Pythea

Angel's Sweets Launched!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:04:00 +0000

I finally launched my website...the last months were quite thrilling and enraging as it was a battle between knowing that I could build and design a website on my own and choosing the correct design...which often meant starting from scratch many times.

The construction of this website is a natural evolution from my blog where my recipes found their first display and from my new found passion for technology and the mysterious world of website designing. For that I have to thank those who gave me the opportunity at work to develop my knowledge as much as possible and that trusted me to manage on my own several professional websites.

So please feel free to visit Angel's Sweets!

http://www.angela-lopes.com/

Blah Blah Blah????

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:15:00 +0000

After some extensive thought about if I should shut down the blog - after all it has been quite some time I haven't posted an article - I finally decided that it might be worth while to "re-open" it.

Many things happening the last few months have prevented posting of simple articles or even my recipes - OK, excuses, some of them at least, but lately I was more worried about myself and getting my bearings right than wondering if I should find time to write on the blog.

Then thinking of how much I used to like writing and how many friends I had discovered it was also obvious that I should at least write one last time before definitely shutting down.

So, I wrote an extensive article on why I was doing it explaining that the job promotion was taking up all my time, that the limited free time I had was dedicated to family and friends, or to simple things like reading books or enjoy the scenery from my balcony while listening to music, etc, etc, etc. Of course the main reason being that working all day with websites getting home to update a blog was getting a little bit too much.

Re-reading all the blah blah I had written, I thought…should I really say all this…who cares any way? Ready to press the button to publish the "good byes" I was called for a coffee with office mates and a question popped up "when are we going to see another article or recipe on your blog again"? Couldn't help thinking of life coincidences, so got back to my office, re-re-read the article and erased it!

So here I am, maintaining the blog - will try to do it more regularly - and announcing that very soon a full website will be available with all my recipes and a few other information. After all, being a web manager it was only natural that I should build my own website - why hadn't I thought of that earlier?

Anyway, keep visiting to know what is going on, you are always welcome!

Celebrating...

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:25:00 +0000

MARSHMALLOW TART...!

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 11:17:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS:

1 tin condensed milk
1 tin fine pieces of pineapple
1/4 litre lemon juice
20 glazed cherries
1 pack full cream
35 marshmallows

PREPARATION:

Cut the glazed cherries, the marshmallows and the pineapple into pieces. (Resist urge to have a few pieces of marshmallow or cherries!!!)
Squeeze the pineapple to release all the "liquid"
Whip cream until it becomes thick. Careful not to whip it too much and have it transformed into butter. Put in fridge.
Whip condensed milk and lemon juice together. Leave to thicken.
Mix cherries, marshmallows and pineapple into condensed milk-lemon juice mix.
Add whipped cream gently.

"BASE" INGREDIENTS:

Cookies (the pictures shows 2 packs but one is enough)
Butter

PREPARATION:

Crush finely cookies (leave slightly bigger pieces to have a "crunch" feeling)
Melt butter
Add butter to crushed cookies (careful not to add too much butter or your base will be too hard!)

PREPARATION:

Put your biscuit base on a tart pan.
Level it with the back of a spoon.
Put the marshmallow, cherries, pineapple, condensed milk-lemon juice-cream mixture over the biscuit base.
Leave in fridge to set.
Forget how many calories there is in the marshmallow tart!

APPLE CAKE...!

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 11:08:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS:

4 eggs
Baking powder
4 apples
14 spoons flour (soup spoons)
14 spoons sugar
10 spoons milk
10 spoons oil (neutral flavour)
Orange jam (for covering)

PREPARATION:

Pre-heat oven at 180 °C
Peal and cut the apples into quarters
Mix the flour with sugar, baking powder, milk, oil and yolks of eggs.
Whip the white of the eggs until they become firm (meringue consistency)
Mix gently the whipped whites with the other preparation.
Pour into a tart pan.
Put quarters of apples on top.
Bake for about 40-50 minutes. Check with a toothpick if dough is cooked. The toothpick must come out clean.
Put 4 spoons of orange jam in a sauce pan and heat it until it becomes liquid.
With a baking brush, brush the jam over the warm apple cake.
Serve with either whipped cream or vanilla ice on the side!

ENJOY!

