Very Good Recipes blog

Gou�re by Claire from "D�lices d'une novice"

Mon, 28 May 2012 16:40:37 -0000

A recipe by Claire for the Family Challenge:

This recipe is traditional in the Bourbonnais area, passed to me by my father who learnt it from his mother, etc.

here is the translation from the French recipe on my blog D�lices d'une novice.

Ingredients (6 people)

2-3 potatoes per person

2 eggs

700 g "fromage blanc"

Butter

10 dried prunes without nut

Salt, pepper and nutmeg (powder)

Preparation

Dark Chocolate Surprise Torte by Mary

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:06:02 -0000

Mary's entry for the April Fool recipe challenge:

No one ever guesses the surprise ingredient in this torte.

Ingredients:

2 cups black beans, cooked, drained and rinsed

4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate

2 tablespoons prepared strong coffee

4 ounces butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon sugar

3 eggs, separated

1/3 c ground walnuts

May 1st in France, Lilly of the Valley Day by Martine

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:35:07 -0000

A disguised recipe by Martine of Mart-inn and key2paris for the April Fool challenge :

Hello,

in France May 1st is our Labor Day. It is a "non working day" of course but on top the tradition is to offer everyone you visit, a bunch of Lilly of the valley.

Many people used to go and harvest the flowers in the woods and sell them everywhere. the money they would make was not taxable on that particular day.

Today, most of the flowers come from specialized nurseries but you can still see young vendors at street corners trying to sell their crops with a large smile.

The recipe here is a chocolate cake that is pretending to be soil..

You put a round piece of your cake into an individual clay pot...

Incredible (as in Hulk) Pasta and Pesto

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 07:49:54 -0000

2 great recipes from Corrina for the Saint-Patrick recipe challenge:

My children LOVE, LOVE, LOVE mixing ingredients. If I don't give them something to mix, they will find stuff to mix on their own (which always involves an enormous mess on my kitchen floor). This was a good task for them. Simple ingredients, simple process, and they got to crank the heck out of the pasta machine. Don't be afraid to make your own pasta it is really much easier (and tastier) than you can imagine. This is a true hit with the kids because (1) they get to help make it, and (2) it's GREEN!!!

Ingredients

:

Pasta

:

1 Tbs. flaxseed meal

4 Tbs. water

St Patty's Day Stir Fried Baby Bok Choy

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 07:26:07 -0000

A recipe by Sherri Williams for the Saint-Patrick Recipe Challenge:

Ingredients :

1 lb. baby bok choy, blanched and sliced in half

4 oz shitake mushrooms, sliced

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

3 lg garlic, cloves minced

1 1/2 tsp. herbes de provence

1 tsp. red pepper flake

� cup white wine, dry

flaked smoked sea salt sprinkled on top

Preparation:

In a large heated frying pan add the olive oil. Add the garlic to the pan and saut� for about 1 minute.

Add bok choy, herbs and red pepper flakes to the pan. Fry for 5-6 minutes. Toss in the mushrooms and wine. Allow the alcohol to cook off for about 1-2 minutes. Plate up and sprinkle with sea salt...

Winners of the Be My Valentine challenge

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:06:08 -0000

Thanks a lot for submitting so many great entries for the Be My Valentine recipe challenge proposed by Han Ker, Irini, Katie, Kristen, Leslie, Michelle, Minna, Simcha and Teri !

The judges have chosen the winning recipe :

Valentine's Special: Chocolate Brownie Cream Cheese Sandwich

By Chef Al dente

And the runner-ups are:

Blancmange with strawberries

By Bake-a-mania

Pomegranate cranberry hearts

By spabettie

Cuore di formaggio salato - Savory heart cheese

...

Winners of the Breakfasts of the World challenge

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:57:34 -0000

Here are the results of the Breakfasts of the World recipe challenge proposed by Drina, Fran�oise, Judy, Kiri, Kym, Leslie, Marie-Claire, Meta, Mimi and Simona:

1st place

Breakfast full of vitamines : French citrus crepes - Thin pancakes

By PP Poppy's cooking

2nd place

Flatbread from Savonia Savolainen Pannurieska for Breakfast

By Naked Plate

3rd place

Soda bread with tomato, bacon, black pudding & an egg - breakfast of champions

By Jenny Eatwell's Rhubarb & Ginger

Congratulations to the winners, and thanks a lot to all the participants and the judges!

Winners of the White Christmas Challenge

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:35:54 -0000

I have been very happy to see all those great entries coming from every part of the world in the first recipe challenge organized on Very Good Recipes, the White Christmas Challenge !

