Spinach with Cream and Cannelloni.

Hello everybody.

Mom had guests this morning,did spinach tabouleh for her with other yummies as well,so I cooked cannelloni before I left since I already have cooked minced meat and chopped spinach so I fixed it quickly and left.

Yesterday my cousin posted this dish on banancooking page,spinach with cream,mushroom and cheese,decided to try it also, unfortunately I made a nice video of the recipe and way of cooking then deleted it by mistake 🙁 will repeat it soon for sure.

Ingredients and method:

* fresh mushrooms.

* bunch of chopped spinach.

* fresh cream.

* any kind of cheese,cheddar,mozzarella or kashkaval.

* salt,pepper and pinch of nutmeg.

* saute mushrooms in a bit of butter till tender.

* add spinach ,salt,pepper and nutmeg.

* add cream and leave to simmer 10 minutes.

* put them in a pottery pan or deep oven pan add cheese then bake for 10 minutes.

Really yummy either as dip or appetizer or with garlic bread.

cannelloni.

mom’s gathering.

spinach dip.

Mini Banoffee Tarts.

Hello everybody.

Told you yesterday this week is crazy,nonstop events. Hope I can have a calm weekend after all , till now no plans hope it’ll stay like this !

Today my beloved childhood cousins came to visit me,that’s why I’m late writing my daily post, we had such great time as always. I did these mini banoffee tarts,same recipe but I used a small mold for the crust and added caramel and bananas on top and chocolate syrup to decorate.I also made spinach tabouleh and za’tar buns filled with cheese and one big topped with labaneh,plus some Maltesers coconut balls from yesterday.

Lunch today was rice with veggies and meat,really yummy!!

banoffee tarts.

today’s lunch.

Diet Starts Today !

Hello everybody.

New month resolution DIET and back to daily WALKING habit, too much events and invitations since end of Ramadan,so now after school opened and sadly said goodbyes to most of Summer visitors it’s time to stop our mouths a bit don’t you think? hope this decision holds on cause only today I got two invitations for the next upcoming weeks , well I’ll do my best to compromise 🙁

I won’t start a fixed written diet,will try to cut down bread,carbs in general and portions cause I do have a family to feed and I won’t cook special meals for myself .

Today’s dish is very simple and easy,chicken breasts stuffed with spinach and garlic with herbs, lemon juice and soy sauce for seasoning,no salt and a bit of olive oil.

* Ingredients and method:

* chicken breasts cut in the middle.

* garlic and spinach.

* lemon juice and soy sauce.

* broccoli and mushrooms or any vegetables you prefer.

* oregano,basil or any herbs for seasoning.

* crush garlic and mix with spinach then stuff inside breasts.

* season with lemon juice and herbs.

* heat some olive oil in skillet then add breasts,keep turning till golden on both sides.

* add veggies and sprinkle all with some soy sauce then leave to simmer on low heat till all done.

* serve with simple salad .

Cannelloni and Spinach salad.

Hello everybody.

Fifth of Ramadan today,thank God weather is much cooler now.

Today I made cannelloni stuffed with white sauce,minced meat and spinach with tomato sauce of top. I also made cooked fava beans (فول مدمس),spinach salad with some cooked quinoi seeds and cheesy loaf ( Maysoon’s loaf) .

You can find recipes in links.

Enjoy 🙂

Spinach Cheese Pie.

Hello everybody.
Have you ever seen this picture?

I did try it few months ago but result was nothing like it at all.
Well today I encouraged myself for a second trial, this time with more patience . Result was very much better, not as perfect as the picture but not bad at all 🙂

It’s basic dough, today with mixed whole wheat and white flour. Stuffing is spinach and white cheese.
You can use other kinds if stuffing. It’s the shape that counts.

Hope you try it !!

Spinach with Rice.

Hello everybody.
Though everybody don’t like spinach at home specially my husband but I couldn’t resist but buy the fresh green bunch. I like it cooked with meat once in a while plus it’s very healthy and full of nutrients and iron.