APPLE TART

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:15:00 +0000

Ingredients:

1 cup of sugar
1 cup of flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 eggs
3 spoons butter
1/4 cup of milk
1 pinch of salt
Canned sliced apples

I could not find the canned sliced apples in Switzerland. The ones you see in the picture were brought by a friend from South Africa. I suppose you can prepare the apples in advance, cut them into slices, cook them in a sugar syrup and let them cool before using them.

Cream Sauce:

1 cup of cream
1 cup of sugar

PREPARATION:

Pre-heat oven at 180 °C
Add the flower with the baking powder, the butter, the pinch of salt, the milk, the sugar and the egg yolks.
Mix all these ingredients together.
Whisk the white of the eggs until they are firm.
Mix the white of the eggs with the other preparation.
Pour in a tart pan (I chose a round one, but you can use a square one).
Put the apple slices on top of preparation.
Bake for about 60 - 90 minutes (check cooking with with a toothpick after 60 minutes to see if cooked. The toothpick must come out clean if the tart is cooked).
When the tart is nearly ready, mix cream with sugar in a pan.
Cook cream and sugar for 10 minutes.
Pour cream sauce over still hot tart that you have just taken out of the oven.
Let it cool. (Serve it still warm it is even better!!!)

GEMEOS 2009...

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:45:00 +0000

A passagem de Saturno que se inicia em 03 de Setembro e se estende até Outubro de 2009 irá marcar uma nova lição de amadurecimento e aprendizado nestes setores.

Em primeiro lugar questões da família e da casa ganham forte destaque, importantes o suficiente para provocar um maior amadurecimento interior.

É uma fase onde iremos reconsiderar nossa perspectiva das pessoas mais velhas da família. Pais, avôs, tios, independente de sexo, revelam sua vulnerabilidade e precisam de nossa atenção.

Isto mexe com nossos complexos ou ilusões do passado e nos convida para uma nova sintonia.

Frequentemente é o tempo onde os papéis se invertem e você é chamado para cuidar e ser responsável da estrutura familiar. E, com isto, a vida te prepara para poder criar uma continuidade tribal.

Para crianças, com freqüência, é uma fase de aprender a lidar com limites e regras.

Outra manifestação desta passagem nos leva a assumir atitudes e deveres com a casa.

O desgaste do tempo traz rachaduras e você se envolve com obras no lar.

Seu gosto e suas necessidades seguem uma linha mais conservadora. Busca marcar seu território com lembranças do passado e deseja decorar com objetos tradicionais, almeja por privacidade e domínio territorial.

Você quer paz, quem sabe um pouco mais de isolamento, e tudo organizado.

É um tempo onde o trabalho se mescla com a vida doméstica.

Ou ainda, a vida profissional passa a lidar com temas relacionados como comida, construção, empreendimentos familiares, ecologia, etc.

Em algum momento deste processo, fantasmas emocionais do passado retornam à tona para serem resolvidos.

É sua estrutura pessoal pedindo para que conserte suas fragilidades internas, as deixe no devido baú de sua história e assim, fortalecido, esteja pronto para dar continuidade à linhagem genealógica.

Gemeos: O dom do Conhecimento

Comportamento Geral:

Nos distinguimos dos outros sêres vivos porque também somos criadores. Temos a centelha da vida, temos o corpo material e somos dotados de uma mente que busca compreender e associar.
Em vários dos mitos antigos, sugere-se que a humanidade perdeu o direito ao paraíso porque roubou do fruto do conhecimento. O conhecimento que nos aproxima da divindade.

Gêmeos representa a essência do mental: sua maior característica é a curiosidade, a comunicabilidade e a irrequietude. É a agilidade tanto física quanto de pensamento. Mercúrio, o planeta regente do signo, é apresentado na mitologia com asas nos pés.

Gêmeos é o eterno jovial, brincalhão . Sempre buscando por novidades e por diversificar seu leque de relacionamentos. Sua mente ativa parece nunca repousar e por causa disto tende a ser muito dispersivo. Está sempre atento a algum acontecimento que não pode lhe escapar. É difícil prender a atenção de um geminiano.

Tanta agilidade faz com que dentro de cada geminiano existam sempre duas pessoas. É a sua dualidade.

É um diplomata de carteirinha. Tem boa intuição e sabe agir com malícia, astúcia e convicção.
Sabe ser muito humano e acolhedor. Se você for dar uma reunião ou uma festa, não deixe de convidar um típico geminiano: eles têm o dom de animar, alegrar e transformar ambientes sem graça em animadíssimos eventos sociais.

