Tag: Tried and Tested

Recipe: Spicy Pumpkin and Pepper Soup

~ Theodora Vanyar ~ Leave a comment

It’s time for another recipe! First, the recipe. Then, me blathering onward about my occasionally questionable culinary capabilities and the memories this particular feast holds for me.

The Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large sweet onion, chopped fine

7 cloves garlic, diced fine

2 jalapenos, seeded & chopped fine

1 poblano pepper, seeded & chopped fine

1 red bell pepper, seeded & chopped fine

2 tablespoons onion powder

1 tablespoon garlic powder

2 teaspoons black salt

1 ½ tablespoon ground cumin

1 1/4 tablespoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon white pepper

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon smoked paprika

½ teaspoon rosemary, crushed

1 can dark red kidney or white beans, drained well

1 Bay leaf 

8 cups vegetable stock

Large (29-ounce can) pure pumpkin puree

2-3 tablespoons dark honey

¼ cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or cola

The Way of Preparing

Sauté the onion, garlic, and peppers together in the oil in a large sauce pot. Add the spices and cook until the onion is translucent.

Add the kidney beans and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add stock, pumpkin, and cream. 

Simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until well fragrant. Add the red wine vinegar/cola and honey. Adjust seasonings now.

Blend using a stick blender or standing blender until smooth. Serve warm with a swirl of heavy cream and a little hot sauce. 

Spice level can absolutely be tweaked as needed by omitting the poblano or any of the other peppers as needed. 

Notes: This is also good with toasted pumpkin seeds or rosemary toasted almonds on top.

Memories:

I’ve only made this one, one intoxicated day back in 2011 when I had the Crazy German Roommate and his girlfriend. They had an adorable Russian Blue cat named Bear that Spock loved to pieces.

This was a great soup for the random cold snap we had and I absolutely loved it. I’m not sure why I haven’t made it again.

Did you try making this? What did you think of it?

Recipe: Cucumber Caprese Salad

~ Theodora Vanyar ~ Leave a comment

It’s time for another recipe! First, the recipe. Then, me blathering onward about my occasionally questionable culinary capabilities and the memories this particular side dish holds for me.

The Ingredients

4 tablespoons good olive oil

3 tablespoons balsamic reduction

5cloves garlic, minced

20 fresh basil leaves, torn or chopped

Pinch of salt, pepper, and sugar

3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

2 large cucumbers, seeded and chopped

16 ounces fresh mozzarella cut into chunks or mozzarella pearls

The Way of Preparing

Whisk together the oil, vinegar reduction, garlic, and seasonings. Adjust to taste.

In a large bowl, mix together the tomatoes, cucumber, mozzarella, and basil leaves. Toss the vegetables in the vinaigrette mix. Let sit at least an hour for flavors to meld.

Memories

My wife introduced me to this amazing mix of flavors and it’s one of the things that’s my favorite to make and eat!

I could literally have this for breakfast or lunch every day for a month and not get burnt out on it. It is a special treat that I absolutely adore. Thanks to my Darling Wife for this recipe!

Did you try it? What did you think?

Recipe: Polish Honey Lemon Cake

~ Theodora Vanyar ~ Leave a comment

It’s time for another recipe! First, the recipe. Then, me blathering onward about my occasionally questionable culinary capabilities and the memories that Polish Honey Lemon Cake holds for me.

The Ingredients

3 large eggs, whisked super well

½ cup (100gms) dark brown sugar

¾ cup (180ml) applesauce

1 cup (350gms) honey, the stronger the better

1 cup strong vanilla, lemon, or chamomile tea, cooled to lukewarm

3 cups (375gms) flour, sifted 

1 lemon, zested super finely

1 tablespoon crystallized lemon

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon lemon extract

½ teaspoon powdered ginger

½ teaspoon salt

Lemon Icing glaze:

1 ¾ cups confectioner’s sugar

¼ cup lemon juice

1 tablespoon or more of crystallized lemon

1 teaspoon salted butter

Pinch of salt

The Way of Preparing

Cake:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and flour a 10-12 cup non-stick Bundt pan or two 9” by 5” loaf pans.

Use a stand mixer for this recipe if possible. Beat the eggs until super fluffy. Add brown sugar and applesauce and mix until smooth. Add the honey, extract, and tea and continue beating until smooth as silk.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and soda, spices, and salt. Mix in the crystallized lemon and add to the wet ingredients. Mix until there are still small lumps left, like pancake batter.

Pour the batter immediately into your prepared pan or pans. 

Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 50 to 55 minutes, turning once mid-bake. You want a toothpick to come out clean when inserted into the deepest part of the cake. 

Let the honey cake cool for at least ten minutes, I do fifteen since I usually do some sort of soak as it cools. Invert onto a plate or serving dish to cool. 

This only keeps, covered, about five days. But, it is one that toasts up well as a good dessert or sweet breakfast food. 

Icing:

Mix confectioner’s sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Add salted butter and microwave on high for 45 seconds. 

Whisk until smooth. Add a splash of milk if it is too thick. Let it sit for seven minutes, then pour over cooled cake.

Tweaks:

My secret? Pour some limoncello over the base of the cake when it’s still cooling in the pan; once it’s turned out-you guessed it, pour some over the top as well. Or add it to the lemon glaze. Or both! Cakes, much like some of my in-laws, are so much better when they’re drunk. 

Memories:

This cake is straight from Granny Comic, in Chicago. She’s not quite my grandmother, but she is in heart. She’s Uncle Comic’s mom and the feistiest little thing ever. A lot of the holiday retro recipes will be ones from her old cookbook that she gifted me with.

December’s Retro Recipe, In Granny Comic’s own hand!

I’m excited to share her recipes and have the world know a little more about Granny Comic. I’ll be asking Uncle Comic to share his anecdotes about certain recipes, or providing ones I have about them. Her gingerbread recipe is especially one of my favorites.

As a bonus, here’s a picture I found and shared in a FB group!

Happy cooking, friends!