Posts on Pics and Cakes

Pumpkin, Oat and Chocolate Muffins

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:13:57 +0000

This recipe is another one of those healthy ones, since it skips refined sugars, refined flours and fats. The result is a fairly decent and tasty treat but, although it's fluffy, the texture is a little "chewy" for my taste and a bit moist, as tends to happen with recipes that include other vegetables (zucchini, carrot, etc.). All in all, for me this is a treat that works well for eating with less guilt and in a healthier way, but they're not the muffins I'd make for a special occasion or when I really want to treat myself or someone else.

Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 11:38:52 +0000

One day I woke up, saw this gorgeous brioche-style sweet bread on Claudia&Julia's Instagram, and knew I had to make it. In my case, I made two loaves, a medium one and a small one to give away. I really liked the texture, though I think I should have been more patient with the first proof of the dough so it would rise more and be fluffier. My taste-testers loved it; I'll have to make it again to truly enjoy it once my brain decides to start picking up the aroma and flavor of cinnamon again, after fully recovering from the aftereffects of damn COVID-19.

Banana, Cocoa and Peanut Butter Loaf

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 18:23:53 +0000

A healthy loaf cake with a moist texture and a strong peanut butter flavor. Definitely not for everyone, but I'm crazy about it. These flavors are addictive for me and I can't really hold back. The good news is that the ingredients are healthy and, even though we can't really call it diet food — especially because of the peanut butter — we know it's a pretty moderate treat.

I got the recipe from @petit_fit's Instagram profile, but I tweaked it a little. Here's my version. Hope you like it.

Chocolate and caramel cake with banana and crunchy cereal layer

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 12:07:11 +0000

This time I wanted to make a chocolate cake that didn't have a super intense pure-chocolate flavor, since some of my taste-testers aren't huge fans of that level of intensity. The banana filling won me over as a way to balance out all that sweetness, and the crunchy layer adds a bit of joy to creamy desserts.

The recipe is from Ettore Cioccia, although I made several changes to the filling and decoration because I wanted to use up ingredients I had at home and try out some new things. So here's my version of this delicious cake — I hope you like it. It's not a complicated cake, but it does have several components and requires patience and planning to give yourself enough time, considering all the chilling/freezing times involved.

Sweet Potato Pseudo-Quiche

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:43:05 +0000

This is a different way to make a pseudo quiche or savory tart, and it's also a great alternative for those who can't or don't want to eat gluten. Compared to a traditional quiche, it's missing the crunch of the shortcrust pastry, but on the upside it's less calorie-dense and adds a really pleasant hint of sweetness.

Ingredients

1 large sweet potato
4 eggs
350 ml (1.5 cups) milk
85 g (3 oz) fresh spinach
100 g (3.5 oz) sun-dried tomatoes
110 g (4 oz) goat cheese
A handful of chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons cream cheese (I used Skyr)
Salt, pepper, and extra virgin olive oil

Method

Chocolate and Mango-Passion Roll Cakes

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 17:59:35 +0000

This recipe comes from Ettore Cioccia, who I call "my master" because I've followed several recipes from his blog Bavette and they all turn out amazing. On top of that, I had the luck of attending a pastry course he gave in Madrid and I couldn't have enjoyed it more. So if you feel like making a delicious dessert and spending a good while in the kitchen putting together different components, you can pick any of Ettore's recipes and you'll be guaranteed success. Today I'm sharing my version of his chocolate and mango-passion fruit roll cakes. The only thing I did differently from his recipe was the pionono sponge, since I used the one from another pastry great: Osvaldo Gross.

Pickled Mussels

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 16:48:22 +0000

At first I thought this would be one of those recipes that wasn't worth making at home, but how wrong I was. I felt like making the escabeche, seeing the method, and checking whether I could pull off that characteristic flavor. I liked it so much that I've repeated the process about three times this summer. They go a long way and keep for several days in the fridge, so there's no excuse not to have a really tasty homemade appetizer on hand.

Tuna and Avocado Poke with Mango Huancaína

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 20:49:29 +0000

I made this recipe following the exact steps from Kitchen Club, and honestly, if the ingredients promised to be a flavor bomb, the result was even better than expected. So many flavors that combined perfectly. If anything, the little fried egg would be a dispensable element, but the sauce was delicious and made all the tasters go back for seconds. Presentation-wise it didn't turn out anywhere near as spectacular as the original recipe, but the flavor was up to par.

