Cartofi acordeon “Hasselback” / Hasselback Potatoes

Ingrediente / Ingredients

• 5 cartofi de marime medie / 5 medium sized potatoes
• 1 ½  lingura pesmet  / 1 ½  tbsp breadcrumbs
• 2-3 linguri unt / 2-3 tbsp butter 
• sare de mare dupa gust / sea salt to taste
  

Mod de preparare / Method of preparation

1.Se incalzeste cuptorul.

Preheat the oven.
2. Se curata si se spala cartofii.

Peel and wash the potatoes.
3. Se feliaza cartofii la distante de 5 mm dar nu se taie pana jos. Se pune deasupra fiecarui cartof cate o bucatica de unt si se coc in cuptor timp de 25 de minute.

Slice into the potatoes about 5 mm apart but not all the way through. Top each potato with a small knob of butter and bake them in the oven for about 25 minutes.
4. Se scot din cuptor si se presara fiecare cartof cu pesmet si sare de mare. Din nou deasupra fiecarui cartof se pune cate o bucatica de unt.

Remove from the oven, and sprinkle each potato with breadcrumbs and sea salt. Again top each potato with a small knob of butter.

5. Se coc inca 35-40 de minute (in functie de marimea cartofilor) sau pana cand sunt aurii pe exterior si moi in interior.

Bake for another 35-40 minutes (depending on the size of the potatoes) or until golden on the outside and soft on the inside. 

Chiftelute / Meatballs

Ingrediente / Ingredients

• 800 g carne tocata amestec (vita si porc) / 800 g minced mixed minced meat (beef and pork)
• 1 ceapa mare / 1 big onion
• 1 morcov mare fiert si taiat in bucati / 1 big carrot, boiled and cut into big pieces
• 1 ardei gras rosu / 1 big red capsicum
• 5 catei de usturoi / 5 garlic cloves
• 2 lingurite cimbru uscat / 2 tsp dried thyme
• mana plina frunze de patrunjel tocate marunt / one full hand of chopped parsley leaves
• sare si piper dupa gust / salt and pepper to taste
• fulgi de chilli dupa gust (optional) / chilli flakes to taste (optional)
• 2 oua / 2 eggs
• 4 felii de paine neagra inmuiate in lapte si stoarse bine / 4 brown bread slices soaked in milk and squeezed well
• seminte de susan (cat este necesar) / sesame seeds (as needed)
• seminte de in (cat este necesar) / flaxseeds as needed
• pesmet (cat este necesar) / breadcrumbs as needed

Mod de preparare / Method of preparation

1. Curatam ceapa, cateii de usturoi si ardeiul gras de seminte si cotor dupa care taiem toate legumele in bucati mari.

Peel the onion, garlic cloves and capsicum of seeds and spine and cut it into big pieces.

2. Se pune in robotul de bucatarie: ceapa, morcovul, ardeiul gras, usturoiul, painea si se mixeaza pana se obtine o pasta.

Place in the food processor: onion, carrot, capsicum, garlic, bread and mix until you get a paste.

3. Intr-un castron mare se pune carnea iar peste pasta de legume, 2 oua, cimbru, sare, piper, fulgii de chilli si pesmet daca compozitia este prea moale (eu am pus 4 linguri).

Place the meat in a large bowl and add the vegetable paste, 2 eggs, thyme, salt, pepper, chilli flakes and breadcrumbs if the mixture is too soft (I added 4 tablespoons).

 

4. Pe o farfurie se amesteca semintele de susan cu cele de in.

On a plate mix the sesame seeds with the flaxseeds.

 5. Din amestecul de carne se formeaza bilute de marime medie care se dau prin amestecul de seminte SAU se tavalesc prin pesmet.

Form medium size balls from the meat mixture  and roll them into the seeds mixture OR roll them through breadcrumbs.

 

6. Aseaza ciftelutele date prin amestecul de seminte pe o tava tapetata cu hartie de copt si se dau la cuptor in jur de 50 de minute iar cele tavalite prin pesmet se prajesc in ulei incins pana se rumenesc uniform.

Place the meatballs rolled through the seed mixture on a tray coated with parchment paper and put them in the oven for around 50 minutes and the ones rolled through the breadcrumbs, fry them in oil until brown all over.

Tascute cu gem (buzunarele cu gem) / Jam pockets

Ingredients / Ingredients

• 3 oua / 3 eggs
• un praf de sare / a pinch of salt
• faina cat cuprinde / flour as needed
• gem (de prune, capsuni, caise, piserici etc.) – eu am folosit gem de prune / plum, strawberry, apricot, peach jam or any other kind of jam – I used plum jam

Pesmetul /  Breadcrumbs

• 200 gr pesmet / 200 gr  breadcrumbs
• 100 gr unt / 100 gr butter
• 4 linguri zahar / 4 tablespoons sugar
  
  

Mod de preparare / Method of preparation

1. Se pune faina cu sare pe planseta de lucru, se sparg ouale in centrul ei si se incepe a incorpora faina cu buricele degetelor.

