Fondue - Fondiu

I've never really had a cheese Fondue. Cheese Fondue it's not only melted cheese with bread dipped it in it. It's an opportunity to gather some friends around.

Fondue in french means "to melt". Fondue isn’t that hard to make. So, grab all ingredients and start working... :)

Fondue

 l lb of Swiss Cheese

1 12 oz bottle of beer or white wine (I used white wine)

3 Tbsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp garlic powder

pinch  of salt + black peppers

 In a pot, add  white wine, the garlic, salt and the starch. Add the grated cheese and cook over moderately-high heat, stirring often, until the cheese is melted and smooth. The fondue is done! 

If the mixture is too thick, add more wine until its texture is to your liking. Serve warm, preferably in a fondue pot, pumpkin, bread bowl etc. Enjoy your fondue with some pieces of crusty french bread, apples or anything else your heart desires!

Source:

Recipe adapted from pinterest.com 

The idea how to serve Fondue come from: http://sezoninevirtuve.blogspot.com/2011/11/moliugo-fondiu.html

Fondue

Broccoli salad - Brokolių salotos

Today I am going to fix Broccoli salad, because you all need to try my Broccoli Salad. It is perfect for a summer picnic or cookout, but we enjoy this anytime.  

Broccoli Salad

1 bunch of broccoli

1 cup of cranberries

1 cup of sunflower seeds

1 cup of finely chopped red onion

7 strips of crispy fried bacon

1 cup of mayonnaise

2 Tbls. of lemon juice

Chop up broccoli and put in a bowl. Add raisins, nuts (seeds) and red onion. Crush the crispy bacon and add to mixture. Add the last 2 ingredients to bowl and mix to make a dressing. Pour over the broccoli mixture and mix well. Chill for one hour.

Is anyone else with me on this one? Please tell me I am not alone.

Happy Holidays

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day today. Happy Holidays what ever you celebrate.

Cranberry Orange Brie Crostini

If you are looking for a new holiday appetizer to serve this year, you must try this recipe. It is delicious, easy to make, and pretty to serve. Make this festive cranberry orange brie crostini for all of your holiday parties. 

French bread (cut in 1/4 slices)

Orange marmalade or unsalted butter (I used butter)

Brie cheese (sliced)

Dried cranberries

Chopped or whole pistachios

Preheat oven to 400F. Spread each slice of bread with marmalade or butter. Add a piece of brie cheese. Bake for 4-5 minutes in oven, or until cheese is melted. If you are in hurry you use microwave. Remove from oven. Top slices with cranberries or pistachios. Serve warm.

                                                                                   

Jeigu ieškote kažko naujo Jūsų šventiniam stalui, turite išbandyti šį receptą. Tai skanus, lengvai pagaminamas ir gražiai atrodantis ant stalo užkandis.

Prancūziška duona

Apelsinų džemas ar sviestas (aš naudojau sviestą)

Brie sūris (pjaustytas riekutėmis)

Džiovintos spanguolės

Pistacijos

Įkaitinti orkaitę iki 205C. Patepkite duonos riekeles marmeladu ar sviestu, uždėkite po riekelę brie sūrio. Kepkite orkaitėje apie 4-5 minutes, arba iki kol ištirps sūris. Jeigu skubate, vietoj orkaitės naudokite mikrobangų krosnelę. Išimkite duonos riekeles iš orkaitės, apibartykite riešutais ir spanguolėmis. Galima laukti kol riekelės atvės, bet man skaniau valgyti dar šiltas.

Chocolate Snickerdoodle Cookies

Absolutely delicious with a glass of icy-cold milk, a cup of coffee or hot or iced tea. I modified this recipe by adding chocolate chips and cacao.

1 cup butter (room temperature)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

2 3/4 flour

2 teaspoons of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

2 -3 Tbsp. cacao

3/4 chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400F. Mix butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar and eggs thoroughly in a large bowl. Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl. Blend dry ingredients and chocolate chips into butter mixture. Chill dough in the fridge for about 10 - 15minutes. Form dough into balls. Press down with spoon or fork. Bake for 8- 10minutes. Cool and place in tightly covered container.

