Maltese Bread Pudding - pudina tal-hobz

Bread pudding is a great way to use up any stale bread you may have. You can use lemon or orange peel, any type of nuts, and rasins , sultanas, coconut or  any type of candied peel. The fun part is that you can really add anything you want. The pudding can be eaten warm, with custard on top, or cold. This is a really fun dessert to make. There is  a recipe in Maltese on Ghandi Pjacir where I got my inspiration!

Ingredients
1500 gms of 2 day old white bread
(or 2 loaves)
¼ litre milk
1 glass dark rum
(or brandy)
3 eggs (beaten)
100 gms  sultanas or rasins
3 tbs cocoa powder
3 tbs sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
50 gms  butter
grated rind of 1 lemon
50 gms (or 1.76 oz) candied orange peel or glace cherries
1 cup pine nuts (optional)

Method
Soak the bread in water and immediately squeeze out the excess.

Place all ingredients into a large bowl and mix together well.
Turn into a greased tin and bake for 1 hour at 190-200°C.
Pudding is ready when a kinfe inserted into it comes out clean.

Maltese Beef Stew

Traditionally this stew is made with rabbit pieces and served with spaghetti. This version uses beef, but you can also use chicken or venison. Recipe adapted from one I found in the Guardian, UK.

Ingredients:
400g diced stewing steak
1 small onion, roughly chopped
4 large cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
250ml red wine (Chianti preferably)
2 tbsp tomato concentrate
400 grams tinned chopped tomatoes
2 large carrots, peeled, chopped into large slices
2 medium potatoes, chopped in large even pieces
1/2 cup fresh peas
1 beef stock cube
1/2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tbsp olive oil

Method
• In a large saucepan, over a medium-high heat, heat the olive oil and add the onions, frying gently until soft, add the garlic, cook until browned.
• Keep on a medium-high heat, add the diced beef and turn over once or twice until browned. Pour in the red wine and stir, when the wine has begun to boil, add the tomato concentrate and chopped tomatoes, once it has begun to boil again turn down the heat to a gentle simmer.
• Add the  stock cube, pepper, curry powder, nutmeg and sugar and stir through, cover and leave to simmer on a low heat for 1 1/2 hours, so the sauce is simmering very gently without bubbling on the surface too much. Stir occasionally.
• After the 1.5 hours is up, add the vegetables, cover again and continue to simmer on a low heat for a further half an hour.
• After the half an hour is up, uncover and simmer on a slightly higher heat for half an hour to make sure the sauce has reduced properly and vegetables are cooked through, stirring every now and then. If it appears to be reducing a little too quickly, pour in a little water from time to time.
• In the last few minutes of cooking time, stir through the peas gently so as to not break up the beef too much. The stew is done once the peas are cooked.
• Serve with hot crusty bread or over freshly prepared ribbon pasta

I suppose your could also use a slow cooker or crock pot, but since I dont have either one I cook this the old fashioned way!

Kourabiedes - Greek cookies that taste of heaven!

I made these last Easter so this is a good time to try them out again. They are really delicious! The finished result does not look like much but they literally melt in your mouth!

Yield: 30 Pieces

Ingredients:
2 cups unsalted butter
1 cup icing/powdered sugar
3 Egg yolks
3 tbls Brandy
2 tsps Vanilla extract
6 cups Flour
1/2 cup Almonds (blanched), chopped
1 lb Icing/powdered sugar

Method
Beat the butter with the sugar until it becomes fluffy.
Add the egg yolks one by one, beating continuously.
Add the brandy and vanilla.
Blend in the almonds and the flour, a cup at a time. Use enough flour to get a firm dough (it may take a bit more or less than the amount mentioned in the ingredients list).
Use your hands to do the mixing, as an electric mixer will be useless after the first two or three cups of flour have been added.
Place the dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Shape the dough into balls, about one inch in diameter, flatten them and place on greased cookie sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees F. for 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven.
Roll each cookie (while it is still hot) in the powdered sugar and put it back on the cookie sheet.
Repeat this step once more, so that you get a thicker coating.
Place the coated cookies on a platter, liberally sprinkling each layer and the bottom of the platter with powdered sugar.
When you are done, there shouldn't be any sugar left.
Let them cool and they are ready to eat!

Almond Cantucci

Valentine's day is approaching..so what could be better than a home made gift? I found this recipe from the Times online which always has the greatest recipes!
This was by Lindsey Bareham and makes elegant, wafer-thin biscotti for serving with creamy desserts or dipping into vino santo, coffee or hot chocolate.
Layer them between white baking parchment in little cardboard boxes, or bundle in cellophane with a pretty ribbon and label.

