Panforte di Siena

I had wanted to cook this traditional Italian treat for at least 3 years and finally, this December, I got it! Probably I was afraid the recipe would turn out being very difficult. However, I'm happy now I've tried such a fabulous dessert. It's full of nuts and fruits and includes no butter or eggs as well. And it's easy, too. Yes, It has been one of the easiest recipes in all my practise!

Chocolate log

This Chocolate log - is an absolute holiday indulgence! It's elegant, sumptuous and brutally chocolate. Yes, it's not as succulent as could be, but, on the other hand, ideal with a cup of fragrant coffee. Actually, you can get it moister and more fragrant, drizzling with some alcohol (is cognac or whisky) the biscuit. Well, could ypu imagine, how gorgeous this dessert is?

Coconut and Cream Cheese Roulade

Congratulations! I've baked my first roulade:) Although it turned out being clumsy and bulky, it was delightful, delicate and so snowy, as well. So, generally I'm very proud of myself:))) Be careful rolling up and unrolling the cake - the sponge texture is very delicate - no rush!

Linzer Cookies

I like Christmas time for the opportunity not only cook and degustate that I've made, but the holiday atmosphere. Indeed, for me, as a food blogger and photographer, even though a mediocre one, such a lovely atmosphere (and Christmas attributes) helps me take some nice pictures. Yap, I hope to get some fabulous pictures this month:) I started my Christmas Marathon with these beautiful cookies, based on the famous Austrian dessert, The Linzertorte. I had been dreaming of buying special cutters (an probably dreaming about D) for a couple of years and last November I finally got them. I was so happy:) If you like crisp cookies, assemble them the day serving because filling with jam, next day they'll become chewy.

Mac 'N' Cheesee

Probably, the combination of pasta and cheese is one of the best ever known! Really, what could be better than pasta and cheese?! Maybe baked pasta and cheese?!:) So, I'm going to introduce an absolutely skinny, well-balanced, healthy and scrumptious American variation of a baked pasta! Pardon? What are you talking about? Am I kidding you?! Well, at least it scrumptious, eh! Definitely, it's a pretty outrageous recipe, but it's possible to indulge yourself sometimes...:) I used the recipe from the book Jamie's America, but omitted some ingredients as bread crumbs and tomatoes.

Avocado, grape and mozzarella salad

I'm used to adding fruits in berries in salads. Indeed, it's a cool idea to make your salad succulent and not so boring. However, even though nowadays we can buy in a store almost any fruits all year, it's a good idea to use seasonal one. For instance, an autumn it is a good time for grapes, persimmons, pomegranates, figs etc. So, why not to try, if you've never done that yet?! Actually, this salad not only fresh and juicy, but thanks to adding the cheese, avocado and nuts is being considered as a comfort meal, perfect for a cold time of a year...

Pastitsio - Greek baked pasta

I like the Greek cuisine, but seems to be I've never made nothing serious. A new era is looming:)) I've started with a nice pasta called Pastitsio. Actually, this type of dish is spread through the Mediterranean region, but anyway it's associated with Greece, for me. Pastitio - is a baked pasta of several layers included pasta (top and bottom), ground meat and White sauce (Bechamel). It's usually prepared from Bucatini or Ziti (type of pasta), but it's possible to substitute them for Penne. What also? Well, since I started blogging (the russian version), I've often got comments on my recipes from ladies who like the ideas I've posted on the Internet (especially referred to not usual salads), but can't afford to prepare them due to their men, either partners or sons. You know, men could be very conservative, eh!:) So, ladies - this is exactly what you are probably looking for to make your guys happy and satisfied with meals. If they are not vegetarians, they are going to love this meal:)))

Pasta alla Vodka

Despite being enough familiar with adding alcohol in food, it's the first time I've prepared a meal with vodka. In fact, I strongly dislike the way vodka smells, but thanks to a heat treatment the fragrance is gone and just added a tangy and spicy taste to the pasta. So, this pasta turned out being absolutely delicious and I'll definitely make it again. P.S. Usually this authentic pasta is made of penne, but you can use pasta any other size and shape.

Baked pumpkin stuffed with cheese and bacon

Being a fan of stuffed and baked vegetables, I've been cooking eggplant, zuchini, bell peppers, tomatoes and potatoes for last 1,5 years and persistently ignored stuffing pumpkins. However, a couple weeks ago I realized I was ready for it. Actually, this recipe couldn't turn out being terrible - at least because it's full of beautiful ingredients. Moreover, it turned out being absolutely scrumptious. Yes, it's so cheesy!:) As a pumpkin fondue:) I used 4 small pumpkins (2 pounds each), you can buy a bigger one and adjust time of cooking. You can reduce the quantity of all ingredients since these pumpkins are enough for a big company...or a small company for 2-3 days;)))

Chickpeas and Baked Beets Dip

I'm fond of a classic hummus, but like trying other versions as well. This is one of the most delicious dips ever! The blend of chickpeas and baked (any other method of cooking doesn't work so well) beets just a little bit adjusted by adding tahini and lemon juice - you absolutely don't need spicies. Oh well...I should stop talking about this dip too much:) But promise me please do not hesitate and try it!:)  

Pasta with asparagus and Philadelphia cream cheese

This year I'm get used to eating asparagus. Well, I've tried it before, but sometimes it takes time to start liking something, right?:) In my book, it perfectly fits in a pasta. Adding some bacon and cream cheese provides a deeper taste and makes this pasta really comfort fall/winter food. 