The White Christmas theme was chosen by the members of the very nice and kind food bloggers who volunteered to be judges for this first challenge:

Alex from Food 4 Thought

Anne from Les Recettes du Panier

Han Ker from Hankerie

Kristina from Knuckle Salad

Quay Po from Quay Po Cooks

Rachel from Blissfully Scrumptious

Russell from London Eats

Suzy from Suzy Eats

Vanessa from Vane Valentine

I'm now organizing the February challenge, please let me know if you would like to be one of the...

Double Chocolate Chip Hot Cocoa Cookies by Lorraine

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:31:44 -0000

Here is Lorraine's entry for the White Christmas Challenge:

INGREDIENTS

2 1/4 c. Flour

2/3 c. Hot Cocoa Mix

1 tea Baking Soda

1/4 tea Salt

1 c. Butter

1/2 c. Sugar

2/3 c. Brown Sugar

1 tea Vanilla Extract

2 eggs (beaten)

1 c. White Chocolate Chips

1 c. Milk Chocolate Chips

1 c. Chopped Walnuts (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

In separate bowl mix together flour, Cocoa Mix, Baking Soda, and Salt. Cream together butter and sugars until thoroughly mixed. Add vanilla and eggs. Mix in chocolate chips and walnuts. Refrigerate dough for a minimum of two...

White Christmas Cheesecake

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:15:01 -0000

Another recipe by Hidemi for the White Christmas Challenge:

Ingredients:
For Cranberry Cheesecake

16 oz Cream Cheese, at room temperature

1 cup Jellied Cranberry Sauce

1 tablespoon Lemon Juice

3 Eggs, beaten

1 cup Whipping Cream

2/3 cup Sugar

4 tablespoons Flour

For Frosting

1 cup Sour Cream

1/4 cup Whipping Cream

3 tablespoons Sugar

Topping (optional, your idea!)

Snow Flake Cake - White Chocolate Pear Cake

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:02:25 -0000

Hidemi's 2nd recipe for the White Christmas Challenge:

Ingredients:

1 cup All purpose flour, shifted

4 Egg Yolks

4 Egg Whites

2 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 � stick Butter

2/3 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Milk

1 canned Pear (15 oz) , cut into small pieces

1/4 cup White Chocolate Chip, chopped finely

Directions:

1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour loaf pan. (9.3 x 5.2 x 2.7 )

2.In a bowl, cream butter and add sugar. Mix well until the mixture turns frothy. Add egg yolk one by one. Mix well. Then add milk, Mix well.

Mrs. Claus' Forgotten Christmas Cookies

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:33:29 -0000

Mary's entry for the White Christmas Challenge: Mrs. Claus' Forgotten Christmas Cookies

Ingredients:

2 egg whites at room temperature

1/8 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips

1 cup chopped almonds

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat egg whites until foamy and add salt. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff. Fold in chips and nuts. Drop by teaspoon on parchment lined cookie sheet. Place in oven. Turn off oven. Leave overnight or at least 6 hours Do not open oven door. Store in airtight container. Makes 2 dozen.

Mrs. Claus makes these while Santa is making deliveries. Then...

White Christmas Cake by Hidemi

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:06:32 -0000

Here is Hidemi's entry for the White Christmas Challenge:

Ingredients:

For Sponge cake:

1 package white or yellow cake mix (18.25-oz.)

2 large eggs

8 oz Sour cream

1⁄2 cup water

1⁄3 cup vegetable oil

For Syrup

2 tablespoons Sugar

2 tablespoons Water

For Filling:

16 oz Cream Cheese

10 tablespoons Condensed Milk

2 cups Whipping Cream

15-17 Strawberries, chopped

For Topping

...

White Christmas Recipe Challenge

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:26:51 -0000

I'm very happy to present you the White Christmas Challenge, the very first recipe challenge organized on Very Good Recipes. I have organized similar challenges on Recettes de Cuisine (the French version of the site) for the last 12 months, and they have been a source of a lot of fun and creativity!

The theme for this challenge has been chosen by 9 food bloggers from around the world who will the judges of the challenge:

Alex from Food 4 Thought

Anne from Les Recettes du Panier

Han Ker from Hankerie

Kristina from Knuckle Salad

Quay Po from Quay Po Cooks

Rachel from Blissfully Scrumptious

Russell from London Eats

Suzy from Suzy Eats

Vanessa from Vane Valentine

List of food blogs, November 2011

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:12:24 -0000

The November list of food blogs is out! This Month I found a staggering number of 11301 food blogs! The most popular blogs are on the first page of course, but there are lots of other very interesting food blogs out there. The best way to find them is to pick a page at random and click on blogs that have titles that tickle your curiosity!

I hope you'll like the list, please share it and enjoy !

The World Map of Food Blogs

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:07:22 -0000

You probably have dozens of food bloggers living near you, but do you know all of them? To help you find your food blogging neighbours, try the food blogs map! And if you don't find anyone in your area of the world yet, you can be the first!

I hope you like it! :-)