Povitica (Croatian/Serbian/Slovenian Nut Roll)

Finally, I managed to make the debut bread of the year after being busy with lots of things around since the year has started ! I've spotted this bread recently on this site and just promptly felt like making it for no reason. Actually, this is not the first time I've seen this kind of bread but I didn't bother to try it for some reason back then.. anyway, here it comes!

My concern about this bread is that my hubby who doesn't fancy any kind of nut might not like the bread because it contains a lot of walnut in the filling..but nothing could overcome my own desire when it comes to baking..so I decided to make it anyway..:)

As for the result, much to my surprise.. not only my husband finished the whole cut piece of nicely done povitica I served without any complaint or comment, he also asked for the second piece..and even more surprise that he said 'yes please' when I asked later if he would want some more for tomorrow! And the next day while I am writing this post..both of my loved ones are happily eating the leftover on the sofa ..so  I couldn't help then but assume that this bread is such as a big success!

Ps. I've also posted this bread to yeastspotting hosted by Susan of Wildyeast..

Plain Orange-scented Pound Cupcakes

I've still continued with baking something simple and easy although it's not deliberately ! This cake is nothing but plain and basic pound cake that I've firstly seen on foodgawker..The photos posted on the original site made me convinced that it would be another great recipe of a plain but scrumptious pound cake..so why not to give it a try ??

What I love about this cake is a scent and taste of orange from zest put in the cake..incredibly, it  makes the cake much nicer and more charming ! My verdict is just to say that if you don't care about fat..then ther's no reason why not to give it a try!!

The recipe could be found here. ( I made them in a cupcake form to save time and problem of my oven, took about 20 mins. to get it done! )

Pollo Ropa Vieja

I've been giving some new recipes that I found or came accross here and there a try and fortunately,  none of them has made me disappointed so far ! This cuban dish is kind of a light version since the authentic dish of Ropa Vieja is normally made with flank steak. Anyway, I'd rather be on the healthier side, so I chose to make it with chicken.

The outcome was satisfying which made me doubt if it could be more delicious with beef. Next time I'll try the original version and let see which one is better. But this time it really made everybody happy and enjoy eating!!

The recipe could be found here.

 

Curried Lentil Soup

I personally prefer both cooking and eating stew to soup  and consequently, I don't make soup so often. However, this soup has attracted me with the photos posted on the site that is one of the blogs I regularly pay a visit and given lentil is my hubby's favourite food, so I had a good reason to give it a try !

When I finished cooking the soup, it was already late and the sunlight was nearly gone while I still got things to do in the kitchen, so I asked my hubby ( who has recently had only one good leg to stand with while the other has been disabled in the cast! ) to shoot photos of the soup for me..Ummm.. consequently, I has got only three good looking photos to be shown below.. LOL. Bon Appetit !

  

Blueberry Whipped Cream Cupcakes

Without any resolution made or set, I've started the new year so far with baking a few of plain and simple things while cooking some new and interesting recipes for meals and truly enjoy doing both!

Now talking about the cupcakes, I've found the original recipe from this site and there, what really grabbed my attention is the method of making the cake. Using whipped cream for the batter is one of things that I'd never tried it before, so it's a good and only reason why I gave it a try!

Anyway, as if it's not interesting enough, I got an idea of adding something into the plain cake just to jazz things up which somehow ended up with blueberries. And due to a limit of time, I then decided to make it in a cupcake form that doesn't take long for baking.. As for the result, the texture was quite fine and dense but top of everything, it's soo tasty and yummy!! To prove my words, the best way is to try it yourself..isn't it?? :)

Meen Ularthiyathu (Spicy Fish Stir Fry)

We normally eat fish once a week but it's always the same kind of fish and the same method of cooking which my husband has sometimes complained about it!  So, whenever I've found or come accross with something about fish that is new and interesting, I would certainly get excited and want to give it a try!

Given a rare chance of cooking and consuming a fresh tuna , I, therefore, was so keen to make this dish when I firstly saw it on this site and didn't wait that long to find out how delicious and flavorful it is! What a wonderful meal !

Toffee Cake ( The revised and better version )

A friend of mine had a trip to Thailand during the school winter break and she brought back few things that I wanted and like for me. Given a toffee cake is her favorite, I then decided to make it to give her in return and that seemed to be a win-win situation :)

This time, instead of the old version I've posted it here before, I used the new version that is slightly changed but it yielded the better outcome which made me proud enough to present it  right here!

Cake:

100 g cake flour

1.5 tbsps coffee powder

10 g Cocoa powder

100 g caster sugar

1 teaspoons baking powder

80 g butter, melted

3 large eggs

1/ 4 teaspoon salt

80 g evaporated milk

13 g SP or Ovalette ( emulsifier )

Topping :

150 g unsalted butter

100 g evaporated milk

110 g sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1.5 tsp coffee powder

3 tbsps AP  flour
210 g salted ( roasted ) cashew nuts