Tag Archives: Blogging

Refreshing Sangria

 If you have such a hot summer as I do here (around 45C), you need a good refreshing cocktail to cool you off on a weekend.
 What about Sangria? It is a type of punch from Spain and Portugal, which is served during summer and in some parts of the countries year-round. 😀 Sangria is made from wine, fresh chopped fruit and sweetener, with an occasional addition of brandy (or vodka, rum, soda may be added). Sangria is named after the word ‘bleeding’ for its bold red color. Now it’s very popular party drink around the world.
 I’m bringing this pitcher, full of nicely spiced Sangria to Angie@Thenovicegardener party! The recipe is easy to multiply for crowds. Yahoo! A little party never killed nobody! 😀
Sangria-6

Refreshing Sangria

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print
A classic sangria of red wine and fresh fruits that’s easy to make ahead of time for outdoor gatherings.
Ingredients:
1-750ml bottle red wine, Rioja/Cabernet Sauvignon/Burgundy
200ml brandy
400-500ml  freshly squeezed orange juice
120ml/1/2 cup water
90g/1/2 cup sugar
1 large cinnamon stick
1 star anise
1 large orange
1 lemon
2 large apples
150g/1 1/2 cups seedless dark grapes
Ice cubes, for serving
Lemon or orange wheels, for garnish
500-700ml orange juice or sparkling water, for serving, optionally
Instructions:
  • In a small saucepan,  mix water, sugar and spices. Bring to boil and simmer the syrup over medium heat for 5 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved. Cool completely. Such syrup is called simple syrup.
  • Cut orange, lemon and apples into wedges; cut some grapes into halves.
  • In a large pitcher, combine the wine, brandy, juice and simple syrup. Add all of the fruit and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and all the flavours are melded, about 2-3 hours, or better overnight.
  • When sangria is ready, add some ice into the pitcher and stir to combine.
  • Serve over ice in a cocktail or wine glass; garnish with some of the soaked fruit and orange wheels. You can top with the desired amount of orange juice or sparkling water, if using.

ENJOY! ❤
Let’s sip it!
Super-refreshing drink
Great cocktail for outdoors
Sunny oranges
Sangria

Salad with sauteed vegetables

 I want to thank all for your lovely comments on my previous post!
What’s the weather in your country? What do you do to stay chilled? Hiding at home, eating ice cream all days long or chilling near the swimming pool with a cocktail..;) In Dubai almost everybody is hiding inside houses, malls.. Moreover, it’s Ramadan, to drink or eat in public is prohibited until the sunset.
I’m trying to eat more balanced and healthful meal this month, like the below salad. It’s summery and..just eat the salad, man! 😀

Veg salad-1

Salad with sauteed vegetables

  • Servings: 2-3
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print
Aromatic herbs make it so good and appetizing! Eat as is or with grilled sausages.
Ingredients:
2 zucchini/6-7 baby/~600g
2 medium apples, juicy and sour
6 cherry-tomatoes or 1 large tomato
1 red onion
1 clove of garlic, smashed
zest and juice of half lemon
1 tsp fresh thyme or 1/2 dried
2-3 Tbsp parsley/coriander/mint, finely chopped
salt, white pepper to taste
1-3 Tbsp olive oil
  • Cut the onion and slice into half moons. Heat the olive oil in a pan and fry the onion until tender.
  • Chop the tomato and apples, add to the pan along with garlic and thyme, mix and sauté for 2-3 minutes more. Discard the garlic, put the vegetable mixture in a bowl, set aside and keep in a warm place.
  • Slice zucchini, add it to the frying pan along with lemon zest and sauté on a medium hit until tender. Add more oil if needed.
  • Add the veg mixture into zucchini, mix and heat for 1-2 minutes.
  • Put all the veggies in a big serving bowl, add mint and/or parsley, salt&pepper and squeeze lemon juice. Drizzle some extra olive oil over the salad, if desired.
Enjoy!
milkandbun.com
Veg salad-3

Birthday trip

Hello my dear readers!

 I’ve been away from the blogging for some time, but I had a serious reason – it was by birthday and …  birthday trip!
 My beloved husband made me surprise and we went to Morocco. I can’t even describe how excited I was! Long time ago I watched one TV-series, where the main character lived for some time in Morocco and some action happened there also, and I had a great desire to visit this amazing country since then.
 Morocco had always seemed mysterious country to me, the country from cartoon Alla-din and the book ‘1000 and 1 night’..
The reality and impression about this place exceeded all my expectations. Magical places like Medina and various Souqs all over the major cities, the unique ambiance and atmosphere made Morocco indeed a one of its kind and worth to visit and see. I have got some pictures from the trip and going to share them with you very soon.
Rabat

