Mint Chocolate Muffins

I found this recipe from a Finnish baking blog "Kinuskikissa". These muffins were really crumbly and nice, I will definitely try them again with different fillings and tastes, this time I used mint truffles. This recipe makes about 16 muffins.

150 g butter

1,5 dl sugar

2 eggs

3,5 dl flour

2 tsp baking powder

2,5 tblsp cocoa powder

1,5 dl milk or cream

150-200 g chocolate

- Beat the butter and sugar until foamy.

- Mix in the eggs one at the time.

- Mix the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder together and sieve into the batter, adding milk at the same time.

- Crush half of the chocolate and mix into the batter. Leave half of the chocolate into chunks and use them as hearts of the muffins as shown in the pictures.

- Bake at 225 degrees in the middle shelf of the oven for 12-15 minutes.

Thai Curry

This is one of many ways to make a thai curry and an easy introduction to the cuisine. You can use any vegetables you like and make the curry paste to your own taste adding more chilies if you like it hot.

Curry paste:

2-3 fresh chilies (or to taste)

4 cloves garlic

1 - 1.5 inches fresh ginger

1/2 onion

handful of fresh coriander

lemongrass (preferably fresh, I had to use jarred lemongrass)

soy sauce (or fish sauce)

oil for frying

about 500 ml coconut milk

200 g mushrooms (chuncks)

1 pepper (sliced/chuncks)

1 small courgette

1/2 block tofu (small chuncks)

salt/soy sauce/ fish sauce

lime juice

fresh coriander

- Roughly chop all the curry paste ingredients before blending, blend until smooth.

- Fry the curry paste on medium heat for about 10 minutes, then add the coconut milk and bring to boil.

- Add all the vegetables and tofu, simmer until cooked, about 20-25 minutes

- Season to taste, add some lime juice if required and garnish with some fresh coriander.

- Serve with rice or noodles.

Baba Ghannouj

Baba Ghannouj is best served with freshly baked bread.

2 aubergines

1/4 red onion (finely chopped)

1 clove garlic (crushed)

1 peeled tomato (chopped)

1 tblsp tahini

lemon juice

salt

parsley (finely chopped)

- Half the aubergines lengthwise, Place them the peel side up on an oiled oven dish and grill until soft.

- Scoop the flesh out, mash or blend and add onion, garlic, tomato and tahini. Season to taste with salt and lemon juice and garnish with fresh parsley.