Stewed Cabbage with Lentil and Sausages

   Hi there! Almost a month passed since my last post here and plenty of lovely events have happened in my life. I celebrated my 22nd birthday, finished the first part of my qualification project and took part in food photography contest that was organized by StockFood group located on Facebook.

   I'd like to say much thanks to my friends and relatives for their sincere words and congratulations. The best present is to know that you're not alone.

   At the beginning of November I got a long-awaited letter from my teacher. She approved of the first part of my diploma work. By the way it was connected with my own project devoted to food and cooking magazine. It was only a trial version but maybe someday we will see it on the shelves of popular supermarkets. Oh, my dream!

   Meanwhile it becomes colder and colder outside - it's time to cook warm and copious dishes. What is your favourite one?

   What are you guided by while choosing the dish to cook for daily family dinner? I like simple and tasty dishes that don't require too much time to cook. Of course, they must be from common products that you can find in every supermarket. Stewed Cabbage with Lentil and Sausages is a perfect example.

Walnut Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel

   If you decide to bake something delicious, remember: make at least two portions. Now I know it exactly after a big mistake connected with muffin baking. Are you ready to listen to my story? Let's begin.

   I am a student. Every student dreams about two things - tasty food and sweet sleep. Or vice versa - first sleeping and then have a delicious meal.

   Our university canteen food is not too bad but ... I cook better (yeah, I'm a very modest girl :)). So it's better to cook something at home and bring to university. It's real happiness not only for you, but also for your friends - they will certainly get a piece of some delicious goodness, won't they?

 
   But sometimes food cooked special for such occasion doesn't come to its destination - I mean my mates plates. This happened two days ago with walnut muffins. While baking they smelt wonderful. The walnut and cinnamon aroma was spreading all over the flat arousing members of my family. Next morning I opened the fridge and found out that the muffins had vanished. To be honest I couldn't believe my eyes but the plate was empty, even without any crumbs. I bet somebody had the best breakfast, ha-ha :))

   If you like walnuts and cinnamon you will fall in love with these muffins from the first bite. I'm not kidding! They are absolutely tasty, soft and airy inside, but with crumbly crust and funny crinkles on the top - it's no a surprise why they vanished immediately.

   Today I've baked them one more time. Double-portion, of course. The first one was eaten in a minute but the second ... the second was waiting for you, guys. Help yourself!

 

Chocolate Souffle

   Hooah! I made a souffle and now feel like a hero. This is my first attempt to cook it and I'm really glad that everything is OK (and the products didn't go to the rubbish basket!).

   I decided to begin with the chocolate one because I'm crazy about chocolate and everything connected with it. Must admit that this souffle is one of the best chocolate goodness. The dessert is soft and airy inside, but with crispy crust sprinkled with cocoa powder. It is so magic to break the velvet crust with a spoon and spoon up the smoothy filling.

   The souffle melts in your mouth immediately leaving the rich dark chocolate flavor. 

   You need only plain ingredients to get a perfect result. But remember: the products must be fresh and good-quality. It is prettier to cook the souffle into small pots - the flavor seems to be better but you can use one big baking dish - I promise it will be the main hero of the dining table.
   And one more thing: so charming to watch how the souffle becomes higher and higher in the oven.

Beef and Guinness Stew

   I bet Irish cuisine dishes will be incredibly popular among the members of my family this winter. The weather forecast predicts freezing weather with strong winds and heavy snowstorm. Brrrrr....I'm shivering from only the thought of it!

   Why Irish cuisine? For its copious and comforting dishes made from plain products which you can easily find in every supermarket. Nothing can be better. No doubt.

   I've decided to prepare for the cold season beforehand and started with Beef and Guinness Stew. It is said that beef stewed in Guinness is very tender and becomes more delicious next day. And it is the absolute truth! I must say that it will take several hours to cook this stew. But it is worth waiting! Tender beef with fine Guinness flavor is a real comforting meal. Don't forget about the garnish. Potatoes or buckwheat will be the best.

Beans with Sausages, Tomatoes and Sweet Pepper

   Autumn goes ahead! I like this season for its beautiful nature. Only imagine: yellow, orange, red colors with a great amount of their unusual tins, funny acorns under your feet, damask ashberries shining just like tiny lights and wonderful aroma of the autumn forest. Do you like it? I adore.

   We spent previous Saturday going for a walk to the local park. It is similar to big wood but with plenty of old benches, cozy arbours where you can hide from the rain and skillfully made nestling boxes. We were walking without any hurry enjoying everything around us.

   We came back late in the evening with a small bunch of fallen leaves. And we were very hungry. I predicted this...so I've made some preparations before. In a hour the stunning aroma of delicious meal gathered together all of us. September evening with tasty food and a good company finished one of the best autumn days.

   This meal is definetly must-cook. No fuss, no difficulties. Only plain ingredients and fantastically delicious result. It may seem unbelievable, but this is exactly the same I've described.

 

   The combination of beans, tomatoes, sweet pepper and garlic hardly surprised anyone. If it is without spicy paprika, aroma caraway and piquant sausages. Add the last three ingredients - and the flavour will become much more interesting and difficult. Don't forget about a generous handful of fresh herbs and serve hot! 

 

Fig and Raspberry Galette

   Hello, everyone! This is my first post here and I'm a bit nervous. It would be better if I told a few words about me before blogging. So let's go!

   My name is Anna and I'm a student. I'm keen on cooking and photography which I devote all my free time to. I get real pleasure from the process and kindly smile when my neighbours are knocking at the door curiously moving their noses to catch wonderful aroma of the baking. 

   Yeah, I love baking most of all. A piece of homemade cake with a cup of hot tea or coffee creates amazing atmosphere of cosiness and reminds me of my sweet and careless childhood. 

   Autumn has already come. Not only just solar month but also with cold rainy weather. It's time to spend the weekend at home watching favourite films with Audrey Hepburn and cooking something sweet. And warming from the hot oven while baking a delicious treat.

   Do you like figs? I have tasted them at first time this year and fallen in love immediately. I buy them at local market almost every day and eat and eat and can't stop. Am I well? I baked them in the oven filling with goat cheese and walnut stuff and wrapping with bacon slices. Cooked jam, a lot of jars of sweet jam for winter evening tea (hope I won't eat it before!). Ate fresh drizzling with honey or maple syrup. And, of course, made my favourite fig and raspberry galette.
  

   This is a good example when summer meets autumn. I mean summer raspberry and autumn figs. I must admit that it is a perfect combination. The tandem of sour berries and fig sweetness creates a tasty bunch of flavors. Don't remember about crispy sugared dough. Ohhh...it's worth tasting!

   I was baking it late in the evening yesterday and this was my fault. It smelt so magic that I couldn't restrain myself and tasted a small piece. Stunning!

   I was looking forward to the morning to enjoy my breakfast. The galette seems to become more delicious. A big cup of hot cocoa was a lovely addition. Cheerful beginning of the day, isn't it?