Solenki

Pastry with Turkish Delight (Lokumki)

You need:

• 3 1/2 cup flour
• 3-4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons shortening
• 4-5 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 3 Turkish delights
• 1 packet of baking powder
• 4-5 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 vanilla

Instructions:

Sift the flour. Add the baking powder and the shortening, mixed with vegetable oil and yogurt. Knead a dough and  rolled into a circular shape. Cut into squires and place a piece of Turkish delight in each one of them. Fold and press the edges. Arrange in an oiled baking pan and bake in 375°F for 30 min. Sprinkle with vanilla and powdered sugar while still hot.

Palachinki Blintzies

You need:

• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup of milk
• ½ cup flour
• 1 pinch of salt

Instructions:

In a bowl, combine and whisk all the ingredients together. Heat a frying pan. Lightly butter the pan or spray with cooking spray. Pour about 2-3 tablespoons of the mixture. Quickly spread the mixture out evenly. Fry for about a minute on a medium heat and flip over. When done, use a topping of your choice. This makes about 8-9 Palachinki. It is the easiest pancake recipe!

Vanilla Pudding

You need:  

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons corn starch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 3 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Mix sugar, corn starch, salt and eggs in pan. Stir in milk until well combined.  Cook over medium temperature, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens and boils. When it starts boiling, turn to low heat.  Boil for 1 minute.  Remove it from the heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Pour into shaping cups and refrigerate. Before serving turn the cup over into a plate to let the pudding fall out. I topped it with grounded milk chocolate.

Melon

Melons are in the gourd family, related to pumpkins. These sweet and aromatic fruits are known from the time of ancient Egypt, in some Asian countries has grown about 4,000 years .Today, there is a wide range of varieties with different shape, aroma, and color. Once cut, melons should be kept in the refrigerator, covered with foil no more than 3 days. Melons should be eaten fresh. Melon is full of vitamins, especially A and C. It is a very refreshing snack. There are different ways to cut melons. Here is my way. Wash it well first.  I prefer to cut it in half and then half it again. You will have a total of 4 pieces. Cut the bottom off. Then work against the skin, making a few more slices in each piece. Transfer all of them into a plate. This is my quick way to cut the melon into pieces.

Grapes

Grapes are probably the oldest cultivated fruit. They are found in Egyptian tombs, Western Asia and Europe. Grapes have more than 10,000 varieties.
The Phoenicians took grapevines from Asia to Greece around 1000 BC. The Mediterranean climate suited grapes, so it started spreading throughout the Mediterranean region. The European grapes were brought to America by the Spaniards and the Portuguese.
In 1700, the Spaniards introduced grape cultivation to California. California produces nearly 90% of total crop in America.
Grapes are very nutritious! Next time you buy grapes or grape juice, just remember  how good they are for your health!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

You need:

• 3 pounds of strawberries
• 1 pound of milk chocolate
• 3.5 oz (100 g) white chocolate

Instructions:

Here is a beautiful and delicious recipe for a desert during strawberry season.

Wash the strawberries and keep their green leaves on them. Dry them with paper towel. Melt the chocolate in a microwave, or use a double boiler. If you microwave it, remove the container right before it’s melted. Stir until you get a smooth melted chocolate.

Dip each one of the strawberries into the chocolate until completely covered. Place them a plate and give it some time to harden. Drizzle with the melted white chocolate. Transfer into a clean plate before serving.

Chocolate Walnut Balls

You need:

• 1 pound milk chocolate
• 1 pound classic tea biscuits
• 8 oz heavy  whip cream
• 1 stick butter
• 0.64 oz. of Vanilla Sugar (usually 2 packets)
• 2 cups ground walnuts
• 1 can sweeten condensed milk

Instructions:

Melt the chocolate and the butter. Ground the tea biscuits. Add whip cream, vanilla, and condensed milk. Mix it well. It will form dough. Roll it into small balls and place them on a sheet. Refrigerate for about 30 min. Roll the balls into the ground walnuts. This is a perfect desert for any occasion!

Cheese Rolls (Kashkavalki)

You need:

• 3 cups of flour
• 2 cups of plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1-2 teaspoon of salt
• 3 teaspoons of vegetable oil
• 1 cup of shredded blend of Cheddar, Mozzarella, Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• ½ cup of warm milk

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine the flour, the salt, the oil and the cheese. In a separate small bowl, mix the plain yogurt with the baking soda. Wait for a few seconds and then add to the flour mixture. Mix well forming soft dough, adding the warm milk and the melted butter together, slowly. Divide the dough into small pieces forming each one of them into circle. Place them next to each other in a greased baking sheet, or pan. Bake at 375 degree F for 30 minutes.

Crème Caramel

You need:
4 eggs
2 cups whole milk
2 cup sugar
1 tbs. lemon juice

Instructions:
In a bowl, beat the 4 eggs and 1 cup of sugar until pale. Slowly pour 2 cups of hot milk over the mixture and whisk until well incorporated. Let it cool down. This is the egg custard mixture.

For the caramel: In a saucepan, melt the remaining 1 cup of sugar with the lemon juice until you reach a nice deep golden color. You need to remove it before it gets too dark. It will continue to become darker when removed from the heat. Pour into ceramic shaping bowls (ramekins) and let it cool down.
In the meantime, prepare your water bath: In a deep baking pan, pour some hot water deep at least an inch and set your oven to 350 degrees.
Pour the egg custard mixture on top of the caramel in the ramekins. Place them into the baking pan. Bake for about 20 minutes. Let the water bath cool off for a few minutes and remove the ramekins from the baking pan. Let them cool off to room temperature. Refrigerate before serving. Turn over each one of the ceramic bowls and place into the serving plates. It will look so much prettier with the dark brown color on top. Decorate to your own taste! Some like to top it with chocolate.

Sweet Rice (Rice Pudding)

You need:

• 2 cups of rice
• 4 cups of water
• a pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup of Butter
• 2 cups of whole milk
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla
• Cinnamon

Instructions:

Wash the rice and boil it in slightly salted water. When the water completely evaporates, add the 2 cups of milk, the sugar, and the butter. Stir, thoroughly. You need another 10 minutes for the rice to cook and part of the milk to evaporate. When the rice is thick and cooked, add the vanilla at the very end. Pour in serving bowls and sprinkle with cinnamon. This serves 4