Chow Down to Eurovision 2014 - Azerbaijan

Axşam yaxşı this is Azerbaijan calling, and can you believe we are half way through semi final 1?
Where has that time gone.......

 

Azerbaijan is a major player in the Chow Down to Eurovision as well as the Eurovision Song Contest.

 

Their Zebra cake came 3rd in the Chow Down to Eurovision and Farid placed a very respectable 2nd in Sweden.

 

I was very happy to give Farid my douze points as he said my cake was "looking so delicious", so clearly the guy is very smart.
 

It would be rude not to replay Farid's song Hold Me from last year, he likes my cake so we are almost totes besties!

While spending many well spent hours researching on the internet I found these Azerbaijani kebabs that came with multiple spellings, Lyulya, Lule, Lula, and finally Lulu.

Given one must always find a  Eurovision connection I went for the Lulu spelling and added some chilli.

After all if it's a Lulu kebab it's needs to have a certain Boom Bang A Bang! (pounding away......)

Lulu Kebabs
Ingredients

• 1kg lamb (I used a leg I had)
• 2 brown onions
• 4-5 cloves garlic
• 2 red chillies
• Few springs of mint and parsley
• 1 tbsp. sea salt flakes
• 2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1 tsp. hot paprika

Method

• Pass the lamb, onions, garlic, chillies and herbs through a meat grinder (using the medium hole disc)
• Pass it through a second time
• Add salt and spices to the meat and mix well
• Let it rest in the fridge for about 1 hour
• Soak some bamboo skewers in water while the meat rests
• Mould a small hand full of meat onto 2 skewers (If you hold the skewers about 1/2cm apart it acts like a spine)
• There should be enough for about 14 kebabs
• Heat up the BBQ and grill for about 10-15 minutes till charred and cooked through (you can have a little taster just to be sure...my excuse, sticking to it)
• Serve with a tzatziki or hummus and pitta breads
• If you can't be bothered firing up the BBQ, under the grill or in a fry pan will do the trick
• Looking at the picture I want another one.....NOW!!

 

In Demark Dilara Kazimova will sing Start a Fire, so I did and cooked some Lulu kebabs.

 

Sometimes you'll do something and it will look skilfully executed and well planned when really it is purely very good luck.....yep this was one of those.

 

Chow Down to Eurovision 2013 - Azerbaijan

Today we're with another of our newest member to the Eurovision family, Azerbaijan. Just like San Marino they have only been participating in the contest since 2008 but managed to pull off a win with their 4th attempt.
The Zebra Cake is an edible representation of Azerbaijan's first entry, the competing mix of vanilla and chocolate that come together to create a perfect experience joyfully in your mouth......I'm talking about the cake!!
I had a few attempts to perfect the version I liked the most, the decision was a more defined pattern versus a lighter more moist cake or was it really I just because I wanted to keep eating it?

Azerbaijan's first entry started with a bang, heavenly counter tenor versus the devilish rock god, backed up by the beauty school drop outs chorus and an extras from Girls Gone Wild the interpretive dance spectacular.

A warning some of the notes in this song may be disturbing to small animals and ears.

Zebra Cake
Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup sunflower oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups self raising flour
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 3 tbsp. cocoa powder sifted
• Icing sugar to dust

Method

• In a mixing bowl add the eggs and sugar
• Beat with an electric beater till fluffy, paler and thicker about 2 minutes
• Add the milk, oil, vanilla, flour, and baking powder.
• Beat till smooth, don't over beat
• Pour half the mixture into a separate mixing bowl
• Add the cocoa to one of the bowls and mix through
• Grease a 23cm round cake tin
• Into the centre of the tin add a dollop of vanilla
• To the centre of the vanilla add a dollop of chocolate
• Alternate till both mixtures are used
• It works better if you do it quickly, don't spread around the mixture it will do it independently
• Don't worry if its not perfect, zebras aren't all the same, or made of chocolate for that matter.
• Bake in a 170°C oven for about 50 minutes
• The cake will be cooked when a skewer comes out clean
• Cool the cake in the tin ad then place onto a serving plate
• Dust with icing sugar to serve

 

 This is an earlier version I made it was very moist but the pattern wasn't defined, if you prefer this way omit 1/2 cup of self raising flour.

Hold Me will be performed by Farid Mammadov, even though he hasn't specified when to hold me will he share some Johnny Logan magic?

Uğur!