Saturday Recipes - Christmas Around the World!

Today I dream about trying all these traditional Christmas dessert from all over Europe. I was really interested about Christmas traditions in Europe, mostly in terms of food. I did a little research and here it is: Christmas dessert from around Europe, enjoy :)

France - Bûche de Noël

Bûche de Noël - Yule Log is a traditional type of cake served for Christmas in France. The way of preparation and presentation is to make it look like a log ready for the fire. It's a sponge cake rolled in a cylinder shape filled with chocolate buttercream. Get the recipe here!

Photo from Marthastewart.com

Photo from Saveur.com

Germany - Stollen

Stollen - a loaf-shaped cake containing dried fruit is covered with sugar or powdered sugar. It's made of yeast, water and flour. Then you add candied orange peel and citrus, raisins, almonds and winter spices. The most famous Stollen is still the Dresdner Stollen sold at the local Christmas markets, Striezelmarkt. Find the recipe here!

Photo from Wikipedia.org

Spain - Turrón

Turrón, or Nougat is the essential Christmas sweet in Spain. There are many varieties but the most popular ones are Jijona - the softer variety and Alicante - hard nougat. It's made of honey, sugar, and egg white, with toasted almonds or other nuts and shaped into a rectangular tablet. Find the recipe here!

Photo from Trissalicious.com

Italy - Panettone

Panettone is a type of sweet bread loaf originally from Milan and has its origins in Milan around the 15th century. It's usually 2-15 cm high and weighs up to 1 kg. When I tried it for the first time, my mum served it with a mascarpone cheese filling - it was amazing! Get the recipe here!

Photo from Artisanbreadinfive.com

Photo from Johnlewis.com

Sweden - Lussekatter

Lussekatter or Lussebullar - saffron buns are made of yeast dough, flavoured with saffron and cinnamon with added raisins or currants. They are traditional fare on Santa Lucia day on 13th of December. Traditionally the buns are in a reversed S-shape. Find the recipe here!

Photo from Caputmundicibus.com

England - Trifle

Trifle is a traditional English Christmas dessert. It's made with layers of custard, fruit and sponge cake topped with whipped cream. It had its days of glory in the 70s but still it's on every table in England on the 25th of December. It's light and fresh - not very Christmassy but at least it's really easy to make :) Get the recipe here!

Photo from Make-it-do.com

Poland - Makowiec

Makowiec - poppy seed cake is a roll of sweet yeast bread with a filling of poppy seeds mixed with honey, raisins, nuts and orange zest. Find the recipe here!

Photos from Butterbaking.wordpress.com

Sweet dreams this Christmas :)

Saturday Recipes - Christmas Pudding!

Today I dream about a big bowl full of Christmas pudding with loads of cream and custard! :)

To all of you who don't like raisins and other dried fruits I recommend you close this tab now and try to forget about this post :)

To me, the smell and flavour of dried fruit is the ultimate Christmas flavour and this is probably why I really like Christmas pudding. Oh, and there's a lot of sugar in it so that's another reason :)

At first, I wasn't really keen on the traditional English Christmas pudding. I didn't like the look of it as it kind of looks like a flipped upside down bowl of really dark dog food. I had no idea about how to eat it and what with. Last year, I tried it the proper way - warm, drizzled with cream or custard and it was a revelation! It was really delicious and very Christmassy!

There must be something special about it as its history goes back to the medieval times and since then it's been on English tables every 25th of December. Thanks to the mighty M&S you don't have to spend around three hours boiling it and letting it hang for weeks before Christmas. You can just buy it and enjoy it straightaway!

If you insist on making your own though, here's a few recipes for the traditional version as well as some other creative ideas... enjoy! :)

Boiled Christmas Pudding

A classic, perfect recipe! The pudding is full of sweet, dried fruits with a generous dash of brandy :) It will take you ages to make but then you can refrigerate it for up to 3 months or freeze for up to 1 year before using. Find the recipe here!

Photo from Gourmettraveller.com.au

7 Cup Christmas Pudding

Another classic recipe served with delicious butterscotch sauce this time and the recipe is really easy to remember thanks to the 7 cup rule! Get the recipe here!

Photo from Bbcgoodfood.com

Christmas Pudding Cake Pops

These are so cute and simple to make! Brilliant and fun idea :) Find the recipe here!

Photo from Blog.maisoncupcake.com

Christmas Pudding Ice Cream

It looks gorgeous and it's full of winter spices and brandy - my new favourite! Get the recipe here!

Photo from Bbcgoodfood.com

Winter Pudding Bombe
 
It may look like a regular Christmas Pudding but then - surprise! It's like a delicious mixture of Panettone with ice cream and fruit -yummy! Find the recipe here!

