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Category: Miscellaneous

Area: Spanish

Ingredients:

• 1 large Bread
• 1 1/2 L Olive Oil
• Half Garlic
• 1 Handfull Pork

Instructions:

Crumble the bread into small pieces. Sprinkle with cold water, cover with a damp cloth and leave for 30 minutes.
Heat 2 tsp of olive oil in a deep pan. Add the garlic cloves separated, skins on; just make a small cut with a knife to open them and keep frying for 5 minutes. Set the garlic aside.
In the same oil, where we fried everything, simmer the bread, stirring constantly for 15 minutes and add a grinding of black pepper.
Add the garlic, continue stirring for about 20 minutes. It will be ready when the bread is soft and golden.

Category: Dessert

Area: American

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Miniature Marshmallows
• 3 cups Chocolate Chips
• ½ cup Peanut Butter
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 ¼ cups Peanuts

Instructions:

Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with wax paper or foil, and coat with non-stick spray.
Pour ½ cup of the miniature marshmallows into the bottom of the lined baking dish.
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Microwave the chocolate mixture in 20-second intervals, stirring in between each interval, until the chocolate is melted.
Add the vanilla extract and stir well, until smooth.
Reserve 2 tablespoons of the chopped almonds or peanuts, and set aside.
Fold 1 ½ cups of the miniature marshmallows and the remaining chopped nuts into the chocolate mixture.
Transfer the chocolate mixture into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Immediately top with the reserved chopped nuts and the mallow bits or additional miniature marshmallows, if using.
Refrigerate for 4 hours, or until set.
Remove the fudge and wax paper from the pan. Carefully peel all of wax paper from the fudge.
Cut the fudge into bite-sized pieces and serve.

Category: Miscellaneous

Area: French

Ingredients:

• 50g Butter
• 25g Parmesan
• 300ml Milk
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 5 tbs Plain Flour
• ½ tsp English Mustard
• Pod of Cayenne Pepper
• 140g Gruyère
• 3 Eggs
• 8 slices Goats Cheese
• 150ml Double Cream
• to serve Spinach

Instructions:

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6 and butter 4 small (about 200ml) ramekins. Sprinkle the Parmesan into the ramekins, turning until all sides are covered. Place the milk and bay leaves in a large saucepan over a gentle heat and bring to the boil. Turn off the heat and leave to infuse for 15 mins.
Discard the bay leaves, add the butter and flour, and return to a low heat. Very gently simmer, stirring continuously with a balloon whisk, for about 6 mins until you get a smooth, thick white sauce. Make sure that you get right into the corners of the pan to stop the sauce from catching or becoming lumpy.
Once thickened, transfer the sauce to a large bowl and stir in the mustard powder, cayenne pepper, Gruyère and egg yolks until fully combined.
In a spotlessly clean bowl and with a clean whisk, beat the egg whites just until peaks begin to form.
Carefully fold the egg whites into the cheese sauce in three stages making sure you fold, rather than stir, to keep the egg whites light and airy. Fill the prepared ramekins with the soufflé mix.
Top each soufflé with a slice of goat’s cheese, then place on a baking tray. Bake for 20-25 mins or until springy and well risen but cooked through.
Leave to cool, then run a knife around the edge of each dish and remove the soufflés. If preparing in advance, place soufflés upside down (for neat presentation), on a tray. Cover tray in cling film. Chill for a few days or freeze for up to 1 month.
When ready to re-bake, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Place the upside-down soufflés in a shallow baking dish, top with the remaining goat’s cheese slices and pour over the cream (this stops them from drying out when baked for the second time). Cook for 8-10 mins until golden. Serve immediately alongside some simply dressed salad.

Category: Dessert

Area: American

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Miniature Marshmallows
• 3 cups Chocolate Chips
• ½ cup Peanut Butter
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 ¼ cups Peanuts

Instructions:

Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with wax paper or foil, and coat with non-stick spray.
Pour ½ cup of the miniature marshmallows into the bottom of the lined baking dish.
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Microwave the chocolate mixture in 20-second intervals, stirring in between each interval, until the chocolate is melted.
Add the vanilla extract and stir well, until smooth.
Reserve 2 tablespoons of the chopped almonds or peanuts, and set aside.
Fold 1 ½ cups of the miniature marshmallows and the remaining chopped nuts into the chocolate mixture.
Transfer the chocolate mixture into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Immediately top with the reserved chopped nuts and the mallow bits or additional miniature marshmallows, if using.
Refrigerate for 4 hours, or until set.
Remove the fudge and wax paper from the pan. Carefully peel all of wax paper from the fudge.
Cut the fudge into bite-sized pieces and serve.

