Gingerbread Cake.

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Hello everybody.

Christmas time is always full of new challenges for me, so many recipes to try and lots of creative ideas and decorations.

Since we have lunch guests for Mansaf ,thought I’ll try this cake. it’s very popular but I never did it before and was very happy with the result . Both elegant and delicious , moist and full of flavors.

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Ingredients and method:

* 1/2 cup butter.نص كوب زبده

* 3/4 cup brown sugar 3/4 كوب سكر بني

*1/2 cup molasses. نص كوب دبس تمر

*2 tsp ginger powder ملعتين صغار زنجبيل

*2 tsp cinnamon ملعقتين صغار قرفه

*pinch of nutmeg رشه جوز الطيب

*pinch of salt. رشه ملح

*1/2 cup vegetable oil. نص كوب زيت نباتي

*3/4 cup milk. 3م4 كوب حليب

*3 large eggs. 3 بيض

*1 tsp vanilla.ملعقه فانيلا

*3 cups flour.3 كوب طحين

*2 tsp baking powder.ملعقتين باكينغ باودر

* 1/2 tsp bicarbonate .نص ملعقه بايكربونات

  • Mix flour with all spices and baking powder and bicarbonate. تخلط البهارات والباكينغ باودر ولبيايكربونات مع الطحين
  • Beat butter and brown sugar well تخفق الزبده والسكر جيدا
  • add molasses then oil.يضاف الزيت والدبس
  • add eggs and vanilla.يضاف البيض والفانيلا
  • add milk alternatively with spices and flour.يضاف الحليب بالتناوب مع الطحين
  • bake in three medium sized pans.في فرن متوسط الحراره  تخبز العجينه في عده قوالب او صينيه واحده حسب الرغبه
  • leave to cool before stuffing.تترك لتبرد تماما قبل الحشي

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Cream:الكريما

*1 pack cream cheese.علبه جبنه كريميه

*1 pack heavy cream.علبه قيمر

*2 envelopes whipping creamمغلفين كريما باودر

*1 tsp cinnamon.ملعقه صغيره قرفه

  • Beat cream cheese well then add all other ingredients and beat till double in size .تخفق الجبنه اولا ثم تضاف باقي المقادير وتخفق جيدا
  • add cinnamon.
  • cool in fridge till stiff.تبرد جيدا قبل الحشو

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Ginger cookies:بسكوت الزنجبيل

*3/4 cup butter.3/ 3 كوب زبده

*1/ 2 cup brown sugar.1/2 كوب سكر بني

*1/2 cup molasses.1/2 كوب دبس

*1 egg.1 بيضه

*1 tsp ginger.1 ملعقه زنجبيل

*1 tsp cinnamon.ملعقه قرفه

*1/2 tsp baking powder.نص ملعقه باكينغ باودر

*2 cups flour.كوبين طحين

*Beat butter and sugar then add molasses.تخفق الزبده والسكر جيدا

*Add egg and spices.تضاف البيضه والبهارات

*Add flour and baking powder.يضاف الطحين والباكينغ باودر

*Knead well till you get a stiff easy to manage ball.تعجن جيدا لتصبح كره ماساء

*Roll and shape as you wish .ترق على سطح مرشوش بالطحين ونشكل حسب الرغبه

*Bake for 10-13 minutes max.تخبز في فرن متوسط لمده 10-13 دقيقه

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When cake is completely cooled ( i usually wrap each one in nylon wrap and freeze it for couple of hours) assemble with cream layers and decorate with cookies.

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Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Cake.

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Hello everybody.

My lovely aunt called yesterday saying she’d like to try one of my cakes, anything with lots of chocolate she said.

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First thing that came to my mind was my usual daisies cake but then I thought why not to try another version, chocolate cake filled with chocolate cream and Ferrero Rocher and topped with the same.

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Final outcome was really amazing and elegant, something all chocolate lovers will love for sure.

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Old New Lunch!

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Hello everybody.
Well lunch today was two opposite dishes, first very old and traditional the other kind of new and modern. Had to do this to please everyone and hopefully to have enough leftovers for tomorrow.

Okra with olive oil, a simple dish with few ingredients, you simply fry okra with some olive oil till crispy, add chopped garlic and tomatoes. Add salt, pepper and chili and leave on very low heat till all done.

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Other dish was chicken cubes cooked till done with some chopped onion and garlic, then I added fresh mushrooms, broccoli and fresh cream and cooked till cream is thick and veggies tender,all served on a bed of fresh yummy pasta from Maysas.Pasta.

wp-1464450381908.jpg  yummy ingredients leads to a delicious meal.

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Teramisu in Easter Chocolate Eggs.

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Hello everybody.

Have this teramisu order tomorrow so as usual I always do cold dessert a day before.

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Today’s twist in teramisu was that I used chocolate Easter eggs as cups, removed top with a sharp hot knife, filled them with lady finger biscuits dipped in coffee and cream.

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Final presentation was really elegant and nice, hope taste will be as well.

wp-1461532910855.jpg beauties .