Dorayaki

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 20:26:49 +0000

Dorayaki are a traditional Japanese sweet that you probably know as the favorite food of the cartoon character Doraemon. They're a type of pancake cooked in a pan and sandwiched together (kind of like a Codan shell, but a bit thicker). The traditional filling is anko, a sweet paste made from azuki beans and sugar. Anko is used in lots of Japanese desserts, so if you've never tried it, I encourage you to give it a chance — even if the words "bean" and "sweet" don't sound too tempting together in the same sentence.

American Pancakes

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 20:56:43 +0000

And this is the exact title of recipe number 1029 in the book «1080 Recetas» by Simone Ortega, a classic of Spanish kitchens. It really can't get any simpler or more delicious. There are loads of pancake variations out there, but let's start with the basics and just enjoy ;-).

Pancakes with dark chocolate and toasted coconut

Ingredients

200 g (1 ⅔ cups) flour
½ teaspoon of salt (in Simone's words: «the mocha-spoon kind», so really tiny)
3 teaspoons of Royal-type baking powder
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 eggs
1 glass (a water glass) of cold milk (about 200 ml / ¾ cup + 1 tbsp)

Method

Swiss Buns

Fri, 17 Nov 2017 22:26:41 +0000

There are recipes you see and immediately you're dying to try at least once in your life. The results in the photos online look so perfect it seems impossible you'll ever get something even remotely similar. Well, that's exactly what happened to me with these incredible Swiss buns from María Lunarillos's blog, and I have to say I pulled it off: they came out simply spectacular. I'm sharing the recipe just as I made it, since the proofing times are quite different from the original. Be warned, this isn't one for when you're in a rush, but it's totally worth it…

Meatballs in Sauce

Thu, 09 Nov 2017 22:32:56 +0000

We're back at it after a long stretch of inactivity. It doesn't mean we stopped cooking tasty things during all those months, but laziness sometimes wreaks havoc... However, as a good friend once said, you have to defeat laziness. So, with the intention of picking up this little recipe collection again, Pics&Cakes is back in action. That said, since our official photographer is pretty busy these days, the photos might not do justice to the delicious things we'll be making. Apologies in advance.

Chickpea Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Fri, 23 Sep 2016 13:57:44 +0000

Just because summer is over doesn't mean we have to say goodbye to salads. Today, a super simple and quick recipe for a tasty, healthy chickpea salad. Since we're using pre-cooked chickpeas, it takes no more than 5 minutes to put together, so there's no excuse. Enjoy!

What do we need?

1 can of cooked chickpeas
2 tomatoes
1/2 onion
1 small can of corn
Mustard
Herbes de Provence
Salt and pepper
Oil and vinegar

How do we make it?

First, drain the canned chickpeas and rinse them with cold water to get rid of that characteristic canned taste. Place them in a large bowl.
Dice the tomatoes and onion and add them to the bowl with the chickpeas.
Add the corn.
In a glass jar, make a vinaigrette. The usual ratio is three parts oil to one part vinegar. For this salad, you can pour about two finger-widths of oil into the jar, a third of that in vinegar, 1 teaspoon of mustard, 1 teaspoon of herbes de Provence, and a pinch of salt. Close the jar tightly and shake vigorously until the mixture has emulsified. Taste and adjust with whatever ingredient suits your liking.

Tips:

– As with all salads, more than a recipe, this is a suggestion. Feel free to add other ingredients or seasonings you have in the fridge.

Black Garlic Burger

Thu, 08 Sep 2016 12:03:00 +0000

A really simple recipe where all the originality comes down to a single ingredient: black garlic. Black garlic is just regular garlic that has gone through a specific slow-fermentation process, which transforms its look and texture and boosts its nutritional properties. For this burger we'll use it both to season the ground beef and for the accompanying sauce. The flavor is a little peculiar — feel like giving it a try?

Pure Cocoa Bundt Cake

Fri, 12 Aug 2016 13:56:58 +0000

To kick off the weekend, the holidays, celebrate Madrid's La Paloma festivities… any excuse is a good one to bake this wonderful, fluffy cocoa cake. I got this recipe from Alma Obregón's blog and only made a few small tweaks (Cesmm always tells me I'm incapable of following a recipe to the letter… could it be true?). Made with pure cocoa instead of chocolate, it feels lighter, and the syrup on top is perfect for those who love bitter, not-too-sweet chocolate. Bundt cakes are those ring-shaped cakes with a hole in the middle. Technically, only Nordic Ware® brand cakes are bundt cakes, but the name is generally used for any cake of this shape. If you want to learn more about its history and even when its international day is celebrated, you can read about it here.

