Today is Sant Jordi which is likely our Valentine's day in Catalonia. The main event is the exchange of gifts between sweethearts, loved ones and colleagues. Historically, men gave women roses,
and women gave men a book to celebrate the occasion.
I really believe that strawberries are the sign of love when it comes to fruit, don't you think so? They are red, sweet and fresh, the perfect attributes for a relationship.
That's why I am bringing to you this easy recipe / idea to say I LOVE YOU to the people you want :-)
Ingredients
- Strawberries
- Sticks
- cutter shape
Elaboration
As simple as the pictures show, all you should make is washing the strawberries thoroughly. Then, cut the stems and make the heart shape with the cutter.
Once you have cut all the strawberries, stick them as a brochette.
It is easy and simple but I think it is really lovely. Perfect for breakfast or dessert :-)
Have a LOVEly day and FELIÇ SANT JORDI !
Although I would LOVE to have an open concept kitchen I am terrified about smell. I have a separated kitchen with a door that looks perfectly. However, depending on the food I am cooking I can smell it anywhere in the house. I don't know how but the smell seeps into every corner (no mention to the clothes you decide to cook with: you better throw them away to the washing machine right after finishing!).
That's why I have handy fresheners in my kitchen and living room. I have tried SO MANY but candles are my favourite ones. Why not use sprays or incense?
1) SPRAYS: are the worst for your lungs. I remember a friend (biologist) who once told me that if you compare two X-rays of a person before and after being in a room with artificial air freshener, you are surprised how contaminated their lungs are. Conclusion: NOT GOOD. However, I use them (from Mercadona) when the smell is so intense such as fried fish.
2) INCENSE: Too messy for me. If it is summer and you have open windows, it can go anywhere with a simple air flow.
3) CANDLES: for me the best way to fresh up the air and get rid off the smell. I have tried way so many ones. From the bazar, through Ikea's until the most expensive ones. For the time being, the only ones working for them are these two brands: Lothantique 's and Mr. Wonderful 's. (Average price 15€, I don't consider spending more money on a candle, honestly).
As soon as you light these candles, you can feel the smell.
Now, if you have any other way to get rid off the bad smell of your house, please, SHARE ! I would love to know :-)
Recently, I have been trying to remember all the recipes my mom used to make when I was living at my parents. She cooked meals based on basic ingredients but always added a bit of "something" that made them kind of memorable.
And here are her eggs! Haha! she made them boiled but with a resistless bechamel :-)
Ingredients (3-4 servings)
- 6 eggs
- 40 gr. of butter
- 40 gr. of flour
- 500 ml. of milk
- 6 loins of bacon (add as much as you like!)
- Grated cheese
Elaboration
First of all boil the eggs. Meanwhile, we will make the bechamel. In a pan, put the butter and make it melt at medium temperature. It will take you 3 minutes so, right away, add the flour and stir.
Cook the flour for 5 minutes and, stirring constantly, add 250 of 500 ml of milk. It should be cold. Then, the milk will become less watery and this will be the time (after 2 minutes, approx.) to add the 250 ml. left. Very important thing: DO NOT STOP STIRRING.
Now we the more you stir the better and smoother bechamel you will get.
After 10-15' reserve the bechamel in a container and wrap it with plastic plastic wrap to avoid creating a hard layer.
Not forgetting the eggs, remove from the stove and let them cool down.
Once the eggs are cold enough to be able to peel them off, do it and cut them in half and display in a tray. Cover them with the bechamel and make it look nice :-)
Now, place the grated cheese all over them. My husband loves cheese so I added A LOT.
You can either leave them this way and gratin them or add the special touch. I chose bacon but you can go for prosciutto, spanish ham, chorizo... anything you think it should taste good on the eggs.
Fry the bacon loins, cut them into small pieces and place on top of the eggs.
Gratin for 10-15' at 220oC.
I don't know why it took me so long to make this recipe because my husband loved it!
I remember once when we ended up having for dinner always the same. I mean 4 dishes that we switched during the week and repeated all over again. And when you have done it for two weeks it is ok but not for 4 anymore. So I decided to get into the cooking books. And there is where I got this really yummy soup.
Ingredients
- 500 gr. of frozen peas
- 100 ml. of chicken broth
- 1 onion
- 1 leek
- Olive oil
- Salt
Elaboration
First of all, chop the onion and the leek and stir-fry them in a pot.
Once they are browned, put the peas and give them a couple of stirs to chill them from the frozen state. Right away, pour the chicken broth and bring it to boil.
Cook it for 5-10 minutes.
