Happy New Year 2017! It has been a while! I am happy to be back and cooking again. I want to dedicate more time to writing this year. What a crazy busy year 2016 was for me and I am very, very glad that it is DONE! So, cheers to a year of many changes, to abundance, to a year of being a better version of me, a year of great food and, maybe completing this project? Cheers to a new year of enjoying love and life to the fullest, to exploring the world right here in our kitchen and to actually visit countries that we've never been and where we will explore local dishes! I am excited to get closer to the goal of 365 items this year, it's not an easy feat with my schedule but I will try my very best. One thing I realized that I missed since my last posting in January of last year (wow, that long ago!), is not only learning how to cook more dishes but, missing out on the fun in discovering each plate of food's origin with my daughter, and I really regret that I let my daily stresses get the best of me, and that I just let the year pass by choosing not to write and forgetting the very reasons why I started this blog almost 5 years ago. It has truly brought nothing but positive things into our lives, it enriches my vocabulary with each post since English is my second language, it really has taught me how to cook and be better at it, and, most importantly, it created lasting sweet memories that I plan to put in print once I complete the goal of 365. It's also great how this blog has become very useful to me, for example, if I want to bake a cake, I just go on google search and type in "herglobalkitchen cake" and google gives me results of recipes from this blog that I know works because I tried it! It also relaxes me every time I read it because it takes me back to that great day I discovered, and actually learned to cook and really fed the family a new and fantastic dish from another country! What a great feeling each time, all positive, all smiles and it brings me so much joy. So, it is time to create new happy memories at our global kitchen!
So, what have I made so far this year? Desserts! I made it on New Years Eve. New Years Day is a special holiday for me and so I make a LOT of food. Now you know where to find Van on December 31st of every year! Her global kitchen! I cook all day, and plan days and days before, it's not even funny. Since becoming a mom, my "NYE parties" has always been in my fun kitchen. I do put on make up, fix my hair and dress up for my NYE cooking party, but never leave the house! LOL. This year I made desserts that turned out great! One of them is this famous cake in Greece that is made and served in homes every New Year's Day, traditionally the baker inserts a lucky coin in the cake. Each member of the family gets a slice, the youngest member is served first and whoever gets the coin is believed to be lucky all year long! Vasilopita or Vaselopita, is a cake that pairs very well with coffee. It is so good, very moist, every one loved it! I will make and enjoy it again on New Years Day in 2018!
VASILOPITA (Greek New Year's Cake)
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
3 cups all purpose flour
6 eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup warm milk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons white sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10 inch round cake pan
- In a large bowl, or in a mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and well mixed. Add the flour and mix until the mixture is mealy. Then, carefully add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. In a separate medium bowl, combine the baking powder and milk, add to the flour and egg mixture, mix well. In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice and baking soda, stir into the batter. Pour into the prepared cake pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove and sprinkle sugar over the cake, then return it to the oven for 20 to 30 additional minutes, until cake springs back to the touch. Gently cut a small hole in the cake and place a quarter in the hole. Try to cover the hole with sugar. Cool cake on a rack for 10 minutes before inverting onto a plate.
- Best when served warm, but it is also delicious even when the cake has cooled down. Enjoy!
Adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/15723/vaselopita---greek-new-years-cake/
My friends, I wish you and your family a sweet, delicious, joyful, bright, healthy, prosperous and happiest new year ahead!
If you enjoyed this post, follow this blog as we will be posting 191 more recipes! 191 recipes to discover, learn to cook, take pictures and post here to complete the goal of 365!
Will I finish this big task? Check back often to see my progress! xo Van
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