Tort de morcovi / Carrot cake

Ingrediente / Ingredients

• 100 g nuci prajite si tocate / 100 g toasted and chopped walnuts
• 340 g morcovi razuiti / 340 g grated carrots
• 280 g faina / 280 g flour
• 1 lingurita bicarbonat / 1 tsp sodium bicarbonate
• 1 ½ lingurita praf de copt / 1 ½ baking powder
• ½ lingurita sare / ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ lingurita scortisoara / 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
• 4 oua mari / 4 large eggs
• 300 g zahar / 300 g sugar
• 200 ml ulei / 200 ml oil
• 2 lingurite esenta vanilie / 2 tsp vanilla essence 

Glazura din crema de branza / Cream Cheese Frosting

• 90 g unt / 90 g butter
• 340 g crema branza / 340 g cream cheese
• 350 g zahar pudra / 350 g sugar powder
• 2 lingurite esenta vanilie / 2 tsp vanilla essence
• zeama de la 1 ½  lamai / 1 ½  lemon juice

Mod de preparare / Method of preparation

1. Prancalziti cuptorul la 180 ̊ C.  Ungeti 2 tavi de diametrul 26 cm.

Preheat the oven to 180 ̊ C. Grease 2 x 26 cm diameter trays.

2. Prajiti nucile aprox 8 min, lasati sa se raceasca si tocatile. Curatati si dati prin razatoarea fina morcovii.

Toast the walnuts for 8 minutes, let them cool and chop them. Peel the carrots and grate them on the fine grater.

3. Intr-un bol separat amestecati ingredientele solide: faina, bicarbonatul, praful de copt, sarea si scortisoara.

In a bowl mix the dry ingredients: flour, sodium bicarbonate, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

  

4. Mixati ouale apoi adaugati treptat zaharul si continuati sa mixati pana se omogenizeaza. Adaugati uleiul apoi vanilia.

Mix the eggs then add sugar and continue mixing until smooth. Add the oil then vanilla.

5. Adaugati apoi ingredientele solide si amestecati doar atat cat sa incorporate faina in aluat. Cu o spatula incorporati morcovii si nucile.

Then add dry ingredients and mix just enough to incorporate the flour into the dough. With a spatula incorporate carrots and nuts.

 

6. Turnati in tavi si dati la cuptor aprox. 30 min.

Pour into trays and bake for aprox. 30 minutes.

7. Scoateti din cuptor si lasati sa se raceasca 5-10 min apoi scoateti-le din tava si lasati-le sa se raceasca complet.

Take it out of oven and let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes and then remove it from the tray and let it cool completely.

  

8. Pentru glazura mixati branza si untul la viteza mica apoi adaugati treptat zaharul pudra. La sfarsit adaugati vanilia si zeama de lamaie.

For the frosting mix the cheese and butter on low speed and then add powdered sugar. At the end add vanilla and lemon juice.

 

9. Asezati un blat, glazura, al doilea blat, glazura deasupra si se decoreaza.

Add a cake base, frosting, second cake base, frosting on top and decorate.

Brocoli si creveti copti / Roasted broccoli and shrimps

Ingrediente / Ingredients

• 400 g buchetele de brocoli / 400 g broccoli florets
• 30 ml ulei de masline extra virgin / 30 ml extra virgin olive oil
• ½ lingurita seminte de coriandru / ½  teaspoon coriander seeds
• ½ lingurita seminte de chimion / ½  teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 lingurita sare / 1 teaspoons salt
• 1 lingurita piper negru proapat macinat / 1  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• praf de ardei iute dupa gust /  hot chili powder to taste
• 250 g creveti / 250 g shrimp
• 1 lingurita razatura coaja de lamaie / 1 teaspoons lemon zest
• lamaie sau lime pentru servit / lemon or lime, for serving.

Mod de preparare /  Method of preparation

1. Intr-un castron mare se amesteca broccoli cu 15 ml de ulei, coriandrul, chimionul, sarea, ½ lingurita de piper si praful de ardei iute.

In a large bowl toss broccoli with 15 ml oil, coriander, cumin, salt, ½  teaspoon pepper and chili powder. 

 

2. Intr-un alt bol se amesteca crevetii, uleiul ramas (15 ml), razatura de lamaie, sare si ½ lingurita piper.

In a separate bowl, combine shrimps, remaining 15 ml of oil, lemon zest,  salt and ½  teaspoon pepper.

3. Se imprastie broccoli intr-un singur strat pe o hartie de copt si se coace timp de 10 minute in cuptorul preincalzit.

Spread broccoli as a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes in a preheated oven.

4. Se adauga crevetii pe hartia de copt si se amesteca cu broccoli.

Add shrimp to the baking sheet and toss it with broccoli.

5. Se coace pana cand crevetii sunt opaci si brocoli este fraged si auriu pe margini, in jur de inca 10 minute,

Roast until shrimp are just opaque and broccoli is tender and golden around edges, about 10 minutes more.

6. Se serveste cu feliute (pene) de lamaie sau lime sau se stoarce lamaie sau lime peste creveti si broccoli inainte de servire.

Serve with lemon or lime wedges, or squeeze lemon or lime  juice all over shrimp and broccoli just before serving.