Spinach, Feta and Poppy Seed Salad

Thu, 28 Jul 2016 18:15:26 +0000

Cicadas singing, getting into a car that's 46°C (115°F), sweating like a pig, and not being able to open more windows at night because your house simply doesn't have any — clear signs that summer has arrived and with a vengeance. So, faced with this heat, we're going to fight back with cool, refreshing meals to survive the summer season. Kicking off salad season, today we're bringing you a spinach salad. It's such a simple recipe that you couldn't even call it a recipe — just a suggested combination of ingredients to inspire your next salads.

Chicken and Lamb Kebab

Thu, 11 Jun 2015 16:01:02 +0000

Everyone who visits Turkey says that the kebab there is nothing like the ones we eat in Spain, so at this point I'm not entirely sure what to call this. In any case, what I can promise you is that it's delicious and the preparation couldn't be simpler. We discovered this recipe thanks to the YouTube channel Recetas de Cocina, which is always worth a visit. Give these kebabs a try and let us know how it goes.

Strawberry Petit Suisse

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 19:52:43 +0000

For many of you, this is probably a childhood memory, and I bet that every once in a while you get tempted to buy them again and eat two in a row without your mom scolding you. Well, if I tell you that you can make them at home and that the size is up to you, I think you should already be on your way out to buy some good ripe strawberries.

Banana Muffins

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:58:37 +0000

Today we’re bringing you a muffin recipe. Muffins are similar to Spanish magdalenas but, unlike those, they usually use butter instead of oil and the batter isn’t as smooth (you just mix the ingredients without having to beat them). Also, muffins can be either sweet or savory and they take a wide variety of “chunks” inside (chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, etc.). Don’t confuse them with the famous cupcakes that are so trendy these days, which are always sweet and decorated with buttercream or some other kind of frosting.

Crispy Chicken Burger

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 17:22:09 +0000

Believe it or not: we’re back! After months (literally) with our blog in some kind of hibernation, we’re back at it and hoping that this time our willpower won’t fade so fast. We’re returning with that recipe that’s been sitting at the top of the blog for so many days now, the one we know plenty of you have been dying to make: the Crispy Chicken. For lovers (or at least, frequenters) of fast food joints, the Crispy Chicken is a Burger King staple, a chicken burger with a spicy kick. But here we’re sharing the upgraded version. Meaning, the one we make with an actual chicken fillet and not some suspicious mystery patty pretending to be one.

Vegetable Stew with Minced Meat

Wed, 12 Feb 2014 23:03:45 +0000

I know you’re not telling us, but I’m sure you’re thinking “OMG, what happened to the best cooking blog I know?! It’s been too long since they updated and now I don’t know what to make for lunch!” :p

Well, so you don’t despair, here we are, back and with every intention of making sure this doesn’t happen again. After writing “I will not leave the blog without updating for more than 5 days” a hundred times on the blackboard, and to make the return to “work” easier, today we’re bringing you a simple recipe. Enjoy.

Estonian Kringle

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 19:00:44 +0000

It’s not just that it seems like we haven’t published anything in ages — it’s actually true… almost three months without any blog action on PiC! The summer has been a bit hectic but here we are, back and loaded with new finger-licking recipes. Today I’m bringing you a recipe that could be considered the Nordic roscón de Reyes, and some say its shape is reminiscent of pretzels and the dough is brioche-style. In short, a sweet wonder we pulled from a Thermomix magazine but made without one to prove that any recipe is adaptable.

Camembert with Caramel and Walnuts

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:05:38 +0000

They say good things come to those who wait, and it seems that’s exactly what we’ve been trying to do with this new recipe. But anyway, we’re finally back to posting, and we’re bringing you an easy, quick, and delicious appetizer suggestion, once again borrowed from La Receta de la Felicidad, who recommends it as a Christmas gift. But hey, when it comes to enjoying a good cheese, who cares if it’s Christmas, Easter, or the middle of August, right?

BLT

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:57:44 +0000

BLT stands for Bacon Lettuce Tomato, which translates to a spectacular combo. Especially if you make the bacon the way we did. Want to know the secret? Keep reading.

What do we need?

