Karolina's property

Well, I have always loved muffins but never made my own. Why, you might ask? Because… I was lazy!!

So, yesterday I wanted to surprise Maciej and this is a result – the very first muffins in my life.

These light and nutritious muffins include banana for added fibre, and make a tasty tea-time treat. I like them with some jam.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup plain wholemeal flour

1/2 cup plain white flour

2 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

1 tsp mixed spice *

1/4 cup soft light brown sugar

1/4 cup polyunsaturated margarine (I have added butter instead)

1 egg, beaten

2/3 cup semi-skimmed milk

grated rind of 1 orange (I have added grated rind of 1 lemon instead)

1 ripe banana

1/4 cup porridge oats (You can add some more if you want)

1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts (I haven’t add any)

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 C. Line a muffin tin with paper cake cases. Stir together both flours, the baking powder, salt and mixed spice into bowl, then tip the bran remaining in the sieve into the bowl. Stir in the sugar.

2. Melt the margarine (or butter) and pour it into a mixing bowl. Cool slightly, then beat in the egg, milk and grated orange rind (or lemon rind).

3. Gently fold in the dry ingredients. Mash the banana with a fork, then stir it gently into the mixture, being careful not to overmix.

4. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases. Combine the oats and hazelnuts and sprinkle a little of the mixture over each muffin.

5. Bake for 20 minutes until the muffins are well risen and golden, and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and serve warm or cold.

(The recipe comes from a book – Fat-free. Guilt-free food that is full of flavour cooking by Anne Sheasby)

* 1 tbsp cinnamon, ground + 1 tsp coriander, ground + 1 tsp nutmeg, ground + 1/2 tsp ginger, ground + 1/4 tsp allspice, ground + 1/4 tsp cloves, ground

Did you hear about Jamie Oliver? If not you better watch this video. It will change your life…

(via TED)

After watching this video I decided to buy one of Jamie’s culinary books – “Jamie at home. Cook Your Way to the Good Life.”

I bought this one because it was the only Jamie’s cooking book available in book store here in Sofia, Bulgaria.  And now I thank God that I hit on this one.

The book is fantastic and beautifully printed.  What comes to my mind when I look at the pictures in this book is the strong will to try and cook every single dish that Jamie writes about. I tell you the recipes are great – really tasty and what is very important healthy. 

The whole book is organized by seasons. Jamie gives some tips how to grow your own vegetables and fruits. Which I think is a wonderful idea. Do you remember my little garden at my balcony?

I wanted to try some recipes from the book and I came up with this one – Tomato coriander salsa with grilled tuna. The photograph in the book was insane… so I decided to try it.  The recipe was quick, easy and delicious.

Ingredients:

6 spring onions, trimmed and finely chopped

1-2 fresh red chillies, deseeded and finely chopped to taste

a bunch of fresh coriander, leaves picked

a bunch of fresh mint, leaves picked

1 kg beautifully ripe but firmish tomatoes

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

juice of 1/2 a lemon

juice of 1 lime

6 fresh fish fillets

olive oil

Preparation.

1. slice the spring onions and half of the chillies

2. finely chop the coriander leaves with the upper parts of the stalks and the mint leaves

3. slice up the tomatoes and chop to the kind of consistency that you like

4. carefully scrape everything off the board into a nice serving bowl with all the juices

5. season and balance the flavors confidently with the salt, the lemon juice and the lime juice

6. put the salsa to one side while you get your fish ready.

7. rub it on both sides with olive oil and season with salt and peper.

8. grill or griddle to your liking on both sides.

9. serve the fish on a plate with a big dollop of the salsa on top, or to the side.

10. enjoy your meal.

(the recipe by Jamie Oliver)

(pictures by me)

Mmmmmm… Enjoy.