"Mqarrun Il-Forn" Maltese Baked Macaroni

This recipe is from one of the cookbooks I bought while in Malta earlier this year. I was intrigued by the use of egg in the pasta and thought I would try it. It turned out well.

1/2 kilo macaroni (just over a pound)
1/2 kilo mixed ground pork and ground beef (just over a pound)
2 onions
2 beaten eggs
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan
salt and pepper
oil

Instructions:

Lightly fry the finely chopped onions until golden, add the minced meat, allow it to brown and season with salt and pepper. Mix the tomato paste with a tumbler of warm water, pour into the pan with the meat, and cook slowly for about an hour.

Boil the macaroni in salted water making sure you leave them slightly hard to the bite. Drain the macaroni and transfer them to a large bowl. After the macaroni has cooled a bit, mix it well with the eggs and 3 tablespoons of the cheese.

When the meat sauce is ready, add this too and mix thoroughly. Transfer everything to a buttered oven-proof dish. Sprinkle with the rest of the grated cheese and bake on medium for about half an hour, until the macaroni at the top of the dish becomes quite dark and crunchy.

Yield: About 6 servings.

Welshcakes

While in Wales over the weekend I had my first Welshcake at a little shop in Cardiff Bay called "Fabulous Welshcakes." The cake may appear to be a docile little ditty but don't be fooled- these little buggers are like a cross between a sugar cookie and mini doughnut, warmly melting in your mouth. YUM! If I were you I would make some as soon as possible!

1 lb. all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch allspice
1 pinch salt
4 oz. butter
4 oz. lard
7 oz. sugar
4 oz. raisins
2 eggs, beaten
milk to mix
finely granulated sugar for sprinkling

Instructions:

Stir together flour, baking powder, allspice and salt in a large bowl. Rub in the butter and lard. Add the sugar and raisins. Beat the eggs and add to the mixture, with a little milk, to make a fairly stiff dough. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Cut into 2 inch rounds. Cook on a greased griddle or heavy based frying pan for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Sprinkle with sugar and serve warm.

Off Eating...

Off eating in Bath, England and Cardiff, Wales March 20-22, 2010.

Brazilian Pastel

Last night I went over to my Brazilian friend Cristiane's house for Brazilian Pastel. Pastel are crispy deep fried pastries filled with either savory or sweet fillings. They were great and easy enough to make. Cristiane bought the dough pre-maid at a Brazilian market but if you don't have a Brazilian market in your town you can make the dough yourself at home. For full pastel details and recipe click here.

ANZAC Biscuits

I received this recipe from my good Australian mate, Lois. These traditional Australian biscuit were sent overseas to those serving in the Australian New Zealand Army Corps during World War 1 because of their excellent keeping abilities.

1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cups flaked coconut
125 gs. butter
2 tablespoons golden syrup (corn syrup)
1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Sift flour into a bowl. Add the oats, sugar, and coconut. Melt the butter in the microwave and add the golden syrup and water. Stir in the baking soda and mix well. Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Roll into small balls and place on a greased baking tray. Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove biscuits from tray and allow to cool on wire racks. Biscuits will be quite soft when you remove them from the tray but will firm up while cooling.

Yield: About 27 cookies.

Snicker Bar Salad

This is a good ol' American dessert. I mean what more could you ask for than a bowl full of Snickers, apples, marshmallow fluff and whipped cream?! It's a great dessert to take to a party as its easy to throw together and it will be a novelty to most people.

6-8 Granny Smith apples, diced
2 bags of mini Snicker bars, frozen
1 large jar of marshmallow cream
1 carton (8 oz.) cool whip

Instructions:
Chop up 1 1/2 bags of frozen snicker bars, set aside the rest. Combine apple, snicker bars, marshmallow cream and whipped cream. Place remaining snicker bars on top. Refrigerate for 4 hours before eating.

Yield: Serves About 10

Belgian Abbey Bread

This mild flavored black bread from Belgium originated in the Abbeys where monks baked bread daily for the poor. Heart healthy and versatile, this bread needs to be started the day before baking. Its great served in slices with pork sausages and mustard.

For the Poolish:
2/3 cup white bread flour
2/3 cup rye flour
1/2 teaspoon dried yeast
2/3 cup water

1/2 cup flaxseeds, plus water for soaking
2 1/4 cups white bread flour
2 1/4 cups whole wheat bread flour
2 1/4 cups rye flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon dried yeast
1 1/4 cups lukewarm water

Instructions:

Start by making the poolish. Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir the water in to make a smooth paste. Cover the bowl and leave the mixture to stand for 8-12 hours at room temperature.