Ingredients and method:
*fresh cleaned chopped spinach.
* minced meat.
* garlic and onion. Finely chopped.
* salt, pepper , all spice and lemon juice.

* saute meat till almost done with olive oil.
* add onions and garlic, saute till tender.
* add spinach and all seasoning.
* leave to simmer till done 35-40 minutes.
* serve with rice, lemon juice and pickles.

Absolutely delicious. ♡♥♡♥.

Cannelloni and Cheesy Garlic Bread.

Hello again.
Well got back home to cook lunch.:)

Today I’m making cannelloni the way a friend on fb cooks it, I usually stuff it then add tomato sauce on top then in the oven, but last time Mary posted a photo of cannelloni that looked nicer than the ones I make. Told me she does it the other way around..I mean tomato sauce then cannellonis on top..this keeps their shape better.
http://www.facebook.com/Mary’s dinner clubs Limassol
A change today also, I used chicken instead of meat cause we ate too much meat last week.

I also made a cheesy garlicky loaf, been wanting to make this recipe for so long..though it didn’t turn out exactly like the original.

Ingredients and method:
*1 pack cannelloni.
* 1 can chopped tomatoes.
* 1 spring onion or leek.
* 2 big ripe red tomatoes.
For cannelloni filling:
* 2 chopped chicken breasts.
* 1 cup spinach.
* 2-3 cups thick white sauce ( 2 big spoons butter, 2 big spoons flour, 2-3 cups milk.)
* cube of white or fetta or ricotta cheese.
* some grated parmesan.
* mozzarella or kashkaval chesse for topping.

* start by making the filling cause it must cool before you use it.
* sautee chicken pieces with some oil.add salt and pepper till golden.
* make the white sauce by adding flour to heated butter, stir well till golden then add milk slowly and whisking at the same time.take care cause it may clott , if so use electric whisker to make it creamy.
* add spinach and chicken, cheeses then season to taste.
* keep uncovered to cool.
* make the tomato sauce by frying chopped onions, adding tomatoes (2 kinds) and salt, pepper, chilli, paprika as you like.
* leave for 15-20 to cook.
* stuff cannellonis with filling with a small spoon or as I do….wear a disposable glove and stuff..much more quicker:)
* arrange over tomatoes then put them covered in a medium heated oven 45-50 minutes.
* note: I actually added a bit of water on top during baking cause I felt pasta is drying.
* sprinkle with cheese and roast till it melts.

Cheesy garlic bread:
Saw this recipe on fb, thought it’ll go well with cannelloni.
You’ll need :
* a whole loaf
*butter.
* various kinds of cheeses.
* garlic powder.
* fresh coriander or parsley or oregano as you like.
* cut the loaf to rectangles only from the top.
* stuff the cheeses in holes.
* sprinkle garlic, butter and coriander.
* bake till cheese melts and ….. eat:)

Appetizers:Russian Salad,Broccoli Soup and Spinach Pastries.

Hello eveybody.
Today I only made a salad and soup cause I still have some leftovers from yesterday. I also made some spinach pastries. Tomorrow i’ll make a new dish Inshallah.
* Russian Salad:
This salad is very easy but a bit fatty cause It has lots of mayonnaise. But I always use light one hoping to decrease the damage :).
You simply boil some beans, carrots, sweet corn and potatoes in water till tender then add salt, pepper, bit of vinegar and a good amount of mayonnaise to cover them. Mix gently.
Note: boiled eggs are usually used in this salad also in it or as garnish but I don’t actually use it..it’s fine without it as well.

*Broccoli Soup:
Love this delicious healthy soup.
Used to make it with fresh cream but one day I ate it at my sweet aunt Nabiha, it was very light but creamy as well. Trick is using one big potato with it so that when mixed together with the broccoli it gives a creamy rich texture.
Ingredients and method:
* 1 big potato peeled and cubed.
* 5-6 broccoli florets.
* 2 green onions.
* 1 cube maggi.
* 2-3 big spoons oatmeal.
* 1/2 cup milk.

