Coconut & Vanilla – Seite 31 – Coconut & Vanilla

glutenfreie ButterkekseDecorated Sugar Cookies with the Daring Bakers [gluten-free]

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

The September 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mandy of “What the Fruitcake?!” Mandy challenged everyone to make Decorated Sugar Cookies based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking.

For this months challenge everybody should choose a theme. I chose simply „autumn“, because it’s everywhere present for me and I’m totally enjoying it. So I cut out some different shaped leaves with the cookie cutters and decorated them with green, orange and yellow royal icing.

Since the only time in the year when I bake sugar cookies is normally before Christmas, I wasn’t so eager on the cookies. So I chose to make them gluten-free, just to give it an extra twist and to try a new flavour. Also I didn’t want to try a different sugar cookie recipe than mine, since I believe mine is the best ;). But before Christmas there is just not the right time to reveal it. I used a sugar cookie recipe from Shauna and it worked out very well. Besides it tastes really good.

The icing was interesting, since I’ve never did it before. It worked well, too. But I’m not a fan of artificial colouring and to decorate cookies like this.It just does not look natural to me. Additionally the cookies just taste great on them selves. The sweet icing is not necessary for me. But it was a good experience.

Vor einem Jahr: Triple Mousse

glutenfreie Butterkekse

nach einem Rezept von the gluten-free girl

ergibt: 2 Backbleche Plätzchen

Zutaten:

100 g Reismehl
50 g Kartoffelmehl/-stärke
30 g Tapiocamehl/ -stärke
1/2 TL Backpulver
1 1/4 TL Xanthan
1 Prise Salz
100 g Zucker
110 Butter
1 Eigelb
1 TL Vanilleextrakt

Mehle, Backpulver, Salz und Xanthan mischen.

Butter und Zucker cremig rühren, dann das Eigelb und den Vanilleextrakt unterrühren, bis alles gleichmäßig vermischt ist. Die restlichen Zutaten zugeben und unterrühren.

Den Teig in Folie wickeln und mindestens 1 Stunde kalt stellen.

Den Ofen auf 180° C vorheizen. Backbleche mit Backpapier belegen.

Den Teig ausrollen und Formen ausstechen. Auf die Bleche legen und 12-15 Minuten backen bis sie goldgelb sind.

Glasur

150 g Puderzucker
1 kleines Eiweiß
2 TL Zitronensaft
Lebensmittelfarbe (optional)

Das Eiweiß mit dem Zitronensaft verschlagen. Den Zucker zugeben und verrühren, bis eine glatte Glasur entstanden ist. Nach Belieben mit Lebensmittelfarbe färben.

Die Kekse damit dekorieren.

One year ago: Triple Mousse

gluten-free Sugar Cookies

adapted from the gluten-free girl

yields: two baking sheets full

Ingredients:

100 g rice flour
50 g potato starch/flour
30 g tapioca flour/starch
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp xanthan
pinch of salt
100 g sugar
110 g butter
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix the flours, baking powder, salt and xanthan in a small bowl.

Cream the shortening, butter and sugar. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and beat until combined. Add the dry ingredients and combine.

Chill the dough in the fridge for at least an hour.

Preheat the oven to 180° C. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

Roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters. Transfer them to the baking sheets and bake them for about 12-15 minutes, until golden brown.

Royal Icing

150 g powdered sugar
1 small egg white
2 tsp lemon juice
food colouring (optional)

Beat egg whites with lemon juice until combined. Add the sugar to the egg whites. Beat on low until combined and smooth.

If desired mix in the colouring. Decorate the cookies.

Glutenfreie DonutsGluten-free Donuts

We had a party at the weekend. Celebrating our new apartment and my 25th. Lots of people, lots of food. Lots of fun!

Since one guest has celiac disease and I didn’t wanted to make everything special, a lot of the food was gluten-free. Also it was a good opportunity to make donuts. We love them, but it isn’t worth the work for only two people. But for 20. So searching the internet I found a recipe, that sounded good to me. We adapted it to the flours we had. To form the donuts you have to work with a pastry bag, because the dough is not firm enough to roll it out and cut out the donuts. But it’s easy. Don’t be afraid!

They were so good! You would never ever notice those are gluten-free! It was a real surprise.

I think it really worked out so well, because we made our own mix of flours and didn’t use a store-bought mixture, which contains mostly corn flour (in Germany). Additionally we used xanthan as a gluten substitute. Xanthan is not very common in Germany. To be truth nobody (almost) knows it. Outside Germany you can maybe imagine how baked gluten-free goods look like here. And how they taste. It’s a shame, cause with xanthan it’s so easy. I’ve baked now three times with it and every time it worked out really well. And I never baked gluten-free before that! I bought the xanthan here. It was shipped from Austria and you can purchase a larger amount, that isn’t that over expensive. Normally you need 0,5 – 1 tsp. per recipe, so if you bake often gluten-free, 500g are a good investment.

Originally we wanted to coat the donuts with sugar glaze and with chocolate, but we were tight in time, so we tossed them in cinnamon sugar. F. said, they were not that fluffy like normal donuts. The texture was more like jelly donuts. But I couldn’t think, that this is something negative. I love jelly donuts, too. So feel free to make them ball shape and fill them with jam. Everything is possible and everything will be delicious!

Gluten-free Donuts

yield: about 25 small donuts

Ingredients:

230 g white rice flour
130 g potato starch/flour
60 g tapioca starch/flour
220 g sugar
4 tsp xanthan
1 tsp salt
1 ¾ tsp baking powder
3 sachets or 7,5 tsp instant dry yeast
275 ml warm milk or water
170 g melted butter
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
oil, suitable for deep-frying
extra sugar and cinnamon for tossing

Combine the flours, sugar, xanthan, salt, baking powder and yeast in a bowl of your stand mixer.