4 slices of bacon
4 slices of bread
2 tomatoes
A couple of lettuce leaves
2 tablespoons of sugar
Cayenne pepper
Mayonnaise

How do we make it?

Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F).
Meanwhile, wash the lettuce and tomato.

Curry Chicken with Rice

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:41:47 +0000

After a crushing victory by four votes, against the two for the Crispy Chicken (irony mode on), today we bring you a delicious recipe we’ve been making for a long time and that we’ve been in love with ever since we first tried it.

What do we need?

One chicken breast
One cup of rice
Half an onion
200 ml (3/4 cup) heavy cream
Curry powder to taste

Chocolate and Salted Caramel Tart

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:07:25 +0000

Even though putting the words ‘caramel’ and ‘salted’ together in the same phrase sounds weird, it’s a delicious combination that I tried for the first time thanks to French delicatessens. So as soon as I saw this recipe on La receta de la felicidad I couldn’t resist giving it a go, and I knew it’d be a guaranteed success. Even those weird beings who aren’t crazy about chocolate end up liking it, thanks to the crunchy bite of the crust and the creaminess of the filling. So what are you waiting for to try it?

Quiche Lorraine

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:07:30 +0000

As part of the campaign “No newly-independent young adult shall go hungry, even if they don’t like cooking,” here’s another easy recipe — one of those that almost everyone knows, but just in case, I don’t want to hear that you’re not eating well just because you couldn’t be bothered to do a couple of little things in the kitchen.

What do we need?

For the shortcrust pastry:

Custard Cream Tartlets

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:35:44 +0000

As strange as it sounds, this recipe could pass as an express one, even though we have to make a custard cream. And the secret of today’s recipe lies precisely in making that cream fast, easy, delicious, and in just 10 minutes. The trick: the microwave, that great forgotten appliance we only ever bother with to heat up the morning milk.

What do we need?

For the cream:

Broken Eggs (Huevos Rotos)

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 12:23:23 +0000

We’re back with a simple recipe, one of those everyone knows how to make, but that we wanted to share with you for two simple reasons: first and most important, it’s a really easy dish that you usually eat when you’re out for drinks but not at home (this is our way of encouraging you to make it yourself), and second because we’ve got a little tip about how to fry the potatoes. Want to know what it is? You’ll have to read the rest of the recipe.

Oreo Cookies

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:53:27 +0000

Maybe they don’t look exactly like a store-bought Oreo, but the flavor is, simply, incredible. In this case, I’d almost dare to say it’s even better than the original. It might seem a little laborious, but I promise neither the dough nor the cream is hard to make, so I’d encourage you to get started right away.

What do we need?

For the cookies:

230 g (1 cup) butter

Ají de Gallina

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:30:22 +0000

This dish is a classic of Peruvian cuisine. I’m not claiming this recipe is the authentic or one true version — it’s simply the one my mother and her family have made all their lives. They brought this recipe with them from Peru and honestly, I love it. I’ve tried ají de gallina at several Peruvian restaurants and the recipe isn’t even the same in all of them. So, as the saying goes, “to each their own,” and here I’m offering you a finger-licking-good Peruvian ají de gallina.

Fideuá

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:25:46 +0000

Today we bring you an adaptation of the fideuá from Spain’s eastern coast, which is mainly made with fish and seafood. Everyone knows my dislike for fish, so when my mom made this dish, swapping the fish for pork secreto, I jumped right on it.

What do we need?

200 g (7 oz) pork secreto
200 g (7 oz) fideuá pasta
Water
Mushrooms
Saffron
Salt
Olive oil

Lemon Pay

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:46:11 +0000

You might be wondering about the name and why I’m not just calling it lemon tart or lemon pie. The thing is, I made this tart for my mom and for her it brought back childhood memories. Apparently, when they were kids in Peru they used to eat this tart and they called it “pay de limón.” If we already use more and more anglicisms in Spain, you can imagine how common they are in Latin American countries and the kind of Spanglish that reigns there. In any case, whether or not this is the authentic Peruvian recipe, and whether you call it tart, pie, or pay, this dessert turned out absolutely delicious.

Cabbage Rolls

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:45:58 +0000

I know, we’ve gone ages without posting (as Palstelera would say), but we have an excuse: we were studying because we’re cultured people XD. That’s why today we’re going to introduce you to two new recipes so you can see that even though we’ve set the page aside a bit, we’re always ready and thinking about what new recipes we can share with you.

What do we need?

