Za one koji se zgražaju od Valentinova,
pokušajte zanemariti onu lošu stranu koju su nam nametnuli trgovci kada mislite
da morate potrošiti stotine da bi vaša bolja polovica bila sretna. Umjesto toga
slavite dan ljubavi. Zar nije predivno da je jedan dan u godini posvećen
ljubavi?
Valentinovo se slavi kao dan
zaljubljenih, dan ljubavi. Zapravo je nastao kao kršćanski blagdan u spomen sv.
Valentinu, a priča seže u vrijeme Rimskog carstva.
U 3.st. n.e. Rimljani su imali proslave u
čast dvaju bogova: 14. veljače slavili su božicu Junonu, koja je bila
zaštitnica Rimskog carstva, ali i boginja braka. Dan poslije, točnije u noći s
14.veljače na 15.veljače, Rimljani su održavali Luprekalije u čast bogu Luperkusu.
Tadašnji običaj bio je da u noći
14.veljače, mlade djevojke napišu svoje ime na komadić papirusa i ubace ga u
zdjelu. Mladi muškarci izvlačili su njihova imena i djevojku koju bi izvukli
bila je njihova pratnja na Luperkalijama. Zajedno su plesali, sjedili za
stolovima, a što je najčešće dovelo do braka.
Kasnije, pod vladavinom cara Klaudija II,
Rim su potresali krvavi vojni pohodi. Klaudije Okrutni, kako su ga zvali, imao
je dosta poteškoća oko nalaska novih vojnika. Budući da je vjerovao kako
Rimljani ne žele u vojsku zato jer nerado puštaju ljubljene žene, otkazao je
sve zaruke i sva vjenčanja u Rimu. U to vrijeme, kršćanski svećenik Valentin,
došao je u Carstvo braniti ljubav. Valentin je počeo u tajnosti vjenčavati
parove, unatoč carevim zabranama. Kada je za to saznao Klaudije Okrutni, poslao
je Valentina u zatvor u kojem je i dočekao smrt 14. Veljače 269. godine. Legenda
kaže da se Valentin u zatvoru bio zaljubio u slijepu tamničarevu kći i da joj
je slao pisma potpisujući se kao "your Valentine".
No ipak, prošlo je nekoliko stotina
godina otkada se Valentinovo počelo slaviti kao dan zaljubljenih. Valentinovo
je trebalo nadomjestiti proslave plodnosti koje su se održavale sredinom
veljače, a koje su se nazivale Luperkalije. U čast žrtve koju je podnio u ime
ljubavi, Valentin je proglašen svecem, a Luperkalije su zamijenjene
Valentinovim.
Ljubav i plodnost, teme
preuzete iz Luperkalija, i dalje se slave, ali promijenjene u suvremenom
svijetu prihvatljiv oblik.
| Domestic Hazelnuts |
Prije nekoliko dana moja prijateljica V.
je imala svečanu promociju diplome, a kao znak pažnje, I. joj je napravila ovu
predivnu tortu. Pored svih kolača i slanih zalogaja koje su nas čekali u stanu
kod nje, pored svih koktela koje smo popili, svi smo zapamtili upravo samo ovu
tortu. Toliko mekana, toliko puna Nutelle i lješnjaka, bila je savršena. Moram
priznat da dugo nisam jela ovako dobru tortu!
Komad više se tražio i mislim da nam je
svima samo jedan komad bio premalo.
Za drugi puta zapamiti smo lekciju: koliko mi možemo pojesti, biti će nam potrebne dvije
torte!
Zasluge za ovako dobar biskvit ove torte
pripadaju mojoj Bojani. Naime, davnih dana dok smo bile nešto aktivnije na
Coolinariki, Medi je dala recept za ovaj savršeni biskvit, a Bojana ga je
preradila i doradila po svome guštu. Inače, ovaj biskvit uvijek koristim kada
radim mousse od limuna, pa ga samo premažem u debelom sloju. Mousse od limuna prva je torta koju mi je Bojana napravila kada smo se upoznale :)
Jedinu izmjenu koju sam napravila jest da
sam ga manje pekla, bolje da je mekši nego da vam zagori jer će u protivnom biti jako suh. Biskvit sam podijelila na tri dijela i dodatno sam ga omekšala tako da sam ga poprskala
mlijekom. Neka vam biskvit bude ohlađen i neka mlijeko bude sobne temperature.
Inače ćete postići suprotni efekt – prelijevajući vrući biskvit dobit ćete
biskvit sličan onim nepečenim :)
Krema za ovu tortu od moje je drage
rodice koja nosi isto ime kao i ja, inače glavne kuharice u jednom Splitskom restoranu, a koju sam dobila
prije par godina. Ovaj biskvit mi se svidio više od njenog originalnog.
Torta je dakle nastala spojem dvaju
recepata i za mene predstavlja dobitnu kombinaciju.
Originalan recept možete pronaći kod Une.
