Czech Foods Recipes

And now for something completely different... as you can probably see, I have been on a bit of an east asian food kick lately.  Best to mix things up a bit!  Since I recently had access to a grill, I thought I'd try my hand at some grilled flatbreads. These are warm, fluffy, and lightly seasoned with rosemary, sea salt, and tiny pools of olive oil goodness. This recipe uses a modified version of my basic pizza dough (using bread flour and longer rising times). You will need: 1 packet quick rise-dry yeast 1 cup water 2 Tbsp oil 1/2 Tbsp sugar 1 tsp salt 2 1/2 cups (strong) bread flour 2 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped Sea salt  Virgin olive oil Yield: 3 large flatbreads or 4 medium 1. Combine dry ingredients: salt, sugar, flour, and yeast in a medium bowl. 2. Heat water to 130F/55C, immediately add water (once heated) and oil. Stir until thick. 3. Turn dough onto floured surface, kneading for 5 minutes. 4. Return dough to bowl and cover with kitchen towel, let sit for 30 mi...

I made Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki a couple months ago.  And then a million times over since then.  We are crazy for Okonomiyaki!  It is not quite like anything I've ever eaten or cooked before.  Familiar flavors, such as the savory pancake and noodles mix with the smokey katsuobushi (bonito fish flakes) and Okonomi sauce which were new to me! I highly recommend heading here for a step-by-step guide to Okonomiyaki .  Or you can find the (I think more common?) Osaka style here . Happy Okonomiyaki-ing!

My husband and I have been greedily trying Japanese food all over London, as we simply cannot get enough!  However, that is an expensive hobby, so at some point we had to start doing our best to reproduce some of the wonderful food we've tried at home.  The recipe for rice balls (below) makes a great vegetarian side dish or would be good for little (or picky!) fingers! Grilled Teriyaki Salmon and Greens Salad You will need: 1/4 cup mirin 1/4 cup sake (cheapest available seems to work fine!) 1/4 cup dark soy sauce 2 tablespoons sugar 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil 400g (14oz) salmon 1/3 cup edamame 100g (3.5oz) fine green beans, blanched 100g (3.5oz) broccoli, blanched 1 cup sushi rice (uncooked) Yield 2 servings 1. Prepare sushi rice by rinsing, soaking for half an hour, and then cook according to package instructions.  You may wish to season it with 1 Tbsp rice vinegar (or to taste). 2. Combine mirin and sake over a medium/low heat for 5 minutes.  Add soy sauce and sugar...

It is time for summer and cookouts!  Well... soon. Very soon.  I may have jumped the gun a bit with a new burger recipe!  As this recipe is focused around the sauce, I will, perhaps once again, jump the gun and assume if you are reading this you already know how to cook a burger, form burger patties, and grill or fry up bacon. You will need: 4 burger patties, seasoned and formed but not cooked 8 thick cut bacon rashers, cooked 4 slices mature cheddar 4 buns, toasted For bourbon sauce you will need: 2/3 cup bourbon 1 cup water 1 Tbsp corn starch (corn flour UK) Pinch of pepper Pinch of salt Pinch of cayenne pepper Pinch of garlic powder 1 Tbsp hickory bbq sauce 2 Tbsp dark soy sauce 1 tsp ground mustard 1 tsp hot sauce (we used Louisiana brand) 2 Tbsp honey 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar Note: It is recommended that you start by making the bourbon sauce and setting it aside while burgers are prepared. 1. In a small pot, heat bourbon, bbq sauce, soy sauce, mustard, hot sau...

This recipe is basically a knockoff of Chicken Karaage.  It utilises the intense ginger flavors and the warming sake typical of Chicken Karaage.  However, I have spun the authentic recipe to my own tastes and way of cooking (for example, I prefer to cook with chicken breast, instead of thighs).  This chicken is extremely tasty, juicy, addictive, and palatable to many picky eaters! You will need for marinade: 4 medium chicken breasts (about 500g/1 lb) 2 tsp ginger paste (or fresh grated ginger) 1/8 tsp garlic powder 1 1/2 Tbsp dark soy sauce 3 Tbsp Sake After marinading, you will need: 3/4 cup flour 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 1/2 tsp salt Oil for deep or shallow frying, I recommend part toasted sesame/part canola oil if shallow frying and canola oil if deep frying 1. The first step is to cut chicken breast into bite size pieces and marinade in a large plastic bag with ginger paste, garlic powder, soy sauce, and sake.  If you are marinading overnight, do not add the s...

