Crepes with Walnut Filling

I have not met a person that didn't like crepes. Sweet or savoury I will never say no to a good crepe. Well, unless it is that sponge like crepe wanna-be you can purchase in a package at your local supermarket. Then, no thank you...you can keep that.

Good crepe must be thin, soft and fresh from the griddle or pan.

My children love crepes and over the years I made them many different ways, but the number one choice in my house are Walnut Crepes.

Crepes with Walnut Filling

Growing up my dad used to make them for us as a special treat. Now every time I make these for my own children I daydream a bit. Back then I couldn't wait to grow up and now I would give anything to go back once in awhile.

I hope you will enjoy these crepes as much as my family does.

Ingredients for crepes:

• 1 cup Milk
• 1 cup Mineral Water
• 1 Egg
• 1 1/4 Flour
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1 Tbsp Vanilla
  
• 1 Tsp Baking Soda
• 1 Tsp Baking Powder

Mix all the ingredients with an electric mixer and let it sit overnight or for at least an hour.

Ingredients for the Walnut Filling:

• 1 1/2 cup Ground Walnuts
• 1 Tbsp Butter
  
• 1 cup Milk
• 1/4 cup Sugar
• 1 Tbsp Spiced Rum
• 1/4 cup Raisins (optional)

In a pan melt the butter and roast the walnuts for few minutes. Add the milk, sugar, rum and raisins. Cook over medium high heat till it thickens. Stir frequently.

Make the crepes. Spread the walnut filling onto the crepes about 2 Tbsp per crepe. Fold then into quarters. Sprinkle with nuts, chocolate and whipped cream.

Raspberry Tiramisu

First time I tried Tiramisu I was hooked.The name says it all: "pick me up".

Tiramisu when made properly is like a little taste of heaven. Being married to an Italian I tasted my share of out-of-this-world Tiramisu.

I am at the point that I can't order Tiramisu in a restaurant because 90% of the time I get upset when they serve me something totally different and gross they call Tiramisu. That is the ultimate insult if you ask me.

Raspberry Tiramisu

I've been making my own Tiramisu since I got married and fell into the Italian clan.

Last night I made little different version of Tiramisu. I call it: "my children friendly version". My boys don't like the original version that much due to it's strong coffee taste. So I always make one with less coffee and I add fresh raspberries.

Ingredients:

• 24 Lady Fingers
• 3 Tbsp Instant Coffee
• 1 cup Water
• 1/4 cup Kahlua
• 250g Mascarpone Cheese
• 1 1/2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1/3 cup Powdered Sugar
• 1 cup fresh Raspberries
• Cocoa

You will need 9" square deep dish or brownie pan.

In a bowl combine together instant coffee, water and Kahlua. Soak 12 Lady Fingers in the coffee mixture and lay them on the bottom of the pan.

Whip the heavy cream with electric mixer till thick, beat in the powdered sugar and then slowly beat in the Mascarpone cheese. Make sure the mixture is thick and smooth.

Spread half of the cream onto the layer of Lady Fingers, spread the raspberries evenly. Soak the remaining 12 Lady Finger in the coffee mixture. Place them on top of the raspberries. Cover with the rest of the cream and sprinkle with cocoa.

For the best results let it rest in the fridge overnight.

Pineapple Carrot Loaf

My darling son woke up this morning with fever and swollen eye. I had to take to an emergency and the doctor gave him heavy duty pills to bring the infection and swelling down.

My son doesn't do well with large pills and these particular pills must be taken with food or there will be price to pay. I don't know about you, but when he's sick he won't eat most of the foods he usually does.

Pineapple & Carrot Loaf

I decided to make him a nice and moist loaf that he can have with glass of milk and his large pills.

I didn't wanted to make it overly sweet and I wanted to make sure it has some nutritional value so I decided to make Pineapple Carrot Loaf. For extra goodness I added brown sugar and whole wheat flour.

It turned out great and my sick boy was very happy. He would eat the whole loaf if I let him.

Ingredients:

• 4 Eggs
• 3/4 cup Oil
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 3/4 cup Sugar
• 1 1/2 cup Crushed Pineapple (drained)
• 2 cups Carrots (shredded)
• 2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 3 cups Flour
• 1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 2 Tsp. Baking Soda
• 1 Tsp. Baking Powder
• 1 Tsp. Salt
• 1 Tsp. Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease two 9" loaf pans.

In a large bowl beat together the eggs, oil, brown sugar and sugar. Add shredded carrots, crushed and drained pineapple and vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl mix together flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

Add the flour mixture into the batter and combine together until moist. Don't overmix it. Pour the mixture into the loaf pans.

Bake for about 60 minutes or until done. Let it cool down.

Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding - Zemlovka

My grandma was a wonderful cook. I remember growing up I used love to come over for dinner every Friday night. Friday was a Meatless Day at grandma's house and that meant something delicious and maybe sweet would be served.

One of my favorite dishes was Zemlovka. I don't know the proper name for it in English so after a little consultation with my hubs and my boys (the testing team) we decided to call it Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding.

Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding

I noticed I have some old panini rolls I need to use so I decided to make this bread pudding dish tonight for our first Meatless Monday ( something I am trying out we'll see if it will sticks with my meat loving family).

To make this great dish is not very difficult and the result is oh, so yummy.

Ingredients:

• 5 Panini or Kaiser Rolls (day or two old)
• 2 cups Milk (lukewarm)
• 4 Tbsp Sugar
• 2 cups Cottage Cheese (optional)
• 2 Tsp Cinnamon
• 3 Apples (large & shredded)
• 4 Tbsp Sugar
• 4 Egg Whites
  
• 2 Tbsp Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease casserole dish or dutch oven dish.

Cut the rolls into 1/2'" slices. Mix the lukewarm milk with 4 tablespoons of sugar. Dip the bread slices into the milk mixture one by one and make a single layer on the bottom of the casserole dish.

Mix the cottage cheese together with the cinnamon and layer it on top of the bread. The spread all of the shredded apples on top of the cottage cheese. Sprinkle it with 4 tablespoons of sugar.
Dip the rest of the bread in the rest of the milk and completely cover the apple layer.

Put the bread puddings in the oven for 20 minutes.

5 minutes before the end beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks, beat in powdered sugar.

Take the bread pudding out of the oven. Cover it with the layer of meringue and bake it for another 4-5 minutes or until the meringue looks done.

Let is sit for 10-15 minutes and then serve it.

Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding - Zemlovka

You can use apricots instead of apples. Also the cottage cheese is optional. Remember if you choose not to use the cottage cheese mix the cinnamon with the shredded apples. Another way to make it even better is to use raisin bread or brioche instead of old buns.

10 Useful Cooking Tips

I love cooking and baking....can you tell?

Over the years I picked up some very useful tips and ideas how to make cooking and baking easier and food tastier.

I love to talk food and exchange recipes so when anybody mentions anything to do with kitchen and food I listen and take mental notes. I really need to walk around with a notepad.

So today instead of posting another recipe I want to share 10 Useful Cooking Tips with you in hopes that you will share some of yours with me.

1. To Squeeze Every Bit of Juice From Your Lemon put it in to the microwave for 20 seconds to soften the flesh.
2. To Have Perfect Sauteed Mushrooms make sure your pan is large enough so the mushroom slices don't touch. Perfect mushrooms should be crispy on the outside and firm on the inside.
3. To Make Sure Your Cutout Cookies Keep Their Shape when they ready to come out of the oven just arrange your cutout cookies on the cookie sheet and put them in the fridge for about 30 minutes or freezer for about 10 minutes before baking.
   
   
4. Don't End Up With Sweet Tomato Sauce substitute the sugar you put in to control the acidity with 1 large carrot instead.
5. Secret to a Homemade Tender Burger is mixing the ingredients lightly only until combined. Over mixing will break down the proteins and you'll end up with dry burgers.
   
   
6. To Color White Chocolate add the food coloring before you melt it. Otherwise the melted chocolate will harden right after you add the coloring.
7. Keep Green Salad Crisp for hours in a bowl by sprinkling the washed and dried leaves with little bit of sea salt to absorb the moisture.
8. To Make Perfect Meringue every time make sure you crack and separate the eggs while they're cold straight out of the fridge. Don't whip the whites before they reach room temperature.
   
   
9. For The Best Tasting Mashed Potatoes cook your potatoes whole with their skin on. After they're soft, drain them, cool the potatoes down and mashed as you normally would.
10. Love Fresh Fish - Don't like the Smell just soak the fresh fish fillets in a solution made from 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda for 10 minutes. Don't forget to rinse afterward.
    

Orange Pumpkin Loaf With Chocolate Chips

Recently I discovered love for Pumpkin Puree. I never used to bake anything with pumpkin. Even my pumpkin pie was bought at Costco.

My first experience with pumpkin puree were my Puff Pastry Mini Pumpkin Pies. They were such a hit that I decided to keep experiencing with pumpkins.

The next were cookies. Not just any cookies, but Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with Cinnamon Glaze.

Orange Pumpkin Loaf with Chocolate Chips

So today I decide to take it a step further and use pumpkin puree in my loaf.

I introduce to you Orange Pumpkin Loaf with Chocolate Chips.

