Marinated Oranges with Meringue topping

After all the holiday meals this dessert is light and refreshing. Citrus fruits are a great source of vitamin C, that is for sure useful during the cold winter month. The meringue reminds me of the beautiful mountains in Switzerland. I grew up surrounded by hills and on sunny days you could see the mountains in the distance. We spend many vacations renting a Chalet in the mountains and hiking every day in a still almost untouched surrounding. Whenever we visit my family, I soak in all that beauty, and make lots of pictures too:)

Here in Canada we have the beautiful Rocky Mountains but they are far away from Ontario where we live. The landscape here is pretty flat.

Marinating the oranges gives it a special touch, but it also tastes great without alcohol. I dusted the meringue with a little bit of icing sugar to mimic the snow covered mountain tops;)

 

 

 

Marinated Oranges with Meringue topping

• 3 Oranges; blood oranges, Grapefruit…
• 2 Mandarins
• 100ml Orangejuice
• 2tbsp Cointreau, Rum, Schnapps…

• 4 eggwhites
• 1pinch of salt
• 3tbsp honey, or sugar
• 1tsp orange zest

 

-Cut oranges and mandarins in thin slices, remove white skin. Layer in a baking dish and cover with the alcohol and orangejuice. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

-In a medium bowl whip eggwhites with the salt until soft peaks form then add honey and whip until stiff and shiny. Add orange zest and fold it gently under the eggwhites. Cover the fruit with the egg mixture and bake immediatly in a 200C preheated oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

-Dust with some icing sugar and serve warm.

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

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Gingerbread Latte

A Latte sounds a little fancier then a Coffee Creamer, but that is what I am using this recipe for. I do not buy flavored Creamers at the store, simply because they are full of sugar and artificial flavorings-does not taste so yummy after all if you think of it.

Since my family I have been a little sensitive to milk products I switched to nut milks. There are some good products out there, but you really have to read the ingredients. I have been making my own nut milks before as well, but I found a good brand and I find it is cheaper and easier like that.

For my coffee I like something a little creamier so I have been looking for the perfect coconut milk. That was pretty annoying…I was looking for canned versions but most brands contain stuff that I just do not want in my milk. After searching in different stores I found one brand that contain only two ingredients: 60% coconut extract and water and they also have a Tetra Pak with 85% coconut extract and water. I really like that:)

The Latte/Creamer is infused with spices and molasses to taste and smell like Gingerbread. If you’re using it as a creamer the recipe is perfect with just the coconut milk, but if you would like to use it as a Latte, usually a Latte contains coffee, but here it serves as a fancy word for a milk drink;) I would suggest mixing it with almond milk, to lighten it up a bit.

 

Gingerbread Latte/Creamer

• 2cups            coconut milk (full fat)
• 4tbsp            molasses
• 1                     cinnamon stick
• 5                    cloves
• 3                    star anise
• piece            ginger, peeled

 

-In a medium saucepan combine milk and molasses, bring to a boil, mix well. Reduce heat, add spices and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep for at least 30 minutes. Remove spices.

-Store in fridge for 1 week.

-Use cold or warm as a coffee creamer or warm it up and mix with some almond milk or milk of your choice for a latte. Also great for kids:)

 

Love the smell of these spices!

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Gingerbread Brownies

This morning I started decorating our house for Christmas. Hanging up lights on the windows and bringing out Candles…I know I am probably late compared to most people…I saw lots of decorated Christmas trees and such in November but that is just a little to early for me. Now it is December and I am finally getting into the spirit;)

I just love the smell of spices, especially Cinnamon. It is such a warming comforting smell! I do use it every day, all year-in my muesli, tea, coffee… Cinnamon is a very healthy lovely spice.

What better way to get into the holiday spirit then with some Gingerbread smell in the air:-)

 

Gingerbread Brownies

• 1/4cup    butter
• 1cup        dark chocolate, chopped or bittersweet choc. chips
• 1/3cup     molasses
• 1cup         brown sugar (the recipe calls for 1c sugar and 1/4c brown sugar)
• 2 large    eggs
• 1cup        flour (I used spelt flour)
• 1/2tsp     sea salt
• 1tsp         cinnamon
• 1tsp         ginger, freshly grated

 

-Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Grease a 9×9 inch baking dish, or line with parchment paper.

-Melt butter and chocolate, remove from heat.

-In a bowl whisk molasses with sugar, whisk in eggs. Add butter and chocolate, mix well.

-Add flour, salt, cinnamon and ginger until just incorporated.

-Pour in prepared dish and bake for 20-30 minutes.

-Let cool in dish. Cut into squares and dust with some icing sugar.

 

 

 

 

(recipe adapted from ihearteating)

 

 

Happy Holidays!