This recipe is also perfect for picky eaters, as you can fill them any way an individual desires! Recipes: Recipe for chili lime sauce for beef (Under Lime and Chili Marinade) Recipe for Sriracha Cream Sauce Recipe for battered fish from Jamie Oliver (ignore the chips and mushy peas) For the buns you will need: 1/2 package dried yeast 1/2 cup water (between  120° F–130° F /49° C–55° C) 2 cups flour (suggest using low-gluten bun flour, but not necessary) 1/8 cup sugar 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp vegetable oil Toasted sesame oil (for brushing on outside of buns) 1. Dissolve yeast in the warm water and add 1/2 cup of the flour.  Combine and cover with cloth.  Allow to rise for 45 minutes. 2. Combine vegetable oil, salt, sugar, and 1/4 cup boiling water.  Allow to become room temperature. 3. Add remaining flour. 4. Turn dough onto floured surface and kneed until smooth. 5. Place in large greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth.  Allow to rise for approximately 2 hours or unt...

I loooveed the idea of making something with eggnog this year and finally settled on this! I toyed with the idea of making a white chocolate and eggnog ganache for the inside, however, due to white chocolate's low melting point and adding in the liquid of the eggnog I decided to go with a method sometimes used in fudge making, using marshmallow fluff! However, if you sub some of the cream in a ganache with eggnog I still feel like it might work? Nevertheless, here is my full-proof recipe below! You will need: 1/3 cup eggnog 1 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup butter 1/2 tsp rum flavoring, or to taste 1/2 tsp nutmeg Pinch of cinnamon 1 1/2 cup white chocolate chips 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff 1 lb white candy coating or similar quality white chocolate Nutmeg for garnish Yield: approx 30 truffles 1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together eggnog and sugar. Add butter and keep on a low boil over medium heat for a couple minutes. Add in rum flavoring and marshmallow fluff, and whisk gently. Remo...

I'm not even going to pretend that I know the secret to an authentic mole sauce recipe.  I have perused many recipes and have transformed them into something that suits my taste. Top mole recipes: Thick and flavorful, by AllRecipes Dark and rich, by Nick via Macheesmo Nice and comparatively simple, by EatingWell Interesting flavors and a bit different by  Juliann Esquivel via Just A Pinch As you can see, there are so many different ways to make a mole.  My absolute favorites always feature chocolate or cocoa though!  Give a recipe a try if you have some time, or invent your own version! I've served my chicken mole in small white corn tortillas, as I cannot get enough of the flavor and texture they bring to my tacos.

There are two ways of making this diner favorite, an express way, and from scratch.  To make the crust from scratch, simply crush oreos (or the chocolate biscuit part of the oreo) until you have 1 1/4 cup, combine with a spot of melted butter and press into the base of your pan.  This is baked for about 5 minutes at 350F/175C. The second bit that can be made from scratch is the chocolate fudge.  Chocolate fudge is not difficult to make, you simply melt 1/2 tin condensed milk (that is 400g or about 14 oz) and 175g dark chocolate (about 1 cup dark chocolate chips). This pie can really be an amazing thing to whip together in no time with pre-made ingredients or you can take the time to lovingly prepare it yourself! You will need: 1 9-inch chocolate pie crust base (either prepared or store-bought) 3/4 cup dark chocolate fudge (either prepared or store-bought) 225g (8oz) full fat cream cheese 1 cup smooth peanut butter 1 cup granulated sugar 1 Tbsp butter or margarine 1 tsp va...

I broke out my mini springform pan again, this time for a savory recipe!  Personal Deep-Dish Pizzas! As it is a pizza, you can put any fillings you want in it.  What follows are some filling suggestions and then a general recipe. Filling suggestions: Chicken + Crispy Bacon + BBQ Sauce + Mozzarella Fresh Basil + Fresh Tomatoes + Tomato Sauce +  Pepperoni + Mozzarella + Parmesan Shavings (top) Pepperoni + Spicy Sausage + Tomato Sauce + Mozzarella Chorizo Sausage + Peppers + Tomato Sauce + Mozzarella You will need: 1 packet quick rise-dry yeast 1 cup water 2 Tbsp olive oil 1/2 Tbsp sugar 1 tsp crushed sea salt 2 1/2 cups flour Yield: 2 6-inch deep dish pizzas 1. Combine dry ingredients: salt, sugar, flour, and yeast in a medium bowl. 2. Heat water to 130 F, immediately add water (once heated) and olive oil.  Stir until thick. 3. Turn dough onto floured surface, kneading for 5 minutes. 4. Return dough to bowl and cover with kitchen towel, let sit for 5 minutes.  Now...

