Monday, July 28, 2008

Matcha Wholemeal Buns






  1. Combine yeast, sugar and warm water in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in AP flour, whole wheat flour, matcha powder and salt. Knead until the dough is soft and elastic. Cover with a plastic wrap and proof at room temperature for about 2 hours.
  2. Place the dough on a floured board and knead it into a loaf. Divide the loaf into 6-8 pieces and let rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle each small dough with some flour and lightly press them flat. Fold the side of the dough up with your left hand, meanwhile press the upper edge down with your right hand. Repeat this step until you get the shorter edge and slightly round bottom. Pinch them together between the thumb and the index finger of your right hand. Place them on the board and let rise covered until doubled. Repeat the step of folding and pressing.

  3. Place the dough balls in a steamer and process the final proof for about 25 minutes. Use the flour during the whole shaping process. Each small dough needs about 15 extra grams of flour to finish the kneading. So that the texture of the steamed buns would appear thick and with clear layers. To achieve a chewy bun, long proofing time at the final stage should always be avoided. Take away the plastic wrap and steam for 20 minutes over medium heat with a lid covered.


Buttermilk Ranch Dressing


A simple mixture of mayonnaise, buttermilk,(or sour cream) and herbs to liven up your salad or use as a dipping sauce for the French fries, fried chicken and other fried stuff. Click here for the history of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing.



  1. Put mayonnaise, buttermilk and yoghurt in a medium jar with a tight-fitting lid. Sprinkle with a little salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper.
  2. Add parsley and garlic powder, put lid on and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Taste and adjust seasoning. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. Store the dressing in the refrigerator for a few days and it will keep longer without herbs.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Lentil Rye Rolls adapted from Dan Lepard



Delicious and nutritious lentilsangiesrecipes are high in protein, minerals, and fiber. Unlike dried beans, they require no soaking and cook relatively quickly.


  • 200 g Cooked brown lentils, soft and drained

  • 100 g Water at 20C/68F

  • 1 tsp Fresh yeast, crumbled

  • 2 tbsp Honey


  1. Beat the cooked lentils with the water, yeast and honey, and leave aside. In a large bowl combine flours with the salt, then pour the lentil mixture in. Mix until a soft and sticky dough forms. Cover with a plastic wrap and leave for 10 minutes.

  2. Rub 1 teaspoon of olive oil on the work surface and knead the dough on the oiled surface for 10 seconds, ending with the dough in a smooth, round ball. Clean and dry the bowl, then rub lightly with a teaspoon of olive oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover, and leave for an additional 10 minutes. Remove the dough and knead once more on the oiled surface, returning the shape of the dough to a smooth round ball. Place it back in the bowl, cover, and leave for 1 hour in a warm place.
  3. Lightly flour a parchment paper and roll the dough into a sheet, about 10 x 8 inch. Cover the surface of the dough with a cloth and leave for 1 hour, or until almost doubled in height. Preheat the oven to 210C410F. Uncover the dough and cut into 16 squares. Bake in the center of the oven for 25 minutes, or until the tops of the rolls are golden brown and feel light.




Lentils on Foodista

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Chicken Salad



It is important that all salad leaves be thoroughly rinsed to remove any grit, as well as residues of pesticide. Just as important is to dry the salad leaves well so that the dressing will not be diluted. Dress salad just before serving, otherwise the leaves will wilt and become unpleasantly soggy.



Garlic Vinaigrette

  • 180 g Boneless skinless chicken breast, grilled, sliced
  • 2 Cherry belle radish
  • 4-5 Cherry tomatoes
  • 20 g Carrot, shredded
  • 100 g Lollo rosso (or romaine lettuce)


  1. Combine all the dressing ingredients in a screwtop jar. Shake well together. Rinse cherry radish and tomatoes. Drain and pat them dry with kitchen towel. Quarter the tomatoes and thinly slice the cherry radish.

  2. Discard any damaged leaves and pull leaves individually from the core. Put the leaves in a sink of cold water and wash off any dirt. Lift the leaves out of the water and pat dry gently with a clean kitchen towel.
  3. Toss lollo rosso, cherry radish, shredded carrots and tomatoes quarters in large salad bowl. Mix gently and top with the grilled chicken. Drizzle with dressing and served with garlic bread if desired.




Monday, July 21, 2008

Homemade Mayonnaise





  1. Put the egg yolks in a bowl and add a pinch of salt. Beat well together. Add the olive oil, 1 teaspoon at a time, beating constantly with an electric mixer.

  2. After one-quarter of the oil has been added and absorbed, then beat in 1-2 teaspoons of the lemon juice. Continue beating in the oil, in a thin, steady stream. As the mayonnaise thickens, add another teaspoon of lemon juice.
  3. When all the oil has been beaten in, add the mustard. Taste the mayonnaise and add more lemon juice if needed. Season with salt and pepper. Add the boiling water, whisking well. Homemade mayonnaise will keep, covered in the refrigerator for up to one week.



Friday, July 18, 2008

The Mill Loaf With Natural Leaven adapted from Dan Lepard







  1. In a large bowl, whisk the leaven with the water. Add the flours and salt. Mix the ingredients together to form a sticky mass. Cover and leave 10-15 minutes to stand, to allow gliadin and glutenin proteins in the compound gluten to hydrate and bond.

  2. On a lightly oiled work surface, place the dough and knead briefly, 20 to 30 seconds will be enough. Shape the dough into a ball and put it back into the mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Next day, scrape the dough on to a lightly oiled work surface and pat it out to form a rectangle, roughly 40cm x 20cm. Fold one end, a third of the length, back to the centre. Fold the other end back over it, so we have 3 layers of dough, like folding puff pastry.
  3. Pat it out again and fold it once more. Leave one hour at room temperature and repeat. Leave another hour and repeat. The dough should be rising nicely. To check, slash the dough with a sharp knife. It is ready to shape once bubbles formed in the dough. Otherwise leave the dough a further hour to check again.
  4. Divide the dough into 3 smaller dough. Shape into balls on a lightly floured surface and allow to rest for 20 minutes. Form dough into a baton or round Turn the shaped loaves into the floured baskets or tins with the seams up and leave them to finish rising. They're ready for baking when doubled in size, about 3 hours.
  5. Preheat the oven to 220C/425F. Upturn the loaves on to floured baking trays and slash a few times across it. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a cooling wire.




Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Kartoffelpfannkuchen-German Potato Pancake



  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Small onion
  • 450 g /2 or 3 Potatoes
  • 20 g German #405 flour
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • Olive oil





  1. Quarter the onion and peel the outer skin off. Place the egg and onion in the blender container, cover and blend briefly. Peel and chunk the potatoes.



  2. Add the potato chunks into the egg mixture and blend until the potatoes are pureed. Add in flour and salt. Blend until well-combined.



  3. Heat a skillet with olive oil over the medium heat. Pour in 1/4 of the batter and spread as thin as possible. Pan-fry until golden brown on edges, turn over and cook until for a further 3-5 minutes, or until beginning to turn golden-brown.