WIENER SCHNITZEL RECIPE . DREAMS OF VIENNA

END  2011 AND NEW YEAR 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL, MAY 012 BRINGS  LOTS OF JOY TO  OUR LIVES

WIENER SCHNITZEL RECIPE FOR NEW YEAR -  (END OF THIS PAGE)

MY NEW YEAR DREAMS – REMAINS A FANTASY……

I don’t remember how it started, but I was thinking  about  the coming New Year celebrations….

Suddenly I have the strong urge to go to Vienna (Wien), Austria to celebrate New Year, but its such a pity, its too late and really a last minute thought, so I cant go.- period …and anyway its very cold ,as now its winter time..

Of roses and sacher torte

But I feel like sharing my dreams of Vienna with my readers… I was in Vienna about 5 years ago, in very early spring.. we went in a group and it was a fantastic holiday…the famous Blue Danube,  The Palace and Gardens of Schonbrunn- with very  beautiful and fine  paintings/ murals that covers the whole ceilings in so many of the palace rooms/ halls  and also The famous Swarovski crystals in jewellery fashion and accessories- amongst other attractions..

But the ones that I didn’t get to go and I miss the experience so much  even until today. are:

1-A night at the theatre/ concert  at  The Vienna State Opera . I dream of going to the State Opera building  on a horse carriage, with my honey,  watching  the Vienna Philharmonic  and  the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera performing classical music - especially like Viena classics. composed by brilliant and world  famous Vienna born composers such as Johann Strauss,  also known as “The Waltz King”. and Ludwig  van Beethoven.

Here is a photo of a horse carriage, taken during my last visit.. very cold, the horses are fully covered with woolen blankets. and attached to the carriage

2- Ballroom  dancing.- Vienna- ball season, the city of waltzes. I imagine I go attend a costume ball, for The New Year celebrations. Go in style with my honey,  use the hotel limo, wear a face mask, pin on the diamond studded gardenia he gave me,  onto  my silk satin ballroom gown, reminiscence of the Victorian era. The evening gowns in the later era of Victorian fashion, had a very low neckline and were worn off the shoulder with sheer shawls and opera-length gloves

Wow ! what a dream… . waltzing away through the night.

In an elite college, where  I  studied - at age thirteen, I learnt how to do the waltz  and one of the song lyrics I vaguely remember goes… “ I had the last waltz with you, two lonely people together, I fell in love with you, the last waltz should last forever”

The last waltz should last forever

My honey will give me a stalk of white rose, ohhh so beautiful…. menu or dine à la carte in the evening and we dine gourmet food, with the musician coming to our table and play a concerto very violinistically  …ohh  so so sweet..

I imagine Mikhail playing a Khachaturian' s violin concerto

menu or dine à la carte in the evening at Anna Sacher

I miss you Vienna…. Until 2013…

RECIPE FROM VIENNA- A  SACHER GOURMET

WIENER SCHNITZEL RECIPE

Ingredients:

8 veal cutlets about 90grams each

4 eggs

200 gm breadcrumb- very fine

100 gm flour, fine

300ml butter

100ml vegetable  or peanut oil

Salt

Limon slices

Fried parsley for garnish

Preparation:

Tenderize the veal to about 2- 4mm and salt on both sides.

 On a flat plate, stir the eggs briefly  with a fork ( the eggs will become too thin if you beat it too much). Lightly coat the cutlets in flour, then dip into the egg and finally, coat in breadcrumbs.

Heat the butter and oil in a large pan ( allow the fat to get very hot) and fry the schnitzels until golden brown on both sides. Make sure to toss the pan regularly so that the schnitzels are surrounded by oil and the crumbling becomes “fluffy”.

Remove and drain on kitchen paper. Fry the parsley in the remaining oil and drain. Place the schnitzels on a warmed plate and serve garnished with parsley and slices of lemon.

Cookig time-  about 5 minutes

Suggested side dishes: Parsley tossed potatoes and salad  (cucumber, tomato, potato or lettuce)

Tips: Make sure  to use high quality , very fine bread crumbs.

Genuine Wiener schnitzels need to be fried in a frying pan, not in a deep fryer.

Butter is essential to give the schnitzels a typical “nutty taste”.

SOME PHOTOS IN 2011,  FROM BLOGGER FRIENDS

From Jasna, Australia- Flowers in Bosnia

  Winter night up north

 Diana's Giant purple mustard from her vegetable garden

                       White orchid from Antalya

ONCE AGAIN, A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR  WISH FROM COOKING VARIETIES- WAN

STRAWBERRY AND ROSE HIP TEA RECIPE. THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF ROSE HIP, STRAWBERRY AND HIBISCUS.

STRAWBERRY AND ROSE HIP TEA RECIPE
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF ROSE HIP, STRAWBERRY AND HIBISCUS.

