Moram priznati da se u Norveškoj osjećam kao doma i da mi ne nedostaje Hrvatska niti malo. I inače imam takav osjećaj kada se na neko vrijeme preselim negdje, jednostavno je prekrasno i zanimljivo istraživati novo tlo, običaje, različite detalje koji čine neko mjesto posebnim, i promatrati kako sve to svakim danom sve više postaje dio tvojeg svijeta. Ljudi u jutarnjem autobusu, ulični svirači, rozo večernje nebo, miris zraka uz more, šuštanje jasike uz potok, svaki dan drugačija ista šuma i svaki dan nova ja. Iako vjerojatno zauvijek zaljubljena u jasiku uz potok, sinoć sam sanjala bademe iz Dalmacije i sjetila se hrvatskih tržnica i sve sile domaćih proizvoda, nečega što posebno volim na Balkanu i drugim krajevima svijeta južnije od ovog gdje smo sada. Svako je mjesto na svoj način čarobno, pa tako recimo ovdje umjesto odlaska na plac bereš bobice i gljive u šumi i kupaš se u jezerima; ovdje klima ne dopušta toliko obilje domaćeg voća i povrća, a tržnice slične onima u Hrvatskoj nisu baš u kulturi. Razmišljajući tako o bademima i tržnicama, sjetila sam se da sam još u proljeće bila složila jedan slatki i jednostavni recept koji nikad nisam objavila.
što/
1 i 1/4 šalice badema
1 šalica sušenih marelica*
1/2 šalice datulja (ja sam koristila sortu deglet nour)
1/4 čajne žličice mljevene vanilije
*preporučam prirodno sušene marelice koje nisu sumporene; one nisu izrazito narančaste niti kiselkaste, već smeđe, mekane i slatke, s laganom notom karamele
kako/
Narežite marelice i datulje na manje komade i stavite u sjeckalicu zajedno s ostalim sastojcima. Preradite u kompaktnu masu koju je lako moguće oblikovati rukama. Oblikujte kuglice i zavaljajte ih u mljevene bademe.
Dobar tek!
almond and apricot energy balls
I have to admit that Norway really feels like home and I haven't missed Croatia at all so far. That is actually a usual feeling that I get when I temporarily move somewhere. It is just so beautiful and interesting to explore a new ground, customs, various details that make a certain place special and observe as it all slowly becomes a part of your world. People in the morning bus, street musicians, pink evening skies, smell of the salty air, trembling of the aspen leaves near a water stream, the same forest that is different each day, each day a new me. Although I will probably be forever in love with aspen trees by the stream, last night I dreamt about almonds from Dalmatia and all their familiar sweetness and tastiness. I remembered all the Croatian farmers' markets and their abundance of fresh produce - something that is not really customary here. It is simply because this cold climate doesn't provide such abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables and other crops. It does provide wonderful hiking, swimming in lakes and lots of wild foraging adventures with berries, mushrooms and herbs, so you cannot even feel sad that farmers' markets are not a part of the culture in the same way as they are in the Balkan countries. Anyway, all this thinking of markets and almonds made me realize that I had written a simple sweet recipe this spring and never published it. So, here it is!
what/
1 + 1/4 cup almonds
1 cup organic raw sun-dried apricots*
1/2 cup dates (i used deglet nour veriety)
1/4 tsp ground vanilla
* I never emphasize that something should be organic, completely raw or sun-dried, but here I wanted to specify that you should use the darker orange / brownish apricots that were not treated with sulfur dioxide to preserve colour. You can actually feel the difference in their taste; the untreated ones have a deeper and less fruity flavour
how/
Chop the dried fruits into smaller pieces and put all the ingredients in a food processor. Process until you get a compact mass that is easily shaped with hands. Roll the balls and (optionally) cover them with ground almonds.
Bon appétit!
No comments:
Post a Comment