Chocolate and Cream Petit Choux + Massive Attack

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Baking, Cake, Chocolate, Cooking, Dessert, Food, Music, Recipes, Sweet

I always thought Petit Choux (or Profiteroles) were a complicated pastry. Just a myth. It is a nice dough to work with and the result is just delicious…can’t stop eating them!

For the piping bag, a little trick: To fill it in a clean way place the bag inside a tall cup or glass. Fold the excess bag that doesn’t fit inside the cup over the edges of the cup. Spoon the dough inside the bag. Remove the bag from the cup and squeeze any air bubbles out of the bag. Twist the top part of the bag and proceed with piping.

Music…Teardrop by Massive Attack.

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Chocolate, Pink Pepper and Maldon Salt Truffles + Lou Reed

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Chocolate, Cooking, Dessert, Food, Music, Recipes, Sweet

Intense and delicate. And very easy to make.

The main thing is to use a good chocolate. Valrhona is my choice.

Then, you can play around with ingredients: chopped almonds or hazelnuts, chocolate chips, a piece of candied orange or ginger in the middle….

Music…  A Walk on The Wild Side by Lou Reed.

Mantecadas + Of Monster and Men

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Baking, Cooking, Food, Mantecadas, Music, Recipes, Sweet

 

It has been a very busy and interesting November. A few days of holidays in Spain, 2 weeks travelling in Northern India and a weekend at Ballymaloe Cooking School. I might post some of the India pictures soon…

It is time to go back to the kitchen. And, as Christmas is coming, I will start with a Spanish traditional Christmas sweet.

Mantecadas are made with lard (manteca). And it gives a different texture, they melt in your mouth.

Delicious with a good coffee. I had 7 or 8 since yesterday.

Not the healthier option but who is 100% healthy in this period of the year?

Music by Monster and Men…Little Talks.

Swiss Roll with Mascarpone, Beetroot and Port Filling + Eric Clapton & Mark Knopler

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Baking, Cooking, Dessert, Food, Music, Recipes, Sweet

I have never tried to bake a “Brazo de Gitano” (“Gipsy’s Arm” is how we call a Swiss Roll in Spain) before. I thought is was more complicated but it is surprisingly easy.

The filling is something I improvised by looking around the kitchen. It was delicious. The beetroot doesn’t add much flavour but a nice colour to it.

Plenty of room to play around with ingredients: add cocoa powder to the cake, strawberries to the filling, cream or custard instead of mascarpone…and you could also cover the whole roll with chocolate…

Enjoy it anyway!

And your song for today: Layla by Eric Clapton and Mark Knopler.

Homemade Wafer Sticks + Christy Moore

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Baking, Cooking, Dessert, Food, Recipes, Sweet

Wafer Sticks are very common in Madrid, Barquillos for us. During the XIX century Barquilleros were very popular in Madrid’s streets. Kids love them…adults too.

You can still see Barquilleros  in Madrid selling their wafers. If you are lucky to come across one, try them.

Today’s music. Ride On by Christy Moore.

10.000 Visits! + Chocolate and Chipotle Coulant + Antony and the Johnsons

Tags

Dessert, Food, Music, Recipes, Sweet

Today I reached 10.000 visits! I am quite surprised Thank you for the support, for reading my post, for your thoughts, the new ideas, your advise…

And thanks to all the good bloggers I discovered since I started with my blog 12 weeks ago. You are all very talented!

So I will have to drink some wine to celebrate. And cook a dessert for you…

I have never tried to bake Coulants before. I thought it was a difficult one, but it couldn’t be easier. Ready in 15 minutes. The only trick is the baking time.

I used, again,  my favourite chocolate: Valrhona. It goes so well with the smoky Chipotle but you can play with different ingredients. I am thinking about crystallized ginger for the next round…

And a great song You are my Sister by the  great band “Antony and the Johnsons”.

Basil Cake with Strawberries and Cream (Pastel de Albahaca con Fresas y Nata)

Tags

Cake, Dessert, Food, Recipes, Sweet

I have spent a few days at home. It was very nice. I met the family and friends. Went to markets, had my Mahous, went to a protest, running under the rain…

And I came back home with the bag full of good food: Iberico meats, Torta del Casar (one of my favourites), good coffee, the best legumes, Cecina, salty cod…Our kitchen is now full of flavours.

Today after a good run, 5km under 20 minutes, I decided it was cake time. A different one.

Basil in a sweet cake? I know it sounds weird. But I can promise that it is delicious. The best cake I have tried in a while.

Orange Blossom and Pistachio Biscotti

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Bread, Cake, Dessert, Food, Recipes, Sweet

Biscottis are just double baked bread. They are quite healthy as there is almost no oil or butter on them. They last for weeks and you can play around with different ingredients. All advantages.

They are very nice if you dip them in your coffee. I already have 7 or 8 of them…

*I will be away for a few days. No posts until late next week.

Goats Milk and Chocolate Rice Pudding

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Dessert, Food, Recipes, Sweet

A different variation of the traditional rice pudding. Rice, Goat’s milk and chocolate together…just delicious.

Olive Oil Sweet Flatbread (Tortas de Aceite)

Tags

Bread, Food, Recipes, Sweet

Typical from Seville and very popular all over Spain. Very easy and tasty.

Enjoy them with your Merienda!