One Pumpkin four dishes

During this lockdown time we need to keep ourselves entertained,with our mind busy and make sure we do something with our days.I have decided to cook dishes that I don’t normally cook, mainly because I lack the time.I’ve also decided to go on a gastronomic trip around the world, cooking food from different parts of the world using my beautiful collection of cookbooks.
I decided to buy a whole pumpkin because it keeps well for a long time and, yesterday, was the day to use it. So I carved the inside, removed the flesh, and used the pumpkin skin to make a delicious Thai coconut and pumpkin custard. Then, I took the seeds and I roasted them with salt, to eat as a snack, and finally I made a delicious sauce with the remaining pumpkin and nutmeg yo use on my pasta,
Then, the next day, I also made a West African stew with the remaining pumpkin.

Easy, delicious elegant starter with melon, Parma ham and figs

I love this starter! It’s so simple But almost everyone likes it! Takes almost no time to do, doesn’t require any kitchen skills and can look great if you present it in a nice way. All what you need is a melon or galia melon, whatever you prefer, and a pack of Parma ham. If you can buy two different tips of melon you will get different colours on the plate. Preparation Make little balls of melon with a kitchen utensil. Display on a plate. Shred in big pieces, slices of Parma ham and display randomly on the top of the melon. If you have some dried figs, you can also chop one on the top of each plate. And you delicious easy starter is done! You can have it just as a snack with a glass of bubbles or use as starter with different mains. The remaining melon can be used straight away, if you blend it with some water and mint, for a lovely drink, otherwise you can freeze it and use for smoothies.

Berlin Balls on the beach - Bolas de Berlim na praia

Bola the Berlim is fried sweet dough, filled with egg cream that became part of the Portuguese culinary tradition. Our favourite place to it, is on the beach! The Portuguese recipe is an adaptation of the original Berliner. The original was brought to Portugal during WWII, when Jewish German families took refuge in Portugal. The originals were filled with red berries jam. But the Portuguese most popular version is filled with egg cream, more in line with our taste and traditions. We love egg sweets in Portugal. We also use just normal sugar to dust it, rather than powder sugar. There are plenty of versions around the world, but I love the Portuguese recipe. You can find this Bolas de Berlim in any pastelaria (bakery with coffee shop), but our favourite place to eat them, no doubt, is on the beach. That’s when they taste out of this world. It is a Portuguese tradition and I don't know any portuguese who doesn't have memories eating them on the

Taking the local ferry in Istambul - Europe to Asia

Istambul is a city divided between two continents, by the Bosphorus strait. Sometimes, the world seems too big, but in days like this, when crossing between Europe and Asia (Karakoy - Kadikoy), takes only 15 minutes on a ferry, it seems too small. Once in Istanbul, there is no need of booking expensive touristic tours along the Bosphorus, you can simply use your Istanbul card, top it up, and take as many ferries as you want. That includes from Europe to Asia and Princess Islands. In fact, this is a much better way to see things, just as locals do. On the boat you can have a tea or a snack while you watch the amazing views of both sides. It is really worth to travel to Kadikoy on the Asian side and spend a day there. The price of the ticket was just 3TLeach way!!

Helena Out and About

Search This Blog