Inspirational books

Hello my dear readers. 
I would like to share with you my top four food books that I often read and some others that are worth mentioning ....

The kind diet by Alicia Silverstone was the eye-opener book for me, it is packed with lot of facts, information about holistic living, veganism and more, much more...

The alkaline cure is based on Dr Mayr's study, the first Mayr health clinic was open in Austria by one of his pupils.This book is "must read" book, it will answer a lots of questions related to health.

The Healthy life is my latest book i have purchase one rainy evening when I needed a bread and milk from my local supermarket but I came out with a full basket AND this book.No regrets so far, it is a very good read.

Foods that harm foods that heal was given to me a very long time ago, its packed with very useful info about common illnesses, for example: I have learnt when I have a headache to dip my feet into a warm water adding a black mustard seeds - it works! 

A modern way to eat by Anna Jones - wow, I will highlight her recipe for dry freezable veggie stock 

The Bean book by Rose Elliot - if you need idea what to do with beans this is the one, sadly - no photos in the book

The Modern Vegetarian by Maria Elia  - best pumpkin risotto recipe 

Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi - very exiting book to own 

Arranged by my three year old 

Thanks for reading! I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from you.

Домашен чипс / Home-made crisps

Be aware, they will vanish in a minute and that is just the adults! If you tell the children what vegetable it is, there is a chance one of them to turn their nose up! Which means more for you.
Seriously folks, they are made in heaven, so tasty and only three ingredients! 

.

Потребни состојки:

пашканат

сол

масло во спреј

Со ноже за лупење компири лупете го пашканатот да добиете тенки ленти.

Посолете ги и попрскајте со масло во спреј.

Ставете ги во тава за печење обложена со хартија за печење и печете ги на 180 степени додека не добијат златна боја.

Ingredients:

parsnips

salt 

oil spray 

Using a potato peeler, make a long strips by peeling the parsnip over and over again.

Sprinkle some salt and spray with some oil.

Bake in the oven on 180 C until the parsnips get a nice golden colour.

Thanks for reading! I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from you.

Здрави грицки за цела недела / Healthy snacks for whole week

It's true, they do last for a week as long as you don't snack a lot. Fantastic for dipping into hummus or simply nibble them as you wish. Lunchbox fillers, instant after school snack or walking in the park snack instead of crisps - they are perfect.
Recipe adapted from Anna Jones !!

Потребни состојки:

100 гр семки од сончоглед

100 гр семки од тиква

100 гр сусам

50 гр чија или ленено семе ( обавезно мелени )

200 гр овесни снегулки 

1 лажиче сол

3 лажици маслиново масло

350 мл вода

по желба се додава ким и чурокот ( црн сусам )

Семките малку испечете ги во сува тава.

Овесните снегулки по желба се мелат а и не мора.

Сите состојки се мешаат во поголема здела и се додава водата малку по малку. 

Поделете ја смесата на 2 дела, секој дел се развлекува со сукало помеѓу 2 парчиња хартија за печење и веднаш се става во рамна тепсија. 

Одстранете ја горната хартија и печете 20 - 25 минути на 190 степени.

Повторете ја постапката и со второто тесто.

Ке добиете 2 тврди кори, оладете ги пред да ги искршите на неправилни парчиња.

Чувајте ги во убаво затворена кутија за пецива.

Ingredients:

100 gr sunflower seeds

100 gr pumpkin seeds 

100 gr sesame seeds 

50 gr chia or flax seeds ( grounded )

200 gr oats for porridge, grounded if you wish 

1 tsp salt

3 Tbsp olive oil

up to 350 ml water

extra adding can be a caraway and nigella seeds

Toast the seeds in non stick frying pan until they get a light golden colour.

Mix up all the ingredients, add the water gradually and make a dough.

Divide the dough into two.

Place each dough between two sheets of baking paper and roll it thin using a rolling pin.

Place it onto a baking tray, remove the upper baking sheet and bake it for 20 - 25 minutes on 190 C .

Repeat the same method with the rest of the dough.

You will get a two huge crispy and flat crackers, cool them down before you brake them into a irregular shapes. 

note: oats are naturally gluten free but if you are gluten intolerant you better get a oats that are packed in gluten free environment.

Thanks for reading! I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from you.

Лимонов колач со тиквици / Lemon and courgette cake

Try to make this delicious cake as a weekend treat, the recipe is from my favorite food blog called Pinch of yum, here is a link if you would like to visit it.I made a few changes like the sugar quantity and I have halved the oil and replaced it with a butter. Oh yes, the shape of the cake is different as well !!!