Add the warm milk, melted butter and eggs. Knead for 5 minutes at medium speed.

Let the dough rest for 20 minutes.

Line parchment paper on your counter. Fill the dough in a pastry bag, fitted with a wide round tip. Pipe donuts 6 cm in diameter onto the parchment paper. Let them rest again for 20 minutes. Cut the parchment between the donuts, so every donut sits on one piece of parchment.

Prepare your oil, either in a large pot or in your deep-fryer. We preheated the oil in the deep-fryer at 170°C.

Prepare a large dish lined with paper towels for the donuts. Mix the sugar and cinnamon for the topping in a tray. Place it all next to your deep-fryer.

Gently slide 4 donuts with the parchment paper into the oil and fry until golden brown. Flip the donuts, as you remove the parchment paper using tongs. Cook until golden brown again. Remove the donuts with a slotted spoon and place them on the paper towels.

While still warm toss the donuts gently in the sugar-cinnamon mixture.

We had a party at the weekend. Celebrating our new apartment and my 25th. Lots of people, lots of food. Lots of fun!

They were so good! You would never ever notice those are gluten-free! It was a real surprise.

Gluten-free Donuts

yield: about 25 small donuts

Ingredients:

230g white rice flour
130g potato starch/flour
60g tapioca starch/flour
220g sugar
4 tsp xanthan
1 tsp salt
1 ¾ tsp baking powder
3 sachets or 7,5 tsp instant dry yeast
275ml warm milk or water
170g melted butter
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
oil, suitable for deep-frying
extra sugar and cinnamon for tossing

Combine the flours, xanthan, salt, baking powder and yeast in a bowl of your stand mixer.

Add the warm milk, melted butter and eggs. Knead for 5 minutes at medium speed.

Let the dough rest for 20 minutes.

Prepare your oil, either in a large pot or in your deep-fryer. We preheated the oil in the deep-fryer at 170°C.

Prepare a large dish lined with paper towels for the donuts. Mix the sugar and cinnamon for the topping in a tray. Place it all next to your deep-fryer.

While still warm toss the donuts gently in the sugar-cinnamon mixture.

Enjoy!

Tomaten und ÄpfelTomatoes and Apples

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

Summer ending and autumn beginning. That is what tomatoes and apples are standing for, right now. That is how I feel. I’m yearning for the warm summer air and long nights, but I also like when it rains all day and the sky is cloudy. It’s a good excuse to cozy up and eat meals, that warm from inside. And it’s a good excuse to drink glühwein, yet. Yeah, I already had my first some days ago…

For enjoying the last summer bits and preserving it until autumn and winter, make some good old homemade pasta/pizza sauce and can it. It’s a bit of work chopping all the tomatoes, but the rest is just easy going. And there’s definitely no need to peel the skin off them! I made sauce of 2 kilos of tomatoes and it looked a lot in the pot. But afterwards it ended in 5 jars. That’s good, don’t get me wrong. But if you have access to a lot tomatoes, don’t be shy or scared of the amount, you will be rewarded with a lot of yummy pasta sauce, that will bring you through the summer-less seasons.

For enjoying the first autumn bits, I give you a simple apple compote on the way, which can be spiced up with your favourite spices or made with additionally pears. This compote is just perfect as a topping on arroz con leche, creams or the flan tart, I will post next time. It can also used as a filling for a sweet snack made of puff pastry or enjoyed with pancakes. Make a lot, it disappears fast!

Diese Rezepte sind nur Richtlinien. Lasst Zutaten weg oder fügt andere hinzu, wenn ihr möchtet.

Wenn ihr Pastasauce einmachen wollt, müsst ihr vorher die Gläser und Deckel sterilisieren. Hier gibt es gutes und sehr witziges Video darüber und wie man ganze Tomaten einmacht.

Selbstgemachte Pasta Sauce

Zutaten:

2 kilo reife Tomaten, gewaschen und gehackt
5 mittlere Zwiebeln, fein gehackt
3 Knoblauchzehen, fein gehackt
Meersalz, Pfeffer
frische Kräuter, wie Basilikum Thymian, Oregano, Salbei, Minze, Rosmarin
Olivenöl

In einem großen Topf einen großzügigen Schuss Olivenöl erhitzen. Zwiebeln und Knoblauch dazu, 1-2 Minuten andünsten, aber nicht braun werden lassen. Die gehackten Tomaten dazu und köcheln bis alles weich und sämig wird. Das dauert etwa 20-30 Minuten. Währendessen die Kräuter hacken.

Wenn du die Sauce einmachen willst, jetzt die Gläser und Deckel vorbereiten und auf ein sauberes Geschirrtuch legen.

Mit den Kräutern, sowie Salz und Pfeffer abschmecken.

Während die Sauce noch heiß ist, in die Gläser füllen. Aufpassen dass die Ränder sauber sind! Gut verschrauben und abkühlen lassen.

Apfelkompott

4 säuerliche Äpfel
1 Vanilleschote, Mark herausgekratzt
1 Sternanis
50 ml Wasser
50 g Zucker

Die Äpfel entkernen und in kleine Würfel schneiden. Äpfel, Zucker, Vanilleschote und -mark, Sternanis und Wasser in einem Topf erhitzen. Köcheln lassen, bis die Äpfel zerfallen sind oder sich leicht mit einem Löffel zerdrücken lassen, etwa 10-15 Minuten.