4 cabbage leaves

Scones

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:48:13 +0000

Whole Kitchen, in their Sweet Proposal for January, invites us to make a Scottish classic: Scones

We almost ran out of time with this recipe because — unusual for us — we made it the same day it was published. Luckily, it’s super easy and takes very little time. As usual, the baking time is what stretches the recipe out the most, but hey, the little wait is well worth it. We followed the recipe from www.joyofbaking.com

Sweet and Sour Pork

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:50:48 +0000

Whole Kitchen, in their Savory Proposal for January, invites us to make a Chinese classic: sweet and sour pork.

**For us, this is THE go-to dish whenever we have Chinese food, so it couldn’t be missing from our blog. To be honest, I don’t even know exactly where I got the recipe from, because I ended up mashing together a bunch of different websites and now I can’t recall the exact source. But hey, like with any dish, the trick is to give it a go, and if there’s something you don’t love, tweak it to your taste — that’s what your own kitchen is for.

PiC Giveaway Winner

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:00:57 +0000

Thanks so much to everyone who took part. We already have a winner for the first Pics and Cakes giveaway. To prove there’s no funny business, as some wagging tongues out there have suggested :p, we recorded a video of the moment (and Santa Claus and the Guardian Angel were there too — and lying in front of them would be really uncool…). To watch the video, click the link below:

Gorgonzola and Muesli Croquettes

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 21:54:52 +0000

I made these croquettes for the first time as an appetizer for a New Year’s Eve dinner, and honestly, everyone loved them. Even the ones who wrinkled their noses a bit when they saw the muesli coating ended up enjoying the strong contrast between the crispy outside and the creamy filling. Whether for the holidays or any random day, we encourage you to give these a try because the recipe is absolutely worth it.

Pics&Cakes Giveaway

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 12:17:10 +0000

6 months up and running, almost 100 comments, more than 300 visits, nearly 40 sweet and savory recipes… For us those are more than enough reasons to celebrate, and what better way than holding a little giveaway among our readers.

So we’ve decided that to kick off the year right, we’d love for one of you to win the fabulous 2013 Pics&Cakes calendar in full color. (Limited edition)

Stuffed Potatoes

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:50:42 +0000

I have to admit we’re a bit like sponges — anything we see and like, we try to make at home. That’s exactly what happened with today’s recipe. A few years ago we went with friends to spend Easter week in Camposancos, a lovely little village in Pontevedra, and there Ana (with Germán’s help) made us some delicious stuffed potatoes that could have fed a regiment (well, maybe we weren’t quite that many…). The thing is, we loved the idea and ever since it’s been part of our recipe book.

Speculoos Cookies

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:00:19 +0000

These cookies are typical of Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, and they’re known for their intense aroma and flavor packed with spices. That smell tends to take over Christmas markets, since traditionally it was Saint Nicholas who handed them out to the kids over there. Nowadays in Spain you can find them under the name “galletas caramelizadas” by the Lotus brand, but in France and Belgium, at least, you can find them in all sorts of shapes and from a ton of different brands. For example, if you ever get the chance, don’t miss out on trying speculoos spread (pâte à tartiner) or speculoos ice cream.

Blue Cheese Burger

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:35:14 +0000

Good and freezing morning. Today we’re bringing you a really simple recipe, the kind that even Jesús will be able to pull off without having to call twenty times :p The thing is, I’m a huge fan of making burgers at home. They’re usually way better than the ones you eat out, plus you make them to your own taste and load them with the ingredients you like best. This time we made the burger with blue cheese mixed right into the patty.

Sardine pâté

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:03:53 +0000

This is one of those recipes that comes together almost without thinking, with just a few totally everyday ingredients. An easy way to put out an appetizer where you know exactly what’s in it and that’s bound to surprise more than one guest. We made it as part of a big buffet-style spread for a birthday. You can serve it already spread, piped into little tartlets, or, if you prefer, in a pretty bowl so everyone can help themselves.

Caprese Windmills

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:45:17 +0000

Today we bring you another easy recipe you can make for any get-together. The recipe, taken from Directo al Paladar, is inspired by Italian cooking. Mozzarella, basil and tomato — a delicious combo that works not just in these little windmills but also in salads and, one of my favorites, on pizzas.

What do we need?

