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Split pea soup
Just as the country is divided linguistically, it’s also divided food-wise. Flemish cuisine has a strong Dutch influence, while Wallonian cooking is very similar to French foods with lots of rich sauces. Most dishes are based around meat or fish, with seafood playing an important role in Belgian cuisine
Belgian cuisine is mostly made up of different regional dishes with influences from the neighboring cuisines: French, German, and Dutch (Netherlands). There’s even this saying that Belgian food is “served in the quantity of German cuisine (which is a lot!) but with the quality of French food”.
It’s not just about the Belgian fries, waffles, and chocolates: though they are undoubtedly delicious, there’s more to the country’s national cuisine than these famous snacks like:
• 1. Mussels • 2. Fries • 3. Meatballs • 4. Flemish Stew • 5. Grey Shrimp Croquettes • 6. Waffles • 7. Eel in the green • 8. Rabbit with prunes • 9. Sausage and mash • 10. Steak tartare and martino sandwich • 11. Ham and endive in the oven • 12. Vol-au-vent • 13. Speculaas • 14. Jenever • 15. Asparagus Flemish-style

Appetizer
Artichoke pâté  Print Recipe


Serves: 12
Preparation time: 1 hour
Cooking time:1 hour
5 ounces pork fatback
8 ounces boneless veal
8 ounces boneless pork
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup diced onion
1 1/2 cups cream
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mixed seasonings
1 teaspoon chopped basil
12 artichoke hearts
1 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons Brandy
1/2 cup chopped pistachios
Diced ham
pastry dough
Sherry wine aspic
Dice and freeze fatback. Dice the veal and pork. Heat oil in skillet. Sauté the onions. Combine meat, onion, and seasonings in a bowl. Mix cream and egg whites. Pour over meat. Refrigerate for a few hours.
Marinate artichokes in wine, brandy. Season with salt and pepper. Puree the meat with fatback. Add the pistachios and ham.
Grease a 5 cup mold and line top and bottom with pastry dough. Alternate forcemeat and artichokes ending with forcemeat.
Cover pâté with pastry. Brush with egg yolk.
Cut an opening in the center.
Bake at 350 degree for about an hour. When cold, fill the pate with sherry wine aspic.

Appetizer
Ham and cheese toast  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk to taste salt, pepper
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 egg yolk
2 cups grated Swiss cheese
6 slices crisp unbuttered toasts, ends trimmed
6 thin slices cooked ham

Preheat broiler to high.
In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter and add flour, stirring with a whisk. Add milk. Whisk until sauce thickens. Season with salt with salt, pepper, wine, cayenne, nutmeg and garlic. Add egg yolk and bring to the boil, stirring. Remove from heat.
Stir in cheese until melted.
Arrange slices of toast in one layer in a baking pan. Top each slice with ham. Spread cheese mixture evenly over ham.
Broil until bubbly and browned on top. Serve hot

Appetizer
Chicken liver mousse  Print Recipe


Serves: 10
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
12 ounces chicken livers
2 ounces butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove minced garlic
1 cup milk
1 ounce dry sherry wine
1/8 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 bay leaves
3/4 cup strong aspic
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup heavy cream .
Remove connective tissue from the liver. Melt butter in a sauté pan, add onions and garlic and sauté until soft and translucent.
Add all other ingredients except cream. Cook covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Whip cream to medium stiffness. Remove bay leaves from liver mixture. Puree the liver mixture in a food processor until smooth.
Pour into a large bowl and fold in the whipped cream.
Immediately pour into molds and chill.
Dip molds in hot water and unmold chicken liver mousse. Serve as hors d'oeuvre or appetizers

Main
Braised onions  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour 15 minutes
2 pounds onions, thickly sliced
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon liquid honey
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste
In a saucepan of salted boiling water, cook onions for 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to 6-cup casserole.
Mix together ketchup, water, honey, butter, mustard, salt and pepper; pour over onions.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until onions are tender and glazed