Die Gewürze entfernen und gleich verwenden oder im Kühlschrank aufbewahren. Innerhalb von 2-3 Tagen verbrauchen.

Note: That is just a guideline. Feel free to add and leave things, how you prefer it.

If you want to can the pasta sauce, you need clean jars with lids, that you’ve sterilized before. Here’s a really good and also funny video about sterilizing jars and canning whole tomatoes from The Bitten Word. They put it in a nutshell.

Homemade Pasta Sauce

2 kilos ripe tomatoes, unpeeled washed and chopped
5 medium onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped finely
salt, pepper
herbs, such like basil, thyme, oregano, sage, mint, rosemary; preferably fresh, otherwise dried
olive oil

In large pot heat a good splash of olive oil and add the onions and garlic. Cook a minute or two, but don’t let it brown. Add all the chopped tomatoes. Cook until tender and everything gets mushy. That takes about 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile chop your fresh herbs.

If you want to can your pasta sauce, prepare now the jars and lids. Place them on a dish towel.

After that, add the herbs to the sauce and season it with salt and pepper.

Now as the pasta sauce is still hot, fill your jars with the sauce. Make sure that the rims of the jars are clean, when you seal them with the lids. Let them cool.

Apple Compote

4 acidic apples
one vanilla bean, split open and seeds scraped
one small star anise
50 ml water
50 g sugar

Core the apples and cut them into small cubes (0,5×0,5cm). Heat a small saucepan. Add apples, sugar, vanilla bean and seeds, star anise and water. Let it simmer, until mushy or until you can mash the apples with your spoon easily. It takes about 10-15 minutes. Remove the spices, eat immediately or store in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Pflaumen GalettesRustic Plum Galettes

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

I made those a while ago, but I never made it to post them. Now before the summer is all over again and plums are still in season I have to give it out to you. The galettes are easy to make. Only dough, plums and sugar, that’s it!

I’m looking forward to autumn, but I also want to catch the last summer fruit, before there will be a long cold time without those delicious enjoyments. So tomorrow I want to get some pumpkins and apples at the market as well as some peaches (if I’m lucky). Stuck between summer and autumn is a really good time for yummy food. So preserve the summer and enjoy the upcoming autumn. Make ice cream with summer fruit, freeze fruit puree for the winter, can tomatoes or as I’ve done it recently: make your own pasta sauce and can it! There will be a post about that soon! I hope I got you a bit inspired. I need that inspiration too. Autumn food is so tempting.

So make the dough, then go buy some plums. When you’re back the dough is chilled and ready for rolling out. Assemble the galettes and bake. Enjoy them warm with a scoop of ice cream or cooled down every time you are passing by. I know what I’m talking about. They didn’t survived the day after baking!

Pflaumen Galettes

ergibt: 8 Stück

Zutaten

8 Pflaumen
250 g Mehl
200 g Butter, raumwarm
100 g Zucker
1 Prise Salz
2 Eigelb
Mehl zum Ausrollen
braunen Zucker zum Bestreuen

Butter, Salz und Zucker verrühren. Die Eigelbe dazugeben und unterrühren. Das Mehl nach und nach dazugeben und unterrühren, bis ein glatter Teig entsteht. Zu einer Scheibe formen und in Frischhaltefolie mindestens 1 Stunde kalt stellen.

Die Pflaumen waschen, die Kerne entfernen und in Schnitze schneiden.

Den Teig ausrollen und mit einem Glas, Ausstecher oder einer Schale runde Kreise ausstechen. Meine waren 13 cm im Durchmesser. Ich würde die Kreise nicht kleiner machen, da es sonst sehr schwierig wird, die Galettes zu formen.

Den Ofen auf jeden Fall vorheizen! Auf 180° C.

Die Pflaumen in die Mitte der Teigkreise auslegen, wie abgebildet. Mit Zucker bestreuen, Menge je nach Süße/Säure der Pflaumen. Den Rand nach innen falten, es muss nicht perfekt sein.

Auf Backbleche mit Backpapier legen. Die Galettes 20-25 Minuten backen, bis sie goldbraun sind.

Tipp: Meine Galettes sind am Boden, wegen der Pflaumen etwas durchgeweicht. Ich habe sie dann nochmal 10 Minuten auf einem Gitter nur von unten gebacken. Nächstes Mal würde ich sie gleich auf einem Gitter mit Backpapier backen. Eine andere Möglichkeit wäre sie nach 15 Minuten der Backzeit vom Backblech auf ein Gitter zu transferieren. Nichtsdestotrotz waren sie äußerst lecker.

Rustic Plum Galettes

Yield: 8

Ingredients:

8 plums
250 g flour
200 g butter at room temperature
100 g sugar
pinch of salt
2 egg yolks
flour for rolling the dough
brown sugar for sprinkling

Whisk together the butter, sugar and the salt with the paddle attachment of your stand mixer. Add the egg yolks and whisk again. Add the flour by degrees, until it is all incorporated and you have a homogeneous dough. Form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic foil and chill at least for an hour or until ready to use.

Wash the plums, remove the pits and cut them into slices.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface. Cut out circles with a cookie cutter or use a glass or small bowl for that. Mine was 13cm in diameter. I do not recommend using diameters that are a lot smaller, because then it will be difficult to assemble the galettes.

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Preheating is important here.

Place the plum slices on the circles, as you see in the picture above. Sprinkle with sugar depending on the sweet- or sourness of your plums. Fold the edges towards the middle of the circles, you want to have a rustic rim. Look at the picture below how mine looked. There is no need to be perfect here.

Transfer them to baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake the galettes for about 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.

