Baked Feta Cheese.

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Hello everybody.

Alone for lunch today so I was looking for something light and quick to do,though hate eating alone but well one have to sometimes.

Found a pack of feta cheese in my fridge so I directly decided to this super easy appetizer that we always eat in our favorite restaurant in Limassol /Meze Tavern in old town. Of course it’s served alongside a wide selection of meze but today only with some rocca salad and crisp toasted bread.

Though the one they make stays more firm cause it’s originally this way so it stays the same after baking,mine was a bit crumbly but yummy nevertheless.

You simply coat the feta in foil paper then drizzle with olive oil and add oregano,tomatoes,olives and herbs. bake for 10-15 minutes and that’s it.

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Shushbarak in Tomato Sauce.

Hello everybody.

How are you all doing in this heat?  Guess hot fatty dishes aren’t desirable in this weather though many made mansaf or maqloubeh nevertheless.

Well a last minute decision cause all woke up late was this long time no cook dish. Shushbarak with tomatoes, I added mushrooms black olives, pesto, oregano and a bit of feta cheese over ready made shushbarak pieces then all topped with mozzarella.

Yummy cool and fulfilling, fake ravioli my kids call it.

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wpid-wp-1437749236514.jpeg wpid-wp-1437749247121.jpeg lovely colorful mix.

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Summery Watermelon Salad.

Hello everybody.

Back to normal life routine today, went grocery shopping and kitchen started buzzing after a three day vacation.

Since it’s extremely hot and nobody wants to eat something hot or heavy after eating in restaurants past couple of days one feels so full right?
Well end result for lunch was this amazingly cool salad which consists of watermelon cubes, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and sprinkled with green onions, mints and lemon slices, I then added a drizzle of pomegranate sauce and olive oil. Really yummy.

I also made some pasta with white cheese and parsley and tacos. All very delicious.

 

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wpid-wp-1437398122671.jpeg cool kind of salad.

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Jamie Oliver’s 15 Minutes Tomato Soup.

Hello everybody.

Well it’s Winter all over again with low temperatures and heavy rain as if we’re in mid January. A soup will be perfect specially a chili hot one.

Saw this recipe on TV last week  Jamie Oliver’s 15 minutes meal,I just love this chef, he cooks with a style and makes everything looks easy and yummy like this soup.

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Ingredients and method:

For the soup:

* 1 green onion chopped.

* some chopped chives (optional)

* 1 red chili pepper.

* some preserved roasted red peppers ( didn’t have today )

* some chopped fresh coriander.

* 1 can diced tomatoes.

* 3 cups water.

* salt,pepper.

* Saute onions,peppers,chives and coriander with some olive oil.

* add tomatoes and water then season with salt and pepper.

* leave to simmer till done then blend with hand mixer.

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* Toppings and additives:

* Roasted tortillas with melted cheddar cheese.

* chili peppers,coriander, feta cheese and black olives.

* yogurt mixed with fresh mint leaves ( original one contained crushed jalapenos also)

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Upon serving put tortillas in bottom of bowl,add whatever you like from toppings, add soup then drizzle yogurt mint sauce on top.

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A  real genuine dish ,we loved it !

 

Valentine’s Day Ideas.

Hello everybody.

No cooking today so I decided to do some cute dishes for Valentine’s Day which is coming up in the next few days or you can even make them in anniversaries or birthdays.

I made these cute little pies with beets and remaining pieces turned to a small salad then made Red Velvet cupcakes and used smashed beets instead of food coloring but seems I over baked beets cause color turned so dark not red, results looked like a chocolate cupcake rather than a red velvet, taste was pretty good .

 

Ingredients and method of beet pies:

* puff pastry squares.

* some olive oil,salt and pepper.

* boiled or baked beetroot.

* feta cheese or blue cheese as you prefer.

* walnuts.

* balsamic vinegar.

 

* make heart shapes ( small or big) with cookie cutters.

* spread puff pastry squares on  wax paper then prick them with a fork so as they won’t puff a lot.

* brush with olive oil,salt and pepper.

* line up the beets then bake in a medium heated oven for 30 minutes or till puffs are golden.

* sprinkle feta cheese or blue cheese, walnuts then drizzle with condensed balsamic vinegar.