1 sheet of puff pastry
1 ball of mozzarella
2 ripe tomatoes

Petal Cake

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:46:18 +0000

We’ve had this recipe pending for a few days now, but since in the meantime we published our Whole Kitchen challenges, it had to be pushed back to this week. And well, what better week for a birthday cake… :-D I made the recipe following exactly the one @SandeeA did at La Receta de la Felicidad. So all credit for the explanation this time goes to her. My personal touch was just the little sugar bear.

Baklava

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:42:44 +0000

Whole kitchen, for their Sweet Proposal for the month of November, invites us to prepare a Persian classic: Baklava. Apparently this little pastry has its origins in ancient Mesopotamia, although several cultures and civilizations are still fighting over who actually invented it. Persian, Greek or Arab — it’s delicious. This time we’ve made two versions: one with dates and toasted almonds, and another with hazelnuts and chocolate. Filo pastry is a wonder of the kitchen that you really have to try, both for sweet and savory.

Ciabatta Bread

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 12:03:47 +0000

Whole Kitchen in their Savory Challenge for the month of November invites us to prepare an Italian classic: “Ciabatta”. I had been really wanting to make this recipe but I never thought it would turn out well, and… it turned out so well, yes indeed! It even looked like a real ciabatta. The recipe is slow because of the rising times, but it’s simple to make and the result is incredibly good.

Cherry tomato and cheese quiche

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:48:18 +0000

I’m sure you’ve all tried — and many of you have made — the classic quiche lorraine (we’ve got ours ready and we’ll be posting it soon). Today we’re sharing a variation we absolutely loved, easy to make and seriously tasty.

What do we need?

For the shortcrust pastry:

200 g (1 ⅔ cups) flour
100 g (7 tbsp) cold butter
1 egg
A pinch of salt

Caramelised Garlic Tart

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:20:11 +0000

And then we say the poor Brits have nothing in their cuisine beyond fish & chips and porridge… I tried this recipe at my aunt’s house in Edinburgh and it was honestly a surprise. A savoury tart whose main ingredient is garlic but which, contrary to what you might think, isn’t sharp or strong-tasting at all. It’s creamy, smooth and light on the palate. Hope you enjoy it…

Pasta Carbonara

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:35:14 +0000

Truth is, this is a recipe we’ve been making for ages and one that I always thought was “the original” — the way I figured this typical Italian dish was prepared by mammas all over Italy. How wrong I was… Every Italian who’s seen us make this dish has been surprised, has laughed, and has gotten outraged in equal measure when watching us prepare “their dish” with cream instead of uovo. Here you can see how they make it, and without further ado I’ll show you our version (having tried both, I’ll stick with ours :p)

Doughnuts

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 12:25:55 +0000

I think this is hands-down one of the best culinary discoveries I’ve made in my life. As unbelievable as it sounds, the flavor is really close to the store-bought ones — the dough is super fluffy, it doesn’t feel greasy like some bakery doughnuts, and the chocolate glaze is simply magnificent. The only problem is that they’re highly addictive… I’m warning you: once you try them, you’ll want to make them again and again. But hey, I think it’s worth it.

Mini Roast Beef and Arugula Sandwiches

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:00:33 +0000

Not too long ago we showed you how to make some delicious milk bread buns. They’re the perfect base for these tasty little roast beef sandwiches with arugula and honey mustard. It might sound fancy, but it really isn’t. Roast beef, originally from English cuisine, has become so common in Spain that even the word has been adapted into Spanish — our Royal Academy now accepts “rosbif” without any objections.

Brownie

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 19:12:10 +0000

Whole Kitchen’s Sweet Proposal for October invites us to make an American classic: brownies

And what a treat, seriously. I’ve made dozens of brownies in my life and I have to confess I almost always pull out a different recipe and they all turn out delicious. The secret is that a brownie is a compact but fluffy cake (sometimes even moist), since it usually doesn’t have any leavening and therefore doesn’t rise. I read somewhere that the brownie was actually discovered thanks to someone forgetting to add the leavening to a chocolate cake. All I can say is… blessed mistake!

Mango and Duck Ham Mille-Feuille

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:49:53 +0000

Between one thing and another, this delicious recipe seemed to have been forgotten. Luckily, now that we’re getting back into our routine, our weekly posts will too. This recipe, although it sounds fancy and complicated, is really just a salad with slightly unusual ingredients that will delight anyone who tries it.

What do we need?

