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Lemon cheesecake

My absolute new favorite! I’ve always loved cheese cakes and this tops them all. If you are a lemon lover like me, this will become your favourite.

prep time 15 + 10 min     refrigerating time 4h or more
ingredients
for the crust
  • 200g Digestive biscuits, crumbled
  • 100g unsalted butter,  melted

for the filling

  • 250g double cream/heavy whipping cream
  • 300g lemon yogurt
  • 200g full fat cream cheese (Philadelphia)
  • 10g gelatine sheets
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 100g caster sugar

for the topping

  • 100 ml lemon juice (2 lemons)
  • 100 ml orange juice
  • 70g caster sugar
  • 15g corn starch
for decoration
  • 2 lemons, cut into slices

1. Line a 26 cm round springform pan with a parchment paper on the bottom.

2. Crush the biscuits in a bag with a rolling pin or in a food processor into a fine crumb. Mix the melted butter into the crumbs and press into the pan. Refrigerate for 15 min.

3. Place the gelatine sheets in a bowl of cold water.

3. Whip the cream. In another bowl beat yogurt, cream cheese and sugar.  Then beat the cream into the filling.

4. Pour the juice of 1 lemon in a small pan, squeeze the gelatine sheets and add to the lemon juice and place on stove top on low heat for a 1 minute until the gelatine melts. Add this to the cream filling.

5. Take the crust pan from the fridge and spread the cream filling over the biscuit base, and then leave to set in the fridge fully for at least 3 hours. Or 1 hour in the freezer.

6. After 3 hours when the cake is set, mix in a small pan or pot for the curd the lemon and orange juice, sugar and corn starch. Keep stirring for 3-4 minutes on low heat until the curd starts to thicken. It will turn bright yellow. Turn off the heat.

7. Keep stirring while the curd cools down. Take the cake from the fridge and pour the curd on top, move the pan slightly in a rotatory movement for the curd to set evenly. Place once again in the fridge for 1 hour.

8. Open the springform pan and carefully slide the cake onto a serving plate or tray. Decorate with lemon slices cut into halves.

BUON APPETITO!

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Briam

Briam, Greek roasted vegetables, is an example of how you can transform the simplest ingredients with no effort into a mouthwatering dish. Briam falls under the category of Greek dishes called ‘ladera’ meaning dishes prepared with only olive oil, no addition of other fat. Make sure to use some good quality extra virgin olive oil.

prep time 15 min     cook time 90 min
ingredients 5-6
  • 1/2 kg zucchini
  • 1/2 kg eggplant
  • 1/2 kg potatoes
  • 2 onions
  • 3-4 carrots
  • 1/2 kg ripe tomatoes or a can (400g) of peeled tomatoes
  • 100g extra virgin olive oil
  • parsley, mint and/or oregano
  • salt and pepper

1.  Preheat the oven to 180 C.

2. Wash and cut the zucchini and eggplant into 1,5cm rounds. Then quarter the eggplant rounds.

3. Peel and cut the potatoes into 1 cm rounds and quarter, or cut into chunks.

4. Peel and quarter the onions. Peel and cut the carrots into thick rounds.

5. Wash and halve the tomatoes if using ripe ones.

6. Place the veggies into a  large baking pan so the veggies are not layered too deep. Or use two pans. Season with salt, herbs and pour the oil on top. Mix with a wooden spoon or use your hands.

7. Place the pan in the oven covered with an aluminum foil for the first 45 min.

8. Uncover and let cook for the remaining 45 min. If need be, you can raise the oven temperature to 200 C for the last 10 minutes. If using two baking pans, change their place about half way through.

9. Serve as a side dish or a main with a chunk of feta and some good crusty bread.

BUON APPETITO!

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Apple yogurt cake

This apple cake is healthy and delicious. The yogurt makes it super moist and  yummy. Some people have been known to add a scoop of vanilla ice-cream on top. But even without it is delicious.

prep time 15 min     cook time 45-55 min
ingredients
  • 3 eggs
  • 150g granulated sugar
  • 80g vegetable oil
  • 125/150g vanilla yogurt (or plain)
  • 100g cornstarch
  • 250g flour
  • 16g (1 Tbsp) baking powder
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2-3 apples

for icing

  • 8g cornstarch
  • 125g water
  • 25g granulated sugar

1.  Preheat the oven to 180C.

2. Grease and flour a round 26cm pan.

3. Beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture has turned very pale yellow.

4. Keep beating adding oil, yogurt and cornstarch.

5. Mix the dry ingredients and add to the batter. Mix well.

6. Peel the apples. Dice half of one big apple or if small, a whole apple and mix into the batter. Slice the remaining apples.

7. Pour the batter into the cake pan and decorate it with the apple slices.

8. Bake at 180C for 45-55 min or until a toothpick comes out clean.

9. Make the icing mixing the ingredients in a small pan and heat it on the stove for a few minutes until it clears and starts to thicken. Brush it on top of the cake.

BUON APPETITO!

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Coconut curry chicken soup

Curry and coconut are one of the most sublime combinations out there. I love that this coconut curry chicken soup can be a light yet filling lunch as a simple bowl of soup, or a more hearty dish when ladled over rice or noodles. You can also substitute some veggies with others and make it totally new.

prep time 10 min     cook time 25 min
ingredients for 4
  • 400 g chicken breast, shredded or cut into bite size pieces
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 3 carrots, cut into rounds
  • 2 potatoes, diced
  • 1-2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • grated ginger
  • 2-3 Tbsp green curry paste
  • 1 l chicken or vegetable stock
  • curry powder
  • turmeric
  • salt
  • 1 can (400g) coconut milk
  • parsley (or coriander)
  • handful of pumpkin seeds to garnish
  • optional: fresh spinach leaves, snow peas, white buttons, bell peppers

1. In a heavy bottom soup pot over medium heat sauté the onions until translucent. Add garlic, ginger and curry paste and stir to combine.

2. Stir in carrots and potatoes, cook for about 3-5 min. Add stock, curry powder, turmeric, salt and the chicken, cook for 10 min or until your chicken is done.

3. Add coconut milk and cook for additional 3 min. Check the seasoning and add chopped parsley ( or coriander).

4. Serve as is or over basmati rice. Add pumpkin seeds onto your plate.

Tip: substitute chicken with salmon and parsley with dill and voilà:

BUON APPETITO!