Slovenian Recipes

Again I'm late with my season's greetings. Let me start wishing you all a delicious 2011! Now on to the cake. Stollen is a traditional Christmas cake made with mixed peel, fruit and citrus zest. It was on my to do list for a while, just waiting for the opportunity. This Christmas I finally baked Stollen, and we all enjoyed it very much. The 2010 December Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Penny of Sweet Sadie’s Baking . She chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ to make Stollen. She adapted a friend’s family recipe and combined it with information from friends, techniques from Peter Reinhart’s book.........and Martha Stewart’s demonstration . Stollen Wreath Makes one large wreath or two traditional shaped Stollen loaves. Serves 10-12 people ¼ cup (60ml) lukewarm water (110º F / 43º C) 2 packages (4 1/2 teaspoons) (22 ml) (14 grams) (1/2 oz) active dry yeast 1 cup (240 ml) milk 10 tablespoons (150 ml) (140 grams) unsalted butter (can use salted butter) 5½ cups (1320 ml) (27 ozs) ...

It's getting chilly in Lisbon. Autumn has been nice, sunny and warm but it's now behind us. Winter is making its way calling for a blanket. When the weather gets cold, I crave nice warm sweet consolation in fruity tarts and crumbles. A crostata di marmellata is the perfect treat with a nice cup of tea. Grazie, Simona! The 2010 November Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Simona of briciole. She chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ to make pasta frolla for a crostata. She used her own experience as a source, as well as information from Pellegrino Artusi’s Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well. Pasta frolla 1/2 c. minus 1 tablespoon [105 ml, 100 g, 3 ½ oz] superfine sugar (see Note 1) or a scant 3/4 cup [180ml, 90g, 3 oz] of powdered sugar 1 and 3/4 cup [420 ml, 235 g, 8 1/4 oz.] unbleached all-purpose flour a pinch of salt 1 stick [8 tablespoons / 4 oz. / 115 g] cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces grated zest of half a lemon (you could also use vanilla sugar...

Where did time go this Summer and Autumn? I'm not sure. I'll be back soon with the news on what I've been doing lately. But today is Daring Baker's day! The October 2010 Daring Bakers challenge was hosted by Lori of Butter Me Up. Lori chose to challenge DBers to make doughnuts. She used several sources for her recipes including Alton Brown, Nancy Silverton, Kate Neumann and Epicurious. Thanks, Lori! Yeast doughnuts Recipe adapted from Alton Brown Milk 1.5 cup / 360 ml Vegetable Shortening 1/3 cup / 80 ml / 70 gm / 2.5 oz (can substitute butter, margarine or lard) Active Dry Yeast 4.5 teaspoon (2 pkgs.) / 22.5 ml / 14 gm / ½ oz Warm Water 1/3 cup / 80 ml (95°F to 105°F / 35°C to 41°C) Eggs, Large, beaten 2 White Granulated Sugar ¼ cup / 60 ml / 55 gm / 2 oz Table Salt 1.5 teaspoon / 7.5 ml / 9 gm / 1/3 oz Nutmeg, grated 1 tsp. / 5 ml / 6 gm / ¼ oz All Purpose Flour 4 2/3 cup / 1,120 ml / 650 gm / 23 oz + extra for dusting surface Canola Oil DEPENDS on size of vessel you ...

August means holidays, seaside, picnics and being away from home. It also means very needed rest and time to do nothing except walk, read and sleep after such a stressing school year. This August wasn't very different with a getaway in between to check some exhibitions and see some dear friends . Petit fours make the perfect little treat for hot weather like we had this Summer, and I absolutely love brown butter pound cake! Thanks for choosing such a yummy theme, Elissa! The August 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Elissa of 17 and Baking. For the first time, The Daring Bakers partnered with Sugar High Fridays for a co-event and Elissa was the gracious hostess of both. Using the theme of beurre noisette, or browned butter, Elissa chose to challenge Daring Bakers to make a pound cake to be used in either a Baked Alaska or in Ice Cream Petit Fours. The sources for Elissa’s challenge were Gourmet magazine and David Lebovitz’s “The Perfect Scoop”. Brown Butter Pound Cake Ad...

I wished days could be longer when June comes by... Every year, this month arrives with tons of things to be done at work, short nights and very long hours. If only there could be more time for the good things of life. In between I've watched a few Wimbledon matches, cheered for Portugal at the World Cup and shared a lovely chocolate pavlova with dear friends. All in all, not a bad month! The June 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Dawn of Doable and Delicious . Dawn challenged the Daring Bakers’ to make Chocolate Pavlovas and Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse. The challenge recipe is based on a recipe from the book Chocolate Epiphany by Francois Payard Chocolate Pavlova Chocolate Meringue (for the chocolate Pavlova): 3 large egg whites ½ cup plus 1 tbsp (110 grams) white granulated sugar ¼ cup (30 grams) confectioner’s (icing) sugar 1/3 cup (30 grams) cocoa powder Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 200º F (95º C) degrees. Line two baking sheets with silpat or...

I have a thing for choux . I love everything made from choux pastry - savoury or sweet, filled or simply dusted with icing sugar, with a glaze or on its own. I've made choux before but never dared to think of a pièce montée ... Unfortunately we didn't have any celebration this month, and a croquembouche is a bit too much for the two of us. So I made a mini pièce montée with a passionfruit vanilla filling + a chocolate glaze. The May 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Cat of Little Miss Cupcake . Cat challenged everyone to make a piece montée , or croquembouche , based on recipes from Peter Kump’s Baking School in Manhattan and Nick Malgieri. Patê a Choux makes about 28 ¾ cup (175 ml.) water 6 Tbsp. (85 g.) unsalted butter ¼ Tsp. salt 1 Tbsp. sugar 1 cup (125 g.) all-purpose flour 4 large eggs For Egg Wash: 1 egg and pinch of salt Pre-heat oven to 425◦F/220◦C degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine water, butter, salt and sugar in a saucepan ov...

Winter was rigorous, Spring has been nonexistent around here. It's the middle of May and I'm yet to change my closet, moving winter coats and sweaters until the next cold season. Little dresses, light clothes or sandals are a far sight while temperatures refuse to go up and rain move to different latitudes. Today we have a glorious sun and the promise of a springy day... I'll let you know if my lighter clothes had the chance to see daylight or if I've been mislead by the beautiful sunshine outside. One perfect way to celebrate a sunny day is a colourful dessert. There's nothing easier to make than a panna cotta. C'mon Spring! Panna Cotta with Strawberry Coulis Adapted slightly from Laura Zavan, Dolce, Marabout . serves 4 200ml double cream 250ml whole milk 3 gelatine leaves 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped 40g granulated sugar Soak the gelatine leaves in a little cold water until soft. Heat the double cream, milk and sugar in a saucepan. A...