Author: Banan Gharaibeh

Kinder Bueno All Chocolate Cake.

Hello everybody.

My baby turned 18 today, though to me he’s still that blond skinny baby who never sat still for a moment,can’t imagine he’s a fine young man now.

Had a bunch of his friends for breakfast today, big variety of goodies : eggs in buns, manousheh, cheese, labaneh, hummus, falafel… etc.

Highlight of the event was a big fully packed with chocolate cake done upon his request, main filling was cream with crushed Kinder Bueno bars and topping was a mix of Oreo,Maltesers, Flakes and Wafers.

I also made mini pancakes with Nutella,bananas and strawberries in skewers.

Lunch is in process now, only some fries to go with left.

hummus and some leftovers.

 

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wpid-wp-1427032212765.jpeg cake filling.

wpid-wp-1427032303579.jpeg wpid-wp-1427032327382.jpeg

wpid-wp-1427032312078.jpeg eggs in small buns.

wpid-wp-1427032333199.jpeg mini skewered pancakes with bananas, strawberries and Nutella.

wpid-wp-1427032294524.jpeg Happy Birthday Zozo,love you 🙂

 

 

 

 

Violet Velvet Cake.

Hello everybody and Happy Mother’s Day.

Though it’s supposed to be a happy joyful day but I always feel sad for people who lost their moms, or childless moms or orphans and keep hoping that these people might find someone to compensate the loss ,plus I don’t like the idea that this day became a big propaganda for gifts and home supplies. If you really love your mom you must love and cherish her all year long not only in one day.
Well anyway, we’ll all gather this evening, I made this lovely cake that I saw on Instagram and been waiting for a special occasion to make it, recipe is the same as red velvet but with violet food coloring and because I didn’t find the right color is did it by mixing red and blue together, all morning doing trials till we got the exact color.
One more thing, filling inside is cream cheese icing and blueberries.

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wpid-wp-1426952548991.jpeg wpid-wp-1426952589204.jpeg original photo !!!

 

wpid-wp-1426952613525.jpeg Happy Mother’s Day.

 

 

 

Chicken Tikka Masala and Indian Rice.

Hello everybody.
Back to cold and gloomy weather, plan was to plant and arrange the garden today but clouds and eastern crisp wind aren’t encouraging at all.

Lunch was chicken tikka masala, same recipe is always make, but this time I did Indian rice on the side, though one ingredient is missing ‘ mustard seeds ‘ and original recipe contains cumin seeds not powder, but result was superb, light and aromatic and goes well with the chicken.
Ingredients and method :
* 2 cups rice ( I used basmati)
* cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks.

*1 tsp salt.
* small chopped onion.
* 2 cloves garlic.
* ghee or oil.
* 1 tsp mustard seeds.
* 1 tsp cumin seeds.
* 1 tsp turmeric powder.
* 1 tsp chili flakes.

* boil washed rice with lots of water and the cardamom pods and cinnamon till it’s done.

* when done pour in sieve and wash, remove pods and sticks.
* in the same pan heat oil then sauté mustard seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric and chili till seeds start to pop.
* add onions and garlic and saute till done.
* add the rice and mix all well then leave for few minutes to heat all over.

* serve with tikka or kebabs.

 

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wpid-wp-1426868145969.jpeg end result !

 

 

 

 

Freezing Vegetables.

Hello everybody.
No cooking today, each one has plans either for lunch or dinner so no cooking is necessary, did a bowl of Russian Salad it will do just fine in guess.

Spent this morning cleaning and preparing some fresh peas and fava beans for freezing, my husband bought some from side road sellers on his way back from Irbid yesterday, very fresh and green, I usually only cut wash and freeze directly.

Peas were really sweet and tender, boiled some and added them with carrots, corn and potatoes to the salad.
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wpid-wp-1426764993873.jpeg  ready for storage.

wpid-wp-1426765010427.jpeg Russian Salad.
Another Irbid product is garden cress(  رشاد)  sent to me from my cousin, very tasty with labaneh and green olives or onions, all yummy.

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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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Chamomile Ginger Detox Tea.