Main
Endives meuniere  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
8 Belgian endives
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
Sea salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
Rinse and dry the endives, and remove any leaves that have darkened. Trim the ends slightly and using a small knife.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, and the endives, and cook until soft, about 30 minutes.
Drain thoroughly and place in a single layer on a platter. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar, salt, and pepper, and set aside until cool enough to handle. (The recipe may be prepared to this point several hours in advance. Cover until needed.)
With your hands, gently but firmly squeeze each endive to extract the liquid.
In a large skillet, melt the butter over moderately high heat. Add the endives in a single later and brown evenly on each side, about 3 minutes per side. Remove and drain well.
Transfer the endives to a warmed serving bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Main
Mussels mariniere  Print Recipe

the national dish of Belgium! Mussels or moules are usually cooked or steamed and served with frites-Fench fries.
Serves: 6
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
5 pounds fresh mussels
2 ounces butter
2 ounces chopped shallots
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 1/2 cups dry white wine
Clean and wash mussels under cold running water and debeard.
Heat the butter in a kettle. Add shallots and cook for 5 minutes. Add half of the parsley, pepper, wine, and mussels.
Cover and steam until mussels open.
Serve in soup bowls with the strained cooking liquid. Sprinkle with remaining chopped parsley.

Main
Shrimp salad with belgian endive  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 20 minutes
1 1/2 pounds of shrimp, cleaned and cooked
4 large Belgian Endives, prepared
1 large cucumber, sliced
1 carrot, peeled and sliced

Cucumber Sauce:
Mix in a bowl,
1 cup yogurt or sour cream
1 tablespoon horseradish
1 small cucumber, pared and grated
juice of lemon or lime to taste
2 tablespoons dill, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Trim endives and separate leaves.
Arrange endive leaves, shrimp, cucumber and carrot slices on individual cold plates.
Serve with sauce.

Main
Split pea soup  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time:30 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
6 Tbsp butter or olive oil, divided
2 cups chopped leeks, white and green parts
2 cups (½-inch) diced carrots
1½ cups chopped yellow onion
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 lb dried green split peas
8 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 smoked ham hock
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
8 fresh thyme sprigs, tied with kitchen twine
2 large bay leaves
12 oz smoked sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced diagonally into ¼-inch-thick pieces
Minced fresh parsley, for garnish
Heat ¼ cup of the butter oroil in a large ot or Dutch oven over medium-high. Add leeks, carrots and onion; cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute. Stir in peas to coat; cook 1 minute. Add stock, 2 cups water, ham hock, salt, pepper, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, 1¼ hours, stirring occasionally, or until peas are very tender and falling apart. (Stir bottom of the pot to be sure soup doesn’t stick.)
Discard thyme, bay leaves and ham hock. Transfer 2 cups soup to a food processor fitted with a steel blade; puree. Return puree to pot. Stir in more stock or water if soup is too thick.
Heat remaining 2 Tbsp butter or oil in a medium saute pan over medium. Add sausage; cook 5–6 minutes or until browned, tossing occasionally. Serve soup garnished with sausage and parsley.

Main
Ham and cheese toast  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk to taste salt, pepper
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 egg yolk
2 cups grated Swiss cheese
6 slices crisp unbuttered toasts, ends trimmed
6 thin slices cooked ham

Preheat broiler to high.
In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter and add flour, stirring with a whisk. Add milk. Whisk until sauce thickens. Season with salt with salt, pepper, wine, cayenne, nutmeg and garlic. Add egg yolk and bring to the boil, stirring. Remove from heat.
Stir in cheese until melted.
Arrange slices of toast in one layer in a baking pan. Top each slice with ham. Spread cheese mixture evenly over ham.
Broil until bubbly and browned on top. Serve hot