This recipe is for 2 - 9" loaves.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup Butter (salted, room temperature)
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 1 1/2 cup Sugar
• 4 Eggs (beaten)
• 2 cup Pumpkin Puree
• 1/2 cup Water
• 1 Large Orange
• 4 cups Flour
• 1 Tsp Baking Powder
• 2 Tsp Baking Soda
• 1 Tsp Salt
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Preheat your oven to 350F. Grease 2 - 9" loaf pans.

In a large bowl cream together the butter, brown sugar and sugar. Slowly add the beaten eggs one at the time. Add the pumpkin puree and water. Mix together well.

Add the zest from the orange to the mixture. Peel the orange and chop it up into small pieces. Then add it to the batter.

In a separate bowl combine together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix it well and slowly add it to the batter. After everything is well mixed add the chocolate chips.

Divide the batter in half and spoon it into the loaf pans. Bake for about 60 minutes or till toothpick comes out clean. Let it cool down before cutting.

You can serve if with different kinds of butter.

I serve it with my homemade honey cinnamon butter.

Pumpkin & Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere.....

Thanksgiving is over (Canadian) and I ended up with a lots of pumpkins. Being the frugal wannabe I am these days I decided to make some healthy cookies from pumpkin puree.

Pumpkin & Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Of course, the cookies can't be too healthy otherwise my children won't touch them. So I added some chocolate chips and raisins to my version of Pumpkin Cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Salted Butter (1 stick - melted)
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
• 1 lg Egg (beaten)
• 1 Tsp Baking Powder
• 1 Tsp Baking Soda
• 1 Tsp Vanilla
• 1/2 Tsp Allspice (or Pumpkin Pie Spice)
• 15oz Pumpkin Puree
  
• 2 cups Flour
• 1 cup Oats
• 1,5 cup Raisins
• 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Preheat the oven to 375F.

In a large bowl mix together the sugar, brown sugar and melted butter. Cool down enough to add the beaten egg. Stir in the baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, Allspice, raisins and chocolate chips. Mix it well together.

Add the oats and slowly mix in the flour little bit at a time.

Let the cookie dough cool down in the fridge for about 10 minutes.

Drop the dough by spoonful onto greased cookie sheet. Flatten the pumpkin cookies with a back of the spoon.

Bake for 13-15 minutes. Slightly cool down and drizzle with Cinnamon Glaze.

Pumpkin Cookie Dough

Cinnamon Glaze:

• 1 cup Icing Sugar
• 1,5 Tbsp Milk
• 1/2 Tbsp Cinnamon Extract

Mix together till desired consistency. Drizzle over cool cookies.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies with Cinnamon Glaze

Orange and Chocolate Mousse

Orange and Chocolate Mousse Cups

This is a very easy recipe for a great tasting dessert.

The other day I was surprising my friend with a Halloween Birthday Cake....the cake was filled with ORANGE and CHOCOLATE Mousse filling...

Since I made little bit too much Orange mousse as well as chocolate MOUSSE I decide to turn it into a little Sunday Dinner dessert for my family.

As always....I found in my pantry box of ready-to-serve Belgium CHOCOLATE cups and the rest was just to scoop up some mousse and make it look pretty....

The result.....You can easily serve this at your next dinner party..... It looks impressive and tastes divine.

Orange and Chocolate Mousse

PRINTABLE RECIPE:

Orange Mousse:

• 3/4 cup Orange Juice
• Orange Rind from 1 large Orange
• 1/3 cup Sugar
• 1 Tbsp Clear Gelatin (1 package)
• 2 Tsp Triple Sec or Grand Marnier
• 1,5 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

STEP 1: In a pot bring to boil orange juice, orange rind and sugar. Remove from heat.

STEP 2: Dissolve gelatin according to it's package and add it to the orange mixture.

STEP 3: Add the Triple Sec and stir well. Cool it down till it's starts to thicken.

STEP 4: In a large bowl whip the whipped cream until firm.

STEP 5: Fold in little bit of the whipped cream into the cold orange mixture till well combined. Gently fold in the rest of the whipped cream, cover and chill in the fridge.


Chocolate Mousse:

• 6 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate (I use Belgium)
  
• 2 cups Heavy Whipped Cream

STEP 1: In a large bowl melt  chocolate in a double boiler over a hot (not boiling) water until smooth. Cool it a bit.

STEP 2: In another bowl whip the whipped cream until firm.

STEP 3: Add little bit of the whipped cream into the cooled chocolate and mix well till combined. Gently fold in rest of the whipped cream. Cover and chill in the fridge.

Orange and Chocolate Mousse

When you're ready to serve it just scoop little scoops into the chocolate cups and decorate with fresh fruit.

You can also serve it in a nice Martini glasses with a some fresh strawberries and fresh mint.