Ingredients
3 large egg whites
100g caster sugar
100g plain flour
100g  almonds
Knob of butter
You will also need baking parchment and a small loaf tin

Method
Heat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4.
Whisk the egg whites until stiff.
Gradually add the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time.
Fold the sifted flour into the meringue in three batches to make a thick, mousse-like mixture.
Fold in the nuts, mixing thoroughly.
Lightly butter a 750ml-capacity bread tin and line with baking parchment.
Spoon the mixture into the tin, smooth the top and bake for 40 minutes until pale golden, firm and hardly risen.
Use the parchment to lift the loaf out of the tin, peel off the paper and rest on a wire wrack.
Leave to cool, allowing at least an hour.
Heat the oven to 125C/gas mark 1.
Using a very sharp, thin-bladed knife, slice the loaf very thinly, and lay the slices out on baking sheets.
Bake for 10-15 minutes a side or till dry and a pale golden colour.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool and crisp.
Properly dried, they will store in an airtight box layered with baking parchment paper for months

Lemon Meringue Pie

An old favourite. This makes a 9" pie and has no butter. It's a lower fat alternative! I found this recipe in an edition of the Canadian 'Hello' magazine.

Ingredients:
For crust:
1 1/2 cups vanilla wafers - crushed
2 tbs water
1 tbs vegetable oil
Combine in small bowl

For filling:
1 can plus 2/3 cup low fat sweetened condensed milk
1 tbs lemon zest
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 egg yolks
Beat all together untill well combined. Let sit for about 10 mins until thickened

For meringue:
3 egg whites
2/3 cup sugar
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
3 tbs water
Beat until stiff peaks form

Method:
Pre-heat oven to 350F
Lightly coat a 9" pie pan (removable bottom is best) with non stick cooking spray.
Press the crsut mixture into the bottom and sides of pan.
Pour the filling into the crust and bake for about 20mins or until set.
Spread the meringue mixture on top, increase oven temperature to 375F and bake for 10 mins or until meringue is lightly browned.

Chill and enjoy!

Stuffed Calamari

Calamari (squid) are one of the most succulent dishes typical of the Mediterranean. In most Mediterranean countries, such as Spain and Greece, squid is cut into rings, deep friend and served with a slice of lemon, but in Malta it is more popular to stuff them. The trick is buying the right size ( a 6" body would do) so that it is easy to stuff them. Make sure they are properly cleaned!

Ingredients:
4 medium sized cleaned squid (calamari)
3 finely chopped onions
Garlic finely chopped
1 small can tuna - or about 300gms
300gms fresh breadcrumbs
8 large tomatoes (chopped)
200 grams olives (finely chopped)
fresh mint/basil/parsley - chopped
white wine
olive oil
1 tbs capers


Method
Heat the oil in a large pan. Remove the head of the squid, cut in small pieces and fry. Add the onion and the garlic and fry lightly. Add the tomatoes and a glass of wine and cook gently for about 20 minutes. Take a couple of tablespoons of this sauce and add to a bowl containing the bread, the olives, the capers, the tuna and the herbs. Mix well. Fill the cleaned squid with this mixture and secure the open end with a toothpick.

Place the stuffed calamari in the pan containing the tomato sauce and simmer until cooked, for about 45 minutes. Add some water to the sauce if it starts getting too dry. The calamari are served whole or can be cut into thick rings after having slightly cooled down. The sauce is usually served on the side.

Meatloaf

This is one of my favourite recipes. Served warm with roast or mash potatoes it makes a great main meal. Served cold in a sandwich its great for someone on the go! I like using a combination of lean beef and pork - the result is more moist.The ketchup topping was something I came across here in the USA, I would usually just make a gravy!

Ingredients:
1 tbs olive oil
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 1/2lb lean  beef and 1/2lb  pork, ground
3/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/3 cup milk
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 large egg
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tbs Dijon mustard
6 bacon rashers

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Put some oil in a nonstick skillet, and cook celery and onion for about 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add garlic and cook 1 min more. Transfer vegetables to large bowl; cool slightly.

Add beef, bread crumbs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, egg, 1/4 cup ketchup, parsley,salt, and  pepper to vegetable mix; mix with hands until well combined but not overmixed. In cup, mix mustard and remaining 1/4 cup ketchup.

Shape meat mixture into a loaf  shape and place on a baking tray, covered with foil and sprayed with non stick. Cover with the bacon rashers, then with half the ketchup mixture.

Bake for 30 mins, use up the rest of the ketchup mixture and bake for 25 to 30 minutes more or until meat thermometer inserted in center reaches 160 degrees F.

Let meatloaf stand 10 minutes before removing from pan to set juices for easier slicing. Transfer meatloaf to platter and cut into slices to serve.