winosandfoodies

Quinoa Patties Recipe from 101 Cookbooks

We're moving house in December and I'm cleaning out my pantry. Way at the back I came across some quinoa. It had been there so long it was passed its use by date.

Heidi's quinoa patties recipe has been stuck on my fridge door for months now. I think Seven Spoons was the first time I came across it. How fabulous is that egg oozing all over the plate? I've had to adapt mine to accommodate what was in my pantry and fridge.  Once we move house I'll make  the original recipe as Heidi wrote it on 101 Cookbooks.

QUINOA PATTIES (Adapted from 101 Cookbooks)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa, at room temperature(I used black quinoa)
• 4 eggs,beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup finely chopped celery
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 tablespoon butter

METHOD

• Combine the quinoa,eggs, salt, in a medium bowl
• Stir in the celery,onion,cheese
• Add breadcrumbs,let sit for a few minutes to allow eggs to absorb the breadcrumbs
• Form into 12  patties 2.5cm (1 inch)  thick
• Heat oil and butter in large frypan over medium-low heat, add 6 patties and cook for 7 minutes each side and until browned on bottom. Watch to make sure bases don't burn
• Remove from pan and cook remaining 6 patties.
• Serve immediately or at room temperature

A little mango salsa on the side - perfection.

Thursdays With Thermomix - Pasteis de Nata

I never got to try Pasteis de Nata, the famous Portuguese custad tart, when I was in Portugal in 2004. My trip was cut short by an unexpected event.  I have been meaning to make them ever since.  Seven years later I finally did.

I stood in the kitchen,rolling and folding the puff pastry, thinking of all the Pasteis de Nata I never got to even try. Bryan did, and he said mine had the taste of the Portuguese tarts he ate in Portugal.

They weren't perfect. I didn't get the silky custard I  aimed for, but I think I know where I went wrong and how to fix it. The pastry part was fine, could maybe rolled a little thinner.   I purchased Careme, a quality puff pastry sold in Australia and recommended by foodie friends.  You could use a cheaper one, but as puff pastry is something I don't buy  often I was happy to pay the extra dollars.  It's a little like eating one piece of really good chocolate over an entire block of standard regular chocolate.

The whorls in the base are the result of the special folding and rolling that is unique to these tarts. Check out the post over at Sunday Hotpants for a 'how to' post.

I went with the Bill Granger recipe. It seemed to be the most popular. The custard was made in the Thermomix.

PASTEIS de Nata (PORTUGUESE TARTS)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 sheet of puff pastry
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2/3 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

METHOD

• place egg yolks, sugar and cornflour in Thermomix bowl and blend for 5 seconds  on speed 4
• Add cream and milk
• mix for 7 minutes at 80C on speed 4.
• Add vanilla and blend for 10 seconds on speed 8
• Pour into a bowl, cover with cling film to avoid a skin forming and leave to cool.
• Preheat oven to 200C (375F)
• Lightly grease a 12 count muffin tray
• Half pastry sheet horizontally. Place one piece on top of other and set aside for 5 minutes
• Tightly roll up pastry into a log from short end to short end
• Cut pastry log into 1.25c (1/2 inch) 12 rounds
• Lie each piece on a lightly floured surface and roll out to 10C  (4inch) rounds
• Press each round into muffin pans
• Spoon cooled custard into pastry cases
• Bake in oven until pastry and custard is golden (about 20 - 25 minutes)
• Remove from oven and leave in tin for 5 minutes
• Remove and place on wire rack to cool
• These are best served warm

If you'd like to know the history of these Portuguese Tarts Duncan at Syrup and Tang has written a well researched article. Sarah at Foodbridge documents her visit to Portugal with some wonderful photos and a visit to Pasteis de Belem, the holy grail of the Portuguese tart.

I'm not sure what the difference between 'pastel de nata' and 'pasteis de nata' is.  Is 'pastel' the singular? Anyone know?

HHDD Anniversary Drinks

Thanks to everyone who contributed there drink creations to Hay Hay It's Donna's Anniversary drinks challenge. Here are the entries.

From Arfi at Homemades a Lemon, Vanilla and Strawberry Cooler. Perfect for a warm spring day in New Zealand.

After a busy day with work and family Bron relaxes with Lemon Balm, Sorbet Gin Slushie.

Cheers to Vanille @Down Under who celebrates the warmer light filled days with her Orange and Rhubarb Granita.

In the Philippines Joey at 80 Breakfasts combines the local lime dayap with cucumber to create a refreshing  Cucumber Dayap Cooler.

 

B&W Wednesday - Tea Ladies at my Cancer Clinic

The lovely ladies who dispense tea and love at my cancer clinic HOCA at The Wesley.