O signo de Gemeos e a Amizade

Quanto maior o número de amigos - melhor. Esta é possívelmente sua frase predileta.

Uma de suas características é falar não somente com as palavras, mas com as mãos, os braços e até através da representação corporal.

Pela sua vivacidade e extroversão Gêmeos atrai as pessoas com facilidade. Gostam de pessoas empreendedoras , dinâmicas e descompromissadas. Aliás, compromissos rígidos não são o seu forte e pontualidade, menos ainda.

Necessitam de variedade e de novas emoções em suas amizades. Um diversificado círculo social é para Gêmeos - como que um alimento da alma.

O signo de Gemeos e o Amor

Aaaah - o doce cantar da sedução. Este é um dos pontos fortes do Geminiano. São os magos das palavras doces, saberão dizer exatamente aquilo que os outros precisam ouvir.

No amor buscam pelo encanto esperando também serem encantados. Gostam do belo e do requintado.

Casamento, para Gêmeos, representa uma união espiritual, onde, deve reinar sobretudo o respeito à independência e à sua liberdade de expressão.

NOI...

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:54:00 +0000

RAS-LE-BOL! UN PEU...BEAUCOUP...PASSIONNEMENT

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:51:00 +0000

Many complained of my disappearance from the "Blog World"...I have to thank them, even if some were just missing the recipes (you know yourselves!).

The last weeks (did they turn into months?), were not easy....not just work to blame, even if it grew exponentially ever since assuming more responsibilities...but private life that has been feeling like the roller-coaster I was trying to avoid.

Twists and turns...so right. Without any notice came this "ras-le-bol" as we say in french "fed-up" not being a quite good translation, I could only express what I feel with the closest expression I know, came up and really made me not care of anything. I was living and breathing work, until I came to my senses...not good in doing so. Why did I have to bury myself into work to forget I was upset, to forget that hearthache is but reality in life...

Thought of shutting down the blog, of shutting down all the pages I have scattered around the internet world, I shut my self from family and friends...

Was it worth it? No. Somehow, I woke up to what was happening, smile and laughter being back, re-contacting all friends and being more present regarding family. I found out I was OK with myself, that I actually enjoy everyday of my life and that I could actually have that "famous" laughter back...it feels nice.

So the purpose of this post, is to actually thank all those that were patient, that worried when they saw that I wasn't laughing, that were there doing nothing but looking at me in silent support and kept sending little funny messages and surprises to bring me back to my old self...the positive, optimist, laughing person I am...

Be ready for more posts...even for more recipes (don't need to say who you are...!)

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU...

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:59:00 +0000

I don't mind it
I don't mind at all
It's like you're the swing set
And I'm the kid that falls
It's like the way we fight
The times I've cried
We come to blows
And every night
The passion's there
So it's got to be right
Right?

No I don't believe you
When you say don't come around here no more
I won't remind you
You said we wouldn't be apart
No I don't believe you
When you say you don't need me anymore
So don't pretend to
Not love me at all

I don't mind it
I still don't mind at all
It's like one of those bad dreams
When you cant wake up
It looks like you've given up
You've had enough
But I want more
No I won't stop
Because I just know
You'll come around
Right?

No I don't believe you
When you say don't come around here no more
I wont remind you
You said we wouldn't be apart
No I don't believe you
When you say you don't need me anymore
So don't pretend to
Not love me at all

Just don't stand there and watch me fall
Because I, because I still don't mind at all

It's like the way we fight
The times I've cried
We come to blows
And every night
The passion's there
So it's got to be right,
Right?

No I don't believe you
When you say don't come around here no more
I won't remind you
You said we wouldn't be apart
No I don't believe you
When you say you don't need me anymore
So don't pretend to
Not love me at all

I don't believe you

ραβανί (ravani)...

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:17:00 +0000

Greeks love desserts soaked in light-scented honey or sugar syrup. I can remember how much I enjoyed Ravani and today, I just could not help it and had to try to bake one. Was hesitating between all the great recipes like "Baklava", "Galaktobouriko", "Bougatsa" or a good "Yiaourtopita me Karythia kai Fystikia Aiginis" (Greek yogurt, walnut and pistachio cake with syrup)...but after roaming my fridge I settled for a Ravani.