1 puodelis sviesto (kambario temeperatūros)

1 1/2 puodelio cukraus

2 kiaušiniai

2 3/4 puodelio miltų
1 arbatinis šaukštelis kepimo miltelių
Žiupsnelis druskos
2 -3 šaukštai nesaldintos kakavos
3/4 puodelio šokolado gabalėlių

Įkaitinkit orkaitę iki 205C. Sviestą išsukite su cukrumi ir kiaušiniais. Į atskirą indą dėkite miltus, kepimo miltelius, druską, šokolado gabalėlius. Visus sausus ingridientus sumaišykite su išsuktu sviestu. Dėkite tešlą į šaldytuvą 10 -15 minučių. ... formuokite rutuliukus, sudėjus i kepima skardą paspauskite su šaukštu. Kepkite apie 8 - 10 minučių.

1 puodelis = 136 g

1/2 puodelio = 68 g

3/4 puodelio =  96 g

Stuffed Tomatoes

Stuffed Tomatoes

Tomatoes

Mozzarella shredded cheese  (1bag)

3 boiled eggs

Mayonaise (4-5 Tbsp.)

1 garlic clove

Fresh grounded peppers

Begin by slicing the tops off of the tomatoes, scoop out the seeds and pulp. In a bowl combine cheese, chopped eggs, minced garlic, mayonnaise and peppers. Load the cheese mixture into a zip lock bag, snipped off the corner, and “pipe” the filling into each of the tomatoes. (Depending on the size of your tomatoes, you should be able to fill about a dozen or so.) 

Enjoy...

Cheesecake

When it comes to rich and creamy dessert, one name instantly comes to mind - Cheesecake! Believe it or not, I've never ate Cheesecake in my life before I come to the States.

Today, I'll share my simple no - bake cheesecake recipe.

1 1/2 cups biscotti crumbs (about 8 biscotti)

1/3 melted butter

2 packages cream cheese (8 ounces each)

3/4 cup sugar

1 carton whipped cream

1/4 lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon peel

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small bowl combine crumbs and butter. Press onto the bottom of pan (I used 2 small pans), coated with cooking spray. Bake at 325F for 8 - 10minutes.

In a large bowl beat cheese and sugar until smooth. Add lemon juice, lemon peel and vanilla. Beat slow until combined. Pour into crust. Garnish with fresh raspberries.Let stand in refrigerator before cutting.

Cheesecake

 

Christmas Homemade Treats

Good guests bring great gifts! Whip up a batch of delicious homemade treats before you head out the door!

Homemade Christmas Treats!

Geri svečiai visad atsineša geras dovanas! Prieš išeinant per duris, nepamirškite įsidėti namuose gamintų gardumynų!

Mini Pretzel Turtles - Mini vėžliukai

Mini Pretzel Turtles

 Recently I came across this simple, quick treat online. These are really good, and really easy. Make twice as many as you think you need because it's really delicious. They only require 3 inexpensive ingredients and are simple to make. I promise these treats will disappear from their bowl in no time. Once you have one, you just can’t stop!

If you are on diet, don't make these.I was on diet... smile.

 Pretzels (any shape)

Brachs milk chocolate stars (You can use, Hershey bells, Wilton's chocolate discs, Rolos etc.)

Pecan halves (If you don't like pecans, you can use hazelnut, almonds, walnuts, pistachios,cashews. If you are allergic to nuts, use M&M's)

 Line a cookie pan with foil. Place pretzels on foil. Place a milk chocolate on the pretzels.
Bake at 250* for about 4 minutes until chocolate becomes soft. You just want the chocolate on the outside to look glossy and melty, but it should still hold it's shape. Remove pan from oven, take a pecan and gently press it right into the center of the chocolate. Now, do yourself a favor, eat a few of these. Mmmm... Wait for the rest to cool. These make a perfect home - made Christmas gifts from your kitchen.  

Mmmm...

