Caterpillar Bread

2 cans (13.8 oz each) Pillsbury® refrigerated classic pizza crust
1 pack of sausages/franks
mayonnaise
ketchup
Divide the dough from each can into 4 pieces and mould them into balls. Let them rest for 10 minutes, then roll them flat with a rolling pin.




Pictures had been borrowed from Novice-baker
Put the sausage on the center of the dough and fold the dough into halves. Lightly pinch to seal. Cut each folded dough into 6 small portions, leaving 1/3 from the sealed edges uncut. (The dough should resemble a comb at this point.)

Twist first cut portion to the left, and second to the right, repeat this for the rest of the portions. Place the shaped dough onto a greased baking sheet and press each lightly. Let the dough prove for 25 minutes. (please see pictures and follow them)

Brush with egg wash.

Bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes or until the breads look golden brown. You can pipe some mustard and ketchup on top if desired (for presentation).

Recipe from Novice baker

Dark Chocolate Pudding

Serves 2 to 4
Total Time 20 minutes

3 Tbsp. cornstarch, 5 Tbsp. sugar, 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder 2 cups skim milk, 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

In a saucepan, thoroughly combine the cornstarch, sugar, and cocoa. Add the milk and stir until very smooth. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until the pudding comes to a boil. Then lower the heat and gently simmer, stirring continuously, for 3 or 4 minutes. Stir in the vanilla, pour the hot pudding into a decorative serving bowl or individual custard cups, and serve warm or chill for about 2 hours, until cold and set.

You can always replace the skim milk with whole milk for a richer pudding. And if you want a more intense chocolate hit, replace the cocoa powder with 2 or 3 ounces of high-quality semisweet chocolate, such as Scharffen Berger. Melt the chocolate separately, then whisk it into the other ingredients. Cook, stirring, until the mixture simmers and thickens. Add vanilla and serve.

Малокалорийный и быстрый шоколадный пудинг

На 2-4 порции.
Время приготовления: 20 минут.

3 столовые ложки кукурузного крахмала, 5 столовых ложек сахара, 2 столовый ложки порошка какао (лучше 1/2 чашки жидкого сладкого темного шоколада), 2 чашки нежирного молока, 1 чайная ложка эстракта ванили.

В небольшой кастрюльке смешать крахмал, сахар и какао (шоколад). Добавить молоко и перемешать. Поставить на средний огонь, постоянно помешивая, довести до кипения. Уменьшить огонь и кипятить 3-4 минуты. Жидкость начнет густеть. Не переставая помешивать, продержать пудинг еще 1-2 минуты на огне. Добавить ваниль и снять с огня. Разложить по декоративным стаканам и поставить в холодильник на 2 часа. Украсить взбитыми сливками и свежими фруктами.

Если Вы используете шоколад, то распустите его заранее.

Для тех, кто еще не знает о знаменитых книгах, изданными работниками Moosewood restaraunt в штате Нью Йорк, рекомендую познакомиться. Все книги продаются на http://www.amazon.com/. В моей кулинарной библиотеке уже 3 книги из этой серии.

Recipe from Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites by Moosewood Collective

Gwyneth Paltrow and Mario Batali.

Pat Carter/AP

She takes soy milk in her coffee. Meet TV's new culinary odd couple: Gwyneth Paltrow and Mario Batali.

Longtime friends, the actress and the star chef recently completed filming a documentary series, "Spain . . . On the Road Again," in which they travel through Iberia (in a convertible – everyone shares the driving), eating, cooking and taking in the sights, along with food writer Mark Bittman and Spanish star Claudia Bassols. PEOPLE has your exclusive first look at the show, scheduled to air this fall on PBS (check out http://www.spainontheroadagain.com/ for more info).

Watch the video

"ONE-STORY HIGH AMERICA"

The best documentary about America

"Одноэтажная Америка" с Владимиром Познером

Following in the footsteps of Ilf and Petrov, two Soviet writers who visited America in 1935 and described their experiences in the famous book “One-Story High America”, Vladimir Pozner and Ivan Urgant, two of today’s most popular Russian TV personalities, drive cross-country and back on a seven-week trip to find out if and how the United States has changed in the last 70 years.

Bourbon Apple Cake

Bourbon Apple Cake

The excellent treat for Mother's Day brunch. My mom loves when I try new recipes with apples. In addition, it's an excellent pleaser for the spring potluck.
Time: About 1 hour, plus one hour’s resting
Yield: About 12 servings.

2 sticks butter, softened, more for greasing pan, 2 medium apples (about 8 ounces), peeled, cored and quartered, 2 1/2 cups sugar, 4 eggs, 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup milk, 1 cup bourbon, Calvados, Cognac or brandy.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch rectangular pan with butter, or butter and flour a 9-inch bundt pan. Put apples in a blender or food processor and puree; remove and set aside.
2. In food processor, combine 1 1/2 sticks butter (12 tablespoons) with 1 1/2 cups sugar and pulse until combined. With motor running, add eggs one at a time. Add apple puree and process until just combined.
3. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add about a third of flour mixture to apple mixture in food processor. Then, with motor running, add about half of milk; add another third of flour, followed by rest of milk, then finally last of the flour. Process until batter just evens out.
4. Turn batter into prepared pan and bake until middle is set (your fingers should leave only a small indentation when you gently press cake), 45 to 50 minutes. When done, cool in pan for about 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, combine 1 cup liquor in a small pot with remaining butter and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and liquid is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then pour over cake; let it sit for at least an hour before serving. (For bundt, let it sit for an hour, then unmold). Store at room temperature, covered with waxed paper, for up to 2 days.

Яблочный пирог из виски королевских кровей.

Американский виски - Бурбон (Bourbon) - виски, который производят в США, главным образом из кукурузы. В отличие от принятого в Шотландии написания слова "виски", в американском варианте имеется буква "е" - whiskey, так же как в ирландском.

200 грамм сливочного масла, 2 средних яблока, предварительно очищенных от кожуры, 2 1/2 чашки сахара, 4 яйца, 2 1/2 чашки муки, 2 чайной ложки разрыхлителя, 1/2 чайной ложки соли, 1/2 чашки молока, 1 чашка виски или коньяка.

1. Нагреть духовку до 350Ф. Промаслить дечку размерами 9х13 инчей. Положить яблоки в кухонный комбайн и покрутить в комбайне до получения яблочного пюре.
2. Добавить в комбайн 12 столовых ложек сливочного масла с 1 1/2 чашки сахара и прокрутить все вместе. Не выключая комбайн, добавить яйца.
3. В небольшой миске перемешать муку, разрыхлитель и соль, Не останавливая комбайн, добавить мучную смесь и молоко. Прокрутить в комбайне до образования однородной массы.
4. Выложить массу на дечку. Поставить в нагретую духовку на 45-50 минут. Готовый пирог вынуть из духовку и дать остынуть 10 минут.
5. Тем временем смешать 1 чашки виски, 6 столовых ложей сливочного масла и 1 чашку сахара. Поставить на медленный огонь и варить в течении 10 минут. Масса постепенно начинает загустевать. Снять с огня и дать немного остынуть. Залить этой жидкостью пирог, накрыть и дать постоять около 1 часа. Пирог прекрасно сохраняется в течении 2 дней при комнатной температуре.