(serves 4)

2 ripe mangoes
150 g (5.3 oz) duck ham

Coq au vin

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:36:29 +0000

Whole kitchen in their Savory Proposal for October invites us to prepare a French classic, “Coq au Vin”. Or in other words, chicken in wine — you can tell I learned French at school :p.

What do we need?

(serves 2)

2 chicken thighs
1 large onion
2 carrots
3 slices of bacon
2 cloves of garlic
50 g (1.75 oz) mushrooms
2 glasses of wine
4 glasses of chicken stock

Piononos

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:11:42 +0000

Whole kitchen, in their Sweet Proposal for September, invites us to make a Spanish classic: “Piononos”. And honestly, this challenge made me really happy because I think these little pastries are an absolute delight. I’d actually come across them before, though under the popular nickname ‘Vicksvaporub’ at Confitería Rufino in Aracena. Apparently they’re typical of Granada, and legend has it they got their name because they were made in honor of Pope Pius IX. Of course, like with every recipe, the origin and authorship are still up for debate, but whoever made them first, these little pastries are wonderful.

Fresh Stuffed Pasta

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:25:59 +0000

Whole Kitchen in their Savory Proposal for the month of September invites us to make an Italian classic: “Stuffed Pasta.” With this recipe we kick off a new adventure on this amazing food blog, where every month we’re challenged to make a savory dish and a sweet one. We love the idea — it’s original and pretty useful, since it pushes you to make dishes you might not normally tackle, and it also lets you check out what the other participants come up with.

Hummus

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:27:43 +0000

When Palstelera first told me she was going to make hummus, I had no idea what she was even talking about. She had tried it in Edinburgh and told me it was some kind of chickpea purée. Chickpea purée? Well, yes — and a really tasty one. Since then we’ve made it loads of times for parties, because it’s a super easy appetizer to put together and it’s absolutely delicious.

Milk Bread Buns

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 11:41:08 +0000

We were putting together a surprise afternoon snack where we wanted everything to be absolutely homemade, so we couldn’t even allow ourselves to buy the bread. One of the things we wanted to make was little savory sandwiches and, once again, we turned to the La Receta de la Felicidad blog to follow their steps and make some great milk bread buns. Honestly, we thought it would be pretty complicated, but how wrong we were…

German-Style Salad

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 11:39:55 +0000

Taking advantage of the fact that it’s not too cold yet, though it’s clearly true that Winter is Coming, here’s a simple recipe you can put together for any family gathering, get-together with friends, or just an everyday meal — you can even make it the day before.

What do we need?

(serves 4-6)

```
 2-3 large potatoes
```
```
 3-4 sausages
```
```
 1 onion
```
```
 2 tomatoes
```
```
 3-4 pickles
```

How do we make it?

Boil the potatoes with the skin on, washed.

Shortcrust Pastry Cookies

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:05:45 +0000

On one of my regular visits to the La Receta de la Felicidad blog, I came across this recipe for express cookies. In my case they weren’t quite so express since I decided to make the shortcrust pastry myself instead of buying it. In any case, the idea of the woven cookies is striking for how simple it is and how pretty they look, so you have no excuse not to try them.

Salmorejo

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:13:39 +0000

Salmorejo is one of my favorite dishes, and I can vouch for the fact that I’m not the only person in my family who, the moment we get back from a long trip abroad, the first thing we ask for at home is a good salmorejo and a proper Spanish potato omelette. This dish is typical of Córdoba and it shares similarities with gazpacho since, at the end of the day, it’s a kind of cold soup or cream with tomato as its base. Needless to say, the better the tomatoes you use, the better the salmorejo will turn out.

Ham Puff Pastry Twists

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 23:44:21 +0000

Knowing how little my dad cares for innovation in food (what he calls “chuminás” — fancy nonsense), whenever we put together appetizers for birthdays or special celebrations we always have to play the card of foods he considers “essentials”. So for my last birthday we went looking for appetizers he might actually like, and over at Directo al Paladar we found this one.

What do we need?

```
 1 sheet of refrigerated puff pastry
```
```
 100 grams (3.5 oz) of serrano ham
```
```
 Oregano
```
```
 1 egg
```

How do we make it?

Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F).

Chicken and Pineapple Salad

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 23:47:44 +0000

A summer wouldn’t really be summer without this dish. In my family this salad has been around for as long as I can remember, and it feels like an old friend — you might go a while without seeing it, but just thinking about it brings a smile to your face and makes you want to enjoy its company. The first time I offered it to Cesmm, he frowned at the whole pineapple thing, but once he got past those first doubts he became yet another addict of this delicious salad.

