Shrimp Salad

I like shrimp but not really crazy about it, so I try to mix it up with some other stuff:).I do not remember how I got inspired to make this salad but everyone loves it and it makes a great side dish.
INGREDIENTS:
1). Shrimp, jumbo larger is better but you can use the rock shrimp too,no problemo :)about 1 pound or more , as you wish:)
2). Scallions as much as you like , I like it a lot like 1 cup.
3). Parsley , around 1 oz.
4). 2 -4lemons, depends how big they are .
5). Canola or vegetable oil 4 -5 table spoons.
6). Red onion, half of very little onion.
7). Orzo, 1 pound.
8). Salt and pepper according to your taste.
9). Cucumbers half pound.
Preparation:
Make the orzo according to the box, just regular way , rinse with cold water, drain and set aside. Clean and grill your shrimp , make sure you do not overcook it or it will get tough, oh don't forget to season it first with salt, pepper and drizzle of lemon juice and put aside ready shrimp also. Cut onion very thinly and scallions in quarter inch pieces, cover them with lemon juice in a bowl and set aside also, wait around ten minutes and drain the juice out from onions. Chop up parsley too and combine juice from 1 lemon and oil and salt and pepper whisk make it like a dressing . Cut your cucumbers in quarter horizontally you have to end up with 4 long cucumber strips and spoon out all the seeds , and then chop the strips up.
In a large bowl mix everything together and you will end up with very beautiful and also yummy salad ! Enjoy!

Melon Asparagus Mozzarella Salad

It is the time of the year again... I mean it is winter, time for endless holidays and dinner parties , time for more eating and less movement, time for the most interesting super caloric drinks...So naturally I decided to share some lighter dishes, let's give our bellies a break:) This recipe actually was inspired by Giada De Laureates similar dish

Ingredients :
1). 1 pound Asparagus.
2). 1 pound melon.
3). 1 tb spoon vegetable oil.
4). 1 tb spoon lemon juice ( fresh ).
5). Couple of Mint leaves if you have it .
6). Salt and pepper just a little according to your taste.
7). 2 oz mozzarella ,part skim if you want a light dish .
8). Slivered almonds as much as you like, but I would recommend couple of tb spoons, to keep our light dish lighter .

Preparation :
Trim asparagus grill or steam them. Cut into 1-2 inch stripes , cut melons into cubes and mozzarella into thin rectangles,add almonds; separately whisk salt, pepper, oil and lemon juice together , pore over main ingredients in a large bowl ,fold everything and whoa la:) it's done! Almost forgot throw roughly chopped mint leaves for even more flavor and nutrition, not to mention that you will end up with super good looking plate.Enjoy this guilt free yummy dish!

Aladebi

The original blins are very different from the Georgianized version of these lovely creatures . I like all the versions but I am gonna post today my daughter 's favorite blins , which we call Aladebi. These are a crossover pastries between American pancakes and Russian blins .Easy and yummy , great with a hot cup of drink .
Ingredients :
1).4 eggs.
2).1 cup of sugar.
3).1 tb of vanilla extract.
4).2 tea spoons of baking powder.
5).12 oz of plain yogurt.
6).1-2 cups of flour .
7).1/2 cup veggie oil of some kind .
Preparation :
Mix eggs couple minutes add sugar mix more , until sugar is kind of dissolved add soda into yogurt and pore into egg and sugar mix add vanilla ,stir until everything well combined and add cup of flour , add more flour if necessary, batter should be medium thickness little thicker than regular pancake batter .For better results let the batter rest 5-10 minutes before start frying.Take an ice cream scooper and pore one by one into the hot pan with oil, after one side is brown flip on another side.When done arrange them on a wide shallow plate and sprinkle with powder sugar if you like .They are delicious and great with some fruit preserves.Enjoy!

Time for Borshch

Well, probably everyone knows what is Borstch , it is a Russian product almost as famous as Matrioshka dolls and Communism.Ironically it is color red, one more "unmistakable"and very stereotypical Russian feature. Anyway, let's get cooking :), let me warn you that recipe below is not traditional Russian, but my own take on it:), and let me tell you I had lots of practice making "The Borshch".I make it at least once a week , the only soup my husband and daughter actually eat with pleasure.
Ingredients:
1).1 pound or 2 ( depends how big is your pot) beef or veal , for the best results get some bones too.
2).2 medium carrots.
3).2 medium beets.
4).About 1/2 medium cabbage
5).1 medium onion.
6).2 tbs of tomato past.
7).2 tbs red wine vinegar.
8).1 ts sugar.
9).2-3 bay leaves.
10).1-2 liters of boiled water.
11).1 oz chopped Dill
12). Salt and black pepper according to your taste buds :).
13).Little butter if the meat is lean.
14).Sour cream for garnish.
15).1-2 cloves of minced garlic if you like it, you can omit garlic also:).