Category: Pork

Area: Dutch

Ingredients:

• 1.5kg Potatoes
• 2 leaves Bay Leaf
• 2 Shallots
• 3 tbs Butter
• 750g Kale
• 2 Sausages
• 500ml Milk
• Grated Nutmeg
• Pinch Salt
• Pinch Pepper

Instructions:

Wash and peel the potatoes and cut into similarly sized pieces for even cooking.

In a large soup pot, boil the potatoes and the bay leaves in salted water for 20 minutes. Discard the bay leaves.

If you're not using a bag of ready-cut curly kale, wash the bunches thoroughly under cool running water to get rid of all soil—you wouldn't want that gritty texture in your finished dish. Trim any coarse stems and discard any brown leaves. With a sharp knife, cut the curly kale into thin strips.

Peel and chop the shallots.

In a frying pan or skillet, melt 1 tbsp. of butter and saute the shallots for a few minutes before adding the curly kale and 2 tbsp. of water. Season and cook for about 10 minutes, or until tender.

Warm the milk on the stove or in the microwave.

Drain, shake and dry the potatoes with kitchen towels before mashing with a potato masher or ricer. Working quickly, add the warm milk and the remaining butter. Season to taste with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

Mix the cooked curly kale through the cooked mashed potato mixture.

Top with slices of the smoked sausage and serve hot with your favorite mustard or gravy.

Serve and enjoy!

Category: Side

Area: Turkish

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Lentils
• 1 large Onion
• 1 large Carrots
• 1 tbs Tomato Puree
• 2 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1/2 tsp Mint
• 1/2 tsp Thyme
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
• 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
• 4 cups Vegetable Stock
• 1 cup Water
• Pinch Sea Salt

Instructions:

Pick through your lentils for any foreign debris, rinse them 2 or 3 times, drain, and set aside. Fair warning, this will probably turn your lentils into a solid block that you’ll have to break up later
In a large pot over medium-high heat, sauté the olive oil and the onion with a pinch of salt for about 3 minutes, then add the carrots and cook for another 3 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and stir it around for around 1 minute. Now add the cumin, paprika, mint, thyme, black pepper, and red pepper as quickly as you can and stir for 10 seconds to bloom the spices. Congratulate yourself on how amazing your house now smells.
Immediately add the lentils, water, broth, and salt. Bring the soup to a (gentle) boil.
After it has come to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pot halfway, and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the lentils have fallen apart and the carrots are completely cooked.
After the soup has cooked and the lentils are tender, blend the soup either in a blender or simply use a hand blender to reach the consistency you desire. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary.
Serve with crushed-up crackers, torn up bread, or something else to add some extra thickness. You could also use a traditional thickener (like cornstarch or flour), but I prefer to add crackers for some texture and saltiness. Makes great leftovers, stays good in the fridge for about a week.

Category: Side

Area: Turkish

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Lentils
• 1 large Onion
• 1 large Carrots
• 1 tbs Tomato Puree
• 2 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1/2 tsp Mint
• 1/2 tsp Thyme
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
• 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
• 4 cups Vegetable Stock
• 1 cup Water
• Pinch Sea Salt

Instructions:

Pick through your lentils for any foreign debris, rinse them 2 or 3 times, drain, and set aside. Fair warning, this will probably turn your lentils into a solid block that you’ll have to break up later
In a large pot over medium-high heat, sauté the olive oil and the onion with a pinch of salt for about 3 minutes, then add the carrots and cook for another 3 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and stir it around for around 1 minute. Now add the cumin, paprika, mint, thyme, black pepper, and red pepper as quickly as you can and stir for 10 seconds to bloom the spices. Congratulate yourself on how amazing your house now smells.
Immediately add the lentils, water, broth, and salt. Bring the soup to a (gentle) boil.
After it has come to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pot halfway, and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the lentils have fallen apart and the carrots are completely cooked.
After the soup has cooked and the lentils are tender, blend the soup either in a blender or simply use a hand blender to reach the consistency you desire. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary.
Serve with crushed-up crackers, torn up bread, or something else to add some extra thickness. You could also use a traditional thickener (like cornstarch or flour), but I prefer to add crackers for some texture and saltiness. Makes great leftovers, stays good in the fridge for about a week.

