Impress your holiday guests this year with crisp, delicious and full of juices roasted duck. This recipe is very simple and easy to make. The best way to serve it is with mashed potatoes.
Whole Roast Duck With Apples And Cranberry Stuffing
Ingredients
- 1 (2 kg, or more) duck
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 20 g butter (or 2 Tbsp olive oil)
- 1 onion
- 2 sticks celery
- 2 apples Granny Smith
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry duck with paper towels. Season inside and outside with salt and pepper.
- Peel and finely chop the onion.
- Cut celery into thin slices.
- Peel, core and cut apples into small cubes.
- Heat olive oil or butter in a frying pan. Add onion and celery and sauté for 3-4 minutes until golden. Season with some salt and pepper.
- Add apples and cranberries. Remove from the heat.
- Add bread crumbs and mix well.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Stuff duck with prepared stuffing. Secure skin underneath with skewer or toothpicks.
- Rub the skin with olive oil and place it into the roasting pan with the breast side down. Roast for one hour.
- Baste all over every 15-20 minutes with juices from the bottom of the pan.
- Flip the duck over and continue to roast for another 20-30 minutes. Cover wings and legs with foil if it gets too brown.
- The duck is done if the juices run clear when a skewer is inserted in the thickest part of the leg. Remove from the oven and cover the duck with aluminum foil for at least 10 minutes.
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This post was posted in Main Dish
Basque Cheesecake
Basque cheesecake is a popular recipe in Spain, where it is called ‘torta de queso.’ The big difference from the classic cheesecake is that it’s simpler, with no crust underneath and no topping on top.
Basque Cheesecake
Important tip: the batter should be mixed at low speed to avoid adding air bubbles.
Ingredients
- 900 g softened cream cheese (such as Philadelphia)
- 3 pinches of salt
- 220 g granulated sugar
- 450 ml heavy cream
- 6 eggs
- 1 teaspoon liquid vanilla (or paste, or 1 vanilla pod)
- 30 g sifted flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190°C (thermostat 6). Line a large pan (24 cm) with 2 layers of parchment paper.
- In a mixer bowl, beat the Philadelphia cheese at low speed with the sugar, adding the salt.
- Add the heavy cream and vanilla. Continue mixing at low speed.
- Add the eggs one by one, mixing well after each addition, still on low speed.
- Add the flour and mix once more.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake in the oven for about 60 minutes. The cake will rise, develop a nice golden crust, but remain slightly wobbly in the center.
- Remove the cake from the oven. Let it cool for about 2 hours, then unmold it onto a serving plate. As it cools, the cake will deflate.
- Serve at room temperature with syruped cherries or enjoy it plain.
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This post was posted in Desserts
Walnut and Almond Cake
If you like almonds and walnuts, you will love this savory cake. Crush up walnuts and use almond flour to make this easy, quick, and delicious dessert.
Walnut and Almond Cake
Ingredients
- 125 g walnuts
- 5 eggs
- 230 g sugar
- 125 g melted butter
- 125 g almond flour
- 80 g all purpose flour
- Some walnuts halves
- Some powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
- Grind the walnuts in a blender. (Keep few walnuts halves to decorate the cake.)
- Using a mixer beat the eggs with sugar.
- Add the butter. Mix.
- Add the walnuts and almond powder. Mix.
- Add the flour and mix last time.
- Pour the batter in the pan. Lay slices the walnuts halves on top of the cake.
- Bake for about 40 minutes or until а toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Once the cake cools off, then transfer to plate.
- Dust it with powdered sugar before serving.
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This post was posted in Desserts
Pumpkin Soup
French recipe for a silky and smooth Pumpkin Soup with two main ingredients. Healthy, colorful, and easy to make. If you have a blender, you have to try this recipe as soon as pumpkins are in season.
To impress your guests, serve this soup in individual pumpkins.
Pumpkin Soup
This soup is delicious and silky even without any cream. I add very little, just to make it look beautiful.
Ingredients
- 2 leeks (white part only)
- 1 medium pie pumpkin or sugar pumpkin (about 1.5 kg)
- 4 Tbsp olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Some heavy whipping cream or sour cream (optional)
- Some fresh herbs (cilantro, green onion, parsley) to garnish
Instructions
- Wash and chop the leeks.
- Wash the pumpkin and cut it in half horizontally. Scrape the inside of the pumpkin clean with the spoon or ice cream scoop (you can use the seeds for another recipe).
- Peel and cut into regular cubes.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Cook and stir leeks until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add pumpkin cubes and cook for 5-7 more minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Transfer the veggies into a large pot. Add just enough water to cover them, and bring to a boil. Add salt and pepper. Simmer about 15 minutes until the pumpkin is cooked.
- Puree the soup with an immersion blender or in a food processor. Add a little more boiling water if the soup is too thick. Taste for flavor, and feel free to add more salt or pepper.
- Serve hot, with sour or heavy whipping cream and fresh herbs.
For a special presentation:
- Cut off the top of a small pumpkin and scrape the inside.
- Before adding the soup, heat the pumpkin for few minutes in the oven, then add the hot soup and serve immediately.
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This post was posted in Soups
Fried mushrooms with sour cream
Here is a hearty vegetarian dish with mushrooms, onions and sour cream. That’s all you need for this pan-fried mushrooms.
Fried mushrooms with sour cream
This dish can be served with boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes or rice.
