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.

Indisches Mandelhühnchen

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…

Indisches Mandelhühnchen

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.

 

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.

Indian Almond Chicken

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…

Indian Almond Chicken

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.

MeloneneisMelon Ice Cream

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

There’s nothing much to say or to do these days. One word is enough. HOT! About 37°C every day, since two weeks. I do not complain, as we didn’t had any real spring this year, nor often really hot summers. And summers are short and I don’t like winter. I really prefer summer. Every bite of it. So I’m not complaining. But to boost my study work, I beg for some rain, so the apartment can again cool down a bit.

Meloneneis

The heat also makes me sad a little bit… I am not able to use the stove, or even the oven. It’s just not possible. I’m looking for refreshments all day, be it for dessert or lunch or dinner, where the oven/stove can be kept off or at least used at its minimum. Feel free to share any good recipes. I’m looking forward to that!

Meloneneis

I offer you a really delicious refreshment: Melon Ice Cream. I don’t know, if it works without an ice cream maker. But take it as a sign and buy yourself one (at least, if you’re an ice cream lover, as we are). It’s easy and you will never return to bought one. It’s just better! You can make whatever ice cream you like… I mean who wouldn’t want to have chocolate-coated peanut-bites in his ice cream? Ok ok… at least me. So after my anthem on ice cream makers, I won’t disturb you any longer and give you the recipe.

Meloneneis

There’s nothing much to say or to do these days. One word is enough. HOT! About 37°C every day, since two weeks. I do not complain, as we didn’t had any real spring this year, nor often really hot summers. And summers are short and I don’t like winter. I really prefer summer. Every bite of it. So I’m not complaining. But to boost my study work, I beg for some rain, so the apartment can again cool down a bit.

Melon Ice Cream

The heat also makes me sad a little bit… I am not able to use the stove, or even the oven. It’s just not possible. I’m looking for refreshments all day, be it for dessert or lunch or dinner, where the oven/stove can be kept off or at least used at its minimum. Feel free to share any good recipes. I’m looking forward to that!

Melon Ice Cream

I offer you a really delicious refreshment: Melon Ice Cream. I don’t know, if it works without an ice cream maker. But take it as a sign and buy yourself one (at least, if you’re an ice cream lover, as we are). It’s easy and you will never return to bought one. It’s just better! You can make whatever ice cream you like… I mean who wouldn’t want to have chocolate-coated peanut-bites in his ice cream? Ok ok… at least me. So after my anthem on ice cream makers, I won’t disturb you any longer and give you the recipe.

Melon Ice Cream

Erdbeer-Melonen-SüppchenStrawberry Melon Soup

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

Erdbeer-Melonen-Süppchen

Today would be the perfect alibi for a big cake or even torte. But I’m not a fan of the big desserts, I’m more for smaller ones. But then a lot. Not to mention the high temperatures, that are dominating the country these days. So I’m presenting you with a refreshing delicate easy-to-make fruit soup. With this fruit soup, a mini barbecue tonight, some apricot tartelettes (which will be following here), sparkling wine and watching Germany win, we’ll be celebrating my becoming of a quarter of a century. If you have some sparkling wine near you, grab it and I invite you to raise your glasses with us. Also you can drop a teaspoon full of your fruit soup in it – yum.

For this soup almost every fruit is possible. Choose what you like and what you can get. If you prefer something to chew, keep some chopped fruit back and give it in your soup right before serving.

Strawberry-Melon-Soup

Today would be the perfect alibi for a big cake or even torte. But I’m not a fan of the big desserts, I’m more for smaller ones. But then a lot. Not to mention the high temperatures, that are dominating the country these days. So I’m presenting you with a refreshing delicate easy-to-make fruit soup. With this fruit soup, a mini barbecue tonight, some apricot tartelettes (which will be following here), sparkling wine and watching Germany win, we’ll be celebrating my becoming of a quarter of a century. If you have some sparkling wine near you, grab it and I invite you to raise your glasses with us. Also you can drop a teaspoon full of your fruit soup in it – yum.

For this soup almost every fruit does go. Choose what you like and what you can get. If you prefer something to chew, keep some chopped fruit back and give it in your soup right before serving.

Arroz Con Leche… Lo Mejor

Updaten: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

Since I was in Spain as a child ( to be more precise in Andalucía), I was craving for the arroz con leche I ate there. It has to be cold or be at room temperature and should be creamy or even slightly fluid. Not that mush you are getting here. Also it has to have this delightful taste of cinnamon.

I was looking for the recipe a very long time. Some day I was looking through Aran’s blog and I found a recipe. A recipe, which called for 50g rice per 1 l milk! I was a bit irritated, but after all Aran is Basque and so I trusted her, that she can produce real good spanisch arroz con leche. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Arroz Con Leche

In english you would say rice pudding, in german “Milchreis”. But you can’t compare those with arroz con leche. So arroz con leche is arroz con leche. It’s just different. But better in any way. MUCH better. So give it a try and don’t let yourself put off by the hour you have to invest!

Arroz Con Leche

As you see in the pictures I also made some macarons. I had so much leftover egg whites and the only thing I know to do with them is macarons. So I made a doubled batch (maybe not the best idea) and made two different fillings. One was a white chocolate-peach-ganache, the other one was lemon curd. Both are very refreshing in the summer heat, as a snack in between. If you have summer heat in your area. Ours is just gone – 15 °C – that’s no fun!

Arroz Con Leche

 

Since I was in Spain as a child ( to be more precise in Andalucía), I was craving for the arroz con leche I ate there. It has to be cold or be at room temperature and should be creamy or even slightly fluid. Not that mush you are getting here. Also it has to have this delightful taste of cinnamon.

I was looking for the recipe a very long time. Some day I was looking through Aran’s blog and I found a recipe. A recipe, which called for 50g rice per 1 l milk! I was a bit irritated, but after all Aran is Basque and so I trusted her, that she can produce real good spanisch arroz con leche. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Arroz Con Leche

In english you would say rice pudding, in german “Milchreis”. But you can’t compare those with arroz con leche. So arroz con leche is arroz con leche. It’s just different. But better in any way. MUCH better. So give it a try and don’t let yourself put off by the hour you have to invest!

Arroz Con Leche

As you see in the pictures I also made some macarons. I had so much leftover egg whites and the only thing I know to do with them is macarons. So I made a doubled batch (maybe not the best idea) and made two different fillings. One was a white chocolate-peach-ganache, the other one was lemon curd. Both are very refreshing in the summer heat, as a snack in between. If you have summer heat in your area. Ours is just gone – 15 °C – that’s no fun!

