#22 QUICK MEAL: FETA VEG

Well I'm back in uni tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it actually, the only thing I'm not looking forward to is not being able to post as much anymore. But lucky for you and for me I have prepared some recipes so that I can still post while I'm busy studying. 

And being back in uni or work comes with not having enough time to cook properly, or so you think. But here's another one of my quick meals to make it easier for all of you working or studying.

It's another quick meal especially for all of you who like to eat vegetables but sometimes don't know what to do with them.

Because sometimes you just want some fresh food but just roasted vegetables are a bit too boring or just not the right thing. Well at least to me that happens sometimes.

I absolutely love feta cheese, it's amazing in greek salad but you can also do many more things with it. Just like I did here, use it to spice up your vegetables a little and make simple roasted veg into a lovely mediterranean meal.

I had it with rice but it is also really lovely with pasta, potatoes or just by itself if you want to avoid carbs.

Feta Veg
for one person

1/4 courgette
1/4 red/yellow pepper
1 tomato
1-2 slices of feta cheese
a few basil leaves
(you can also use aubergine or any veg you have)

simply cut all the veg into equally sized pieces
(that way they will be ready at the same time)
heat up a pan with olive oil or coconut fat
and fry the veg for about 3 minutes.
cover the pan for about 5 more minutes and the
veg should be done.

cut up the feta cheese and serve the veg with
whatever side dish (or without) you like.

enjoy!

Magdalena.

#21 FONDUE/BBQ SAUCES

So these are some sauces I made for new year's eve when my friends invited me over for fondue. I volunteered to make the sauces because I wanted to try some new things and I really enjoyed it, the beauty about them is that they're of course not just for fondue but for a BBQ or whatever else you like to have sauces with.

Fondue is a really great meal to have when having some friends over because everyone can take whatever they like and it is very communicative.
The sauces are one of the most important thing because they make everything a little bit more interesting, so I wanted to make sure there is something for everyone.

As I made these sauces for a party with about 10 people eating, I made quite a bit of sauce, you really never know how much you need. So I'll estimate the amount of ingredients you'll need for maybe 5 people. you can always make more then if you fancy it.

You can always play with the recipes and add some things or leave some out you don't like. You don't need to use these sauces with a fondue. tzatziki is great with any kind of grilled meat and all the rest are great for a BBQ too. it's always lovely to have something to give things a little more taste.

Tzatziki
1/2 Cucumber
1 glove of garlic
500 g greek yogurt
salt

put the yogurt in a bowl, grate the cucumberand crush 
the garlic and add to the yogurt. 
add some salt to taste.

ready to serve!

Hummus Parsley Sauce
300 g cooked chickpeas
3 tbsp water
1 handfull parsley
1/2 glove of garlic
lemon juice
salt

put the chickpeas and the water in a bowl
and puree them together. then add the parsley
and the garlic and puree again.
add some salt and lemon juice to taste.

enjoy!

Mango Mint Sauce
1 Mango
1 handfull of fresh mint
1 tbsp honey

peel the mango and puree it adding the mint
and the honey. you can add some salt
if you would like, I like it pure.

if you can find a really ripe mango you don't
need the honey. but I found you can barely
find one around here.

Magdalena.

#20 PIGGY CUPCAKES

I made this piggy cupcakes for when I was invited to a new year's eve party. Pigs are supposed to bring you luck in the new year and I thought cupcakes would be something new other than the traditional chocolate piggies.

They are of course perfect for new years but I mean, piggies are cute in general, how about taking them to a kid's birthday party or just share them with your friends when you have them over. they are cute no one can deny that and they taste good too! 
it's definitely always a good way to bring a smile to someone's face.
My friends really enjoyed them and I hope they bring them a lot of luck for this new year.

Piggy Cupcakes
for 12 cupcakes

for the dough120 g flour
100 g butter
100 g caster sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla sugar
1 tsp baking powder
5 tbsp yogurt
zest of 1/2 lemon

for the icing
well if you live in Austria you can simply buy
some "Punschglasur". but if you don't you can just
as easily make it yourself.

200 g icing sugar
tiny bit of red food colouring
1 tbsp rum or a bit of rum aroma
enough water to make a smooth paste

50 g dark chocolate


preheat the oven to 180°C

to make the dough, make sure the butter is at room
temperature, then beat it together with the sugar.
add vanilla sugar and lemon zest to the mixture.
add the eggs one at a time and beat until smooth.
mix the flour with the baking powder and carefully
fold it into the mixture. add the yogurt and make
a smooth dough.
spoon the dough into the cups and bake for about 10-15
minutes until golden. remove from the oven
and leave to cool.

for the icing, simply mix together all the ingredients
to make a smooth pink paste.
if you are using the "Punschglasur", simply follow
the instructions on the cup.
once the cupcakes have cooled you can carefully
spread the icing on top of them to form a smooth
surface. once that's done, let it cool for a bit.

melt the chocolate over steam (as always, make sure
the chocolate pan doesn't touch the water.)
use a piping bag or just any plastic bag and cut off a
tiny bit off the edge.
you can now give the piggy cupcakes faces so
they can smile at you and everyone you'll share
with.

create your own piggy face or you can use
mine as a template if you like.

enjoy! oink!

Magdalena.

#19 APPLES AND PEARS PIE

Apple pie is probably my favourite pie ever and most definitely one of the best desserts in the whole world.

It is also really great at this time of the year because you can add all those lovely spices like cinnamon to make it even more interesting.

This was my second apple pie in one week because the first one didn't look as nice and I wanted to perfect the recipe. I am quite happy with how this one looks and the recipe is great because it is so easy and easy to remember too. and you really don't need many ingredients at all. just get some lovely sweet apples, because it is really important what apples you get, I like gala, and get baking!

Believe me, everyone you share it with will absolutely love you!

Apples and Pears Pie

300 g flour
200 g butter
100 g sugar (you can use less though)
4-5 apples
1 pear
cinnamon

I usually make the dough first so you can
put it in the fridge and leave it to rest there.
So to make the dough, simply sieve the flower
onto the worktop. cut the butter into pieces
and work it into the flour. I like to use a knife
to do so.
Add the sugar and knead the dough to make it
even. don't do that for too long though
so the butter doesn't get too warm
make a ball, wrap it in foil and put it in the
fridge to rest.

Peel the apples and cut them into chunks (not too small)
put them in a pan and add some sugar and cinnamon.
leave them to caramelize over low heat for about
5 minutes or so. Then put aside and cover the pan.

You can now roll out the dough. you'll need about 2/3
of the dough for the base and the other 1/3 to cover
the pie.
first roll out the dough for the base and cover
your buttered cake tin with it.
Now roll out the rest of the dough into a circle.

pour the apple mixture into your dough and cut the
pears as you can see above and place on top
of the apples.
you can now cover it with the rest of the dough.
bake for about 40 minutes at about 180°C.

serve hot or cold. both lovely!

Magdalena.