Потребни состојки:

2 рендани зелени тиквици

кора од 2 лимона

1 ванила

3 јајца

100 мл маслиново масло

100 гр мек путер

100 - 150 гр кафеав шеќер

2 чаши од 250 мл брашно

1 лажичка сол

1 лажичка прашок за пециво

пола лажичка сода

3 лажички мак

Измешајте ги сувите состојки, додајте ги матените јајца заедно со шеќерот како и маслото.

Ренданите тиквици изтискајте ги за да им излезе течноста.

Додајте ги во смесата како и кората од лимон.

Ставете ја смесата во калап за печење по желба, во мојов случај куглоф.

Печете на 170 степени околу еден час.

Ingredients:

2 grated courgettes

zest of 2 lemons

2 tsp vanilla extract 

3 eggs

100 ml olive oil

100 gr soft butter

100 - 150 gr brown sugar

2 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

3 tsp poppy seeds

In a large mixing bowl combine all dry ingredients.

In a separate bowl whisk the eggs with the sugar and add the oil and butter.

Squeeze out any liquid from the courgettes using your hands.

Add them to the cake mixture as well as the lemon zest.

Spoon the cake mixture into a baking tray and bake it for an hour on 170 C

Thanks for reading! I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from you.

Ржени бисквити / Rye biscuits

Totally awesome taste and texture, I will lie if I say they are healthy but I won't lie if I say they are good for your soul !

Потребни состојки:

200 гр ржено брашно

100 гр пченично брашно

75 гр кафеав шеќер

1 ванилин шеќер или 1 мала лажичка екстрат од ванила

5-6 зрна сол

на врв на ножот пециво

200 гр мек путер

4 лажици ладен црн чај или вода

Ставете ги сите суви состојки во поголема здела, додајте го путерот исецкан на коцки и мешајте со рака. Додајте го чајот, продолжете да месите со рака , додајте вода ако тестото е суво.

Завиткајте го тестото во пластична фолија и оставете го во фрижидер околу 20 минути.

Развлечете го тестото тенко 3 мм. користејки сукало помеѓу 2 парчиња пластична фолија и сечете користејки округли модли (во мојот случај ) или облик по ваша желба.

Печете ги бисквитите 7 - 8 минути на 180 степени.

Повторете ја постапката со преостанатото тесто се додека не го потрошите.

Ingredients:

200 gr rye flour

100 gr wheat flour 

75 gr brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract 

pinch of salt

pinch of baking powder

200 gr soft butter

4 Tbsp cold black tea or water

Place all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, add the butter cut into cubes and knead it with your fingers. Add the liquid .

Form a smooth dough , wrap it into a cling film and leave it in the fridge foe about 20 minutes.

Roll the dough thin, 3 mm between two peaces of cling film and cut out a round shapes.

Re roll the rest of the dough until you use it all.

Bake the biscuits for about 7 - 8 minutes on 180 C 

Thanks for reading! I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from you.

Рајски путер од лешници /Heavenly hazelnut butter

I am in love with nut butter, I eat it on toast, I add it in my smoothies and I use it in my baking.
This recipe is my version although it's adopted from my favorite cook book called A modern way to cook by Anna Jones. 
It is so easy and quick to make, I  think I am going to stop buying nut butter from shops.
I have been doubtful to make it because in every recipe says - you will need a powerful food processor such as ......and it is good investment to buy it..... however, I made my nut butter in a small blender that I purchased for £20 in my local supermarket!  

Потребни состојки:

300 гр лешници, сирови 
2 лажици сладило по желба, мед или јаворов сируп
( јас додадов 1 лажица сируп од урми )
2 лажици кокосово масло или какво имате
100 - 150 мл вода
цимет, какао или ванила по желба 

Ставете ги сировите лешници во блендер или млин за кафе.
Блендирајте 30 секунди, извадете го капакот, промешајте ги лешниците и повторете ја постапката .
Во мелените лешници додајте ги преостанатите состојки и половина од водата.
Блендирајте повторно и додајте вода по желба.
Путерот чувајте го во стерилизирана тегла во фрижидер.

Ingredients:

300 gr raw shelled hazelnuts 

2 Tbsp honey or maple syrup 

( I used 1 Tbsp date nectar )

2 Tbsp coconut oil 

100 - 150 ml water

cinnamon, cocoa powder or vanilla paste ( optional )

Place the nuts into a blender, I used the grinder blade.

Blend for 30 seconds, open the lid, scrape down the sides and repeat the blending.

Once the nuts begin to form a paste, add the rest of the ingredients and half the water.

Blend until you have a smooth butter, add the water if you wish.

Spoon the butter into sterilised jar and keep it in the fridge. 


Thanks for reading! I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from you! 