Arroz Con Leche

Himbeer-Schokoladen-EisRaspberry-Chocolate Ice Cream

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

Himbeer-Schokoladen-Eis

Finally we also have hot hot hot summer weather. To enjoy and celebrate this duly it’s time for some Gelato.

Some weeks ago I bought David Lebovitz‚ book The Perfect Scoop, which was a perfect purchase. Even if you are not in making some ice cream it is just a pleasure to read it.

Himbeer-Schokoladen-Eis

But back to the ice cream. We decided to try the raspberry-chocolate one first, because I LOVE the combination. David uses cocoa powder, but next time I will try it with some melted milk chocolate, which I prefer. But it is already very good with cocoa powder. Unfortunately it didn’t freeze in the ice cream maker. Don’t know why?! So I just popped it in a container in the freezer and oh wonder! it’s good anyway! That’s a good gelato! So I think, it will work properly even without the machine. But if you are using one, be sure the mixture is really cold before you put it in the machine, maybe then you have a chance and it freezes in there.

Oh, and I really recommend you to use some good-quality ice cream cones with it! It’s worth it! But I’m one of those people, who could just eat the cone! I love ice cream cones… yum!

Himbeer-Schokoladen-Eis

Raspberry-Chocolate Ice Cream

Finally we also have hot hot hot summer weather. To enjoy and celebrate this duly it’s time for some Gelato.

Some weeks ago I bought David Lebovitz‚ book The Perfect Scoop, which was a perfect purchase. Even if you are not in making some ice cream it is just a pleasure to read it.

Raspberry-Chocolate Ice Cream

But back to the ice cream. We decided to try the raspberry-chocolate one first, because I LOVE the combination. David uses cocoa powder, but next time I will try it with some melted milk chocolate, which I prefer. But it is already very good with cocoa powder. Unfortunately it didn’t freeze in the ice cream maker. Don’t know why?! So I just popped it in a container in the freezer and oh wonder! it’s good anyway! That’s a good gelato! So I think, it will work properly even without the machine. But if you are using one, be sure the mixture is really cold before you put it in the machine, maybe then you have a chance and it freezes in there.

Oh, and I really recommend you to use some good-quality ice cream cones with it! It’s worth it! But I’m one of those people, who could just eat the cone! I love ice cream cones… yum!

Raspberry-Chocolate Ice Cream

Wien und Macarons!Vienna and Macarons!

Yesterday I promised you, that I will tell you soon about Vienna and show you my photos of course. Never been so fast answering my own posts… well doesn’t happen so often either that I answer my own posts…

Macarons

First Vienna was very restorative. Just what I needed. The city itself is nice – lots of old beautiful buildings – but for me it’s too crowdy, too smelly and unfortunately old buildings just don’t stand for themselves, they need to be maintained. What really pays off in that city is the food. What a relieve!

We had the famous biggest Schnitzel of town at Figlmüller.

Figlmüller Schnitzel

They were outstanding big and so thin, they were delicious! Just a recommendation, if you will ever visiting Vienna.

Another night we ate at the restaurant “Holler”, which only serves vegetarian food. Don’t have pictures from our food, cause really I don’t like it to sit in a restaurant and take pictures of my food. I’m just feeling awkward then. I had some delicious homemade wild garlic (Bärlauch) gnocchi with paprika sauce and something else (sorry don’t remember at the moment), Frank had homemade saffron pasta with asparagus. As starters we had a hot Tibetan soup and wild garlic crepes with cream cheese filling.

So if you’re in Vienna you have to visit one of those Kaffeehäuser. I wanted to go to the Demel Café, which is famous for, well everything. But of course it was full and we wanted to sit outside (the weather was great), so we went to the Café Gerstner, which I already knew, because I bought there some macarons the day before! Yes, macarons! I just saw them by chance and bought two of every flavour. Couldn’t believe it. Below you see from the front to the back: lemon – coffee – raspberry – vanilla – pistachio and chocolate

Macarons

At the Café Gerstner I ate a Dobos torte. Had to try it, because it was the challenge, before I joined the Daring Bakers (otherwise I wouldn’t have known it). I (almost) never make torte at home and that’s better so, because after half of the piece I was full. And that means a lot! But I liked it, mainly because of the many many layers of cake batter filled with crème.

If you’ll ever be in Vienna my recommendations, what you should visit and what I liked best are the Schloss Schönbrunn (castle Schönbrunn) and more important the associated park (picture below and that’s not the castle, just a part of the park), the Hundertwasser house and the Naschmarkt. The Naschmarkt is a huge market (2km long I guess), where you can buy every food you want. Unfortunately I couldn’t take home some fish…

Schönbrunn

Yesterday I promised you, that I will tell you soon about Vienna and show you my photos of course. Never been so fast answering my own posts… well doesn’t happen so often either that I answer my own posts…

Macarons

First Vienna was very restorative. Just what I needed. The city itself is nice – lots of old beautiful buildings – but for me it’s too crowdy, too smelly and unfortunately old buildings just don’t stand for themselves, they need to be maintained. What really pays off in that city is the food. What a relieve!

We had the famous biggest Schnitzel of town at Figlmüller.

Figlmüller Schnitzel

They were outstanding big and so thin, they were delicious! Just a recommendation, if you will ever visiting Vienna.

Another night we ate at the restaurant “Holler”, which only serves vegetarian food. Don’t have pictures from our food, cause really I don’t like it to sit in a restaurant and take pictures of my food. I’m just feeling awkward then. I had some delicious homemade wild garlic (Bärlauch) gnocchi with paprika sauce and something else (sorry don’t remember at the moment), Frank had homemade saffron pasta with asparagus. As starters we had a hot Tibetan soup and wild garlic crepes with cream cheese filling.

So if you’re in Vienna you have to visit one of those Kaffeehäuser. I wanted to go to the Demel Café, which is famous for, well everything. But of course it was full and we wanted to sit outside (the weather was great), so we went to the Café Gerstner, which I already knew, because I bought there some macarons the day before! Yes, macarons! I just saw them by chance and bought two of every flavour. Couldn’t believe it. Below you see from the front to the back: lemon – coffee – raspberry – vanilla – pistachio and chocolate

Macarons

At the Café Gerstner I ate a Dobos torte. Had to try it, because it was the challenge, before I joined the Daring Bakers (otherwise I wouldn’t have known it). I (almost) never make torte at home and that’s better so, because after half of the piece I was full. And that means a lot! But I liked it, mainly because of the many many layers of cake batter filled with crème.

