Olive Tapenade

For all the olive lovers out there... This is an amazing spread!! It gets together literally in 5min and lasts in the fridge for days. It's super duper delicious, and oh so satisfying!!!

Couple of weeks ago I went to London for lunch with some friends. They served this on a sharing platter with some warm bread and it was divine.

So when I got back home I decided to whip up my own version... And yeah, now I can't get enough :-)  You can use green or black olives, I opted for green here because that happened to be in the fridge, but a black tapenade is just as yummy!

Sweet Potato and Bacon Risotto

Sweet potatoes are super autumnal, wintery, comforting, delicious... There is something about them that makes the perfect meal when it's chilly outside. No wonder they are used so much around the Christmas holidays. You can probably find thousands of recipes out there to put them into and every single one of them is amazing.

The Simple Bread Roll

I know I haven't been blogging for a little, but in between a wedding, new job and a bunch of other friends' and family celebrations to attend, I put my blog on the back burner...

So on this warm, autumnal Sunday I got the craving for some home made, soft rolls and I thought... Why not share the recipe?

The fact that these rolls are made without any eggs, milk and butter makes me rave even more about them. They are super light, soft and you can use them for pretty much anything...

Sandwiches, burgers, sausage rolls, gravy rolls...

Now you have endless possibilities to get creative here. You can either leave them plain or you can jazz them up a little bit. Right before you bake them you can brush them with olive oil and sprinkle whatever your heart desires:
sesame seeds, poppy

seeds, rock salt, salt and pepper, dried rosemary, thyme, oregano, parsley, basil... Really anything. I went with Italian seasoning blend.

Makes 12

Ingredients:

- 1 packet of active dry yeast
- 2tbs sugar
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 2tbs vegetable oil
- 1tsp salt
- 4 cups plain flour

Process:

- In a bowl, add the yeast, sugar and warm water. Let it sit for about 5min or until bubbles start to form.
- Add the oil and salt and give it a stir. Start adding the flour little by little, while stirring the mixture with a wooden spoon. You should end up with a non-sticky dough, so you might have to add or subtract a few tablespoons of flour. Knead for about 5min. I used my mum's technique, throwing the dough in the air 100 times and let it fall on the surface :-)
- Put the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a kitchen towel and put it aside for 1h so it can double in size.
- Then lay it on a lightly floured surface, punch the air out and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Form them into balls and put them on a lightly greased baking sheet, leaving about an inch in between.
- Lightly cover the rolls with greased cling film and let them rise for 45min. Brush them with olive oil and sprinkle your topping of choice (this step is optional).
- Preheat the oven to 200 C degrees. Bake for 12-14 min or until golden brown. Enjoy!

Bacon and Tomato Risotto

They say, if you can make risotto, you can make anything... Well honestly it's not that complicated :) I've perfected my way now and if you follow these steps, I promise you will end up with the creamiest, tastiest risotto you've ever had. So let's get going...

Grilled Veggie Pasta Salad

Pasta salads are so popular, aren't they? They go with pretty much anything and can be very diverse. But one thing that's so, so common in each one of them is... wait for it... yes you guessed... Fatty mayo!! Pasta is already a high-caloric dish, why add hundreds more calories in it? I decided to share my grilled veggie pasta salad with roasted garlic vinaigrette that blows everyone's mind once they try it.

Grilled Chicken Salad

I love the freshness of spring!! Veggies are in season, the farmer's market is full of people and the best of all... You can't wait to get home and make some fresh salad!!

Rice & Chicken (Oriz so Kokoska)

I've been loving this meal ever since I was past the baby food stage. No kidding! :-) There is a rice and chicken meal in almost every culture around the world, but since I grew up with the one that's common in Macedonia, it would have to be my favourite. My grandma makes it, my mum makes it, so that's why I make it now :-) And every time it brings back memories and puts me into my comfort zone :-)

Pita Rustica

I love country food! It's warm, welcoming and super enjoyable. This definitely is a go-to recipe every time I am in a baking mood and it's always a hit. I've heard it being called pizza rustica, rustic pie, country pie, Easter ham pie..., but the first time I had it was called pita rustica and I am choosing to stick to that name :-)

Brisket Biscuit Sliders

Oh how I love weekends!! It's always so much fun to think of a nice dinner idea, have the house smell like heaven and indulge like never before...
Well, this weekend it was time for my Brisket Biscuit Sliders!! Yep, I know... It sounds amazing :-) And the best thing is that it's super easy to put this together. I cooked my brisket in a slow cooker, but you can also do this in the oven. So, let's roll!

