orange is the new plum. { rice pound cake with caramelized oranges }

I've had this plum streusel cake in my mind for over one week.

But for some reason that I cannot grasp, I never buy plums.

So yesterday I couldn't take the cooking cravings anymore, and the only fruit I had was oranges.

(I must recall that the supermarket is closed on Sunday here in Germany)

I really wanted to make a fruity dessert, but...

Oranges!?

Please...

Here I was, still dreaming of plums, raspberries, bluberries, and so on - even the ordinariness of apples! - to be left with oranges - which, unnervingly, are the faintest flavoured oranges I've ever bought.

Well... there is nothing like googling "orange dessert recipes" for inspiration, or so thought I.

I couldn't decide on a cake, still drooling over "berry streusel" pictures instead. Finally, I came to realize that it had to be what it had to be, and held my chin up facing the tennis-ball-shaped spheres on the counter.

 I think I'm going through a bad kitchen karma period.

After a first attempt to follow a recipe I found online (which I could already tell wouldn't work - why in the world did I even use it!?) and ending up with a butter-egg float batter... (really -.- this has got to be bad kitchen karma), already mad, but not quite to throw in the towel (after all, I already had the perfect caramelized oranges), I decided to do things my own way, and the cake finally came out pretty nice :)

The best part is... the first bite of this cake instantly reminded me of crêpes suzette, my ever favourite among my father's few staple dessert recipes (though he would do them without alcohol - we were three kids at home!). They still are one of my favourite desserts, maybe even top five - and, oddly enough, they have got orange.

Christmas Table #2 { roasted goat cheese with fig and walnuts }

Queijo de Cabra com Figo e Noz

Ingredientes:

- 1 queijo da Serra

- 6 nozes, grosseiramente picadas

- 6 figos secos, cortados em pedaços

- 3 colheres de sopa de vinagre balsâmico

- 2 colheres de sopa de vinho do Porto

- 4 colheres de sopa de mel

- rúcula para enfeitar o prato

Preparação:
1) Abrir o topo do queijo, deixando uma margem a toda a volta,
2) Levar ao forno a 180º durante cerca de 7 minutos,
3) Tostar as nozes no forno também,
4) Levar os figos a lume médio a forte no vinagre balsâmico e vinho do Porto,
6) Retirar o queijo do forno, colocar os figos e as nozes por cima com cuidado para não esbarrigar (o meu desfez-se todo porque fiz demasiada pressão sobre ele com os frutos!) e cobrir com o mel,
7) Servir decorado com rúcula.

Goat Cheese with Fig and Walnuts
Ingredients:
- 1 goat cheese ("da serra")
- 6 walnuts, coarsely chopped
- 6 dried figs, coarsely chopped
- 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp Port wine
- 4 tbsp honey
- green leaves for serving

Preparation:
1) Open the top of the cheese, leaving a margin all around,
2) Place in the oven at 180º for around 7 minutes,
3) Toast the nuts in the oven at the same time,
4) In a small saucepan, heat figs with the vinegar and Port over medium to strong heat,
5) Take the cheese out of the oven, place figs and nuts on the top (careful so it won't break apart and spread all around!) and cover with honey,
6) Serve decorated with green leaves of your choice.

Zwei { honey-mustard chicken roast }

Ooh, Oh, O-oh, eu hoje vou aos Black Keys :D

Today it's Black Keys day :D

Mais uma receita de quinta!

Another recipe from thursday's dinner!

Frango no Forno com Mel e Mostarda
Ingredientes:

- 1,5 kg de peitos de frango, partidos em pedacinhos,

- 150g de chourição picante, cortado em tirinhas,

- 1 colher de sobremesa rasa de massa de alho,

- açafrão

- cominhos

- piri-piri líquido

- sal grosso

- meio frasco de mostarda do pingo doce

- 1 colher de sopa cheia de mel

- óleo

Preparação:

1) Temperar o frango com o sal, a massa de alho, o açafrão, os cominhos e bastante piri-piri,

2) Misturar o frango com o chourição,

3) Deitar um pouco de óleo numa forma metálica e espalhar o frango no fundo,

4) Misturar a mostarda com o mel o mel e cobrir o frango com o preparado,

5) Levar ao forno até a carne estar pronta; servir.

I promise that English versions are coming! Until then please use google translator, or similar! Sorry.

...following up { cheese almond and honey pastries }

This picture does not fathom how good these are. Crispy, cheesy and with a touch of honey, these appetizers will disappear in a blink of an eye. Plus... they are super easy to make!

Light side of ice-cream! { guilt-free banana-raspberry 'ice-cream' }

It's summer, it's hot, you're craving ice-cream... but yet wish it would be as healthy as a piece of fruit. Guess what, your prayers have just been answered!