Friday, January 31, 2020

Super Bowl Crescent Party Ring Appetizer



This, hands down, is one of my favorite appetizers to make. I made it today to take pictures for the blog and I ate the entire thing by my darn self. 
Just like all my other recipes, this a very easy and affordable dish. It can me made with many different ingredients, but for the recipe sake we will use ingredients most commonly found in every household's fridge.

INGRIDIENTS:

- 2 cans frozen crescent rolls 
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup cheddar cheese 
- 7 slices of ham
- 8 slices of salami
- tsp of oregano
- 7 slices of Brie cheese (optional)
- tsp of steak seasoning
- 1/2 stick melted butter

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Rolls out crescents out of box and arrange them in a circle (I used a full sheet pan, but you can make the circle smaller, if you your pan is not large enough).




2) Place cheeses, meat around the base of the crescent ring and sprinkle over with oregano.



3) Fold ends of crescent dough up and over the filling. Tuck ends underneath ring. Brush over with butter, sprinkle with steak seasoning. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. 




4) Place marinara sauce in a bowl and serve. 

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Shakshuka - Middle Eastern Vegetarian Dish



Today, we are going into a different direction. Something more healthy, vegetarian, gluten free and breakfast-y. Ladies and gentlemen, the Shakshuka! While preparing this dish my mom mentioned that it reminds her of the Serbian Sataras, just a bit spicier where in Sataras we only add Vegeta to it. This of course immediately gave me an idea for a new dish on our menu. 

Anyways, back to the Shakshuka. A popular, simple one-pan dish that originated in North Africa and served today in many middle eastern countries such as Israel. It can be eaten throughout the day for either breakfast or lunch. The dish has a lot of flavor, but is not too spicy. 

INGRIDIENTS:
____________________________________________________________________________

  • 1 medium oniondiced
  • 1 red bell pepperseeded and diced
  • 3tbs olive oil
  • garlic clovesfinely chopped
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp cayanne 
  • 1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 6 large eggs
  • salt and pepperto taste
  • Feta Cheese to your liking
  • 1 small bunch fresh cilantro,
  • 1 small bunch fresh parsleychopped


INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Heat olive oil in pan and add onions and pepper, simmer for 5-10 minutes or until onion is translucent and add garlic. Let simmer for another 2-3 mins.
2) Add spices and pour the peeled tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and let sauce simmer.
3) Add Feta Cheese and crack open eggs, cover up and let cook until egg whites are completely formed. 
4) Garnish with Cilantro & Parsley 

Monday, January 6, 2020

Šape or simply Paws - Traditional Serbian Christmas Cookies

You might ask yourself why am I posting about Christmas cookies, when Christmas is over. Well, my friend you're wrong. Orthodox Christmas falls on January the 7th, which means we still got a few days to go. To give you a quick history lesson, the Eastern Orthodox Church, which is the second largest Christian domination after Catholicism follows the Julian calendar. For more information on the religious aspect click here.

Alright, back to the cookies .. As mentioned in the title the word Šape means paws, the reason for that is the fact that they are baked in tins that are shaped as such. To purchase them, click here.
Back in the day, we should store these cookies in round cookie tins like these. You know the type of boxes you store buttons in or sewing supplies.

INGRIDIAENTS:
- 2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 cups ground walnuts
- 1 large
- 1 grated lemon
- powder sugar to sprinkle over

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Preheat over to 360F
2) Grease molds with butter and dust off with flour.
3) Mix all the ingredients together, cover bowl with plastic wrap an put into fridge for 15-20 mins.
4) Press dough into the molds, without going over the edges and top as dough will rise.
5) Bake for 15-20 mins.
6) Remove from the oven and let cookies cool before taking them out of the molds.
7) Sprinkle cookies with powder sugar.





Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Vasilopita - Greek New Year's Cake



OK, I've promised you guys on instagram that in the New Year I will be consistent when it comes to our blog. So here I am, January 1st, 7am in the morning, getting to it.

I've tried the Vasilopita a few years back at a local greek Fresh Market and loved it. I wanted to make it ever since, but never got around it until today. For those of you that are not familiar with Vasilopita it's a cake that contains a lucky coin on the inside, kind of like the Serbian Cesnica on Christmas Day, It is divided among the family members and whoever gets the coin will be lucky all year round.

To read more in detail and about the religious aspect of Vasilopita, click here.

INGRIDIENTS:

4 cups flour
- 1 cup butter softened 
- 3 eggs
- 1 3/4 cup of sugar
- 2 tbs baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups of orange juice
- 1 tbs of orange zest
- 1 tsp vanilla 
- powdered sugar 

INSTRUCTIONS:


1) Pre-heat oven at 350F (180C).

2) Butter and sprinkle flour over a 10" or 8" (for thicker results) pan.
3) In a bowl, mix butter & sugar until sugar resolves and mixture is fluffy.
4) Add orange juice, vanilla & orange zest, continue mixing at medium speed.
5) Whip the eggs in a bowl and add to butter mixture.
6) Mix flour and baking powder, then add to wet ingredients.. mix for two mins on low speed, but don't overtax. If you're adding a coin, do it now.
7) Bake for 45 mins to an hour. Use toothpick to check if ready. Insert toothpick into batter, if it comes out clean it's good to go.
8) Remove from oven and let cool. 
9) Flip the cake up-side down and sprinkle with powder sugar.

Latest Instagrams

© The Astoria Cafe & Bakery Blog. Design by FCD.