Kada je M. probao tortu rekao je da je
moram napraviti za Valentinovo, pa zašto ne? Spoj Nutelle i lješnjaka, pa je
još kremasta, mekana i sočna, odličan su izbor za neke svečanije prigode!
Molim vas, nemojte sliniti po ekranu :) :)
Ferrero Rocher torta
(za 1 tortu, 26 cm)
Potrebni sastojci:
Za biskvit:
·
180 g smeđeg šećera
....................................................................................................................................................
·
120 g oštrog pšeničnog brašna
....................................................................................................................................................
·
120 g glatkog pšeničnog brašna
....................................................................................................................................................
·
1 ½ žličica praškak za pecivo
....................................................................................................................................................
·
1 ½ žličica sode bikarbone
....................................................................................................................................................
·
90 g kakaa u prahu, gorkog
....................................................................................................................................................
·
2 cijela jaja, velika (klasa L),
sobne temperature
....................................................................................................................................................
·
240 ml mlijeka, sobne temperature
....................................................................................................................................................
·
2 žličice arome vanilije
....................................................................................................................................................
·
120 ml zavrele vode
....................................................................................................................................................
·
prstohvat soli
....................................................................................................................................................
·
80 ml mlijeka za prelijevanje
biskvita, sobne temperature
....................................................................................................................................................
Za kremu:
·
400 g Nutelle
....................................................................................................................................................
·
500 g Mascarpone sira
....................................................................................................................................................
·
250 g poprženih lješnjaka
....................................................................................................................................................
·
100 g napolitanki od lješnjaka,
smrvljenih
....................................................................................................................................................
Priprema:
·
Zagrijte pećnicu na 170°C. Kalup
za pečenje torti premažite maslacem pa pospite krušnim mrvicama umjesto brašna,
a koje će dati finu vlažnost biskvitu. Ostavite sa strane.
..................................................................................................................................................
·
Za pripremu biskvita pomiješajte
sve suhe sastojke u jednoj zdjeli, a sve mokre sastojke, osim vrele vode, u
drugoj zdjeli. Malo po malo, dodajte mokre sastojke u suhe, neprestano
miksajući električnim mikserom, sve dok se sastojci ne spoje, oko 2 minute.
...................................................................................................................................................
·
Vodu zagrijte i pustite neka
zavrije, a potom ju skinite s vatre pa dodajte u smjesu za biskvit. Sve
izmiksajte da se sastojci spoje, a potom izlijte u pripremljen kalup.
...................................................................................................................................................
·
Pecite u unaprijed zagrijanoj
pećnici oko 35-40 minuta. Prije nego biskvit izvadite, provjerite pomoću
čačkalice zabodene u sredinu biskvita da li je pečen. Pazite da vam ne zagori jer će u protivnom biti jako suh.
...................................................................................................................................................
·
Pečeni biskvit izvadite iz pećnice
pa pustite da se potpuno ohladi na sobnoj temperaturi.
....................................................................................................................................................
·
Ohlađeni biskvit prerežite
dijagonalno na tri dijela tako da dobijete tri kore. Za rezanje koristite oštri
nož ili čvršći konac. Svaku ohlađenu koru biskvita poprskajte s malo mlijeka
sobne temperature. Nemojte natopiti biskvit, dovoljno je da ga samo poprskate
kako bi bio dodatno mekši.
....................................................................................................................................................
·
U međuvremenu pripremite kremu:
lješnjake tostirajte na tavi bez dodatka ulja, pazeći da vam ne zagore.
Dovoljno je da puste aromu. Istresite ih u kuhinjsku krpu pa ih dobro
istrljajte kako bi im skinuli kožicu. Polovicu lješnjaka fino sameljite, a
drugu polovicu krupnije nasjeckajte.
....................................................................................................................................................
·
Nutellu pomiješajte s mascarpone
sirom pa izmiksajte električnim mikserom. U kremu umiješajte i mljevene i
sjeckane lješnjake, a ako želite, dio ostavite za ukrašavanje. Kremu ostavite u
hladnjaku da se malo stisne. Kada se krema stisnula, podijelite ju na 3 dijela.
.....................................................................................................................................................
·
Tortu slažite tako da prvu koru
biskvita premažete prvom trećinom kreme, pa ju pospite s polovicom mrvica
mljevenih napolitanki. Ponovite s drugom korom. Preklopite s trećim dijelom
biskvita pa premažite ostatkom kreme.
.....................................................................................................................................................
·
Ostavite u hladnjaku do
posluživanja.
.....................................................................................................................................................
| Neapolitan Wafers |
Did you know that the roots of Valentine’s
Day can actually be traced back to the Roman Empire? Back in third century, the
Romans held celebrations in honor of two Gods.
On February 14th they honored Juno, Queen
of the Roman Gods and Goddesses, and the Goddess of women and marriage. The
following day, they held a great celebration called the Festival of Lupercalia
in honor of the God Lubercus. Back in the early days of Rome, fierce and angry
wolves roamed in the nearby woods where the shepards kept their flocks.