Lightened up Mac & Cheese

Mac & Cheese is probably a meal that floats everyone's boat. It's quick, simple, delicious and requires just a handful of ingredients that we all have in the fridge. It's the perfect meal to make after a long work day, on a lazy weekend or really whenever you crave some Mac & Cheese. The bonus is: kids love it!!

Now, normally people finish the meal with putting breadcrumbs on top and baking, which is very delicious. This lighter version comes together in 10min on the stove top, there are no breadcrumbs, no baking, and it requires less sauce... Less calories, less fuss, still very delicious!!

Millet Cakes

Who thought healthy food can be so delicious? Not me, for sure :-)
This recipe came up not because I planned on making millet cakes, but because I wanted to empty my pantry. Have you ever gone into that cleaning mode and sworn that you'll first use up everything you have and then go food shopping? Yep, that's what happened today. So, I thought I'd give this a go and... WOW! So delicious, super crispy and very filling (yet, so few calories) :-D

Yummy Grilled Pizza

Who doesn't love pizza? It's quick to make and super delicious to enjoy! And what's the most fun part? Choosing the baking method and toppings!!! I wanted to sway from the traditional oven bake method, so I decided to grill it on the panini maker (you could also do it outside on the BBQ grill or in a griddle pan). Then, came the toppings part! I decided to use up all the leftovers I had in the fridge :-) So feel free to do any combinations you like, because the possibilities are really endless. Any leftover sauce, meat and cheese will work! So let's get going...

Dad's Leek & Feta Crumpled Pie

I've had this pie on a few occasions now, and every time it tastes better than ever. It's my dad's proven recipe and since he is so awesome, I've decided to watch him make it, help around and put the recipe up, so everyone else can enjoy it :-) The great part is that you can fill it with absolutely anything your heart desires... Veggies work (spinach works really well), meat... Really, any leftovers would do :-) The only "must" is that you really MUST try it because it's extremely delicious, yet quick and easy.

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

- 30 filo (phyllo) pastry sheets (might need a few more or less, depending on the size of the baking dish)
- 1kg leeks, finely chopped
- 300g feta cheese, crumbled
- 250g butter
- 50ml water
- 3tbs vegetable oil
- salt and pepper to taste

Process:

- In a skillet, add the oil, leeks and seasoning. Sauté for about 10min over a medium high heat. Mix in the cheese and set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 200 C degrees and generously brush a baking dish with oil.
- Place 4 filo sheets on the bottom, letting the edges fall out on each side.

- Place a filo sheet on a cutting board* and sprinkle some of the leek and cheese mixture. Crumple it with your hand and place it in the dish. Repeat the process and line up the crumples one next to another.

- Melt the butter and water together. Spoon the mixture over the crumples, then put the hanging edges of pastry on top to act as a cover. If they aren't long enough to cover the pie, place a whole filo sheet on top, to ensure the pie is covered.

- Bake for 15min, then flip by putting a plate or another baking dish on top, flipping the pie and sliding it back in. Bake for another 25min and enjoy this delicious Pita!

* Place a clean plastic bag on the cutting board, so you ensure easy movement for the pastry. If it's hard to move around, the pastry might break.

Homemade Buttery Soft Pretzels

While I studied in Germany, I used to get a soft pretzel (Laugenbrezel) for breakfast every so often. It was the treat of the day and I figured (since I like them so much) I should learn how to make them on my own. Now, I know that the ones in Germany are dipped in lye solution, but as it is a little dangerous to use I think baking soda does the job just as well. Also, I am more of a savory girl, so I prefer my pretzels with salt on top (or sesame seeds, poppy seeds, cheese...). But if you like your pretzels with cinnamon on top, this recipe* works just as fine. So, let's get to it...

Makes 12 pretzels

Ingredients:

- 500g plain flour, and a little more for dusting

- 2 1/4tsp yeast (or one individual package)

- 1tbs sugar

- 1tbs salt, and some more for sprinkling on top

- 350ml warm water (not hot)

- 2tbs butter, melted

- 5tbs baking soda (optional)**
- 5cups of water
- a little bit of vegetable oil for brushing

Process:

- In a bowl, add the yeast, pour the warm water in along with the salt and sugar and let it sit for about 10min to get activated.

- Add the flour and melted butter and start kneading. If the dough is sticky, sprinkle some more flour on it and keep kneading till it's smooth and no longer sticky.

- Put it in a clean, oiled bowl, brush it with vegetable oil and put a kitchen towel over it. Place it in a warm area and let it rise for an hour.