Category: Pork

Area: Dutch

Ingredients:

• 1.5kg Potatoes
• 2 leaves Bay Leaf
• 2 Shallots
• 3 tbs Butter
• 750g Kale
• 2 Sausages
• 500ml Milk
• Grated Nutmeg
• Pinch Salt
• Pinch Pepper

Instructions:

Wash and peel the potatoes and cut into similarly sized pieces for even cooking.

In a large soup pot, boil the potatoes and the bay leaves in salted water for 20 minutes. Discard the bay leaves.

If you're not using a bag of ready-cut curly kale, wash the bunches thoroughly under cool running water to get rid of all soil—you wouldn't want that gritty texture in your finished dish. Trim any coarse stems and discard any brown leaves. With a sharp knife, cut the curly kale into thin strips.

Peel and chop the shallots.

In a frying pan or skillet, melt 1 tbsp. of butter and saute the shallots for a few minutes before adding the curly kale and 2 tbsp. of water. Season and cook for about 10 minutes, or until tender.

Warm the milk on the stove or in the microwave.

Drain, shake and dry the potatoes with kitchen towels before mashing with a potato masher or ricer. Working quickly, add the warm milk and the remaining butter. Season to taste with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

Mix the cooked curly kale through the cooked mashed potato mixture.

Top with slices of the smoked sausage and serve hot with your favorite mustard or gravy.

Serve and enjoy!

Category: Vegetarian

Area: Russian

Ingredients:

• 4 Potatoes
• 3 Carrots
• 1 tbs Salt
• 1/2 tbs White Wine Vinegar
• 4 Eggs
• 7 oz Sausages
• 4 oz Dill
• 1 can Peas
• 4 Onions
• 1 cup Mayonnaise

Instructions:

Cut the potatoes and carrots into small uniform cubes.
Place them in a large pot and fill with water.
Add salt and vinegar. Bring it to a boil over medium high heat, and then reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook until the potatoes are cooked through, about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and let it cool to room temperature.
Meanwhile, cut the sausage and pickles into small cubes, and chop the green onions.
Cut the hard-boiled eggs into small cubes as well.
If using fresh dill, chop them as well.
In a large bowl, combine potatoes, carrots, sausage, pickles, peas and green onions.
Add mayo and dill and mix until well combined.
Salt and pepper to taste. Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Category: Chicken

Area: Egyptian

Ingredients:

• 1 kg Chicken Thighs
• 1 tbs Coriander
• 1 tbs Cumin
• 1 tbs Cardamom
• 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
• 2 tsp Paprika
• 2 tbs Lemon Juice
• 3 tbs Olive Oil
• 1 cup Greek Yogurt
• 1 Garlic Clove
• 1 tsp Cumin
• Splash Lemon Juice
• Sliced Lettuce
• Sliced Tomato
• 6 Pita Bread

Instructions:

Combine the marinade ingredients in a large ziplock bag (or bowl).
Add the chicken and use your hands to make sure each piece is coated. If using a ziplock bag, I find it convenient to close the bag then massage the bag to disperse the rub all over each chicken piece.
Marinate overnight or up to 24 hours.
Combine the Yoghurt Sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix. Cover and put in the fridge until required (it will last for 3 days in the fridge).
Heat grill/BBQ (or large heavy based pan on stove) on medium high. You should not need to oil it because the marinade has oil in it and also thigh fillets have fat. But if you are worried then oil your hotplate/grill. (See notes for baking)
Place chicken on the grill and cook the first side for 4 to 5 minutes until nicely charred, then turn and cook the other side for 3 to 4 minutes (the 2nd side takes less time).
Remove chicken from the grill and cover loosely with foil. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes.
TO SERVE
Slice chicken and pile onto platter alongside flatbreads, Salad and the Yoghurt Sauce.
To make a wrap, get a piece of flatbread and smear with Yoghurt Sauce. Top with a bit of lettuce and tomato and Chicken Shawarma. Roll up and enjoy!