Tip: The bottom of my galettes turned out a bit soggy, due to the juicy plums and the baking sheets. I baked mine 10 minutes after baking again on the rack only from underneath. Next time I will bake them right away on the rack with some parchment paper in between. Or you try to transfer them after 15 minutes of baking to the rack and bake them there the rest of the time. But maybe you are lucky and not having „problems“ like this. After all they taste grate.

Eiscreme Petit Fours Ice Cream Petit Fours

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”.

Finally I was again looking forward to a Daring Bakers challenge! Ice Cream Petit Fours. That really sounded delicious to me. I like Ice Cream Petit Fours, although I don’t know them with cake involved. Only ice cream and chocolate glaze.

The making of the browned butter cake and the ice cream were easy and both tasted really great on its own. Assembling cake and ice cream worked fine, until… THE DISASTER!

The disaster began, when I tried to cut and glaze the petit fours. They just fell apart and the ice cream melted, although it was cooled to room temperature. Maybe over 30 degrees at that day weren’t very helpful for doing a thing like this. But it is summer and I don’t own an air-conditioned kitchen. Who does?! Why did the petit fours fell apart? I don’t know honestly. I’ve seen some other people having the same problem. Maybe it would have been helpful to spread the ice cream on the cake and then assemble the second layer of cake instantly and not when both are already frozen thoroughly. Sadly the cake didn’t tasted like much after freezing. Was a waste to use that delicious cake for the ice cream petit fours. Next time it is just better to enjoy the browned butter cake, fresh from the oven, with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream.

Sometimes the simplest things are the best!

I hope there will be more challenges, that are not just to try something new, difficult or something you would never make for yourself at home. But challenges that convert something that look difficult into something simple and hence delicious. I was very happy with the challenges last year (macarons, puff pastry, gingerbread house), all very versatile, but down to earth. So I was somewhat disappointed of the challenges of the last months, that were a bit over the top in my opinion. I hope the upcoming challenges will enthuse me again. I’m always looking forward!

The making of the browned butter cake and the ice cream were easy and both tasted really great on its own. Assembling cake and ice cream worked fine, until… THE DISASTER!

Sometimes the simplest things are the best!

Thymian Haselnuss CrackerThyme Hazelnut Cracker

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

I never buy cookies. I told you. I have to make them by myself. But I can’t eat cookies always. Not even me! Sometimes I’m just longing for some crisps or crackers. Something salty, hearty. I’m getting hungry again…

So for satisfying those cravings I needed to bake cracker. I mean it would be nice to make crisps by myself, but to be honest: Who would do such a crazy thing?! I mean why cutting potatoes into thin thin slices and fry them, while buying them is so much easier. At this point I’m totally on the buyer site. That’s like making your own mascarpone. Time consuming and senseless. And yes I’ve tried that! Shame on me.

But crackers are not in that category. They are easier to make than cookies. Really. And you can add a whole bunch of things, you couldn’t do with the bought ones, which all come along with either salt, red pepper taste, cheese… uhm… did I forget something? Sounds like real diversity, isn’t it.

So this recipe is just a guideline. Add what you prefer. Cheese is totally welcome, whatever one you like. Parmesan just worked fine for me. The crackers are crisp and flaky. They are not on the light side of food. To make them lighter I suggest to substitute the hazelnuts with almonds or even no nuts. Or add some crushed pretzels. Mmmh I’m totally on the pretzel way today. Don’t know why. Want to eat cookies with pretzel pieces inside. Next project? Ok, back to the crackers. Add some fried bacon or fried bacon glazed with maple syrup. Use your favourite herbs. Add some dried tomatoes. It’s all your choice. So go ahead and make them! Now!

Vor einem Jahr: Wachteln, kalt und warm

Thymian Haselnuss Cracker

nach einem Rezept von Chocolate and Zucchini

Zutaten:

100 g Mehl
70 g kalte Butter
50 g Parmesan
100 g gehackte Haselnüsse
2 EL frischen Thymian, Blätter abgezupft
Salz und Pfeffer
1 Ei

Alle Zutaten, bis auf das Ei, mischen bis kleine Krümel entstehen. Das Ei zugeben und verkneten, bis ein glatter Teig entsteht. Den Teig zu einer langen Rolle formen (etwa 4-5 cm Durchmesser), in Frischhaltefolie wickeln und 2 Stunden kalt stellen.

Den Ofen auf 180° C vorheizen.

Die Rolle in Scheiben von 1 cm Dicke schneiden. Die Scheiben auf Bleche mit Backpapier legen. Wer mag kann sie noch mit groben Meersalz bestreuen.

15 Minuten backen, bis sie goldbraun sind. Auskühlen lassen und in Dosen aufbewahren.

One year ago: Quails, cold and warm

Thyme Hazelnut Cracker

adapted from Chocolate and Zucchini

Ingredients:

100 g flour
70 g chilled butter
50 g Parmesan
100 g chopped hazelnuts
2 tbsp. fresh thyme or other herbs
salt and pepper to your taste
1 egg

Combine the ingredients except for the egg in the bowl of your stand mixer and blend until combined. Add the egg and blend. When a smooth dough is formed, form a long log (4-5 cm in diameter) and wrap with plastic wrap. Chill for about 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Remove the logs from the fridge and cut them into slices about 1cm thick. Place them on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. If you like, sprinkle them with coarse sea salt.

Bake the crackers for about 15 minutes until golden brown. Let them cool completely. Otherwise they will fall apart quickly. Store in an airtight container. Every time your going by grab one and eat.

Couscous-Avocado-SalatCouscous-Avocado-Salad

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

Just another comfort food. Just another perfect summer dish. Just a perfect snack. Just a perfect everyday dish. Just a perfect picnic dish. Just a perfect side dish for grilling. Just so many options for eating this wonderful, delicious and easy salad.

