Apple Tartelettes

Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger ft.Christina Aguilera

Just finished watching Victoria Secret Fashion Show 2011 to increase my motivation to keep exercising.

It's really helpful!

Apple Tartelettes(5 servings)

Ingredients:

For the shell:

1/4 cup softened butter

2 tablespoons blanched and grounded almonds

60g confectioners' sugar

3/4 cup wheaten flour

1 egg yolk

a pinch of salt

For the apple filling:

6-7 medium size apples

1/2 cup water

3-4 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

For the apple topping:

2-3 medium size apples

a pinch of brown sugar

a pinch of cinnamon

Instructions:

1.Take a bowl, whisk the butter and grounded almonds there(I used a fork for whisking). Add confectioners' sugar and mix everything thoroughly. Put the flour and the salt in, beat the egg yolk in. Whisk a mixture for a couple of minutes. Then wrap the batter in the plastic food wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour.

2.Apple filling: peel and chop the apples, put them in a small pot. Pour 1/4 of the water, add sugar and vanilla. Cook this mixture on the law heat for 40-45 minutes. From time to time, pour some more water.

3.Put the dough in the small tartellete pans. Divide the batter into 5 parts and then using your fingers form the shell and press the dough to the sides of each baking pan. Place them in the refrigerator.
4.Apple topping: peel the apples, take the seeds out. Cut the apples into slices.
5.Fill each tartelette with apple mixture, put the apple slices on the top and sprinkle some cinnamon and brown sugar.
6.Heat the oven to 180 degrees(Celsius) and bake about 45 minutes.


YUUUMMI!!!

Recipe source: this amazing blog!

Marzipan Candy

It's the third time I made those perfect marzipan candy: firstly they were made before holidays, as the presents to my beloved ones, the second time my BFF and me made them on New Year's Eve(it was the cosiest evening/night/morning/day in my whole life!) and the third time: I wanted to surprise my girl before she comes back to England, so I made some of them for her:)

And oh, in some photos you see what a gift I've got for Christmas from my girl! What can be better in the winter than hot chocolate? Mm. Of course, she also baked some cookies, but they were so delicious that my family and I immediately ate them and I didn't have a chance to take a photo.

The recipe: 

Marzipan Candy(makes about 28 pieces)

Ingredients:

150g almonds

120g confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons water

1-1,1/2 tablespoon brandy

a few drops almond essence

60g dark chocolate(which contains at least 70% cocoa)

120g chopped and fried peanuts(I bought them, but I think it's also possible to make them at home, of course, if you have some spare time)


Instructions:
1.Submerge almonds in some boiling water(it's better to divide almonds in some, for example, five parts(each of them contains about thirty almonds) and just then submerge them in the water, as then the almonds will stay wet and it'll be easier to peel them) and wait about three minutes. Take almonds from the water and peel the skin. Now you have blanched almonds.
2.Ground all the almonds by using coffee-mill. Add confectioners' sugar and mix thoroughly. Pour the water and brandy in, drip some drops of almonds essence and mix everything once again(but don't pour too much liquids, as then the marzipan will be too sticky and you won't be able to form a perfect shape).
3.Now you can start forming small balls(take a teaspoon of marzipan and form a ball between both of your palms, but not fingers). Place them on the baking paper.
4.Take a small pot, pour in some water and heat it. Put a bowl on the pot and melt the chocolate there(as I said, use the dark chocolate which contains at least 70% cocoa, as the marzipan paste is quite sweet). Then wait about 5-10 minutes, because we need the chocolate not to be too runny.
5.Take one marzipan ball, dip it in to the melted chocolate, then quickly take it out with a teaspoon and put it in the plate with the chopped and fried peanuts. Roll each candy until the whole chocolate layer is covered with peanuts. Now you just have to wait a few hours that the chocolate could stiffen.


YUUUMMI!!!