If you’ll ever be in Vienna my recommendations, what you should visit and what I liked best are the Schloss Schönbrunn (castle Schönbrunn) and more important the associated park (picture below and that’s not the castle, just a part of the park), the Hundertwasser house and the Naschmarkt. The Naschmarkt is a huge market (2km long I guess), where you can buy every food you want. Unfortunately I couldn’t take home some fish…

Schönbrunn

Blutorangen-Tian mit weißer SchokoladeBlood Orange and White Chocolate Tian

Blutorangen-Tian mit weißer Schokolade

I know the reveal date for the Daring Bakers challenge was 4 days ago. Since I was in Nuremberg again for family festivities, I didn’t had the time to post it. Since I’m still short in time because of learning, I hope you will forgive me, that this is not the best and longest post. But I’m feeling guilty. And since I’d done the challenge in time, I must blog it.

The 2010 March Daring Baker’s challenge was hosted by Jennifer of Chocolate Shavings. She chose Orange Tian as the challenge for this month, a dessert based on a recipe from Alain Ducasse’s Cooking School in Paris.

Blutorangen-Tian mit weißer Schokolade

As I read the challenge a month ago, I was disappointed. Whipped cream with some citrus isn’t something I would eat or order or bake. But a challenge also means to try things you normally wouldn’t. So I gave it a try. For safety reasons I only made the half amount.

Making the (blood) orange marmalade was easy. I used Gelierzucker (jam sugar), instead of sugar and pectin. Gelierzucker is common here in Germany and always used for making jam. I wouldn’t have known where to buy pectin (and it’s already in the Gelierzucker).

The marmalade tasted very good, not a hint of bitterness. It smells intensive of oranges. Unfortunately it smells more as it tastes of oranges. Maybe because of the blanching.

Blutorangen-Tian mit weißer Schokolade

I don’t know why, but my paté shrunk in the oven and so it was a bit too small for my cookie cutters. I added some shredded white chocolate in the whipped cream (of which I used the double amount, since it was not enough), which added a nice, slightly sweet flavour. The hardening of the cream with the gelatine didn’t really work. I used leaves instead of powder, but I cannot imagine, that this was the mistake. So I added a sachet of Sahnesteif (stabilizer for whipping cream) for more stiffness and let it stay some more time in the freezer.

In the end it tasted good and it was a light dessert. You could have eaten two in a row. But we didn’t ;-).

But probably I won’t do it again. It costs a lot of time just for this small dessert, which is eaten in no time and not as satisfying, as what I would expect from a good dessert. But anyway it was fun to do and to learn something new.

Blutorangen-Tian mit weißer Schokolade

Recipe

Orange Tian

for the pate sablee

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium-sized egg yolks at room temperature
  • granulated sugar 80 grams
  • vanilla extract ½ teaspoon
  • Unsalted butter 100 grams ice cold, cubed
  • Salt 1/3 teaspoon
  • All-purpose flour 200 grams
  • baking powder 1 teaspoon

Directions: Put the flour, baking powder, ice cold cubed butter and salt in a food processor fitted with a steel blade.

In a separate bowl, add the eggs yolks, vanilla extract and sugar and beat with a whisk until the mixture is pale. Pour the egg mixture in the food processor.

Process until the dough just comes together. If you find that the dough is still a little too crumbly to come together, add a couple drops of water and process again to form a homogenous ball of dough. Form into a disc, cover with plastic wrap and leave to rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.

Roll out the dough onto a lightly floured surface until you obtain a ¼ inch thick circle.

Using your cookie cutter, cut out circles of dough and place on a parchment (or silicone) lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until the circles of dough are just golden.

 

for the marmalade

Ingredients:

  • Freshly pressed orange juice ¼ cup + 3 tablespoons; 3.5 oz; 100 grams
  • 1 large orange used to make orange slices
  • cold water to cook the orange slices
  • pectin 5 grams
  • granulated sugar: use the same weight as the weight of orange slices once they are cooked

Finely slice the orange. Place the orange slices in a medium-sized pot filled with cold water. Simmer for about 10 minutes, discard the water, re-fill with cold water and blanch the oranges for another 10 minutes.

Blanch the orange slices 3 times. This process removes the bitterness from the orange peel, so it is essential to use a new batch of cold water every time when you blanch the slices.

Once blanched 3 times, drain the slices and let them cool.

Once they are cool enough to handle, finely mince them (using a knife or a food processor).

Weigh the slices and use the same amount of granulated sugar . If you don’t have a scale, you can place the slices in a cup measurer and use the same amount of sugar.

In a pot over medium heat, add the minced orange slices, the sugar you just weighed, the orange juice and the pectin. Cook until the mixture reaches a jam consistency (10-15 minutes).

Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge.

 

for the orange segments

For this step you will need 8 oranges.

Cut the oranges into segments over a shallow bowl and make sure to keep the juice. Add the segments to the bowl with the juice.

 

for the caramel

Ingredients:

  • granulated sugar 200 grams
  • orange juice 1.5 cups + 2 tablespoons; 400 grams

Place the sugar in a pan on medium heat and begin heating it.

Once the sugar starts to bubble and foam, slowly add the orange juice. As soon as the mixture starts boiling, remove from the heat and pour half of the mixture over the orange segments.

Reserve the other half of the caramel mixture in a small bowl — you will use this later to spoon over the finished dessert. When the dessert is assembled and setting in the freezer, heat the kept caramel sauce in a small saucepan over low heat until it thickens and just coats the back of a spoon (about 10 minutes). You can then spoon it over the orange tians.

[Tip: Be very careful when making the caramel — if you have never made caramel before, I would suggest making this step while you don’t have to worry about anything else. Bubbling sugar is extremely, extremely hot, so make sure you have a bowl of ice cold water in the kitchen in case anyone gets burnt!]

 

for the whipped cream

Ingredients:

  • heavy whipping cream 200 grams
  • 3 tablespoons of hot water
  • 1 tsp Gelatine
  • 1 tablespoon of confectioner’s sugar
  • orange marmalade 1 tablespoon

In a small bowl, add the gelatine and hot water, stirring well until the gelatine dissolves. Let the gelatine cool to room temperature while you make the whipped cream. Combine the cream in a chilled mixing bowl. Whip the cream using a hand mixer on low speed until the cream starts to thicken for about one minute. Add the confectioner sugar. Increase the speed to medium-high. Whip the cream until the beaters leave visible (but not lasting) trails in the cream, then add the cooled gelatine slowly while beating continuously. Continue whipping until the cream is light and fluffy and forms soft peaks. Transfer the whipped cream to a bowl and fold in the orange marmalade. [Tip: Use an ice cold bowl to make the whipped cream in. You can do this by putting your mixing bowl, cream and beater in the fridge for 20 minutes prior to whipping the cream.]