 

                                          Sursa retetei (cu mici schimbari) www.achowlife.com

                                           Recipe source (with small changes)www.achowlife.com

Ciorba de pui a la grec / Greek chicken soup

Ingrediente / Ingredients

• 1 pui de 1 kg / 1 kg chicken
• 2 morcovi (marime medie) / 2 carrots (medium size)
• 1 radacina patrunjel (mare) / 1 parsley root (large)
• 1 bucata telina (aproximativ 150 gr) / 1 piece of celery root (about 150 gr)
• 1 lingurita piper boabe negru / 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 200 ml smantana / 200 ml cream
• 150 ml lapte / 150 ml milk
• 3 galbenusuri / 3 egg yolks
• 60 gr orez / 60 g rice
• 1 lamaie sau 1/2 lamaie / 1 lemon or 1/2 lemon 
• 2 ardei iuti rosii proaspeti sau uscati (optional)/ 2 fresh or dried red chilies (optional) 
• 2 lingurite sare / 2 teaspoons salt
• 3 linguri ulei / 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 lingurita marar tocat / 1 teaspoon chopped dill 
• 1 lingurita frunze de patrunjel tocat / 1 teaspoon chopped parsley

  Mod de preparare / Preparation

1. Se spala puiul bine, se taie bucati mari si se pune la fiert cu piperul in 2 litri jumate de apa rece impreuna cu zarzavaturile exceptand un morcov - vezi pasul 7) / Wash the chicken, cut it into big pieces and boil it with the pepper in 2.5 liters of cold water along with the vegetables (except for a carrot - see step7)
2.  Se spumeaza din cand in cand, spuma formata in timpul fierberii / Remember to keep removing the foam formed during boiling.
3.  Se adauga o lingurita de sare / Add a teaspoon of salt.
4. In momentul in care nu mai face spuma se acopera si se fiebe timp de 1 ora / When the foam stops forming, cover and cook for an additional hour.
5. In timp ce puiul si zarzavaturile fierb, se pune orezul la fiert cu multa apa si putina sare / While the chicken and vegetables cook, put the rice to boil with plenty of water and a little salt.
6. Cand totul este fiert, se strecoara supa, carnea fiarta se da jos de pe oase si se rupe fasii / When everything is cooked, strain the soup, remove the meat off bones and tear it into strips
7. Se rade morcovul si se caleste in 3 linguri de ulei pana este moale / Grate the carrot and saute into 3 tablespoons of oil until soft.
8. Se adauga supa strecurata, fasiile de carne si ardeii iuti (taiati in doua pe verticala) / Now add the strained stock, meat that has been stripped along with the red chillies (slit down the middle).
9. Se continua fierberea la foc mic pentru a nu da in clocot / Continue cooking over low heat, not to boil.
10.  Intre timp int-un bol se bat bine galbenusurile cu laptele iar apoi smantana / Meanwhile in a bowl, beat together the yolks with milk and cream.
11. Se pun pe rand peste acest amestec vreo 6 polonice de supa amestecand cu telul dupa fiecare polonic pentru a nu se branzi compozitia / Over egg yolks mixture add 6 ladles of soup, stirring with whisk after each ladle making sure the mixture not to curdle.
12. Se toarna cu totul in oala cu supa incet si amestecand tot timpul / Pour it slowly into the soup pot stirring constantly.
13. Se adauga orezul fiert si scurs, sucul de lamaie (dupa gust) si 1 lingurita de sare / Add the cooked and drained rice, lemon juice (to taste) and 1 teaspoon of salt.
14. Se mai lasa la foc mic inca 15 minute / Leave it over low heat 15 more minutes.
15. Se presara marar si patrunjel tocat marunt / Sprinkle chopped dill and parsley.

Pui cu lamaie condimentat / Seasoned Lemon Chicken

Ingrediente / Ingredients:

• 4 jumatati piept de pui cu os, fara piele / 4 bone-in chicken breast halves, skin removed
• ¼ cana suc de lamaie / ¼  cup lemon juice
• 2 frunze de dafin / 2 bay leaves
• 1 lamaie medie taiata in felii subtiri / 1 medium lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 lingura ulei de masline / 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lingurita sare / 1 tsp salt
• 1 lingurita usturoi / 1 tsp garlic
• ¾ lingurita de piper negru / ¾  tsp black pepper
• ¾ lingurita de busuioc uscat / ¾  tsp dried basil
• ¾ lingurita de tarhon / ¾  tsp tarragon
• ¾ lingurita de cimbru / ¾  tsp thyme
• ¾ lingurita rozmarin uscat, zdrobit / 3/4 tsp dried rosemary, crushed

Mod de preparare / Preparation:

1. Puneti condimentele, uleiul si frunzele de dafin intr-o punga mare de plastic resigilabila /  Place seasonings, oil and bay leaves in a large resealable plastic bag.

 

2. Adaugati puiul si sigilati punga / Add chicken and seal the bag.

 

3. Agitati pentru a acoperi / Shake to coat.

4. Puneti in frigider la marinat aproximativ 1 ora / Put in the refrigerator about 1 hour to marinate.

5. Scoateti frunzele de dafin / Discard bay leaves.

6. Tapetati un vas de copt cu spray de gatit / Coat a  baking dish with cooking spray.

7. Puneti carnea de pui in vasul de copt / Place chicken in the baking dish.

8. Aranjati feliile de lamaie peste pui / Arrange lemon slices over the chicken.

9. Stropiti cu suc de lamaie / Drizzle with lemon juice.

10. Acoperiti vasul si coaceti pentru 30 de minute /  Cover the dish and bake for 30 minutes.

11. Dupa 30 de minute descoperiti vasul si coaceti inca 15 minute sau pana cand puiul este fraged si  se evapora tot sucul ramas / After 30 minutes uncover the dish and bake 15 more minutes  or until chicken is tender and all remaining juice evaporate. 

12. Serviti peste orez / Serve over rice.