Wow it's been a while since I posted something on here. 

Sometimes life gets pretty hectic and you forget about the things you love to do. 

Life has again calmed down a bit and I'm taking the time to cook again. 

Shakshuka is a dish I've wanted to make for ages but never really took the time to make it. 



I took major inspiration for this recipe from the book "Jerusalem" from Ottolenghi and Tamimi and from this recipe.

You will need following ingredients for about three people:

Hey folks!

I'm back with a dessert (that are becoming pretty scarce on my blog).
But it's not your common dessert. No it's again a recipe from one of favourite cookbooks, namely Jerusalem from Ottolenghi and Tamimi.
I already made another recipe that you will find here.





Let's jump right into this tested and approved recipe!


For the dough you will need (makes two cakes):


For the chocolate filling:


For the syrup:


Start off by making the dough. Place the flour, sugar, yeast in a mixer bowl. Stir everything on LOW speed for about 1 minute. Add gradually the eggs and water. Increase the speed to medium and mix it for 3 minutes until the dough comes together. Add the salt. Start adding the butter.
Continue mixing for 10 minutes (medium speed) until you obtain a smooth, elastic and shiny dough. While your mixing your dough you will find yourself scraping down the dough of the sides of the bowl.

Brush a bowl with some sunflower oil and place your dough in it. Cover with cling film. Let rise (in the fridge) for at least half a day or overnight.

Grease some tins with some sunflower oil and line the bottom with a piece of greaseproof paper.
Divide your dough in two.


For the filling you need to mix together the icing sugar, cocoa powder, melted chocolate and butter.
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured (I used greaseproof paper) into a rectangle. Spread half the chocolate mixture over the rectangle. Sprinkle half of the almonds (or pecans) on top of the chocolate then sprinkle over half the caster sugar.
Brush some water over the end that is the furthest away from you. Roll up the rectangle like a roulade.


Now cut the roulade in two (lenghtwise).
Now start to "twist" the two sites. I can assure you that is part is the messiest one (but in the end it's worth it). Now place your twisted dough in your baking tins. 
Cover it with a damp towel and let it rise for at least one hour at room temperature.

Once the rising time is almost over, you can pre-heat your oven at 190°. Bake for about 30 minutes in your pre-heated oven. Check it although after about 25 minutes. 

While the babka is baking, make your syrup. Bring the sugar and water to a simmer until the sugar dissolves, remove it then from the heat. 
Once your babka is baked, take it out and brush the syrup immediately over it. 
Let it cool in the baking tin. Once cooled, dig in I would say!

Until next time!

I'm back with an all-time favorite.
My sister always asks to make my (even if I say it myself) famous burrito's.
It takes some work and time, but is SO worth it.
I took major inspiration from an restaurant in Brussels called Pablo's, that sadly no longer exists today.
One a side note it's also quite healthy.

For 6 hungry people you will need




Start off by marinate your chicken.
Cut your chicken in little pieces. Put them in a bowl. Add the spices, olive oil and honey. Give it a good stir. Let it marinate for at least one hour (in the fridge).

Now make your tomato sauce. Melt the butter in a large sauce pan. Add the olive oil and heat it up. Add now the onion, sugar and the spices. "Fry" until the onion starts the soften. Add the garlic. And add in the end the passata. Let it simmer for at least 20 minutes. Now season your sauce to taste.

When the chicken has been marinating for quite a time. You can start grilling it.

D-day! My birthday. We decided to go for a nice and juicy burger. 
So we went to PNY.
PNY is well known in Paris for their really really yummy and juicy burgers. Last year I went to the one in Saint-Denis, but as they opened one in the Marais we went there. 

And as it was nice weather we could eat on the terrace.

After some procrastination we decided to go for the Morning California and The Return of the Cowboy. 

For my birthday already one mont ago, we went to Paris.
We were so lucky, the weather was fantastic. 
So here are a couple of pictures of that amazing trip. 
I warn you already there are a lot of food pictures....

We started off at the Arc de Triomphe 

Back on track with some chocolate dessert, brownies.
The slightly "healthier" version of this one.
AVOCADO Brownies, but I prefer to call them green brownies.




Pre-heat your oven to 180° C.

I'm back with a rather special post.
Lately all most of my friends are studying abroad. Japan, Ireland, Italy welcomed my friends.
Recently my friend Maarten also went on an erasmus. But before he did, he kindly organized a Goodbye Tea Party.

He laid all the different tea beautifully. As a "passionate" baker and chocolate lover, I thought I could bake an indulgent and chocolate dessert. As everybody likes chocolate, sugar,... . I decided to go for brownies.


Preheat your oven to 180°c.
Melt the chocolate and butter in a small saucepan at low temperature. Once melted, let it cool down.
Whisk your eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add the cooled chocolate and butter to your eggs. Mix well together.
Add the salt, sugar and flour. Mix together until you have a beautiful batter.
Add your walnuts (optional).
Pour it in your baking tin.
Bake for about 30 minutes.
Let it cool down properly before to unmould your brownies.
Then bring it with you to your favorite people.




Chocolate and whipped cream does makes us happy people!