Saturday 14 January 2017

Fruits with banana ice cream (5 people)




The other day we had friends at home for lunch and honestly I had no idea what to give them for dessert! Suddenly I remembered I had some bananas in the freezer (the initial idea was to make a special dessert for my sister who came from Spain to celebrate Christmas with us, but we completely forgot!). I also had some strawberries and a few bananas, so I decided to improvise some fast, easy and delicious dessert!

I have to say one of my best friends in the kitchen is the Thermomix (if you've never heard of it, you can google it and see how marvelous it is ("she" help me with almost the 95% of my meals... I just have to love her!). But you can use any (strong) blender.

So... my dessert was a success! Everyone just loved it and they couldn't believe how fast I made it. So, if you want to amaze your guests and family, you only need to have...

Ingredients:
  • 4 (previously sliced and frozen) bananas
  • 2 bananas
  • 200 gr strawberries
  • chocolate chips (optional
  • peppermint (optional)
  1. Blend the frozen bananas until you get the consistency of ice cream. (I take the bananas out of the freezer about 5-8 minutes before to blend them). 
  2. Slice the other 2 bananas, strawberries or any other fruit you want to use and distribute them in the glasses or bowls you are going to use to serve the dessert.
  3. Add the ice cream on top of the fruit.
  4. If you want, you can add some chocolate chips and put some peppermint leaves on the top to decorate the dessert.
  5. ENJOY IT! 
NOTE: You can use the same method to make ice cream with other fruits. If the fruit is already sweet, like bananas, there is no need to add sugar. Believe me, you will find it sweet enough and you will have a very healthy ice cream! But if you wan to make, for example, strawberry ice cream, you will need to add at least a little of sugar because this kind of fruits has an acidic, some of them even bitter, taste. Sometimes I add a little of soya cream or coconut milk to the mixture for a creamy ice cream (I don't think the banana ice cream need any though).

Wednesday 4 January 2017

Onions and olives focaccia








Ingredients:

Dough:

  • 600 gr self rising flour
  • 380 gr water
  • 25 gr olive oil (+ 2 Tbsp)
  • 30 gr fresh yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Topping:
  • 2 big onions (or 450 gr)
  • 40 gr olive oil
  • 40 gr water
  • 250 gr green olives
  • salt  
  • oregano
Dough
  1. Mix the flour, 320 gr* of water, olive oil and yeast together in a large mixing bowl to form a soft dough (you can previously dissolve the yeast with a little of the water you are going to use).
  2. Add 60 gr of water and salt.
  3. Knead for about 3 minutes.
  4. Put the dough in a large bowl (remember the dough needs to grow) and cover it with film. Let it grow for about 1 hour.
  5. Once the dough is big enough, spread 2 Tbsp of olive oil over an oven tray. Soak your fingers in olive oil, form a ball with the dough and stretch it until it reaches the shape of the tray. 
  6. Preheat the oven to 200 C.  
*Remember not to add all the water at first.

Topping
  1. Dice the onions and spread them over the dough. 
  2. Mix the olive oil, the water and salt together and pour it over the dough.
  3. Cut the olives and spread them over the onions.
  4. Sprinkle the oregano on top of the focaccia and place the tray into the oven.
  5. Cook for about 30 minutes*
*My oven is very small, so I usually have to take it out after 20 minutes. The onion has to turn golden and the dough has to be done before you can take it out.

Hope you enjoy it!

Bon appetit!!

Tuesday 3 January 2017

Noodles with vegetables



Ingredients:
  • 1 onion
  • 1 garlic clove
  • leek (white part)
  • red and green peppers
  • mushrooms
  • spinach
  • 2 carrots (optional)
  • noodles
  • 3 Tbsp soya sauce
  • olive oil
  • sunflower oil 
  • salt
  • black pepper
  1. Cook the noodles in boiler water with salt and 2 Tbsp of sunflower oil.
  2. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. 
  3. Add the onion, garlic and leek and stir. Cook until the onions turn soft and reduce heat if necessary to keep the onions from drying out. 
  4. Add the red and green peppers and carrots (previously grated). Stir occasionally.
  5. When the peppers turn soft add the mushrooms (I preffer them thick, but you can cut them thin if you want) and stir occasionally. Cook them for about 5-6 minutes.
  6. Add the spinach and stir until they are cooked.
  7. Add salt, black pepper and the soya sauce and stir.
  8. Finally add the noddles piecemeal and stir to coat with all the vegetables. 
  9. Serve hot.
*You can add some gated vegan cheese once the pasta is served. I like Vio Life cheese.