Main
Chicken liver mousse  Print Recipe


Serves: 10
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
12 ounces chicken livers
2 ounces butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove minced garlic
1 cup milk
1 ounce dry sherry wine
1/8 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 bay leaves
3/4 cup strong aspic
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup heavy cream .
Remove connective tissue from the liver. Melt butter in a sauté pan, add onions and garlic and sauté until soft and translucent.
Add all other ingredients except cream. Cook covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Whip cream to medium stiffness. Remove bay leaves from liver mixture. Puree the liver mixture in a food processor until smooth.
Pour into a large bowl and fold in the whipped cream.
Immediately pour into molds and chill.
Dip molds in hot water and unmold chicken liver mousse. Serve as hors d'oeuvre or appetizers

Side Dish count
Asparagus sauce  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
12 asparagus spears
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 small scallions (green onions), chopped
to taste, salt and ground white pepper
2 tablespoons heavy cream
Cut asparagus in halves. Discard the woody parts. Cut spears into 1-inch pieces. Cook in salted boiling water until tender, about 6 minutes. Melt butter in a skillet. Add asparagus, scallions, salt and pepper to taste. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Puree mixture in a blender. Put through a strainer. Heat in a saucepan with the cream, and keep warm until needed.

Side Dish count
Barley supper salad  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour
3 cups vegetable stock
1 cup pearl barley
1 bay leaf
2 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
4 green onions
1/2 green pepper
1-19 ounce can red kidney beans

Dressing:
1/4 cup vegetable stock
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Combine stock, barley and bay leaf. Bring to boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes.
Stir in carrots and celery; cook for 5 minutes or until stock is absorbed and barley is tender.
Discard bay leaf; transfer to large bowl. Fluff with fork. Meanwhile, chop onions and green pepper; drain and rinse beans. Add to barley mixture.
Dressing:
Whisk together stock, vinegar, mustard, basil and thyme; whisk in oil. Toss with barley mixture. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or for up to 8 hours. Stir in parsley. Serve on lettuce leaves.

Side Dish count
Celery root and fennel slaw with green apple and manchego  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time:20 minutes
Cooking time:5 minutes
1/3 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
1/2 cup olive oil
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
4 cups very thinly sliced fennel
1 1/2 cups matchsticks Granny Smith apple (from about 1/2 large)
1 1/2 cups matchsticks peeled celery root (from about 1/4 small) or celery
1 1/2 cups matchsticks peeled daikon (from about 1/2 medium)
3 ounces Manchego cheese, shaved, divided
Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss pumpkin seeds and 1 tsp. oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden brown and puffed, about 5 minutes; let cool. Finely chop 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds. 

Whisk chopped pumpkin seeds, lemon juice, mustard, maple syrup, vinegar and remaining oil in a medium bowl; season dressing with salt and pepper.


Combine fennel, Asian pear, celery root, Granny Smith apple, most of the Manchego, and remaining pumpkin seeds in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over top and toss to combine; season with salt and pepper. Top with remaining Manchego.

Side Dish count
Leeks au gratin  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:45 minutes
16 small leeks, white and light green parts only washed well
1 teaspoon salt
ground pepper to taste
2 teaspoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup heavy cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the leeks and blanch until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well.
Place leeks in a shallow baking dish large enough to hold them in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper and dot with butter.
Pour the cream over top. Bake for 25 minutes (can be made ahead up to this point and reheated.) Just before serving, preheat broiler and brown the leeks under the broiler. Serve.

Side Dish
Potato cake  Print Recipe


Serves: 10
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour
5 pounds potatoes
5 slices bacon
4 ounces butter
2 ounces chopped onion
to taste salt
Boil the potatoes in their skin in salted boiling water.
Peel potatoes when cool then grate coarsely.
Cut bacon slices across into small pieces. Fry until crisp. Saute onions with butter.
Add the potatoes and bacon bits. Season with salt. Mix well while turning the potatoes. Brown both sides of the potato cake and serve hot.

