Plum linzer tart

If we talk about plum season in August, the first thing what I remember is that plum linzer tart which springs from one of our old family cake recipe book with purple cover included 800 salt and sweet recipes. When I was small we opened it many times with mum, we always wrote remarks on the margin next to recipes with our experiences and modifications or with just a simple comment that it's "very delicious" or "don't try it again"!  A few years ago I borrowed this book from mum and for sure this will be also the first one what...

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Turkish Fried Zucchini Salad - Gazientep style (Kızarmıs Kabak Pıyazı)

And here is another Turkish appetizer for the hot summer days. It can be prepared as appetizer, meze or as a light lunch. Where is Gazientep and what is its cuisine famous for?  Gazientep is a city in south-east Turkey and one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. The city's local dishes are many and very various which is the result of besides the history, the geography. The Gazientep kitchen includes a lot of meat, yoghurt, vegetables, red pepper, garlic, baked goods. The city is also famous...

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Lemony cottage-cheese cake with blackberry

On Friday afternoon I went to the market for some vegetables for the weekend then when I saw the fresh blackberries, my fantasy started up. I imagined that I prepare something creamy, light summerish cake for what it's not necessary to warm up the oven when it's 37 degrees outside and it fits to the blackberry. I remembered the eternal favorite no-bake cake what my best friend's mum made when we went to grammar school and what I prepare several times every summer since then. Thank you for it Évi!!:) I guarantee that everyone will...

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Medley of Mini sablées

In my post about the basic recipe of the French shortcust pastry, the pâte sablée I promised that I show also what was made from it. Here you are! I haven't forgot it but I was above myself not to share my experiences at the gastro weekend at first. In the thematic book with ten different pastry chapters the author gives ideas for salty and sweet use as well after the introduction of each pastries. The recipes connected with pâte sablée: - Pastry baskets, fruit tarts, ice-cream tarts - Catalan cake - Pecan pie - Pear clafoutis -...

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Gastro experiences at the weekend - last stop: Promenade of Hungarian Flavours

The gastro weekend arrived at its last stop on 20th August. This day we celebrate the anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian State. There are a lot of traditional programme year by year such raising of the national flag and ceremonial officer inauguration, aerial and water parade on the Danube, ceremonial holy mass and procession of the Holy Right Hand (of our King Stephen, Founder of the State) and of course at the end of the day firework. The Promenade of Hungarian Flavours is organized on the Danube bank every year where...

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Gastro experiences at the weekend - 3. station: Szeráj Turkish Restaurant

Szeráj! With this one word I could end my post here since everyone knows the Szeráj in Budapest. I believe I don't need glorify their kitchen in long blog entry because my boyfriend told me (and I don't dare to argue with him in this topic) that this is the best Turkish restaurant in Budapest. Punktum. He knows. :) Okay, who has already been in Turkey, knows that  the real Turkish cuisine is much more various, colourful and delicious compared to the assortment of the Turkish fast food restaurant here in Hungary, but in...

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Gastro experience at the weekend - 2. station: Iguana Mexican Restaurant

The long weekend's second important station was Budapest's most popular Mexican restaurant, the Iguana Bar&Grill. I can already be called frequenter at this place, I come with mum, my best friend here regularly and I often arrange my meetings to here with my colleagues as well. Sometimes we turn into here only for a chip&salsa, sometimes for lunch but many times we have dinner here. Iguana is popular not only in my fellowship and among Hungarian guests but a lot of foreign tourists visit it during their stay. It's not for...

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Gastro experiences at the weekend - 1. station: Shalimar Restaurant

My long weekend was very stirring but supergood, I'm full of gastro and cultural experiences. As I mentioned before my mum came to Budapest to spend the long weekend with me. Since the day of my moving nears, it seems, this was our last weekend together therefore we decided that we visit every place what we want to see, visit, try for years or rather we go to those restaurants what we were talking about for donkey's years but haven't tried together yet. 1. station: Shalimar That's the way how we finally got to Budapest's best and...

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Pâte sablée - French sweet shortcrust pastry

For the long weekend my mum visited me and besides our other programmes, we - as always - prepared some desserts. We didn't know at the very beginning what exactly it will be but something from my new book, Pastry: Savory and Sweet by Michael Roux. Something sweet, something easy and small. I opened the book, looked through the more and more delicious sweet-salty recipes then finally I chose a French sweet shortcrust pastry, the pâte sablée. Honestly my dough needed a little bit more flour than the original recipe says but after...

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Confectionery test 1.0 - Gerbeaud

Gerbeaud is one of the oldest and most famous café and confectionery in Budapest, Hungary. It serves traditional Hungarian desserts, cakes, pastries such as Dobos cake, Esterházy cake and Gerbeaud slice. History of Gerbeaud The Gerbeaud was started in 1858 with Henrik Kugler, the 3. child of a conferctionery dynasty. He acquired and prefected his knowledge during his travels in eleven European conutries, including Paris as well. He opened his first café at József nádor Square (close to the Gerbeaud's current location)...

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Hókifli - Traditional Hungarian dessert

This dessert was also made for the garden party yesterday. It was finished up already before lunch as the cheesy crescent rolls. Hókifli is a traditional Hungarian christmas dessert. Usually we make 2 different kinds of hókifli at home, it always depends on the occassion what we make it for and how much time we have for preparing. If you want fresh and soft hókifli next day as well, try this recipe. Ingredients: 1 kg flour 3 egg yolks 5 dkg fresh yeast (+ some lukewarm milk) 40 dkg fat (or 68 dkg butter) 2 dl sour cream 20...

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Cheesy crescent rolls

Yes, yes, yes, yes!!! Absolute success!!! These cheesy cresent rolls are always big favorite among my friends, colleagues and in our family. Today I was at a garden party where the 64 fresh and soft rolls were disappeared within half an hour. Ingredients: 70 dkg flour 1 tablespoon sugar 1 dl oil 2 dl yoghurt 2 dl milk 5 dkg fresh yeast For the filling: 25 dkg butter (room temperature) 1 tablespoon salt For the top: + 1 egg + 20 dkg cheese Place the flour in a big bowl, mix it with the sugar then make a hole in the middle....

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Today's purchase and the books which moves to Stockholm with me

My new happiness: Pastry: Savory and Sweet by Michael Roux. I have made eyes at it for a long time since I have read a lot of good reviews about it at many forums but I have procured only today. There is big happiness now! Recipe books can never be enough. I buy many for myself and I also get many as present. When I arrived home with the next piece of my collection under my arm I have looked through which books move with me to Stockholm. Some has already been there but let's see what is still here in Budapest. But let's switch...

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