Put the flaxeeds in a bowl and pour over about 1/2 cap hot water. Leave to stand for at least an hour.

Put the flours into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt and yeast. Make a well in the center and add the poolish, with the lukewarm water. Mix, gradually incorporating the flour, until the mixture comes together to form a dough. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and need dough for 10 minutes. Knead the flaxseeds into the dough until well distributed, a few more minutes. Transfer the dough to an oiled pan. Pat it out, then fold it over like a blanket, cover and leave to rise in a warm dry place until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.

Punch down the dough, then divide into 2 equal portions. Shape each into a ball or loaf and place on oiled pan. Score the bread with a knife. Cover and leave to raise again for 30-60 minutes, until doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 450 F. Introduce steam into the over by lightly spraying it with a water bottle (if you don't have a water bottle you can place a shallow pan of water in the bottom of the oven). Place the breads in the oven and spray again. Bake for 40 minutes or until the loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Cool on wire racks.

Yield: 2 loaves.

Crescent Casserole

Casseroles are a staple up in the Midwest where I am originally from. My sister made this easy and yummy casserole while I was home over Christmas.

1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1/2 teaspoon oregano
15 oz. tomato sauce
4. oz mushrooms, sliced
4 oz. shredded Italian style cheese
1 tube of refrigerated crescent rolls
1 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon basil

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium high heat with onions, garlic, carrot, and celery. Add sauce, salt and pepper, and mushrooms. Pour the sauce mixture into a large pie plate. Sprinkle cheese over the top. Mix the sour cream and basil in a small bowl. Unwrap the crescent rolls and lay out. Spread about 1 tablespoon of sour cream mixture onto each crescent. Roll up each crescent, starting at the wide end rolling toward the point. Place the crescents on top of the casserole. Bake for about 25 minutes or until crescents are baked through. Garnish each serving of the casserole with a dollop of the remaining sour cream mixture.

Yield: Serves 4

German Cheese and Leek Soup

I found this recipe in a German cookbook I bought while in Berlin this past fall and have been meaning to make it. Not only was it really simple and fast, it was also very flavorful and filling. I served with freshly made soda bread.

2 1/4 pounds leeks
2 tablespoons cooking oil
9 oz. ground beef
9 oz. ground pork
4 1/2 cups meat stock
10 oz. sliced mushrooms
7 oz. cream cheese, herb and garlic flavored
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:
Remove the outer leaves of the leeks, cut off the root ends and the dark green leaves. Slice the leeks into rings. Place the rings into a bowl of fresh water and let the leeks soak for about 10 minutes; the dirt will sink to the bottom. Fish the floating leeks out with a slotted spoon and set aside to dry until ready to use.

Heat the oil in a large pan, add the ground beef and pork and fry it in the hot oil. Season with salt and pepper. Once the meat is done add the leeks and brown them lightly for a few minutes. Add the meat stock, bring the mixture to a boil, cover, turn heat down and simmer for about 15 minutes.

Add mushrooms to the soup (if using canned mushrooms, drain). Remove the soup from heat, add the cheese and allow to melt.

Yield: Serves 4.

Eggplant and Goat Cheese Gourmet Burger

There is a great upmarket burger chain in Dublin called the Gourmet Burger Kitchen. They have over a dozen different kinds of hamburgers as well as other unique sandwiches staring chorizo, lamb, chicken, and different vegetarian ingredients. While there last weekend I decided to order a goat cheese and eggplant vegetarian dish which I assumed was a salad. When the food arrived I found out I had ordered a vegetarian style burger instead. Between the bun was a tower of eggplant, goat's cheese, sun-blushed tomatoes, mixed leaf salad, mayonnaise & relish. I couldn't believe it. What an odd sandwich I thought but since I like all the ingredients I decided it was no problem. As it turns out it was a good thing to order so carelessly as I loved this vegetarian gourmet burger and just copied it at home for lunch today.

4 burger buns
1 eggplant, sliced into 1/2 inch disks
4 1/2 inch slices of goat's cheese
handful of arugula leaves
sweet tomato relish or chutney

Instructions:

Sprinkle the eggplant slices with salt and set aside for about 30 minutes. In the meantime preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Rinse and dry the eggplant slices and roast in the oven until soft, about 15-20 minutes. About 5 minutes before the eggplants are done place the buns on a baking try and layer each bottom bun with a slice of goat's cheese. Pop in the oven for about 5 minutes to soften the cheese and warm the buns. Remove from oven and top with 2 slices of eggplant each. Add a bit of arugula to each. Spread the top bun generously with sweet tomato chutney.