For those, who don't know anything about Bourbon whiskey, please read here
Recipe from NY Times

It's about pancakes, crepes and latkes.

News about pancakes, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Please, read it in "New York Times"

Ellie Krieger's New Way Pantry

Watch it


The host of the Food Network show Healthy Appetite shares tips from her new book, The Food You Crave, and talks about the secret of her food philosophy

Banana-Pecan Biscotti

Banana-Pecan Biscotti

1 dozen (serving size: 1 biscotto)


1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup mashed very ripe banana (about 1 banana), 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 large egg, 1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Combine banana, oil, vanilla, and egg in a medium bowl; stir in flour mixture and pecans (dough will be sticky).

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; shape dough into 2 (8-inch-long) rolls with floured hands. Place rolls on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; flatten to 1/2-inch thickness.

Bake at 350° for 23 minutes. Remove rolls from baking sheet; cool 10 minutes on a wire rack. Cut each roll diagonally into 12 (1/2-inch) slices. Place slices, cut sides down, on baking sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 250°; bake 15 minutes. Turn cookies over; bake an additional 15 minutes (cookies will be slightly soft in center but will harden as they cool). Remove from baking sheet; cool completely on wire racks.

Банановые бискотти



На 12 печений.

1 3/4 чашки муки, 1/2 чашки сахара, 1 чайная ложка разрыхлителя, 1/4 чайной ложки соли, 1/2 чашки банана-пюре (1 банан), 1 столовая ложка подсолнечного масла, 1 чайная ложка ванильного экстракта, 1 яйцо, 1/3 чашки размолотый орех-пекан.

Нагреть духовку до 350Ф. Приготовить дечку для выпечки печенья.

Смешать муку, разрыхлитель и соль. В другой посуде смешать банан, масло, ванильный экстракт и орехи. Добавить мучную смесь и замесить тесто. Присыпьте руки мукой и соберите тесто в шар. Раскатайте тесто в форме прямоугольника со сторонами 40-45 см и 5-7 см После того, как тесто будет раскатано, положите его на противень и запекайте при температуре 180С 35 минут. Выньте тесто из духовки и оставьте при комнатной температуре на 10 минут. Остывшее тесто разрежьте на полоски шириной 2 - 2,5 см.Переверните бискотти невыпеченной стороной вверх и выпекайте еще 15-20 минут при температуре 250Ф. Несколько минут выпекайте бискотти, перевернув их на боковые стороны. Выньте из духовки и остудите.

На водяной бане растопите шоколад со 2-3 столовыми ложками молока, постоянно помешивая, пока масса не станет однородной. Обмакивайте каждое печенье в шоколад. Дайте глазури застыть и подавайте к столу.

Recipe from Cooking Light

Cheesecake Pops

It sounds SUPER DELISIOUS for kids. I did not try them because of the last Seder, but now we should try to have a FUN.

Two ideas to explore:

Try them from scratch

Try them from cheesecake leftovers

Election year: try and compare....

Golda Meir vs Hillary Clinton

Black Bean Brownies (Passover and non-Passover)

Black Bean Brownies (Passover and non-Passover)
1/2 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup butter or margarine, 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup honey, 1 cup cooked black bean puree, 2 bananas, 4 eggs, 1 cup all-purpose flour (for Passover use Passover Cake meal), 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder



Mix cocoa, butter, sugar, black bean puree, bananas and eggs together in a food processor until well blended.

Sift dry ingredients together and stir into wet mixture. Grease a 9 x13 inch pan with cooking spray and pour the batter into the pan. Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees or until done.

Американские шоколадные пирожные с черной фасолью

1/2 чашки кокоа-порошка, 1/2 чашки растопленного сливочного масла или маргарина, 1 чашка сахара, 1/2 чашки меда, 1 чашка пюре черной фасоли, 2 банана, 4 яйца, 1 чашка муки (на Пасху использовать Passover Cake Meal), 1 чайная ложка соли, 1 чайная ложка разрыхлителя

Всыпать в кухонный комбайн кокоа-порошок, сахар, мед, масло, пюре черной фасоли, 2 банана, 4 яйца. Все прокрутить до однородной консистенции. Добавить муку, соль и разрыхлитель, предварительно смешанные. Все хорошо перемешать. Вылить жидкое тесто в дечку размером 9 х 13 инчей. Поставить в духовку, предварительно нагретую до 350Ф и печь 40 минут до полной готовности.

BEANS AGAINST CANCER?

Research has found genetic mutations leading to colorectal cancer in Jewish people of Ashkenazi descent. In fact, Ashkenazi Jews are two-to-three times more likely to develop colorectal cancer than are members of the general population. This is part of the reason why colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Israel.

According to Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D, Mexican dry bean consumption (much of which is of antioxidant-rich black beans) is 33 pounds per year, more than five times the US total. Perhaps not coincidentally, Mexico has just 30 percent of the US colon cancer mortality rate. This fact brought me to the idea to create my own "black-bean" brownie recipe. Initially I found similar recipe on "A Dietician's Cancer Story". Later I reworked the recipe and used for Passover.

Celebrating Holidays, we have to think about QUALITY of OUR LIFE!

Bean, appetit!

Gefilte Fish (american way)

Gefilte Fish (american way)

This is one of the my favourite recipes. Try and you will love it.

2/3 cup dry white wine, 2 1/2 quarts water, 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced diagonally in 1-inch pieces; 3 ribs of selery, slices diagonally in 1-inch pieces; 1 large onion, peeled and shopped, 1 bay leaf, 1/2 bunch Italian parsley, tied with string; 1 teaspoon salt, black pepper by taste, 1 1/2 pounds frozen, ready-to-cook gefilte fish, 2-3 large potatoes;

Combine wine, water, carrots, onion, bay leaf, parsley, salt, pepper. Bring to boil, reduce the heat and simmer 30 minutes uncovered.

Add frozen fish roll in it's paper wrapping and simmer for 1 hour.
After an hour, add potato slices and continue cooking 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool in the cooking liquid. remove the fish roll and peel off the paper. Wrap in plastic wrap, then foil, and chill at least overnight before serving.
Many brands of frozen gefilte fish are available in many supermarkets. I use this one:

Фаршированная рыба по-американски

2/3 чашки белого сухого вина, 10 чашек воды, 2 больших морковки, почишенной и порезанной по диагонали на средние кусочки, 1 большая головка лука, мелко порезанная; 1 лабровый листок, 1/2 пучка свежей итальянской петрушки, 1 чайной ложки соли, черный молотый перец по вкусу, 600 грамм замороженного рыбного филе(ready-to-cook gefilte fish), 2-3 картофелины, желательно большие.

