My 2017 recipes bucket list

Hey pixels!! Last year I wrote about my Summer goals, do you remember? Now I want to write about all the recipes I want to make during the next 3 months.

My 2017 goals are, more or less, the same. I love doing this activities during Summer. And learning new recipes is one of my favourites!! I’ve never made the recipes on my list, so they are perfect now. I need to use the oven to make a couple of them, so let’s say I’ll make them on rainy days (like this morning).

I’m a bit afraid when I think about macarons. It’s a terrifying recipe: lots of things can go wrong…. It’s not as easy and quick as macarrons… I’ll watch tones of tutorials before trying… But my goal is to make macarons for France National Day: in a couple of weeks. I’m afraid, my happy pixels….

My Summer recipes

pasta & cheese salad

mini vegetable pies

baked camembert

Summer lassagna

a couple of cold soups

s’mores cake

tiramisu

custard cake

macarons

baked Alaska

white chocolate mousse

The list will get longer, my happy pixels. I’m always finding new recipes to try. I think this is great, because eating always the same is so boring…

Do you miss any recipe on my list, my happy pixels? Do you have any suggestion? Do you have your own list? Please, let me know in the comments below.

Photo source: Unsplash

 

Lembas (a Lord of the Rings recipe)

Hey pixels!! Last weekend I did a Lord of the Rings marathon!! I saw all the films in one weekend because, you know, it’s too warm outside… Watching good films seems a legit option. But, of course, I had to cook something related wiht the films I was watching. What about Lembas?

Just in case you don’t know about it, my happy pixels, Lembas is a special bread made by the Elves, also called waybread in the Common Speech. Shaped into thin cakes, it is very nutritious, stays fresh for months when kept unbroken in its original leaf-wrappings, and is used for sustenance on long journeys.

I thought it was a perfect option. Yes, I had to use the oven, which is not the best idea on Summer, but the result is worth. My not-made-by-Elves Lembas were so good, but without the magical properties that the original ones have… Cons of not being an Elf…

Maybe my Lembas are not enough for a long journey, but they are so yummy for a movie marathon. So, if you’re watching the Lord of the Rings films this Summer, I highly recommend this recipe to you.

 

 

I don’t know if you enjoy this kind of films, but even if you don’t, this magic bread is so yummy that you can do it anyway. Here is the recipe, my happy pixels!!

(Note: I have two different lembas recipe. I’ll made the second one when I’m watching The Hobbit films).

Ingredients ( 10-12 units):

• 3  cups flour
• 8g baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons cold butter
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 tablespoon honey
• 2/3 cup Milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat an oven to 200 C.

Combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Gently stir in the butter. Stir in the sugar, cinnamon, milk and vanilla. Knead this mixture until a dough forms.

Roll the dough out. Cut the dough into small squares. Gently scale each of the squares diagonally with a knife.

Bake for 8-10′; it should turn light golden. Take it out of the oven and allow to cool. Wrap in leaves (if you have, it’s sad but I didn’t had leaves…). Eat.

Are you a fan of Lord of the Rings movies/books? Do you like the story? Do you have a favourite charachter? Are you going to make Lembas? Please, let me know in the comments below.

Macarrons (no, it’s not a spelling mistake)

Hey pixels!! Yes, the post title is well written. This is not the French macaron recipe, it’s all about macarrons. It’s a recipe I’ve learned from my grandmother, they are yummy and easier to make than macarons. Actually it takes just 3 ingredients and 15′, including baking time!!

What do you think now?? This amazing anised flavoured sweets are wonderful. Flower shaped, they are so pretty. My  grandmother has the traditional flower shaped mold. You can  see in the pictures below.

But, of course, any mold it’s ok. I guess the taste is more important than the shape. 😉

Not many people outside my island know about this recipe. So I wanted to share it with you, my happy pixels. It’s an ancient recipe, I don’t know about its origin, but it has many years. It’s traditional to make macarrons this days, because of the Summer solstice.

Usually I buy some macarrons at a cake shop, but this year I’ve decided to learn the recipe. I can’t believe how easy it’s to make them. I’m never buying macarrons again, my happy pixels: I’m making them!!

Ingredients (makes about 25 medium units):

• 1 small egg white
• 400g powdered sugar
• 1-2 drops anise essence (don’t use more than 2 drops, this essence has a strong flavour)

Directions:

Just mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until incorporated. It should look like white fondant, but softer.

Roll out the dough. Cut into shapes with the cookie cutter of your choice. Place on the baking sheets 1cm apart. It’s better if you cover your baking sheets with parchment paper. Do this step as quick as you can, because dough hardens so fast, and it’s difficult to work with when it’s hard.

Preheat oven at 150ºC. After 10-12′, start baking. Macarrons are ready in just a few minutes, so don’t stop watching them. Don’t overcook. Mine were ready in just 3’48”.

It’s a crispy sweet, they are not tender. But the taste and scent are amazing. You won’t regret making them. I love macarrons!

Did you know about this sweet, my happy pixels? Are you going to make macarrons? Please, let me know if you do it!! Feel free to leave a comment if you know about any similar recipe! Thank you, my friends!

