How to make a chocolate covered strawberries

Summer is almost here and so is sun, fun and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. My friend Tania* thinks there is nothing better then start your day with a light desert :) she loves strawberries and always makes small batches of this almost guilt-free desert when berries are in season.

Chocolate cover strawberries are quick to make, delicious and look fabulous. All you need to make it is some fresh strawberries with stems, white and milk chocolate and of course, some cooking inspiration.  

As with all berries, this is quickly perishable desert so prepare it on the day of serving.

Here is how to make it:

1. Rinse your berries and dry them thoroughly on a paper towel.

 

2. Use chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate. Melt your white and milk chocolate separate, in a double boiler, stirring until it is melted completely. If you'd like, add about 1/2 to 1 tea spoon of neutral tasting cooking oil to make chocolate more flexible. Do not cover your chocolate to avoid a liquid condensation and dripping into your pan.

3. Remove the chocolates from the heat. Hold your prepared berries by the stem and dip them in either white or milk chocolate. Place on prepared baking sheet lined with a parchment or wax paper. Use the contrast color chocolate and a fork or culinary bag to drizzle over your berries.

 

4. Place strawberries in a refrigerator for about 30 minutes to an hour until the chocolate is set. Your fabulous chocolate covered strawberries are ready to serve!

*Tania is one of the owners of the cozy guest house by the Black Sea. If you'd like to have a summer vacation right next to the one of the best Crimean beaches, Belyaus, please  contact her through her Instagram (@belayus_homesweethome) She will be happy to hear from you!

 

Summer eggplant salad recipe

I love the taste of this easy to make eggplant salad. It goes well with a BBQ or fresh baked bread. Delicious! 

You will need:

1 eggplant

1 large carrot, shredded

1 medium onion, chopped

2 tomatoes, chopped

3 garlic clove, minced

bunch of fresh parsley, chopped

olive oil for frying

salt, pepper, white vinegar to taste

Prepare the eggplant: wash it, cut in half and then cut to wedges. Place in a colander, add some salt and mix. Leave for 30 minutes, then wash under running water and squeeze out the water from the wedges.

At the same time, place the shredded carrots in a large bowl and add minced garlic. Fry the chopped onion with the small amount of olive oil. When the onion will turn golden in color, add it to a carrot-garlic mix and stir all together.

Fry the eggplant wedges until soft and golden brown and put in a bowl. Add the rest of vegetables and parsley, mix and add salt, pepper and vinegar to taste. Enjoy!

Peaches are in season!

I went to a grocery store after my morning walk and as soon as I walked in I smell the fresh peach & nectarine's aroma. A perfect summertime smell!

White nectarines

So I bought some of these beautiful fruits and while we love to eat them fresh we still would like to treat ourselves with healthier dessert from time to time. I tried that cheesecake stuffed peaches recipe last year, it was so good that I think it might be a hit for this Fathers Day.

Cheesecake stuffed peach

The recipe was originally published in the August 2011 edition of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

To make this you will need:

6 peaches, halved

1⁄4 cup butter, melted

3 tablespoons cinnamon sugar, purchased or combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Line a 15 x 10 x 1" baking pan with parchment paper; set aside.

Trim a very thin slice from the round side of each peach half so the halves will stand flat on the baking pan. Dip peach halves in melted butter to coat. Arrange peach halves, cut sides up, in prepared pan. Sprinkle cut sides of peaches with cinnamon-sugar; set aside. 

 In a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar, egg yolk & vanilla. Beat until combined. Spoon cream cheese mixture into peach centers.

Bake, uncovered, about 30 minutes or until lightly browned & softened. Serve warm or at room temperature.

I sprinkled mine with powdered sugar:

Try it, I think you will like it!

Strawberries and cream sponge cake

This cake screams summer! Right now is the perfect time to make this cake as strawberries are at their peak season in many areas and inexpensive to buy.

I got the recipe from the new issue of Making magazine which can be found for sale right now at Barnes and Nobles. I love to use seasonal fruits and berries in my cooking so I was just happy to find another great and somewhat healthy idea for a nice desert to eat with a cup of tea.

The cake is made with whole fresh strawberries on top and cut strawberries in a center. Then you add fresh homemade whip cream and you get the perfect fluffy light cake for a summer tea party!

I followed the recipe but used fresh whip cream I bought from our local bakery. The bakery is making a fresh load every morning and I am not a proud owner of a standing mixer so why not simplify the process! I used about 1 pound of the ready made whip cream.

The cake is easy to make and taste great. Try it for a wow result at your party!

Grape Clafoutis

This is a very easy fruity dessert I am cooking all year round but it is especially good for a summer light suppers.

I've modified this recipe from traditional Russian apple cake to adjust it to my husband's taste and he loved it from the first bite!

The best part, the ingredients you making this cake with are essential and can be found in almost any kitchen (if you are cooking at home!)
Ingredients:

4 cups seedless stemless grapes
5 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
butter flavored cooking spray
flat rectangular baking dish (mine is 9 1/2 by 13 1/2 and 2" deep)
powdered sugar (optional)
How to make it:

Preheat oven to 385'F.

Blend together eggs & sugar, add vanilla & baking powder. Add flour. Add grapes to a bowl, mix well to cover grapes with liquid dough. Pour mix to a prepared baking dish (sides & bottom should be sprayed with cooking spray).

Bake at 385'F for 35 to 40 minutes (time can vary depending on oven but you can always check readiness with a toothpick). Let it cool and slice it with a pizza slicer or a sharp knife.

Sprinkle each slice with a powdered sugar right before serving (optional)

Enjoy and please let me know how do you like it!

Where salad is coming from

Summer heat during day but wonderful evenings are perfect for the friends gathering. Traditional BBQ and salads are in favor right now! Fresh produce is on sale now at the stores and we love to try some new recipes over light dinner with friends. Some ingredients are coming straight from the garden, and it can not be fresher or tastier!

So I'd like to share with you the salad recipe we enjoying now pretty often since we have first tomato harvest this year. We like it with grilled chicken and a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio but you can have it your way.

Ingredients
(you can change the quantity of ingredients - after all, you know what taste you like!):

3 ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
1/2 cup red onion, diced, soaked in cold water for about 20 minutes and drained
1 cup fresh mozarella cheese, chopped
10 sweet basil leaves, diced
sunflower oil
red wine vinegar
salt & pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients and enjoy :) Please let me know how you liked it!