Влить в кастрюлю вино и воду. Добавить туда морковь, лук, лавровый лист, петрушку, соль и перец. Поставить на огонь, довести до кипения и медленно варить в течении 30 минут.

Положить в кипящую жидкость замороженное рыбное филе (ни в коем случае не размораживать, и не снимать внутренней пленки). Варить в винном растворе около 1 часа. Потом добавить картофель и варить еще 30 минут.

Снять с огня и дать остынуть, потом вынуть рыбное филе из кастрюли и снять пленку. Обернув в прозрачную пищевую пленку, положить рыбу в холодильник на ночь. Подавать с холодными закусками.

Recipe from "Deliciously Healthy Jewish Cooking" by Harriet Roth

Delicious Passover

The editors of the Dining section in "The New York Times" propose ideas for your Passover meal.

Please read it

The most expensive TEACAKE....

Something interesting and unusual for all us to know...

Read on English and Russian

If you want to try some of these tasteful British creatures, London is one the best tourist destination in the world. By the way, if you don't know, Marks & Spenser has a VERY deep Jewish roots.

Enjoy it!

Salmon Chowder with Dill (Американский суп с лососем)

Salmon Chowder with Dill (Американский суп с лососем)

4 tablespoons butter, 2 cups chopped scallions, white and green parts (about 2 small bunches), 2 yellow bell peppers, diced, 5 cups fish or vegetarian stock, 4 cups, peeled, diced potatoes (about 4 medium), 1 1/2 pounds skinned salmon fillet, cut into 1-inch pieces, 1/3 cup chopped fresh dill, 1 cup heavy cream

In a large heavy-bottomed pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add scallions and peppers and cook, stirring until softened, about 5 minutes. Add stock and potatoes and simmer until potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

Puree 2 cups of the soup in a blender until smooth, and return to pan. Add salmon and simmer until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in dill, cream , and salt and pepper to taste. cook more 15 minutes.

I'm sure, this soup will become one of the favourites at your table. It goes well with home-made bread.

Recipe from Byerly's

Oatmeal Buttermilk latkes

Oatmeal Buttermilk latkes

Serves 4-6.

1/2 cup oats (the regular kind), 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, 1 egg, well beaten, 1 1/4 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 Tbsp vegetable oil, 2 Tbsp brown sugar,Butter or extra vegetable oil for the frying pan
Put oats into a large bowl, add the buttermilk. Let the oats soak in the buttermilk for 10 minutes. Add egg, oil, and brown sugar
Mix in the flour, baking soda, salt. Add dry ingridients to a batter. Mix everything together.

Then proceed as with any pancake recipe. Heat a flat iron surface - griddle or large pan - to medium high heat. Oil the pan with either a Tbsp of butter or vegetable oil. Ladle the pancake batter onto the griddle to the desired size, usually about 5 or 6 inches wide. When air bubbles start to bubble up to the surface at the center of the pancakes (about 2-3 minutes), use a flat spatula to flip them over. After a minute, peak under one for doneness. When golden or darker golden brown, they are done. Note that cooking the second side takes only about half as long as the first side. And the second side doesn't brown as evenly as the first side. Serve immediately or keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.
Serve with butter, maple syrup, and macerated strawberries.

Овсяные блинчики


На 4-6 порций

1 1/4 чашки кефирa, 1/2 чашки овсяных хлопьев быстрого приготовления, 0,5 ч.л. ванильного экстракта, 1 большое яйцо, слегка взбить, 1 ст.л. растительного масла, 1 1/4 чашки муки, 2 ст.л. коричневого сахара, 0,5 ч.л. пищевой соды, 0,5 ч.л. солиВ чашке соединить кефир, хлопья и ванилин, оставить на 10 минут, периодически помешивая. Затем добавить яйцо и масло. В другой чашке смешиваем муку, сахар, соду и соль, добавляем жидкие ингредиенты. Жарим на разогретой сковороде, смазанной маслом. Получается примерно 16 маленьких оладушек (или 8 больших). Подавать с кленовым сиропом, вареньем.

Jewish Food Fundamentals

Jewish Food Fundamentals

Asking a Jew if he likes Jewish food
Is like telling a Christian it's fruitcake time dude.
It's just a thing, like a letter to Jude.
You have to eat it, whatever your mood.


There are the drunks who drink cheap kosher wine.
They make it stronger, so they're feeling fine.
That's just the rules and there's line after line.
I couldn't stand this sweet fruit of the vine.


There are a few that are always in favor.
There's a fish hamburger you have to savor.
It's not that bad if you sign a fish waiver.
Some are the bottom fed. Some are the braver


Sometimes it's salty. Sometimes it's bitter
Sometimes it's tasteless, but never is fitter.
Sometimes you feed some to your baby sitter.
She seems to like it, though you are a quitter.


You have to go without bread for a week.
You get a cracker that gums up your cheek.
You can't eat lunch! Every Gentile will seek
To sample this matzah when it's at its peak.


Sometimes the day means you can't eat at all.
This will come late in the summer or fall.
You stuff your face just before for the pall.
When it's all over, there's more left on call.


Then there's the boiling of chicken for soup.
There's lots of fat and you scoop and you scoop.
They used to keep it and spread it like goop.
This is the schmaltz and it fed a whole troop.

Everyone seems to like bagels and lox.
Buy lots of cream cheese. That really rocks.
You want the best and it comes in a box.
This is by choice and will knock off your socks.


June 9, 2007 Stephen Blumenkranz

Hamantaschen with dough recipe created in Australia

Hamantaschen

My very own recipe for triangular Purim cookies
Makes 24-30 small ones.

Pastry: 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 3/4 cup of butter, cut into small dice, 1 egg yolk, iced water (water with ice cubes)

Filling: 1 can Solo Poppy Seed Filling 12.5oz (Poppy Seed Filling), 1 cup dark raisins, 1/3 cup of any fruit juice.

In a processor, place the flours and sugar and pulse briefly to aerate.Sprinkle the diced cubes of butter over and pulse again until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.Add the egg yolk and pulse again until just mixed through, then adding iced water 1 tablespoon at a time, continue to pulse until the dough just begins to come together. This mix needed 4 tablespoons of water.Place the dough onto a board and basically just mould the dough until it comes together. There's no need to knead! Roll into a ball and cut into half - slightly flatten each half into a disc, wrap in plastic and place in the refrigirator to rest for at least an hour or until the dough has hardened enough to roll.Each half of the dough will make 12 cookies.

Make a filling mixing raisins, and juice in a pan. Place the pan on a stove and slowly warm up. Don't boil and cook slowly, stirring constantly until smooth and thick Remove from heat. Place the warm mix into food processor and pulse until it smooth. Combine together raisins paste and Poppy Seed Filling.