GARDEN STRAWBERRIES

GARDEN STRAWBERRIES


The garden strawberry is cultivated worldwide for it's fruit, the common strawberry. It has a characteristic aroma, bright red color, juicy texture and sweet. It is eaten fresh or in prepared foods such as preserves, fruit juices, pies, ice creams and yogurts or dried as used in cereal bars. The garden strawberry was first bred in France and have replaced, in commercial production, 


the woodland strawberry, which  was the first strawberry species cultivated in the early 17th century.


Some may experience an allergy eating strawberries, the most common being “oral allergy syndrome” ( OAS) -  a type of food allergy, classified by a cluster of allergic reactions in the mouth in response to eating certain (usually fresh) fruits , nuts and vegetables that usually develops in adults who are hay fever sufferers.  In severe cases, it may cause breathing problems

Two of the many  varieties grown for consumption.

1-Musk strawberry- a native to Europe ( above pic)

2-Wild strawberry or also known as Woodland / Alpine/ European strawberry, is a plant that grows naturally throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It is used for gourmet food (below)
The delicate strawberries are still harvested by hand.

STRAWBERRY TEA RECIPE-..


Ingredients:

1 1/2  cup strawberry fruits

½ cup strawberry leaves-

For both strawberries and leaves, wash clean, soak with salt water for 5 minutes and finally rinse off salt.

1 tablespoon rosehip syrup

Sweetener (optional)1 teaspoon orange zest

3 1/2 cups water

If  there  are no strawberry leaves, substitute

with either  6 pieces hibiscus buds or 1 sachet of green tea
The way to prepare

Boil water with strawberry leaves or substitutes and orange zest, until 2 ½ cups left. Put off fire and stir in sweetener , then leave to cool.

Once cooled, strain away residue. Add in fresh strawberries and blend.

Pour into 2 glasses and add half  tablespoon rosehip syrup for each glass. Add some ice cubes, drink cold.

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF STRAWBERRIES,
 ROSE HIPS AND  HIBISCUS

One cup (144 g) of strawberries contains approximately 45 calories and is an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium  and flavonoids (catechin).  Potassium may help to maintain a healthy blood pressure

Rose hips  contain some vitamin A and B, essential fatty acids and plenty of antioxidant flavonoids

Catechins  is a very powerful anti-oxidant and they oxidize extremely easily. Strawberries, Rose hips, and green tea have  great catechins.

Drinking hibiscus tea can reduce high blood pressure in people with type 2 diabeties.

Flavonoids, found in plants (specifically catechins) are "the most common group of polyphenolic  compounds found  in the human diet .

Flavonoids, a powerful anti-oxidant activity, which may be stronger than those of vitamin C and E, depending on concentrations tested


Catechins can possibly reduce  brain damage caused by strokes-

Catechin helps in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease ( destruction of  brain cells) and Parkinson’s disease (a degenerative brain disease- creating  loss of mobility and speech).

Studies show that flavonoids also have anti-allergy , anti-inflammatory,  anti-microbial, ant-cancer  and anti-diarrheal activities, inhibit  cardiovascular disease

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS. FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

Past few publishings, I have posted on flowers and fruits and relate them to foodie and health benefits aspects.. I have decided to continue posting on flowers/ fruits, until end of the year. With Christmas coming a few days away, I  now do on  flowers associated with Christmas celebrations, which I feel many don’t know… Happy fiesting on all those foodies and happy holidays to all

MISTLETOE UP ON A MOUNTAIN TREE

Mistletoe leaves and young twigs are used by herbalists, and it is popular in Europe, especially  in Germany  for treating circulatory and respiratory system problems.^[

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

1- Poinsettia The ancient Aztecs (ruling tribe in central Mexico at the time of contact with Europe) prized the poinsettia as a symbol of purity. Centuries later, Mexico’s early Christians adopted the poinsettia as their prized Christmas Eve flower. The Mexican poinsettia, known as the Christmas Flower in North America, is used in most Christmas decorations, owing to its bright red color and its blooming season coinciding with the Christmas holiday season.

2- Christmas cactus, also known as orchid cactus, often blooms around Christmas time. Pendulous stems of Christmas cactus make it a great choice for hanging baskets. There are a number of different cactus species sold as "Christmas cactus."

christmas cactus  (top and below)

Schlumbergera , commonly known as Christmas cactus is a small genus of cactus with six species from the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins.

This genus contains the popular house plants known by a variety of names including Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus and Holiday Cactus, which are Schlumbergera cultivars and flower in white, pink, yellow, orange, red or purple

Schlumbergera

3- Christmas rose One plant called Christmas rose is regarded as a true Christmas flower in certain parts of the world. Christmas rose  (serissa) is also known as the "snow rose" or "winter rose." Originally from tropical regions of Asia, cultivated Serissa often blooms during the winter.

Another plant known as Christmas rose is Hellebonus niger

Hellebonus niger

Christmas  rose  Hydrangea -  (common names Hydrangea and Hortensia) is a genus of about 70 to 75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia ( China, Korea, Japan), the Himalayas, and Indonesia) and North and South America.  By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia. 