Side Dish
Broccoli stems cabbage slaw  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 25 minutes
1/4 cup raisins
3 or 4 broccoli stems
1/2 small green cabbage
1 small carrot, peeled
1 Granny Smith green apple

COLESLAW DRESSING

Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use.
Soak raisins into a cup of hot water to soften. Peel the broccoli stems, discarding the tough ends.
Shred with a salad shredder or food processor. Remove and discard tough outer leaves from cabbage.
Shred cabbage fine. Shred carrot with the finest blade. Drain raisins well and add to broccoli, carrot and cabbage shred, mixing well.
Peel and core apple and grate or shred. Add to cabbage-broccoli mixture.
Immediately add Coleslaw Dressing to avoid discoloration of the apple. Toss gently to mix well. Refrigerate for an hour before serving.

COLESLAW DRESSING

Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use.

Side Dish
Brussels Sprout and radicchio Slaw  Print Recipe

After combining the slaw with the dressing, be sure to let it stand for 15 minutes to slightly wilt the brussels sprouts.
Serves: 6
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
1/2 cup pecan halves
1 1/2 tsp. plus 1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 tsp. kosher salt, plus more, to taste
1 tsp. sugar
Pinch of cayenne pepper
2 lb. brussels sprouts, trimmed and fibrous stems removed
1 small head radicchio, quartered and cored
2 Tbs. cider vinegar
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbs. whole-grain mustard
2 Tbs. maple syrup
1/4 cup olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Preheat an oven to 350°F.

In a small bowl, combine the pecans, the 1 1/2 tsp. olive oil, the 1/4 tsp. salt, the sugar and cayenne and stir to coat evenly. Transfer to a baking sheet and toast in the oven until browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool.

Bring large pot of water to boil. Add 2 teaspoons salt. Add brussels sprouts. Cook until crisp-tender about 5 minutes. Drain; rinse with cold water.
Using a food processor fitted with 1/8- to 1/4-inch slicing disk, slice brussels sprouts and radicchio. Transfer to a large bowl and stir to combine.

In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice, mustard and maple syrup. Slowly whisk in the 1/4 cup olive oil and season with salt and black pepper.

Add half of the dressing to the brussels sprout-radicchio mixture and toss well to combine, adding more dressing as needed. Let stand for 15 minutes to slightly wilt the brussels sprouts. Top with the pecans and serve immediately.

Side Dish
Broccoli cauliflower gratin  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time:25 minutes
Cooking time:45 minutes
1 (3-pound) head cauliflower, cut into large florets
1 to 1 1/2 pounds broccoli, cut into medium florets
Kosher salt
8 tablespoons plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup bleached all-purpose flour
4 cups hot milk
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
3/4 cup freshly grated Gruyere or Comte cheese, divided
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cook the cauliflower florets in a large pot of boiling salted water for 5 to 6 minutes, until tender but still firm. Drain well.
Add the broccoli to the boiling water. Cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain the broccoli in a colander. Rinse under cold running water to cool. Drain well.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the flour, stirring constantly with a whisk for 2 minutes. Pour the hot milk into the butter-flour mixture and stir until it comes to a boil. Boil, whisking constantly, for 1 minute, or until thickened. Off the heat, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, the pepper, nutmeg, 1/2 cup of the Gruyere, and the Parmesan.
Pour 1/3 of the sauce on the bottom of an 8 by 11 by 2-inch baking dish. Place the drained cauliflower and broccoli on top and then spread the rest of the sauce evenly on top. Combine the bread crumbs with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese and sprinkle on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over the gratin. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is browned. Serve hot.