Cheesecake #2!  Since these cookies n cream cupcakes were so tasty, I thought I'd work out a recipe for a similar cheesecake.  Enjoy! You will need: 140g (just under 5oz.) Oreos or similar chocolate and cream sandwich biscuits 150g (just over 5oz.) Chocolate biscuits, preferably Oreos with the cream removed 3 Tbsp melted butter 350g (~12oz) full fat cream cheese 200g (~1 cup) granulated sugar 3 eggs 100ml (just under 1/2 cup (.42)) soured cream 1/2 Tbsp flour 2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract You will also need a 6-inch springform pan. 1. Crush 150g chocolate biscuits to a fine sandy texture.  This is best done either in a food processor or in a strong food storage bag with a rolling pin. 2. With your hands, mix crushed biscuits and 3 Tbsp melted butter in the springform pan.  Press around edges to form crust. 3. Crush 140g sandwich biscuits into large pieces.  Set aside. 4. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and cream cheese.  5. Mix in eggs. 6. Mix in flo...

I've been at it again, trying to invent reasonably healthy recipes that actually taste good.  My husband agrees, I have hit the nail on the head with my spicy blended green veggie soup!  This soup uses potato and veggies as thickener instead of a roux or cream. Health! Great recipe for picky eaters as well, no bits if you leave off the garnishes that do not suit your tastes. You will need: 1 small potato 1 clove garlic 1 1/2 spring onion 2 large stalks celery 1 cup broccoli 1/4-1/2 tsp minced green chili (depending on spice preference) 2 1/2 cups water 2 chicken stock cubes (or vegetable stock for veggies) 1 1/2 Tbsp smooth peanut butter 1/4 tsp red chili flakes (for garnish) 1 Tbsp olive oil or cooking spray Yield: 2 large servings 1. Wash and peel potato, chop into chunks and set aside. 2. Slice one clove of garlic and set aside. 3. Wash spring onion, celery, broccoli, and chili. 4. Slice celery, spring onion, and broccoli into large segments, set aside.  If you'd like...

Yesss I have finally perfected a home recipe for the amazing cookie dough cheesecake that I had on holiday at The Cheesecake Factory .  While it's not going to put them out of business anytime soon, this recipe is a fairly straightforward with little chance of failure. Please note, this recipe is for a 6 inch/15cm tin, double the recipe for a full size cheesecake and adjust your cooking times. You will need: Cheesecake Crust: 200g malt biscuits 2 1/2 Tbsp melted butter Cookie dough filling: 2 Tbsp butter (room temperature) 3 Tbsp granulated sugar 2 Tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 1/2 Tbsp water 1/4 cup flour 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips/drops Cheesecake filling: 1/2 cup sugar 300g cream cheese (full fat) 1 cup soured cream 2 small eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 1. Preheat oven to 100C. 2. Crush the malt biscuits and combine in a bowl with melted butter. 3. Press mixture into base of springform pan and bake for 5 minutes or until slightly golden.  Set aside. 4. Next, prepa...

I've come up with an extremely successful peanut butter and chocolate chip ice cream recipe! This relatively simple ice cream recipe actually tastes more like gelato due to the added creaminess from the peanut butter, but I am hesitant to label it as that as I do not wish to incur ire from foodies. For one batch that fits perfectly in a standard ice cream maker you will need: 1 cup whole milk 1 cup double cream (half and half) 2/3 cups granulated sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 200g (7oz) smooth peanut butter 140g (5oz) dark chocolate (or semi-sweet) chocolate chips Note: This recipe assumes that you have chilled your ice cream maker or are familiar with how to make freezer ice cream. 1. Combine whole milk, sugar, and vanilla extract in a pan over low heat.  Remove from heat as soon as smooth and set aside to cool. 2. Using an electric mixer, beat the double cream until it becomes aerated and starts to stiffen. 3. In a large bowl (that can easily be poured from), add the peanut butter ...

