Hello Sunday! 
Our virtual lunches will continue this year ( maybe not with the same frequency although I wish time allowed me to receive my wonderful guests every Sunday) so, get ready to meet new beautiful people, to read delightful stories and new recipes full of flavor as we’ve been doing for the last few years.
I met today’s guest a while ago thanks to the Pomegranate Festival that I organized this month. As it happened during the Autumn Festival, this time too I had the opportunity to meet great people, driven by the same passion and new blogs that caught my attention some of them becoming my favorites. This is what happened with Alexandra and her blog, Salt’n Sasha which captured my interest through the delicious pomegranate recipes she sent ( Magic Chocolate Cake and Peaches and Pomegranate Tart), even if it was not completely new for me 
as I dropped by few months ago peeking at her baked brie recipe ( I guess my weakness for cheese is not a secret anymore for most of you :D ).
Tempted by the appetizing desserts photos I payed her another visit and take a deep look into it. This is how I discovered a young blog with various recipes, pages of tasty trips, culinary memories from childhood and some fury friends – a blog with a soul and a heart, a blog written with passion which offers some hints related to Sasha’s (Alexandra) character, the pretty girl with beautiful smile who greets us on the first page, the talented girl, in love with beauty and good food ;), the girl ” who when she doesn’t cook, makes beautiful things at Gustos.ro, travels, plays with her fury friends or spends time with her family.“
Salt’n Sasha, a blog with great personality which doesn’t lack any salt and pepper having that secret ingredient “a pinch of love” which renders it special, proposes a collection of recipes belonging to both traditional and international cuisine, with various levels of difficulty, well written, explained in the smallest details and illustrated with tempting photos. You can quickly notice that desserts and Italian cuisine (especially pasta) occupy a special place in Sasha’s kitchen. You will also find some great ideas for breakfast and brunch which are perfect for lazy mornings. Being a true source of inspiration I recommend you to bookmark it ;)
You can read more about Sahsa here but now I invite you to read her story is she treating us with today.
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Sunday Lunch with Alexandra
When Diana proposed me to join Sunday Lunch, I felt joy. Pure joy. But why this certain feeling? (First because I follow her blog for a loong time and this is the first place where I discovered those amazing Sarladaises Potatoes, but shhht, don’t tell her..) Rewind. Because the Sunday lunch is the meal that makes the family gather around the table and very often around the food that I prepare. And I am very happy when I see my family smiling and enjoying a meal that they’ve expected all day (they know that Sunday is for special food and treats).
Last Sunday I decided to cook for them a nice piece of duck breast with orange and red wine sauce and some awesome button mushrooms with parsley and butter. My dear ones were more than happy with the food. I know that duck may seem a fancy dish, for a special occasion, but believe me when I tell you that it is perfect for a Sunday Lunch. Say bye-bye to boring poultry and try this recipe: Duck Breast with Orange and Red Wine Sauce and Parsley Flavoured Button Mushrooms
- - 2 duck breasts
- - 200 ml orange juice (freshly squeezed)
- - 50 ml red wine
- - 10 ml soy sauce
- - 1 tablespoon of honey
- - 500 g button mushrooms
- - 100 ml red wine
- - 30 g butter
- - parsley
- - salt
- - pepper
- - olive oil
- For the duck, score the skin of the breasts. Put some salt and pepper over it. Place the breasts in the cold pan, skin side down, and the turn the heat on. You will see that the fat will start melting inside the pan slowly. Fry until the skin is crispy. About 4 or 5 minutes. Then, place the duck breasts in a tray and cook at 200 Celsius degrees for about 6 to 9 minutes in the oven.
- During that time, you can prepare the sauce and the mushrooms. In the sauce pan you will keep only a tablespoon (or two) of the fat and put what’s left in a jar (you can prepare amazing Sarladaises with this fat). Add the 50 ml of red wine and deglaze the pan. Reduce it until just a few tablespoons of liquid are left in the pan. Add the orange juice and wait for the sauce to boil and reduce to ½. Add the soy sauce, salt, pepper and the honey. Stir for another 2 or 3 minutes and turn the heat off.
- Cut the mushrooms in half and place them in a well heated pan. Roast the mushrooms on all their sides in the olive oil, add the wine and let it reduce to ¼. Add the butter, salt and pepper. Let them cook another 2-3 minutes. Turn the heat off and add the parlsey.
- When the duck breasts are ready, get them out of the oven and place them on a plate. Let the breasts rest for about 10 minutes to prevent the sauce inside to flow all over the plate. Cut the duck breasts in slices (about 2 cm).
- Put the mushrooms on the plate, place 3 slices over them and pour the sauce over.
I really hope you’ll have a wonderful time cooking this recipe for your family and friends on a beautiful Sunday evening! :)
Sasha
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After such a beautiful lunch I can only wish you all a lovely Sunday wherever you are!
Hugs from Milan,
Diana
Apetisant pranz!
De-li-cios ! Simplu, elegant, un gust pe masura!
Nu stiu cum de am pierdut bunatatile aduse de Alexandra! Felicitari pentru acesta poveste minunata apetisanta, fete dragi! :-*