Flourless Honey-Orange Chocolate Muffins - Perfect Breakfast for your Valentine

How could you go wrong with muffins that marry the best flavors: orange, honey and chocolate? These are divine with a delicate cup of Café au lait and freshly whipped cream cheese.

Pumpkin Soufflé with Turkey Bacon and Feta

The pumpkin season is upon us. Well, everything is pumpkin now. I was in an elegant and sophisticated mood a few days ago, searching for some recipes for Friday family dinner.  Bobby Flay's Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Spicy Caramel Apple Sauce sounded appetizing, but a little sweet for my taste at the moment. My friend, Monica, was telling me about an amazing dinner she had at Bobby's Messa Grill in Las Vegas. I never been in Las Vegas myself - Neon Lights hotels looks inviting. I would like to try many dishes cooked by famous chefs in upscale Las Vegas restaurants.



Oh, dear, I need a vacation :-)



Anyway, here is my creative fat-free Pumpkin Soufflé with Turkey Bacon and Feta.



Pumpkin Soufflé with Turkey Bacon and Feta

It's a fat free, sugar free and flowerless, but my Pumpkin Soufflé is unbelievably delicious:) I need to loose 4 more pounds!

Ingredients:

• 1 cups pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 3 eggs (yolks and whites separate)
• 3 Tbsp. oat bran
• 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp ground allspice
• 1 Tbsp. fresh dill, chopped
• 3/4 cup turkey bacon, chopped
• pinch of salt
• 2-3 Tbsp. feta cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in lower third.

Whisk together milk, cornstarch, spices in a small heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking, then simmer, whisking, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in pumpkin puree. Transfer to a large bowl and cool to room temperature. Add turkey bacon, egg yolks, oat bran, chopped dill and mix together.

Beat egg whites with salt in another large bowl using an electric mixer beat until whites hold stiff, glossy peaks. Fold one third of whites into cooled pumpkin mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Divide mixture among ramekins, sprinkle with feta cheese. Bake soufflés until puffed and golden, 15 to 18 minutes.

Oat Bran Bread with Onions, Mushrooms, Dill and Coriander Seeds

Ingredients:

• 10 Tbsp. oat bran
• 6 Tbsp. wheat bran
• 6 Tbsp. fat free fromage frais or philly, room temp
• 4 eggs, room temp
• 1 packet of fast rise yeast
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 cup mushrooms of your taste, chopped (I used Chanterelles)
• 1 tsp fresh dill
• 1/2 tsp olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Meanwhile, in a ovenproof sauté pan over medium-high heat, warm  the olive oil. When the oil is hot, put chopped onion, mushrooms and sprinkle with the fresh dill. Cook until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.

In the large bowl mix all the ingredients together with mushroom mixture. Leave it to to rise a little for about 20 minutes.

Pour mixture into a loaf pan (or two slam ones), sprinkle with seeds (sometimes I leave the batter on top of the stove for about half an hour to rise a little in the pan one more time, it makes the bread a little lighter in texture). Bake it for about 25-30 minutes until the bread is brown. Check doneness by inserting a skewer which should come out dry. Take out of the pan straight away and leave to cool on a rack.

Chocolate Cake with Poached Pears in Red Wine and Happy Birthday to Everyone Who Was Born in the Month of July!

I had a desire today to bake something special, not only for my Birthday but for everyone who is celebrating Birthday in July. This is an easily prepared dessert with a sophisticated taste. Warm poached pears coated in a rich red wine sauce on a top of chocolate heaven - who could resist?

Happy Birthday Dear Friends, I wish you all very sweet year!


Adapted from Gâteau «Reine de Saba» by Pierre Hermé

Ingredients:

For the cake:

• 5 oz dark chocolate with 60% cocoa, chopped into very small pieces
• 4 Tbsp. butter, room temperature plus more for greasing
• 3 eggs, separate 
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• 1/3 cup potato starch 
• 2/3 cup almond flour 

For the poached pears:

• 4-6 pears, peeled and cored 
• 2 cup red wine, recommend Shiraz or Merlot
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 1 cinnamon stick 
• 1 anise star
• lemon zest from 1 lemon

Directions: 

To make a poached pears: Combine wine, honey, sugar lemon zest, cinnamon stick and anise star, and bring to a boil. When the wine mixture is boiling, turn heat down to a simmer and add the pears. Simmer pears for 25-30 minutes until they are tender and are easily poked through with a fork. Remove pears and let them cool. Boil wine sauce until the liquid has been reduced by half.

To make a cake: Preheat the oven to 325°F.  Butter an 9-inch pan with 2-inch sides.

Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set over but not touching barely simmering water in a saucepan. Heat, stirring, until the chocolate melts, about 2 minutes. Add the butter and continue to stir until the butter melts and is incorporated. Let it cool.

In a bowl, sift together the almond flour and potato starch. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the egg yolks and sugar. Using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat until creamy, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold in the starch mixture and then the chocolate mixture until blended.

In a clean grease-free bowl, using an electric mixer beat the egg whites slowly until they are frothy. Increase the speed, and continue beating until the whites are stiff and glossy. Stir one-fourth of the whites into the batter, then fold in the remaining whites just until incorporated.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and level the top. Bake until the top is risen and crusty and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes.

To serve, top the cake with the poached pears and red wine sauce.