It hasn’t deserved the word salad. I mean salad is something, that involves some lousy leaves of some green plant. It’s something, that doesn’t saturate. Attributes that have nothing to do with that „salad“. You can serve the salad immediately warm, or cold or at room temperature. So versatile again.

This dish involves only delicious ingredients. Couscous, avocado, pine nuts, mint, honey. The product has to be luscious. And it is! So next time you go by an avocado, buy it and remember this dish.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow, since then we’ll be going to the market again. Maybe I’m making some photos then and a bit of story telling about it next time. We will definitely go to our favourite market stall again, buy vegetables, especially those great tomatoes, buy some bread at the bread stall, cheese and maybe some flowers. Some of the flowers, which we bought last Saturday and I showed you in the last post are still vivid, like the beautiful orange lilies and the gerbera.

Vor einem Jahr: Death by Chocolate

Couscous-Avocado-Salat

nach einem Rezept aus Keine Zeit zum Kochen von Donna Hay

für 2 Personen

Zutaten

200 g Couscous
300 ml kochend heiße Hühnerbrühe
1 EL Butter
1 Avocado
1 EL Zitronensaft
2 EL Pinienkerne
eine kleine Handvoll frischer Minze
1 EL flüssiger Honig
Pfeffer, Salz

In einer Schüssel den Couscous mit der Butter und einer Prise Salz mischen. Die kochende Hühnerbrühe dazugeben und verrühren. Mit einem Teller oder Deckel abdecken und 5 Minuten ziehen lassen.

Währendessen die Avocado halbieren, den Kern entfernen und das Fleisch in Würfel schneiden. Die Pinienkerne in einer Pfanne ohne Öl rösten. Die Minze hacken oder mit den Fingern zerreißen.

Wenn der Couscous gezogen hat, gut umrühren. Honig und Zitronensaft unterrühren und mit Salz und Pfeffer würzen. Die Avocado, Pinienkerne und die Minze unterheben.

This dish involves only delicious ingredients. Couscous, avocado, pine nuts, mint, honey. The product has to be luscious. And it is! So next time you go by an avocado, buy it and remember this dish.

One year ago: Death by Chocolate

Couscous-Avocado-Salad

adapted from No Time To Cook by Donna Hay

serves two

Ingredients:

200 g couscous
300 ml hot chicken broth
1 Tbsp. butter
1 avocado
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 Tbsp. pine nuts
a small handful of fresh mint
1 Tbsp. honey
pepper and salt

In a medium bowl combine the couscous with the butter, a splash of salt and the hot chicken broth and stir. Cover with a plate or a lid and let it steep for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile half the avocado, remove the pit and cut the flesh into pieces. Roast the pine nuts without oil in a medium pan over medium heat. Chop the mint, if you like or just tear it into pieces with your fingers. I prefer the second choice, because I’m to lazy to chop and it’s feeling better doing it the hands.

After steeping, give the couscous a good stir. Add the honey, lemon juice and season to your taste with salt and pepper. Add the avocado, pine nuts and the mint and fold them in.

Enjoy!

Kokos Panna CottaCoconut Panna Cotta

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

One year ago I started this blog!

I’m glad that I took this step. And I’m proud how it developed. It’s more than I’ve ever thought it would be or I would have here. I want to thank everyone, who directed some kind words about it at me – here in the comments or just before the screen. I want to thank YOU for your visits!

In the last weeks I started to integrate some new features on the blog, like a Facebook page and even Twitter. Yeah, you’ve read right, Coconut & Vanilla has it’s own Facebook page! I would be pleased, if you jump over and become a fan. And if you want to know what I’m doing in the kitchen in between my blog posts, you can now follow me on Twitter and look over my shoulder.

Furthermore, with some help I invented a new blog design! It now looks fresher, cleaner and more personal. I hope you like it! I love it! We found those wonderful tomatoes, which you can see on my new banner, on the market in our area.

We bought them at my favourite stall, which sells fruit, vegetables and flowers they’ve grown by themselves. Last Saturday we bought there the most beautiful flower bouquet I’ve ever seen! I love to meander through the stalls and look at all the beautiful vegetables, flowers, fruit, cheese, bread, meat, olives, marinated sheep milk cheese… just everything you need. It’s the perfect beginning of the weekend and you get almost everything you need for the week.

One year ago, as I started this whole thing I was wondering how I should name it. And that’s not so easy, since there are a lot of blogs out there. But it didn’t took me long… One of my favourite desserts is panna cotta. And Coconut Panna Cotta is the one I love the most! I like the taste of the coconut milk pairing with the vanilla. I like to bite on that tiny bits of vanilla seeds. I like how it sounds. So why not name it like a favourite dessert? And that is how it came that my blogs name is Coconut & Vanilla. For this occasion I want to share my very own recipe of it with you.

Vor einem Jahr: Death by Chocolate

Kokos Panna Cotta

für 4 Personen

Zutaten:

3 Blätter Gelatine
400 g Kokosmilch
100 g Sahne
50 g Zucker
1 Vanilleschote
optional: Kokoslikör

In einer flachen Schale mit kaltem Wasser die Gelatine einweichen.

Kokosmilch, Sahne und Zucker in einen Topf geben und verrühren. Das Mark aus der Vanilleschote kratzen und beides in den Topf geben. Die Milch aufkochen und bei kleiner Hitze 5 Minuten köcheln lassen. Vom Herd nehmen und die Vanilleschote entfernen.

