Maple-Stout Quick Bread

As many of you notice, I love to try new  ingredients.  I had never tried a quick bread with no sugar and such healthy ingredients as beer and maple syrup. What I found this recipe, immediately I decided to try.  It's so good, that you will make, I'm sure, this recipe over and over again.  It's good for breakfast, coffee and tea, and it's really good with fruit compote. I hop,e you will try.


7.88 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 3/4 cups)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup stout beer
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
5 tablespoons maple syrup, divided
Baking spray with flour (such as Baker's Joy)
5 tablespoons powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Place butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine beer, sour cream, and 1/4 cup syrup, stirring well with a whisk. Beating at low speed, add flour mixture and beer mixture alternately to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat just until combined.
    3. Scrape batter into a 9 x 5-inch metal loaf pan coated with baking spray. Bake at 350° for 43 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack.
    4. Place powdered sugar in a small bowl. Add remaining 1 tablespoon syrup; stir until smooth. Drizzle glaze over cooled bread; let stand until set, if desired.

Recipe from http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/maple-stout-quick-bread-50400000123580/

Mediterranean potato salad

Mediterranean potato salad

1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion , thinly sliced ( I used red one)
1 garlic clove , crushed
1 tsp oregano , fresh or dried
½ x 400g can cherry tomatoes (Я использовала свежие)
100g roasted red peppers , from a jar, sliced
300g new potatoes , halved if large
25g black olives , sliced ( I used green ones)
handful basil leaves , torn (Yiddishe mama does not like basil)


    Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the onion and cook for 5-10 mins until soft. Add the garlic and oregano and cook for 1 min. Add the tomatoes and peppers, season well and simmer gently for 10 mins.
    Meanwhile, cook the potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water for 10-15 mins until tender. Drain well, mix with the sauce and serve warm, sprinkled with olives and basil.

Note: I cooked potatoes a day before I made a salad. I did not add peppers to a pan. I added peppers directly to a salad bowl.

Средиземноморский картофельный салат.

1 столоваля ложка оливкового масла
1 маленькая луковица, тонко нарезанная (Я использовала красный лук)
1 зубец чеснока, мелко нарезанный
1 чайная ложка орегано (Я использовала сухой)
200 грамм свежих черри помидор
100 грамм консервированного печеного перца, порезанного на тонкие кусочки
300 грамм свежего, желательно молодого картофеля, крупно порезанного
25 грамм черных оливок (Я использовала зеленые)
листья базилика

Нагреть оливковое масло в свобороде, добавить лук и жарить 5-10 минут. Добавить чеснок и орегано и жарить 1 минуту. Добавить помидоры и перец, посолить и тушить 5-10 минут.

В это же время сварить картофель. Это займет 10-15 минут. Слить воду и добавить картофель в сковороду. Выложить все из сковороды на блюдо и добавить оливки и базилик.

Я не добавляла перец в сководу. Я добавила перец прямов салат и приготовила картофель за день.

Салат очень вкусный и сытный. Прекрано подходит на обед. Я думаю, что черные оливки будут лучше.

Recipe from BBC Food

Lemon Brookies

Lemon Brookies 

1 package Pillsbury sugar cookie dough
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray an 8X8 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Add a little flour to your fingers to break apart cookie dough.  Evenly press sugar cookie dough into the bottom of the baking pan.  Bake for 12 minutes.  Remove pan from oven and cool for 10 minutes.

While the cookie crust cools, add butter, sugar, salt and flour to bowl of a mixer and beat until combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla extract until combined. Pour into the flour mixture and beat at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.

Carefully spread lemon brownie batter evenly over cooled cookie dough (dough will still be warm and may move a bit).  Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until they turn golden on the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.   Cool and serve.

Makes 16 brookies.

Recipe adapted from http://www.grandbaby-cakes.com/2013/05/lemon-brookies.html

Cherry Compote

It's a very easy and refreshing dish we used to make back in Ukraine. Actually, we love compote so much that we used to have a special pan to make it.

Cherry Compote

6 cups water
1 & 1/2 pounds cherries
1 (15oz) can canned peaches in a light syrup
3 tablespoons sugar

Pur water in a large pan. Bring liquid to a simmer over the medium-high heat. Add cherries and peaches with syrup. Reduce the heat so that the mixture barely bubbles, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add sugar, mix everything and cook more for 1-2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let compote cool in a pan. Pour compote with fruits in a nice glass container.

