treat – Page 28 – My Whisk and I

Green Quiche

April 2, 2023April 1, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

Pastry:
360g flour
150g butter, cubed
1 egg
100g cheddar cheese, grated

Filling:
45ml vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 bunch of Kale, chopped
125ml chicken stock
6 eggs
125ml cream
5ml salt

For the pastry:
Add the flour and butter to a mixing bowl and rub together with your fingers until the lumps are the size of peas.
Add the egg and cheddar and mix to bring together.
Knead the pastry by hand. It is very flaky and falls apart but push it together as best you can.
Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and spray a loose-bottom cake tin or pie tin with cooking spray.
Roll the pastry into a rough circle shape even if it breaks apart and transfer (even if it is pieces) to the pie tin. Gently push the pastry out on the base and sides of the baking tin. It is okay to “patch” the pastry as long as there are no gaps for the filling to leak out.
Line the pastry with baking paper and dried beans.
Bake for 7 minutes, remove the paper and beans and bake a further 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and set aside.

For the filling:
Add the vegetable oil to a saucepan set over medium heat.
Add the onion and cook until translucent.
Add the garlic and stir-fry for one minute.
Add the kale and stir-fry until slightly softened and bright green.
Spoon the mixture into a blender, add the stock and blitz until smooth.
Add the eggs and cream to a mixing bowl and whisk to blend.
Add the kale mixture to the eggs and whisk to combine.
Pour the mixture into the pastry shell and bake for 35 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow the quiche to rest for 15 minutes before serving with whipped goats cheese.

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Grilled Halloumi with Pear

April 1, 2023March 31, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This is a heavenly combination of salty halloumi, sweet and spicy fruit and fabulous fresh basil!

2 pears
30ml lemon juice
60ml brown sugar
2,5ml ground cinnamon
30g butter, cubed
2 x 300g blocks Halloumi cheese
1 x 230g Dulce del Cabo sculpted fruit preserve (or 230g fruit preserve of your choice)
a handful of small basil leaves

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and line a small baking tray with baking paper.
Halve the pears and remove the core.
Place the pears, cut-side up on the prepared baking tray and drizzle with lemon juice.
Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon on the fruit and place a piece of cubed butter on each.
Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, flip them over and bake for another 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and set aside.
Turn your oven on the grill setting.
Score the halloumi, without cutting through, in a diamond pattern – about 2cm deep.
Place both blocks of cheese on a lined baking sheet and drizzle over some vegetable oil.
Place the cheese under the hot grill until browned and slightly scorched. (about 8 minutes, depending on your oven)
Cut the fruit preserve into pieces and add to a small saucepan set over medium-low heat.
Pour in 60ml of water and stir until melted.
Place the halloumi on a serving platter and arrange the pear around it.
Drizzle over the fruit preserve and scatter with basil leaves.
Serve with a crusty bread.

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Vanilla Cake

March 31, 2023March 30, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

If there had to be a cake that I could not live without, it would be this Vanilla Cake. It is plain and simple, has the finest, most delicate crumb and can be dressed up or down with icing, cream, fresh fruit, steamed fruit or a compote. Whichever way you choose to eat yours, I hope this becomes one of your very favourite cakes too! Please note: THERE ARE DIFFERENT BAKING TIMES DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU BAKE THE CAKE IN ONE OR TWO CAKE TINS.

500ml flour
12,5ml baking powder
1,2ml salt
4 eggs, room temperature
375ml caster sugar
115g butter, cubed
250ml milk
15ml vanilla
15ml vegetable oil

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and spray two 22cm loose-bottom cake tins and line the base and sides with baking paper.
Add the flour, baking powder and salt to a mixing bowl and whisk to mix through.
Add the eggs to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed for 30 seconds.
Slowly pour in the sugar with the mixer still running.
Now beat on high speed until the mixture is three times its original volume – about 7 minutes or so.
Scatter a third of the flour on the surface and mix on the lowest speed until the flour is just incorporated. Keep going until there is no flour left.
Add the butter and milk to a saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir until the butter has melted and the mixture is warm when you put your finger in it. NB: you want the butter to melt but NOT boil the milk!
Pour the milk-mixture into a large mixing bowl.
Add the vanilla and vegetable oil and whisk through with a hand whisk.
Add about 250ml of the egg and flour mixture and vigorously whisk to combine. The batter must be smooth.
Turn the mixer on to a low speed and very slowly pour in the milk mixture.
Scrape down the sides and base of the bowl. Beat on low speed for 20 seconds.
Divide the batter between the prepared cake tins.
Lift each tin 5cm from the work surface and drop it – repeat a few times to knock out the large air bubbles.
Place the cake tins in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove and cool in the tins for 15 minutes before turning out onto cooling racks and removing the baking paper.
Leave to cool completely before filling with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

BAKING TIME FOR ONE PAN: 50 minutes

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Oven Pumpkin Risotto

March 29, 2023March 28, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

This oven risotto is one of the very best dinners you will make. It is low effort and easy cooking with delicious taste rewards. NB: do not substitute the pumpkin with butternut!!!

30ml vegetable oil
30ml butter
150g smoked bacon, diced
1 large onion, finely diced
1 clove of garlic, minced
250ml arborio rice
625ml chicken stock
60g butter, diced
500g pumpkin, peeled and diced (1cm x 1cm)
125ml grated parmesan cheese
15ml parsley, chopped

Preheat your oven to 190℃.
Place an ovenproof saucepan on medium-high heat, add the oil and butter and add the bacon.
Fry until cooked and starting to turn crispy.
Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving behind the fat.
Add the onion to the saucepan and cook until soft and translucent.
Add the garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute. Turn off the heat.
Add the rice, stock, 60g butter, pumpkin and cooked bacon to the saucepan and stir together.
Cover with a lid/aluminium foil and bake for 45 minutes, until the rice is soft.
Remove from the oven and stir in the parmesan.
Taste and season with salt and pepper.|Sprinkle over the parsley and serve.

