tomatoes

How to Make Sun-dried Tomatoes?

Hello everybody.

Tomatoes are in season now and I do have plenty cause my hubby planted some in the farm and it all ripened in this heat, so better do something with it.

Searched for ways to make dried tomatoes, results were either in the oven for 5-7 hours which is something I’ll never do in this heat or sun-dried for 3 days and since weather is dry and hot these days so this was my option.

You simply cut ripe hard tomatoes to halves or quarters, remove seeds and watery bulb, sprinkle freely with salt and/or pepper, oregano and basil.

Spread all on a flat sieve or wooden tray, I flattened them on a metal mesh ( the one we use for BBQ)  and leave them in the sun for three days or till completely dry .

Cover with cheese cloth or anything light to keep insects and dust away.

Will post end result when they’re done.

 

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wpid-wp-1438952942124.jpg salt,pepper,oregano and basil on top.

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Kofta Eggplant Bundles.

Hello again.

Lots and lots of eggplants in my fridge, have to cook them before they’re ruin I guess.

Lucky me my sister came to lunch today and she’s an eggplant lover cause half of my family doesn’t eat it at all by the way.

Quick lunch solution, kofta balls wrapped in fried eggplants as bundles then cooked in tomato sauce. Though the shape wasn’t perfect but taste was very good.

I also did some Gazpacho soup, good in this hot weather.

 

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Vegetables Stew (طباخ روحو)

Hello everybody.

This dish is a very very old traditional one, I remember till now that my grandma used to cook it a lot and we all hated it and run away lunch time to buy a falafel sandwich instead. I isn’t kid’s friendly I guess.

But since a have lots of pumpkin, courgettes, eggplants and tomatoes I thought I’d do some though I did it with small cubed meat pieces not big boned ones which is how it’s originally done.

Ingredients and method :
# 4-5 pieces of lamb with bones cooked till done with it’s stock (2-3 cups)
# 3-4 big courgettes cut to chunks
#1 bug eggplant cut to chunks.
# 1 slice of pumpkin or 3 big green pumpkins also cut to chunks.
#1 big onion sliced.
# 4 ripe tomatoes peeled and cut to small pieces.
# 4 cloves of minced garlic.
# 1 tsp dry mints.
# olive oil.
# salt, pepper, all spice.

# in a deep nonstick pan saute courgettes, eggplants and pumpkins till golden.
# add onions and leave to simmer till all veggies are a bit tender.
# add meat pieces and stock.
# season with salt, pepper and all spice to your taste.
# add the tomatoes and cover to cook over low heat till all stewed well together.
# add minced garlic and dry mint and leave for another 15-20 minutes.
# Serve with plain rice.

I also made a bowl of Ceazar salad in case keep kids didn’t like it.

Oh I forgot to mention that the exact translation of this dish Arabic name  is  ” cooked by itself ” cause it does actually!

 

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Okra in Olive Oil.

Hello everybody.
Quickest solution for lunch since I didn’t intend to cook anyway was freshly picked okra fried then sautéed with garlic, onions and chopped tomatoes then seasoned with salt, pepper and paprika.

I also made a dish of white cheese and watermelons and a small one of labaneh with black olives, all yummy and cool.

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wpid-wp-1437839741118.jpeg okra in olive oil.

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wpid-wp-1437839768463.jpeg best food in this weather.

 

 

 

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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Gazpacho (cold soup)

Hello everybody.

Seems today’s the hottest this season though we can finally feel it’s Summer at last, thank God it cools at night.

A great lunch time option in this weather is gazpacho, a traditional Spanish cold vegetable soup, first time I do it, really nice and cooling plus very easy to make I even added spring onions and it did add a nice flavor.

I also did some eggplant dip or mtabbal and some fresh guava grapes bananas lemon smoothie,all very refreshing.

Ingredients and method of gazpacho :
# 3-4 big peeled coarsely chopped tomatoes.
# 1 cucumber.
# 1 clove garlic.
# one small onion (I added a small spring onion also)
# 1 small red sweet pepper.
# 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
# 2 cups tomato juice.
# salt, pepper, chili powder.

