The Daring Bakers #8 Macaroons... disaster...

The 2009 October Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to us by Ami S. She chose macaroons from Claudia Fleming’s The Last Course: The Desserts of Gramercy Tavern as the challenge recipe.

OK, so it's another DB challenge and what a disaster for me. I was so looking forward to this - as I ALWAYS wanted to make macaroons, but... It's officially first challenge that didn't work for me, or maybe (which is more possible) I didn't work well enough for the challenge. I was waiting till late with this month's challenge - did it only yesterday... If there's anything that could go wrong with it - it did go wrong. I don't even know where to start...

Round pound cake...

I've heard about that cake many, many times and finally decided to bake it! I got recipe from a great blog Eat my cake now - and it was a success. The only change I made was that I didn't add Cognac, as I didn't have any handy (and buying a whole bottle just to add 15 ml to the cake wasn't really a good idea ;) ). Oh, my pound cake was round rather than loaf shape - but that didn't change the taste at all :P



How to make it...

First Birthday!...

OMG can't believe that my blog is already 1 year old. Time passes so quick. Many things happened during that year. I have learned so many new things, discovered new tastes, met new people - some of whom become my friends :)

This blog opened me for the whole world and opened the world to me!
When I started this blog I had NO idea how many of other fellow foodies are out there. It's so good to know that I'm not the only one ;) That I'm not alone in my kitchen success - but also some kitchen failures (which sometimes you just can't avoid).
I would like to thank you all who are reading Anula's Kitchen regularly (or who just pop in from time to time) and who support, inspire and encourage me every day.
Of course I can't write this post without mentioning fantastic Daring Bakers and Cooks! The challenges are great fun and the people couldn't be any better! Thank you for making me Daring in the kitchen! :)

Autumn's evening warmer...

I'm not lucky lately... First the operation (and to all those concerned about my health, everything is almost back to normal, just those ugly scars...) and now I got a flu! Luckily not the swine flu... I'm into comfort food, kind of warm and not too complicated dishes. This is quite popular in Poland, particularly in Silesia region - actually a little different version than mine but very similar. I used what I actually had in my fridge and cupboard. It's quick (besides baking...) and soo good. I know that it may not look too beautiful (and sorry for the quality of my photos...) but it tastes amazing! Hope you will try during, long, dark, cold winter evening.
In Poland this kind of dish is called 'pieczonki' and the potatoes, bacon and beetroot are a must! It was traditionally 'baked' in an open fire. There is even special cast-iron dish, especially designed to make 'pieczonki'...



How to make it...

The Daring Cooks #5 Vietnamese Chicken Pho...

This month's DC challenge is hosted by Jaden from Steamy Kitchen. She choose the Vietnamese Chicken Pho and another additional recipe of Sweet Wontons (which unfortunately with my operation and lots of other things going on I didn't have a chance to make, but I'm going to do so!).
The soup was very good indeed. It's perfect especially now, when the days are shorter and much cooler. It's very warming and have a nice kick ;) It's sort of 'comfort food' for me.



How to make it...

Blooming / Flowering Tea...

Blooming/Flowering Tea is truly a unique experience to be enjoyed. Witness each delicate bloom open gently to reveal it’s natural and unique beauty. One of the most appealing qualities of flowering teas would be their ease of use. You will simply need a clear glass pitcher, some hot water, and one flowering tea ball. After filling the pitcher with hot water just add the Flowering tea ball and let it do the rest! Like a masterpiece that paints itself, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the taste, the fragrance, and the beauty!



The photo above is my tea. It was amazing. Small (and rather bad looking) tea ball transferred into a beautiful, flower masterpiece. How they did it! Amazing. It was a green tea with grapefruit flavour - delicious.
I didn't know about those blooming teas untill recently. It was actually my Mum who showed me those beauties :) It's not the most expensive tea either and it's perfect if you have a party or a romantic dinner. Just pour the water and enjoy! If you will have a chance to buy it - do not hesitate! It's really worth it and what a great idea for a gift. I couldn't get it here in Ireland (where I live anyway) I got a whole box from my Mum back in Poland. I'm sure that if you look carefully (or just buy online) you'll be able to enjoy Blooming Tea as well :)

A porridge that may look pretty?...

