Banoffee pie

An English classic, perfect for those not courageous enough to bake, but still willing to show off. This deliciously sweet dessert was apparently Margaret Thatcher's favourite recipe to prepare (according to Marla Brook's The Celebrity Cookbook: Kitchen Secrets of the Rich and Famous). In some countries dulce de leche, which is a key ingredient in this recipe, can be bought ready-made, if not it can be easily prepared from condensed milk, it just takes some time. Banoffee pie is usually topped with whipped cream, but my version is a bit richer with an addition of mascarpone and banana mousse.

You'll need:

1 can of condensed milk

300g biscuits (I used coco and almond biscuits, but ginger cookies would be best)

60g butter

4 bananans

juice from 1/2 lemon

30% cream

sugar

200g mascaropone

2 pieces of dark chocolate, grated

1. Start off by preparing your dulce de leche by boiling the can with condensed milk for 3 hours over low heat. Make sure the can is completely covered by water. Cool off the can before opening it! Otherwise the pressure might cause it to explode and you probably don't want to face the clean up!

2. Crush the biscuits into crumbs by putting them in a cloth/bag and hitting them with a roller or another hard object or by using a blender. 

3. Melt the butter and pour it over the crushed biscuits.

4. Transfer the buttered biscuits into a tin and press firmly to form a base. Put in a fridge for at least 30 minutes.

5. Cover the base with a layer of dulce de leche.

6. Slice 3 bananas and cover them in lemon juice before putting them on top of dulce de leche.

7. Whip the cream in a food processor, being careful not to overwhip it. Add sugar and then carefully fold in the mascarpone cheese. 

8. Break the remaining banana into chunks and blend it. Fold it into the cream mixture.

9. Use a piping bag to decorate the banoffee pie with cream on top.

10. Sprinkle with chocolate, et voila!

Bon appétit!

Minty strawberries in white chocolate sauce with a twist

Possibly the best way to serve strawberries! If this little dessert doesn't cheer you up, then I don't know what will...

You'll need:
strawberries
fresh mint leaves
white chocolate
gin
lime juice

1. Melt the chocolate over low heat together with gin (or milk if you're abstinent).and a little bit of lime juice (just enough to break the sweetness of chocolate).

2. Pour your chocolate sauce over the strawberries previously mixed with chopped mint leaves.

Bon appétit!

Banana bread

It's deliciously sweet, moist and easy to make! This traditional American recipe dating back from before the war has even its national day: 23rd of February :)

You'll need:
100g butter + some extra for tin greasing
200g sugar
350g flour
3 ripe bananas
2 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
cinnamon
chocolate chips
1 tsp oil

 

1.  Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

2. In a bowl cream the butter with sugar until pale and smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time.

3. Sieve the flour and add to the bowl. Add the baking powder.

4. Mash the bananas with the oil. Combine them with the cake mixture, folding gently.

5. Add cinnamon and chocolate chips. 

6. Butter the baking tin before transferring the mixture into it.

7. Put in the hot oven for around 40 minutes. 

Bon appétit!

Peach mousse with a hint of cardamom

You have guests and no time to prepare a dessert, but still want to show off a little bit with sth unconventional? Here's a dessert for you.

You'll need:

1 peach or nectarine (per head)

2 cardamom pods

2 tea spoons of brown sugar

50g of cream (cooled)

Kamis dessert spice mix (or self-made equivalent that contains vanilla, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon)

1. Cut your peach/nectarine into pieces and blend together with the seeds from the cardamom pods and sugar. Transfer into a glass or a bowl and cool down in a fridge.

2. Whip your cream and add it on top of your mousse.

3. Sprinkle with the spice mix on top, et voila!

 

Bon appétit!

Watermelon aqua fresca

With the temperatures outside way above 30 degrees, aqua fresca comes to rescue! Aguas frescas are cooling down drinks popular especially in Mexico made from a variety of fresh fruit. Today I propose a watermelon version.

You'll need:
a watermelon
lime
fresh mint leaves
ice cubes
brown sugar (optional)

1. Cut the watermeloon into pieces removing all the seeds and put into a bowl/pot.
2. Chop the mint leaves and add to the bowl.
3. Cut the lime into half, cut of a slice for decoration and squeeze the rest into the bowl.
4. Add sugar.
5. Blend.
6. Put in the fridge to cool down.
7. Serve with ice cubes.

Bon appétit!

bubbly banana coctail

Simplicity at its best.

You'll need:
one banana
a glass of milk
1/2 lemon
3 tea spoons of sugar
1 spoon of cream (optional)

Cut the banana and put in a container, squeze in the lemon (be careful not to let any pip in) add milk and sugar and blend! Bon Appetit!