Marbella chicken

After a long week that included 4 nights spent on tearing wallpaper in my new apartment and some unpleasant moments - some of which are funny to be remembered afterwards - finally it is FRIDAY. Like real Friday, not when you start enjoying Friday until you realise it is actually Wednesday. This Wednesday started hilariously - after acknowledging that there is -10 C outside and getting dressed practically like an eskimo in town, I wanted  to pick up my key and leave for work. Well, placing your key is something you do unconsciously. This is why I couldn't remember where I put it on the previous evening as it wasn't where it was supposed to be. I called everyone who spent the night in the house, suspecting potential thieves. Of course they claimed to be innocent and suggested to check it at places I already checked. Several times. No sign. Then I had an idea to see if it is in the car. The car of course was outside. Luckily I managed to get out of the house through the terrace door - stepping into 40 cm of snow on slippery tiles. Next challenge was to jump. To 40 cm of snow. I made it to the fence. Fortunately I had had to climb over it several times before, so it really didn't give me a headache to proceed without fear. Too bad it wasn't in the car. Same way back, on my knees on the terrace in jeans...I had to comfort myself after this horror with some caramel ice cream that I find not only a proper meal but suitable for winter weather.Afterwards I felt the need to use greater minds than me, and posted the question to FB. Vesna, reincarnation of Master Yoda, having the sight and everything, suggested the fridge, Miroslava sharing this intuition. I checked, no success. Of course few hours later Dani found it. On the fridge. Don't ask.
Well, that was quite an intro that has actually nothing to do with the recipe.
Rewind. Friday. More wallpaper. I was longing for my bed when Dani reminded me that we need to go shopping as we promised dinner for our friends we had met on Crete and scheduled an evening together for Saturday. This is how we reach the point where I can start talking about food - why you are reading this at all.
So, this meal is again something unusual from me as it is not sweet. Common feature is that it is VERY easy to prepare and the result is still quite impressing! Like you can totally go for it if you are planning a birthday meal or something fancy.
As far as I know it was created by Julia Child - the lady from Julie and Julia the movie - well actually she was a real somebody and Hollywood created a movie out of her story (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozRK7VXQl-k) - who made American housewives cook. Well, success was only temporary... Hey, note, this blog is not supposed to be compared to the one in the movie, right?

No more bla bla, here we go.

Ingredients for 4:

• 1,5 kg chicken legs
• 8 dkg green olives
• 15 dkg dried plums
• 2 cloves of garlic (see, great challenges for readers of the blog not only in terms of cooking skills, but English... list of ingredients is almost like a riddle - hahaha, another tricky word)
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil
• 3 tablespoons of white wine vinegar
• 1,5 tablespoons of dried oregano
• salt (you need to listen to your intuition, I didn't measure how much I put, and it is not ready yet to tell if I was wrong or right)
• ground pepper (same as above)
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar (don't bother buying, take with your to-go coffee)
• 1 dl white wine
• fresh coriander (well, if you have. If not, it is still perfect, so don't stress yourself because of it.)
• slices of almond

Method:

1. You should start the night before you actually plan to consume this meal. So if you were not prepared to check in advance, it is too late and go for something else.
2. Wash the chicken legs, cut it if you need to and put to a big plastic bowl. So far quite ok, isn't it? If you are a crazy person like me and can't bear the thought of touching raw meat, get someone else do it for you. Use sweets or other compliments and negotiate. If it doesn't help, try blackmailing, emotional blackmailing, withdrawal of sex, anything that could work. I hardly need to ask, so don't go too deep first - try my way :)
3. Add the plum and the olives, the ground garlic and bay leaves (whole).
4. Prepare the pickle (sauce, whatever you want to call it) - mix the oil, the vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper.
5. Pour the pickle onto the meat, make sure it gets everywhere, then cover the bowl and put it to the fridge for an overnight.
6. Take it out from the fridge 1 hour before putting it to the preheated oven (180 C).
7. Distribute it nicely in a roasting tin, pour the picke on top from the bowl, add the wine and sprinkle it with the brown sugar.
8. Push to the oven, and turn the chicken legs in every 20 min. Approx. 1 hour is needed till it is ready.
9. Then you can add the coriander and slices of almond.

Note:
as a side dish I recommend mashed potatoes. Let me know if you need more details on that :)

let's switch to English

To fulfill the request of my beloved boss and colleagues who seemed to be enthusiastic to read my recipes after I shared with them as a funfact about me that I started writing this blog, I am switching to English. I am sure it is not a problem for my HU speaking followers, and my Serbian is not THAT strong, maybe it would be a good opportunity to practice :D Anyway, at least this one will be in English. I am not an expert in baking terms, feel free to contact me if any explanation is required.

As always, the recipe is very simple, managable with great outcome for those too who lack all cooking skills, without turning the kitchen into a battlefield.

Today's recipe is a muffin with only the best on Earth: Nutella, nut and raisins, and a little bit of rum.

It has a story, like anything else that leads me to the kitchen. I received a task to be delivered on Friday and I needed some input from my colleagues to be sent to me on Thursday. I sent them a reminder and that triggered a series of pics sent in e-mails containing only the funniest finger drawings that Google can offer... my reply was some virtual snowballs to those who might not be able to meet the deadline and cupcakes to those who would. Well, Jelena sent a pic of 3 cute little kids with cakes in front of them, saying that they are awaiting for me to fulfill the promise. As all of them did, and I am seeing Donka tomorrow in Novi Sad where we are attending a training together, I was happy to make this:

Muffins with Nutella
Ingredients for 12 muffins:

• 3 eggs
• 7 dkg sugar (original recipe halved)
• 15 dkg butter (unsalted)
• 15 dkg Nutella
• 15 dkg flour
• 1 small packet of baking powder
• 10 dkg nut (not salted!!!)
• 3 tablespoons of rum (Stroh is pretty good)
• 4 tablespoons of raisins

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C.
2. Wash and beat the eggs, then mix them with the sugar.
3. Melt the butter a little bit in the microwave oven and add to the eggs&sugar.
4. Add the Nutella also, just like the rum.
5. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and the baking powder.
6. Pour the liquid part to the bowl, add the crushed nut and the raisins after you washed them.
7. Stir the whole thing and portion to the muffin cases.
8. Bake for 18-20 min. After they are ready, carefully take them out and let them cool down.

This time no picture - I distributed them too quickly :)

Last time I made it for my mom's 50th B-day as breakfast and it was a blast (despite the fact that my family usually enjoys a breakfast that is not necessarily sweet - or not ONLY a piece cake for the so-called most important meal of the day...).

PS: Jelena, I will come up with something else especially for you, this will not be any good by Friday when I see you.