The smell that invaded my kitchen reminded me of all the time I spent in Greece and how much I miss it. I hope you'll enjoy baking it as much as I did!

καλή όρεξη!

Ingredients:

2 cups of fine semolina
1-1/2 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of margarine or butter, softened
6 eggs, separated
1 cup of whole milk
1 teaspoon of grated lemon peel
2 tablespoons of water

Syrup:

3-1/2 cups of sugar
3 cups of water
juice of 1/2 lemon
Vanilla

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 180°C.
Sift the flour and whisk with semolina, baking powder, and baking soda.
In the processor mixing bowl, cream the butter. Add egg yolks, sugar, and grated lemon peel and continue to mix until light and creamy.
Add the flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time, alternating with the milk, until completely blended.
Remove from processing bowl and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Whip the egg whites with 2 tablespoons of cold water to the stiff peak stage, and with a wooden spoon, stir carefully into the batter until thoroughly distributed.
Transfer the cake batter to a lightly greased baking pan (I have used a baking pan that you can throw away after as I couldn’t find the right size. This aluminium baking pans can be found at any supermarkets) and spread evenly with a spatula.
Bake at 180°C for approximately 45-50 minutes. Cake will pull away slightly from the sides of the baking pan when done.
Remove from the oven and allow cake to cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes before starting the syrup.
Cut cake into small squares or diamond-shaped pieces.

Prepare the syrup:

Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and stir until sugar is completely dissolved.
Add vanilla.
Boil for 10 minutes.
Stir in lemon juice, remove vanilla and pour the hot syrup over the lukewarm cake, evenly and very carefully to avoid collapsing the cake, starting at the outside edges.
Allow to cool completely.

The Sawmill

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:18:00 +0000

To A. with thanks for making me laugh...always when I need it!

Sei-te de Cor

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:22:00 +0000

sei de cor
cada traço do teu rosto, do teu olhar
cada sombra da tua voz e cada silencio,
cada gesto que tu faças,
meu amor sei-te de cor

sei cada capricho teu e o que nao dizes
ou preferes calar, deixa-me adivinhar
nao digas que o louco sou eu
se for tanto melhor
amor sei-te de cor

sei porque becos te escondes,
sei ao pormenor o teu melhor e o pior
sei de ti mais do que queria
numa palavra diria
sei-te de cor.

sei cada capricho teu e o que nao dizes
ou preferes calar deixa-me adivinhar
nao digas que o louco sou eu
se for tanto melhor
amor sei-te de cor

sei de cor cada traço do teu rosto, do teu olhar
cada sombra da tua voz e cada silencio,
cada gesto que tu faças
meu amor sei-te de cor

Paulo Gonzo

Quem Me Leva Os Meus Fantasmas

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:09:00 +0000

Pedro Abrunhosa simplesmente fantástico...

Save Miguel!

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:19:00 +0000

A very good idea...ecology with a twist of humour...maybe the only way to seriously start thinking about what we are doing to our planet...and if on top it speaks of my beloved Portugal...then I am all for it!

Obrigado ao Paulo e Zé de "Felizes Juntos" por me terem feito descobrir esta campanha que merece toda a nossa atenção!

AFRIKAANS...ASSEBLIEF

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:47:00 +0000

Afrikaans Language Monument in Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa

Many of my readers and friends have been having the following comment "hey, what's up with this strange language that popped up on your blog?". I smile each time I read or get that kind of comment, because I also used to think like that...what a strange language...like I said...I USED to think that.

Those who know me, know how much I like to travel and discover new cultures, as well as learning new languages. For me it is natural that if you are visiting another country, one should try to find a few things about it first and try to learn a few sentences...it is always appreciated. I could find one is better welcomed when we make an effort, I have verified that in each of my travels around the globe.

Question is, why Afrikaans? Don't know my self. I was in South Africa years ago, but hadn't "click" with it, after all, everyone was speaking in English...

One morning after a conversation on different languages spoken with a friend, I got "challenged" to learn Afrikaans, I took it up. Thought I was making a mistake, because it sounded like a complicated language where "g" turns into "rhh", "v" turns into "f", etc and the grammar seems so "obscure"... I was so far from reality. What I wasn't expecting was to literally fall in love with this beautiful and so "smooth" language. Afrikaans is not harsh at all, although it may seem for the untrained ear.