* heat a bit of butter, stir chopped onions, potatoes and half of the broccoli.
* add the oatmeal, maggi, salt and pepper. Mix all together.
* add 4 cups water and the milk.
* simmer till vegetables are done.
* mix with hand mixer or in blender.
* add rest of broccoli florets. Leave to simmer for 15-20 minutes.

* Spinach Pastries.
I was looking in my freezer and fridge wandering what else to do, found some puff pastry left from last time’s chicken pie and some spinach so thought to do these pastries . Hoped they’ll taste as good as they look.
I simply added black pepper, a piece of white cheese and a small piece of cream cheese, then closed the pastry as a parcel and baked them.

Actually all tasted delicious and satisfying. ♡♥♡♥

Spinach Quiche.

Hello everybody.

Very long and hectic day, full of events…didn’t have time to cook actually. Thank God I made a spinach quiche yesterday afternoon so we ate the rest of it.
You can do quiche with different fillings, spinach, mushroom, cheese, vegetables. I made a mix of all cause I had some spinach left after making tabouleh on Thursday and some mushrooms also plus many kinds of cheeses.
Ingredients:
For the crust:
* 1 egg, beaten.
* 1 tsp salt.
* 3/4 cup butter.
* 1 1/2 cup flour.
* 2 big spoons cold water.

* Mix all ingredients together to form a firm ball.keep in fridge for 1/2 hour then spread in a pie pan.
* bake at 250 º for 20 min.

Filling:
* 3 eggs.
*bunch of chopped spinach.
* chopped mushrooms.
* grated cheese, white, feta, cheddar.
* small finely chopped green hot pepper.
* 1 small pack cream or 1/2 cup milk.
* salt pepper and a dash if nutmeg.

Mix all together then add to partially baked crust and bake for 30-35 minutes on low heat.
Serve with green salad.

Enjoy♡

Greek Semolina Cake (هريسه يونانيه )

Hello everybody.

I usually like to have something sweet on the kitchen table to serve with coffee or tea in case any sudden visitors came by, which is frequent..not that I mind, all family and friends know that they’re welcome anytime, coffee and sweets always available ( حمدلله).
As expected brownies were gone in no time.so today it’s my husband’s turn for his favorite dessert Harisseh or as some people call it Basbousa. I do have some excellent quality semolina (.سميد ). Must thank my hubby’s best friend Basil for that for he’s always a generous provider of excellent flour and semolina .

This recipe is a bit diffrent than normally done Harisseh. I have it in my Greek cook book (a must have cause all its recepies are great).
Ingredients:
*4 eggs.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* 1 cup sugar.
* 1/2 cup coconut (optional).
* 1/2 yoghurt.
* 3/4 cup butter.
* 2 1/2 cups coarse or fine semolina.
* 2 tsp baking powder.
* 1/4 tsp sodium bicarbonate.
For the sugar syrup :
* 3 cups sugar.
* 1 1/2 cups water.
* 1 small spoon lemon juice.

*Mix all ingredients alternatively. Grease a
medium size pan with butter or tahini (طحينه ).add the batter
*Sprinkle with almonds then bake in a medium heated oven till golden.
* As for the syrup mix sugar and water, heat till it boils, add lemon juice and leave to simmer till it thickens .approximately 20-30 min.leave to cool.
* Add cold syrup on cake when still hot so as to be absorbed well.

Well lunch today is light, still have some noodles from yesterday so i made some spinach pastries..these will do I guess.:)

The dough is the same as pizza I made last week, but I added some sesame seeds and black seeds (قزحه ) , I also used 4 cups whole wheat flour with 2 cups plain white flour.
* Filling was spinach rubbed in salt, finely chopped onion, summaq ( سماق ) ،lemon juice,olive oil,some pomegranate molasses ( دبس رمان )، salt, pepper, paprika and chilli powder as desired.
* Devide dough to small balls, spread, fill with spinach then close as triangles.
I even had some extra dough today, filled it with cheese and fresh thyme leaves from the garden.:)
*Bake in a well heated oven till bottoms are brown then drizzle tops with olive oil and roast.

Enjoy ♡♥♡♥