Katya's Kitchen

Spiced Chocolate
Cozy drink, originating from ancient Mayan culture, this hot chocolate is sure to delight lovers of exotic flavors. See more history at The Spruce Eats.

Ingredients
- ½ pound raw cocoa nibs, or a chunk of raw cocoa
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup half and half
Directions

Step 1

Break down the cocoa chunk into small nibs. Pour half and half into the small pot and turn on the low heat. Put all cocoa into the heated half and half.

Step 2

Add pepper and sugar while stirring the chocolate mixture until smooth and make sure it doesn’t boil. Once heated through, take off the burner and let rest for 3 mins.

Step 3

Use it to dip berries or cookies, or cover seasonal sweets with.
October 3, 2024
Clam Chowder
New England favorite, this delicious filling dish will leave nobody hungry.

Ingredients
- 6 x 6.5 oz cans of clams
- 1 chopped onion
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped carrots
- 3 cups water
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 large potatoes
- 2 tbsp flour
- 3 cups milk
Directions

Step 1

Peel and cube the potatoes, leave them to boil in a large pot with 3 cups of water. Add 1/2 of the chopped celery. Heat for 10-15 minutes until potatoes are tender.

Step 2

On a large skillet, heat 2 tbps oil, chopped onion, carrots, the other half of the celery, bay leaves and 1 tsp salt. Heat for 6-7 minutes on medium-low until carrots are tender. Add flour and mix well.

Step 3

Stir the carrot mixture into the potatoes. Add milk and 1 tsp salt. Heat for 2 mins on low heat, not letting milk to boil. Add clams with juice. Stir well and heat on low for 5 minutes. Serve hot, or refrigerate.
October 1, 2024

dinner, food, recipe, recipes, soup
Medium Rare Filet Mignon
This delicacy is a very filling source of protein. I like filet mignon served with a spinach and apple salad.

Ingredients
- 18 ounces filet mignon cut beef
- 1 tablespoon high temperature frying oil like avocado or sunflower oil
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions

Step 1

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cover the filet mignon in oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and let stand. Put the skillet on medium heat.

Step 2

Fry the beef on a hot skillet for 6 minutes on one side, and 3 minutes on the other. Immediately place the skillet into the oven for another 5 minutes.

Step 3

Check the inner temperature to be 130° to 135° F (54° to 57° C). Take the beef out, let it rest 2-3 minutes, then serve.
September 30, 2024
Berry Puff Pastry Tarts
Delectable treat, easy way to bring joy to the whole family.

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 packs of frozen puff pastry sheet
- 1 lb blueberries, strawberries or raspberries
Directions

Step 1

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Heat the whipping cream in a small pot on low heat until hot but not boiling. In a mixing bowl beat 2 egg yolks with sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. When the cream is heated, pour the cream slowly into the egg mixture, and mix until combined.

Step 2

Pour the mixture into a shallow dish or a muffin pan. Place the pan into a larger heatproof pan filled with water halfway. Bake the custard on the water bath for 15-17 minutes until it thickens. Remove from the oven and let cool in room temperature or fridge. Keep the oven on at 350 degrees.

Step 3

Roll the pastry sheet until desired thickness and cut into squares. Use the remaining 2 yolks to brush the edges of the squares, for pleasant color. Place the squares in the oven for 20-25 minutes, depending on thickness of the dough.

Step 4

When the dough is ready, remove it from the oven and cut the first 1-2 layers of the dough from the center to make space for the filling.

Step 5

Add a spoonful of the custard filling in the center of the square. Add berries on top of the custard. Repeat with all pieces. Serve cooled to room temperature or refrigerated.
September 29, 2024

dessert, desserts, food, recipe, recipes
Berry Marbling for Cheesecake
Beautiful creation ready to delight any dessert lover.

Ingredients
- ½ cup frozen blueberries
- 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
Directions

Step 1

Make cheesecake batter (see our basic batter in Blueberry Brandy Cheesecake Recipe).

Step 2

Combine ½ cup frozen blueberries with 2 tbsp confectioners sugar. Heat on medium for 5-7 minutes until the berries thaw. Turn to low and heat for another 25-30 minutes. Pass the berry mixture through the fine sieve into a small bowl; discard solid pieces.

Step 3

Separate half of the mixture into a larger bowl. Mix some of the cheesecake batter with half of the berry puree in the larger bowl. Now there are 3 substances: plain cheesecake batter (I) , batter with berries (II) , and just the berry puree (III).

Step 4

Pour 2/3 of plain cheesecake batter (I) onto the prepared crust (step 1 above). Add berry batter (II), then pour the rest of the plain batter into the pan. Top with the berry puree (III). Using a knife, swirl the batter layers together, ‘figure 8’ moves work well. Bake as instructed above. Enjoy chilled.
September 27, 2024
Blueberry Brandy Cheesecake
This is a very filling cheesecake recipe, can serve about 20 guest party.

Ingredients

Crust:
- 6 ounces saltine soup crackers
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
Batter:
- 24 ounces cream cheese (3x 8oz packs)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- 16 ounces sour cream
- 8 ounces heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons brandy / cognac / liquor
- ½ cup blueberries
- 1 tablespoon confectioners sugar
Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 9 inch springform pan with aluminum foil. Pulse 6 oz saltine crackers in a blender, then put into the foil lined pan. Pour 5 tbsp melted unsalted butter, knead with hands until well combined, press the mixture into bottom of the pan to make a firm crust. Bake for 11-13 minutes. Take out and let cool.

Step 2

In a large bowl, mix 3x8oz packages of cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, alternating with sugar, mixing just enough to incorporate. Mix in sour cream, heavy cream, vanilla and brandy until smooth.

Step 3

Pour 1 ½ cup of the cheesecake batter into a separate bowl. Mix ½ cup blueberries and 1 tbsp confectioners sugar in a blender. Pour into the 1 ½ cup cheesecake batter and mix until well combined.

Step 4

Pour cheesecake mixture on top of the cooled crust. Pour 1 ½ cup blueberry batter into the main batter, swirl with a knife to make a marble pattern. Bake in preheated to 350 degrees oven on water bath for 1 hour. Turn the oven off, and let the cake sit in the oven for another hour. Chill in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Tips
1. Line springform pan with aluminum foil before baking the crust, to prevent water from getting into the cheesecake batter.
2. Mixing cream cheese first, then eggs and sugar, then the liquid ingredients yields a smoother cheesecake, and better incorporated flavors. I tried mixing in other order, and all at once, and it wasn’t as great.
3. It helps to have cream cheese heated to room temperature before mixing.
4. Grand Marnier Liquor or Ararat 5 Star Armenian Brandy are superb in this recipe
5. Prevent cracking by running a knife around the cheesecake before putting it in the fridge. This separates the cheesecake from the pan, allowing it to shrink from the sides and not forming cracks in the center.
September 25, 2024