Eastern European Honey Walnut Bars with Lemon Syrup

Yields 16 medium bars 

8 tablespoon salted butter, room temperature and softened

1/3 cup sugar

3 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon rose water

1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt

2 cups flour, sifted

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup walnuts, toasted and finely chopped  

¼ cup honey 

Lemon Syrup

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/3 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 325 F. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugar and whip with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the egg yolks, vanilla extract, rose water, and salt and mix well. Add half the flour, baking powder and blend in. Add the remaining flour and blend in again.

Divide dough into 2 equal pieces and place one of them into the refrigerator.

Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper letting two sides (opposite) lap over the edges. Put half of the mixture into the pan and press down well using your hands or a flat-surfaced cup covered with plastic wrap.

In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat walnuts until browned and fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 2 to 5 minutes. Remove from skillet and chop.

In a large bowl, add walnuts and drizzle the honey over. Mix well. Put the mixture on the dough and spread it all over evenly.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Roll out a bit and press pieces on top of filling.

Bake in an oven for about 25-30 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack.

For the syrup, in a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the lemon juice and sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved. Once dissolved, continue to cook for 5-7 more minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Poke holes all over the warm bars with a skewer or fork. Using a pastry brush, generously glaze with syrup. When cooled, cut into squares.

Пирожные с медом, грецкими орехами и лимонным сиропом по-европейски

На 16 средних пирожных

8 столовых ложек сливочного масла, комнатной температуры, размягченного (115 грамм)

1/3 чашки сахара

3 яичных желтка

1 чайная ложка ванили

1/2 чайной ложки розовой воды

1/4 чайной ложки гималайской соли

2 чашки просеянной муки

1/2 чайной ложки разрыхлителя

1 чашка грецких орехов, поджаренных на сухой сковороде и мелко нарезанных

¼ чашки меда

Лимонный сироп

1/3 чашки свежего лимонного сока

1/3 чашки сахара

Разогреть духовку до 325 F.

Выложить масло и сахар в большую миску, взбить миксером до получения легкой пышной массы примерно 3-5 минут. Добавить яичные желтки, экстракт ванили, розовую воду и соль, хорошо перемешать. Смешать муку с разрыхлителем и добавить половину мучной смеси к яичной. Добавить оставшуюся муку и снова перемешать.

Разделить тесто на 2 равные части и положить одну в холодильник.

Выстелить форму для выпечки 8x8 дюймов пергаментной бумагой так, чтобы две (противоположные) стороны перекрывали края. Выложить половину теста в форму и хорошо утрамбовать.

В сковороде среднего размера и на среднем огне поджарить грецкие орехи до коричневого цвета и появления аромата, периодически помешивая, около 2–5 минут. Снять с огня, дать немного остыть и нарезать на мелкие кусочки.

В большую миску добавить нарезанные грецкие орехи и мед. Хорошо перемешать. Выложите смесь на тесто и равномерно распределить.

Достать тесто из холодильника. Немного раскатать и выложить на начинку. Немного утрамбовать.

Печь в духовке около 25-30 минут. Убрать на стойку.

Для прогтовления сиропа, в маленькой кастрюле на среднем огне нагреть лимонный сок и сахар до полного растворения сахара. После растворения варить еще 5-7 минут. Снять с огня и отставить немного остыть.

С помощью вилки или шпажки сделать дырочки на поверхости испеченных пирожных. С помощью кондитерской кисти обильно нанести сироп на верхнуй слой пирожных. Когда остынет, нарезать квадратами.

Idea come from Ally Kitchen

Arugula & Watermelon Salad with Sumac Dressing

Servings 4

¼ cup lemon juice

1 teaspoon ground sumac

1 teaspoon honey

1 clove garlic, grated

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

5 ounces baby arugula (8 cups)

2 cups watermelon pieces

4 ounces feta cheese, preferably sheep's-milk, crumbled

1 cup fresh mint leaves, torn (I used 1/2 teaspoon ground dry mint)

¼ cup pine nuts, toasted

Whisk lemon juice, sumac, honey, garlic, and salt in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in oil until combined. If you use dry mind, add it.

Place the nuts in a dry skillet (no oil) over medium heat. Heat, shaking the pan and stirring often with a wooden spoon until the nuts are fragrant and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool off.

In a large bowl, add arugula and pour over 1 teaspoon of dressing. Gently toss.

In a medium bowl, add the rest of the dressing, watermelon, and feta. Mix well. Add to a bowl with arugula. Plate it and sprinkle it with nuts.

Idea for the recipe comes from EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2021

Cheesy Plum Mini Galettes

Yields 6 medium pastries

Dough

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup spelt flour

1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter

1 tablespoon sugar

1 egg

4 oz. soft goat cheese

Filling

14 Italian plums *, pitted and quartered

1 tablespoon almond flour + more for sprinkling

1 tablespoon dry breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon brown sugar + more for sprinkling

Egg wash

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons milk

sesame seeds for sprinkling

For galette dough,

* Italian plums are smaller in size than regular plums.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Freeze with vegetable oil and non-stick baking spray.

For the crust, in a medium bowl, mix all-purpose flour and spelt flours. Add baking powder and mix again.