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 500 g button mushrooms (or portobello mushrooms)
- 10 g butter
- 2 Tbsps olive oil
- 200 ml sour cream
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Some fresh herbs (cilantro, green onion, parsley)
Instructions
- Prepare the mushrooms. If they are not too dirty, do not wash them, but simply wipe them with a damp cloth. If you decide to wash the mushrooms, do it quickly so they are not saturated with water.
- Thoroughly dry the washed mushrooms with a paper towel.
- Slice the mushrooms.
- Peel the onion and garlic, then finely chop them.
- Heat the vegetable oil and butter in a pan. First, sauté the onion over medium heat.
- Then add the garlic (if garlic is added to the pan with the onion, it will fry too quickly and start to burn).
- Add the mushrooms and sauté for another 10 to 12 minutes.
- Add the sour cream.
- Mix well. Add salt and pepper. Keep on the heat for another 1 to 2 minutes, and it's ready.
- Delicious with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta. Don't be lazy and sprinkle with fresh herbs: it will be even more tasty and appetizing on the plate.
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This post was posted in Main Dish
Tuna stuffed tomatoes
Here is my recipe for tuna-stuffed tomatoes with mayonnaise. Choose small-sized tomatoes if you want to make an appetizer out of this recipe, and cherry tomatoes to serve as an appetizer.
Tuna stuffed tomatoes
Choose small-sized tomatoes if you want to make a starter out of this recipe, or cherry tomatoes to serve as an appetizer.
Ingredients
- 180 g canned tuna drained
- 1 hard-boiled egg peeled
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
- 4 small-sized tomatoes or 24 cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Mash the tuna using a fork.
- Grate the egg (or crush it with a fork).
- Mix the tuna with the egg and mayonnaise.
- Drizzle with lemon juice.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Cut the tops off the tomatoes to form a lid. Hollow them out without damaging the skin.
- Stuff the tomatoes (with the tuna mixture) and close the lids.
- Cherry tomatoes take longer to stuff, but they will make an impression at a party. 😉
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This post was posted in Appetizers
Prunes with prosciutto
The prunes are wrapped with thin slices of Italian raw ham, the prosciutto. Easy to prepare and quick to cook!
Prunes with prosciutto
It is possible to cook the prosciutto prunes in a pan but it is better and easier to prepare them in the oven.
Ingredients
- 7 thin slices prosciutto
- 20 prunes pitted
- 20 tooth picks
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 240°C (thermostat 8) and cover a baking tray with baking paper or aluminum foil.
- Cut the prosciutto slices into thirds lengthwise.
- Wrap each prune with a slice of prosciutto.
- Secure with a wooden skewer (tooth pick).
- Place the bites on the baking sheet and cook in the oven for 3-5 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
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This post was posted in Appetizers
Baked eggplant slices
The eggplants are cut into slices and roasted with salt, pepper and olive oil.
Eggplants with garlic are delicious whether served hot or cold, which is why they can be prepared in advance.
Baked eggplant slices
Tomatoes are not necessary in this recipe: they are mainly there to add color and make the dish more appetizing.
Ingredients
- 2-3 eggplants
- 1-3 cloves garlic
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3-4 Tsp olive oil
- Some fresh herbs (cilantro, green onion, parsley)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to the broil setting.
- Wash the eggplants and slice them into 0.7 cm thick rounds. Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Season with salt, pepper, and brush both sides with olive oil.
- Cook under the broiler for 15-20 minutes. Flip to the other side.
- Cook for another approximately 10 minutes.
- Peel the garlic, grate it using a fine grater (or crush it). Then spread it over the eggplant rounds before they cool down.
- Serve hot or cold, sprinkled with parsley or coriander. Add slices or wedges of tomato if desired.
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This post was posted in Appetizers
Zucchini Salad
A delicious and very simple way to consume raw zucchini. You will love this salad drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil.
Zucchini Salad
Ingredients
- 2 zucchinis washed
- 1 clove crushed garlic
- 1/2 lemon (juice)
- A trickle olive oil
- Salt and pepper from the mill
- A bit grated cheese (parmesan)
- A few leaves parsley finely chiseled (optional)
Instructions
- Cut both ends of the zucchinis. Using a mandoline or a vegetable peeler, slice them lengthwise into long, thin slices.
- In a small bowl, mix together the lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil.
- Place the zucchini slices in a dish, pour the sauce over them. Add salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately, or chill first in the refrigerator. Add fresh herbs just before serving.
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This post was posted in Salads
Walnut Cake with Plums
You will love this walnut cake with plums.
“All prunes are plums, but not all plums are prunes. When dried, plums are called prunes, but the prune fruit comes from a different type of plant than plums.”
Whatever you call them, they’re the best combination with walnuts! 🙂
Walnut Cake with Plums
Ingredients
- 240 g softened butter
- 200 g granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- 200 g sifted flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 160 g ground walnuts
- 6-12 pieces pitted dried plums (cut into 2-4pieces)
- 8-10 halves walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 380 degrees F. Generously butter a skillet.
- In a medium bowl combine butter and sugar together and beat until creamy.
- Add eggs, flour, baking powder and mix until the batter is smooth. Add ground walnuts and mix.
- Scrape the batter into the skillet and smooth the top with spoon. Lay slices of plums and walnuts halves on top of your cake.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes. (Check often last 5-10 minutes).
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This post was posted in Desserts