 

 

 

 

 

Chicken Pie.

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Hello everybody.

Have an order for a lovely friend, she ordered steak roll, chicken pie and a carrot cake.

A chance to make two pies cause kids love it and it’s been a while since I did it. Heart warming dish in this crispy cold weather.

wpid-wp-1448378769075.jpg this one was our lunch.

wpid-wp-1448378782021.jpg before baking.

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Artichoke Spinach Baguette.

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Hello everybody.

Since yesterday’s lunch was so old fashioned today’s choice is extra Italian!
Fettuccine Alfredo with mushrooms and chicken was the main dish, on the side I made this yummy sort of garlic bread but with rich stuffing.
Saw this recipe on Facebook yesterday,you mix some chopped artichokes, spinach, cream cheese, mozzarella or kashkaval or cheddar as you like, season with garlic powder  salt and pepper and any other herbs like basil or oregano.

Cut the baguette to three pieces, remove the inside and  stuff it with the mixture . Cut to small slices  then brush all with butter, garlic powder and parsley ( I used thyme instead).

Wrap the loaf with foil paper, bake for 20 minutes then uncover and bake for another 10 minutes.

Serve hot with any pasta or pizza, so easy and delicious.

wpid-wp-1447084933532.jpg stuffed baguette.

wpid-wp-1447084939848.jpg line up slices,add butter on top.

 

wpid-wp-1447084947535.jpg  taste is awesome try it !

Fettuccine in Rosa Sauce.

wpid-wp-1441895219559.jpg    Hello again.

You may wandered what did I do with all these cherry tomatoes in the oven, well they were very ripe and tender so this what you do…

I baked the whole tomatoes with one chili pepper, sweet yellow pepper, garlic,rosemary, oregano,salt and olive oil alongside the cake till all tender and a thick sauce is out. I then mixed all together in the blender.

Used this sauce with some fresh mushrooms,pesto and fresh cooking cream as sauce for fettuccine.
Sprinkle with Parmesan and oregano when served.

Easy simple end of the week lunch.

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wpid-wp-1441895283837.jpg cream in roasted tomato sauce.

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Pistachio Dessert (مفروكه فستق)

Hello everybody.

Have guests coming tonight so I prepared some sweets,nuts and fruits.

Got this recipe from a friend since beginning of Ramadan and hadn’t got the chance to do it till now,hope it’ll taste good, usually done in Mediterranean restaurants specially Lebanese.

Ingredients are very simple :
# 1 cup knafeh dough processed to fine pieces.
# 2 cups finely chopped pistachios.
# 2 tablespoons butter.
# 1/2 cup icing sugar.
#3 tablespoons sugar syrup.
# 1 tsp rose water.
# fresh cream.
# roast knafeh dough a bit till golden.
# in food processor mix all ingredients together till you get a smooth dough.
# spread in a Pyrex or in molds the shape you like.
# add fresh cream ( قشطه بلدية) on top.
# cool in fridge till served.

wpid-20150708_185217.jpg elegant dessert right?

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Light No Bake Fruit Cheesecake.

Hello everybody.

It’s Summer time, fruits of various kinds and colors are abundant everywhere, this morning I got some fresh from the farm peaches on my way back from the lovely town Fuheis where we had a nice breakfast.

Back home I decided to try this dessert, kind of my own invention, small cups of no bake cheesecake with fruits on top,so yummy and light great in this hot weather.

Ingredients and method :

# crust :
# 1/2 pack of plain biscuits.
# 2 tablespoons oats.
#2 tablespoons coconut.
# 1 big tablespoon butter.
# 1 tsp jam.

Mix all these together till crumbly.

# cheese layer :
# 1 pack cream cheese.
# 1 pack cream ( قشطه)
# 1/2 cup caster sugar.
# 1 tablespoon butter.
# 2 tablespoons labaneh.

Mix all ingredients together till creamy.

# put some crust in small bowls or cups.
# add cheese filling.
# top with any fruits you like.
# keep in fridge for couple of hours then serve.

Oh and lunch was regular kofta with vegetables and a big salad.

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wpid-20150609_151006.jpg elegant for a dinner or lunch party.

 

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Try it,really good you won’t regret.

Armenian Freekeh and Pineapple Salad.

Hello everybody.

Interesting and joyful atmosphere at Botma market this morning, been intending to go every Saturday but hadn’t got the time till now.

You can find a wide selection of seasonal veggies and herbs plus many jars of delicacies like jams and spreads,all looks fresh and healthy. Market is open each Saturday from 9-2 don’t miss it.

Well I certainly shopped some things including lettuce and baby spinach immediately made a big bowl of salad with fresh pineapples and walnuts.

Lunch was Armenian Freekeh with onions, mushrooms, cream and cheese with chicken breasts on top.

wpid-dsc_0280.jpg Botma honey.

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wpid-dsc_0271.jpg fresh vine leaves.

wpid-dsc_0273.jpg baked beans.

wpid-dsc_0270.jpg fava beans

wpid-dsc_0276.jpg  yummy spreads and dips.

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