February Feasts

Energy food is what I need for uplifting during a dismal January and February, this is my typical menu on a good day.  This means I have planed ahead what I am going to eat, creating a list of ingredients, shopping over weekend, soaking the beans and grains, chopping veggies and even cooking some of it in advance ....

Breakfast: smoothie made of pre soaked oats, banana, spinach, blueberries and ground seeds.

Lunch: Hummus, flat breads and sliced veggies.

Dinner: Quinoa, green beans, avocado, tomatoes, fresh chili pepper and walnuts. 

To make the smoothie ( serve 2 ) you will need:

1/3 cup porridge oats

1 banana

handful of spinach leaves 

handful of blueberries

1 Tbsp omega mix seeds

300 ml cold water, more or less 

Blitz all the ingredients in a blender for 30 seconds.

To make the hummus you will need: 

300 gr cooked chickpeas,

3 Tbsp olive oil,

salt and pepper

juice of half lemon

1 Tbsp tahini 

a few sun dried tomatoes, optional

Blitz the ingredients together in a blender until you get the consistency you want.

The flat breads are made of 200 gr wholemeal flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt,

40 gr melted butter and 120 ml warm water.

Mix up all the ingredients using a electric hand mixer.

Leave the mixture on room temperature for 2 hours.

Divide the dough into ten and roll each one to get a flat round disk.

Heat a non stick frying pan and dry fry the breads for 30 sec on each side.

  

To make this quinoa dish you will need:

1 cup of cooked quinoa or 1/2 cup of dry ( cook it by following the instruction on the packet )

handful of green beans

1 fresh chili,

handful of chopped nuts

handful of tomatoes

one avocado, cubed or sliced 

olive oil, salt pepper and parsley 

Thanks for reading! I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from you.

Леб со смокви и лешници / Bread with figs and hazelnuts

The bread I made this week is adapted from the basic recipe called  "no knead bread". I used to love this method of baking bread until I discovered the sour bread made with home made starter. As everything in life, I got bored so I started baking my bread with "biga" and I am still happy with it. Back to this bread - I absolutely love this taste, it's luxurious but simple at the same time, it's a real treat !!! Follow the recipe and have a look at the photos, it's easy peasy, everyone can make this bread !

Потребни состојки: 

350 гр бело брашно
100 гр интегрално
пола мала лажичка сув квасец
1 мала лажичка сол
350 мл млака вода
**********************
една рака приготвени лешници
една рака сецкани суви смокви

Ставете ги сите состојки во поголема стаклена здела и измешајте ги со дрвена или силиконска лажица.
Покријте ја зделата со најлонска фолија и оставете ја смесата да стои 12 - 16 часа на собна температура.
Во меѓувреме искшите ги лешниците и ставете ги во рерна да се печат на 160 степени околу 20 минути или додека не потемнат.
Оладете ги и грубо растресете ги за да им отпадне лушпата.
Ставете ги лешниците и смоквите во тестото и измешајте со лашица. 
Тестото истресете го на побрашнета крпа а потоа кренете го тестото подигнувајки ги краевите на крпата.
Ставете го тестото со крпа во подлабок сад ( може истиот сад ) да стои уште 1 до 2 часа.
Загрејте пекач со капак во рерна на 220 степени.
Кога пекачот е добро загреан, ставете го тестото внатре ( истресете го од крпата ) и печете со капак 20 минути на 220 а потоа намалете ја температурата на 180 и печете уште 20 минути.


Ingredients: 

350 gr white bread flour
100 gr wholemeal flour
1/2 tsp dry yeast 
1 tsp salt
350 ml water
************************
1 handful roasted hazelnuts
1 handful dry and chopped figs

In a mixing bowl place all the ingredients for the bread and mix it all up using a wooden spoon or a silicon one.
Cover the bowl with plastic foil and leave it on room temperature for 12 - 16 hours.
Crush the shells of the nuts and roast the nuts for 20 min on 160 C or until they are slightly golden in colour.
Cool the nuts down, rub them gently until the peel come off.
Now, place the nuts and the figs into the dough and mix it up with a spoon.
Prepare a tea towel: sprinkle some flour onto it and tip out the dough on it.
Take the four ends of the tea towel, lift up the dough and place it back into the previous mixing bowl.
Leave the dough to rest for 1 to 2 hours.
Place a roaster with its lid in the oven and heat the oven to 220 C.
Get the hot roaster out and tip in the dough.
Place the lid back and bake the bread for 20 min on 220 C. Turn the oven down on 180 C and bake for 20 more min. 

Ржен леб со семки / Seeded rye bread

There is nothing better then fresh baked bread specially in this weather in a company of a nice bowl of soup or stew. I bake my bread ones in a week and I have several methods of doing it. My favourite is the one with biga prepared the day before. It takes a bit longer then the classic one but the taste is priceless and the yeast contend is very little. I like the taste of rye, sometimes I use a spelt flour instead of wheat and I almost always add seeds...