Yield: Serves 4.

Variation: Try adding other roasted vegetables to the sandwich such as zucchini or bell peppers. Try using different flavors of chutney or relish.

Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

Here is another great Thai recipe from my Thai friend Susie which she made for me when I saw her over the summer. If you have trouble finding any of the ingredients just pop into your nearest oriental market. This yummy soup is worth effort of searching out the ingredients.

3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken meat
2 (14 ounce) cans coconut milk
2 cups water
4-5 pieces of dried galanga root
4 tablespoons fish sauce
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or crushed chili pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoon of chicken soup base
2 cans of straw mushrooms
a pinch of sugar
rice

Instructions:

In a large pot bring coconut milk, chicken soup base, galanga root, and water to a boil. Cut chicken into thin strips. Add chicken to the pot. Reduce heat. Add fish sauce, lime juice, cayenne pepper or crushed chili pepper, straw mushrooms, and sugar. Simmer until the chicken is done, 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and serve steaming hot with rice.

Yield: Serves 8

Portugal's "Altano Tinto 2006 Douro DOC" Wine

At the end of last year my husband and I visited Portugal where we went to a free wine tasting center in Lisbon's city center. The wine center showcases Portugal's wines and wine areas, changing them out every few weeks. Even though Portugal is the world's 7th largest wine producer this was the first time we had ever had Portuguese wine. While there we each tasted 6 different wines. They were okay but nothing I would go out and buy. At the wine store the other day we were surprised to see a few Portuguese wines and excitedly bought one. We did not recognize any and settled on this Altano Tinto Douro DOC 2006 from the Symington Family Estates. Here is the description:

"This wine comes from the Douro Valley vineyards of Northern Portugal and is produced from the Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca varietals. The first provides intense ripe berry flavours and the second, lifted floral aromas."

This is a great tasting and affordably priced wine. We will definitely buy it again. Keep your eyes peeled for it the next time you visit your favorite wine shop.

Malta's "La Valettte Rouge" Wine

My husband and I love wine so on our recent trip to Malta we of course tried a few of the local wines produced on the island. Our favorite was a wine called "La Valette Rouge." It is described as "a medium-bodied blend of noble grape varieties with a spicy aroma and a pleasant fruity palate, the ideal accompaniment to traditional Maltese dishes such as rabbit and beef stews." Due to the great taste and great price of this wine we bought a few bottles at the duty free shop in the Malta airport to take home with us. I am not sure if Malta is a big exporter of wine but if you can't find it at your favorite wine store you can have it shipped to you from the winery which produces it, Marsovin.

Maltese Pastizzi

The most popular snack in Malta is the "pastizzi" which is a pastry pocket filled with ricotta cheese, usually eaten in the late morning with a cup of tea or coffee. I love ricotta cheese so I couldn't wait to try them. I had my first one in a little fishing village at the fish market. They were quite a good and satisfying snack.

puff pastry
400g ricotta cheese
2 eggs
2 tablespoons grated cheese
chopped parsley
freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

Mash the ricotta with the beaten eggs. Mix in the herbs and spices. Roll out the pastry thinly, cut out circles about 5 inches in diameter, and place a spoonful of the mixture onto each of these. Fold each pastry circle in half around the filling and press the edges furmly together. Place on a greased baking tray and bake in a hot oven for about a half hour or till the pastry is done.

Yield: about 15 pastizzis.

Off eating...

Off eating in Malta
February 6th-9th.

Greek Salad

The first time I had a Greek salad in Greece I was surprised to find it had no lettuce of any kind and instead of having crumbled feta cheese it was topped with a brick of feta. It was very simple, very delicious, and very filling- almost a meal in itself! To make it like the Greeks do skip the lettuce, add a brick of feta, and simply drizzle the vegetables in some extra virgin olive oil, Greek if you can find it.

2 ripe, good quality tomatoes, quartered
half a cucumber, sliced into thick half-moons
1 small green bell pepper, diced large
1/2 red onion, thick sliced rings
kalamata olives
salt
1 block of feta cheese
extra virgin oilive oil
fresh cracked black pepper
oregano

Instructions:

Arrange the vegetables in a shallow serving bowl and salt. Top the salad with a block of feta cheese. Let the salad sit at room temperature about 20 minutes before you serve it, letting the flavors develop. Just before serving drizzle the salad with extra virgin olive oil and season with fresh cracked pepper and oregano.

Yield: Serves 2-3

Sonoran Hot Dogs: Food From My Beloved Tucson

To make a Sonoran hot dog at home...