Side Dish
German spaetzle  Print Recipe

From the Swabia region of Southern Germany comes the traditional German Spaetzle.
Serves: 6
Preparation time:25 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
2 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg , optional
4 large eggs
1/2 cup milk or water + more as needed (milk produces a richer Spaetzle)
butter for serving
Combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. whisk the eggs into a small bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the eggs in it. Add the milk (start with using slightly less and add more as needed). Attach a dough hook to the stand mixer and "knead" the dough for 16-20 minutes, or until bubbles appear. A thick batter yields results.
Bring 2 quarts of lightly salted water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
Using a Spätzle maker of your choice (such as the Spätzle press), press the noodles into the simmering water and cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the noodles float to the top. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the noodles to a colander, and then transfer the noodles in a large bowl of ice water. Drain the noodles again, toss with some melted butter and serve warm.
Make Ahead: The Spaetzle can be stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 days and then reheated. Melt some butter in a large skillet and toss the Spätzle in it to heat through.

Side Dish
Creamy cauliflower purée  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
1 medium head cauliflower, cut up into florets
4 cloves crushed garlic
1/3 cup 1% buttermilk or low fat sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp butter
Steam or boil cauliflower and garlic until soft. Drain, add buttermilk, light butter, salt, pepper and purée with a hand blender or regular blender.

Side Dish
Onion braid  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 50 minutes
Cooking time:35 minutes
For dough:
4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup butter
1 egg

For filling:
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon paprika
Reserve 1 cup of flour. Mix remaining flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. Heat milk, water and butter until very warm (125 F/50 C).
Stir warm liquid into dry ingredients. Beat in egg. Mix in enough of the reserved flour to make a soft dough that does not stick to bowl. Turn out onto floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, sauté onion in butter. Remove from heat and stir in remaining filling ingredients; set aside.
Roll dough into 18-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut evenly into three lengthwise strips 18 x 4-inch.
Evenly spread filling along center of strips. Fold each strip lengthwise and pinch edges together along 18-inch side to enclose filling. Braid strips together. Pinch ends to seal and tuck ends under loaf. Grease a baking sheet.
Place braid on sheet. Cover. Let rise in warm draft-free place until doubled in size, about 40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush top with beaten egg white and sprinkle with more sesame seed, if desired. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Remove to wire rack to cool.

Side Dish
Warm brussels sprout salad  Print Recipe

This simple side of sauteed shredded brussels sprouts goes well with pork chops, sea scallops, or roasted chicken. To shred brussels sprouts, halve them, then slice crosswise, or use the slicer blade in a food processor.
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:8 minutes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 pound brussels sprouts, trimmed and shredded
coarse salt and ground pepper
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese (1/2 ounce)
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add brussels sprouts. Season with salt and pepper and cook, tossing often, until bright green and slightly wilted, about 3 minutes. Add lemon juice and transfer to a large bowl. Add cheese and 1 tablespoon oil; toss well to combine and season with salt and pepper.

Dessert
Chocolate banana cake  Print Recipe


Serves: 10
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:60 minutes
2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs, beaten
3 bananas, mashed
1/2 cup cocoa
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup boiling water

Frosting:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In an electric mixer, cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs and bananas.
Mix well. Sift cocoa, flour, soda and salt. Add alternately with buttermilk while whisking.
Mix in boiling water. Bake in a 13 by 9-inch ungreased pan 50 to 60 minutes.

Cool and cover with frosting.

Frosting:
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until sauce comes to a boil.
Remove from heat. Add vanilla, and frost cake while icing is hot.

Dessert
Chocolate orange torte with raspberry coulis  Print Recipe


Serves: 14
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time:50 minutes
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
12 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons orange liqueur
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 eggs
sifted unsweetened cocoa powder

Raspberry coulis:
1 package frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon orange liqueur
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line bottom on 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
Over simmering water, melt together butter, chocolate, sugar and orange juice, stirring to blend.
Remove from heat; stir in liqueur and vanilla. Let cool; whisk in eggs, one at a time.
Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until edges are slightly crusty and middle is just set. Let cool on rack.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours.
Raspberry coulis:
Purée raspberries in food processor; press through sieve to remove seeds. Stir in sugar, and liqueur.
Invert cake onto serving plate.
Sift cocoa powder over cake and garnish with raspberries. Slice and serve with raspberry coulis.

