Mine all mine =)

Living with flatmates with clashing schedules tends to lead to a 'cook for yourself' system we have established. Truth be told, as much as I enjoy cooking with/ for friends, I honestly love and prefer cooking for and by myself, I find it harder to make dishes for many people than I do for just one. You can afford to be decadent, and as selfish as it sounds, when cooking for one, the only person you have to please is..well...yourself!

Beef Stroganoff for One
Serves 1

• 120g Beef stewing steak, cut into chunks
• 15g butter
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• half an onion sliced
• 1 very large button mushroom
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp white wine vinegar
• 3/4 cup beef stock
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 1 tsp mustard
• 1 tbsp white wine
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• salt and black pepper to taste

1. In a pan, heat oil and melt the butter. fry beef chunks till brown. Season with salt, pepper and paprika
2. Push the beef to one side and stir in the flour with the beef juices. Add the onions and mushrooms and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, then push to the side with the beef chunks.
3. Pour in the beef stock and vinegar, stirring constantly. Bring to the boil then lower the heat, stir in mustard. Then cover and simmer gently for about 30minutes or until meat is tender. If sauce is too thin, stir in cornflour.
4. Five minutes before serving, stir in the sour cream, and white wine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
   
   
   Serve with rice or noodles.
   ..enjoy =)

Today I baked...

Almond topped coffee cake

I haven't baked in weeks due to being swamped with work. But its all done now!! =) I made this as a treat to myself and a pick me up for my sister who is swamped with projects now.

This cake can be prepared overnight and stored in fridge to be baked the next morning, so its perfect for those busy mornings. Admittedly I'm not much of a morning person, for some reason my mind and body just don't seem to agree with it haha. I don't have problems waking up, but getting me out of bed is a nightmare. I' m a serial lazer, I have to laze in bed for approximately 45minutes before I'm adequately awake. However THIS morning, the thought of waking up to the smell of cinnamon-y, almond-y goodness got me snip snap out of bed! The sour cream in the recipe is what gives it a wonderful moist texture and it contrasts beautifully with the cracked brown sugar and almond topping.

Almond topped coffee cake
Serves 6

• 85 g butter, softened
• 100 g sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (I used a mixture of muscado dark sugar and light brown sugar)
• 1/4 cup chopped almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Glaze

• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Add in egg and beat well.
2. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg together. Gradually add the flour to the creamed mixture alternately with the sour cream. Pour mixture into baking dish.
3. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, chopped almonds and cinnamon; sprinkle over coffee cake. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. Next day. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 170 degrees celcius for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
5. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Stir confectioners' sugar and milk together; drizzle over warm coffee cake.
   
   
   Enjoy with a warm mug of coffee =)