Tokyo Desserts

Recipe:

375 grams bread flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon pepper

5 grams sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon instant dry yeast

100 grams mashed potatoes (cooked mashed potatoes)

30 grams butter (room temperature)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary

200 grams water

1 egg mixed for egg wash

1. Using a stand mixer, mix the flour, salt, pepper, yeast, sugar, rosemary & water in the stand mixer until the mixture is well incorporated. Add the mashed potatoes and continue to mix. Lastly, add the butter and mix until it is becomes smooth.
2. Put on a flat surface and finish kneading until the dough is soft and supple. 
3. Oil the bottom & sides of a bowl and put the dough inside. Cover with wrap. Let sit in a warm place for about 1 hour or until bread doubles in size.
4. Remove dough from bowl. Cut dough into 2 equal pieces and roll into 2 balls. Place each piece side-by-side in a buttered bread pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for about 1 hour in a warm place. Decorate with several pieces of rosemary and lightly brush with egg wash before baking.
5. Preheat the oven and bake at 200 C. for about 45- 50 minutes. After baking, let cool for about 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Cool completely before slicing.

Dinner is ready! We can't always eat dessert so for a quick dinner I have replaced the traditional meat sauce for these tacos with fish.

Delicious soup for a summer Sunday lunch

This soup really is super easy and quick to make, and I'm not exaggerating. The fresh vegetables are a delicious match. Before serving be sure to chill for an hour or two and it is really the right accompaniment for a summer sandwich.

Recipe

1/2 cup (125 mL) cold water
Juice of 1 lime
1 ripe avocado
1 cucumber, roughly chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, roughly chopped
1/4 cup (80 mL) fresh basil leaves
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp  salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1/2 cup (125 mL) low-fat sour cream (for garnish)
Zest of 1 lime (for garnish)



Serves 4

Lunch is ready!

Layers of potato, ham & spinach add a great flavor

If you are tired of traditional quiches and looking for a new twist try this recipe. This quiche has layers of potato, spinach and ham. Also, the traditional milk has been replaced with a Béchamel sauce which gives it a nice deep flavor.

If you serve this quiche with just a soup and salad, you would still have a hearty dinner. Also, this is great to make ahead of time and just pop in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.

I have skipped cheese in this recipe to save on calories but feel free to add it back.

This is a recipe that allows for personalization -- substitute the spinach with asparagus or eggplant, etc.

Here you go for the recipe:

Crust:
200 grams sifted flour
85 grams butter cut into cubes (cold)
1 egg
pinch of salt and sugar

1. If you use a food processor, add the flour to the processor bowl with the cold butter and sugar and salt and quickly blend. Add in the egg and blend again.
2. Remove from the bowl and lightly knead together to mix well and then cover with plastic wrap. Put in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before rolling out.

Filling:
3 potatoes
4 eggs
1/2 package fresh spinach
150 grams ham or bacon
1 onion
35 grams flour
300 cc milk

1. Peel and slice the potatoes. Boil until just soft. Drain.
2. Wash the spinach and remove the stems.
3. Fry the ham (or bacon) until just browned. Drain on a paper towel.
4. Slice the onion and fry in a pan with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil until soft. Add the flour and mix with a spoon - slowly add in the milk and mix until the mixture starts to thicken. Turn off the heat.
5. Mix the eggs in a bowl and add #4 above in portions and mix with a small whisk.
6. Roll out the dough to fit a 20 cm tart pan. Fit the dough around the inside of the tart pan and cut off the extra.
7. Spread a little of the egg mixture to the bottom of the tart pan then layer with potatoes, ham, spinach. Add more of the egg mixture and another layer of the ingredients.
8. Pour the remaining egg mixture on top and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for about 40 minutes.

Hearty dinner or lunch!