Put the flour with salt on the work board, break the eggs in the center and begin to incorporate the flour with the fingertips.

2. Se framanta coca cu podul palmelor cateva minute, presarand din cand in cand planseta cu putina faina.

Knead dough with the palms for a few minutes, sprinkling with a little flour occasionally.

 

3. Se framanta pana se obtine o compozitie de consistenta medie.

Knead until you get a medium consistency composition.

4. Se intinde aluatul obtinut intr-o foaie foarte subtire cu ajutorul unui sucitor.

Roll the batter in a very thin sheet using a rolling pin.

5. Cu ajutorul unei lingurite se aseaza gemul pe jumatate din foaia intinsa, in gramjoare mici la distante regulate.

Place the jam with the help of a teaspoon on half of the stretched sheet in small piles at regular distances.

 

6. Se acopera cu cealalta jumatate de foaie, se lipesc marginile si se taie patratele cu gemul in centru, folosind rotita dintata speciala ( eu dupa ce le-am taiat cu rotita le-am apasat pe margini cu o furculita).

Cover with the other half of the sheet, stick edges and cut small squares with the jam in the center, using a toothed wheel ( after I cut them I pressed the edges with a fork).

 

7. In timp ce se pregatesc tascutele cu gem se pune o oala cu apa la fiert.

While you prepare the jam pockets put a pot with water to boil.

8. Intr-o tigaie larga se topeste untul, adaugand pesmetul si se prajeste la foc mediu, amestecand constant pana cand pesmetul este usor prajit, cca 2-3 minute. Se adauga zaharul  si se stinge focul.

In a large pan melt the butter, add breadcrumbs and fry on medium heat, stirring constantly until breadcrumbs are slightly toasted, about 2-3 minutes. Add sugar and  switch off  the heat.

 

9. Tascutele umplute cu gem se aseaza pe rand in apa care fierbe (dar nu clocoteste) si se lasa sa fiarba pana se ridica la suprafata, cca 5 minute.

Place the jam pockets in the boiling water over low heat and let it simmer until they rise to the surface, about 5 minutes. 

 

10. Se scot si se tavalesc prin pesmet.

Remove them and roll them into bread crums mixture. 

11. Se servesc calde.

Serve them hot.

Snitel de pui in cuptor / Chicken schnitzel in oven

Ingrediente / Ingredients:

• 1 piept de pui dezosat fara piele taiat longitudinal in 4 felii / 1 whole boneless skinless chicken breast cut longitudinal into 4 pieces
• 3 oua, batute / 3 eggs, beaten
• 50 g parmesan ras /  50 g grated parmesan  
• 90 g pesmet uscat / 90 g dry bread crumbs
• 60 g unt / 60 g butter
• 1 lingurita busuioc uscat / 1 teaspoon dry basil
• 1 lingurita oregano uscat / 1 teaspoon dry oregano
• 1 lingurita maghiran uscat / 1 teaspoon dry marjoram
• 1 lingurita cimbru uscat / 1 teaspoon dry thyme
• 1 lingurita fulgi de ardei iute / 1 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
• 1 lingurita rozmarin uscat /  1 teaspoon dry rosemary
• sare dupa gust / salt to taste

Mod de preparare / Method of preparation:

1. Se spala puiul si se tamponeaza cu un servetel / Wash chicken and pat dry with a tissue paper. 

 

2. Parmesanul si pesmetul se amesteca / Combine parmesan and bread crumbs.
3. Se trece puiul prin ouale batute / Pass the chicken through the beaten eggs.

4. Se acopera bine cu amestecul de pesmet si parmesan si se trece din nou prin oua / Then coat thoroughly with bread crumb-parmesan mixture and dip it again into eggs.

 

5. Puiul se acopera din nou cu amestecul de pesmet dupa care se aseaza pe o tava unsa cu unt / Coat the chicken with crumb mixture once more and then place it on a greased baking sheet.

6. Se amesteca busuiocul, oregano, maghiranul, cimbru, rozemarinul, fulgii de ardei, sare si se presara peste bucatile de pui / Mix basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, pepper flakes, salt  and sprinkle over the chicken.

 7. Se aseaza bucatele de unt pe fiecare bucata de pui / Pat a little butter on each piece of chicken.

 

8. Se frige in cuptorul preincalzit 40-45 de minute / Bake it in preheated oven 40-45 minutes.