Fruity gazpacho

Inspired by a flavoured Minted Peach and Tomato Salad recipe from Martha Stewart and by my newfound love for gazpachos.
Directions: assemble the salad as per recipe and them run it through a blender. Save the oil for the final touch [instead of mixing it]: drizzle a teaspoon [or two] on the surface of your newly created gazpacho. Don't forget the ice cubes and the mint garnish.
Couldn't decide on the presentation.

Using a glass is more efficient since it tastes so good you don't have the patience to spoon it into your mouth.

White mushroom delight

White pleurotus (oyster mushrooms) and white champignons were my mushrooms of choice for this full-of-texture half-creamed soup.

I had the luck of finding baby white pleurotus, velvety and cream-coloured and resembling a citrus-like fruit as per taste.

Sauteed them in butter along with the white champignons, used herbs and milk and no vegetable or chicken stock.

Didn't cook the mushrooms until totally softened, becasue I like a texture in my cream soups. Topped with some of the very same white mushrooms, a handful of croutons and a little bunch of cilantro.

Used some saffron to lend a warmer color to my otherwise perfect soup.

Spring frozen yogurt

Strawberries are already flooding the markets so having a nice refreshing dessert featuring them should be cliche. However, if strawberries and cream is too cliche for you, here's an idea that you can use for dessert or a healthy breakfast.

Turn your fresh strawberries into a quick jam by adding just a bit of sugar and placing them on low heat for as much as you like; this will release their flavours. Then scoop some of this quick jam and some full-fat yogurt into a bowl.

Stir them and place the mixture into a mold which you can remove easily when frozen. Choose a dome-shaped glass or cup. Cover with clingfilm and freeze - I froze it overnight and ate it for breakfast accompanied by an equal amount of strong black coffee.

Although I enjoyed it alone in the comfort of my cozy couch watching TV and wondering if I should get out of my pajamas I couldn't help styling it up a bit by adorning it with a cooked fruit and a little bunch of basil leaves.

Homemade chicken liver pâté

I first came across this delicious recipe from BBC GoodFood about a year ago. I've prepared it quite a few times since, preferring to use thyme only and no garlic - and sometimes I blended in by hand a bit of very finely chopped onion.

Orange muffins

You start with a crave for orange goodies.

Make sure the following are handy:

• 1  3/4 cup cake flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 large eggs, separated and whites beaten until stiff
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 stick of butter, softened

Combine butter, sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla in a mixing bowl.  Cream these ingredients together thoroughly. 

Mix flour, salt, and baking powder together in a separate mixing bowl.  Add dry ingredients to creamed ingredients 1/3 at a time  alternating with adding portions of the orange juice to the creamed mixture. 

Fold in beaten egg whites.  Spoon batter into cupcake liners until 1/2 full. Bake in a 350F/180Celsius preheated oven for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Personal note: I did not use a thermometer so I preheated the oven on "high" then left the trays in the oven on "medium" for 20 minutes. Worked out well.

Enjoy.