Hello everybody.
Remember the detox water I did few weeks ago?  Well I’ve been doing it every day now and I really think and feel it’s very useful, gives more energy and freshness.
Yesterday my husband picked a big bunch of chamomile from the farm and I’ve been searching for a good healthy drink that has chamomile in it, search result was this refreshing detox tea, made from freshly grated ginger boiled a bit with hot water then you add some chamomile leaves and leave for few minutes. Pour into a glass with one teaspoon honey,slice of lemon and few fresh mint leaves.
I’m sure most of you know how calming and soothing chamomile is for the nervous and gastrointestinal systems plus it’s great effect on boosting metabolism and immunity. It’s a very good drink in cases of colds and flu and abdominal pains specially in babies

wpid-wp-1426607470529.jpeg aromatic and tasty.

wpid-wp-1426607444100.jpeg freshly cut chamomiles!

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Lunch was green beans stew with rice.

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Brioche.

Hello everybody.
Lunch today was a not a favorite to all family members so in order to compensate I did mushroom soup and made some Brioche with it, first time I do it, unfortunately result wasn’t that good either it needed more salt or it didn’t rise as it should. Recipe was easy though I felt it’s not going to be as supposed to when I finished kneading it,if anybody has a better one please recommend.
Ingredients and method :
* 2 1/2 cups flour.
* 2 tablespoons sugar.
* 1/4 tsp salt.
* 2 1/4 tsp yeast.
* 4 tablespoons warm milk.
* 3 eggs plus extra one for glaze.
* 1 cup cubed butter.

* mix flour, sugar, yeast and salt.
* add milk and beaten eggs.
* knead well then start adding butter cubes gradually till all quantity is folded in.
* leave to rise in a warm place, then form into balls in molds or cupcake pan.
* leave to rise again then bake in a medium heated oven till golden.
* brush surface with eggplants wash and roast till golden.
* serve with soup or butter and jam.

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wpid-wp-1426530516890.jpeg brioche with mushroom soup.

Lunch was lamb chops with onions and potatoes all seasoned with a new citrus organic spice, really aromatic and tasty.I also made mushroom soup as I mentioned,some Persian rice and a big bowl of mixed salad with avocado slices.

wpid-wp-1426530523659.jpeg lamb chops with onions and potatoes.

wpid-wp-1426530242433.jpeg  citrus and herb spices.

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wpid-wp-1426530549739.jpeg  my brioches !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canelloni with Spinach and Pavlova.

Hello everybody.
It’s always a pleasure to cook a pasta dish, last night’s Italian aromas are still lingering in my mouth so I decided to cook cannelloni today.

Did it as my friend once told me,tomatoes in the bottom not on top of stuffed pasta, really yummy.

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Dessert was another pavlova cause first time it was eaten quickly and we had guests so my kids ate only the leftover crumbles, love this dessert so easy to do and really good looking, seriously it’s very elegant.

 

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wpid-wp-1426435467101.jpeg isn’t she a beauty?

Cannelloni recipe:

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.

 

 

Day Off!

Hello everybody.
Lovely day off at Dead Sea,beautiful weather with amazing company, I really needed this day.

Day ended with a super delicious dinner at Napolitana Pizzeria, haven’t had such a satisfying well presented meal in a long time.
We had an antipasto platter of marinated veggies and two kinds of pizza, dessert was yummy teremaisu and elegant espresso with cream.

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wpid-wp-1426361542898.jpeg antipasto platter.

wpid-wp-1426361574972.jpeg wpid-wp-1426361561252.jpeg yummy pizza

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Teremaisu and espresso with cream.

Highly recommended whenever you’re in Dead Sea, you won’t miss it in Samara Mall ground floor.

Lunch at Mom’s.

Hello everybody.

Lunch today was at Mom’s honored by the presence of our newly born grandson who was polite enough to let his mom eat peacefully, good boy.

Lunch was cauliflower with meat,chicken fatteh, rice with veggies,tabouleh and a big salad.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

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wpid-wp-1426268921638.jpeg tabouleh

wpid-wp-1426268936414.jpeg rice with veggies and nuts.

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wpid-wp-1426268947693.jpeg  delicious chicken fatteh.

 

 

 

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