Anise Biscuits ( قرشله). 

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Hello everybody.

Woke up to an empty cookie jar this morning, something that rarely happens in our house!

Well though I was busy preparing today’s order which was steak with mushrooms along with mashed potatoes,  lasagna, chicken pie and rocca mushroom and pomegranate salad. I searched my old cookbook for something light and healthy to refill the jar.

Came across this old recipe from a dear aunt, anise biscuits or what we call in Arabic ( قرشله), though they’re always available in all bakeries but homemade ones are definitely different.

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Ingredients are very basic and simple, all done in minutes. I wonder why I don’t do them often!

Ingredients and method :

* 4 eggs.

* 1 cup sugar.

* 1 cup vegetable oil ( or half olive oil and half vegetable)

* 1 tsp vanilla.

* 3 tablespoons anise seeds.

* 2 tablespoons sesame seeds.

* 1 tsp baking powder.

* 4 cups flour.

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* Beat eggs and sugar well till creamy

* add vanilla, anise seeds and sesame.

* add oil.

* add baking powder and flour.

* Beat all well till dough is smooth.

* you can either shape dough as logs or circles as you wish, I formed it as a log, rolled it in sesame seeds then cut them to one inch circles.

* bake in a medium heated oven for 20 minutes or till bottom is golden.

* roast surface a bit till biscuits are dry and golden.

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And since I was in the baking mood, I did some raisin oatmeal cookies, all so yummy 😋

Here’s the recipe but I didn’t use cranberries today:

Ingredients and method:
* 1 egg.
* 1/2 cup  brown  or regular sugar.
* 1/2 cup red currents.
* 1/2 cup raisins.
* 1/2  cup crushed walnuts and almonds.
* 3/4 cup butter.
* 3/4 cup oatmeal.
* 3/4 cup flour.
* 1 tsp baking powder.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* pinch of salt.
* cinnamon and ginger powder.

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* beat butter with sugar till creamy then add egg and vanilla.
* mix all dry ingredients together.
* mix batter with dry ingredients to form a firm dough.
* scoop a small spoonful and line them on an oven tray .
* bake in a medium heated oven for 10-15 minutes.

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Egyptian Cookies Again.

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Hello everybody.

Actually order is for tomorrow but I usually like to make cookies a day before cause they are more tender the next day. Kind of settle down and flavor is much better.

Here’s the ingredients again :

Ingredients and method :
# 2 cups fine semolina.
# 4 cups flour.
# 2 cups butter or ghee ( I used 1/2 ghee, 1 butter and 1/2 vegetable oil)
# 1 tablespoon anise powder.
# 1 teaspoon fennel powder.
# 1 tsp special cookie spice (كلفه كعك)

#1/2 tsp mihleb

#1/4 tsp mistaka.

#2 tablespoons sesame seeds.
#1/2 cup sugar.
# 1 tsp instant yeast dissolved in 1 tablespoon sugar and a cup of warm water.
# 2 tablespoons rose water.

# pitted dates mixed with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and anise powders.

# Heat butter then mix with semolina, flour and all spices very well till crumbly.
# leave for 2-3 hours or better overnight till all butter is well absorbed.
# add frothy yeast and water and mix all well.
# add rose water and knead all together.

# start working right away by stuffing small portions of dough with dates and shape them in the molds.

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Anise Bars.

Hello everybody.

Though we’re Mansaf-ing today but it’s not me cooking so I baked these bars this morning,good choice with coffee as a quick breakfast for my son before leaving to college everyday.

Recipe is very easy almost a simple cake but you bake it in a big wide pan then slice it when done and ready bake or toast bars till crunchy.

Really yummy.

Ingredients:

* 4 eggs.
* 1 cup sugar.
* 1/2 cup olive oil.
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil.
* 2 big spoons anise powder.
* 2 big spoons anise seeds.
* sesame seeds
* 2 tsp baking powder.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* 2 cups flour.

Method:
* mix eggs, vanilla, sugar with electric mixer till fluffy. Add rest of ingredients.
* sprinkle bottom of pan with sesame seeds, add the cake mixture and bake in medium oven for 30 minutes or dry in center.
* when cooled cut to slices and roast again till golden from both sides.( مثل شكل القرشله)
* leave to cool completely then keep in well closed jar or tin.

image

wpid-wp-1439827314845.jpg relaxing time with some mint tea.

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wpid-wp-1439827363450.jpg  today’s mansaf.

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Anise,Almond Walnut Biscottis.

Hello everybody.

Going to visit my cousin this evening,excited to go see her new baby.

As a usual custom now I made her some biscottis,some with anise seeds and some with almonds and walnuts, though the ones with nuts become so crumbly but taste is good, these will be great with coffee or tea in the morning.

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wpid-wp-1426690548536.jpeg biscottis before cutting.

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Lunch was beans from yesterday and some lentils with rice ( mujadara)  and a big salad.

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Anise Sweet Cake.

Hello everybody.

Cold crispy day, in days like these one keeps craving something sweet specially with syrup in them like Arabic sweets.

My cousin posted this recipe the other day , seemed tasty and easy and it really is when I made it today.It’s now officially Amneh’s Cake,thank you loads my dear.

Lunch today was lentil soup and chicken liver,good in this weather as well.

Ingredients and method:

* 4 cups flour.

* 3 cup semolina.

* 2 big spoons anise seeds soaked in 2 cups warm water.

* 1 1/2 cups vegetable oi.

* 2 big spoons anise powder.

* 2 big spoons sesame seeds.

* 1 1/2 big spoons instant yeast.

* 1/2 cup sugar ( my own addition so it’s optional)

* Sugar syrup to soak cake when done.

 

* Mix all ingredients together and knead well till you get a soft loose dough.

* cover and leave to rise in a warm place.

* spread evenly in oven pan and decorate with walnuts or almonds.

* bake in a medium heated oven for 30-40 minutes or till golden from edges.

* toast surface a bit.

* pour cold syrup on it while hot.

 

NOTE: could be done for Christmas dinner,really well flavored and aromatic.

 

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20141223_133446 lentil soup and chicken liver.

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