Потребно е:

250 гр ржено брашно

250 гр бело брашно 

1 мало лажиче сол

50 гр семки ( тиквени, сончогледови )

1 лажиче ким

1 сув квасец 

Во поголем сад, ставете го брашното, додајте го квасецот и солта како и 300 мл млака вода.

Измешајте ја смесата со дрвена лажица, покријте со крпа и оставете ја смесата а се изедначи половина час.
Потоа истресете го тестото на работна маса и месете го 10 минути. Ставете го во чиста здела премачкана со масло, покријте со крпа и оставете го да се крева околу еден час.
Тестото се размесува, му се додаваат семките, се обликува по желба и се остава да мирува 30 минути.
Загрејте пекач за печење месо со капак ( огноотпорен стаклен, алумински или порцелански ) 
на 220 степени.
Извадете го пекачот ор рерна и ставете го обликуваното тесто внатре да се пече, посипете со ким по желба.

Покријте го со капакот и вратете го пекачот во рерна. 
Печете го лебот 20 минути на 220 степени а потоа намалете ја температурата на 180 и печете уште 30 минути.
Вака печениот леб е сигурно печен во средината, има прекрасна крцкава кора и стои тазе до 5 дена поготово ако е приготвен со бига наместо квасец.

Ingredients:

250 gr rye flour

250 gr white wheat flour or spelt flour

1 tsp salt

50 gr seeds ( sunflower, pumpkin )

1 tsp caraway seeds 

1 pack of instant yeast or biga

In a mixing bowl, put both flours, add the salt, yeast and 300 ml lukewarm water.

Mix it up with wooden spoon and leave it to rest for 30 minutes, you are letting the flour to absorb the water.

After that, place the dough onto a floured surface and knead the dough for 10 minutes. Place the dough back in a clean oiled bowl, cover with tea towel and let it rest for 1 hour.

After that, place the dough back to floured surface, knead it gently, shape it and leave it to rest for 30 minutes.

Place a roasting dish with its lid in the oven and turn the oven on 220 C 

When the oven is ready, get the roast dish out of the oven, put the dough in, sprinkle with some caraway seed, put the lid back and strait in the oven for 20 minutes.

After that, turn the oven down to 180 C and bake for further 30 minutes.

This method of baking bread gives a beautiful crust, the bread last longer and you know that the middle is definitely baked.

Sugar free shortbread fingers

This recipe is from Annabel Karmel's the very first cookery book for young children and I love it. The dough is very easy to make, doesn't need a resting, it's easy to roll and you can cut out different shapes using a cookie cutters or you can roll it flat forming a square and cutting the "fingers" using a knife.Which ever way you choose, enjoy eating them and don't forget to share them .....

Ingredients:

50 gr wholemeal flour
100 gr white flour
75 gr semolina or any flour of your choice 
1/4 tsp cinnamon or ginger ( optional ) 
pinch of salt
75 gr butter, cubed and room temperature 
1 banana, mashed
1 tablespoon maple syrup ( optional )

Put the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl and rub in the butter.
Add the banana and the syrup if you are using.
Form a dough and roll it out between a cling film, make sure you get a rectangle shape (it's just easier to cut the biscuits.
Using a knife, cut the dough into strips horizontally and vertically. Prick your biscuits with fork and place them in a baking tray.
Bake on 200 C for 15 - 20 minutes.

Ржени палачинки / Rye pancakes

Happy New Year everyone! I would like these round beauties called pancakes to be my first recipe in the new year.They are amazing as wraps, perfect for light meal post holidays!

Потребни состојки:

100 гр ржено брашно

100 гр бело брашно

3 јајца

500 мл вода

сол

Ставете го брашното во поголем сад, додајте ги јајцата и мешајки со жица-маталка додајте ја водата. Посолете.

Смесата треба да одстои 5 минути.

Загрејте тава која не лепи, ставете малку масло и пржете ги палачинките по 3-4 минути од секоја страна.

Јас добив 10 палачинки и ги намачкав со домашен хумус, додадов рендан морков, авокадо, зелени листови за салата како и чили пиперка.

Ingredients:

100 gr rye flour

100 gr plain flour

3 eggs

500 ml water

salt

Place the flour into a big mixing bowl, add the eggs and water and mix it with a whisk.

Add some salt and leave it to rest for 5 minutes.

Heat up a non-stick frying pan, rub the pan with a touch of oil and fry the pancakes 3-4 minutes of each side.

I've got 10 pancakes and I spread them with some hummus, topped with grated carrots, green salad leaves, sliced avocado and some fresh chili pepper.