With learning the language came also learning the culture and everything around it (including the recipes!!!) and letting go of some pre-conceived ideas...

How to explain the fun I am having, how much I enjoy each time I discover I understand what I am being told in Afrikaans and how much I am amazed of how automatic it is becoming for me to reply...although sometimes the order of the words isn't quite right (different grammar rules)...but that has occasioned some very good laughter moments!

So, to answer all those who have asked, there is no particular reason just the fact that I like it and that I would like everyone to discover how beautiful it is.

Afrikaans is one of the 11 official languages of South Africa. If you are interested in knowing a bit more you can visit this site (Wikipedia). Try also to learn a little bit more about the Afrikaans Language Monument here.

YSTERVARKIES

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:00:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS:

350g Bruismeel (Flour)
7ml bakpoeier (baking powder)
1ml sout (salt)
125g botter of margarien (butter of margerin)
250g suiker (sugar)
4 eiers (eggs)

Sif bruismeel, bakpoeier en sout saam (Sieve flour, baking powder and salt together).
Klop botter en suiker tot romerig (mix the butter and the sugar until creamy).
Klop eiers een vir een by bottermensel en meng goed na elke byvoeging (add the eggs one by one to the butter mixture and blend well).
Voeg gesifde bestanddele bietjiesgewys by en roer tot alles net gemeng is (add the egg, butter and suger mixture to the rest of the ingredients and mix well).
Skep in panne, maak gelyk en bak 15 - 20 minute (Pour in baking pan and cook for 15 - 20 minutes).
Keer uit op draadrak en laat afkoel (put the dough on a rack and allow to cool).
Sny in blokkies van sowat 3cm x 3cm (cut in squares of 3cm x 3cm).

The picture above is here for one sole purpose, a private joke
between me, A. and T. (Bigger sieve!)

STROOP (Syrup):

375ml kookwater (water)
600g suiker (sugar)
1ml sout (salt)
15g kakao (cocoa)
15g botter (butter)
5ml vanieljegeursel (vanilla essence)

DECORATION:

400g klapper (coconut)

Meng kookwater, suiker, sout, kakao, botter en vanieljegeursel in n' dubeel kastrol. (Mix water, sugar, salt, cocoa, butter and vanilla essence together in a cooking pan - let it get syrupy).
Doop koekblokkies vinning in stroop en sorg dat al sy vier sye bedek is (dip cookies in the syrup and make sure that all sides are coated with it).
Rol in klapper en plaas op draadrak (roll the cookies in the coconut and place on rack).

Dit is heerlike! GENIET!!!!!

Peanut Butter Cookies...

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:45:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS:

250g butter
500ml sugar
2 eggs (whisked)
125ml smooth peanut butter
10ml bicarbonate of soda
25ml milk
5ml vanilla essence
500ml flour (sifted)
500ml Oats
500ml coconut
500ml cornflakes

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 180 °C.
Cream butter and sugar.
Add whisked eggs.
Add peanut butter and mix well.
Dissolve bicarbonate in milk. Add essence. Add to butter mixture and blend well.
Mix the rest of the ingredients (flour, coconut, oats, and cornflakes). Add to the peanut butter mixture. Mix.
Form walnut-sized balls. Place on greased baking tray (or covered with baking paper) and flatten slightly with a fork.
Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden and done.

Makes approximately 8 dozen cookies!

SAL JY ONTHOU

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:33:00 +0000

"Sal jy onthou" by Nianell

Suid-Afrikaners ken haar as die “Engelstem”. Ek stem saam. Sy het 'n wonderlike stem!

KOEKSISTERS...

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:30:00 +0000

Koeksisters are sweets from South Africa and it is dough made in the shape of a plait, that is deep fried in oil and then dipped in a cold syrup.

If you keep your oil hot and the syrup very cold you get the perfect koeksister - crisp and crunchy on the outside and soft, moist and syrupy on the inside.

Making koeksisters is time-consuming and labour-intensive, so plan ahead to set a night and day aside for making this delicious treat. You can also do like me, plan ahead and invite friends for the afternoon to have fun cooking the koeksisters...from experience, I can guarantee some good laughs!

The syrup is made the night before to chill in the refrigerator. If the syrup isn't cold the dough won't soak up the syrup and you will end up with a dry koeksister.