 

Assembling the Dessert:

Make sure you have some room in your freezer. Ideally, you should be able to fit a small baking sheet or tray of desserts to set in the freezer.

Line a small tray or baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone sheet. Lay out 6 cookie cutters onto the parchment paper/silicone.

Drain the orange segments on a kitchen towel.

Have the marmalade, whipped cream and baked circles of dough ready to use.

Arrange the orange segments at the bottom of each cookie cutter. Make sure the segments all touch either and that there are no gaps. Make sure they fit snuggly and look pretty as they will end up being the top of the dessert. Arrange them as you would sliced apples when making an apple tart.

Once you have neatly arranged one layer of orange segments at the bottom of each cookie cutter, add a couple spoonfuls of whipped cream and gently spread it so that it fills the cookie cutter in an even layer. Leave about 1/4 inch at the top so there is room for dough circle.

Using a butter knife or small spoon, spread a small even layer of orange marmalade on each circle of dough.

Carefully place a circle of dough over each ring (the side of dough covered in marmalade should be the side touching the whipping cream). Gently press on the circle of dough to make sure the dessert is compact.

Place the desserts to set in the freezer to set for 10 minutes.

Using a small knife, gently go around the edges of the cookie cutter to make sure the dessert will be easy to unmold. Gently place your serving plate on top of a dessert (on top of the circle of dough) and turn the plate over. Gently remove the cookie cutter, add a spoonful of caramel sauce and serve immediately.

Blood Orange and White Chocolate Tian

I know the reveal date for the Daring Bakers challenge was 4 days ago. Since I was in Nuremberg again for family festivities, I didn’t had the time to post it. Since I’m still short in time because of learning, I hope you will forgive me, that this is not the best and longest post. But I’m feeling guilty. And since I’d done the challenge in time, I must blog it.

The 2010 March Daring Baker’s challenge was hosted by Jennifer of Chocolate Shavings. She chose Orange Tian as the challenge for this month, a dessert based on a recipe from Alain Ducasse’s Cooking School in Paris.

Blood Orange and White Chocolate Tian

As I read the challenge a month ago, I was disappointed. Whipped cream with some citrus isn’t something I would eat or order or bake. But a challenge also means to try things you normally wouldn’t. So I gave it a try. For safety reasons I only made the half amount.

Making the (blood) orange marmalade was easy. I used Gelierzucker (jam sugar), instead of sugar and pectin. Gelierzucker is common here in Germany and always used for making jam. I wouldn’t have known where to buy pectin (and it’s already in the Gelierzucker).

The marmalade tasted very good, not a hint of bitterness. It smells intensive of oranges. Unfortunately it smells more as it tastes of oranges. Maybe because of the blanching.

Blood Orange and White Chocolate Tian

I don’t know why, but my paté shrunk in the oven and so it was a bit too small for my cookie cutters. I added some shredded white chocolate in the whipped cream (of which I used the double amount, since it was not enough), which added a nice, slightly sweet flavour. The hardening of the cream with the gelatine didn’t really work. I used leaves instead of powder, but I cannot imagine, that this was the mistake. So I added a sachet of Sahnesteif (stabilizer for whipping cream) for more stiffness and let it stay some more time in the freezer.

In the end it tasted good and it was a light dessert. You could have eaten two in a row. But we didn’t ;-).

But probably I won’t do it again. It costs a lot of time just for this small dessert, which is eaten in no time and not as satisfying, as what I would expect from a good dessert. But anyway it was fun to do and to learn something new.

Blood Orange and White Chocolate Tian

Recipe

Orange Tian

for the pate sablee

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium-sized egg yolks at room temperature
  • granulated sugar 80 grams
  • vanilla extract ½ teaspoon
  • Unsalted butter 100 grams ice cold, cubed
  • Salt 1/3 teaspoon
  • All-purpose flour 200 grams
  • baking powder 1 teaspoon

Directions: Put the flour, baking powder, ice cold cubed butter and salt in a food processor fitted with a steel blade.

In a separate bowl, add the eggs yolks, vanilla extract and sugar and beat with a whisk until the mixture is pale. Pour the egg mixture in the food processor.

Process until the dough just comes together. If you find that the dough is still a little too crumbly to come together, add a couple drops of water and process again to form a homogenous ball of dough. Form into a disc, cover with plastic wrap and leave to rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.

Roll out the dough onto a lightly floured surface until you obtain a ¼ inch thick circle.

Using your cookie cutter, cut out circles of dough and place on a parchment (or silicone) lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until the circles of dough are just golden.

for the marmalade

Ingredients:

  • Freshly pressed orange juice ¼ cup + 3 tablespoons; 3.5 oz; 100 grams
  • 1 large orange used to make orange slices
  • cold water to cook the orange slices
  • pectin 5 grams
  • granulated sugar: use the same weight as the weight of orange slices once they are cooked

Finely slice the orange. Place the orange slices in a medium-sized pot filled with cold water. Simmer for about 10 minutes, discard the water, re-fill with cold water and blanch the oranges for another 10 minutes.

Blanch the orange slices 3 times. This process removes the bitterness from the orange peel, so it is essential to use a new batch of cold water every time when you blanch the slices.

Once blanched 3 times, drain the slices and let them cool.

Once they are cool enough to handle, finely mince them (using a knife or a food processor).

Weigh the slices and use the same amount of granulated sugar . If you don’t have a scale, you can place the slices in a cup measurer and use the same amount of sugar.

In a pot over medium heat, add the minced orange slices, the sugar you just weighed, the orange juice and the pectin. Cook until the mixture reaches a jam consistency (10-15 minutes).

Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge.

for the orange segments

For this step you will need 8 oranges.

Cut the oranges into segments over a shallow bowl and make sure to keep the juice. Add the segments to the bowl with the juice.

for the caramel

Ingredients:

  • granulated sugar 200 grams
  • orange juice 1.5 cups + 2 tablespoons; 400 grams

Place the sugar in a pan on medium heat and begin heating it.

Once the sugar starts to bubble and foam, slowly add the orange juice. As soon as the mixture starts boiling, remove from the heat and pour half of the mixture over the orange segments.

