Banana chocolate muffins

I think it already sounds like a cliche. Everybody bakes them, everyone knows them. But I can brag that I found the perfect banana chocolate muffins :) It is extremely easy to make, very fast and you don't even need to be good at it. It's enough to mix all ingredients together and bake! Almost :)

I used:

- 3-4 bananas
- 150g sugar
- 1 egg
- 80g melted butter
- 200g flower
- 1 chocolate bar (70%)
- 1 ts baking soda
- 1 ts baking powder
- 1/2 ts salt






The browner the bananas are, the better. In a way, this one has been some kind of a leftovers recipe for me, because I had a few bananas we forgot to eat..

I peeled the bananas and mashed them with a fork until they turn into a paste-piuree.







The flower, salt, baking soda and baking powder I mixed in a bowl. In a separate bowl I put the mashed bananas, sugar, the melted butter and the egg slightly beaten.

In a bigger bowl I mixed the wet and dry ingredients together.

I chopped the chocolate and added it to the mixture.







I poured into muffin tins and baked in preheated oven, 180 Celsius degrees for about 20 minutes. Normally they should be ready, they'll turn golden brown. But I do recommend the toothpick test, just in case.









They are so great and when you take them out of the oven they smell divine... and the taste... no words!

Spinach and Mushroom Quiche - my way

Now I do know that the quiche is based on a custard kinda dough, in different varieties. I used instead french dough and let me tell you that the result surprised me and that I recommend this recipe from all my heart.



I used:

- 200-250g fresh mushrooms
- 150g baby spinach leaves
- 1 onion
- 4 eggs
- 100g creme fraiche
- 150g grated cheese
- french dough
- salt and pepper



In a pan I sauteed the chopped onion along with the chopped mushrooms (washed).



After around 5 minutes I added the baby spinach leaves. Leave them on until they become soft and the water evaporates.



I beated the eggs, added the creme fraiche and the grated cheese.



I added the sauteed veggies, salt and pepper.



In a buttered baking pan I put the french pastry.



Then I poured the whole mixture in.



I baked it in the oven, 180 Celsius degrees for around 35 min or until just set.



It was delicious!

Tiramisu - classic

This desert doesn't need any introduction at all. It's one of the most known italian desert recipes and it's one of the most popular.
I used:



- savoiardi biscuits

- 2 eggs

- 250g mascarpone cheese

- 50g sugar

- espresso coffee

- cocoa for topping







I separated the egg yolks and mixed them with the sugar, until they become thick and foamy.

I whisked in the mascarpone cheese. Then I added to all this the stiffly beaten egg whites.







The biscuits are being dipped into espresso coffee. If you don't have espresso, you can use ness coffee.







On a large plate I layered the biscuits and I spread over half of the mascarpone cream.











I topped with a second layer of dipped savoiardis and cream.







I sifted cocoa powder over the whole dish and put it in the fridge for 2-3 hours.

Zucchini Flan

I ate this in France, 2 weeks ago at a friend's house. It was sooo good! I'm crazy nowadays for any recipe that involves zucchini (note to self: ask for grandma's romanian zucchini stew recipe already!)
It has to be eaten with a slice of french baguette. It's so more delicate and it bring out the best of the flan!

I used:

150g creme fraiche
3 eggs
1 zucchini
150dl milk
1 garlic clove (optional)
nutmeg (optional)
salt



I washed and grated the zucchini. I sauteed it in a pan with a little bit of oil on high heat until they leave all the water, 5-10 min.



I beated the eggs, added the creme fraiche, milk, garlic and nutmeg. The last two are optional. The original recipe had them, but I had none at home when I made it, except for some garlic powder.



I added the zucchini.



The whole thing I poured it into a buttered baking pan and into the oven, 180 Celsius degrees for 45 minutes.





Light, fluffy, delicious, french!

Chicken-celery salad with pineapple and curry

This salad is perfect as an aperitif, with bread as a sandwich or even simple, eaten from the bowl with a fork. It's one of my favourites from the "mayo salads" category.

I used:

2 chicken breasts
1 root celery
4-5 pineapple slices
curry
salt
125g mayonnaise
125g creme fraiche



From my little picture is missing the creme-fraiche. I just added it fifty-fifty with the mayo for a lighter version :)

I put the chicken breast to boil in water with salt. You can add a chicken Knorr cube for taste.
The celery I peeled it and grated. I cut the pineapple slices into small cubes.



For the sauce, I blended the creme fraiche with the mayo and added salt and curry. The quantity of curry depends from person to person. If you want a strong curry taste, you should add lots, as it is very goodand perfumed. If you want a more delicate taste, add just a little, because it brings the best out of the chicken and the celery.



Mix all the ingredients together with the sauce and it's done.





It needs to be left in the fridge for a few hours so all the ingredients absorb each other. It is a very refreshing, perfumed and easy to make salad :) Enjoy!



PS: I ate some of it with delicious ciabatta bread and fresh salad leaves!