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Chickpea Chocolate Bark

March 28, 2023March 27, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

1 x 400g tin chickpeas
240g chocolate
10ml sesame seeds

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
Rinse the chickpeas under running water and spread them out on a kitchen towel.
Place another towel on top and dry the chickpeas.
Spread them out on the prepared baking sheet and spray them with cooking spray.
Roast in the oven for 20 minutes, giving them a shake every now and then so that they bake evenly.
Remove from the oven and cool completely.
Break up the chocolate and add it to a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan with barely simmering water. Allow to melt.
Pour the chocolate over the chickpeas and scatter the sesame seeds over.
Refrigerate until set, about an hour.
Break into shards.

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Tiramisu Overnight Oats

March 27, 2023March 27, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

250ml rolled oats
30ml chia seeds
45ml cocoa powder, sifted
45ml honey
80ml milk
125ml coffee, room temperature
2,5ml vanilla
a pinch of salt
Top layer:
150ml greek yoghurt
30ml honey
cocoa powder to dust

Add the oats, chia seeds, cocoa powder, honey, milk, coffee, vanilla and a pinch of salt to a mixing bowl.
Whisk together for 1 minute.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Prepare the top layer by stirring together the yoghurt, honey and vanilla.
Spoon half the oats into two serving glasses and top with half the yoghurt mixture.
Repeat the oats layer and then top it off with the yoghurt layer.
Dust an even layer of cocoa powder on top to serve.

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How to cook Perfect Polenta

March 25, 2023March 23, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

250ml raw polenta will feed two very hungry adults.

1 litre chicken stock
2,5ml salt
250ml polenta
45ml butter
125ml grated parmesan cheese

Place a saucepan on medium-high heat.
Pour in the chicken stock, add the salt and bring to the boil.
Slowly pour in the polenta while whisking. Keep whisking until there are no more lumps.
Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, while still whisking, until the polenta thickens.
Cover the saucepan with a lid and cook for a further 30 minutes. Whisk every 5 minutes or so.
Turn off the heat and stir in the butter and parmesan.
Cover the polenta with a lid and stand for a final 5 minutes before serving.

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Chorizo and Paprika Quiche

March 24, 2023March 23, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

200g chorizo, casing removed and sliced
45ml butter
2 leeks, cleaned and sliced in discs
2 onions, sliced
1 x 400g frozen puff pastry
4 eggs
125g sour cream
50g parmesan cheese, grated
15ml flour
5ml smoked paprika

Preheat your oven to 200℃ and spray a 22cm diameter loose-bottom pie tin with baking spray.
Place a pan on medium-high heat and add the butter.
Add the chorizo, leeks and onion and cook for 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
Lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll the pastry into a 25cm diameter disc.
Line the prepared pie tin (base and sides) with the pastry and prick the base all over with the tines of a fork.
Line the pastry case with baking paper and dry beans/rice and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the beans and paper and bake the shell for another 8 minutes.
Remove from the oven and lower the temperature to 180℃.
Add the eggs, sour cream, parmesan, flour and paprika to a mixing bowl and whisk together until smooth.
Spoon the chorizo mixture into the pastry shell and spread it evenly over the base.
Pour the egg mixture over and bake the quiche for 40 minutes.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Slovenian Sweet Omelet / Pahorje

March 23, 2023March 21, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

A sweet omelet may be a strange/unusual idea but this traditional omelet with vanilla and fresh berries will surprise and delight your tastebuds!

3 eggs, separated
30ml + 30ml sugar
1ml + 1ml salt
45ml flour
125ml cream
2,5ml vanilla
80ml strawberry/raspberry jam
fresh berries
icing sugar, for dusting

Preheat your oven to 220℃ and line the base of a 22cm loose-bottom cake tin with baking paper. Spray with cooking spray and set aside.
Add the egg whites to a mixing bowl and beat with an electric whisk until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
Add the egg yolks, 30ml sugar and 1ml salt to a separate mixing bowl.
Beat on high speed for 2-3 minutes until you have a very thick, very pale mixture that falls from the whisk in ribbons.
Fold a third of the egg whites into the mixture, add the rest and fold in until just combined.
Sift the flour over and fold in with a metal spoon until smooth.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking tin and gently smooth the top.
Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes. The omelet should be fluffy and golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the centre should come out clean.
Add the cream, vanilla, 30ml sugar and 1ml salt to a mixing bowl and whisk until medium-stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until needed.
Remove the omelet from the oven and remove the ring of the cake tin.
Invert the omelet onto a plate and gently peel off the baking paper.
Allow to cool to room temperature.
Spread the jam on half the omelet.
Spread the cream over the jam and sprinkle over the fresh berries.
Gently fold the omelet over.
Dust with icing sugar to serve.

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Nut-Butter Hummus

March 22, 2023March 21, 2023by Karen ClaassenLeave a Comment

If you dont like the slightly bitter aftertaste of tahini paste in hummus, this is the recipe for you. Made from macadamia nut-butter (any nut-butter is good) it produces a buttery, soft hummus with a delicious umami taste.

1 x 400g can chickpeas
60ml nut butter (I use the Babylonstoren Macadamia nut butter but you may use any variation that appeals to you)
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
30ml lemon juice
2,5ml salt

Drain the chickpeas and place in a liquidiser/cup of a stick blender.
Add the nut butter, garlic, lemon juice and salt.
Blitz together until smooth.
Serve as a dip with crispy vegetable sticks or simply slosh it onto a cracker or fresh slice of bread.
PS: I sprinkled sunflower and chia seeds on the hummus to add another layer of taste.