Reserve the other half of the caramel mixture in a small bowl — you will use this later to spoon over the finished dessert. When the dessert is assembled and setting in the freezer, heat the kept caramel sauce in a small saucepan over low heat until it thickens and just coats the back of a spoon (about 10 minutes). You can then spoon it over the orange tians.

[Tip: Be very careful when making the caramel — if you have never made caramel before, I would suggest making this step while you don’t have to worry about anything else. Bubbling sugar is extremely, extremely hot, so make sure you have a bowl of ice cold water in the kitchen in case anyone gets burnt!]

for the whipped cream

Ingredients:

  • heavy whipping cream 200 grams
  • 3 tablespoons of hot water
  • 1 tsp Gelatine
  • 1 tablespoon of confectioner’s sugar
  • orange marmalade 1 tablespoon

In a small bowl, add the gelatine and hot water, stirring well until the gelatine dissolves. Let the gelatine cool to room temperature while you make the whipped cream. Combine the cream in a chilled mixing bowl. Whip the cream using a hand mixer on low speed until the cream starts to thicken for about one minute. Add the confectioner sugar. Increase the speed to medium-high. Whip the cream until the beaters leave visible (but not lasting) trails in the cream, then add the cooled gelatine slowly while beating continuously. Continue whipping until the cream is light and fluffy and forms soft peaks. Transfer the whipped cream to a bowl and fold in the orange marmalade. [Tip: Use an ice cold bowl to make the whipped cream in. You can do this by putting your mixing bowl, cream and beater in the fridge for 20 minutes prior to whipping the cream.]

Assembling the Dessert:

Make sure you have some room in your freezer. Ideally, you should be able to fit a small baking sheet or tray of desserts to set in the freezer.

Line a small tray or baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone sheet. Lay out 6 cookie cutters onto the parchment paper/silicone.

Drain the orange segments on a kitchen towel.

Have the marmalade, whipped cream and baked circles of dough ready to use.

Arrange the orange segments at the bottom of each cookie cutter. Make sure the segments all touch either and that there are no gaps. Make sure they fit snuggly and look pretty as they will end up being the top of the dessert. Arrange them as you would sliced apples when making an apple tart.

Once you have neatly arranged one layer of orange segments at the bottom of each cookie cutter, add a couple spoonfuls of whipped cream and gently spread it so that it fills the cookie cutter in an even layer. Leave about 1/4 inch at the top so there is room for dough circle.

Using a butter knife or small spoon, spread a small even layer of orange marmalade on each circle of dough.

Carefully place a circle of dough over each ring (the side of dough covered in marmalade should be the side touching the whipping cream). Gently press on the circle of dough to make sure the dessert is compact.

Place the desserts to set in the freezer to set for 10 minutes.

Using a small knife, gently go around the edges of the cookie cutter to make sure the dessert will be easy to unmold. Gently place your serving plate on top of a dessert (on top of the circle of dough) and turn the plate over. Gently remove the cookie cutter, add a spoonful of caramel sauce and serve immediately.

Schokoladen Macarons mit HimbeerfüllungChocolate Macarons with Raspberry Filling

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

Schokoladen Macarons mit Himbeerfüllung

Since on the 20. March was Macaron Day I decided to show you my latest accomplishment in macarons.

Yes, there exists a special day for macarons! In Paris are special shops, that sell macarons all day long and on macarons day you can get some free! Unfortunately I never had the chance to be there (on macarons day or sometime else). As macarons are not very popular in Germany, ok unknown would be the better word… I mean most people don’t even know what cupcakes are… so you couldn’t say macarons are the new cupcakes ;). Anyway what I wanted to say is, that there won’t be shops in Germany, that sell macarons.

Schokoladen Macarons mit Himbeerfüllung

But most often I think anyway it’s better and more fun to do it myself. I mean look at those little beauties. Just want to grab one immediately and stuff it into my mouth.

And in your mouth you have the rich chocolate flavour and now you think “yeah and in the middle even more boring chocolate”… haha no! In the middle is chocolate (and do use the good one!) with raspberry puree! It’s soo delicious.

Schokoladen Macarons mit Himbeerfüllung

So if you didn’t do it, celebrate macarons day with some lovely macarons. Even more if you have some egg whites sitting in your fridge and you don’t know what do to with them. So you have to make some macarons, because it would be a pity to throw all the egg whites away. And you will feel a lot better, when you use them up and they are not looking at you anymore out of the fridge, making you guilty, because you don’t know what to do with them. Believe me, what a relief to make macarons!

And it is not difficult. Ok my first try wasn’t what I expected. They tasted good, but they didn’t look like macarons. So for some tipps, you can look up my first post with macarons.

Schokoladen Macarons mit Himbeerfüllung

Don’t be worried, if my post is looking some what different, because I’m trying it the first time with Windows Live Writer, instead of that Google crap. Yeah, you read right. It’s just driven me into insanity some times. So maybe that here works better. I’m yet “astonished” by the amount of fonts and options to embed my pictures. You see, after Google I’m very easy to impress.

But don’t want to bore you with that theoretical things.

Schokoladen Macarons mit Himbeerfüllung

chocolate macarons with raspberry filling

Since on the 20. March was Macaron Day I decided to show you my latest accomplishment in macarons.

Yes, there exists a special day for macarons! In Paris are special shops, that sell macarons all day long and on macarons day you can get some free! Unfortunately I never had the chance to be there (on macarons day or sometime else). As macarons are not very popular in Germany, ok unknown would be the better word… I mean most people don’t even know what cupcakes are… so you couldn’t say macarons are the new cupcakes ;). Anyway what I wanted to say is, that there won’t be shops in Germany, that sell macarons.

chocolate macarons with raspberry filling

But most often I think anyway it’s better and more fun to do it myself. I mean look at those little beauties. Just want to grab one immediately and stuff it into my mouth.

And in your mouth you have the rich chocolate flavour and now you think “yeah and in the middle even more boring chocolate”… haha no! In the middle is chocolate (and do use the good one!) with raspberry puree! It’s soo delicious.

chocolate macarons with raspberry filling

So if you didn’t do it, celebrate macarons day with some lovely macarons. Even more if you have some egg whites sitting in your fridge and you don’t know what do to with them. So you have to make some macarons, because it would be a pity to throw all the egg whites away. And you will feel a lot better, when you use them up and they are not looking at you anymore out of the fridge, making you guilty, because you don’t know what to do with them. Believe me, what a relief to make macarons!

