Salmon Fillet With Mushrooms and Onions -Yum!

You know what tastes good for Thursday dinner - salmon fillet (is that how you spell it?..) with mushrooms and onions. Come to think of it, it tasted good on any given day or occasion.
My good friendy Marsel actually taught me a trick about the fast and scrumptious meal of salmon fillet I just modified it a bit.

What I did is I took a 2lb fillet, washed it put it on a trey (no need to even grease it, also I don't scale the fish, since once it is cooked the meat easily separates from the skin...) poured some olive oil on it and some spices - put what you like but that is the key to the taste of the fish, so don't be shy with it... Then I covered it with sliced mushrooms...


...sprinkled with chopped onions and salary and dry basil leaves...


...put it in the oven under 350'F for about 25 minutes and voila!
I served it with steamed rice and fried asparagus - yum!

Yarn and Cheesecake

After work I went and bought some nice yearn, but I am not telling what for just yet...


Instead I will show you my small progress on the scarf that I am making - 2ft to be exact. Now I know it is not much but you have to account fir the fact that I only get to knit a couple of hours a week, so it is all good!


Also before I jump into my dress, grab my husband and go to my friends house for the dinner I was talking about today, I will do what I have been meaning to do for some time now. Some time ago I was mentioning this cheesecake that you can make in a slow cooker. Well I made it and it was delicious, so if anybody is interested here is the recipe:

You will need
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
Salt
12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 cup sour cream





What to do:
1.In a medium bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter, cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of the sugar and a pinch of salt. Press the crumbs over the bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 6-inch springform pan that's 3 inches deep.
2.In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle, combine the cream cheese with the flour, the remaining 2/3 cup of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Beat at medium-high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the side of the bowl and add the eggs and the almond extract. Beat at medium speed until blended. Add the sour cream and beat until smooth. Pour the batter into the springform pan.
3.Fill a 6- to 7-quart round or oval slow cooker with 1/2 inch of water and position a rack in the bottom. Set the cheesecake on the rack. Cover the slow cooker with a triple layer of paper towels and the lid. Turn the cooker to high and cook for 2 hours without peeking. Turn off the heat and let stand until the slow cooker has cooled, 1 hour.
4.Remove the lid and the paper towels and transfer the cheesecake to a rack to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours.
5.Heat a sharp, thin-bladed knife under hot water; dry the knife. Carefully run the knife around the edge of the cheesecake. Release the spring and lift the cheesecake out of the mold. Cut into wedges and serve.

Enjoy!

P.S. It's my 101st post! I will somehow coordinate myself to someday finally produce a giveaway! I just can't find time, but I will!

Cream Of Mashroom With Julia

Yes, sure it is Julia Child I am talking about - inspiration for French cuisine lovers for decades. I can't resist her just like anybody else, and today it was cream of mushroom for dinner...


This dish is an advanture of its own. Not only it is extremely delicious, but also is fun to cook. If you are like me and love mushrooms, you will enjoy the delightfull smell of fresh ones, then simmered ones, there is also smell of butter, simmered onions, and more! A pleasure to taste and smell budds you will not forget!

So here is the recipe in case you want to indulge as well...
You will need:
1/4 cup minced onions
3 tbs flour
6 cups chicken stock
2 parsley strings
1/3 bay leaf
1/6 tsp thyme
3/4 to a lb white mushrooms
1 stick butter
1 tbs lemon juice
2 egg yolks
1/2 3/4 cup whipping cream

Wash the mushrooms and separate stems from caps. Chop the stems and finely slice the caps.




Melt 3 tbs butter (yes 3 tbsp, you know how she loves butter...) in a 21/2-quart heavy-bottomed enameled saucepan.


Chop the onions and slowly cook for 8 to 10 minutes until they are tender but not browned.
Add the flour and stir over moderate heat for 3 minutes without browning.
Off heat, beat in the boiling stock or broth and blend it thoroughly with the flour. Season to taste. Stir in the mushroom stems, and simmer partially covered for 20 minutes or more, skimming occasionally. Strain, pressing juices out of mushroom stems. Return the soup to the pan. Add the spices. (The stems can be eaten and are delicious!)