DAY 1

INGREDIENTS (SYRUP):

15ml lemon juice
12 cups sugar (250ml)
5ml cream of tartar
3 small pieces of cinnamon sticks
2ml ginger powder
1.625ml water

Mix the ingredients in a pot
Bring into a boil while stirring - sllow the sugar to dissolve
Turn the heat to medium and allow to boil for 10 minutes
Cool down.
Leave in a fridge over night (It has to be very cold when used. A little trick, have lots of ice ready to keep your bowl of syrup very cold at all times!)

DAY 2

INGREDIENTS (DOUGH):

4 X 250ml flour
20ml Baking Powder
1ml salt
60ml butter
3 large eggs
150ml water
750ml cooking oil
Invite friends over!

Sieve the first 3 ingredients
Rub the butter into it with your fingers
Mix eggs and water until foamy
Add egg mixture slowly and mix with hands
Prepare dough (knie) for 5 minutes
Roll out the dough about 6mm thick - cut and plait
Heat the oil
Keep the syrup close by (bowl of syrup within another larger bowl full of ice)
Fry koeksisters until golden (not too many at a time)
Dip into syrup immediately. Hold in syrup for a few minutes (reason why it is better - and funnier - to be 2 to do this, one persons fries and the other one holds the koeksister in the syrup).

I would like to thank my "funny" visitors of this afternoon for the laughs and the fun we had baking the koeksisters!

LEECHIE TART...

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:08:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS:

1 tin evaporated milk
1 tin condensed milk
1 container cottage cheese (smooth)
125ml lemon juice
Biscuits and butter (for the tart base)

PREPARATION:

Put into a tart ring, a crust made from the butter and the finely minced biscuits
Drain the leechies and keep their juice aside
Mix together evaporated milk, condensed milk, cottage cheese and lemon juice
Add the leechies to the mixture

TOP OF TART:

Slightly boil the juice from the leechies together with one spoon of maize flower.
Spread over the tart.

LEMON CAKE!

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:35:00 +0000

Cake
Ingredients

1 yoghurt (nature, vanilla or lemon)
4 eggs (if small, 6 eggs)
3 cups (yoghurt) of flour
2 ½ cups (yoghurt) of sugar
½ cup of oil (neutral taste)
½ cup of cream
Yeast
1 lemon

Pre-heat oven at 180°C
Separate the whites from the yellow of the eggs.
Whip the whites of the eggs until firm. Keep aside.
Mix the yellow of the eggs with the sugar and whip until creamy.
Add the yoghurt to the eggs/sugar cream.
Add the yeast to the flour.
Add the flour to the yoghurt/sugar/eggs preparation.
Add the oil and the cream.
Add the grated lemon zest and juice of half of the lemon.
Add the whipped whites and mix in gently.
Cook for about 40-45 minutes. The best way to be sure the cake is cooked is to put in a toothpick; if it comes out clean the cake is baked.

Lemon Syrup
Ingredients:

3 lemons (juice only)
1 glass (careful, not too big and not to small either) sugar
2 glasses water

Put the sugar with the water in a pan.
Add the juice of the 3 lemons and let it boil until sticky syrup is formed.
The best way to check if your syrup is ready is to put in a spoon. If it sticks to it then it is ready. However, to be sure pass a finger in the back of your spoon (careful not to burn yourself) and see if the line your just did on the syrup remains clean.
Pour over the cake still warm.
Let it cool until serving time.

TUK TUK...COMING THROUGH...!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:07:00 +0000

Coming back to my post about India, I was reminded this morning that there was much more to say about it...true, but it was not my primary intention when writing that particular post.

Nevertheless, it is true that during that week, many situations happened that deserve a little "highlight".

Many funny moments (unbelievably funny!!! One time at dinner I laughed so much - and was not the only one - I completely forgot there was important people at the table as the atmosphere was so great), many hard working moments and moments of peace and enjoyment.

So let me tell you about one particular moment...the motorickshaw ride!!!! Have you ever had the impression that you had absolutely no idea of what you were doing and if you would still be alive the next second? NOOOO???? Well, get on a motorickshaw and go for a ride in the Indian traffic...funny as hell (excuse the expression) and scary as hell!