And it is not difficult. Ok my first try wasn’t what I expected. They tasted good, but they didn’t look like macarons. So for some tipps, you can look up my first post with macarons.

chocolate macarons with raspberry filling

Don’t be worried, if my post is looking some what different, because I’m trying it the first time with Windows Live Writer, instead of that Google crap. Yeah, you read right. It’s just driven me into insanity some times. So maybe that here works better. I’m yet “astonished” by the amount of fonts and options to embed my pictures. You see, after Google I’m very easy to impress.

But don’t want to bore you with that theoretical things.

chocolate macarons with raspberry filling

glutenfreie Nanaimo Barsgluten-free Nanaimo Bars

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

glutenfreie Nanaimo Bars

The January 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Lauren of Celiac Teen. Lauren chose Gluten-Free Graham Wafers and Nanaimo Bars as the challenge for the month. The sources she based her recipe on are 101 Cookbooks and www.nanaimo.ca.

This month challenge was to make a classic Canadian dessert to savour the Olympic Winter Games in Canada this year. This dessert consists of three layers. A base containing crumbles of Graham Crackers, coconut, cocoa and almonds. A middle custard layer and a chocolate topping.
Since Lauren is suffering under celiac disease (dt. Zöliakie) the challenge was to bake the Graham Crackers yourself and gluten-free. Ever I was interested to try some gluten-free recipe. Finally I had the chance!
A lot of people in the world (also in Germany, yes!) have to live gluten-free, as if they wouldn’t, their villi lining the small intestine would be trancated. This reaction is caused by proteins, found in wheat, rye, barley and other crops of the tribe Triticeae.

glutenfreie Nanaimo Bars

First it was very difficult to find the needed flours. We needed rice flour, tapioca flour and sorghum flour (dt. Braunhirsemehl). Rice flour I had already at home. Tapioca flour (or starch), I found in a local Asian supermarket. The sorghum flour was much more difficult. But in a larger wholefood supermarket I didn’t just found sorghum flour, but a lot of more gluten-free flours.

I will make an extra post for the Graham Crackers, because I really like them! I do not know how they taste with normal wheat flour, but actually I don’t really want to know… they are just great as they are and I think that special flavour comes from the sorghum flour. I will definitely bake them again!

Which I can’t say from Nanaimo Bars. I wasn’t so excited about that part of the challenge, as I would never make something like that for myself, as I do not like those sort of things. It’s just too much, too heavy for me.

glutenfreie Nanaimo Bars

I also made some differences regarding to the original recipe. I substituted the almonds with hazelnuts and since in Germany something like custard powder does not exist, I made a mixture of vanilla pudding powder, crème fraîche, butter, icing sugar and a lot of vanilla aroma, because it didn’t taste like vanilla after all and it was just too sweet.

I made just half the recipe and it’s still enough and to spare. Is used an adjustable cake setting ring with 16 cm in diametre.
If I would try it another time (I won’t, but IF), I would leave out the coconut and cocoa from the bottom layer, because the main taste is coconut and cocoa. Just too much of it!
Be cautious! The vanilla pudding powder, as well as the chocolate you take for the topping has to be gluten-free as well, if you want to make it all gluten-free!

glutenfreie Nanaimo Bars

gluten-free nanaimo bars

The January 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Lauren of Celiac Teen. Lauren chose Gluten-Free Graham Wafers and Nanaimo Bars as the challenge for the month. The sources she based her recipe on are 101 Cookbooks and www.nanaimo.ca.

This month challenge was to make a classic Canadian dessert to savour the Olympic Winter Games in Canada this year. This dessert consists of three layers. A base containing crumbles of Graham Crackers, coconut, cocoa and almonds. A middle custard layer and a chocolate topping.
Since Lauren is suffering under celiac disease (dt. Zöliakie) the challenge was to bake the Graham Crackers yourself and gluten-free. Ever I was interested to try some gluten-free recipe. Finally I had the chance!
A lot of people in the world (also in Germany, yes!) have to live gluten-free, as if they wouldn’t, their villi lining the small intestine would be trancated. This reaction is caused by proteins, found in wheat, rye, barley and other crops of the tribe Triticeae.

gluten-free nanaimo bars

First it was very difficult to find the needed flours. We needed rice flour, tapioca flour and sorghum flour (dt. Braunhirsemehl). Rice flour I had already at home. Tapioca flour (or starch), I found in a local Asian supermarket. The sorghum flour was much more difficult. But in a larger wholefood supermarket I didn’t just found sorghum flour, but a lot of more gluten-free flours.

I will make an extra post for the Graham Crackers, because I really like them! I do not know how they taste with normal wheat flour, but actually I don’t really want to know… they are just great as they are and I think that special flavour comes from the sorghum flour. I will definitely bake them again!

Which I can’t say from Nanaimo Bars. I wasn’t so excited about that part of the challenge, as I would never make something like that for myself, as I do not like those sort of things. It’s just too much, too heavy for me.

gluten-free nanaimo bars

 I also made some differences regarding to the original recipe. I substituted the almonds with hazelnuts and since in Germany something like custard powder does not exist, I made a mixture of vanilla pudding powder, crème fraîche, butter, icing sugar and a lot of vanilla aroma, because it didn’t taste like vanilla after all and it was just too sweet.

I made just half the recipe and it’s still enough and to spare. Is used an adjustable cake setting ring with 16 cm in diametre.
If I would try it another time (I won’t, but IF), I would leave out the coconut and cocoa from the bottom layer, because the main taste is coconut and cocoa. Just too much of it!
Be cautious! The vanilla pudding powder, as well as the chocolate you take for the topping has to be gluten-free as well, if you want to make it all gluten-free!

gluten-free nanaimo bars

Selbstgemachte GemüsebouillonpasteHomemade Bouillon Paste

 Upate: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

Selbstgemachte Gemüsebouillonpaste

As I was ill the last two weeks, I wanted to do more for my blog. I made some things – I swear! But it happened, that those things were not good enough for my blog. Unfortunately.

Now that I’m back to work, I’ve done some great things and even more great photos of it! But just no time to write. So this evening I just take the time.

In my ill-time I had a lot of time to read lots of blogs, recipes and other interesting things. I got hold on a simple recipe making your own bouillon paste of vegetables. Since I’m very into making everything on my own, I was thrilled.

Selbstgemachte Gemüsebouillonpaste

Since I’m not a fan of glutamate in food, I’m using only organic granulated bouillon, because it never contains glutamate. But it can contain other things that you don’t want in there, for example gluten or allergens. So making your own paste, disposes this problem. And of course it’s just great to make your own bouillon, without making a real stock!

