Friday, April 10, 2009

EASTER CUPCAKES (cupcakes - Paste)


For these lovely Easter Cupcakes you will need:
1 box vanilla cake mix,
3 eggs,
1/3 cup vegetable oil,
1/2 cup water,
Follow instructions from the box cake mix;
Bake 12 cupcakes;
For decorations you will need:
1-1/2 cups butter cream frosting
3 cups coconut flakes
3 drops each red, yellow, green and blue liquid food coloring,
assorted jelly beans;
To color the coconut flakes: place 1/2 cup coconut flakes into a sandwich plastic bag and drop 3 drops of liquid food coloring. Seal the bag and keep pressing and turning until all flakes are evenly coated. Use different bags for other colors.
Spread the butter cream on top of each cupcake, sprinkle and gently press colored coconut flakes and finish decorating with jelly beans. This was my idea of decorating, but with a little more imaginations you can find different ways to decorate even better! Hope you like my Easter Cupcakes !
HAPPY EASTER!

PEACHES AND CREAM - COOKIES (fursecuri "piersici" cu mousse de portocale)













Cookie dough ingredients:
2 cups flour,
1/2 cup sugar,
1/2 cup veg.oil,
1 teaspoon baking powder,
3 eggs,
1 teaspoon orange peel,(or lemon)
1 teaspoon vanilla,
pinch of salt;
beat eggs and sugar; add baking powder, salt, vanilla and orange peel, mix; add oil, mix; add flour,mix.
Form 1-1/2 inch balls, place on ungreased baking sheet 2 inches appart; bake for 15 to 20 minutes . Cool for 10 minutes. Scoop the back of the cookie and feel in your favorite cream. I used orange mousse. Pair the cookies. In a small bowl beat one egg white with 3 tablespoons water; add 2 drops of yellow food coloring and 1 drop of red. Mix well. Gently brush each pair cookies on both sides. Let the cookies dry for 10 minutes and brush with powder sugar .
This was the first time I made this cookies "peaches". I'm pleased with the result, but next time I will do much better.
Good luck to you!


VEGETABLES AND CHEESE PATTIES ( chiftelute din legume si brinza)




INGREDIENTS:
1 small onion,
1 small green bell pepper,
1 small red bell pepper,
1/4 head cabbage,
1 carrot,
2 cloves garlic,
1 stick celery,
1 small zucchini,
2 eggs,
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese,
1 cup bread crumbs (stove top),
salt and pepper to taste,
oil for deep fry,
flour;
DIRECTIONS:
All vegetables must be finely chopped in a food processor;
In a mixing bowl combine all the ingredients, minus oil and flour;
Form flat patties, roll in flour and deep fry on both sides until brown (but not burned) . Serve with mashed potato, rice, stew or as a appetizer, with cheese sauce or just plain mustard.
Enjoy!

GRAPES, APPLES AND PINE NUTS SALAD (salata de struguri, mere si seminte de pin)



INGREDIENTS:
2 cups grapes,
2 cups cubes cut appels,
1/2 cup pine nuts,
1 teaspoon vanilla extract,
1 teaspoon rum,
1/4 cup sugar,
3 tablespoons lemon juice;
Mix,
Serve,
ENJOY!

NINA'S HOMEMADE BREAD (Nina's piine de casa)

INGREDIENTS:4 cups flour (+ 1/2 cup for kneading),2 tablespoons dry yeast,1-1/2 teaspoons salt,2 cups warm water,1 egg;In a large mixing bowl combine 2 cups flour, yeast,salt and 2 cups warm water. Beat at low speed of electric mixer for 1/2 minute. Beat 3 minutes at high speed. Stir in the remining 2 cups of flour. Turn out onto floured surface and knead in enough flour (1/2 cup)to make a stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (8 to 10 minutes). Shape into a ball.Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover...



Let rise in warm place until double (1 to 1-1/2 hours). Punch dough; turn out onto lightly floured surface and divide (shape dough the way you like)...


Cover and let rise untill nearly double...(30-45 minutes)



Brush with mixture of egg and 1 teaspoon of water...




Bake at 375 F for 40 to 45 minutes...





...AND THIS IS IT !
Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan...

Enjoy!

WHITE CABBAGE SALAD (salata de varza alba)


INGREDIENTS:

4 cups shredded white cabbage,
2 shredded carrots,
1/2 sliced onion,
1/4 cup olive oil.
salt and pepper to taste;
Mix all the ingredients in a salad mixing bowl and serve in individual salad bowls or as a side dish for meats or fish!
Enjoy!

RED CABBAGE SALAD - salata de varza rosie




INGREDIENTS:
4 cups shredded red cabbage ( 1/2 cabbage),
1/2 sliced red onion,
4 leaves romaine lettuce,
1/4 cup olive oil,
1/4 cup vinegar (red or white),
salt and pepper to taste;
Mix all the ingredients in a salad mixing bowl and serve in separate individual bowls.
Enjoy!