1. Get a beef hot dog and wrap it like a mummy with bacon. Mesquite bacon is good.
2. Fry it on a griddle until the bacon gets crisp. Some people like to fry the bacon a little first and then wrap it around the hot dog and then fry them both in the bacon grease.
3. Take a hot dog bun or bolillo roll that has been slit to make a pocket in the middle. If you want you can toast them a little or, in the case of the bolillo roll, steam it for a minute to make it soft. Work with what you have on hand or what you feel like.
4. Put mayo, mustard and ketchup on the bun and insert the bacon-wrapped dog. If you want to squirt the mayo on top, like they do at the stands, mix it with a little lemon juice or water to thin it out. Put it into a squeeze bottle or sandwich bag with a corner cut off and squeeze it on top when you are done, along with the mustard and ketchup.
5. Add warm pinto beans, cheese (shredded Mexican cotijo cheese, cheddar, whatever), chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, sliced or blended jalapenos or some type of jalapeno/green chili salsa
6. “Just stick whatever you want on there, and whatever amount, to make it taste good.”

(Recipe taken from Tucson Citizen.com)

Grilled Eggplant, Tomato & Arugula Salad

I never had arugula before I moved to Ireland. Here it is called "rocket." Not only is it popular in salads here but they also add it to many other things such as sandwiches and pizza. It is said to have a peppery taste but I think the flavor is better described as nutty. I am so glad I stumbled over it as it has become my favorite green of all to eat. Here is my copycat recipe of a salad I eat over here at one of my favorite local restaurants.

1 eggplant, sliced
3 ripe, good quality tomatoes, sliced
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
1 small sized bag of arugula
1 small sized bag of baby mixed leaf salad blend
1 block of feta cheese, cubed or 1 fresh ball of mozzarella, shredded
balsamic vinaigrette
toasted pine nuts

Instructions:

Marinate sliced eggplant and tomatoes in olive oil and balsamic vinegar for about 30 minutes, using a 2 to 1 ratio of the oil to the vinegar. Light grill and warm it up to a medium heat. Lay each slice of eggplant and tomato directly on the grate, grilling a few minutes on each side until soft and golden. In a large shallow bowl or on a a platter, toss the arugula and baby leaf in balsamic vinaigrette. Top with the grilled eggplant, tomatoes, feta or mozzarella cheese, and pine nuts.

Yield: Serves 4.

Variation: Try grilling other vegetables for this salad like zucchini and bell peppers.

Mexican Refried Beans

One of my very favorite foods of all time is refried beans. Right before I moved to Ireland I had my best friend, Yunuen- who is from southern Mexico- teach me how to make them. I was so happy the day I found dried pinto beans at a store in Ireland that I actually took a picture and blogged about it. I would no longer be deprived!

32 ounces dry pinto beans
water
8 slices good quality, smoked bacon
1 medium onion, diced
6 cloves garlic, divided and chopped
1 cup cooking liquid reserved from beans
about 1 cup cream, evaporated milk, or sour cream
1 cup shredded cheese, mild cheddar or Monterrey jack
1 teaspoon cumin
1teaspoon oregano
salt to taste
additional shredded cheese or queso fresco

Instructions:

Rinse and check over the dry beans. Soak beans overnight in a large bowl with plenty of water. Drain beans and place them in a large pot over high heat with plenty of water and three chopped garlic cloves, cumin, and oregano. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer the beans, uncovered. Keep an eye on the water level, adding hot water as necessary as there should be at least an inch of water over the beans. The beans will take about 2 hours to cook. Once the beans are soft remove from the heat and drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

In a large skillet fry the bacon over medium high heat until crispy. Remove bacon from the pan and add the onion and remaining garlic; fry until softened, about three minutes. Add drained beans to the skillet and shredded cheese. Crumble the bacon over the beans Smash with a potato masher, adding the reserved cooking liquid and cream a bit at a time, until they reach a fairly smooth and moist consistency. Sprinkle in salt to taste. Continue cooking and stirring with a large spoon until the beans become a thick paste. Serve hot topped with crumbled queso fresco or shredded cheese.

Yield: About 12 servings

Variation: Make with chorizo instead of bacon for a different flavor and a bit of spice.

Italian Bread

Living in Europe affords delicious bread everywhere we go. Here is one you can easily make at home. Great dipped in olive oil, balsamic vinegar and freshly grated black pepper.

1 package (1/4 oz.) active dry yeast
2 cups warm water (110-115 degrees)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about one hour.

Punch down dough. Turn onto a floured surface; divide in half. Shape each portion into a loaf. Place each loaf seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. With a sharp knife, make four shallow slashes across the top of each loaf.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Yield: 2 loaves.