Selbstgemachte Gemüsebouillonpaste

I adapted the recipe from 101 Cookbooks. You can vary, which vegetables you use and also the ratio. I do not like celery stalks. But I like the root. So I just used that. Equally I do not like cilantro, thus I used just parsley. However It would be interesting to add some basil the next time or parsnips.

Selbstgemachte Gemüsebouillonpaste

It’s recommended to use a food processor. As I do not have one, I thought optimistic and use my blender. Hmmm… wasn’t that good idea. It didn’t get the leek and the carrots alright. Celery was good with it. In the end I used my immersion blender. It took some time longer I think (since I can’t compare), but it worked very well and I got a moist paste. I didn’t used as much salt, as stated in the „original“ recipe. Maybe that leads rather to a „creamy“ paste, than a loose paste. For me it’s salty enough and if not, adding salt is less a problem, than to withdraw some.

My recommendation is to dissolve 2,5 tsp. per 250 ml (1 cup). It dissolves very good, if you wonder ;-).

I put one jar of the bouillon in the fridge and froze the rest in portions. If you are not using that much bouillon, you can freeze it in ice cube trays, so your portions to thaw are very small. I froze the rest in three portions, every equal to the amount in my fridge. It yields about four 200ml jars.

Selbstgemachte Gemüsebouillonpaste

homemade bouillon paste

As I was ill the last two weeks, I wanted to do more for my blog. I made some things – I swear! But it happened, that those things were not good enough for my blog. Unfortunately.

Now that I’m back to work, I’ve done some great things and even more great photos of it! But just no time to write. So this evening I just take the time.

In my ill-time I had a lot of time to read lots of blogs, recipes and other interesting things. I got hold on a simple recipe making your own bouillon paste of vegetables. Since I’m very into making everything on my own, I was thrilled.

homemade bouillon paste

Since I’m not a fan of glutamate in food, I’m using only organic granulated bouillon, because it never contains glutamate. But it can contain other things that you don’t want in there, for example gluten or allergens. So making your own paste, disposes this problem. And of course it’s just great to make your own bouillon, without making a real stock!

homemade bouillon paste

I adapted the recipe from 101 Cookbooks. You can vary, which vegetables you use and also the ratio. I do not like celery stalks. But I like the root. So I just used that. Equally I do not like cilantro, thus I used just parsley. However It would be interesting to add some basil the next time or parsnips.

homemade bouillon paste

It’s recommended to use a food processor. As I do not have one, I thought optimistic and use my blender. Hmmm… wasn’t that good idea. It didn’t get the leek and the carrots alright. Celery was good with it. In the end I used my immersion blender. It took some time longer I think (since I can’t compare), but it worked very well and I got a moist paste. I didn’t used as much salt, as stated in the „original“ recipe. Maybe that leads rather to a „creamy“ paste, than a loose paste. For me it’s salty enough and if not, adding salt is less a problem, than to withdraw some.

My recommendation is to dissolve 2,5 tsp. per 250 ml (1 cup). It dissolves very good, if you wonder ;-).

I put one jar of the bouillon in the fridge and froze the rest in portions. If you are not using that much bouillon, you can freeze it in ice cube trays, so your portions to thaw are very small. I froze the rest in three portions, every equal to the amount in my fridge. It yields about four 200ml jars.

homemade bouillon paste

Selbstgemachtes MüsliHomemade Granola

Update: Nach unten scrollen für das deutsche Rezept!

Happy new year everybody!

Selbstgemachtes Müsli

Thank you for your visits and supports in my first months of blogging! I’m always afraid and happy, when I read your comments. I’m always pleased to return the favour and visit your blogs! Some of them have already found their way in my daily reading list.

I hope you enjoyed my new blog last year. I will do my very best this year, too.

I want to start this year with some homemade muesli. I already produced it in the end-terms of last year, but I first tasted it this morning for breakfast. As I thought of eating this muesli for breakfast, I remembered, that some photos of the making are waiting to be blogged. So I took these photos this morning.

Selbstgemachtes Müsli

I like the idea of selfmade granola. I’m not a fan of bought one’s. For me, they are not crispy enough or too crispy, full of raisins, which I don’t like or dried fruits, which I do not like, too. I’ve only once seen a muesli, with freeze-dried fruits and that was tasty. Neither I like that cheap chocolate pieces in bought muesli.

The benefits of an selfmade muesli are – amongst others – , that you can put in what you like: favourite nuts, favourite fruits, favourite chocolate, favourite cereals. And everytime you can try another combination!

Don’t be scared of making your own granola! It’s fun, very easy and doesn’t take a lot of time.

Over- and underneath you see the granola on a baking sheet, after combining the ingredients. Underneath I put some anti-stick coated aluminium foil from Toppits® . If something like that is not available you can also use normal baking paper or grease the baking sheet lightly. But I admit that this aluminium foil is very handy.

The recipe is enough for about 10 smaller portions (like on my photos). So if you are a muesli-fancier, consider doubling the recipe. One recipe is suitable for one baking sheet.

I like to use whole nuts, peel them, roast them in a pan and chop them then. But feel free to use already chopped nuts.

Selbstgemachtes Müsli

 

Happy new year everybody!

homemade granola

Thank you for your visits and supports in my first months of blogging! I’m always afraid and happy, when I read your comments. I’m always pleased to return the favour and visit your blogs! Some of them have already found their way in my daily reading list.

I hope you enjoyed my new blog last year. I will do my very best this year, too.

I want to start this year with some homemade muesli. I already produced it in the end-terms of last year, but I first tasted it this morning for breakfast. As I thought of eating this muesli for breakfast, I remembered, that some photos of the making are waiting to be blogged. So I took these photos this morning.

homemade granola

I like the idea of selfmade granola. I’m not a fan of bought one’s. For me, they are not crispy enough or too crispy, full of raisins, which I don’t like or dried fruits, which I do not like, too. I’ve only once seen a muesli, with freeze-dried fruits and that was tasty. Neither I like that cheap chocolate pieces in bought muesli.

The benefits of an selfmade muesli are – amongst others – , that you can put in what you like: favourite nuts, favourite fruits, favourite chocolate, favourite cereals. And everytime you can try another combination!

Don’t be scared of making your own granola! It’s fun, very easy and doesn’t take a lot of time.

Over- and underneath you see the granola on a baking sheet, after combining the ingredients. Underneath I put some anti-stick coated aluminium foil from Toppits® . If something like that is not available you can also use normal baking paper or grease the baking sheet lightly. But I admit that this aluminium foil is very handy.