- After an hour, place the dough on a floured surface and cut it into 12 equal pieces. Roll every piece into a 15" rope, shape into a pretzel and put it on a greased baking sheet or parchment paper.

- Let the pretzels rest for 20min (covered) while preheating the oven to 230 C.

- Bring the 5 cups of water to a boil, mix in the baking soda, then place 1 to 2 pretzels in for 1min. Take them out and put them back on the baking sheet. Baking soda gives them a rich brown colour.
- Once they are all out of the water, sprinkle some salt on top and pop them in the oven for 15-20min or until golden brown. Enjoy!

* Freezer tip: Let them cool completely, freeze them and once you want them again, stick them in the microwave or oven.

** You can still make the pretzels without baking soda. To give them a golden colour, brush them with a beaten egg before baking.

Veggie Lover Shepherd's Pie

I've always been a fan of Shepherd's Pie... But for some reason I've never made it. Probably only because it's available on every supermarket shelf and every pub's menu. So, since it's been one of those super gloomy and rainy days, I decided to make something warm and comforting. And as I felt like hanging out in the kitchen and be creative, I changed up the recipe a little bit and turned this into the perfect vegetarian meal. I replaced the meat with lentils and it was a success. So here it goes...

Serves 2

Ingredients:

- 100g dry lentils*, boiled in water for 45min, drained and rinsed
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 3 peppers, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced or crushed
- 2 large potatoes, peeled, roughly chopped and boiled till tender
- 2tbs of butter
- 250ml milk
- 1tbs plain flour
- a splash of Worcestershire Sauce
- 400ml vegetable broth
- 2tbs vegetable oil
- salt and pepper to taste

Process:

- Preheat your oven to 200 C degrees.
- In a skillet add some oil and over a medium high heat sauté the carrots, peppers and garlic for about 10min.
- Sprinkle the flour, constantly stirring, and add the lentils along with the broth. Season well and add a splash of Worcestershire Sauce.
- Bring this mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to a medium, let it simmer for about 15min, then pour it in a casserole dish.
- Melt the butter and milk together. Mash the boiled potatoes, add the melted butter and milk, season and give it a stir.
- Add the mashed potatoes on top of the veggie mixture, spreading it evenly. Bake for 15-20min or until the top is golden brown and enjoy!

* If you want to make this with meat, just substitute the lentils with minced beef/lamb, cook it till tender together with the veggies and keep following the recipe.

Rigatoni With Butternut Squash and Pancetta

I had a butternut squash in the fridge and wanted to try something with it. So, I came across a great recipe that I'd like to share. It's amazingly delicious :)
The recipe is by Laura Vitale and here is a link to get all the ingredients and instructions:

http://www.laurainthekitchen.com/all/episode.php?episodenumber=478

Enjoy!

Pillow Soft Bread Rolls

I was getting ready for a dinner party when I figured regular bread from the bakery was getting a little boring. So I decided to make some bread rolls, and I all I can say is: this was such a great idea!! Soft, buttery and delicious... They also make great sandwiches, so you really can't go wrong with this recipe :-)

Makes 12 rolls

Ingredients:

- 500g flour
- 1 package yeast (2 1/4tbs)
- 2tbs sugar
- 2tsp salt
- 250g milk
- 3tbs butter, at room temperature
- 1 egg
- 1tbs melted butter, keep it till the end for glazing

Process:

- Melt the butter and milk together until warm, don't boil them. Put the mix in a big bowl, add the yeast and let it stand for 5min.
- To this mixture add flour, sugar, salt, egg and mix together until it becomes a dough.
- Place the dough on a generously floured surface, knead for 1 minute, form it in a big ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl. Cover it tightly and let it sit somewhere warm for an hour to double in size.
- Place it on a floured surface again, spread it a little with your hands and cut it into 12 pieces.
- Shape them into rolls and place them on a greased baking sheet. Make sure you leave some space between them, so they can rise.
- Cover them with a towel and let them stand for another hour to double in size.
- Preheat your oven to 190 C degrees. Bake the rolls for about 20min or until golden brown.
- Glaze them with the melted butter and enjoy!

