Cherry clafoutis

Ingredients: 180gr of sugar 40cl of milk 100 gr of flour 4eggs a small amount of butter for the pan 500gr cherries In a bol mix the flour ,the eggs and the sugar the nadd gradually the milk until obtaining a smooth mixture .In a pan (or diffrent individual pans)spread some butter in the bottom and the sides so itis does not stick then put the cherriesin the pan and pour the mixture over them .Cook for 30 min(at 350 F) once out of the oven sprinkle with some powdered sugar .

Dried apricot and chicken Tagine

Ingredients:

6to 8 pieces of chicken (tighs or legs)
4table spoons of olive oil (Iused butter)
1teaspoon of salt
1/2teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 of teaspoon of ground ginger
pinch of saffron threads (I Have not used it)
1stick of cinnamon (Iused ground cinnamon)
1small onion minced
1cup of water
125gr of pine nuts(Iused slivered almonds)

Apricot sauce
250gr of dried apricots
250ml of water
100gr of sugar
1teaspoon of cinnamon
125gr of butter
Iadded a teaspoon of orange blossom water it gives a nice taste and smell

To prepre the apricot sauce ,place them in pan with water ,cinnamon,sugar,butter then bring to a boil.(have added some orange blossom water) bring to low and let it simmer until you get a thick sauce.

Heat the oil or butter (I used butter) then roast your chicken until golden .Season and add the spices add the onions and water and simmer ,covered for 30min .

To serve arrange the chicken and the apricots on aserving platter .Drizzle withe sauce and garnish with roasted pine nuts (or almonds as I did)

Sauteed beef with winter vegetables

Ingredients:
1 lb of lean beef cut into little cubes
1/2 of an onion
salt ,pepper
1/2 lb of green peas
1/2 lb of carrots
1table spoon of cooking oil
1/2 lb of potatoes cut in cubes


Put your meat into a pan with the oil and sautee it until the meat is brown (and smells so good ) ,add then your onions sliced . Cook until transparent .Add some water if it sticks .
add the salt ,the pepper the nadd your peas and carrots. let it simmer a little then add some water ,let it simmer for 15min the nat the end add your potatoes (as they cook faster) .
itis a ver ysimple recipe but so good .

Almond and raisins biscotti

Ingredients for 25/30 biscotti
1cup whole almonds skinned(Iused half of a cup )
11/2 cup of flour
1/2 cup of sugar
1 tsp of baking powder
2 large eggs at room temperature
1tsp of vanilla extract(I used orange zest instead)
4Tbsp of melted butter
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2cup of raisins



In a bowl add your dry ingredients (flour ,almonds ,raisins orange zest ,baking powder ,sugar and the salt) .
Melt you butter . In a small bowl whisk together the eggs and the melted butter ,gradually pour the mixture into the dry indredients .
Using your hands Bring together the ingredients to form a dough (it the dough seems too wet add some flour).
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface .With your hands ,form the dough into 2 log shapes each about 8in long .Place the the 2logs on ther baking sheet (previously lined with parchment paper or oiled ) and bake for 20min .Then remove the logs from the oven ,cool slighlty and transfer them onto a chopping board.
With a large knife cut the logs on a slant into 1 1/2 -2 inches thick slices.
put the biscotti onthe baking sheet and bake for 10more minutes .Turn the biscotti with a plaette knife and return to the oven for another 5min .

New cookbook

I really liked his show as I thought he made simple Italian dishes .I love Italian food but here in the US ,I find it hard t o find a good Italian restaurant . I lived 3 years in New Jersey  near an Italian American area but all the restaurant served  ``americanized`` Italian food  .All they served was pasta and pizza ....
I remember when eating in  Italian restaurant in Paris when I used to live there that  the food was so refined .
I decided to make my own Italian dishes now on .

I liked David`s Rocco book as the recipes are  easy to make ,they show authentic Italian food like they make  in Italy and the books has amazing pictures of  Italy .

Algerian almond cookies

Ingredients:
225 gr of almond powder
115gr of confection sugar
60 gr of butter
A very small amount of food coloring
1teaspoon of orange blossom water
1 egg
some confection sugar for the end
A few almonds (whole)


In a jar mix the almond powder the egg ,sugar and the butter (not melted but just soft).Once you obtain a paste ,make little balls (size of a whole walnut with its shell of course then  apply some pressure on each ball in order to flatten it  . Then cover each little ball in confection sugar and put in its center a whole almond .Cook for 15min at 325 degrees .
The cookies have to cook slightly as the center has to be soft .

White chocolate Berry cheesecake

Ingredients:
2x150 gr bars of white chocolate
2x300gr tubs of soft cream cheese
284 ml potof double cream
50gr of caster sugar
170gr of raspberries
5tbs of raspberry jam
85gr Amaretti buiscuits
200gr of small strawberries
a few blueberries (optional)

Break the chocolate into a glass bowl then put it over a pan of just simmering water to melt .
Line a lightly oiled 900gr loaf tin with cling film
Whisk the cheese ,cream and sugar together,preferably with electric whiskersthen stir into the almost cool melted chocolate until well combined
Stir 50gr of raspberries with 2 tbs of the jam .

Spoon half the cheese mixture into the loaf tin ,then spoon the jammy raspberies down the center .Top with the rest of the cheese mixture ,level the top ,then press in the biscuits.
cover and chill for 6hours or overnight

set aside about 6 strawberries ,halve the rest ,then warm in a pan withthe remaining jam until soft .whizz in a food processor or witha hard blender then rub through a sleve to remove the seeds and make the sauce .Add adrop of water if the sauce is too thick .

To serve ,carefully turn the tin onto ap late ,lift it away and strip off the cling film
halve the remaining strawberries then arrange on top of the cake withe remaining raspberries and blueberries .pour over a little sauce and serve the rest separately for drizzling over .