The recipe is enough for about 10 smaller portions (like on my photos). So if you are a muesli-fancier, consider doubling the recipe. One recipe is suitable for one baking sheet.

I like to use whole nuts, peel them, roast them in a pan and chop them then. But feel free to use already chopped nuts.

homemade granola

LebkuchendorfGingerbread Village

Lebkuchendorf

I hope you all had wonderful holidays and you enjoyed the festivites. I did, since I didn’t had much time recently, which you probably realized, because it’s the first entry this month in my beloved blog. I swear it will be better in the new year.

So this entry is all about the December’s Daring Bakers challenge.

 

Lebkuchendorf

The December 2009 Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to you by Anna of Very Small Anna and Y of Lemonpi. They chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ everywhere to bake and assemble a gingerbread house from scratch. They chose recipes from Good Housekeeping and from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book as the challenge recipes.

Lebkuchendorf

As I first read about the challenge in the forum of the Daring Bakers, I thought „how boring“. Then I was thinking about what I can do to make this challenge more fun and interesting and not „just another gingerbread house“. Maybe in your country gingerbread houses are not so common, but here in southern Germany you see them very often. So I decided to make a whole village of smaller houses. I told this idea a friend of mine Sten, and he said, he would make a church, because every village deserves a church. I was very sceptical and said than he had to do this on his own. So last week I prepared the dough from the recipe from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book by Beatrice Ojakangas and on the weekend we met and I prepared the village (with some help from Frank) and Sten was trying on the church. As it took a lot of time, we delayed the gluing and building on another day.

Lebkuchendorf

So on monday Frank and I were standing in the kitchen and put the houses together and we also tried this with the church. But somehow S. forgot two pieces of the roof for the tower and all the pieces for the roofs (two and rest of the church) were much too short. We think he didn’t added the thickness of the walls to the roof. So the church looked …ahm… how should I say that… awful? *laugh* Sorry, Sten! The church without the tower looked like a „Mehrzweckhalle“ (multi-purpose hall) as we say in german. So no church for the village in the end. But I let me carry away to build a small well out of royal icing. Speaking of the royal icing … I love it! It’s so easy to make and to handle. It dries fast and looks so nice. I thought also about to colour the icing in some nice pastel colours, but in the end I preferred the classical version – just white like snow.

Lebkuchendorf

I chose the recipe from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book, because the other recipe (which is also posted below, if you want to try) uses molasses and I do not know exactly what to use for here in Germany. My dough didn’t turn out very dark, but I have seen, that’s normal for that recipe. Secondary the dough wasn’t really smooth. It was really hard to roll out the dough and after baking it also rose. So be sure you don’t make the dough too thick. Lot of people had the problem, that the dough shrinked in the oven. I didn’t seem to me, that it happened with my dough, but be prepared! As you are applying everywhere the royal icing, you won’t see that much of the dough in the end. So don’t worry!

It was optional to use sugar syrup to glue the house, but for me it didn’t work fine. It hardened to fast and did not look very nice. So I glued everything with the royal icing, which worked very well. Don’t forget, that you have to chill the dough for at least two hours. I let mine cool for 2 days… You can also prepare it, freeze it and thaw it when you want. What is also important to make, are templates. Below you can see mine. Otherwise it’s possible that your pieces won’t fit together.

Lebkuchendorf

I don’t provide the recipes, because I wouldn’t recommend it, as it wasn’t good in taste and texture.

gingerbread village

I hope you all had wonderful holidays and you enjoyed the festivites. I did, since I didn’t had much time recently, which you probably realized, because it’s the first entry this month in my beloved blog. I swear it will be better in the new year.

So this entry is all about the December’s Daring Bakers challenge.

 

gingerbread village

The December 2009 Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to you by Anna of Very Small Anna and Y of Lemonpi. They chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ everywhere to bake and assemble a gingerbread house from scratch. They chose recipes from Good Housekeeping and from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book as the challenge recipes.

gingerbread village

As I first read about the challenge in the forum of the Daring Bakers, I thought „how boring“. Then I was thinking about what I can do to make this challenge more fun and interesting and not „just another gingerbread house“. Maybe in your country gingerbread houses are not so common, but here in southern Germany you see them very often. So I decided to make a whole village of smaller houses.  I told this idea a friend of mine Sten, and he said, he would make a church, because every village deserves a church. I was very sceptical and said than he had to do this on his own. So last week I prepared the dough from the recipe from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book by Beatrice Ojakangas and on the weekend we met and I prepared the village (with some help from Frank) and Sten was trying on the church. As it took a lot of time, we delayed the gluing and building on another day.

gingerbread village

 So on monday Frank and I were standing in the kitchen and put the houses together and we also tried this with the church. But somehow S. forgot two pieces of the roof for the tower and all the pieces for the roofs (two and rest of the church) were much too short. We think he didn’t added the thickness of the walls to the roof. So the church looked …ahm… how should I say that… awful? *laugh* Sorry, Sten! The church without the tower looked like a „Mehrzweckhalle“ (multi-purpose hall) as we say in german. So no church for the village in the end. But I let me carry away to build a small well out of royal icing. Speaking of the royal icing … I love it! It’s so easy to make and to handle. It dries fast and looks so nice. I thought also about to colour the icing in some nice pastel colours, but in the end I preferred the classical version – just white like snow.

gingerbread village

 I chose the recipe from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book, because the other recipe (which is also posted below, if you want to try) uses molasses and I do not know exactly what to use for here in Germany. My dough didn’t turn out very dark, but I have seen, that’s normal for that recipe. Secondary the dough wasn’t really smooth. It was really hard to roll out the dough and after baking it also rose. So be sure you don’t make the dough too thick. Lot of people had the problem, that the dough shrinked in the oven. I didn’t seem to me, that it happened with my dough, but be prepared! As you are applying everywhere the royal icing, you won’t see that much of the dough in the end. So don’t worry!

 It was optional to use sugar syrup to glue the house, but for me it didn’t work fine. It hardened to fast and did not look very nice. So I glued everything with the royal icing, which worked very well. Don’t forget, that you have to chill the dough for at least two hours. I let mine cool for 2 days… You can also prepare it, freeze it and thaw it when you want. What is also important to make, are templates. Below you can see mine. Otherwise it’s possible that your pieces won’t fit together. 

gingerbread village

 I don’t provide the recipes, because I wouldn’t recommend it, as it wasn’t good in taste and texture.