Die Gelatine ausdrücken (das Wasser wegschütten) und mit dem Kokosliquör zur Milch geben. Mit einem Schneebesen verrühren, bis sich die Gelatine aufgelöst hat.

Im Topf auskühlen lassen, bis die Milch anfängt zu gelieren. Umrühren und in kleine Gläser oder Förmchen füllen.

Mindestens 3 Stunden kalt stellen.

One year ago I started this blog!

One year ago: Death by Chocolate

Coconut Panna Cotta

yields: 4 desserts

Ingredients:

3 leaves of gelatin
400 g coconut milk
100 g cream
50 g sugar
1 vanilla bean
coconut liquor, if desired

Soak the gelatin leaves in a small bowl with cold water.

Whisk coconut milk, cream and sugar in medium saucepan together. Cut the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the vanilla seeds. Add both to the coconut cream mixture. Boil it up and let it simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Set aside and pick out the vanilla pod.

Squeeze out the gelatin leaves gently (toss away the water) and add them with the liquor to cream. Stir until dissolved.

Let it cool down in the saucepan, until the gelatin begins to harden. Give it a stir and fill it in small ramekins or glasses. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Die besten Chocolate Chip Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies ever!

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

These days it’s all about making research, testing recipes, baking and cooking. The reason is that some events are coming up. First event will be my blog anniversary next week. There will be a big surprise, where not just baking is involved! The second event will be the Daring Bakers in August. And the most important event will be a wedding in October. It’s not just important, because it’s a family wedding, but also because I’ll be baking the wedding cake!

Friday bride and groom will be testing the cakes. I’ll be preparing two different cakes with different fillings and I want to try to make another one gluten-free. All that’s a real challenge. But I’m glad, that I finally created some recipes, that appear good to me. So tomorrow is baking and whisking day! I’m really looking forward to the next two days. So wish me luck.

In between one just needs some cookies. We really longed for some cookies the day before yesterday. But as I never buy some – because I always think I can do it all at home better and cheaper… and with more fun – we didn’t had some. As such craving don’t pass by easily or until the next day, I decided to make some simple chocolate chip cookies. They are simple and easy and I made them a dozen times already. So I can say: they are the best. In my opinion.

They are crispy on the outside and have a softer core. This time I used dark and milk chocolate. But usually I only use the dark one. And if you don’t have chocolate chips on hand, use normal chocolate bars (you should like the chocolate of course) and chop it into small pieces. You can vary the size of your cookies by forming smaller or bigger dough balls, before baking. Depends on your liking to eat more palm-size cookies or two-bite-size cookies. I lean towards the second choice…

So if you have just 30 minutes left (for everything!), try and make them. I’m sure you will be convinced, too. I mean, who can stand this:

Vor einem Jahr: Death by Chocolate

Chocolate Chip Cookies

ergibt: etwa 40 Kekse

Zutaten:

210 g Weizenmehl
1/2TL Natron
1/2 TL Salz
200 g Schokoladentropfen oder gehackte Zartbitterschokolade
110 g Butter, raumwarm
160 g Zucker
1/2 EL Zuckerrübensirup
1 Ei
1/2 TL Vanilleextrakt oder 1 TL Vanillezucker

Mehl, Natron und Salz vermischen. Butter aufschlagen, dann den Zucker dazugeben und schaumig rühren. Sirup und das Ei zugeben und gut unterrühren. Vanilleextrakt unterrühren. Das Mehl nach und nach unterrühren, bis ein glatter Teig enstanden ist. Zum Schluss die Schokotropfen unterrühren.

Den Ofen auf 180° C vorheizen.

Backbleche mit Backpapier auslegen. Mit den Händen Kugeln mit 3 cm Durchmesser formen und mit 5 cm Abstand auf das Blech legen.

12 Minuten backen, bis sie goldgelb sind.

So if you have just 30 minutes left (for everything!), try and make them. I’m sure you will be convinced, too. I mean, who can stand this:

One year ago: Death by Chocolate

Chocolate Chip Cookies (the best ever!)

Yield: about 40 cookies (Ø 5cm)

Ingredients:

210 g flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
200 g chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
110 g butter at room temperature
160 g sugar
1/2 Tbsp. sugar beet syrup
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla sugar or 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. In the bowl of your stand mixer whisk the butter with the whisking attachment. Add the sugar and whisk until fluffy. Add the syrup and the egg, until well incorporated. Maybe it’s necessary to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to get everything incorporated. Add the vanilla sugar or extract. Add the flour mixture bit by bit and whisk together, until you have a smooth dough. At least fold in the chocolate.

Form balls with your hands, 3cm in diameter. Place on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Leave some space between the balls, about 5cm. You don’t want the cookies to stick together.

Bake at 180°C for 12 minutes. The first cookies are best eaten warm, as the chocolate is still melted inside. Mmmh…

Pfirsich TartelettesPeach Tartelettes

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

About a month ago I promised some tartelettes. Actually apricot tartelettes. But as the case may be, they looked good, but the apricots just tasted like nothing. Additionally something was missing. Some cream, which would flatter your palate. Maybe vanilla? So an idea was born.

1. Pâte sucrée: which I also used for the failed apricot tartelettes, but which is very good. I adapted it from Michel Roux. It’s a bit sticky, but so you only have to press the dough in your molds. No rolling out! If you are making this dough, you have to use butter! Don’t use shortening (Koch-,Back- oder Streichfett)! Trust me, I’ve tried. Also stick to the chilling time. It’s both worth for handling and taste!

2. Crème pâtissiére: A very fine and also light cream filling for the tartelettes, which has just a slight sweetness and good taste of vanilla. I recommend to use vanilla extract. I also made it with vanilla pods, but I prefer the taste of the vanilla extract. If you don’t know, where to get some vanilla extract, without going to expense, just make your own. I just did it myself and it’s super easy.