Where to start? Maybe I should mention the fact that it seems that traffic rules are not to be respected, after all, what are they for? Or do I mention when big trucks pass by and it just happens that their exhaust pipe is at your face level and you have this incredible warm wave hitting you on the face and when you think you are going to faint because of that unusual heat there comes the second wave...the smell...ah that is probably the best part...the smell...oh smell of wonders!!!! Huh...it helps you turn red, yellow, blue...just pick the colour you like best! Preferably some colour that matches what you are wearing on that particular moment...I was lucky I was wearing black, so ...was an easy pick! Can you imagine the dilemma if I was wearing another colour????

Oh...do I also dare mentioning people rushing by in the middle of the traffic instead of using the pedestrian crossings...drivers that only seem to know one (or two) traffic rules i.e. HONK AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND OCCUPY ANY EMPTY SPACE IN FRONT, AT YOUR SIDE OR BEHIND YOU!!!

When we reached our point of destination (after having zigzagged our way trough) and I got out of the motorickshaw, I didn't know if I was going to throw up or just plainly lay on the floor and try to recover my breath!

To be honest, I enjoyed every minute of that ride...I really did (was laughing all the way back too)! It is an experience I would recommend to everyone at least once. It was even funnier because I wasn't alone...if I was I would have "behaved" as a "lady" (well, yes...I am!) is suppose to.

Anyway, advice is, go to India, go on a motorickshaw ride (preferably be as lucky as I was to be with a wonderful person who has a sense of humour the size of the universe) and have the time of your life!!!!

I happened to be with a person (you will recognize yourself) who has a sense of humour which is as weird and as huge as mine...try that too if you can...go on a motorickshaw with a person who has a solid sense of humour....it gives another dimension to it!

I would go on a motorickshaw right now...for sure! I may joke, but I love India and all its little "tweaks"!

Don't miss the next episode of "The Adventures Of A Lady (well yes!) In India"!

Unfortunately, this time the pictures I took in India did not come out OK, so I am using motorickshaw pictures I took 4 years ago when I was in Hyderabad.

Cheesecake...from India with Love!

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:17:00 +0000

The need to bake (although am not quite sure, one can talk of "baking" regarding this cake), is still to overwhelming to let it go...as a result I have made a special cheesecake. A recipe I have learned from a friend of mine from India and who lives in Dubai.

I stayed at Rani's place for a week and believe me was hard remembering I needed to diet...was not only the sweets, but all the other recipes, and her "masala dosa"...mmmiiiiaaammm...and if I would speak of Elizabeht's coffee...but I better stop here before I start craving for things I shoudl not eat (where's the chocolate when needed????????)!

Ok, so here goes the recipe...I have modified it a bit (sorry about that Rani and Elizabeth!) but I guess that is the whole point when it comes to cooking...experimenting!

By the way, the cookies were a major success at the office...so, have a go at the recipe and don't hesitate in "experimenting" too!

PINEAPPLE CHEESECAKE

Missing in the picture, the butter

INGREDIENTS

1 can condensed milk
1 can sliced pineapple
1 packet whipping cream
half glass fresh lemon juice
Digestive biscuits nicely powedered
Butter melted
Hazelnuts (this is my "addition" to the recipe!)

For the base

Mix the powdered digestive biscuit with the butter. I have added the halzenuts for a little "pizazz" and a to have a difference of consistence between the finely powedered biscuits and the crunchy feeling of the halzenuts.
This is the base of the cheesecake, so firmly press it on the bottom of your cheesecake pan or other "presenter" so that your base stay firm when serving.
Whip the cream nicely - Keep aside.
Mix the lemon juice constantly stirring into the condensed milk (in a pan).
Chop up the pineapple nicely leaving a few big bites.
Mix the whipped cream and the chopped pineapple.
Now mix this with the condensed milk and lemon juice.
Pour this over the digestive biscuit base.
Easy...refrigerate for 4 hours before serving in the chiller.

DUBAI...

noreply@blogger.com (Pythea) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:45:00 +0000

...there is so much to say about it...and so little time...after all...each time you end up in Dubai you end up discovering a "new face" of the city!

I was there for one week to visit friends and have fun...which I did!!! Another story, other chapters opening and closing...a re-discovering "journey".

Nevertheless, aim number one was to have fun...how to describe the amount of fun I had there...? Could mention so many things...but maybe I can let you discover it through the photos of this post...enjoy it...more photos are coming...so hold on!