Cherry and Sour Cream Coffeecake or Cupcake.

Fluffy and moist....delicioussss. 
Everyone at home loved it. I need to bake one more...

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour a 8 to 10-inch  tube cake pan.

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup cherry preserves
 Powdered sugar to dust the cake.

Stir the dry ingredients in a bowl.  
In a separate bowl beat the eggs and sugar on medium speed until a little  light and fluffy.
Add sour cream, oil and vanilla extract and continue to beat.
Slowly add the flour mixture and beat on lower speed until smooth and if necessary scraping the sides of the bowl.

Pour half the batter into prepared pan.
With a teaspoon gently spread the cherry preserves on top of batter.
Pour in the remaining batter on top.
Bake until golden or toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean. About 45 minutes.
Let cool briefly in the pan, turn it into serving plate and dust with powdered sugar.

For 12 cupcakes;
Line muffin pans with cake cups. Fill each cup with a little batter, a little preserve and more batter. Total 3/4 full.  Bake 20-25 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar.    Enjoy.

Big Bowl Of Chicken Soup

In the mood for a nice cup ( or more) of homemade soup !


1 lb skinless and boneless chicken breast cut up in small chunks.
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
8 cups water
1 cup peeled cubed potato
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
black pepper to taste 
1 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup lime juice
A special touch of love

In a large pan or pot, heat oil and saute onion lightly. Add carrots, potatoes, celery; cook and stir 5 minutes. Add chicken, water and all the spices.
Simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes. Add frozen peas, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce and  lime juice and cook another 5 minutes. Stir up some love and serve it hot.

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

It is cold and raining outside. Time for soup !



2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion chopped
1 cup leeks diced
1 cup carrots
1 cup celery
2 medium butternut squash peeled and cubed
1 large potato peeled and cubed
24 ounces chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 black pepper or to taste
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
2 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
1 tablespoon fresh chopped sage
plain yogurt to garnish


In large kettle, saute onion, leeks and celery in vegetable oil until soft.
Add squash, carrots and potato.
Stir in chicken broth and spices.
Bring to boil; cover. Reduce heat and simmer 30 to 45 minutes.
Puree soup with a manual blender.
Garnish with yogurt and parsley.

Very Berry Cake Tart

Today is my son Alan's 17th birthday. I wanted to bake a very special cake for him.
This is what he has chosen!
Happy Birthday Alan and I hope you enjoy it... and share it with Mom and Dad. His brother Nicholas is away in college.... he can see the picture and imagine the taste of it.



4 egg whites
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon almond extract

Sauce:
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 water

Toppings:
1 Tablespoon lemon curd or other jam
2 to 3 cups raspberries and blueberries


Beat egg whites until firm and reserve.
Sift together all dry ingredients. Add oil, milk and almond extract and mix and beat well.
Fold egg whites slowly into the batter.
Pour into greased and floured 9-inch cake pan.

Bake in Preheated 350 F oven for about 30 minutes or until lightly golden.
In a small pan boil water and sugar for just a minute.
With a soup spoon pour sauce over the cake.

Let the cake cool for 10 minutes and turn it into serving dish.
Spread 1 tablespoon of lemon curd or any other jam.
Decorate with raspberry and blueberries.



Velvet Yellow Cake ( egg yolks leftover from above recipe )

4 egg yolks
1 cup milk
1/2 vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven 350 F.
In a large bowl combine all ingredients. Beat well.
Pour into greased 9- by 5-inch loaf pan.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes until lightly golden. Enjoy it!

Wrapped Pesto Bread

Makes 2 rolls or 1 big one.

1 lb white flour
1 cup warm milk
2 envelopes active dry yeast
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup pesto sauce
10 slices turkey breast
tomato slices
OR
2 large tomatoes thin sliced
12 slices Mozzarella cheese
oregano
1 onion thin sliced

Dissolve granulated yeast in 1/2 cup milk and sugar. Let it sit until foamy ( 10 min).
Add flour, oil , milk and salt. Mix well in a mixer (using dough hook) on low speed until a dough ball forms.
Transfer the dough to a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place, until dough volume is doubled.
Divide dough into 2 equal portions.
Roll out each portion on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle 1/2 inch thick.
Spread 1/2 filling of choice and carefully roll the dough.
Put each roll on a lightly sprayed baking sheet cover them and let them rise again ( 30 min).
Brush egg wash on each of them.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 40 minutes, or until rolls are lightly browned.