 ...............Just in case you were wondering about the Halloween Birthday Cake.............

The 20 Worst Kids Foods according to MSN.com

This morning an article on MSN.com caught my eyes.

It was called The 20 Worst Kids Foods In America.

I was shocked by the nutritional values of some kids meals. There should be a law against this. These poor kids have no way of knowing what they are putting into their bodies. I bet if you explain to them what is in each meal lots of them would refuse to eat it.

Did you know that some restaurants actually serve a Grilled Cheese Sandwich with the same amount of fat as 25 strips of Bacon? That's just wrong.

The worst part is that some of the meals actually sound kind of healthy. I can even imagine how much chemicals and artificial flavors they must put in in order to make it so UNHEALTHY.

We do eat at many different restaurants, but I do pay attention to what my children order. There are times that their choice is not the best, but that's part of life.

When my older son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes we had to start counting carbs and calories for every meal he eats. That was an eye opener for me (not that we were unhealthy eaters before). I purchased a handy little pocket book called Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter available at Calorie King.

This little book not only contains nutritional values to every food imaginable, but it also includes nutritional values for 200 Fast Food Chains and Restaurants across U.S. and Canada. I highly recommend this book for every mom out there.

Anyway, after reading the article on MSN I decided that I must share it with all of you.

The 20 Worst Kids Meals In America:


1.Uno Chicago Grill Kids' Kombo with French Fries

• 1,250 calories
• 79 g fat (11.5 g saturated)
• 2,850 mg sodium

2.P.F. Chang's Crispy Honey Chicken on Brown Rice

• 1,210 calories
• 51 g fat (9 g saturated)
• 610 mg sodium

3.Burger King Kids' Double Cheeseburger with Small Fries and Coke

• 1,100 calories
• 52 g fat (17.5 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)
• 1,870 mg sodium

4.Baskin-Robbins Small Snickers Shake

• 1,040 calories
• 50 g fat (26 g saturated, 1 g trans)
• 112 g sugars

5.Denny's Little Dipper Sampler with Honey Mustard Dressing Dipping Sauce and Deep Space French Fries

• 1,030 calories
• 61 g fat (15 g saturated)
• 1,590 mg sodium

6.Chili's Pepper Pals Little Chicken Crispers with Ranch and Homestyle Fries

• 1,010 calories
• 75 g fat (13 g saturated)
• 1,780 mg sodium

7.Uno Chicago Grill Kid's Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza

• 980 calories
• 70 g fat (20 g saturated)
• 1,860 mg sodium

8.On the Border Kids Bean and Cheese Nachos

• 980 calories
• 57 g fat (29 g saturated)
• 1,850 mg sodium

9.Romano's Macaroni Grill Fettuccine Alfredo

• 890 calories
• 67 g fat (38 g saturated)
• 1,480 mg sodium

10.Boston Market's Kids' Meat Loaf with Sweet Potato Casserole and Cornbread

• 890 calories
• 46.5 g fat (17.5 g saturated)
• 131 g carbohydrates
• 1,500 mg sodium

11.Ruby Tuesday Kids Turkey Minis & Fries

• 873 calories
• 46 g fat
• 88 g carbohydrates

12.Uno Chicago Grill Kid's Sundae

• 860 calories
• 38 g fat (20 g saturated)
• 94 g sugars

13.Oscar Mayer Maxed Out Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Combo Lunchables

• 680 calories
• 22 g fat (9 g saturated)
• 61 g sugars
• 1,440 mg sodium

14.Au Bon Pain Kids' Grilled Cheese

• 670 calories
• 41 g fat (25 g saturated)
• 1,060 mg sodium

15.Auntie Anne's Pepperoni Pretzel Pocket

• 650 calories
• 27 g fat (12 g saturated)
• 1,120 mg sodium
• 11 g sugars

16.Atlanta Bread Company Peanut Butter & Jelly

• 550 calories
• 15 g fat (3.5 g saturated)
• 690 mg sodium
• 34 g sugars

17.Bob Evans Smiley Face Potatoes

• 524 calories
• 31 g fat (6 g saturated)
• 646 mg sodium

18.SunnyD Smooth Style (16 ounces)

• 260 calories
• 60 g sugars

19.Austin Cheese Crackers with Cheddar Jack Cheese (1 package)

• 210 calories
• 10 g fat (2 g saturated, 4 g trans)
• 370 mg sodium

20.Cap'n Crunch Cereal (1 cup)

• 146 calories
• 2 g fat (1 g saturated)
• 16 g sugars
• 1 g fiber

Please, remember that all of these are Kids Meals or Food that our children eat.

If you like to read the whole story with all the ugly details you will find it on MSN.com