Mini Vėžliukai

Šį paprastą ir lengvą receptą visai neseniai radau internete. Darykite dvigubai daugiau vėžliukų nei planavote, nes jie tikrai skanūs. 

Šiems vėžliukams reiks tik 3 nebrangių ingridientų.

Jeigu Jūs laikotės dietos, negaminkit jų. Aš laikiausi dietos... :)

Sūrūs riestainiukai (tiks bet kokia forma)

Šokolado gabalėliai (galima supjaustyti saldainį mažomis riekutėmis)

Graikiniai riešutai (jei nemėgstat graikinių riešutų, naudokit, pistacijas, lazdyno riešutus, migdolus. Jei esat alergiški riešutams, naudokit M&M saldainius.)

Išklokite kepimo formą folija. Sudėkit riestainiukus. Ant riestainiuko uždėkite po gabalėli šokolado. Paruoštus riestainiukus su šokoladu dėti į įkaitintą 120C orkaitę ir "kepti" 4 minutes, iki tol kol šokoladas taps minkštas, bet vis dar išlaikys savo formą. Šokoladui suminkštėjus ištraukite riestainiukus iš orkaitės ir dėkite (švelniai įspausti) graikinių riešutų puseles. Dabar... paragaukite kelis vėžliukus. Mmmm.... Palaukite kol vėžliukai atvės.

Mmmm...

Marshmallow Pops - Zefyrai Ant Pagaliuko

Little peek to the Holidays!

Christmas is my favorite holiday! I'm definitely getting in the Christmassy mood. I made these Christmas Marshmallows for Christmas party.

Why is it that things taste better on a stick? All I know is that these Marshmallow Pops are yummy! They are also super easy to make and your little ones can help you.

So,  tonight’s project: Marshmallow Pops.

Marshmallow Pops

Marshmallow Pops

Chocolate chips

Large Marshmallow

Lollipop sticks

Eye candies

Pretzels (small)

Sprinkles

 In a microwave, melt chocolate chips. Stir until smooth.Insert lollipop sticks into Marshmallows. Dip each Marshmallow into melted chocolate.

Make the Reindeer's: You can add the antlers while the Rindeer pops are still wet or wait until they are dry and then apply small gab of chocolate to the head to glue the antlers on. Once dry, you can also add eyes and noses by gluing.

  Hope you like them.

 Šio vakaro sumanymas: Marshmallow (zefyras) ant pagaliuko. Labai paprasta ir lengva juos padaryti. Gaminau juos Kaledu vakareliui. Patiko mano briedžiai ir mažiems ir dideliems. Net nežinau, kurie labiau džiaugėsi.

Zefyrai ant pagaliuko

Šokoladas

Marshmallow (zefyras)

Pagaliukai saldainiams ( galima naudoti dantų krapštukus)

Saldainiai - akys

Sūrūs riestainiukai

Pabarstukai

Šokoladą ištirpinti garų vonelėje ar mikrobangų krosnelėje. Į kiekvieną Marshmallow įsmeigti po pagaliuką. Marshmallow įmerkti į šokoladą, dekoruoti. Dekoruoti galima dar nesustingus šokoladui arba palaukti kol šokoladas sustings, naudojant po lašelį šokolado priklijuoti akims, nosims ir rageliams. 

Tikiuosi, Jums jie patiks!

Ohhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhh!

Zefyrai ant pagaliuko

Part 2

This morning I lost my antler!... and halve head kind of....

Peek A Boo!

Don't judge me...

Eat these while sipping on some hot chocolate. Heck, plop one in your hot chocolate and use as a stir. Enjoy!

Mini Oreo Cookies Cheescakes - Mini Oreo Sausainių Ir Philadelphia Sūrio Pyragaičiai

Oreo

Crust:1 1/2 cups crushed graham cracker

5 Tbsp. brown sugar

7 Tbsp. unsalted, melted butter

Cheesecake:2 cups cream

1 pound cheese (Philadelphia) (softened)

sugar (as much, as you want)

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

3/4 crushed Oreo CookiesPinch of salt

Vanilla powder (about 2 teaspoons)

Crust:
Combine graham cracker crumbs with sugar. Add melted butter and blend until combined. Press into pan and set aside.
Cheesecake:
Add cream, cheese, sugar, lemon juice, salt, vanilla powder and beat until smooth. Gently fold in Oreo Cookies. Fill pan, refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight for best results. Serve with whipping cream and garnish with mini Oreos.