Stuffed Eggplant au Gratin

2 medium eggplants cut in half ( not length wise)
1/2 lb ground beef
1 chopped medium onion
2 garlic cloves minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lime juice
freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 Lb can tomatoes, crushed and drained
1/4 cup chopped olives ( green or black)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese to sprinkle

Boil eggplants in salted water for about 10 minutes, until partially softened.
Let them cool down slightly then remove the flesh gently.
In large skillet brown ground beef in a tablespoon vegetable oil. Add chopped onion and minced garlic and cook until tender. Add remaining ingredients except for cheese.
Cook until most of the liquid evaporates.
Spoon mixture into eggplant halves and place them upright in oven-proof casserole.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes and broil another 2 minutes until cheese starts to brown.

Apple Tart

( very easy to do)

1/4 cup of olive/vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 sliced peeled apples ( I have substituted for many other fruits); fresh peaches or canned ( well drained), one cup blueberries, quartered plums , 3 or 4 bananas ( cut in half ).

Topping:
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Grease 9-inch pan with removable bottom.
In medium bowl beat oil and 1 cup sugar. Add lemon juice and eggs.
Mix flour with baking powder and salt.
Add to batter mixture and mix it until well combined.

Pour batter into prepared pan.
Cover the batter with the fruit of preference.
Sprinkle topping over the fruits.

Bake in preheated 350 oven 40minutes or so.
Loosen edges from tart with a knife when cool and remove it from pan before serving. Bon Appetit !



Corinna's Daily Cake

1 cup of your favorite yogurt
1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 cups flour
4 eggs
1 tablespoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Grease and flour baking pan.
Beat all ingredients in a mixer.
Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake for about 40 minutes.


Blender Aromatic Carrot Cake

1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 medium carrots cut up
1 cup olive / vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder

Topping:
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Beat carrots, oil, eggs and sugar and orange zest in a blender until creamy.
Add flour and baking powder slowly to the batter.

Spray 12-inch square baking pan.
Spread batter in pan.
Sprinkle topping over the batter.

Bake in preheated oven 350°F.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 35 minutes.

Cream Caramel or (Brazilian Flan)

1 can condensed milk
2 cans 2% milk ( can from above for measurement )
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs

1 cup sugar for melting and coating flan pan
A drop of lemon or lime juice

In a blender mix all ingredients except sugar.
In a small heavy pan and low to medium heat melt sugar with a drop of lemon juice until it turns into a golden/amber color.
Carefully but fast transfer melted sugar to a warm flan pan ( I usually let the pan warming up in the oven to prevent the sugar from hardening too fast ).
Using an oven mitten hold the flan pan with care and tilt it to evenly coat the melted sugar to the bottom and sides of pan.

Put prepared pan inside a larger round or square baking pan filled 1/4 way with water.
Cover the flan pan only with aluminium foil or oven proof lid.
Bake 375 F. until toothpick comes out clean and flan is set. 45 minutes approximately.
After flan has cooled down refrigerate it for few hours or more.
When ready to be served, warm the bottom of pan for a few seconds and with a knife release the edges of flan.
Cover the flan pan with serving platter and carefully invert the flan.

French Omelet

Fill this omelet with whatever your heart desires:
I love: Chopped fresh herbs with Brie, Swiss or Gruyere cheese.
I also like to add some sauteed mushrooms, green peppers and a touch of chopped onions.

Add your favorite ingredients just before folding the omelet.

For 2 servings :

5 large eggs
2 tablespoon milk or water
1/4 teaspoon turmeric or even better saffron (1/8 teaspoon)
salt and pepper to taste

Fillings:

Favorite cheese and/or vegetables

Whisk eggs, milk and seasonings until well combined.

Heat a medium non stick skillet.
Add just enough vegetable oil to coat entire surface.
Pour in half the egg mixture.
Tilt the pan until mixture begin to set.
Lift edges of omelet to let any raw mixture to run beneath it.
Cook until almost set.
Spoon your favorite fillings in center and using a spatula fold it as it will continue to cook.
Roll it into serving dish.
Repeat with the other half of egg batter and fillings.
Enjoy it !