Компот из черешни.

6 чашек воды
759 грамм черешни
1 банка  (450 грамм) консервированных персиков
3 столовых ложки сахара
Налить воду в вольшую кастрюлю и закипятить. У мнеьшить огонь и вбросить черешню и персики. Пожалуйста не выливайте сироп от консервированных персоков, влейте его в кастрюлю с фруктами. Варить компот 10 минут. Добавить сахар и поварить 1-2 минуты. Снать кастрюль с компотом с огня и дать компоту остыть. Остывший компот можно налить в крацивый стеклянный графин.

Cheese Feta Straws with Warm Honey Walnut Salad

Cheese Feta Straws with Warm Honey Walnut Salad
What might be better than  bread sticks with fresh summer salad? I think, it's a winning combination for most of us, who keep a healthy life style.  While ago I found an interesting recipe for "bread" sticks from cheese and feta. I really wanted to try this recipe. Usually in our busy time we do sticks from puff pastry.  This time I wanted to try cheese dough and make my own sticks. Recipe came from Russian lady. She uses Russian cheeses and I had to Americanized the recipe as much as I can. Here's an American style cheese feta straws. They are absolutely delicious and goes well with vegetable soups and salads. I enjoy every bite!

Make 25 - 30  cheese straws
1 & 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup (120 gramm) feta cheese with garlic and herbs
1/2 cup american processed cheese, grated
1/2 cup (100 ml) buttermilk
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
Sea salt for sprinkling
Dried herbs for sprinkling (optional)

In a medium bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.  Place feta cheese, processed cheese, buttermilk, and butter in food processor. Process until smooth. Add flour mixture and processed for about 20 seconds. Take the dough out and continue to knead until smooth ball will be formed. Let rest on a counter for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray 2 cookie sheets with cooking spray. Divide a dough into 2 equal parts. Each part roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 12- by 10-inch rectangle (1/8 inch thick). Cut dough with a lightly floured pizza wheel or lightly floured sharp knife into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Twist each strip several times and carefully transfer to 2 ungreased baking sheets, arranging strips 1/4 inch apart. Sprinkle with seal salt and dried herbs.

Bake, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until pale golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool completely on baking sheets on racks, about 15 minutes.

Warm Honey Walnut Salad

Serves: 2
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 tespoon salt
1/2 tespoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 medium size garlic glove, minced
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
1 (8-ounce) package mixed baby greens
1 pear, cored and thinly sliced.
Place all ingredients except mixed baby greens and pears in a microwave-safe  medium bowl. Microwave at 100% power for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes.
Stir, then toss with mixed greens and add fresh pear slices. Serve immediately.

Русскую версию этих необыкновенных паличек я оставила в оригинале.

Сырные палочки
Сулугуни 100 г.
Твердый сыр (типа российского) 50 г.
Молоко или кефир 100 мл.
Масло сливочное размягченное 100 г.
Мука примерно 180 г.
Разрыхлитель для теста 1 ч.л.
Соль по вкусу (примерно ½ ч.л.)
Сахар 1 ч.л.
Любые травы или пряности (у меня сушеный кориандр) для посыпки
Сыр натрите на мелкой терке, добавьте кефир или молоко, соль, сахар и размягченное сливочное масло, перемешайте. Муку соедините с разрыхлителем для теста, добавьте в основную массу и замесите эластичное тесто. Тесто раскатайте в пласт толщиной около 5 миллиметров и порежьте на полосочки длиной примерно 12-15 см и шириной около 2,5-3 см. Каждую полоску теста скрутите спиралью, затем пальцами обкатайте в травах, вытягивая полученные жгутики в длину. Выложите сырные палочки на противень, застеленный бумагой для выпечки, и поставьте в разогретую до 180 градусов духовку примерно на 12-15 минут.