I saw pics of these pancakes on Pinterest and Buzzfeed and I just had to make my own!!!   They are so beautiful and taste just as good as they look.  I wished there was more people around to share them with when I was cooking!  I believe that they could benefit from using mint chocolate chips, but those are not easily available to me where I live in London.  But if you can get some, go for it! You will need: 1 1/3 cup flour 2 Tbsp granulated sugar 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1 cup buttermilk 1 large egg 2 Tbsp butter (melted, but not too hot to scramble the egg!) 2 tsp peppermint extract 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup milk (added a bit at a time until batter is correct consistency) Green food coloring 3/4 cup mini dark chocolate chips OR mint chocolate chips Whipping cream + 2 Tbsp granulated sugar, whipped! OR already prepared whipped cream) Yield: 12 medium pancakes (that are very filling!) 1. In a large bowl, sift flour, su...

This dish pulls from two different recipes, one for grilled chicken and another for chorizo tacos!  All of the flavors meld well together, and the chicken is perfectly seasoned and tasty on its own! The chorizo adds something special to this otherwise traditional tex mex style taco. You will need: 2 lbs Skinless Chicken Tenderloins (tenders) 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 tsp salt 1/8 tsp ground pepper 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp onion powder --- 15 oz (425g) uncooked chorizo sausage 1 1/2 cup grated cheese          (I used a mix of Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Queso Quesadilla and Asadero Cheese) 1 cup sour cream (low fat sub is fine) 15 small white corn tortillas (or flour tortillas if you prefer) Yield 15 small tacos 1.The first step is to cook the chorizo sausage.  To do this, remove the casing from the sausage(s).  This is easily done by squeezing the meat from the casing directly into your frying pan. 2. Cook on a medium heat until the chori...

The world's cheeriest cupcakes!  Perfect for summer parties, or in pastels for easter!  These cakes are easy to make, but a bit more time consuming than typical cupcakes.  To save time, and to get truer colors, I usually use a white cake mix. You will need: 1 box white cake mix batter prepared (or 1 recipe white cake batter) 6 small bowls Rainbow of food colourings (Red, Yellow, Blue required) Frosting recipe below! Yield: 20 cupcakes 1. You will need to divide the batter into six bowls.  1 bowl should have an extra 3 Tbsp of batter (this will be the red). 2. Dye each, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.  Without being too patronising, if you do not wish to invest heavily in food dye, orange, green, and purple can be made from red, yellow, and blue. The higher quality the food dye is, the more vibrant your results will be. 3. Line a cupcake tray with 20 wrappers. 4. Begin layering, starting with purple at the bottom.  Use only enough of each color bat...

Happy New Year!  I present to you the perfect frozen Sunday morning or even Christmas morning treat.  I used this recipe as a guide, but had to make a few mods as I wanted it a bit more 'pumpkiny'.  Also rum is a no-go for me, so I made a really simple classic cinnamon roll glaze to go with it. My modified ingredient list: 2 Tbsp unsalted butter 1/2 cup milk 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast 1 cup pumpkin puree 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp salt 2 1/2 cups bread flour ---- 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp fresh ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp ground cloves 2 Tbsp unsalted butter Topping: 1/3 cup milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 3/4 cup powdered (icing) sugar Recipe as written by Willow Bird Baking Directions: "Make the pull-apart bread dough : Grease and flour a loaf pan and set aside. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, brown the 2 tablespoons of butter. Let it bubble and foam and when you see it start to brown, stir it so that it browns evenly. When...

2 oz./approx 50g semi-sweet bakers chocolate for stars 4 eggs whites 1 cup granulated sugar 1/8 tsp cream of tartar 1/8 tsp mint extract Green food coloring (I used 4 drops of McCormick brand) Prepare chocolate stars FIRST by heating a small amount of chocolate, and using a small piping tip (or cut the tip of a plastic bag), pipe out a few dozen stars in chocolate onto wax paper or parchment.  These can then harden while meringues bake. For the meringues: 1. Preheat oven to 200F/100 C. 2. In a bowl, beat egg whites and tartar until mixture begins to thicken. 3. Slowly add sugar to the mixture until meringue is able to hold stiff peaks. 4. Beat in mint extract and food coloring.  Be careful not to overdo it on the food coloring, as it will cause your lovely stiff meringue to become a gooey mess. 5. Line a baking sheet with parchment or some other non-stick surface. 6. Add mixture to a piping bag with a large cupcake decorating nozzle (see picture of meringues for idea of what t...

Pulled pork.  Pulled pork pulled pork pulled pork.  A wonderful spicy meaty conveyor of BBQ sauces!  My mum put this together with the help of Ajay's nimble pulled pork pulling fingers using Emeril Lagasse's recipe .  I am quite versed in cooking burgers, chicken, and various types of minced meats.  However, I'll leave the recipes for large cuts of meat to the professionals and my mum!