Photo from Jamieoliver.com

Christmas Pudding Cupcakes

How cute are these!? I'm sure that the look and taste equally delicious!

Photo from Sweetpaulmag-digital.com

Remember to hide the sixpence :)

Saturday Recipes - Cheesecakes!

Today I dream about never being late with my recipe post again :)

I'm sorry for the lack of posts this weekend - I was on a little adventure for my Birthday :) Today, I'll show you some really great cheesecake recipes!

I was never that keen on cheesecake back in Poland as we use curd cheese to make it and sometimes it might be a little bit sour and heavy. I love the American style cheesecake though, made with cream cheese, on a base made of crushed biscuits mixed with melted butter. It's so easy and quick to make and really, really tasty.

Salted Caramel & Vanilla Baked Cheesecake

It looks absolutely delicious and I'm sure it tastes even better! Made with ricotta and cream cheese, topped with cream and caramel sauce - can't wait to try it! Get the recipe here!

Photo from Greedygourmand.blogspot.com

Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake

It looks lovely, it's also light and fruity. Perfect for summer! Find the recipe here!

Photo from Sugarcrafter.net

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

This is my new favourite! I love the combination of the zesty and refreshing lemon with sweet cream cheese and blueberries. The recipe is really simple and definitely worth trying! Get it here!

Photo from Epicureanmom.com

Double Chocolate Cheesecake

It's weird but I've never tried a chocolate cheesecake! It's about time to fix that mistake :) Find this amazing recipe here!

Photo from Bbcgoodfood.com

Strawberry Ricotta Cheesecake

It looks mouthwatering! I have to try this cheesecake made with ricotta cheese and what's interesting about this recipe is that there is no base. Must-try! Find the recipe here!

Photo from Blog.belovedgreen.com

Cheesecake with Lemon Poppyseed Macarons

This recipe comes from the Raspberri Cupcakes blog, I swear everything that girl makes looks amazing! She's a great source of inspiration! Get the recipe here!

Photo from Raspberricupcakes.com

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Sounds delicious and looks so pretty - what more could you ask for? Click here for the recipe!

Photo from Cookingclassy.blogspot.com

Perfect Cheesecake

It does look perfect and would make a great base for so many flavour combinations! Get this recipe here!

Photo from Simplyrecipes.com

Cakeboss! ;)

Saturday Recipes - Spinach!

Today I dream about trying all those delicious spinach dishes.

Probably some of you made the "yuk" face just after reading the post title but believe me, spinach doesn't have to be bad! I never used to like it, it always thought it tasted just like cooked grass but it was only because I didn't know how to serve it.

I once had it fried with lots of garlic and herbs and it was truly mind changing experience. Since then it's a regular guest on my table and I'm curious to try anything involving spinach. Plus, we've all watched Popeye so we know how healthy it is :)

Spinach Calzone

They look really delicious and as I never made calzone on my own I have to try one of these recipes! You'll find the basic version here, you can also try the one with sun-dried tomatoes and ricotta cheese, get the recipe here!

Photo from Acouplecooks.com

Photo from Goodlifeeats.com

Spinach Spiral

It's so easy to make and looks amazing! Plus you can let your imagination go wild with this one - there's so many possibilities! Find the recipe here!

Photo from Cookingagent.blogspot.com

Pumpkin & Spinach Lasagna

Pumpkin and spinach make a great combination. This vegetarian lasagna is full of herbs, spices and almonds - yummy! Click here for the recipe!

Photo from Veggienumnum.com

Hot Spinach Dip

There is no better snack than a fresh baguette or a crisp dipped in this goodness. It's cheesy and gooey - just perfect! Get the recipe here!

Photo from Skinnytaste.com

Spinach Gozleme

Gozleme is kind of a Turkish pancake but made with yeast. This recipe contains not only spinach but also ricotta cheese and roasted aubergine - it must be really good! Find the recipe here!

Photo from Almostbourdain.blogspot.com

Spinach in Puff Pastry

You'll only need 30 minutes to prepare this dish and the effect is gorgeous! It's full of herbs, garlic and different kinds of cheese. Click here for the recipe!

Photo from Ezrapoundcake.com

Baked Spinach and Gruyere

Another proof that spinach and cheese is a match made in heaven! It's simple, rich and full of flavour! Get the recipe here!

Photo from Realsimple.com

"I'm strong to the finish, cause I eats me spinach." :)

Saturday Recipes - Savoury Tarts!

Today I dream about trying all those delicious looking savoury tarts!

As promised last week, after the sweet ones it's now time for savoury tarts. I found so many great recipes that this might be the longest food post ever :)

Tarts are really easy to make, my favourite ones are the vegetable ones - they're healthy and look so summery! Also, vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and onions are available all year round so no excuse here.