Place softened butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl. Mix, using a hand mixer on medium speed for 1-2 minutes, or until the butter mixture is a pale yellow, light, and fluffy. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice while mixing. Add egg and beat again. Sprinkle small pieces of goat cheese on top of the mixture and beat again until everything is incorporated. Add flour mixture and knead a dough.

Wrap the dough into plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).

For the filling, mix plums, breadcrumbs, almond flour, and brown sugar.

Remove dough from the refrigerator and divide it into six equal pieces. Roll each into a 6-inch circle and sprinkle with almond flour. Arrange the plum slices (about 5) on top in overlapping concentric circles to within about 2-inch in off the edge. Fold the edges of the dough over the plums in a free-form fashion, working your way around and creating pleats as you go.

For the egg wash, mix egg and milk. Prepare a pastry brush.

Transfer the galette to a prepared baking sheet and brush with egg wash. Repeat with other pieces of the dough.

Bake for about 12-14 minutes on a lower shelf in the oven. Take the baking sheet from the oven. Quickly rush pastries with egg wash again and sprinkle with brown sugar and sesame seeds. Continue baking for about 12-14 minutes on an upper shelf in the oven.

Take pastries from the oven and cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Quick Warm Salad with Wilted Cabbage and Chicken in Asian Style

Yields 2 servings

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

2 large chicken thighs, cut into thin strips

4 cups green cabbage, thinly shredded

1 medium sweet pepper (color of your choice), thinly shredded

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger

1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder

1⁄2 cup water

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Salt, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper to taste

Sesame seeds and chopped parsley for decoration

Place shredded cabbage and pepper into a large bowl and set aside for about 5-10 minutes.

Sprinkle chicken with salt and ground pepper. Using your hands, massage spices into it.

Heat oil in a frying pan. Add chicken strips and stir fry over medium-high heat, turning constantly until done.

For a sauce, mix cornstarch, ground ginger, garlic powder, soy sauce, and water in a medium bowl.

Add cabbage and pepper to chicken and sauté for 2 minutes until cabbage is crisp-tender. Stir sauce into chicken/cabbage mixture. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes. Check for spices. If needed, add salt, ground, and cayenne peppers.

Remove from the heat and give a couple of minutes to cool off. Place on a nice dinner plate and decorate with chopped parsley and sesame seeds.

Быстрый теплый салат с тушеной капустой и курицей в азиатском стиле

На 2 порции

1 чайная ложка растительного масла

2 больших куриных бедра, тонка нарезанных 

4 чашки тонко нашинкованной зеленой капусты

1 сладкий перец среднего размера(цвет на ваш выбор), мелко нарезанный

1 столовая ложка кукурузного крахмала

1⁄2 чайной ложки молотого имбиря

1⁄4 чайной ложки чесночного порошка

1⁄2 чашки воды

1 столовая ложка соевого соуса

Соль, черный молотый перец, кайенский перец по вкусу

Кунжут и мелко нарезанная петрушка для украшения

Выложить нашинкованную капусту и перец в большую миску и отставить примерно на 5-10 минут.

Посыпать курицу солью и молотым перцем. Втереть руками специи в курятину.

На сковороде разогреть масло. Добавить куриные полоски и жарить, помешивая, на среднем или сильном огне, постоянно переворачивая до готовности.

Для соуса в средней миске смешать кукурузный крахмал, молотый имбирь, чесночный порошок, соевый соус и воду.

Добавить в сковороду капусту и перец и обжаривать в течение 2 минут, пока капуста не станет нежной. Добавить соус в смесь курицы и капусты. Обжаривать около 3-4 минут. Проверить на наличие специй. При необходимости добавить соль, молотый и кайенский перец.

Снять с огня и дать пару минут остыть. Выложить на красивую тарелку и украсить мелко нарезанной петрушкой и кунжутом.

Recipe was adopted from one of groups on Facebook.

Leontine’s Apple Cake

 Makes 24 sm cake

9 tablespoon (125 g) butter, softened

2/3 cup (250 g ) raw (demerara) sugar

1 egg

250 g (9 oz/1⅔ cups) plain (all-purpose) flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cooking apples (such as rennet or golden delicious), about 750 g (1 lb 10 oz) in total

pouring (whipping) cream, for serving

pinch of ground cinnamon

icing (confectioners’) sugar, for dusting

Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F/Gas 3). Butter and flour a round 24 cm (9½ inch) spring form cake tin (I used a rectangle one).

Using electric beaters, cream the butter and sugar in a bowl and then beat in the egg. Mix in the flour, baking powder and vanilla, switching to mix with your hands when it gets too stiff. Knead briefly to incorporate everything.

Put about two-thirds of the dough in the prepared tin. Press it firmly over the bottom and two-thirds of the way up the side. Peel the apples, quarter and core them and chop into pieces of about 2 cm (¾ inch). Put the apples over the crust and even them out, checking there are no gaps. Crumble the rest of the pastry evenly over the apples in nice big crumbly bits. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until the pastry is golden and firm. Towards the end, cover the top with a sheet of foil if it looks like over-browning. Remove from the oven and cool.

Whip the cream to soft peaks, scattering in the cinnamon. Dust the cake with icing sugar and serve with the cinnamon cream.

Recipe comes from "Recipes and Dreams from an Italian Life" by Tessa Kiros