Dust a flour board with a little bit of flour. Roll a piece of the dough out on flour board. Take a four-inch glass, turn it upside down and cut the dough with the lip of glass to make a 4 inch circle of dough. Fill cookie with chosen filling. Squeeze dough up and across to form three cornered hamantashen.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Bake 25-30 minutes until the pastry has a light brown color. Ready cookies can be dusted with powdered sugar.


Уши Амана" (Хаменташен)

Тесто: 2 чашки муки, 1 чайная ложка разрыхлителя, 1/2 чашки сахарной пудры, 3/4 чашки холодного сливочного масла, 1 желток, холодная вода (желательно с кусочками льда)

Начинка: 1 упаковка начинки из мака (Poppy Seed Filling), 1 чашкa изюма, 1/3 чашки фруктового сока.

Положить в кухонный комбайн муку, разрыхлитель и смешать. Добавить сливочное масло, предварительно нарезав на мелкие кубики. Смешать все, несколько раз нажав кнопку "Pulse" на кухонном комбайне.Добавить желток и постепенно добавить холодную воду не выключая комбайн. Тесто само начнет формироваться. Как только тесто сформируется, остановить комбайн и выложить тесто на доску. Разделить пополам, завернуть в пищевую пленку и положить в холодильник на 1 час.

Приготовить начинку. В небольшой кастрюле смешать изюм и сок. Поставить на небольшой огонь, и постоянно помешивая, нагреть почти до закипания. Снять с огня, положить в комбайн и смешать до образования пасты. Добавить начинку из мака

Вынуть половину теста из холодильника, раскачать в пласт и вырезать 12 кружков. Сверху положить 1 чайную ложку начинки на каждый кружок и сформировать традиционную форму "ущей амана"

Нагреть духовку до 350Ф. Поставить деко с печеньем и печь 25-30 минут до полной готовности. Вынуть из духовки, охладить и посыпать сахарной пудрой.
Повторить тот же процесс со вторым куском теста.

В Америке традиционно пекут недрожжевые "печенья-ущи", и тесто черствеет. этот рецепт теста прекрасно сохраняется в течении нескольких дней

Original dough recipe from Cook Almost anything
I can offer to read and try another recipe from David Shenk (Gourmet)

Finally enjoy The Great Latke-Hamantash Debate

Molasses bundt cake with bourbon glaze

Molasses bundt cake with bourbon glaze

Cake: A) Nonstick vegetable oil spray, 3 1/4 cups cake flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, 4 teaspoons vanilla extract, 4 large eggs, 1 cup whole milk
B) 1 cup pecans, toasted, finely chopped, 1/4 cup dark corn syrup, 1/4 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Glaze: 2 teaspoons water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, 2 teaspoons dark corn syrup, 1/2 cup bourbon, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Vanilla ice cream

For cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 10-inch-diameter Bundt pan with nonstick spray; dust with flour. Sift 3 1/4 cups flour, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, and 2 teaspoons vanilla in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk in 2 additions. Transfer half of batter to prepared pan.
Stir pecans, corn syrup, molasses, and 2 teaspoons vanilla in another medium bowl to blend. Stir in baking soda. Stir pecan mixture into remaining cake batter in bowl. Spoon pecan batter over batter in pan (do not swirl). Bake until tester inserted near center of cake comes out with dry crumbs attached, about 50 minutes. Transfer cake in pan to rack.

Meanwhile, prepare glaze: Stir 2 teaspoons water and baking soda in small bowl to dissolve baking soda. Bring sugar, buttermilk, butter, and corn syrup to boil in heavy 6-quart saucepan over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar and melt butter. Reduce heat to medium-high. Stir in baking soda mixture (glaze will bubble). Boil until sauce is golden and slightly thickened, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in bourbon and vanilla.

Invert warm cake onto platter. Immediately brush 1 1/2 cups hot glaze over cake, allowing glaze to soak into cake. Cool cake completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate remaining glaze.)
Rewarm remaining glaze, stirring. Serve cake with ice cream and warm glaze.


Немецкий бисквит с мелассой и очень алкогольной глазурью.


В Европе многие ничего не знают о мелассе. Для тех, кто не знаком с этим продуктом, прошу почитатать на сайте

Для бисквита: А) 3 1/4 чашки муки, 2 чайной лоски разрыхлителя, 3/4 чайной ложки соли, 2 чашки сахара, 1 чашка (200 грамм) сливочного масла комнатной температуры, 4 чайной ложки ванильного экстракта, 4 яйца, 1 чашка молока.
Б) 1 чашка мелко порезанных орехов пекан (можно заменить на обыкновенные грецкие орехи), 1/4 чашки кукурузного сиропа (можно заменить медом), 1/4 чашки мелассы, 1/2 чайной ложки питьевой соды.

Глазурь: 2 чайных ложки воды, 1 чайная ложка соды, 2 чашки сахара, 1 чашка кефира, 1 чашка сливочного масла, 2 столовые ложки кукурузного сиропа, 1/2 чашки виски "bourbon"
Нагреть духовку до 350Ф. Приготовить специальную формочку для выпечку немецких бисквитов: Бандт (Bundt pan). История создания этой формочки связана с историей еврейской общины в Германии и Америки.

Смешать муку, разрыхлитель и соль в небольшой посуде. Миксером взбить сахар, масло, ванильный экстракт, вбить по одному яйцу, постепенно добавляя молоко. Последним добавить мучную смесь.

Смешать орехи, кукурузный сироп, мелассу, ванильный экстракт в отдельной посуде. добавить соду. Выложить половину теста (тесто блинной консистенции) в формочку для выпечки, во вторую половину добавить ореховую смесь и вылить в формочку. Поставить в духовку и печь до полной готовности (50 минут) Вынуть из духовки и вынуть из формы.

Пока печется бисквит, приготовить глазурь. Смешать 2 чайные ложки воды с содой и дать раствориться. В отдельной посуде смешать сахар, кефор, масло, кукурузный сироп. Поставить смесь на огонь и дать закипеть. Уменьшить огонь, влить соду и дать покипеть 8-10 минут. Снять с огня и добавить виски.

Отделить 1 1/2 чашки глазури и кулинарной кисточкой нанести на поверхность бисквита. Дать бисквиту остыть полностью. Бисквить может сохранятся при комнатной температуре. Остаток глазури поставить в холодильник. Перед подачей на стол согреть глазурь и подать с бисквитом.

