Archive for December, 2008


Pour Finir…

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Pour finir le repas de fête et pour finir l’année…

A little treat that will be on our table tomorrow night. The traditional Hungarian Christmas dessert : Beigli.

Filled with poppy seed or ground walnuts, this dessert is one of my favorite. It can be prepared one or two days ahead and stored in a tea towel until Christmas diner.

I also take this occasion to wish you all a good time with family and friends for this Christmas and New year’s eve ! 

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Poppy Seeds Beigli – Makos Beigli 

Makes 1 Beigli

Dough

250gr flour
100gr unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
25gr caster sugar
60ml lukewarm milk
3gr instant dry yeast
1 pinch of salt
Lemon zest
1 tsp vanilla sugar

Filling

150ml milk
200gr ground poppy seeds
30gr caster sugar
2 tbsp honey
Proof instant dry yeast in lukewarm milk and a teaspoon of sugar //  In a large bowl mix flour and proofed yeast+milk  // Add egg, sugar, vanilla sugar, butter, salt and lemon zest // Knead quickly the dough until smooth and roll it in a cylinder shape // Cover the dough with a clean and dry tea towel and let it rest for half an hour on the countertop // In a large bowl mix ground poppy seeds, milk, sugar and honey // Preheat oven to 200°C // Roll down the dough on a slightly floured surface and spread all over the poppy seeds mixture  // Roll the dough on itself and place in a large glass dish or on a oven tray covered with baking paper // Brush the beigli with egg yolk and bake for 20-25 minutes // Remove from the oven and directly sprinkle water on the beigli. Place on a cooling tray and cover the beigli with a clean and dry tea towel.

Makos Beigli Printable Recipe

Beigli aux Graines de Pavot Recette Imprimable

Dans Mon Panier

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Yesterday, I was so happy of my great find of the day at the market : Brèdes chouchou et margoze ! (chayote shoots & bitter melon).

Coincidence, the day before, Sylvie posted a simple and delicious recipe with chayote shoots and I was drooling in front of the picture as it’s ages I didn’t eat them.

This ‘bunchy thing’, like the seller called it, naturally ended up in my basket. I cooked them in a stir-fry with beef on the exact same way as described by Sylvie. I enjoyed selfishly this meal, Paprika was away and I know he doesn’t like it at all.

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Brèdes chouchou & margoze

And what’s about the bitter melon ? Well, this one I didn’t eat it yet. In fact, I don’t like it. Definitely too bitter for me. A popular vegetable in the Asian cuisine and common on Reunion island too. You can make a salad of it, or cook it (I would recommend) to soften the bitterness. I invite you to read all the culinary and medicinal uses of this odd vegetable, it’s interesting.

Doesn’t remind you a chameleon skin ? Well, that’s the little child inside of me who think so, but you have to admit that’s a strange looking vegetable, no ?

La suite en français…

Plaisir d’Offrir

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The countdown started…

In one of the bookshop downtown, I stumbled upon gift wrap sheets from BeauMonde designed by Hanna Werning. And they look perfect for my Christmas presents.

Not really Christmas colours ?

Yes, I know and that’s why I like it ! As you know, summer starts to heat seriously the Southern hemisphere and these bright colours match much better the season than the traditional ones.

gift6Some people are under stress to organise their Christmas diner, I am for Christmas gifts. That doesn’t mean I get organised. I’m always and invariably late every year…!

Since I left home, more than I decade ago, I have to think about presents that are nor too big, nor too heavy and obviously not fragile as they will be shipped overseas… That’s a challenge, believe me.

But this year, I decided to make it simple. Everyone will get the same gift and to add variety, I customised the packaging.

Boxes are now ready, just need to place the gift in…
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And what’s about you ? How is it going on on your side ? At least, I hope you have fun decorating your Christmas tree, shopping for the best gifts or simply enjoying this typical end of year frenzy !

La suite en français…