Day 4: Eastern delicacy, Sauerkraut Leaves Rolls

These are well known in Eastern Europe, Russia and Finland. In Eastern Europe they are usually prepared during Christmas time following traditional recipes and using Sauerkraut cabbage (fermented cabbage). As far as I know, in Finland, they prepare the cabbage rolls with regular cabbage and that might be the only difference in the recipe. However the taste it's different because of the Sauerkraut cabbage leaves. So if you happen to have some Sauerkraut cabbage leaves, give this dish a try, it's truly satisfying and different...

Sauerkraut Leaves Rolls

♥ 500 g ground beef, lean

♥ 500 g ground pork, lean

♥ 2 bay leaves

♥ 2 carrots, grated

♥ 2 small heads of cabbage or leaves of Sauerkraut

♥ 1 bunch of parsley, chopped

♥ 1 large onion

♥ 1 can of tomato sauce

♥ 100 g white rice

♥ 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

♥ 2 teaspoons of salt (or less if you prefer)

♥ 2 tablespoons of olive oil

♥ 354 ml chicken stock

♥ 240 ml creme fraiche

INSTRUCTIONS: If you use the normal cabbage (not Sauerkraut) then you are supposed to freeze the cabbage 3 days before using it. Start cooking the rice, al dente, drain it and set aside. Take a frying pan and heat it, with a little olive oil cook the onion until tender at low heat. When done, take a large bowl and mix all the meat, chopped parsley, onion, grated carrots, cooked rice top with salt and pepper. In another bowl, mix together the chicken stock, tomato sauce, and creme fraiche and set aside. If you use normal cabbage then just cut the hard part and separate cabbage leaves. 

Preheat your oven at 180 Celsius degrees. Take a cabbage leaf and put 2 tablespoons of the meaty filling at the bottom of the wide part of the leaf and just roll it as a...tortilla while getting the sides in. Pour 240 ml of the sauce you did on the bottom of the casserole you will use to bake the rolls (I recommend a glass one) and place your cabbage rolls there. Spread the bay leaves between the rolls (do not rip them, leave them entire). When you're done tucking all the rolls in your casserole, just pour the remaining sauce over them. Cover with an aluminium foil and bake them for 1 hour. Take the foil off and bake for another 30 minutes.

You're done and ready to enjoy this! The way I like it is with some extra creme fraiche. There are other possibilities too! Be creative! 

Enjoy them!

Day 3: Sweet breakfast time!

And today we go back to the basics! You will surely love this breakfast trick! 

Bananas in a Blanket, wintertime healthy breakfast

♥ 2 bananas, peeled, do not cut
♥ 2 big pancakes (if you need a recipe for these, let me know)
♥ 4-5 tablespoons of your favorite almond butter or peanut butter, low fat
♥ sprinkle of cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS: You take your pancakes, spread 2 tablespoons of almond butter or peanut butter per pancake, and place the banana on the side, you roll the banana in the pancake and you're done! Sprinkle some cinnamon on top if you prefer. After you've made a roll out of your pancake, just cut them in slices that will be perfect to bite on while having your coffee!

This protein packed sweet breakfast will give you the energy to start your day off! Enjoy it this season!

Let me know how you liked them!

Day 2: A healthy and creamy sweet potato soup

Day 2 in our Cooking Advent Calendar. Today we are preparing something light and warm, perfect for winter days. I have had this since I was a kid and never getting tired of it and it's perfect in autumn already...when weather gets a little cooler.

Sweet Potato Cream Soup

♥ 400 g cubed and peeled sweet potato

♥ 135 g slices leek, thinly

♥ 300 ml chicken stock or chicken broth, as you prefer (see the difference here)

♥ 157 ml skimmed milk 

♥ 1 and 1/5 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

♥ 1/2 teaspoon of salt

♥ a pinch of black ground pepper

♥ a pinch of nutmeg

♥ few thin slices of fresh leek to decorate and intensify flavor / or fresh parsley

INSTRUCTIONS: In a saucepan combine the sweet potato, the leek and the chicken stock/broth and stir well until all the favors combine. You can either cook them until a little tender on the stove or, you can microwave this mix for 10 minutes at high. After your mix is tender, blender it, you can do it directly in the saucepan if you chose to tender them on the stove. Blend them until smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients listed, except for the fresh leek/parsley we will add at the end to decorate in the dish. Place in dish and add some slices of leek or parsley and serve warm so the flavors are more enhanced!

Enjoy!

*Some people like to add a little bit more cream at the end or some Philadelphia cheese, others like to add rosemary instead of parsley or leek. It's all about the preferences!

Day 1: It's December! - Make your own Mulled Wine! (Glühwein, Glögi, Glögg...)

Hello there! It's finally 1st of December and I am here with a little surprise! A healthy recipe a day until 20th December! I hope you will like the series, it's my own Advent Calendar, so you're welcome to check the blog everyday for delicious recipes and ways to cheer up your cold December! Enjoy!

Today I am starting with an easy recipe of this typical wintertime drink we all love to enjoy starting December! They are available at supermarkets and unless you'd get an organic one, most likely the ones in the market are full of sugars and Es. Why not to make it yourself? You know what you got inside, it's natural and much healthier than the purchased ones...and most importantly, easy to make!

A warm cup of Mulled Wine (a.k.a. Glühwein, Glögi or Glögg)

♥ 750 ml of red wine (dry type - select a good one from your local store, I recommend Marqués de Riscal *wink wink*)

♥ 236 ml of water

♥ 32 g sugar (you can substitute with another sweetener though I suggest to use sugar)

♥ 3 cloves (do not ground them)

♥ a tip of a teaspoon of nutmeg (1/4 of a teaspoon)

♥ a pinch of ground cardamom (1/8 of a teaspoon)

♥ a pinch of allspice

♥ 2 strips of orange peel (preferably organic and/or washed rigorously) - remove pith because is bitter 

♥ 2 strips of lemon peel (preferably organic and/or washed rigorously)

INSTRUCTIONS: Firstly, you can add or take out as much as you like of the ingredients, according to your personal taste, for instance if you prefer more cardamom flavor or allspice...feel free to add a little more but always taste it.

Take a saucepan and turn the heat to medium, add the wine and the rest of the ingredients, combine well and while enjoying the amazing aroma and scent in your house, let it simmer warmly for around 15-20 minutes, never boil it. 

Only 100 kcal per serving. Enjoy! You can serve it with peel and a stick of cinnamon for taste and decoration ♥