Oreo

Pyragaičių pagrindui:
1 pok. Selga sausainiu
5 šaukštai rudo cukraus
100 gr. lydyto sviesto

Sūriui:
~ 200 gr grietinės
~ 400 gr. Philadelphia sūrio
cukrus (pagal Jūsų skonį)
1 šaukštas citrinos sulčių
~ 150 gr Oreo sulaužytų sausainių

Pagrindas:

Sutrintus į trupinius sausainius sumaišom su cukrum. Dedame ištirpintą sviestą, išmaišom iki birios, drėgnokos trupinių masės. Trupinių masę dedame i formą ir tolygiai paskirstom pauspaudžiant šaukštu.
Sūrio masė:

Grietinę, sūrį, cukrų, citrinos sultis, druską, vanilę dedame į indą ir maišome iki vientisos masės. Beriame sulaužytus Oreo sausainius ir dar kartą permaišom. Gautą masę dedame į formą, ant  jau paruoštų pyragaičių "padukų". Formą dedame kelioms valandoms į šaldytuvą, o dar geriau paliekama visai nakčiai. Pyragaičius patiekiam su plakta grietinėle, papuošiam mini Oreo sausainiais. Mano pyragaičiai puošti mėtiniais saldainiais. Jie čia man taip tiko ... :)

Ginger Tea - Imbierinė Arbata

This is one of my favorite drinks, other than coffee or tea,  to drink  during the winter season. You can buy ginger tea in packets, but it's better to make your own with fresh ginger. You can find this tea in any Chinese store, but it's pricy. It's easy to make, so why buy it.

Ginger Tea

1/2 cup of ginger root
1 cup of honey
1 cup of lemon peel
juice of one lemon

Grate or thinly slice ginger root (no need to peel) and lemon peel. Add honey, lemon juice and mix. 

Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 Tbsp. ginger - lemon tea mixture and let it steep for a few minutes. Stir to dissolve honey, taste, and add more honey if you like. If it's too gingery, use less tea mixture.

It's a perfect gift idea for Christmas, but make sure you keep a jar for yourself too!

Tai mano vienas mėgstamiausių gėrimų (neskaitant kavos ir arbatos) žiemos metu. Visada galima nusipirkti imbierinės arbatos pokeliuose, bet geriau pasigaminti pačiam.

Imbierinė Arbata

0,5 puodelio imbiero šaknies

1 puodelis cirtinos žievelių

1 puodelis medaus

1 citrinos sulčių

Imbiero šaknį ir citrinos žieveles sutarkuojam arba plonai suojaustome. Dedame medų, citrinos sultis ir viską išmaišom.

Vienam puodeliui verdančio vandens dedam 1 arbatinį šaukštelį šio mišinio, gerai išmaišom, kad ištirptų medus  ir leidžiame pastovėti kelias minutes. Jei arbata per daug aitri, naudokite mažiau mišinio.

Tai puiki rankų darbo dovana Kalėdoms, tik neužmirškite vieno indėlio pasilikti sau!

A Cup Of Hot Cocoa or A Swiming Snowman, Puodelis Karštos Kakavos...

Don't you enjoy a cup of hot cocoa on a chilly night...sitting under a pile of blankets, holiday music in the background, snow gently falling outside...
Or maybe you just enjoy your hot cocoa in the company of a loved one while enjoying some meaningful conversation.
...You get my point.

A little cup of cocoa,
         I'm sending your way,
         For you to sip and enjoy,
         On some cold day.

         As you sip this cocoa,
         It's warmth will warm your heart.
         Just like our friendship warmed mine,
         Right from the very start.