Recipe from Bon Appetit, march 2003

HADASSAH MOURNS PASSING OF BUNDT PAN INVENTOR
H. David Dalquist created baking pan as Hadassah fundraiser (New York - January 5, 2005) -

With the holiday season barely over and all those calories from all those baked goods already firmly attached to America’s hips, the passing, announced today, of the inventor of the Bundt pan, H. David Dalquist, will give pause to bakers and dieters everywhere. But how many know that the Bundt pan was invented in response to a request by the members of the Minneapolis Chapter of Hadassah? In 1950, when home baked goods were still a staple of every American household, and baking lessons a featured highlight of Hadassah meetings, the Minneapolis chapter tried to recreate the heavy cakes that their mothers used to make in their native Europe. Unable to find the right pan, one member took a relic from her mother’s German kitchen to H. David Dalquist, chairman, owner and founder of Northland Aluminum, and asked him to recreate the pan in modern material. The result was a success, and for years Dalquist gave the Hadassah chapter his seconds, which they turned around and sold to raise funds for Hadassah’s projects in Israel, which today include two major hospitals, a college, a career counseling center, and numerous youth programs. "Who could have imagined that a simple aluminum cake pan, invented more than a half century ago, could have become a fundraising vehicle for an organization that today boasts more than 300,000 members across the country?" said June Walker, National President of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. "With that homey little baking pan, Hadassah women built the most advanced medical center in the Middle East, the Hadassah Medical Center at Ein Kerem. We thank David Dalquist for his contribution!" In the 1960s, the Bundt pan really became a hit when a Texas woman used it to place second in the Pillsbury bake-off. Today, thanks to Hadassah, there is probably not a home in America without a Bundt pan.

It's never enough... teachings!

One of my coworkers sent me a message with a HIGH VALUE teachings. Please try all of them.

1. If you peel a banana from the bottom you won't have to pick the little "stringy things" off of it. That's how all the primates do it.
2. Separate your bananas when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen much faster.
3. Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. The cheese will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
4. Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
5. Add a teaspoon of water when sautéing ground beef. It w ill help to pull the grease away from the meat.
6. To make terrific scrambled eggs or omelets add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, heavy cream, or Fat Free Half and Half before beating them.
7. For a super brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Get set for a wonderful minty frosting.
8. Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and add at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic
9. Leftover snickers bars from Halloween or Christmas make a delicious dessert. Simple chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream.
10. Reheating Pizza Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy microwave pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.
11. Easy Deviled Eggs.Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw the bag away when done for an easy clean up.
12. Expanding Frosting. When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You will also be eating less sugar and calories per serving.
13. Reheating Refrigerated Bread. To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
14. Newspaper Weeds Away Start putting wet newspapers in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Put layers around the plants, overlapping as you go. Cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic but they will not get through wet newspapers.
15. Broken Glass Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.
16. No More Mosquitoes Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
17. Squirrel Away! To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
18. Flexible Vacuum To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
19. Reducing Static Cling Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Put a pin in the leg seams of your slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.
20. Measuring Cups Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
20. Foggy Windshield? Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
21. Reopening Envelope If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
22. Conditioner Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.
23. Goodbye Fruit Flies To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it with a 1/2 inch of Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
24. Get Rid of Ants Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
25. INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took t he filter over to the sink, ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material - I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. well,...the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free -- that nice fragrance too, you know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box, this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire & potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share!

Australian Coconut-Lemon Bread (enhanced recipe)

Australian Coconut-Lemon Bread

Excellent morning treat. You will try the recipe over and over again.

2 eggs, 300ml (1 1/4 cups) milk, 1 tsp vanilla, 350g (2 1/2 cups) flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tsp cinnamon, 225 g (1 cup and a bit) caster sugar, 150 g (2 cups) shredded coconut, 75 g (1/3 cup) butter, melted, zest and juice from 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 180C /350F.Whisk together eggs, milk and vanilla.Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon. Stir in sugar andcoconut. Make a well in the center and pour in egg mixture. Stir untiljust combined. Carefully add zest and lemon juice.Add butter and stir until just smooth, being careful not to overmix.Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan and bake for 1 hour, or untiltester comes out clean.Cool in tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Лимонный кекс с кокосовой стружкой

Рецепт, привезенный из Австралии, который освежит завтрак.

2 яйца, 1 1/4 чашки молока, 1 чайная ложка ванили, 2 1/2 чашки муки, 2 чайной ложки разрыхлителя, 1/2 чайной ложки соли, 2 чайной ложки корицы (по желанию), 1 чашка сахара, 2 чашки свежей кокосовой стружки, 1/3 чашки сливочного масла, предварительно растопленного, натертая жедра и сок 1 свежего лимона.

Размешать яйжа, молоко и ваниль. В отдельной посуде смешать муку, разрыхлитель, соль и корицу. Сделать углубление в центре и влить яичную смесь. Перемешать осторожно, добавить кокосовую стружку, цедру и сок лимона.

Приготовить форму для выпечки кексов, вылить в нее тесто и печь в духовке около 1 часа (полную готовность проверить лучинкой.) Остудить в форме 10 минут и вынуть из формы.
Этот рецепт станет одним из любимых для Ваших домочадцев, потому что это просто, вкусно и сытно.

Original recipe from BakingSheet

Black and White Banana Loaf

Black and White Banana Loaf

Serves 8

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp freshly grated or ground nutmeg, 1 1/2 ripe medium bananas, 1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest, small squirt of lemon juice, 1 Tbsp dark rum, 3 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped, 1 stick plus 2 Tbsp (1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp) unsalted butter, softened, 2/3 cup packed light-brown sugar, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 4 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 cup whole milk

Heat oven to 325°F. Butter an 8×4 x 21/2-in. loaf pan; dust with flour; tap out excess. Whisk flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg in a small bowl until blended.

In another small bowl, mash bananas with lemon zest and juice; stir in rum. Microwave chocolate and 2 Tbsp butter, stirring every 10 seconds, until melted and blended.
Beat remaining butter with mixer on medium speed 3 minutes or until creamy. Add sugars; beat 2 to 3 minutes until light and smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla (batter will look curdled). Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in 1/2 the flour mixture just until blended. Beat in milk until combined, then remaining flour mixture. Scrape down bowl; beat in banana mixture (batter will look lumpy).

Stir a little less than 1/2 the batter into melted chocolate to blend. Drop alternating spoonfuls of both batters into prepared pan. Using a table knife, swirl batters together, taking care not to overdo it.

Bake 1 hour and 20 to 30 minutes (check cake after 45 minutes and cover loosely with foil if it’s getting too brown), until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached. Cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes before inverting on rack, turning right side up and cooling completely.

Двухцветный банановый кекс

На 8 порций.

1 1/3 чашки муки, 1 чайная ложка разрыхлителя, 1/2 чайной ложки соли, 1 1/2 банана, 1/2 чайной ложки свеже натертой лимонной цедры, немного свежего лимонного сока, 1 столовая ложка рома, 3/4 чашки мелко нарезанного шоколада, 10 столовых ложек сливочного масла, 2/3 чашки коричневого сахара, 1/3 чашки обыкновенного сахара, 4 яйца, 1 чайная ложка ванильного экстракта, 1/2 чашки молока.

Нагреть духовку до 325Ф. Прямоугольную форму для выпечки кексов смазать растительным маслом.

Смешать муку, соль и разрыхлитель. В другой миске растереть бананы, лимонную цедру и лимонный сок. В микроволновой духовке расплавить шоколад с 2 ложками сливочного масла. Иставшиеся 8 столовых ложек масла взбить миксером с сахаром. Добавить молоко, яйца и сухую мучную смесь. Мучную смесь добавлеть порциями. В конце добавить растертые бананы.

