Tag: For dinner

Broadbean and Tomato Stew. Oa- ja tomatihautis vastlapäevaks

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Vastlapäev, known as Shrove Tuesday in much of the English-speaking world, the Estonians celebrate this day a little differently.

Instead of pancakes, we eat split pea soup and the delicious Vastlakukkel cream cake.
Traditionally children will sled down any available hill of snow, to get “long linens”.  And not only children. Tomorrow, after the meeting I am going with my colleges to sled, as well.
And later we have pea soup and Vastlakukkel!
Today, of course, nobody cares about linen, this is just for fun:)

The name Vastlapaev is taken from the German word “fasten” (to fast). And after Vastlapäev started fast, because meat ran out.

This year I did broad beans stew.

I used fresh broad beans. in case you are going to use dried, let them swell overnight
To add more colors add a different color of tomatoes and peppers or zucchini

Did you know?
The longest ice road – conditions permitting – in Europe is the Rohuküla-Heltermaa ice road with a length of 26.5 kilometers (16 miles), stretching for across a frozen expanse of the Baltic Sea. The road links Estonia’s mainland port of Rohuküla on the continent with Hiiumaa island. The longest known ice road originating from Estonia was located between Saaremaa island and Lübeck (a city in Germany) in 1323.
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Sauerkraut and Apple Salad. Hapukapsa-õunasalat

hapukapsa6unasalat (11)Homemade Sauerkraut, Fermented Cabbage, Hapukapsas is a very important and popular dish in Estonia during the autumn-winter time and mandatory food during Christmas time.
In ancient time, Hapukapsas and cranberries were only sources of  C vitamin, during winter time.
Sauerkraut is fermented food and this is not the only source of vitamin, this is the source of the probiotic bacterium and this is excellent for your health.

One wonderful salad recipe.

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Meat and Carrot Balls. Porgandi ja lihapallid

My intention was make balls from carrot, parsnip and meat. But I bought by mistake white radish. But result was amazing and very tasty 🙂

Carrot in balls gives juiciness and moisture. And indulgence 😉 Almost vegetarian 🙂
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Duck with juniper berries and Black Currant Sauce. Kadakane part mustsõstrakastmega

partkadakaga (3)I love duck.
Duck fillet is quite expensive and duck legs take a lot of time, so this is a dish I always order in the restaurant.

But sometimes I prepare a duck at home, as well.
Today I suggest duck with the delicious combination: sour and sweet black currant sauce and amazing duck fillet flavoured with little gin and juniper berries. Crispy skin and juicy meat 🙂

Juniper berries (cones) are refreshing and power-giving Nordic treats.
The type of juniper most widely spread in Estonia is the common juniper (Juniperus communis). You can see it growing the most in the Western and Northern parts of Estonia. Juniper symbolizes rebirth, protection and humbleness. „There is no reason to wonder, why the juniper has become one of the symbols of our windy homeland and for all Estonian nation, showing the undying power of life, no matter what comes ahead. (Ants Viires, 2000)“

Picking juniper berries means success that can be achieved with hard work. People widely believe that if you eat one juniper berry in a day, they stay young forever. If children have three juniper berries in a day, they are more likely to stay healthy.
This and many other sayings created a belief that juniper can cure 9 different diseases, 99 diseases in some cases.
Since juniper berry carries a cross formation on it, it was believed that juniper can help against witchcraft, revenants and anything evil.

It is also believed that juniper cleans and strengthens one’s body energetically. For humans, it has the best effect by breathing in, but it can also affect objects around that person. Juniper branches burnt in the house may clean up bad aura.       

 Juniper berries contain essential oils, sugars, resins, colourants, fatty acids, organic acids, carbohydrates and trace elements (Manganese, Iron, Copper and Aluminum). Juniper berries have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects during colds. Berries also stimulate urine and saphenia and promote digestion.

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Pork tenderloin in Beer Marinade with Mushrooms. Sea sisefilee õllemarinaadis

sigaseenega (4)Amazingly delicious combination of sweet pork, bitter beer and crunchy mushrooms.

Fresh chanterelle: The mushrooms are cleaned without water, with only a clean, dry towel and paring knife. Heat the chanterelle in a skillet without fat/butter until water has evaporated.
Frozen chanterelle : melt, fry slightly.

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Turnip and Mushroom Fritters. Kaalika-seenekotletid

seenekaalikakotlett (9)

The great vegetable dish. This time I used salted mushroom .

As Estonia has an abundance of forest, we like to pick berries and mushrooms.

and for winter Mushrooms are marinated, or salted or fermented. Or dried

Salted mushroom:
How to remove additional salt are a lot of tips.
My South Estonian relatives told me that they boiling salted mushroom in milk. And after that mushroom look and taste like a fresh.
Second option is  to boil mushroom just in the water.
And the simplest one.  Put mushroom to soak the night before.

Fresh chanterelle: The mushrooms are cleaned without water, with only a clean, dry towel and paring knife. Heat the chanterelle in a skillet without fat/butter until water has evaporated.

Frozen mushroom : melt, fry slightly.

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Chicken Wings Marinated in Cranberry and Honey Sauce. Kanatiivad jõhvika- ja meemarinaadis

johvikakana1 (2)delicious sweet and sour marinade from honey and cranberries softening tender poultry.

Horseradish gives a taste and flavour. Wonderful warming dish for autumn dinner.

 

 

 

 

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Potato and Mushroom Casserole. Kartuli ja seenevorm

seene kertulivorm (10)This summer was very warm. In May, June, July, August was hot, 30 C degrees. The Estonian climate is very humid, so warm feels hotter and cold is colder.
I love summer and it would be unfair to whine. But heat spill is that mushroom is not growing. Mushroom needs rain and humidity.

But now in September finally started to rain… 🙂

But still. It is not necessary to use wild mushrooms, this dish will be delicious with champignon as well 🙂

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Stuffed Cabbage Rolls. Kapsarullid

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Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are dish what is known, I believe, in everywhere. But every nation has its own recipe, something different, which give for this dish special touch and make it different,

Cabbage rolls are an everyday dish in Estonia. Ok, it takes some time for preparation, so we probably make them for weekend dinner.
In my recipe, Cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat. But you can stuff them using only vegetables,

It’s also one of those dishes that combines everything in one: your proteins and some vegetable, Obviously, you still want a few side dishes, it’s perfect with potatoes or rice or some buckwheat

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