Hydrangea

4- Holly  is the plant most associated with Christmas in many European countries. Holly wreaths are hung on doors, and sprigs of holly used to trim Christmas puddings.

Holly-Ilex . The species are evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide. Ilex is  native of Afro-Eurasia, Australia and the Americas, The genus includes species of trees, shrubs, and climbers, with evergreen or deciduous foliage and inconspicuous flowers

European Holly Ilex -  Jürgen Howaldt author

Holly (Ilex aquifolium) flowers; male above, female below. Photo User:MPF 

5- Ivy -Like most of the other Christmas flowers, ivy leaves symbolize eternity and resurrection

Ivy, plural ivies (Hedera) is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants,  native to western, central and southern Europe Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and across central-southern Asia, Japan and Taiwan

Hedera helix  Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey

6- Mistletoe  is a Christmas plant whose origin is said to date back to the Pagans. Druid priests used this Christmas plant two hundred years before the birth of Christ in their winter celebrations. A more modern tradition is to exchange kisses under a sprig of mistletoe

European mistletoe attached to a SilverBirch

Mistletoe berries in Wyre Valley

Red mistletoe Hopkins River New Zealand-by William M Connolley

HIBISCUS, ROSELLE AND CALAMANSI TEA RECIPE. ROSELLE LEAVES RECIPE. CALAMANSI RECIPES.

TEA, HERBAL TEA, HIBISCUS, ROSELLE FRUIT AND CALAMANSI

HIBISCUS, ROSELLE AND CALAMANSI TEA RECIPE.

ROSELLE LEAVES RECIPE.

CALAMANSI RECIPES.

TEAS-

Teas are made from the Camellia sinensis leaves. The benefits of tea will be lessened if milk is added to it. There are three types of tea- Green tea, Oolong and Black tea.

Green tea is made by quickly steaming or heating the leaves, to prevent oxidation of catechins and is considered to be the healthiest. Oolong tea, is processed for a longer period than green tea and Black tea is again, a further processing from this, including exposure to heat, light and crushing, thus having  strong flavors due to fermentation.

HERBAL TEA- Other than the above, there a many varieties of herbal tea, which are made from herbs, flowers, fruits and plant roots. Herbal tea does not contain Camellia sinensis as in tea leaves.Their benefits depends on varieties used.

HIBISCUS-

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of my beloved country, Malaysia and Hibiscus syriacus is the national flower of South Korea

The tea made from hibiscus flowers is known by many names around the world. The beverage drink hot or cold is well known for its color, tanginess and flavor.

HIBISCUS, ROSELLE AND CALAMANSI TEA RECIPE

Ingredients:

4 pieces large roselle fruits OR 1 cup for the small variety

6 pieces red hibiscus- size type as in photo.

6 cups of water

3 pieces calamansi/ lime/ limau kasturi

Sweetener- sugar/ palm sugar/ maple syrup

Steep roselle and hibiscus petals in hot water until the colors are leached from them.  Then add in sweetener. Once dissolves, put off fire and and in calamnsi/ lime juice (which turns the beverage from dark brown/red to a bright red). Serve hot or cold

IMAGE-OF-ROSELLE -FRUITS- LARGE

ROSELLE

The roselle is known as rosella in Australia and Indonesia.  Rosel or asam paya or asam susur in Malaysia..

Roselle, in traditional medicine, is used as treatment for several diseases such as hypertension and urinary tract infections

In Africa, especially the Sahel, roselle is commonly used to make a sugary herbal tea.  .

In Thailand, Roselle is drink as a tea, believed to reduce cholesterol.

In Australia, rosella jam has been made since Colonial times

SMALL-VARIETY-ROSELLE-FRUIT-AND -LEAVES( used for cooking)

ROSELLE LEAVES RECIPE (leaves from the small variety)

 

Roselle leaves produce a sour taste when cooked.Cut off leaves  from stems and clean.

1..Saute 2 pieces garlic. Next add half cube chicken stock , 1 cup of blended fresh corn and 5 cups water  After 15 minutes, add in prawns and 5 minutes later, add leaves and stir until crisp tender.

2.. A light sour appetizer soup made from roselle leaves- Blend leaves with 3 cups of water. Saute 2 pieces garlic and half cube chicken stock. Add the blended leaves and pepper. When cooked, remove immediately from cooking pot, onto a bowl. Serve hot.

 CALAMANSI

Calamansi / lime (limau kasturi) believed to have originated from China and widely  cultivated in the Philippines. It is dark green in its unripened state and ripen into a tangerine orange color. A very versatile fruit, use for making drinks, also as a form of acidic seasonings in cooking.

CALAMANSI RECIPES

1..Calamansi and green tea drink recipe

Three pieces calamansi mix with green tea and hot water is good to treat coughs.

2..Calamansi and black pepper drink recipe

Three pieces calamansi mix with powdered black pepper and warm water helps expel phlegm