Dessert
Chocolate sauce  Print Recipe

Store the chocolate sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Rewarm before serving.
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
1 cup (250 ml) water
1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
1/2 cup (160 g) light corn syrup or agave nectar
3/4 cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-processed)
2 ounces (55 g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
In a medium saucepan, whisk together the water, sugar, corn syrup (or agave), and cocoa powder.

Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once it’s just begun to simmer and boil, remove from heat and stir in the chopped chocolate until melted.

Let the Chocolate Sauce stand for a few hours before serving.

Dessert
Liége belgian waffles - gaufres de liége  Print Recipe

7 grams instant yeast = 1/4 ounce instant yeast = 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast = 21 grams fresh yeast
Pearl sugar (or sugar grains) makes all the charm of Liège waffles, because it brings crispness and gives an exceptional flavor to this waffle.
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Cooking time:5 minutes
375 g of flour
180 g warm milk
30 g fresh baker's yeast or 1 tablespoon instant yeast
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon of fine salt
30g brown sugar
200 g softened sweet butter
250 g of pearled sugar
 In the bowl of the robot,mix the milk and the yeast.
    Add the flour, eggs, sugar brown sugar, a pinch of salt and knead to obtain an elastic paste.
    Add the butter and knead gently to incorporate the butter and have a homogeneous mixture.
    Cover the dough with film wrap and let the dough rise for 2 hours in a warm place.
    When the dough has at least doubled in volume, deflate and incoporate the pearled sugar.
    Using a pastry brush, grease the hot waffle plates.
  Spoon a large spoonful of dough into the waffle maker.
    Close the waffle iron and cook +/- 3 minutes until golden brown.

Dessert
Rhubarb-strawberry custard tart  Print Recipe

For this recipe, you need a 9-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time:35 minutes
Tart Dough:
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cups unbleached flour
pinch of salt

Filling:
2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/2 pound rhubarb, cut into 1/4-inch pieces, about 2 cups
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
Glaze:
1/2 cup apricot preserves
For dough:
Using a heavy- duty mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter on medium speed until creamy. Add sugar and beat until pale. Beat in egg and vanilla.
Turn speed to low, add flour salt and mix until just blended.
Flatten dough to a 1/2-inch-thick disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Unwrap dough and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll into 1/8-inch-thick round.
Fit dough into a 9-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom. Ease dough into bottom and up sides of pan, then run rolling pin over top to cut off excess.
Press dough to sides of pan. Freeze tart shell for 20 minutes.
To assemble and bake tart, strew strawberries and rhubarb in tart shell. Whisk cream, sugar and eggs together.
Pour over fruit, leaving a 1/8-inch margin at the top so it wont overflow in oven.
Bake until firm and well browned, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely.
Transfer to a serving platter.
For glaze:
In a small saucepan, mix preserves with 2 tablespoons water. Heat over low heat. Push through a sieve with back of a spoon.
Brush tart with glaze and let set, 1 hour. (Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Taste)

Dessert
Rhubarb tart with orange-ginger glaze  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
1 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 pound red rhubarb stalks, unpeeled and thinly sliced diagonally (1/8 inch)
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from a 17 1/4-ounces package), thawed
1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest

Accompaniment: vanilla ice cream
Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
Stir together orange juice, grated ginger, lime juice, and sugar in a bowl. Add rhubarb and let stand, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut pastry in half lengthwise, then roll out each piece into an 11-by 7-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Arrange pastry rectangles side by side on an ungreased large baking sheet.
Make a 1/2-inch border around each pastry rectangle by lightly scoring a line parallel to each edge. Prick pastry inside border all over with a fork.
Strain rhubarb mixture through a sieve set over a bowl, reserving liquid. Top 1 pastry rectangle (within border) with half of rhubarb, overlapping slices slightly. Repeat with remaining pastry and rhubarb.
Bake until pastry is puffed and golden (underside of pastry should also be golden), about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, boil reserved rhubarb liquid in a small saucepan, skimming foam if necessary, until reduced to about 1/4 cup, 15 to 18 minutes. The glaze will become medium thick
Transfer tarts to a rack. Brush rhubarb and pastry with glaze and sprinkle with zest.