Mushroom & carrot nuggets

Hey pixels!! Do you like nuggets? And vegetarian nuggets? I love this recipe, this nuggets are so yummy!! The combination of carrot and mushroom flavours is amazing, and the texture is great.

We’ve made vegan burgers before, but this is our first nuggets recipe. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

Lots of meat recipes have their vegetarian alternatives: burgers, nuggets, meatballs… I like to try them, because I don’t like meat so much…  I don’t know your opinion about this subject, but even if you’re a meat lover, you can enjoy a dish full of veggies. Why not this one?

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 tablespoons tomato sauce
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tablespoon oregano
• breadcrumbs to coat
• vegetable oil for frying

Directions:

Using a food processor, mix all the ingredients (not breadcrumbs and oil). Roll into nuggets.

Coat your nuggests in breadcrumbs. Fry them in vegetable oil.

Serve with some tomato sauce or vegan maio.

Did you know about vegetarian nuggets, my happy pixels? Do you like them? Please, let me know if you try this recipe!! Thank you!!

 

Chocolate scones

Hey pixels!! Do you like scones? And chocolate? If the answer is yes, you’re going to love this recipe!! My first time making scones at home, and, of course, I had to add some dark chocolate!!

I think this recipe is awesome. I had to try it. Imagine to eat a couple of scones and some fruit… Yummy!! A perfect brunch. Everyone will love you.

You can even change the recipe using white chocolate or even fruit pieces. Strawberry scones? Why not? You can make them without adding anything, just the dough. Or change the glaze recipe. You can personalize this recipe the way you prefer. That’s another great point, I think, because you can try different versions and choose your favourite one. Just think about it, my happy pixels!! 🙂

Ingredients:

Dough:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for hands and work surface
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted cold butter
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Glaze:

• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 200ºC. Place a silicone baking mat/parchment paper onto a standard baking sheet and set aside.

Mix together the dry ingredients. Grate the butter into the bowl and mix together with your hands or a spatula until it has a course meal consistency. Set aside.

Whisk together the wet ingredients in a small bowl.

Pour half of the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and fold together. Once incorporated, mix in the rest of the wet mixture and mix together. Don’t overmix.

Fold in the chocolate chips.

Work the dough into a ball using floured hands and move to a floured surface. Pat into a disc. Cut into 8 pieces.

Place them onto the baking sheet, spacing them.

Bake for 20′.

While the scones are baking, make the glaze: melt chocolate chips using the microwave. Fold in the heavy cream and mix well.

After the scones are done baking, let them cool. Decorate using the chocolate sauce. Eat. Repeat.

Are you going to make chocolate scones, my happy pixels? They are yummy!! Please, let me know in the comments below.

 

One pot garlic butter parmesan pasta

Hey pixels!! Here is a perfect recipe for a Meatless Monday!! Easy and quick to make, and yummy!! Meat free! Perfect. You’ll have your lunch ready in 15′. And you’ll love it!

Pasta is a favourite food for many, at least for me. I couldn’t live without it. But sometimes I think making a sauce and cooking the pasta is too much work… For this reason, one pot recipes are so helpful. You just need one pot and a few ingredients to make an awesome dish.

I’m not sure if it’s so healthy: cheese, butter…. But if you want a lighter version, or if you’re vegan, you can change this ingredients for vegan versions. I was making food for one person, but I’m so bad adjusting the pasta amount I need, so I made a little too much. Let’s say it’s a big individual ration, or a side dish for two… I just took pictures of the pasta I ate, I had a bit more…

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh parlsey, minced
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
•  pasta, uncooked (the amount you use for 1, I used too much)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon cream cheese
• 2-3 tablespoons finely grated parmesan

Directions:

Cook garlic in olive oil for 2-3′. Add water, milk and pasta. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the pasta is done.

 

Stir in the butter, cream cheese and parmesan. Serve immediately. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Note: If the pasta looks too dry, add more liquid. How much liquid you need really depends on the kind of pasta you use and how you like your sauce!

That’s all, my happy pixels!! So easy!

Do you make this kind of recipes, my happy pixels? Are you going to try this one? Please, let me know in the comments below.

Healthy brunch toasts

Hey pixels! Do you celebrate a brunch from time to time? If the answer is yes, I’m sure you’ll be interested in learning some new brunch recipes. What about a healthy and yummy toasts that are ready in 15′? The combination of cream cheese and peppers is absolutely awesome!! I love it!

Vitamins, calcium and proteins. And don’t forget the carbohydrates from the bread. This is a healthy recipe which gives you everything you need to have a great day. So yummy!!

Enjoy them, my happy pixels!!

Ingredients:

• bread slices, as many as you want
• cream cheese
• 1 can sliced red peppers (about 225g)
• fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

Roast bread slices. I bake mine for about 7-8′ at 170ºC

Cook peppers in olive oil and a pinch of salt for 9-12′. Do while bread it’s in the oven.

Spread cream cheese on toasts; cover with some pepper slices.

Sprinkle some  fresh parsley on top, and you’re ready!

Do you eat toasts at home, my happy pixels? Do you have a favourite recipe? Please, let me know in the comments below.