Strawberry and orange blossom jelly with mint

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:51:57 +0000

I spotted this dessert in a supermarket catalog and thought it was a really original idea — eye-catching and looking absolutely delicious. The truth is, my last memory of attempting a strawberry jelly involved a sort of extra-runny pink flan with a petrified slab of gelatin on top that nobody could sink their teeth into. So with that track record, this simple recipe was quite a challenge for me. I have to confess the challenge was completely conquered and the dessert went down a treat.

Chicken Sandwich

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:21:13 +0000

Sometimes dinner at home — and I’m sure this has happened to all of you — boils down to “I’ll just settle for a yogurt”… It always happens to me the same way: I think “okay, a yogurt… and what else.” You peek into the fridge and the freezer and the gates of heaven swing open. You’ve got a quick rescue! That’s how this recipe was born — only within reach of the great chefs :p

Stuffed Crescent Rolls

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:39:09 +0000

Did you know that croissant in French means crescent moon? Literally, it means ‘waxing,’ which is the phase of the moon we commonly call a crescent. Well, with that same shape but a completely different dough and a savory filling, we present this easy dish. We rescued the recipe from a Thermomix Christmas magazine and thought it would be a great idea to offer as an afternoon snack at home or to pack along on a trip and enjoy during a roadside stop. For those of you who are wary of complicated gadgets and kitchen robots, don’t worry — we made these with our own little hands and they turned out wonderfully.

Risotto My Way

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:42:03 +0000

It’s been a while since I made my first risotto. I think I learned it from Arguiñano, back when my mom and I used to watch him at lunchtime. I have a feeling I also followed the recipe from some Wii video game once. Anyway, I’ve been tweaking, adapting and improvising on top of the fundamental rule for a good risotto: never stop stirring.

What do we need?

(serves two)

Cake Pops

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:57:35 +0000

Or pop cakes. Any name works for these little lollipop-shaped treats stuffed with cake. The original idea is to use up the trimmings from a cake you’ve made for something else, or one that didn’t turn out pretty enough — so you don’t feel bad destroying it (literally).

What do we need?

```
 Cake*
```
```
 Cream cheese
```
```
 Chocolate for melting
```

 Chocolate sprinkles, colored sprinkles, crushed nuts, colored sugar...

```
 Lollipop sticks
```

Buttercream:

Chicken Pitas

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 15:37:35 +0000

After a two-week delay and a move in between, we’re kicking off this new adventure in the world of food and new technologies. Since I’m a person who loves to eat, I’ll mostly be in charge of the simple recipes — the kind that save you when dinnertime rolls around. And one of those recipes I love most is the chicken pita. Simple and really tasty.

What do we need?

```
 1 chicken breast
```

 1/2 red bell pepper (if you have green, throw that in too)

```
 1/2 onion
```
```
 3 lettuce leaves
```
```
 Salt and pepper
```

How do we make it?

Slice the bell pepper and onion into julienne strips, and cut the chicken into strips.

San Isidro Casserole

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 14:51:51 +0000

This very traditional Spanish name is just a family nickname for a delicious pork roast served with potatoes, onions, and apples. The tradition behind this dish calls for preparing it in a clay pot bought at the Pradera de San Isidro to celebrate Madrid’s patron saint day. Either way, with or without a clay pot, with or without the saint involved, the result is a super easy dish that’s perfect for a meal with several guests.

Two-Flavor Pizza

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 13:03:34 +0000

This pizza was two flavors but it could just as easily have been one, five, or twelve. The important thing is to realize that with just a few ingredients you can put together a quick and easy meal. Plus, for all of you who have friends who are a bit picky with food (yes, we all have one of those) who don’t eat onion, tuna, or tomato, the idea of splitting the pizza into different flavors will satisfy everyone’s tastes without having to make a million different pizzas.

Crispy Chicken

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:23:40 +0000

Coming soon…

Under cooking…

Banana Muffin

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:22:19 +0000

Coming soon…

Under cooking…

Chicken and Lamb Kebab

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:21:30 +0000

Coming soon…

Under cooking…

Coca-Cola Chicken

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:20:54 +0000

Coming soon…

Under cooking…

Comments

Nadia (2012-07-15 19:17:56):

I love this new project :)

Palstelera (2012-07-17 11:00:35):

:-) We hope you’ll follow along closely. Thanks so much!