Recipe came from Zefira
Idea for salad came from Mr.Food

Mixed Fruit Compote

Mixed Fruit Compote

2 navel (seedless) oranges
2 & 1/2 cups mixed dried fruits, such as apricots, apple rings, peaches, pears, figs, raisins, and prunes
1 cup dried cherries (I took 1 & 1/2 cup fresh cherries)
1/2 cup dry cranberries
1 & 1/2 cups medium-dry sherry
3 cups apple cider or orange juice
1 cinnamon stick

Use a small, sharp knife to remove the peel of each orange in a continuous spiral or make several long pieces. Turn the peel over and use the knife to cut or scrape out and discard as much of the white pitch as possible. Trim any pitch from the oranges as well, then cut them into 1/4-inch slices. Place the oranges and all the remaining ingredients in a large, heavy saucepan. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium-high beat. Reduce the heat so that the mixture barely bubbles, then cover and simmer for 5 minutes ( I did 15 minutes). Remove the pan from the heat and let the fruit cool in a pan. The orange peel and cinnamon stick remain in the juice just to give it flavor; do not serve them. Store the fruit and its juice in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

I'm sure, you don't need 1 month to store such delicious dish. It's goes very well with most of all of the baking goods you have in your home.

Recipe from Lora Brody's cookbook.

Pirozhki with Sweet and Sour Cabbage

Pirozhki with Sweet and Sour Cabbage

Couple days ago I posted a recipe for Potato pirozhki. Today I'm making an attempt to post a recipe for pirozhki with sweet and sour cabbage.

First of all, sweet and sour cabbage (тушеная капуста) is quite traditional side dish, which goes along with meat, fish and even for pirozhki filling. Recently I have read a book "The very best of recipes for health" by Martha Rose Shulman and found a recipe called "Italian Sweet and Sour Cabbage". Since I have never lived in Italy, I did not know that our recipe is quite popular there. So, now I know how popular sweet and sour cabbage around the world.

Here's my recipe, which I used for filling and a side dish. Thanks Martha for helping me to describe one of my favorite recipes.

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 medium size cabbage, quartered, cored, and thinly sliced
1 medium size carrot, peeled and grated.
3-4 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon honey
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over the medium heat. Add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add carrots and cook for 3-5 minutes. Add cabbage and a generous pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until it begins to wilt, about 5 minutes. Add ketchup and honey. Stir together and cook uncovered, stirring often, for 20 minutes or until the cabbage is tender and fragrant. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.

For filling, cool the cabbage mixture, take 4 cups of the cabbage mixture, add 1 egg and 2 tablespoons flour. Mix everything together. Now you can do pirozhki.

Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

This year for Shavuot I decided to make something different and ended up with absolutely healthy and delicious Cheesecake Swirl Brownies.
Cheesecake Swirl Brownies
Yield: makes one 9 x 9-inch pan
Ingredients
6 tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted butter
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces) plus 4 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
3 large eggs, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup (3 3/4 ounces) all purpose flour
1/4 cup (3/4 ounce) cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9- by 9-inch baking pan.
2. In large bowl set over pan of simmering water, melt butter with chocolate until smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in salt, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and sour cream. Add flour, cocoa, and baking powder to the bowl and whisk until smooth. Drop blobs of batter into the pan. Do not spread.
3. In another large bowl, stir cream cheese with remaining 4 tablespoons sugar until smooth with no lumps. Whisk in remaining teaspoon vanilla and remaining egg. Drop blobs of cheesecake batter into pan in any of the empty spots or crevices.
4. Using a butter knife or offset spatula, swirl batters together. Bake until just set, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool in pan an hour. Cut into bars and serve.

Американские шоколадные пирожные со сливочным сыром.

6  столовых ложек сливочного масла
180 грамм  шоколада, мекло порезанного
1/4 чайной ложки соли
3/4 чашки сахара + 4 столовых ложки
3 яйца
2 чайной ложки ваникчного экстракта
1/4 чашки сметаны
3/4 чашки муки
1/4 чашки какао-порошка
1/2 чайной ложки разрыхлителя
240 грамм сливочного сыра "Филадельфия" (1 ямериканская упаковка)
Нагреть духовку до 350Ф амд приготовить формочку размераму 9 на 9 дюймов.
Приготовить водяную баню, на которую поставить миску с шоколадом и маслом. Держхать на паровой бане до того, как весь шоколад и масло растворятся. Снять с паровой бани и остудить немного, добавить соль, 3/4 часки сахара, 2 яйца, ванильнуй экстракт, сметану, муку, какао и разрыхлитель. Все хорошо перемешать. И выложить ложкой в формочку, не разравнивать.

В другой посуде миксером взбить сливочный сыр, 1 яйцо и 4 столовых ложки сахара. Выложить ложкой полученную смесь между шоколадной. Взять нож и перемешать светлую смесь с шоколадной. печь 20-25 минут. Вынуть ис духовки, дать постоять 1 час и нарезать.

Recipe came from Serious Eats