The Romans called upon the God Lubercus
to protect their flocks of sheep from the dangerous wolves. This Festival of
Lupercalia was to honor the great God Lubercus and to ensure that he would
continue to protect their sheep during the following year.
It was tradition that on the eve of the
Festival of Lubercus, the young girls would write their names on a slip of
paper and place it into a jar. The young men would then pick a name out of the
jar. The young men then became partners for the duration of the festival with
the girl that they chose. They would celebrate together with dancing, playing,
and feasting. These pairings would often last the entire year, and
occasionally, lead to marriage.
A bit later in Roman history, under the
rule of Emperor Claudius the second, also known as Claudius the Cruel, Rome was
involved in many aggressive and bloody military campaigns. Claudius the Cruel
was trying to increase the size of his army so he would be successful in these
military attacks. However, the Roman men were reluctant to join his military
leagues. Claudius believed that as married men, his soldiers would stay at home
with their wives and families rather than fight his wars. For this reason,
Claudius outlawed all engagements and marriages in Rome.
Saint Valentine was a priest in Rome during
the rule of Claudius the Cruel. He was greatly admired and respected by many of
the Romans. He did not agree with this policy and continued to secretly marry
couples. Claudius was so enraged when he discovered that Valentine was
disobeying him, that he had him imprisoned. Legend says that while Saint
Valentine was imprisoned in 269 AD, he fell in love with his jailer’s blind
daughter. He would write her love letters signed “From Your Valentine”. The
jailer was not happy with Valentine’s love for his daughter and beheaded him on
February 14, 269 AD.
For his great service, Valentine was
named a saint after his death.
In 496 AD Pope Gelasius outlawed the
pagan Festival of Lupcalia, and replaced it with a celebration in honor of
Saint Valentine. Gelasius had hoped that people would attempt to emulate the
lives of saints on this new holiday. Instead they focused on the more romantic
aspects of Valentine’s life.
Help continue this tradition! It's so
much batter celebrate this day with lots of chocolate :)
Ecpecially with cake like this! Everything about Ferrero Rocher you can read here.
Please
don't droll on your screen :)
Ferrero Rocher Cake (Chocolate &
Hazelnut Cake)
(makes 10-inch cake)
You need:
For the batter:
·
180 g brown sugar
....................................................................................................................................................
·
120 g sharp cake flour (not
self-rising)
....................................................................................................................................................
·
120 g cake flour (not self-rising)
....................................................................................................................................................
·
1 ½ tsp baking powder
....................................................................................................................................................
·
1 ½ tsp baking soda
....................................................................................................................................................
·
90 g unsweetened cocoa powder
....................................................................................................................................................
·
2 large eggs, room temperature
....................................................................................................................................................
·
240 ml milk, room temperature
....................................................................................................................................................
·
2 tsp vanilla essence
....................................................................................................................................................
·
120 ml hot water
....................................................................................................................................................
·
pinch of salt
....................................................................................................................................................
·
80 ml mlik, room temperature (for moisting)
....................................................................................................................................................
For the filling:
·
400 g Nutella
....................................................................................................................................................
·
500 g Mascarpone cheese
....................................................................................................................................................
·
250 g toasted hazelnuts
....................................................................................................................................................
·
100 g hazelnut wafers, crushed
....................................................................................................................................................
Steps:
·
Preheat the oven to 338 F (170°C).
Lightly brush the bottom and the sides of a 10-inch cake pan. Lightly dust with
bread crumbs.
..................................................................................................................................................
·
Combine all dry ingredients in one
large bowl. In another large bowl, combine all wet ingredients, except hot
water. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until the
dry ingredients are combined, for about 2 minutes. Add hot water and mix again
until all ingredients are combined.
...................................................................................................................................................
·
Pour the batter into the cake pan.
...................................................................................................................................................
·
Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a
toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
...................................................................................................................................................
·
Allow to cool completely at room
temperature (do not chill in the fridge, because it will turned hard). Remove from
the pan.
...................................................................................................................................................
·
Slice cake lengthwise into three
equal layers using a sharp knife. ....................................................................................................................................................
·
Meanwhile, prepare the filling: finely
chopp half of the hazelnuts and finely grind the the other half. Mix Nutella with Mascarpone cheese, then add the
hazelnuts and stirr well using silicone spatula. Refrigerate the cream for 1
hour, and divide it into three equal parts.
....................................................................................................................................................
·
To assemble the cake: place the bottom cake layer on a platter and moisten
it with room temperature milk. Spread the third of the cream filling and sprinkle with half of the wafers. Top with
the second layer and moisten with some milk. Spread the second part of the
cream over it and sprinkle with the other half of the wafers. Top with the last cake layer. Cover the whole cake with the
rest of the cream. ....................................................................................................................................................
·
Refregerate the cake for at least
6 hours before serving. Serve chilled.
....................................................................................................................................................