Отделить 1/3 жидкого теста в отдельную посуду и добавить растопленный шоколад. Выкладывать поочередно в форму по 2 ст. л. теста, чередуя темное и светлое. Печь 80-90 минут. Вынуть из духовки готовый кекс, остудить полностчю перед употреблением. Особо хорош на следующий день.

Recipe from "Baking, From My Home to Yours" by Dorie Greenspan

Spinach Salad with Mushrooms

Spinach Salad with Mushrooms

Yield: 2 servings
4 cups washed spinach leaves, preferably organically grown, 2 large ripe tomatoes, diced (3/4 cup cherry tomatoes), 2 cups thinly sliced fresh mushrooms, 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, minced, juice of ½ fresh lemon, 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, 1/3 cup mayonnaise, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Chop spinach into small pieces and divide spinach between two salad plates. Top each with chopped tomatoes and red onion.

Wash and dry mushrooms, removing stems. In a small frying pan, heat olive oil and sauté garlic with lemon juice, salt, and pepper until garlic is browned. Add mushroom and saute for about 8 minutes. The mushrooms should be browned and tender. Remove from the pan and arrange over spinach salad. Add seasoning to taste. Drizzle salad with mayonnaise.


Салат со шпинатом и жаренными грибами.

На 2 порции.

4 чашки листьев зеленого шпината, 2 больших мелко нарезанных помидора или 3/4 чашки помидоров "cherry", 2 чашки свежих грибов, 2 столовые ложки оливкового масла, 2 зубца чеснока, сок 1/2 лимона, 1/4 чашки мелко нарезанного красного лука, 1/3 чашки майонеза, соль и перец по вкусу.

Мелко нарезать шпинат и уложить в тарелки. Наверх уложить помидоры и лук.
Грубы помыть и тонко нарезать. Нагреть оливковое масло в сковороде. Добавить чеснок и лимонный сок. Выложить грибы и жарить 8-10 минут. Добавить соль и перец по вкусу. Снять с огня и выложить грибы на салат. Заправить салат майонезом. Хорошо перемешать перед подачей на стол.

Pure Lemon Maple Syrup Cake (sugar-free)

Pure Lemon Maple Syrup Cake (sugar-free)
Serves 12

100 g (1/2 cup) butter melted, 1 egg, 1 egg yolk, 225 g (1 cup) 100% Pure Maple Syrup, 100 ml (1/2 cup) hot water, 560 g (2 1/2 cups) all-purpose (plain) flour, sifted with:
5 g (1 tsp.) baking soda, 10 g (2 tsp.) baking powder, 2.5 g (1/2 tsp.) ground ginger, juice and zest of 1/2 lemon, 1/2 tsp. salt

Icing (optional)
1 egg white, 1 cup powdered sugar, juice and zest of 1/2 lemon

Grease and flour a 10-inch fluted tube pan.
Place melted butter in mixing bowl, gradually add eggs, Pure Maple Syrup, hot water, lemon zest and juice. Blend in flour, baking soda, baking powder and ginger. Pour mixture into pan.

Cook in 350 °F (180 °C) oven for 50 minutes. Let cool and set aside.
In a double-boiler, mix icing ingredients and beat mixture until it peaks. Ice cake and decorate with nuts, almonds or cherries (optional)


Лимонный бисквит с сиропом из кленовых листьев

Для тех, кто не знаком с традиционным канадским продуктом "Maple syrup", предлагаю познакомиться и подружиться.

На 12 порций.

1/2 чашки растопленного сливочного масла, 1 яйцо, 1 яичный желток, 1 чашка сиропа из кленовых листьев, 1/2 чашки горячей воды, 2 1/2 чашки муки, 1 чайная ложка соды, 2 чайные ложки разрыхлителя, 1/2 чайноой ложки молотого имбиря, сок и цедра из половины лимона, 1/2 чайной ложки соли

Помадка (по желанию)
1 яичный белок, 1 чашка сахарной пудры, сок и цедра из 1/2 ломона.

Приготовить круглую форму для выпекания биквита. Смешать жидкое сливочное масло с яйцами, сиропом из кленовых листьев, 1/2 чашки горячей воды. Добавить сок и цедру лимона. В отдельной посуде смешать муку, соду, соль, разрыхлитель и молотый имбирь. Медленно добавить сухую смесь с жидкими ингридиентами. Все хорошо перемешать. Вылить тесто в приготовленную форму и печь в духовке при температуре 350Ф в течении 45-50 минут. Вынуть из духовку и остудить.

Для помадки смешать на паровой бане все ингридиенты и взбить немного. Залить теплый (не горячий) бисквит. Украсить орехами или свежими фруктами.

I'm nominated

I invite you to take a look back at culinary 2007

One of the NOMINATED recipes is MINE:

Orange Zucchini Bread

Cranberry-Orange Pound Cake (only in America)

Cranberry-Orange Pound Cake (only in America)

Makes:16 servings

Cake: 1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® golden vanilla or yellow cake mix, 1 box (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted, 1 teaspoon grated orange peel, 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped (do not thaw frozen cranberries)

Powdered sugar, if desired

Orange Sauce, if desired: 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon Gold Medal® all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/2 cup butter
Heat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour, or spray with baking spray with flour, 12-cup fluted tube cake pan.

In large bowl, beat dry cake mix, dry pudding mix, water, melted butter, orange peel and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Fold in cranberries. Spread in pan.

Bake 57 to 63 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
In 1-quart saucepan, cook all sauce ingredients over medium heat about 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Serve warm or cool sauce with cake. For Orange Butter Sauce, increase flour to 2 tablespoons. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted, then cook 4 minutes longer.

Бисквит с клюквой по-американски

Тесто: 1 упаковка сухой смеси для бисквита (yellow cake mix), 1 упаковка (4 порции) для ванильного пудинга (vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix), 1 чашка воды, 1/2 чашки растопленного маргарина или сливочного масла, 1 чайная ложка свеже натертой цедры апельсина, 4 яйца, 1 1/2 чашки свежей или замороженной клюквы. (Если клюква заморожена, то ее не нужно размораживать)

Нагреть духовку до 325Ф. Подготовить формочку (12-cup fluted tube cake pan).

В большой миске смешать все составляющие и взбить миксером в течении 2 минут. Добавить клюкву. Выложить тесто блинной консистенции в формочку для бисквита. Печь около часа и проверь лучинкой готовность бисквита.
Для соуса в небольшой кастрюле смешать все составляющие соуса. Нагреть на медленном огне, постоянно помешивая до загустения. Подавать в теплом виде с бисквитом.