3. Peaches! There is nothing much to say here, just use some that are already ripe and of course have a good taste! Not just like my apricots…

Pfirsich Tartelettes

ergibt: etwa 4-5 Tartelettes (Ø 12cm)

Zutaten:

für den Teig:

125 g Weizenmehl
50 g Butter, raumwarm
50 g Puderzucker, gesiebt
1 Prise Salz
1 Ei, raumwarm

für die Konditorcreme:

3 Eigelb
65 g Zucker
20 g Mehl
1,5 TL Vanilleextrakt (oder das Mark einer Vanilleschote)

Topping:

4-5 Pfirsiche
brauner Zucker

Die Zutaten für den Teig – bis auf die Eier – mischen, bis der Teig krümelig ist. Die Eier unterrühren und zu einem glatten Teig verrühren. Er ist etwas klebrig, das ist normal. In Folie wickeln und 2 Stunden kalt stellen.

Den Ofen auf 180° C vorheizen.

Den Teig in 4 bis 5 Stücke teilen (je nach Größe der Formen). Einfach ausprobieren wieviel Teig man für eine Form benötigt. Den Teig in die Formen drücken. Den Boden mit einer Gabel mehrmals einstechen. Ein Stück Backpapier darauflegen und mit getrockneten Bohnen oder Erbsen belegen. 12-15 Minuten backen, bis die Ränder goldbraun sind. Die Hülsenfrüchte und das Papier entfernen und vollständig auskühlen lassen. Den Boden nicht aus den Formen nehmen!

Die Pfirsiche schälen. Meine waren so reif, dass ich sie mit einem Messer schälen konnte. Ansonsten ein Kreuz in die Hautunterseite ritzen, in eine große Schüssel geben und mit kochendem Wasser übergießen, bis alle bedeckt sind. Ein paar Minuten stehen lassen. Die Pfirsiche unter kaltem Wasser abkühlen. Jetzt lässt sich die Schale leicht abziehen. In Schnitze schneiden.

Die Eigelbe mit einem Drittel des Zuckers verquirlen, bis sie cremig sind. Das Mehl unterrühren. Die Milch mit dem restlichen Zucker und dem Vanilleextrakt erhitzen. Wenn die Milch kocht, zu den Eigelben geben, dabei ständig rühren. Zurück in den Topf geben und bei mittlerer Hitze aufkochen, dabei immer rühren. 2 Minuten köcheln lassen, dann in eine Schüssel füllen. Die Oberfläche mit Frischhaltefolie bedecken und abkühlen lassen.

Den Ofen auf 180° C vorheizen.

Die Tartlettes mit der Konditorcreme füllen und die Pfirsichscheiben darauf arrangieren. Mit braunem Zucker bestreuen und 10 Minuten backen. Abkühlen lassen. Vor dem Servieren aus den Förmchen holen.

Die Tartelettes können bis zu 4 Tage im Kühlschrank aufbewahrt werden.

3. Peaches! There is nothing much to say here, just use some that are already ripe and of course have a good taste! Not just like my apricots…

Peach Tartelettes

yield: about 4-5 tartelettes (Ø 12cm)

Ingredients:

For the pâte sucrée:

125 g flour
50 g butter at room temperature
50 g powder sugar, sieved
1 pinch of salt
1 egg at room temperature

For the crème pâtissiére:

3 egg yolks
65 g sugar
20 g flour
1,5 tsp vanilla extract (or a vanilla pod, split open and seeded)

Topping:

4-5 peaches
brown sugar

Mix the ingredients – except the egg – for the dough together in a mixing bowl for your stand mixer. Use the batter whisks and let them whisk, until the dough get’s crumbly. Add the egg and whisk until the dough is smooth. It’s ok, if it is a bit sticky. Wrap it in foil and refrigerate for 2 hours. Don’t cheat!

Divide the dough into 4 to 5 pieces (depending on your moulds‘ size). Just try how much dough you need for one mold – I do the same… always. Press the dough into your molds. Prick the bottom of the dough with a fork. Apply a piece of parchment paper inside the molds, so the bottom is covered. Fill it with dry beans and bake for 12-15 minutes at 180°C. The edges of your tartelettes should be golden brown. Remove the dry beans and the parchment paper and let them cool completely. Don’t remove them from the molds!

Peel the peaches for the topping. Mine were that ripe, I just could peel them with a knife. If yours aren’t, cut a small cross at the bottom of each peach, put them into a large bowl and pour some boiling water on them, until they are covered. Let it stand for a couple of minutes. Remove the peaches and chill the under cold water. Now peeling the peaches should be easy. Cut them into slices.

Whisk the egg yolks for the créme with a third of the sugar, until creamy. Add the flour and whisk. Heat the milk with the rest of the sugar and the vanilla extract (or vanilla pods and seeds, and don’t forget to remove it). Add to the egg-mixture, when the milk is boiling, while constantly whisking the mixture. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, while constantly whisking, until boiling. Let it boil 2 minutes, then pour into a bowl. If you want to use it later, cover the surface with plastic foil.

For assembling, fill the créme pâtissiére in the tartelettes and arrange the peach slices on it. Sprinkle with brown sugar and bake again at 180°C for about 10 minutes. Remove from the molds, before serving. Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Biskuitrollen-EisbombeSwiss Swirl Ice Cream Cake

The July 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Sunita of Sunita’s world – life and food. Sunita challenged everyone to make an ice-cream filled Swiss roll that’s then used to make a bombe with hot fudge. Her recipe is based on an ice cream cake recipe from Taste of Home.