Stuffed Sour Cabbage Meat Rolls (Sarma)

Since winter is nearly here, I had the make the first Sarma. This is a MUST when it comes to a typical Macedonian meal on the Christmas table. There is something so comforting and enjoyable about eating Sarma. The best thing is, the longer it sits, the better it gets. So this is how the recipe goes:

Makes 28 rolls:

Ingredients:

- 1 onion, chopped
- 1cup leeks, chopped
- 700g mince (pork and beef) meat
- 150g uncooked rice
- 130g smoked bacon, finely chopped
- 30 sour cabbage leaves
- 100g shredded sour cabbage
- 2tsp smoked paprika
- 5-6tbs vegetable oil
- salt and pepper to taste

Process:

- In a skillet, add the oil, onion and leeks, turn the heat to medium and let them go until soft.
- Add the mince meat and fry until it's is cooked all the way.
- When the meat is done, take the skillet off the heat, add the uncooked rice, a little bit of salt, pepper and 1tsp paprika. Give it a good stir.
- In a big casserole dish, add a little bit of oil and place the shredded cabbage on the bottom of the pot and sprinkle a little bit of black pepper and paprika.
- Place a cabbage leaf (if the leaf is is too big, cut it into two pieces, so the roll isn't too thick) on a cutting board, spoon 1tbs of the meat mixture, place a little bit of chopped bacon on top and roll. Squeeze gently so the excess water comes out and place on top of the shredded cabbage. Keep going until all rolls are in the dish. (The following photos help with the rolling process.)

- When you are done rolling the 28 rolls, sprinkle with the leftover bacon.

- Place the last two cabbage leaves on top to cover everything.

- In the same skillet you used for the meat, add about 4 cups of water, 1tsp smoked paprika and bring it to a boil.
- When boiling, put a clean plate on top of the rolls and while holding it with one hand add the water with the other one to cover them. The plate helps for the rolls not to swim to the surface.
- Preheat your oven to 200 C degrees. Cover the casserole dish with a lid or aluminium foil and put it in the oven. After about 40min, lower it to 150 C degrees and let it slow cook for 5-6 hours or overnight.
- When done, the water will be gone and the Sarma will be delicious. Enjoy!

Creamy Fresh Tomato and Garlic Marinara

Being in Macedonia for a couple of weeks and enjoying the fresh tomatoes, I just can't get enough of them :-) But what happens when you don't eat them quickly enough and they start to get soft? You make a delicious pasta sauce! :-) Adding cream cheese to the sauce gives it some extra richness but you can get creative and put anything you like. This is what I did:

Serves 4

Ingredients:

- 4 medium-sized tomatoes, chopped into bite-size pieces
- 3 cloves of garlic, sliced
- 4tbs plain cream cheese (double cream works too)
- 3tbs olive oil
- 1lb uncooked pasta
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3tbs fresh chopped parsley (any fresh herb works)
- grated cheese to sprinkle on top (any cheese works)

 Process:

- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, drain and set aside.
- In a sauce pan, drizzle some olive oil, set the heat to medium and add the garlic immediately to infuse with the cold oil. Let it go for 6-8min or until the garlic is golden brown.
- Add the tomatoes, give them a good stir, increase the heat to a medium-high and let them cook for about 10min or until saucy consistency.
- When the tomatoes are done cooking, add the cream cheese. Check for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper.
- Add the fresh parsley and give it a good stir.
- Add the pasta to the sauce, give it a good toss, add grated cheese on top and enjoy!

Baked Beans (Tavce Gravce)

Tavce Gravce is one of the most traditional Macedonian meals! It's been cooked for centuries, can be eaten as a main or a side dish and goes with pretty much anything. There is something super delicious and very comforting about it and can certainly be eaten all year round. The recipe can't be any simpler, so let's get going :-) 

Serves 2

Ingredients:

- 250g butter beans (cannellini beans are also fine)
- 2 medium-sized onions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 chili peppers
- 6tbs olive oil
- 2tsp smoked paprika (regular paprika is also fine)
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh marjoram (any fresh herbs work)

Process:

- Soak the beans in water over night.
- The next day bring the water to a boil, drain the beans, cover them with warm water again (don't put too much water, just enough to cover them) and bring back to a boil.
- Add 1 onion, 1 garlic clove, the chilis, and 2tbs olive oil. Give it a good stir and let the beans cook.
- Every 15min taste one of the beans to make sure they are soft. Once soft (after about 30-40min), preheat your oven to 200 C degrees. Take the beans off the stove.
- In a sauce pan, over a medium heat, add the other onion, garlic clove, smoked paprika, 4tbs of olive oil and turn the heat off. Stir the mixture until it becomes a sauce.
- Transfer it to a casserole dish, add the beans together with the water they cooked in, give them a good stir, check for seasoning and adjust.
- Place in the oven, and once you see the beans bubbling (it will happen pretty quickly), turn the oven off but leave the dish in.
- After 30min, take it out, sprinkle some fresh herbs and serve. Enjoy!