Melt 2 tbs butter in a separate saucepan. When it is foaming, toss in the mushroom caps, salt, and lemon juice. Cover and cook slowly for 5 minutes.
Pour the mushroom and their cooking juices into the strained soup base. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Beat the egg yolks and cream in the mixing bowl.


Then beat in hot soup by spoonfuls until cup has been added. Gradually stir in the rest. Correct seasoning. Return the soup to the pan and stir over moderate heat for a minute or two to poach the egg yolks, but do not let the soup come near the simmer.
Off heat stir in the 2 tbs butter (she says 3 tbs, but we all know how she loves butter, and for some of us it is too much! Plus it adds up to exactly a stick...) Pour the soup into a tureen or soup cups, and decorate with optional mushrooms and herbs.


Bon Apetit!

Breadmaker And An Award All In One Day!

Oh my goodness, where did my one-post-a-day idea go? There is no time at all!
Well, got to tell you while I DO have some time. In the morning, we woke up because someone was knocking on our door. It was a post man bringing our last wedding present in - a bread maker from my grand mom. The best one of its kind! I was oh so excited to try it out, but had to run to class, so as soon as I got home I mixed up our first bread - Italian Herb. It takes 4 hours to make a two pound loaf so I do not yet have a final result, but here are a few photos of the process...



Also today while waiting for my husband to come home so that we can have dinner together I came up with a new weir but yummy snack. A slice of ham, cheese, avocado all wrapped in a sushi sheet. A bit chewy cut yum-yum-yummy!



Last but not least, I have received my first award! From this wonderful blogger. She is fun and loving and I feel like I know her as a good friend! Go check out her blog! I am suppose to pass this award on to twelve blogs that I enjoy reading. There are sure more than twelve that I enjoy, but I am afraid for now this will have to stop at me, because I have to run and do my homework and get ready for my test. I know I am no fun, but there are things in life you just HAVE to do, I am sure you all understand...

Hope you all can survive this Friday and then have a great weekend!

Croissants

Yeh, I know, I have been kind of thin on posts lately, but, honestly, no one missed anything. I am berried with all the studying and classes I am taking, but it gives me great relief to think that after this I get a half a year break!
Well, since I still can't bare to not post at all, I am going to show off my croissants that I made today. What is the recipe you might ask, just role and bake. Yes, I used the premade do, and I am aware of the fact that it is not as good as hand made, but she, who is suppose to hand make anything is out of time. I still enjoyed the smell of pastry in my house and taking pictures was nevertheless pleasant.





P.S. I think I am getting better and better at all of this blogging and photoshopping, I am kinda proud of myself. :)

Rice Crisps + Wedding Rings

We picked up our wedding rings today from the jewelery store (they had to size them...) They are just beautiful! I can't wait to wear mine!
I had first visitor at my home in months tonight, we got so caught up in our wedding preparations that we simply did not have time for much else... But Marsel drooped by today, as usually not empty handed. She brought me flowers! (Isn't that sweet?)



She also borough me this little guy...


...I decided to name her Singa, this thing made my day! Check out what it does!


Then we made some rice crispies! It was my first time making them and I am in love with these things! They are so fast to make and are yummy!


If you are interested this is what you do:
You will need:
one stick of butter
5 cups rice crispies serial
10oz marshmallows
whatever else you want to put in there (I put nuts)

You slowly melt the butter until it turns golden, take it off the heat. Then add marshmallows and mix until they are melted (if needed turn the heat back on...) then add the serial and whatever else you want. Grease a pan with some butter, spread the mixture evenly (do it quickly before it cools and sets) smooth it out and leave it to cool. Cut and eat!


We drank some freshly brewed green tea with ice cream and then watched a movie called The Brother Bloom, pretty good one actually.



P.S. In case you have noticed my button, I used a great tutorial on how to make it from this nice little blog.

Salmon Fillet and Spiced Noodles

I feel like beginning today's post with a confession - I haven't been cooking for more than a month now! I mean, there is simply not enough time for this (yesterday I shopped for wedding stuff till 10:00pm again!). I do wish I would have time or energy to make food, as cooking is therapeutical for me.
Well, today I felt like I just have too make something - fastfoods and restaurants just didn't seem a good option tonight. I was exhausted, so it had to be something quick to make yet yummy to eat...
I made salmon fillet and spiced noodles.