Syrniki

 Syrniki are fried pancakes, which are made from cottage cheese and traditionally garnished with a sour cream. They are very popular and widely-cooked not only in Russia, also in Ukraine, Belarus and Poland. The word ‘syrniki’ is derived from Russian word ‘syr’ which means cheese.
 The main ingredients are cottage cheese, flour, eggs, sugar, sometimes raisins and vanilla. Commonly syrniki are eaten for freakfast, but could be served as a dessert.
 You can find a great variety of syrniki recipes, in one you should add one egg, in another three, in third just few spoons of flour or semolina flour, and etc. Finally, it doesn’t matter which recipe you’re using, just adjust it to suit your own taste.
TIPS:
Flour and sugar. One adds only few tablespoons of flour, in such option, might be difficult to shape syrniki and turn them over during frying, as they will be soft, but at the same time tender and creamy. Amount of sugar is totally depends on your preferences.
Filling. Raisins and vanilla are most popular ingredients for the syrniki filling, but you can go further – add cinnamon, dried apricots, plums or cherries, lemon or orange zest.
Dressing. Sour cream, jam and sweet condensed milk are the most favourite toppings for syrniki. If you neither like the one nor the other, make berry or chocolate sauce, or just dust it with icing sugar, or pour over some honey, add dulce de leche…
Syrniki-2
You can fry syrniki on a moderate heat in a frying pan for 5 minutes on each site or until golden-brown (using few tablespoons of sunflower oil). I propose you the recipe of an oven-baked syrniki, which is much better and healthier, as you don’t need to use oil.

Russian Syrniki

  • Servings: 3-4
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print
Ingredients:
Cottage cheese, 500g
Eggs, 2
Sugar, 2-4 Tbsp
Flour, 50-80g
a pinch of salt
Semolina, 2 Tbsp
Vanilla sugar or extract, 1 tsp, optional
Raisins/sultanas, 50g
Preparation:
  1. In a small bowl or mug, put raisins, cover with warm water and let it soak, meanwhile you do all below steps. Optionally, you can add a tablespoon of cognac, brandy or rum along with water for an extra flavor. Then pour the water out and wipe raisins.
  2. In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar and vanilla together and beat well until pale color (use hand whisk or electric mixer).
  3. Add flour, semolina, salt, raisins, and combine well.
  4. Shape beautiful syrniki -about 5cm/2inch in diameter and 1cm/0.5inch wide.
  5. Arrange syrniki on a greased baking tray and bake in preheated 200C/400F oven for 20-25 minutes or until nice golden color.
  6. Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream.
  7. You can keep all remaining syrniki in a fridge, and reheat them next morning.

Syrniki are so delicious that I could eat them every other morning. Cooking of syrniki is highly recommended as alternative to regular pancakes! 🙂

Enjoy! ❤

Syrniki-1

Syrniki-4

Mini Appetizer: Goat Cheese Balls

 Goat cheese must be the most controversial cheese. One does like it, another hate. What about you, dear reader? Do you like goat cheese or its odour is too pungent for you?
 Whatever you goat cheese stance, I suggest you to try it! May be you will find you earthreal cheese! 🙂
 I couldn’t find a good goat cheese, when I lived in Russia, there was no any variety even in supermarkets. You could find the goat milk, which was sold by farmers in the countryside, but usually only milk, they didn’t produce any goat cheese. There were plenty of soft and hard farmer cheeses but made from cow milk. Thus many people haven’t try goat cheese. Of course the situation has changed now.
 I was amazed how many goat cheeses are sold in Dubai: fresh, soft and creamy, aged, etc, which are brought here from Europe (usually from France).
 Once I watch a food-show and chef made a salad with mini cheese balls, covered with parsley. I liked the idea.. After several days  I created my own appetizer to impress my guests.
 It looks like a gourmet appetizer, and it’s certainly good if you don’t want to hang around the kitchen for hours. 😉
Goat cheese starter

Mini Appetizer: Goat Cheese Balls

  • Servings: 5-6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print
If you want to make it ahead of time, you can roll the balls and roast beetroots 1 to 2 days beforehand.
Ingredients:
150g soft goat cheese (I used honey-flavoured)
1 Tbsp cream cheese
a pinch of sea salt
1/3 tsp white or pink pepper, freshly ground
1-3 Tbsp walnuts, finely chopped
1-3 Tbsp fresh thyme, sage, flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1-2 small beetroots
1-2 small tomatoes
Dressing:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp wholegrain mustard
1/2 tsp liquid honey
Method:
  1. Wash and clean beets, cover with a foil and bake in preheated oven 200C/400F for 30-45 minutes, depends on the beets’ size.
  2. Cut the beets and tomatoes into equal circles, and arrange them on a serving plate.
  3. In a bowl combine goat and cream cheeses along with salt, pepper and walnuts. Spoon cheese mixture and form into balls (you can use table or teaspoon, depends on a size of your choice).
  4. Gentle roll the balls in herb mixture, coating well. Place onto vegetables.
  5. Serve immediately (with fresh arugula or young chard leaves, if desired), or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  6. Optionally, you can make a dressing and pour over cheese balls and salad.
TIP: You can add 1-2 fresh or dried finely chopped figs into the cheese mixture.
I’m bringing this dish over to FF tonight! Hopefully, someone has brought a good bottle of wine.. 😉 And don’t forget to bring the good mood to the party!
 ENJOY!
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