Then, it is time to blend it! You have got two options: the standard mixer (consisting of a bar, finished in blades or rods, rotating at high speed) or the blender I am using in the picture which is much better to get a softer soup and make everything cleaner and easier. If you want to use this last option, you should wait for 15' to cool down the pea soup.
Empty the saucepan in the blender glass and mash up the pea mixture for 5'.
Now, you are ready to serve and enjoy this traditional food in a different way of eating.
Font: La cocina de Isasaweis
I know, calm down: I haven't discovered anything new. But, last day, I was craving for a cold lemonade. However, I was feeling too lazy to make it and wait until it was cold enough to drink so I though: cold + easy + lemon drink? (Note that I was also having a lot of lemons in stock so I had to let them go somewhere ) and I went to the easy lemon juice cubes.
Ingredients
- 4-5 lemons (300 ml. of lemon juice)
- Slices of lemon
- Ice cube tray
Elaboration
Squeeze 4 and 1/2 lemons in a juicer.
With the half left, slice it and make small pieces of lemon. Now, fill in the ice cube tray with them and, following, pour the lemon juice in each whole.
Introduce it into the freezer for 24 hours and you will have lemon juice cubes anytime!
You can use them with water, gin & tonic or coke. Nice to cool your drinks with a little bit lemon taste :-)
Oh dear, chicken won't be a boring ingredient anymore with this recipe. I made it for the first time and it turned out delicious so I am here to share it with you all:
Ingredients (4 servings)
- 400 gr. of chicken breast
- Sunflower oil
- Breadcrumbs
For the marinade
- 1 egg
- 30 ml. of soy sauce
For the sauce
- 100 ml of chicken broth
- 30 ml. of apple vinegar
- 40 gr. of sugar
- 10 gr. of corn flour
- 5 ml. of soy sauce
- 1/2 of lemon juice
- Lemon slices
Elaboration
First of all, clean the chicken and slice it. Now, let's go for the marinade. Break the egg and whisk together with the soy sauce.
Soak the chicken breasts in it, cover and reserve in the fridge for 1 hour. However, you can leave it overnight and continue with the recipe the day after.
Meanwhile, we will go for the sauce. Pour the chicken broth n a bowl and add the corn flour. Stir until dissolved.
Grab a pot and the rest of the ingredients for the sauce: the apple vinegar, the sugar, the soy sauce and the lemon juice.
Bring everything to boil. Once it is boiling pour the broth and corn flour mixture. We will stir for a few minutes until the sauce thickens and will reserve it.
After, minimum, 1 hour, take the chicken out of the fridge and it will be time to cook it. Add a lot of breadcrumbs in a plate and batter each chicken breast. Following, cover a pan with sunflower oil and fry them to medium heat. We want them to be cooked but also to look brown. Display them in a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
Serving time ! Place the chicken breast in a nice platter and spread some Chinese sauce on them. I can tell you: you will love this dish!
Font: Original recipe (with few changes) from La cocina de Isasaweis
By the time I have been posting recipes, you know that I am always looking for new side dishes that might suit any meat or fish. But this time is 3 in 1: side dish + appetizer + tapa. Yes, and you are going to love it, for sure !
Ingredients (10 units)
- 3 red peppers
- 50 gr. of capers
- 50 gr.of toasted pinions
- 30 ml. of olive oil
- 20 gr. of parsley
- 20 gr. of spring onion
- zest of 1/2 lemon
- Salt
- Black pepper
Elaboration
Do you remember one of the most traditional catalan dishes based on red pepper? Yes, you guessed: Escalibada .So we have to cook the peppers the same way. Cover the baking tray with aluminum foil. With a brush, spread some olive oil on the tray to
avoid the peppers to get stuck. Place
the red peppers on and put it right away in
the oven. Switch it on to 150oC, up and down, for at least 50' (we don't need the peppers to be that sift this time).
After 25 minutes, flip them to cook the other side.
Once cooked, take them out to cool down.
Meanwhile, introduce the parsley, the capers, the pinions and the lemon zest in the blender mixer.
Then, pour the olive oil and season it.
Press four times the mixer.
Once the peppers are cooled down, peel them and remove the seeds. From the loose juice of the peppers, add a tablespoon of it to the capers mixture.
Now it is time to make the rolls ! Cut each pepper in three strips, place on top some of the capers mixture and roll it. Dress them with a little bit of olive oil and serve.
Delicious and healthy, isn't it? I ate them yesterday with a simple omelette and it made my dish more complete.
You see I am very into the "healthy mood" lately hehe ;-)