I already wrote about how I eat my porridge (you can find it here) but I want to share some more ideas with you. That's how I eat it recently. As the days are shorter and weather is cooler (it's basically raining here constantly, it's really miserable...) I'm choosing what's 'comfort food' for me. A nice scent of cinnamon, apples, sultanas on a hot porridge - can you have a better start of the day?
P.S. Sorry for the photo - taken very early in the morning ;)



How to make it...

Mushroom sauce & I'm back for good...

After some time of neglecting my blog, which had lots of reasons (my trip to Poland, surgery after which I'm still recovering and didn't have a strength to stand in the kitchen and cook or bake). Anyway, I'm back for good now and full of new ideas, with some new cooking books on my shelf and very eager to share all that with you.

This mushroom sauce was actually made by my Dad, back at home. As it's mushroom's season there right now, mushrooms are everywhere and in quite reasonable price. We (Polish ;) ) love our mushrooms - pickled, fried, dried, sauce, soup, in a scrambled egg etc. Of course there's nothing better that your own hand picked mushrooms, but sometimes it's not possible so... you just go to the market and buy some. This mushroom sauce is great with plain mash, pearl barley, buckwheat, potato pancakes or courgette cakes (and that's what we had). I believe that each family has their own version of a mushroom sauce, this one is very simple and delicious, so I hope you'll try it!

P.S. Just remember when you're hand picking your mushrooms - go with someone who knows mushrooms very well or... it can end badly for you. Mushrooms can be very poisonous and you have to be careful with them!



How to make it...

Eat your greens!...

I don't have to convince anyone that green vegetables are good for you... but probably I have to convince you to eat them! I know that we all dread those greens from early years, but... The truth is that they're not so bad. Even more - they are very delicious, especially if you make something interesting with them. Here is my version of asparagus and spinach (which I love madly!).

P.S. Green vegetables are typically low in calories, low in fat, high in protein per calorie, high in dietary fiber, high in iron and calcium, and very high in phytochemicals such as vitamin C, carotenoids, lutein and folic acid as well as Vitamin K!

Oh, I have confession to make though... there is one green veg which I won't eat in a million years... it's pea - just hate the very thought of it...


How to make it...

Kyoto Sushi - OMG raw fish is really good...

You know that I went back home for a small holidays lately. And when with visit in Poland where else to go than... to a sushi restaurant ;) The truth is that I was meeting my old Friend (we know each other for 11 years now... I'm so old...). Anyway, as he is a HUGE fan of sushi and I've never had it before, we decided to go to Kyoto Sushi (in Katowice, Altus building). It's the restaurant with the best reputation for sushi in town -or so I've heard.

I had NO idea what to order and left it to my Friend. He ordered Matsu (12 sushi and 6 maki) and the exact components were:
- Nigiri Sushi Sake (Salmon) x 2
- Nigiri Sushi Maguro (Tuna) x 2
- Nigiri Sushi Butterfish x 2
- Nigiri Sushi Karei (Halibut) x 2
- Nigiri Sushi Masu (Trout) x 2
- Nigiri Sushi Ebi (Boiled Shrimp) x 2
- Filadelfiamaki (Salmon, avocado, white cream cheese) x 6

I was so scared that I won't like it, that I won't be able to swallow a raw fish! I was so wrong... It's absolutely amazing! Completely different culinary experience! You could see and smell - you actually couldn't smell the fish, which was a good sign ;) - that everything was very fresh. The dipping sauce gave it another dimension, but whole Wasabi paste was left for my Friend, I'm not suicidal ;)  We had a great time bringing back memories from High School, our holidays in the lake district (Mazury) etc. It was so good to catch up all the news and spend such a nice time - in a great place with delicious food.

I'm so mad at myself that I didn't try sushi earlier. So many years passed without this amazing kind of food. I so want more! If you ever have a chance to try it - do so! Just make sure that you'll go to a good restaurant - as my Friend explained to me, that there is BAD sushi too... I definitely recommend Kyoto Sushi Restaurant! The restaurant had also a nice choice of chicken dishes, vegetarian ones - but what's the point ordering such food in a SUSHI place?! They had a choice of teas, Japanese beers, sake and some desserts ( for ex. green tea ice creams).

No. of visits:  1
Prices: middle range
Wine selection: good as well as beer selection & sake
Reservation needed?: no