Dessert
Blackberry mousse terrine  Print Recipe


Serves: 10
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
5 ½ cups blackberries or raspberries
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 egg yolk
1/2 light sour cream
1 1/2 whipping cream
Reserve 1/2 cup berries for garnish.
In food processor or blender, purée remaining berries. Press through sieve into bowl to remove seeds and make about 2 cups. Stir in lemon juice.
In top of heatproof bowl over simmering water, stir 1 cup of the purée with 1 cup of the sugar. Add eggs and egg yolk; whisk for about 10 minutes or until thick enough to leave trail after whisk is pulled through the bowl. Let cool to room temperature. Fold in sour cream.
Whip cream until firm; fold into purée mixture. Pour into plastic wrap-lined 9x5-inch loaf pan; cover with plastic wrap.
Freeze for at least 8 hours or until solid. In food processor or blender, blend reserved purée and remaining sugar until sugar is dissolved. Uncover terrine and loosen at ends using hot knife; invert onto platter. Remove pan and plastic wrap. Slice using hot dry knife. Pool sauce onto plates; top with terrine. Garnish with reserved berries.

Dessert
Flambeed bananas   Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:10 minutes
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons butter
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup dark rum or bourbon
4 medium bananas, peeled and cut in halves
2 teaspoons butter
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
In a saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, and lemon juice.
Heat to melt butter. Add 1/4 cup rum.
Fry the bananas in butter until golden brown. Pour sauce over, and cook until tender.
Arrange bananas on a serving dish. Heat remaining rum. Ignite and pour over bananas.
Sprinkle with toasted almonds. Serve with rum and raisin ice cream, or cinnamon ice cream.

Dessert
Poppy seed chocolate torte  Print Recipe

30 minutes
Serves: 10
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:45 minutes
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup poppy seeds, ground (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 tablespoons flour
powdered sugar
whipped cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Generously butter and flour 9-inch springform pan.
Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring chocolate until smooth.
Remove chocolate from over water.
Cool chocolate 10 minutes. Beat 3/4 cup sugar, butter and vanilla extract to blend.
Add egg yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add melted chocolate; beat until just combined. Mix in poppy seeds.
Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry.
Fold half of beaten egg whites into chocolate mixture.
Fold flour into remaining beaten whites. Fold egg white mixture into chocolate mixture.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Spread to level.
Bake until tester inserted in center of torte comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Transfer pan to rack and cool completely.
Remove pan sides.
Sift powdered sugar over torte. Serve with whipped cream.

Dessert
Chocolate almond cake  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 50 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
for the COCOA SPONGE CAKE:
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon all purpose flour
4 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup all purpose flour sifted together with 1/4 cup cocoa powder
for the cocoa syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder

for the chocolate mousse filling:
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate
2 cups heavy cream, whipped until stiff
1/2 cups sliced almonds, toasted
3 ounces chocolate for curls
the cocoa sponge cake:
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 8-inch springform pan. With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites, slowly adding the sugar, and continue to whip until stiff.
Beat in the egg yolks, then gradually fold in the flour sifted together with cocoa powder. Pour the batter into the cake mold and bake for 15 to 18 minutes Remove from heat and unmold on a pastry rack to cool.
For the cocoa syrup:
Bring 1/4 cup of water, sugar, and cocoa powder to a boil in a small pot. Remove from heat and set aside.
For the chocolate mousse filling:
Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler. Cool until warm to touch. Fold in the whipped cream until smooth.
To assemble:
Place the cake on a round cake circle.
Split the cake horizontally into 2 equal disks with a serrated knife. Brush the bottom disk with half of the cocoa syrup.
Spread half of the chocolate filling over the cake, then sprinkle with half of the almonds. Cover with the top disk.
Repeat the same process with the syrup, filling, spreading some filling around the sides.
Decorate the sides with almonds, and the top with chocolate curls.