# chopped parsley, tomatoes and cucumbers to garnish.

# mix all ingredients in a blender very well.
# chill in fridge for 3-4 hours then garnish with parsley, tomatoes, cucumbers and crushed black pepper upon serving.

I personally loved this dish, hope you try it and give me your opinion.

wpid-wp-1437571873143.jpeg cold chilled gazpacho.

wpid-wp-1437571882559.jpeg eggplant dip or mtabbal.

wpid-wp-1437571889595.jpeg guava juice.

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Fried Veggies Salad.

Hello everybody.

My husband cooked today for a change, his favorites sheep pluck and fried tomatoes.

For those who doesn’t eat it ( only me)  I did a salad rich and fulfilling. Normal salad with cubed fried veggies like eggplants, courgettes, potatoes and cauliflowers with tahini sauce on top.

wpid-wp-1436992422909.jpeg fried veggies salad.

wpid-wp-1436992381319.jpeg sheep pluck (معلاق)

wpid-wp-1436992369685.jpeg قلايه بندوره

wpid-wp-1436992398969.jpeg wpid-wp-1436992412139.jpeg سلطه مقالي

 

 

 

 

Eggplant Salad with Ricotta Cheese.

Hello everybody.

Had a big dinner yesterday so I have too much food left.

A small side dish was the same eggplant salad I did once before but I added some Ricotta Cheese from the ones my cousin brought me from Rome on top, yummy yummy.

I also did fresh mushroom soup from the pack of dried ones, again yummy.

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wpid-wp-1436195317047.jpeg eggplant salad.

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wpid-wp-1436195341515.jpeg typical Mediterranean dish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kebabs with Tomatoes and Nachos.

Hello everybody.

Longest fasting day ,thank God it’s cool and weather is nice.

 

Dinner was kebabs with tomatoes and rice and a plate of Nachos plus a big salad .

Ingredients and method of Kebabs.
* kofta meat ( ready from butcher)
* onions.
* garlic.
* tomatoes.
* green peppers.
* 1 can chopped tomatoes
* 1 spoon ketchup and mustard.

* mix kofta with ketchup and mustard.
* form it to small kebabs finger shaped.
* coat them with flour then keep in fridge for a while.
* heat some olive add the kebabs till brownish from all sides.
* add chopped onions, garlic, peppers sautee with meat till tender.
* add 2 peeled chopped  tomatoes and the can.
* leave to simmer for 30-40 minutes. Or you can put it the oven if you like.
* serve with rice.

 

Ingredients and method of Nachos:
* 1 big pack nacho chips.
* 1 small onion finely chopped.
* 1/2 cup red beans.
* 1 big ripe tomato also finely chopped.
* a bit of hot pepper and Tabasco.
* salt and pepper.
* cheddar cheese.
* sour cream or labaneh.

* saute onions till tender in oil.
* add all other ingredients except cheese
* simmer on low heat till done.
* spread nachos in a wide oven pan.
* spread sauce over it.
* add cheese and put in the oven till cheese melts.
* serve with sour cream or guacamole on the side.
* Note: you can add jalapenos, black olives and fava beans to sauce also.

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Energy Bites!

Hello everybody.

Did a massive fridge and freezer cleaning today and took out many things stored since a long time so as to do something useful or throw them away.

Result was a mix dried fruits,nuts, crushed biscuits,blueberries, oats all bound together with honey and molasses with a bit of cinnamon, cardamom and ginger. They’ll make a super snack during Ramadan specially at suhour time cause they’re full of nutrients and fiber which will help during fasting next day.

Another outcome was a plate of chickpeas with tahini sauce ( مسبحه) decorated with parsley and nuts.

Lunch was Shakshouka, no cooking till beginning of Ramadan, that’s my decision so far.

wpid-wp-1434372089016.jpeg energy bites.

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wpid-wp-1434372111335.jpeg nuts fruits oats mixed with honey and molasses.

wpid-wp-1434372151087.jpeg chickpeas and tahini.

wpid-wp-1434372159462.jpeg shakshuka.

wpid-wp-1434372170908.jpeg lunch !

wpid-wp-1434372165693.jpeg  yummy light food!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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