As well as including classic recipes in this post, I tried to find something new, unusual and definitely worth trying! Enjoy!

Tomato Tarts

Classic and for sure one of my favourites. There's so many ways and possibilities here that I couldn't decide which recipe is the best. I'll let you choose then :)

Tomato & Goat Cheese Tart with Rosemary Crust - click here for the recipe!

Photo from Bellaeats.com

French Tomato Tart - find the recipe here!

Photo from Davidlebovitz.com

Tomato Tartine - click here for the recipe!

Photo from Comocomecami.com

Rustic Tomato and Cheese Margherita Tart - find the recipe here!

Photo from Familyfreshcooking.com

Caramelized Garlic Tart

This recipe is only for the ultimate garlic lovers like me :) It's very fragrant and full of herbs - it tastes the best when you're alone as you don't have to worry about your breath :) Get the recipe here!

Photo from Marthastewart.com

Bell Pepper Tart Tatin

I love tart tatin, never tried this savoury version with peppers and goat cheese. Time to fix that mistake soon :) Find the recipe here!

Photo from Noonionplease.wordpress.com

Zucchini and Tomato Tart

As zucchini is my favourite vegetable I have to try this recipe very soon :) It contains all my favourite flavours: not only zucchini but also garlic and basil - yummy! Get the recipe here!

Photo from Thefloursack.blogspot.com

Harvest Tart

This tart is just dreamy for autumn! This little surprise contains roasted red peppers, pumpkin and olives plus it looks so different. A must-try! Click here for the recipe!

Photo from Nytimes.com

Asparagus Tart

Again, I'll let you decide which recipe you like the most! Asparagus tart is one the easiest ones to make and it looks lovely. Plus you can always use frozen puff pastry if you're in a rush!

Brie and Asparagus Tart - click here for the recipe!

Photo from Taste.com.au

Asparagus Tart with Walnuts and Parmesan - get the recipe here!

Photo from Notwithoutsalt.com

Asparagus & Prosciutto Tart - find the recipe here!

Photo from Notquitenigella.com

Savour the flavour :)

Saturday Recipes - Sweet Tarts!

Today I dream about bringing the summer back with these delicious recipes for fruit tarts!

I love tarts, they are quite easy to make and there's so many varieties and possibilities. Today I will only show recipes for sweet tarts because if I included the recipes for savoury tarts too, this post would be endless :)

Don't worry though - savoury tarts coming next week! My favourite tarts are the ones with cream cheese or mascarpone and fresh fruit on the top but in the winter time a piece of rich, chocolate tart would be just perfect! Below you'll find recipes for both, hope you'll find something for your liking. Enjoy!

Citrus Tart

My summer favourite! Sweet and sour in one, refreshing and light - just perfect! Get the recipe here!

Photo from Honeyandjam.com

Strawberry Cream Cheese Tart

It looks like a little piece of summer and I'm sure it tastes heavenly! It's a classic, simple recipe with a little twist - dark chocolate ganache. Find the recipe here!

Photo from Annies-eats.net

Rustic Plum Crostata with Lemon Thyme

Plums always bring end of summer to my mind! I like them much more in pies and tarts than on their own. When they're ripe they're really juicy, perfect for baking and making jams - yummy! Click here for the recipe!

Photo from Nytimes.com

Fig Tart

I already showed one recipe for a fig tart here but this one looks so beautiful that I couldn't resist! Find the recipe here!

Photo from Mowielicious.com

Cherry and Almond Tart

I love the almond pastry and sugared cherries on the top! This recipe is a must-try for me! Get it here!

Photo from Lemonsandlavender.com

Lavender and Buttermilk Tart

I never used buttermilk in a pie before so I'm very curious about the flavour. In the summer my favourite lunch was always new potatoes with dill, fried egg and a glass of buttermilk on the side, sounds crazy but I promise it works :) Click here for the recipe!

Photo from Tarteletteblog.com

Chocolate Hazelnut Cherry Tart

The chocolate and cherry combination always works perfectly. It you add hazelnut to it I'm sure it's even better! Plus it looks fabulous! Get the recipe here!

Photo from Hotpolkadot.com

Chocolate Caramel Tart

I love the flavour of slightly salty caramel with bittersweet chocolate - it's rich and mouthwatering! Click here for the recipe!

Photo from Mybakingaddiction.com

Chocolate Pudding Pie

Now this is the recipe for the times when you feel down - when you've lost your job, boyfriend or money :) A piece of this pie will erase all the bad memories and make you happy again, I guarantee it! In other cases have a little piece then give it to your neighbours or someone you don't like as it is packed with calories ;) Get the recipe here!

Photo from Smittenkitchen.com

Sweetheart sweet tarts :)