I admit I’m a bit late for posting the challenge. I already made most of the bombe some days ago, but I couldn’t pick myself up for pulling it out of the freezer and do the pictures. Don’t ask!

I’m not a fan of ice bombes. Didn’t know anyone is still making something like this. I remember them from my childhood, huge and colorful. I don’t remember I’ve eaten them, though. So I decided, that I make two mini bombes and when I’m now looking at the pictures, I think they are really cute. And they are looking better on the photo, than in real. I wouldn’t made that, if I hadn’t had some ice cream in the freezer and some fudge sauce in the fridge. So I only had to bake the swiss roll.

I baked one with a strawberry filling and I used raspberry ice cream for the bombe. The fudge sauce was a traditional chocolate one.

Now is your mouth watered? If you’re nearby, I invite you to drop by and you can enjoy a mini ice bombe. Otherwise it will be spending more time in the freezer, without being eaten. Cause I’m sorry, I can’t…

I admit I’m a bit late for posting the challenge. I already made most of the bombe some days ago, but I couldn’t pick myself up for pulling it out of the freezer and do the pictures. Don’t ask!

I baked one with a strawberry filling and I used raspberry ice cream for the bombe. The fudge sauce was a traditional chocolate one.

Indisches MandelhühnchenIndian Almond Chicken

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

As I’m writing this, I’m looking out the window, watching the rain. And it’s nice. Last week was so hot, that we couldn’t imagine turning on the oven or making a hot meal. Over the weekend the weather cooled down to about 20°C and rain, now and then.

It’s refreshing in another way. And it’s comfortable. It’s also comfortable to cozy up a bit in between the heat and cook and bake again. It’s time for some real comfort food.

This is my ultimate comfort food. I could dig in it, that good it is.

This are chicken pieces, which have marinated at least 6 hours in yoghurt, tomato puree and lots of spices. After that you cook it about 1,5 hours. The chicken will be tender and you have an unbelievable sauce! You can serve it with rice, if you want it easy (cause this meal IS easy). But if you want it be best, make some Batura. It’s an indian yeast flat-bread, which is deep-fried. In one of my upcoming posts, I will write about Batura, too. It’s so good, I want to dig in that, too.

Now you can imagine, what that meal does to me…

So, hurry up, marinate some chicken, you won’t regret it tonight! Oh, and it wouldn’t be a fault to make the double amount. It freezes wonderful (and still tastes wonderful after thawing). And another night, when you’re too lazy to cook, you already have a dinner.

Indisches Mandelhühnchen

nach einem Rezept aus Indisch kochen von Tanja Dusy

für 4 Personen

4 Hähnchenbrüste
5 EL gemahlene Mandeln
3 grüne Kardamonkapseln
1/2 TL Chilipulver
1/2 TL Zimt
1/2 TL gem. Nelke
1,5 TL Garam Masala
125 g Joghurt
2 Knoblauchzehen
200g passierte Tomaten
Salz
1 Zwiebel
Ghee oder Butterschmalz
100 g Sahne

Das Fleisch in Stücke schneiden (etwa 5 cm).

Die Mandeln in eine kleine Schüssel geben, 6 Esslöffel kochendes Wasser dazugeben und verrühren. Die Kardamonkapseln in einem Mörser mahlen. Die Mandeln mit dem Joghurt und den Gewürzen verrühren. Den Knoblauch fein hacken und mit dem Tomatenpüree und einem 1/2 Teelöffel Salz unter den Joghurt rühren. Das Fleisch unterheben und abgedeckt mindestens 6 Stunden im Kühlschrank marinieren.

Die Zwiebel schälen und fein hacken. Butterschmalz/Ghee in einem großen Topf erhitzen und die Zwiebel anrösten. Hühnchen mit der Marinade zugeben, ebenso die Sahne. Rühren bis es kocht. Dann auf kleiner Hitze etwa 1,5 Stunden köcheln lassen. Ab und zu umrühren. In den 30 Minuten den Deckel entfernen, damit die Sauce eindickt, dafür eventuell die Hitze erhöhen.

Mit Reis, Batura oder Naan servieren.

It’s refreshing in another way. And it’s comfortable. It’s also comfortable to cozy up a bit in between the heat and cook and bake again. It’s time for some real comfort food.

This is my ultimate comfort food. I could dig in it, that good it is.

Now you can imagine, what that meal does to me…

Indian Almond Chicken

adapted from Indisch kochen by Tanja Dusy

Serves 3-4

4 chicken breasts (skinless)
5 Tbsp ground almonds
3 green cardamom pods
1/2 tsp ground chili
1/2 tsp cinnamon, ground
1/2 tsp clove, ground
1,5 tsp Garam Masala
125 g yoghurt
2 cloves garlic
200g tomato puree
salt
1 onion
ghee or clarified butter
100g cream (or more to your taste)

Cut the chicken breasts into big chunks, about 5 cm. Give the ground almonds into a small bowl and add 6 Tbsp hot water. Whisk. Grind the cardamom pods in a mortar. Stir the almonds with the yoghurt and add the spices. Peel, crush and add the garlic. Stir in the tomato puree and season with 1/2 tsp salt. Mix in the chicken and marinate covered in the fridge for at least 6 hours.

Peel the onion and chop it. Heat the ghee in a large pot. Roast the onion, add the chicken with the marinade, as well as the cream. Stir until bubbling. Let it simmer on low heat for about 1,5 hours. Stir from time to time. In the last 30 minutes remove the lid to thicken the sauce. Maybe you have to adjust the heat at this point.

Serve with rice or batura.