Mandarin Shrimp With Rice - Foodie Wednesday

Mandarin Shrimp With Rice

If you asked me year ago to eat shrimp my answer would be.... NO WAY.....NO HOW.....absolutely NOT.

Honestly, I didn't know what I was missing.

I was cooking lots with seafood since my husband and both of my boys are big seafood lovers, but I wouldn't eat it.

During our Christmas brunch I tried my Garlic and Sun-dried Tomato Prawns and I was hooked.

Ever since then I've been looking for new ways to add  SEAFOOD to our dinner menu.

One of the seafood dishes that gained quick popularity among my hungry crowd is Mandarin Shrimp with Rice.

Sonic The Hedgehog Birthday Cake

Sonic The Hedgehog Birthday Cake

 Few weeks ago I made 3D Sonic The Hedgehog BIRTHDAY Cake for my little nephew....

I was little worried when he asked for Sonic and I wasn't sure if I can pull it off........,but where is a will the is a way.

Once I came up with a plan the execution of it was pretty simple so I decided to share it with you....

Tarator - Bulgarian Cucumber Soup

Tarator -  Bulgarian Cucumber Soup

 Everybody has their favorite food or dish for different time of the year.

I love cold soups..... Yes, there is nothing better then a bowl of cold cucumber soup also known as Tarator on a hot summer day.....no matter what anybody says....Cold Cucumber Soup is the total heat buster for me.....

I must admit that not many people around me share my love for Cucumber Soup, but comes summer I make a big bowl of Tarator once a week.

Decadent Chestnut Truffles

Decadent Chestnut Truffles

Every Fall I get the desire to make treats with CHESTNUTS..... I love chestnuts, but it's not that kind of love that I would eat them year round.

It's more like.....I have a craving.....I make and eat chestnut treats for few week....then I am DONE.....till next time!

I know....I know....it's still summer.....and it doesn't look like it's ending any time soon...., but.......last week  I shopped at  my favorite little Italian shop and guess what was on SALE?

Yep......Chestnut puree......I couldn't resist buying few jars for upcoming fall and suddenly the CHESTNUT craving came.....

Pork Schnitzel Or Schnitzel Wiener Art

Pork Schnitzel Or Schnitzel Wiener Art

Being born and raised in Central/Eastern Europe I developed my love for SCHNITZELS in very early age.

One could argue that first solid food given to babies in Central Europe is in fact a schnitzel.....just a little humor for you....no, we don't feed our infants schnitzels.....well, at least not before they get at least one tooth in.

There is a funny thing about schnitzels....you can have an AWESOME schnitzel....OK schnitzel.....and AWFUL schnitzel....it all depends on the cut of meat.....preparation and of course the secret ingredient.....LOVE.....

Easy Chicken Paprikash

Chicken Paprikash

Chicken Paprikash with Buttered Spaetzli......another memory from my childhood......

Fall-off-the-bone chicken in a creamy paprika sauce served with fresh homemade spaetzli.....YUM...YUM...YUMMY....

Nobody could make Chicken Paprikash like my Hungarian grandma......even my dad's Chicken Paprikash could not touch it...

Traditional Hungarian Chicken Paprikash  is made using whole cut up chicken and sour cream and it takes few hours to prepare.

Braised Pork & Peppers

Braised Pork and Peppers

I really didn't know what name should I give to this delicious dish. I settled on Braised Pork with Peppers.

I made it the other night just putting things together and hoping for the best.....as I usually do....and another great dish was born.

Braised Pork with Peppers was so good that it made it to the WINNER list in my family and it will featured on our dinner table again...chef Michael Smith would be proud.

Sandwich Roll

Sandwich Roll

Growing up I had an aunt who loved to cook and entertain. Every time I came for a visit  there was a guarantee that within 30 minutes there will be either meal or snacks in front of you.

Nothing fancy and hard, but simple and cute. You almost didn't want to eat it.....if it wasn't so delicious.

I remember my aunt making this  Ham & Cheese Roll for special occasions. It was one of my favorite cold appetizers. It was basically layers of ham, cheese, other cold cuts, special sour cream mixture and sometimes hard boiled eggs rolled into a tight roll.Let rest in a fridge overnight and cut into little rounds to serve.

Beef Rouladen (Španielsky Vtáčik )

Beef Rouladen (Španielsky Vtáčik )

Beef Rouladen is another recipe I grew up with and eventually started making my version for my family.

Beef Rouladen is called in Slovakia Španielsky Vtáčik (translation - Spanish Bird - not sure why).It is one of those recipes that your mom or grandma makes for special occasions or Sunday lunch.