Recipe from Betty Crocker

Chocolate-Filled Biscotti

Chocolate-Filled Biscotti
Cream Cheese Dough: 4 cup(s) all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup (2 sticks) butter (no substitutions), softened, 6 ounce(s) cream cheese, softened, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup (packed) brown sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 tablespoon(s) vanilla extract

Chocolate Filling: 1 can (14-ounce) sweetened condensed milk, 8 ounce(s) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, cut up, 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
Confectioners’ sugar for sprinkling

1. Prepare Cream Cheese Dough: In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat butter and cream cheese until well blended. Gradually add sugars and beat 3 minutes or until light and creamy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in flour mixture just until blended, occasionally scraping bowl. Place 1/4 dough on sheet of plastic wrap. Repeat to make 4 more. Wrap each with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

2. When ready to roll out dough, prepare Chocolate Filling: In 2-quart saucepan, heat sweetened condensed milk and chocolate over medium heat just until chocolate melts, stirring frequently. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in walnuts. Cool filling to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 large cookie sheets.

4. Remove 1 piece of dough from refrigerator. On lightly floured 16-inch sheet of waxed paper, with floured rolling pin, roll dough into 10" by 6" rectangle. Spread heaping 1/4 filling lengthwise down center of rectangle. Starting from a long side and using waxed paper to help lift dough, fold 1 side of dough lengthwise over filling, then remaining side over dough (dough should overlap).

5. Pick up waxed paper and flip cookie log onto 1 side of prepared cookie sheet, seam side down. Repeat with another piece of dough and filling. Flip second log parallel to first log, leaving about 2 inches between logs.

6. Bake logs 20 to 22 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Cool logs on cookie sheet 2 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. While logs bake, repeat with remaining dough and filling.

7. Wrap each cooled log separately with foil or plastic wrap, and store in tightly covered containers at room temperature up to 2 weeks or in freezer up to 3 months.

8. To serve, sprinkle logs with confectioners’ sugar. Cut each log crosswise on the diagonal into 12 slices. (If logs are frozen, thaw completely at room temperature before sprinkling with sugar and slicing.)

Итальянские бискотти с шоколадной начинкой.
Для тех, кто никогда не был в Италии, слово "бискотти" будет новым. Поверьте мне, что большинство чаепитий в европейских странах никогда не обходится без бискотти. А этот рецепт совсем необычный и очень вкусный. Попробуйте, и Вам захочется еще и еще раз это необыкновенное вкусное угощение. В холодную зимнюю погоду чашечка чая с итальянским печеньем поднимет настроение каждому.

Тесто: 4 чашки муки, 1 чайная ложка разрыхлителя, 1 чайная ложка соли, 1 чашка сливочного масла, 1 чашка сахара, 1 чашка коричневого сахара (я взяла 1.5 чашки обыкновенного сахара вместо 2 чашек), 2 яйца, 1 столовая ложка ванильного экстракта (по желанию), 150 грамм сливочного сыра "Philadelphia"

Шоколадная начинка: 1 баночка (14-ounce) сгущенного молока, 2 чашки мелко нарезанного шоколада, 1 чашка мелко порубленных грецких орехов.

1. Приготовить тесто. Прежде всего смешать муку, разрыхлитель и соль. В отдельной миске взбить миксером сливочное масло и сливочный сыр. Постепенно добавить сахар и яйца. Добавить ванильный экстракт. Уменьшив скорость миксера, добавить сухую мучную смесь. Замесить тесто и разделить на 4 части. Завернуть каждую часть в пищевую пленку и положить в холодильник (НЕ в морозилку) на 8-10 часов.

2. Приготовить начинку. Смешать сгущенное молоко и шоколад. Поставить на огонь и подогревать помешивая то того момента, пока шоколад не начнет плавиться. Снять с огня, остудить и добавить орехи. Все хорошо перемешать и дать остыть до комнатной температуры.

3. Разогреть духовку до 350Ф. Приготовить две дечки для печенья. Вынуть одну часть теста из холодильника, раскатать в прамоугольник 20см на 13 см. Выложить 1/4 всей начинки по середине раскатанного теста и сомкнуть края теста. Выложить на дечку швом вниз. Повторить с оставшимся тестом. Печь в течении 20-25 минут. Вынуть, остудить. Нарезать на 12 частей каждую порцию.

Recipe from Good Housekeeping

Potato-Apple Latkes

Potato-Apple Latkes

Servings: 8

Serve these delicous potato-apple latkes as one of your side dishes at your Hanukkah dinner. They will go well with almost any type of meat, fish or poultry.

2 large (4 cups) baking potatoes, shredded, 1 large (1 cup) Golden Delicious apple, shredded, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, vegetable oil, sour cream, if desired, honey, if desired

Stir together all ingredients except oil, sour cream and honey in large bowl. Heat 1/4-inch oil over medium-high heat in 10-inch skillet. Drop 1/4 cup potato mixture into hot oil, flattening each mound slightly. Fry, turning once, until crisply brown (6 to 8 minutes). Drain well on paper towels. Serve warm with dollop of sour cream; drizzle with honey, if desired. Makes: 8 servings (as a side dish).

Блинчики из картофеля и яблок (Американские дыруны)

2 большие картофелины, натертые на крупной терке, 1 большое яблоко, натертое на крупной терке, 2 яйца, 1/2 чашки муки, 1/2 чайной ложки соли, 1/2 чайной ложки разрыхлителя, масло для поджарки, сметана и мед (по желанию)

Смешать все ингридиенты, кроме сметаны и меда.

Разогреть подсолнечное масло на сковороде. Выкладывать по 1 столовой ложке картофельной смеси на сковороду. Жарить на двух сторонах. Подавать со сметаной или медом.
Recipe from Diana's Desserts - www.dianasdesserts.com

A Jewish 'Martha Stewart Living'. Are you excited?

Why do we need one more magazine about Jewish life?

I found the answer from Yenta: "I’m so tired of the “We’re just like the goyim, except for the Jesus part” shtick."

Now it's up to you to find out if the magazine will be next SUCCESS.

Enjoy it!

Cream Cheese Squares

Cream Cheese Squares

Makes: 24 servings

2 cans (8 oz. each) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls, divided, 2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 egg, slightly beaten, 3/4 cup sugar, divided, 2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°F. Unroll 1 of the cans of crescent dough. Press onto bottom of greased 13x9-inch baking pan to form crust, firmly pressing seams together to seal.
Beat cream cheese, vanilla, egg and 1/2 cup of the sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Spread onto crust.

Unroll remaining can of crescent dough onto large sheet of wax paper. Pat out dough to form 13x9-inch rectangle, pressing seams together to seal. Invert over cream cheese mixture to form top crust; discard wax paper.

Bake 30 to 35 min. or until golden brown. Combine remaining 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon in small bowl; sprinkle over squares before cutting.


Очень быстрый (не дрожжевой) пирог со сливочным сыром.
На 24 порции.

2 упаковки "Crescent dinner rolls", 2 (8 oz. each) упаковки сливочного сыра "PHILADELPHIA", 1 чайная ложка экстракта ванили, 1 яйцо, 3/4 чашки сахара, 2 чайные ложки корицы (по желанию)

Нагреть духовку до 350Ф. Раскатать тесто из одной упаковки и уложить на дно дечки размером 13х9 инчей. Взбить миксером сливочный сыр, сахар и ванильный экстракт.

