Christmas feeling...or not

It was not easy to get him to pose in front of the tree...

The tree is up unusually early this year. It was pretty drama-less for a change.
I am not big on Christmas things...but at least pretty lights make the house a bit more cheerful!

Too big

 I try to keep busy. I cook a lot. I have made Xmas pancakes (recipe here), banana bread, I tried a new butternut recipe - butternut squash with cuscus, oyster mushrooms, parsnip, the recipe called for nuts but I forgot - entirely and accidentally all vegan :) It was nice but way too much.

Sugarpill makeup

I haven't written my Holidays cards yet, not sure I will. Have only bought one present (for mom)...unless you count this Sugarpill + Little Twin Star makeup set I got for myself  on Cyber Monday (but haven't opened yet). I love that brand as it is vegan and cruelty free, and pretty good quality too (unlike most cruelty free, cheap,  makeup I usually get).
I am SUPER ready for the new year... (especially since we get a new Doctor Who episode on January 1st too).

Halloween 2017

Even when things aren't that great,  I can't miss Halloween!

Halloween pasta

Orange and chocolate cake, complete with cat hair...

Chocolate and  salted caramel cake

Pumpkin soup from last year because this year photo turned out all blurry.

Going through the motions...Halloween

Pumpkin soup

Zombie brains...aka pasta with cream and peas

Cupcakes...prettier than good...

Just going though the motions this Halloween...

Easter food...

 Home made cake. I awlays make the same cake for all occasions, only the decoration changes ;)

Dyed eggs.

 
Making "croquettes". Pretty much everyone owns a deep frier in Belgium...but it's not just for fries, we also love potato croquette and many people still make their own...with this lovely kitchen appliance: the Millecroquettes.
These days it has achieved a cult status (just Google Millecroquettes)...and can even be found on Amazon

Mine is vintage...

Bouquettes de Liège, Christmas pancakes

Traditional Christmas pancakes from Liège. This is my gran’s recipe.

You’ll need :

500gr white flour
2 eggs
150gr raisins or 200gr  red cherries
20gr of fresh yeast
½ liter water
½ liter milk
2 large tablespoons of breadcrumbs
a teaspoon of brown sugar
pinch of salt
pinch of nutmeg
cinnamon (as much as you like)
oil for cooking
sugar

 First dilute the yeast in some warm milk (that you take from the ½ liter) with the brown sugar. You then soak the raisins in warm water (or warm strong alcohol, original recipe mentions “Peket” a local beverage similar to Genièvre). If you prefer cherries, you can also soak them in alcohol. But I use water, I am not keen on hard liquor.

Beat the egg whites.
In a large bowl mix the flour, water, milk, yeast mix, yolks, breadcrumbs, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Add the egg whites last with a wooden spoon.

Let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes in a warm place.

Warm oil in a pan and pour some dough, add as much raisins (cherries) as you like. Flip and cook the other side.

Sprinkle each pancakes with sugar and pile them up in a plate. Eat warm or cold, they stay good for up to a week (and get even better when older).

Mousse au chocolat

Here's my chocolate mousse recipe. If you follow me on Twitter you hear a lot about it because I make it quite often.
For 4 servings you'll need:
125gr of dark chocolate (NOT milk chocolate, I INSIST, it has too much sugar content and doesn't melt properly)
3 eggs
1 tablespoon of icing sugar
1 can of cream
1 Persian cat (optional)

 Melt the chocolate "au bain-marie". If you're skilled with your microwave, you can try to melt the chocolate in there but personally, I always end up with a gooey unusable blob.

 Separate whites from yolks, keep only 2 yolks. Beginners, no yolk in the whites, no even a tiny bit or you won't be able to beat the egg whites until stiff. Beat the egg whites stiff.

Add a tablespoon of icing sugar to the yolks and beat till frothy.

 Add the yolks REALLY QUICKLY to the molten chocolate.

 Add the can of cream, mix well.

 Gently add the chocolate mix to the egg whites with a wooden (or plastic) spoon...NO metal spoon or you'll kill your egg whites.

 Pour in your bowls and let set in fridge for minimum one hour.
And no, Eugénie the cat didn't move an inch during the whole time.

Banana muffins

Some of my favorite muffins. I love them because they are not too sweet and the banana taste is subtle. I know it's a lot of ingredients for muffins, but they are worth the trouble!

Ingredients : 240 gr white flour
75 gr oat flakes
3 coffee spoons baking powder
55 gr brown sugar
75 gr dry dates (cut in small pieces) soaked in hot water
40 gr pecan nuts (small pieces)
2 coffee spoons cinammon
salt
190gr Greek yogurt
115 ml sunflower oil
75 ml coco milk
60 gr honey
3 eggs
1 coffee spoon vanilla extract (I use a small pack of vanilla sugar)
225 gr banana (squished)

Mix all the dry ingredients together and the wet ones together, then roughly mix both dry and wet mixes. Preheat the oven at 180° Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

Canapés

I had guests on sunday and I like making little "canapés" to have with the "apéritif". I made 6 types this time.


1. Salmon "rillettes" with cherry tomatoes
2. Boiled eggs, mayo and dry sausage
3. Goat cheese with fresh pear and paprika

4. Avocado puree with smoked salmon and lemon
5. Pâté de foie (homemade) with mayo and pickles
6. Cherry tomatoes with salmon rillettes (those were and "afterthought" as I had too many tomatoes and too much salmon left)

Monday Moodboard

A few of my favorites on the European Street Team (on Etsy)

1. Swiedebie
2. Petitplat
3. MistyAurora
4. Palepink

You can view more mood boards on FleurFatale's blog.