond - Pine nut Butter

First of all, I need to apologise for me staying absent for such a long time. Beside our holidays, a few things came together and so I didn't get the chance to write or to cook. And before you know it a whole month has passed and you begin to wonder, where the time has gone.
I was also busy working on the new design of the blog, as you can see. I wanted to minimise the loading time  and make everything easer to read. Unfortunately I still have to work on the mobile version, as the menu keeps staying cut off, no matter, what I do.
But that's a minor matter, lets move on to the essence, the cooking. Today it's more mixing but not less tasteful.


Almond - Pine nut Butter
When we came home from our holidays, I decided to finally make the almond butter from a recipe I found on this page (in Polish language). The original recipe, according to the author of that page, is coming from Gillian McKeith. I must admit, I never followed up, as it wasn't of much interest to me.
I had all the necessary ingredients at home for weeks already, but somehow I never managed to remember to soak the almonds over night. So when I baked my usual spelt curd bread, I also got started with the butter.
I don't know, if it was just that particular day - my bread didn't come out as usual, or if it was the recipe, but I just couldn't get it right. Finally, after a long struggle with different kitchen appliances and few adjustments to the recipe I eventually was satisfied. My problem was, that I couldn't get the butter smooth enough to be a butter in my book. The taste was also not as satisfying as I thought it would be. But at the end I can say, I was very pleased.
And here comes the big BUT. Since I've made the butter, I didn't use it once. Don't get me wrong, the butter is delicious and I guess, if you're on diet, it's a nice substitute. But somehow I'm not using it at all. 
According to the article, the butter can stay in the fridge for 2 weeks, I also froze half of it from the get go, to keep it longer fresh, as somehow I already expected, that I won't use it as much. 
So I'm not sure, if I can call that project a failure or not. The idea of it sounded so appetising, but I never really gave it a thought, if I could use it. 
Anyway, maybe some of you can make use of it and give me some ideas about the where and how. Please feel welcome to comment and give me inspiration. I would be more than disappointed, if I couldn't find any use for that delicious Almond - Pine nut Butter.
Thursday, June 13, 2013

I'm on holiday and not cooking

or at least not really or nothing to write about.
As much as I love cooking, I also need and like my holidays. That means lots of takeaways and comfort food like crumbed pork chops, pasta with tomato sauce or viennas in a bun on the go. But it's also the time of my husband cooking his wonderful stews, braaing and of course eating out. Okay, I admit, the latter is not happening as often, as we were used to.

And as much as I love writing and cooking and writing about cooking, at the moment it's time for my wonderful husband and my beautiful kids.

Thank you for following me so far and I promise,you hear from me very soon. Until then, I'll leave you with that.



And that.