Warm Beef Salad with Steamed Eggplant

Warm Beef Salad with Steamed Eggplant

......  minced beef, coriander seeds/leaves, shallots, lemon grass, lemon juice, tamari sauce,  cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt & pepper. Serve with steamed garlic/rice or mix with salad greens.

Happy New Year!!! Welcome 2013 :)

Christmas 2012!!!

Aubergine(Eggplant) Salad/Sweet potatoes and Capcicum Salad

Sweet Potatoes & Red Capcicum Salad

1. Whisk(then marinate) olive oil(half cup), crushed garlic(1 clove), oregano(fresh or dried).

2. Cut the red capcicum(3 big pcs.) lengthwise (4 sides lengthwise) and Sweet Potatoes lengthwise 1.5 cm thick. Brush all the sides with olive oil marinade then arrange them singly in a baking tray. Bake for 40 minutes 180C or 170 to avoid burning. Cool them down after.

3. Place them in a salad bowl or serving tray tossed with the remaining olive oil marinade.

Aubergine(Eggplant) Salad

Grill the aubergine whole under the grill (oven) until the skin is black and starts to blister. Cool then peel the skin. Put the flesh in the bowl and mash with a fork.

Dip the tomatoes in a boiling water for few seconds then skin and chop coarsely. Add to the aubergine with the onion and coriander, and mix well.

In a small bowl whisk together the lemon, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Pour over the salad, season to taste(salt& pepper) and toss to coat the salad evenly.

Chorizo Basquaise and Poached Egg...

....stir fry chorizo(use 1 tbsp. of water not oil), garlic, onion,  add  capsicum/pepper yellow and red, thyme then cook in a low heat for 10 minutes. Poach eggs(using the boiling water/vinegar method) . Olive oil, salt and pepper. enjoy!

Salad Nicoise with pumpernickel bread

... olives, lettuce,  pumpernickel bread, anchovies, soft boiled eggs,  tomatoes, cucumber, cheese, olive oil, balsamic or red wine vinegar, salt and pepper.....

Homemade Pizza!

For the dough:

Fillings

Beef

Onions, garlic, capsicum(red), broccoli

Other main toppings: ham and salami, eggs, anchovies etc.

Directions:

For the dough:

Mix yeast and lukewarm water and let it rest for 15 minutes to form some bubbles(meaning the yeasts are alive)

In a salad bowl mix the flour and salt, make a hole in the center then pour slowly the yeast/water mixture. Knead the dough for 10 minutes. Form a ball cover with damp tea towel and let it rise for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven 200 C. Sautee the onions, garlic, eggplant, tomatoes(skinned-see note on peeling/blanching tomatoes) for 5 minutes. Add the suchini, capsicum and continue to sautéing for 3 minutes. Then turn off the heat.

Oil the baking dish plate(for pizza).

Take the dough and flatten with a rolling pin or with your hand and place it in the baking dish plate. Place the pizza dough in the oven and precook it for 5 minutes(to make it hard enough o support the toppings otherwise the pizza base will be mashy).

Place the fillings on top of the pizza base then sprinkle emmental cheese, gruyere or parmesan(whatever cheese you like). Put the filled pizza in the oven and cook it for 10 minutes(make sure the oven the heat will be coming from the bottom because top heat will burn the fillings.)