Выложить начинку на тесто. Раскатать тесто из второй упаковки и накрыть начинку, плотно защипив края. Посыпать сахаром и корицей.
Печь 30-35 минут до золотистого цвета. Вынуть из духовки и дать остыть. Нарезать на квадраты. Подавать с кофе.
Recipe from Kraft Foods

Tahini cookies

Tahini cookies

A tahini-based dough is for eye-popping cookies that melt in the mouth. They're just delicious.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup well-stirred tahini, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1/3 cup sesame seeds (optional)
Special equipment: parchment paper
Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.

Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes, then beat in tahini and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 2 batches, mixing until a crumbly dough forms. Transfer dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and press into a disk. Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.

Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 large baking sheetsRoll dough into 1-inch balls, then roll balls 1 at a time in seeds to coat and arrange 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets. Bake, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until cookies are puffed and starting to crack, 12 to 15 minutes total. Cool on sheets 10 minutes (cookies will be very fragile when hot), then transfer from parchment to a rack to cool completely.


Печенье из тахини.

Это просто и вкусно. Для тех, кто не знаком с тахини (паста из кунжутных семечек), предлагаю почитать статью о семенах сезама

1 1/4 чашки муки, 1/2 чайной ложки разрыхлителя, 1/4 чайной ложки соли, 1/2 чашки мягкого сливочного масла, 1/2 чашки сахара, 1/2 чашки тахини, 1 чайная ложка ежтракта ванили, 1/3 чашки кунжутных семочек для посыпки

Смешать муку, разрыхлитель и соль в небольшой миске.
Взбить миксером масло и сахар в течении 3 минут, постепенно добавить ванильный экстракт и тахини. Всыпать предварительно подготовленную сухую смесь и замешать тесто. Тесто завернуть в пищевую пленку и положить в холодильник на 1 час.

Нагреть духовку до 350Ф. Застелить пергаментной бумагой дечки. Вынуть тесто из холодильника и выкатать небольшие шарики и уложить их на дечку, оставляя место между. Печь в духовке 12-15 минут. Остудить 10 минут. Подавать с фруктами.

Recipe from Gourmet December 2006

Teach yourself...

How to become a PRO....

It's quite easy if you have a right teacher. And a right teacher always refers students to a library. So, I am doing now. Please visit Baker's library.

The easiest, quickiest, and sugar-free rugelach

The easiest, quickiest, and sugar-free rugelach

Serves 8.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

1 box "Pillsbury" refrigerated pie crusts (look in dairy aisle at any supermarket), 2 tablespoons butter, softened, 1/4 cup any fruit sugar-free preserves or jam, 1/2 cup golden raisins, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 1 egg.

Lay crusts on flat surface and roll out another inch in circumference. Cut each crust into 8 wedges. Spread evenly with butter.
Spread jam or preserves evenly over butter layer.

Filling: place raisins, coconut and walnuts into food processor and pulse several times.
Sprinkle evenly with mixture. Roll each wedge from the broad edge to the point and place on buttered cookie sheet. Brush lightly with egg wash (1 egg plus 2 tablespoons of water). Bake about 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.

Remove from oven, leaving on pan about 3 minutes before removing to rack to cool completely.


Быстрые рогалики без сахара

На 8 порций.

Нагреть духовку до 350Ф.

1 упаковка теста производства "Pillsbury" для выпечки американского пирога с яблоками - "apple pie", 2 столовые ложки размягченного сливочного масла, 1/4 чашки фруктового варенья или джема без сахара, 1/2 чашки изюма, 1/2 чашки грецких орех, 1/2 чашки кокосовой стружки, 1 яйцо.

Положить приготовленное тесто на стол и раскатать. Каждый круг разрезать на 8 секторов. Равномерно намазать сливочным маслом и джемом.

Приготовить начинку: в кухонном комбайне провернуть изюм, кокосовую стружку и орехи. Разделить полученную смесь на 2 части. Половину начинки равномерно распределить по поверности круга. Затем закрутить 8 рогаликов и положить на приготовленное деко. Смазать яйцом.

Тоже повторить со вторым кругом. Печь в духовке 20-25 минут до золотистого цвета. Вынуть из дыховки, полностью остудить.

For those, who is not familiar with Pillsbury dough, please visit this site Most american supermarkerts used to carry this brand. I'm sure, you will be able to find a substitution in any country of the world. Please check dairy aisle of your local supermarket. In worst case, you always can use a puff pastry dough. The rugelachs will be still delicious.

Dilled potato-cucumber salad

Dilled potato-cucumber salad

Most of potato salads become soggy and mushy almost immediately after they are made and mixed. This one is a good exception, because it's also good on next day. One thing, please keep refrigerated it. In addition, this recipe is healthier than other ones.

1 lb. new potatoes, 1/3 cup sour cream (can be substituted on yogurt or light mayonnaise. I always use mix of sour cream and mayo), 1/4 cup chopped pickles, 2 Tbs. chopped fresh dill, 2 tsp. capers, rinsed, drained, 1 seedless cucumber, thinly sliced (about 2 C).

Cover potatoes with cold water in pot, and bring to a boil. Add pinch of salt, reduce heat to medium, and cook 20 minutes, or until tender.Meanwhile, combine sour cream, pickles, dill and capers in bowl.Drain potatoes, slice in half, and return to pot. Warm over medium heat 1 to 2 minutes to dry out slightly.Toss potatoes and cucumber with sour cream mixture. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

Картофельный салат (новая версия американского "деликатеса")

500 грамм свежего картофеля (желательно красного), 1/3 чашки сметаны (можно заменить на йогурт или майонез. Я предпочитаю смесь сметаны и майонеза), 1/4 мелко нарезанных консервированных или кислых огурцов, 2 столовые ложки мелко нарезанного укропа, 2 чайные ложки каперсов* (capers), 1 средней величины свежий огурец нарезанный на тонкие дольки (около 2 чашек)

Налить холодную воду в кастрюлю, закипятить и вбросить свежий картофель. Добавить соль и варить около 20 минут. Картофель должен быть мягким, но не переваренный. Тем временем, смешать сметану, кислые огурцы, укроп и каперсы.

Отцедить картофель, дать немного остыть и нарезать на небольшие кусочки. Переложить в ту же кастрюлю без воды и поставить на огонь на 1-2 минуты. Снять с огня, дать полностью остыть и добавить к остальным ингридиентам. Все хорошо перемешать. Посолить и поперчить по вкусу.

* - Для тех, кто еще не знаком с этим продуктом, пожалуйста прочитайте.

Many people are not familiar with magazine "Vegetarian Times". I would highly recommend browsing some recipes. My personal opinion is that many of the recipes are quite unique and healthy, easy and less expensive.

Recipe from Vegetarian times