Here is a recipe if anyone is interested.
You will need:
1/2 lbs (or more if you want...) salmon fillet.
2-3 tbs olive oil
5 medium mushrooms
4-6 jumbo black olives
salt, pepper, spices to taste

noodles
chicken/beef stock
1 tbs olive oil
little piece of butter
salt, pepper, spices



Preheat oven to 400F'.
Grease the pan and put salmon fillet on it. Pour olive oil on fillet and spread it a bit. Spice it to your taste (I used Greek spices along with salt and pepper). Chop mushrooms and place them on top of fillet, then do the same with the olives. Bake salmon fillet for 15-20 minutes. You can put foil over it if you want it a little more moist.

Boil chicken or beef stock, place noodles in it and cook until ready. Drain the noodles and add 1 tbs of olive oil and a little piece of butter. Add spices to taste.

Remember I was talking/writing about creating a treasury (jewelery) chest for the things that are precious to me. Well, you think I forgot about it with all the wedding preps, but I didn't. In fact , I finished it today and would be delighted to show you! I am more than happy with the results...


I am tired... 2 more working days... Friday I become one of you, fellow US citizens!

The Day I Have Been Waiting For!

Wonderful things happened today! Some things that I have been patiently (well, sometimes maybe not so patiently) waiting for years to happen! Today is the day that finally came. I passed my citizenship appointment and the date for my inauguration is August 13th (yep, Friday the 13th I will become one of you people! :) )AND we got our wedding date - August 22nd! In 3 weeks! We better get moving, you think, well we are loving but humble people and are not planning to have a big wedding, in fact we are keeping it all for ourselves. So we are almost ready!

When I got home, I felt tiered, so I turned on my favorite Yann Tiersen through my cute penguin speakers hooked up to my ipod, and made some yummy blueberry cake using this deliciously illustrated recipe - check out the website, it is the best cooking place ever - I love her blog, love her photos, love her son, and it's just an amazing source of culinary inspiration!

It was a joyful activity, I mean listen to this music...


...now imagine the sun shinig through your windows, a nice apron and the smell of vanilla, bluebrries, butter, orange rind... eh, I love theraputical cooking!

Here are some pictures from the process...









I have been reading my fellow bloggers' impressions from attending the Renegade Craft Fair and it made me want to make something with my hands worth buying even more then before. I realize that mainly it is all in the idea. I mean look at these shoes.! They sell them in Europe for $250! They are about $10 to make. A GREAT idea though! I want a pair!



So I keep brainstorming and thinking weather I can some day be a part of this very appealing to me group of successful bloggers/Etsy vendors/just plain interesting people... Well, I got ways to go, but I got time too, the earlier you strat the better you get, right?

Well this was a relatively long post, but I just wanted to share some things...
Cheers!

Delicious Simplicity

The weather today was amazing! Loads of sun and a bit of heavy rain, all at the same time! I love when weather contradicts itself like that!

Friday my mom and I went to the spa to get massage, which is exactly the one that healed me from my cold. Well, in there they offered strawberry water to people, which is plain water with strawberries soaked in it. I thought how simple, yet refreshingly summery. So I decided to make my own... I also added mint leaves (that I by the way now grow on my dining table in a champagne glass), and lime.

I have to admit, the outcome is more than satisfying! You should try it! There is no recipe really, just use your imagination!

My mint! Mint is one of my favorite plants - so easy to grow and the smell is amazing!

Oh, by the way, yesterday I finished my second kitchen pillow for Evgeny. He liked it. Our kitchen is slowly turning into something decent.

For dinner we went to my momichka's place for a little pool party. Here is the stupid ET cat again:) She is so rarely seen that whenever I see her, I can't help it but snap a picture or two.

While we were at mom's house the lights went out, so we were forced (not that we really were against it anyways) to have our desert in candle light.

Donnichka rescued our banana pudding desert by whipping cream using a battery powered drill with a whisk attached to it, cause remember there was no power to use a mixer...

So everyone enjoyed delicious desert overcoming many obstacles such as darkness and high temperature, it was getting pretty hot there without the air conditioning.

How it ended I don't know, we left, but I sure hope they fix that power, I mean it is 110 F' even during the night out here!

I would like to ask everyone again to check out my etsy shop, help me spread the word about this charity project and get a chance to win a prize, come on people! :)