 

As for the red velvet I took the recipe from a nice food blog called little sunny kitchen , very easy recipe that uses beets instead of food coloring.

20150212_153918 Happy Valentine <3

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20150212_125422 aren’t these cute?

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20150212_125724 beet hearts before baking.

20150212_153355 finished dish topped with yummy cheese and dressing.

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20150212_153849 though not red enough but overall taste and looks was great.

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Dates Roca Salad.

Hello everybody.

Since it’s Thursday and all have plans In did a small salad only,enough I think.
We usually eat this dish at Cafe Hanin,delicious, nutritious and light.consists of a bed of roca leaves or lettuce with pitted dates,walnuts, feta cheese and a vinaigrette sauce. Simple and easy.

Enjoy your weekend lovely people.

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Crunchy Baked Wedges.

Hello everybody.
How’s your weekend so far? Weather turned crispy cold and dusty not enjoyable for an outing right?
Lunch was cheese burgers and crunchy spiced wedges,you cut potatoes with skin into wedges and mix well with pesto sauce,chili,rosemary, oregano,breadcrumbs,sun dried tomatoes,salt ,pepper and olive oil then bake uncovered till done and crispy. Salad was beetroot and lettuce topped with feta cheese and vinaigrette.

Upon kids request I baked more peanut butter chocolate cookies cause I only left some for them yesterday. Love this recipe very easy and quick.

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Beetroot Roca Salad.

Hello everybody.

Remember the strawberry pineapple cake from last week? Well I did another one today for my friends’ birthdays,we went out for breakfast to Cafe Hanin again and I took it with me. Happy Birthday everybody .

Lunch was spaghetti with chicken,broccoli,sun dried tomatoes,pesto sauce and cream topped with Parmesan cheese,really yummy .

I also made this delicious salad I saw on Pinterest , it contains beetroot,roca leaves,feta cheese,flax seeds,mushrooms and peppers,dressing is simple vinaigrette, so refreshing.

Beetroot is a very healthy nutritious veggie,I always boil some and use in salads or simply sliced with a drizzle of lemon and olive oil when in season, excellent source of vitamins,fibers and anti oxidants  plus having many medical uses such as lowering blood pressure and many many more.

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20141105_162530  pesto pasta with chicken and broccoli.

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Greek Style Quesadillas.

Hello everybody.

Very hot and busy morning , don’t know why streets and shops are full, finished grocery shopping as fast as I can to go back home 🙁

Lunch today was noodles with vegetables and chicken,with soy sauce,ketchup and ginger. It’s a favorite of ours all the time .

I also made a quick side dish, light vegetarian quesadillas,found this recipe on Pinterest. You can add chicken to it if you like, your choice. Tasted really really good,will certainly do them again !

Ingredients and method:

* large tortilla bread.

* feta cheese.

* mozzarella cheese.

* fresh parsley and mint , chopped.

* black olives.

* chopped sweet peppers.

* pesto sauce or fresh basil leaves.

* cherry tomatoes.

* oregano,salt and pepper.

* optional additives : onions or shredded chicken.

* add feta and mozzarella on half of the bread then add toppings as you like.

* grill or toast in the oven after brushing pan with a bit of oil.

That’s it, enjoy !!!

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20140816_144717  20140816_151511   Main dish

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Lamb Pasties.

Hello everybody.

Last night I remembered this recipe from my Greek cookbook, I always make it in Ramadan,light and easy, since I already have cooked meat cubes in the freezer so it’ll even be a super quick thing to do,suitable for crazy shopping Saturday.

Greeks do it with thin pastry and use lots of butter but I usually use puff pastry and omit butter completely.

Ingredients and method:

* cooked lamb cubes.

* squared puff pastry.

* small chopped onion.

* 2-3 cloves garlic.

* 2-3 cubed potatoes.

* feta cheese.

 

* saute onions,garlic and potatoes with some oil then add salt and pepper till golden and soft.

* spread the puff pastry a bit.

* add a cube of meat then a spoonful of potatoes.

* add a piece of feta cheese on top then close the pastry as a parcel.

* bake for 30-40 minutes in a low heat oven till pastries are puffed and golden.

* serve with sauteed veggies and salad.

See very quick and easy and tastes good as well 🙂

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20140614_160756  this is the book’s photo.

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