Friday, July 19, 2013

Barcelona - a newly discovered love

In the end of june I went to Barcelona with my boyfriend for 5 days. Due to a mediterranean shipcruise we already spent a full day there about one month ago. At that time I wasn't very impressed by the agitated, hectic and noisy Barcelona. But what are second chances for. So we packed our bags and took a plane to Spain.

I was quite surprised when I fell a little bit in love with this city!

Magic Fountain (Montjuïc)
The fountain show near Placa Espanya was amazing, especially at night. Numerous lighting effects and great music will spice up your night. Especially when the favorite tapas bar is located just a 5 minute walk away.


There you could enjoy tapas, tapas, tapas!! Super delicious jamón ibérico de bellota, pan con tomate, pulpo and shrimp salad, perfectly cooked pork with a chocolate sauce and an excellent cheese platter.

But there are two more delicacies you cannot miss in Spain...


seafood paella
In Spain you will find paella in many different variations. But for me as a huge seafood fan the choice is usually easy - seafood paella. Mussels, shrimp, squid and an incomparably delicious flavor - the result was that I immediately had to buy a small paella pan to try my very first own paella at home.

And what feels better after a nice meal than a super delicious mojito?!





Of course, Barcelona has also a lot to offer in terms of culture. Besides Parc Güell (very crowded), Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, La Rambla, Plaza de Cataluna and Montjuic we also went to the beach to relax.

Casa Batlló
I just love spain! The mentality, food, weather... Barcelona is a perfect combination, especially as some beaches are in walking distance from the city center. I'll be back!!!


Thursday, July 18, 2013

Coconut-Risotto with Mango-Curry and Shrimp & the breathtaking maldives

(scroll down for the german recipe)

I was lucky and could spend in 2011 two amazing weeks on a gorgeous island of the maldives with a friend of mine. Beautiful white sandy beaches, a breathtaking coral reef where even just snorkling is already an amazing experience, a new found love for diving, delicious cocktails under palm trees and much more robbed my sense for reality - at least temporarily.














As Jeanny from http://zuckerzimtundliebe.wordpress.com/ then recently announced a competition with the name "Kokos und Weg! Mit deinem Kokosnussrezept ins Kurumba Maldives Resort" (as much as "Coconut-and Away! With your coconut recipe to the Kurumba Maldives Resort") , I had no other choice than to create my own coconut recipe, participate and reminisce.

This was the result:


Coconut-Risotto with Mango-Curry and Shrimp
(for 2-3 servings)

Ingredients:
 175g risotto-rice
 2 shallots
 275ml coconutmilk
 500ml water

 50g mango diced
 50g shallots chopped
 175ml chicken broth
 125ml coconutmilk
 1 tablespoon curry-powder
 1 teaspoon chilli-powder
 1 teaspoon lime juice
 1 teaspoon soya butter
 1 teaspoon cornstarch
 1 pinch salt

 ~ 10 Shrimp peeled
 olive oil

Preparation:
Give 50g chopped shallots, diced mango, chickenbroth, 125ml coconutmilk, curry-powder, chilli-powder and a pinch salt in a cooking pot and boil for 20 minutes over medium heat (until shallots are soft). Remove from hot plate and puree everything with a hand blender. Add butter and lime juice. In a seperate glass mix cornstarch with one tablespoon water and add to the saucepan. Place again on the cookingplate and cook for another 10 minutes over medium heat.

Chop 2 shallots and roast gently in a pan with olive oil. Add the risotto-rice, fry one more minute and add 275ml coconutmilk.When the rice absorbed all liquid add a bit of water. When water absorbed   add more. Continue until rice is done (around 20 minutes)

Just before the rice is done heat a seperate pan with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil. Fry the shrimp   approximately 3 minutes on each side.

Serve the risotto coated with the mango-curry, shrimp and ground pepper.




Kokosrisotto mit Mango-Curry und Shrimp
(für 2-3 Portionen)

Zutaten:
 175g Risotto-Reis
 2 Schalotten
 275ml Kokosmilch
 500ml Wasser

 50g Mango gewürfelt
 50g Schalotten gehackt
 175ml Hühnerbrühe
 125ml Kokosmilch
 1 Esslöffel Curry-Pulver
 1 Teelöffel Chilli-Pulver
 1 Teelöffel Limettensaft
 1 Teelöffel Sojabutter
 1 Teelöffel Speisestärke
 1 Prise Salz

 ca. 10 Shrimps geschält
 Olivenöl

Zubereitung:
Gehackte Schalotten, Mangowürfel, Hühnerbrühe, Kokosmilch, Curry-Pulver, Chilli-Pulver und eine   Prise Salz in einen Kochtopf geben und etwa 20 Minuten auf mittlerer Stufe kochen (bis die Zwiebeln weich sind). Danach von der Kochplatte nehmen und mit einem Pürierstab durchpürieren. Die Butter 
und den Limettensaft zufügen. Die Speisestärke mit einem Esslöffel Wasser anrühren und ebenfalls  
zugeben. Weitere 10 Minuten auf mittlerer Stufe kochen.

Schalotten klein hacken und in einer Pfanne mit Olivenöl kurz anbraten.
Risotto-Reis zufügen, etwa 1Minute mitbraten, dann die Kokosmilch aufgiessen.
Wenn der Reis die gesamte Flüssigkeit aufgesogen hat etwas Wasser zufügen.
Immer so weiter verfahren bis der Reis gar ist (ca. 20 Minuten).

Kurz bevor das Risotto gar ist, eine Pfanne mit 1-2 Esslöffel Olivenöl heiß werden lassen und darin
die Shrimp ca 3 Minuten von beiden Seiten anbraten.

Das Risotto auf einen Teller geben, mit dem Mango-Curry beträufeln und mit den Shrimp anrichten. Dazu frisch gemahlenen schwarzen Pfeffer reichen.









Enjoy dreaming,
Gina




The first step is always the hardest - WELCOME!!!

Since I am a very enthusiastic reader of food blogs, I thought it's time for me to roll up my sleaves and get to work. I love experimenting with new recipes, altering already existing recipes and face new challenges in the kitchen. Therefor from now on I will share my experiences with you guys. I hope you will enjoy reading and experimenting yourself as much as I enjoy the baking, cooking and posting!

See you around,
Gina