Chocolate pear molten cakes...

by Karolina, 18th November 2012

I have a sweet tooth...I really do.
It's really difficult for me to say no to the chocolate or cake.Or chocolate cake in that matter...

I do promise myself to not eat sweets anymore...but then again I find recipes like this one:
http://ourchocolateshavings.blogspot.com/2009/10/chocolate-pear-cakes.html

And tell me how can I resist?

Especially that this recipe involves lovely Fall produce - pears.
Pears and chocolate - another match made in heaven!

The recipe is fairly simple and I'm quoting after Chocolate Shavings with a few small changes:

Chocolate Pear Cakes
by Chocolate Shavings (my comments in Italics)
Serves 2

1/2 stick of butter (I used about 50g)
2 tablespoons of lightly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon of cake flour
1 good pinch of kosher salt
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
1 tablespoon of milk
2 pears
Pistachios (optional)
Preheat your oven to 350F (180 C). Add the softened butter and sugar to a medium-size mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add the egg and beat until just incorporated. Using a small whisk, whisk in the vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder. Add the flour mixture to the butter batter in small batches, whisking the mixture until homogeneous. Whisk in the milk.

Peel the pears making sure to leave the steam intact. Using a small knife or melon baller (I used apple corer), carefully scoop out the core of the pear leaving the pear intact. Ladle the batter evenly into 2 individual ramekins. Form a well in the middle of the batter with the back of a spoon and place the pear inside the well. Gently press down so that the batter settles around the pear. (It worked better for me to first place the pears into ramekins and then cover them with  the dough)
Bake for 20 minutes or until the top of the batter is set. The inside of the batter will be gooey so the toothpick test will not be a good indication here. Let the cakes cool and serve with chocolate ganache.
I added some crushed pistachios as well for extra boost and pinch of colour.

If you like gooey, chocolaty desserts - this one is for you. With a little less guilt afterwards - you're eating pear after all :)

Autumn leaves...

by Karolina, 11th November 2012

November....for some smell of Bonfire, for others taste of Halloween chocolates. Glow of candles on the cemetery or taste of Thanksgiving turkey. November has a lot of shades, smells and tastes...

Today, I'd like to show you how an autumn walk can result in a lovely decoration...

Leafy table runner...

To create the above, all you need is:

- leaves (that's where autumn walk is necessary :))
- paper
- glue gun
- pillar candles

As most of my DIY this one is pretty easy as well:
- take paper and cut a strip as long and wide as your required runner
- arrange big leaves in a pattern starting from the sides of the paper
- start gluing the leaves into the paper, making sure that no paper is visible
- gradually add more and more leaves to create interesting structure and colour pattern
- don't want to disappoint you but....we're done :)

This table runner will look really great as your Thanksgiving table centerpiece with added pillar candles (of course be very careful while using candles! Don't put anything on fire! If you have children around best would be to replace the candles with electric tea lights). Or add other autumn symbols on top - like pumpkins or apples.
Planning autumn dinner party? This one would be amazing decoration of your buffet table!

Try it!
It's an easy craft that gives you a stunning result!

Do you like it? I'd love to hear from you!

  

Speedy Hostess 4...or how to decorate the table in less than 5 minutes (Autumn edition)

by Karolina, 4th November 2012

Do you know this situation when you rush back home to prepare dinner for mid-week dinner party and you have absolutely no time to decorate your table? Yeah, me too...
This is for these times in life when you're stirring the pot with one hand and apply your mascara with the other.. Or for when you're hoovering, painting your nails and making canapes at the same time or when...well, you get the idea :)

And because it's autumn (or Fall - if you're from other side of the Pond)...
I'll show you a table centerpiece idea that will take you less than 5 minutes to prepare but will make a style statement...

Of course, I use pumpkin. It's probably the vegetable that screams the season the most.
Don't worry - no carving, painting and other crafting skills are needed for this one...

Actually you'll use things that you see in the picture above.

Pumpkin - check
Leaves - check (I'm sure you can run outside and grab some leaves. If you have kids - even better, they can get it for you)
Terracotta pot -check (if you don't have it just arrange the pumpkin on the leaves)

OK, now comes even easier part...
Take a few leaves, put the pumpkin on top of it, transfer to the pot...put it on the table...Done!

Well, I told you it was quick and easy.

And that's what you get. Simple, maybe little bit shabby chic style centerpiece.
Have more pumpkins - go for it, make more for more dramatic effect.

Do you have more time to spare or feel like making it more special?
Add ribbon or pack the pot in the piece of burlap or other textile, or paper of your choice.
Possibilities are endless really.
But I just wanted to show you that even if you're in a hurry you can create a seasonal centerpiece that will make your table more interesting and pulled together.

What is your seasonal decorating style this autumn?

Purple rain...

by Karolina, 28th October 2012

"Autumn had come, giving not a damn for the inconvenience it caused"- these words by Andrey Kurkov say it all...

The short days have come bringing the chill with it. Beautiful Indian summer is over and rainy, grey time had taken over :(

To fight cold weather blues I made these...

Purple madeleines with a hint of lavender.

As a base I used Dorie Greenspan's recipe for madeleines. After all if you learn, learn from the best!

However I was making violet madeleines, so I infused the butter with little bit of dried lavender and for the colour I used a few drops of coloring. I didn't want to have just one plain colour. So I added tiny drop of colouring when the dough was already in the madeleine pan and then swirled it using wooden stick. Like this I got pretty purple swirls.

I'm really happy with the result. I got nice fluffy madeleines with hint of lavender which reminded me of summer and quite quirky look :) Together with nice cup of tea made be forget the weather outside - so definitely reccomended.

And how do you like my madeleines?

What is your way to beat autumn blues? I'd love to hear from you!

Charming Chanterelles

by Karolina, 4th September 2012

And it's here- September.
I can't believe how quickly the summer came and went again.
No, I'm not complaining, I don't mind September at all actually. (If the weather is good that is)
It's quite nice when temperatures drop little bit but there's still nice warmth in the air.I love the autumn colours and lovely taste of plums, apples and pears.
But I'm missing already cherries and raspberries and hot weather which gives excuse for another ice-cream :) Can't help it...

Anyway, one of autumn staples recently visited my kitchen :)

And oh boy, what a wonderful guest it was :)
Chanterelles are not the most popular here and finding some with approachable price tag is not easy chore.
But I found them...gorgeous chanterelles!

Yes, I did a lot of mushroom pictures :)
OK, maybe it's strange but I really, really enjoy their shape and beautiful colour (yes, you can call me weirdo :))

These particular batch of chanterelles ended up in simple but nice dinner of polenta with creamy chanterelle sauce. Unfortunately I don't have picture of the ready dish (we were too hungry for making pictures - sorry).

However below picture will give you an idea:
- chanterelles
- bacon
- onion
- sage
- thyme

All this fried quickly on butter added good splash of white wine. Boiled little more and finished with a blob of cream.
Lovely sauce ended up on the bed of polenta with herbs and fresh pepper.

Seriously good stuff, really!
This sauce will be perfect with pasta as well - so give it a try.

Shall we have a one more look at the beautiful mushrooms?
Come on, I know you like it as well :)