Dessert
Blueberry basic pie filling   Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:35 minutes
4 cups blueberries
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup lemon juice
Mix blueberries, sugar and lemon juice in a heavy saucepan.
Bring to boil, stirring frequently. Mix cornstarch with enough water to make a paste. Pour into the berry mixture, stirring constantly until thick. Cool.
The mixture can be cooled and stored orpPour into unbaked pie shell and bake at 400 degrees for about 35 minutes or until crust is golden.

Dessert
Country apple cake  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 teaspoons milk
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
3 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon dark rum
1 pinch salt
3 large baking apples
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream in an electric mixer soft butter, sugar, and vanilla.
Mix in milk, flour, cornstarch. Beat in eggs one by one.
Stir in baking powder, rum, and salt.
Spoon in an 8-inch buttered round mold. Peel and slice 3 apples.
Stick slices in batter.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes.

Dessert
Apple strudel  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
6 phyllo sheets
1/2 cup melted butter
3 cups diced apples, peeled and cored
1/2 cup raisins
3 tablespoons dark rum
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
2 ounces melted butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon melted butter
confectioners's sugar
vanilla ice cream
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Brush phyllo leaves with melted butted.
Stack together to fit in a baking sheet.
Soak raisins in dark rum.
Brown dry bread crumbs with melted butter.
In a mixing bowl, combine apples, raisins, crumbs, brown sugar,
chopped walnuts, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice.
Mix ingredients well.
Spoon filling on the lower end of phyllo in a heap, lengthwise.
Roll strudel like a jelly roll. Brush top with 1 tablespoon melted butter.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until apples are soft.
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Measures of non liquid ingredients



Non-liquid ingredients in volume converted
into weight using the table below.
For products not included, use a metric scale
Weight of specific 'ingredients in grams

Ingredient

1 cup

3/4 cup

2/3 cup

1/2 cup

1/3 cup

1/4 cup

2 tablespoons

All-purpose wheat flour 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
All-purpose sifted wheat flour 110 g 80 g 70 g 55 g 35 g 27 g 13 g
White sugar 200 g 150 g 130 g 100 g 65 g 50 g 25 g
Powdered sugar/Icing sugar 100 g 75 g 70 g 50 g 35 g 25 g 13 g
Brown sugar normally packed 180 g 135 g 120 g 90 g 60 g 45 g 23 g
Corn flour 160 g 120 g 100 g 80 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Cornstarch 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
Rice (not-cooked) 190 g 140 g 125 g 95 g 65 g 48 g 24 g
Macaroni (uncooked) 140 g 100 g 90 g 70 g 45 g 35 g 17 g
Couscous (uncooked) 180 g 135 g 120 g 90 g 60 g 45 g 22 g
Quick oatmeal (uncooked) 90 g 65 g 60 g 45 g 30 g 22 g 11 g
Table salt 300 g 230 g 200 g 150 g 100 g 75 g 40 g
Butter / Margarine 240 g 180 g 160 g 120 g 80 g 60 g 30 g
Shortening 190 g 140 g 125 g 95 g 65 g 48 g 24 g
Fruits and légumes chopped 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
chopped walnuts 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Nuts /ground almonds 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
Fresh bread crumbs (not packed) 60 g 45 g 40 g 30 g 20 g 15 g 8 g
Dry bread crumbs 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Parmesan grated 90 g 65 g 60 g 45 g 30 g 22 g 11 g
Chocolate chips 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 38 g  19 g
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As the sun rises or sets in Belgium

"May every sunrise hold more promise, and every sunset hold more peace."

The {Page Turner} E-Cookbooks Library on a world cooking journey
35 Recipes

3 Appetizers

7 Main dishes

12 Side dishes

13 Desserts