Preparation:
First prep your veggies and meat. Cut meat and chop onions; grate carrots and beets and cut cabbage as thinly as possible .Take a large pot put on medium to law heat add meat and bay leaves , cover and when meat is almost cooked add onions; when you see onions are cooked , soft and almost disappeared , add carrots and beets stir, cover and wait couple of minutes, meanwhile in a medium bowl prepare mixture of tomato paste , vinegar , salt and sugar, incorporate these ingredients and than add some hot water when smooth pore it over meat and veggies , stir and cover again and wait couple of minutes; in a little while
Pore boiling water in pot fill it up 3/4 and than add cabbage, let it boil 2-3 minutes and than add garlic if you like and dill. Turn off the heat and season the soup with salt and pepper .Before eating add some sour cream into the soup and also I would recommend eating it with dark kind of breads or sourdough.I hope you will like the Borshch and again do not be afraid of improvising! That's how I created my version of the Borshch :).

Shockmanje

 TIME  FOR SWEETS

  Today I am in a mood for sweets, I have a recipe  from my childhood, sweet treat called "Shockmanje ".:)))from the sound of it you will probably guess it has to do something with chocolate,well you have guessed correctly:). It's pretty easy ,let's start,

INGREDIENTS:
1)5 eggs
2)5 table spoons of sugar (or more if you make your own chocolate)
3)pinch of salt
4)5 oz butter (unsalted is better)
5)100 grams of milk chocolate (or you can make your own chocolate, with sugar , cocoa powder and 1 spoon of milk, whisk everything together ,add butter and put i on law heat ,let is melt and bubble and turn off the heat,let it cool)
6)1 shot of Amaretto liquor  or Cognac
7)1 spoon of vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:
Combine butter and chocolate in a sauce pan and put it on a law heat,whisk slowly with a wooden spoon, as soon as everything melts turn off the heat and put aside the sauce pan to cool.
Separate 5 egg yolks from egg whites, than mix 5 egg whites together, when they rich thick an white consistency ad sugar and pinch of salt when sugar melts start adding yolks on by one,than add vanilla and liquor, finally fold in the cooled chocolate mixture you have prepared and put aside.Last step is to transfer "Shochmanje" into small glasses and put in freezer, you can taste them after couple of hours and they are Delicious!!!!
Don't forget toppings:) you can shave some chocolate on top or walnuts and whip cream, well sky is the limit :)))
Good luck an feel free to experiment with the recipe!

Chakapuli (Tarragon veal stew)

 

I decided to go back to basics and post a Georgian favorite recipe Chakapuli, but of course my version :) because I cannot stick to a written recipe ever :). This recipe is very "healthy" and yummy.Truth is that "healthy " part is completely depends on a person cooking the dish.I would advise using lean meats instead of fatty parts and using less butter .Well, improvise because it is not a medication and if you change a little thing nobody will suffer :). Besides, it will give you sense of accomplishment when you have a little secret ingredient.If you are on law carb diet this is kind of perfect dish,because it consists of pretty much meat and green leafy veggies.
Let's start cooking !
Ingredients :
1) 2 pounds of veal, ideally with some bones. Original Georgian recipe requires fatty lamb meat,you can make it with that too, of course if you like lamb.
2) 2-3 table spoons of butter
3) 5-7 oz of green onion
4) 5-7 oz of  cilantro
5) 3-5 oz of  parsley
6) 8-10 oz tarragon
7) Couple of cloves of garlic
8) 1 cup white wine
9) 1 cup of wild plums. In Georgia we call them Tkemali or spring version Alucha, we also make Tkemali sauce and if you by any chance are near Russian or Georgian food market you can always buy this sauce. But remember, if you use Tkemali sauce instead of fresh use green or yellow variety and only half of the cup.
10) Couple of  bay leaves.
11) 1-2 liters of water . Boil the water in advance ,have it ready next to the pot.
12) And last but not least salt and crashed red pepper. Trust your taste buds on that.
 How to make the dish:
First of all prepare everything, cut meat into couple inch cubes and set aside;cut green onions into half an inch peaces and set aside, cut rest of the greens half inch pieces and you can set them aside together in a large bowl.Take a medium to large pot, you can use a dutch oven too and put it on stove on a low fire,add butter and when melted add meat, cover and stir occasionally add bay leaves,when you see meat is almost cooked and browned add green onions , after five minutes add rest of the greens and minced or crashed garlic and stir couple of times;after around 2-3 minutes add boiling water, depends how think you like your stew you can add one liter or two, well as I mentioned before improvise:). When everything starts to boil ,check the meat , it should be tender and cooked by now, add Tkemali and wine and let it simmer couple more minutes. Turn off the heat and add salt and crushed red pepper, don't forget to taste it and taste it after around 15 minutes too,because salt needs time to be absorbed properly.
This is pretty much my take on classic Chakapuli.Main ingredients are meat and tarragon.I am all for changing up things and playing with flavors but do not touch tarragon and buy good quality meat, or you will end up with something completely different than old Georgian creation.
Good luck and be creative!

xoxo

Introduction

Hi all :)
My name is Tako and I love to cook and entertain.If you are reading this thank you and I will try to prove myself worthy of your time. I decided to create this page to find and than share wonderful forgotten recipes and sometimes even post some of my own creations.
I hope you will try to cook even if you never cooked before, because cooking and sharing your creation to your loved ones is very rewording and enjoyable experience.
Best,
Tako