Pumpkin pancakes with caramel sauce

After 5 months being absent I finally decided to post some pictures on this blog again. Actually, I've got a couple of enough awesome photos in spite of the fact that usually they are mediocre:) Yap, I'm such a self-critical guy:))) To be honest, I do not know how long I will be able to post recipes cause I'm so lazy, too, and these posts are not only sharing with my food world, but a really tedious work on my English...What's why  I'd like to apologize for my meager language and any mistakes...in advance. I promise be better:)

This fall I've been using pumpkins a lot! Really, I've never been so familiar with them before! In the past 3-4 years I was get used to adding pumpkins in soups and salads...and that's all! Sorry, what are you asking me about?! Desserts? Pumpkin pie?!! Pasta?!! No way....!!! It was some sort of...well... prejudice to it! But not any more - now I love pumpkin...Oh boy, probably I'm becoming addicted to it:))) Soon, if I don't give up posting, I'm going to share a great set of scrumptious pumpkin recipes.

This recipe I found on the Kevin's blog - by the way, it's full of really awesome recipes and ideas! I didn't hesitate for a long time and soon after we had a perfect breakfast. If you have never made pumpkin pancakes and still have doubts - don't worry. I anticipate you loving them. And don't forget about caramel sauce since it's a pretty essential part of the meal:)))

Waffles with caramelized bananas

It was my first recipe I made after buying a waffle maker last December. Since that time I have done waffels just 2...or 3 times:))) Yes, it often happens with different kitchen staff! Use ripe but firm bananas for this recipe.

Salad with baked carrots and sesame seeds

I was not going to prepare this salad with fish. But finally I faced with a necessity to cook a salmon. So, I decided to bake it, just with a little of olive oil, salt and pink pepper, and added some of it in the salad. 

Salad with pasta, broccoli and sesame dressing

It was a pretty spontaneous decision to prepare this salad. Usually I plan on a week menu (sure, it can be changed during a week). That weekend we had a trip, so I didn`t have an opportunity to think over the menu and bought the ingredients. As a result, on Monday I faced with the necessity to prepare the dinner with something I had in the fridge:) This was quit lovely dish! But most of all I liked the dressing and I`ll use it in the future salads.

Amaretto sweets

I`d like to introduce to you a gorgeous dessert. These sweets are slightly crispy, with an almond flavor and generally delicious. The recipe is from the book The Homemade Sweets by Dr Erker and I strongly recommend to try it.

Bell peppers stuffed with cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and basil

Ricotta, mozzarella, basil, garlic, olive oil...is not it a lovely and comfort food? Oh yes, i've forgotten about baked bell peppers:)

Pasta with tuna, tomato cherries and balsamic vinegar

First pasta with tuna (I believe walnuts were also added) I prepared about 3 years ago. It was pretty nice...but we were eating it without being delighted. Then we tried some new variations and step by step it has become one of the favourite types of pasta:) I love caramelized vegetables with balsamic vinegar and they really co-ordinated well with pasta and tuna!

Louisiana chicken

This is a really tasty poultry meal with the amazing flavor thanks to a mix of peppers, celery, tomatoes and herbs! I adapted the recipe and baked the chicken in an oven (according to the original recipe I was supposed to cook it in a pan). 

Lentil curry

If you don`t like curry in meals you can omit it, anyway you`ll get a nice and comfortable dish especially good in the fall or in the winter. It was a really big portion of lentil and I recommend to reduce it by half the  ingredients. 

Chocolate ice cream with Philadelphia cream cheese

My first serious ice cream I made a year ago and since that time I`ve been cooking it very often. Before the first experiment I had never been able to imagine that it`s possible to prepare homemade ice cream without a cream  freezer! I still remember the words of my main degustator related to that ice cream...he was eating regular chocolate ice cream and suddenly said: "We will never ever buy ice cream in a store!":) Sometimes I think I shouldn`t have shown him I can do it:)

Spinach salad with avocado and pomegranate

It`s exactly that type of salads we usually have. Very simple (up to 3 ingredients), very easy to cook and very tasty to eat:) I also use very simple dressing, usually mix of olive oil, vinegar or lemon and mustard but I promise to share smth more interesting as dressing with sparkling vine or cognac:)))

Baked potatoes stuffed with sausage, onion and mustard

Stuffed baked vegetables it`s a quite new cooking chapter for me because I had never prepared it before last summer. Since that time I`ve cooked these meals  a lot and most of all like cooking eggplant and  bell peppers, but baked potatoes can be pretty lovely too. You can reduce by half the  ingredients if necessary

Holliday cheese truffles

I like Philadelphia cream cheese and often add it in different food (pasta, salads, ice cream etc.) and I was happy to buy the book of recipes with Philadelphia (published by KRAFT). It is so lovely! The 1st recipe I made in January was even not a cheesecake but these tasty cheese balls. And now, publishing this recipe I am very happy not to work on the text (fortunately it is written:)) because as I noticed before, I am learning English now and this blog I use for writting practice (It`s a real struggle to depict the recipes without using books!).

P.S. The recipe was changed a little bit by me and I`m writting it according to my experience.

Baked pasta with Italian sausage, onion and mustard

Oh, pasta...:) We really adore and enjoy eating  it every Friday and baked pasta is cooked pretty often. It`s an easy and delicious way to get a lovely dinner! Join!:)

Salad with figs, pomegranate and cheese balls

Before I started living in Canada I had bought and used figs just in October and November. I always anticipated that time - it was so short period! Now this situation has changed and it is really awesome to prepare, for instance, a lovely salad in March! 

Sorry, usually I don`t point out the exact amount of ingredients for a pasta or a salad and simply give an idea. You can change the amount according to your mood or smth. also:)