appetizers

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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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.

wpid-wp-1436195323408.jpeg wpid-wp-1436195330792.jpeg

wpid-wp-1436195341515.jpeg typical Mediterranean dish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chili Cheese Potatoes and Tehran Salad.

Hello everybody.

Feels like late Autumn days today it even rained a bit.

Dinner today was leftover ablama from yesterday, I added up some string beans in olive oil, noodles soup.

I tried a small portion of two new recipes, an appetizer and a salad.

Salad is a Persian recipe, grated cucumbers in yogurt with some chickpeas, raisins, walnuts, cumin powder and mint decorated with crispy bread pieces on top.

As for the other dish it’s a potato stew or bake that I saw last night on instagram.

Ingredients and method :

* 2 large cubed potatoes.
* 1 small chopped onion.
* one minced garlic clove.
* 2 cups pasta sauce ready or homemade.
* some sliced mushrooms.
* some sweet corn.
* chili powder or Tabasco.
* salt, pepper, oregano.
* mazorella cheese.

* fry potatoes till golden.
* saute onions and garlic till tender.
* add pasta sauce,chili salt and pepper and leave to simmer till onions are done.
* in a deep oven pan line half of the potatoes then mushrooms and corn on top then another layer of potatoes.
* pour sauce over all,then sprinkle cheese on top and in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

Great with roasts or steaks.

wpid-wp-1435508934276.jpeg yummy hot potatoes.

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wpid-wp-1435508955943.jpeg Tehran Salad.

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Fava Beans and Eggplant Fatteh.

Hello everybody.

No meat or chicken today, dinner was green fava beans in olive oil with garlic and coriander and eggplant fatteh without the meat on top.

 

Soup was Carrot and salad was Ceazer.

https://banancooking.com/colorful-healthy-veggies/ link for fava beans recipe.

Eggplant Fatteh ( فته مقدوس)

* 3-4 cubed fried eggplants.

* finely chopped onion.

* roasted or fried squared pitta bread.

* tahini sauce ( tahini,lemon,salt,yoghurt,garlic)

* tomato paste.

* chopped parsley.

* cooked spiced minced meat.

* toasted almonds and pine nuts.

* salt,pepper,all spice and cinnamon for seasoning.

 

* saute onions till tender then add fried eggplants.

* add all seasoning,tomato paste and enough water to cover all then leave to simmer till sauce is thick and eggplants tender.

* layer pitta bread in Pyrex or serving dish,add eggplant with sauce on top.

* add tahini sauce then garnish with parsley,meat and nuts.

Note: this dish must be assembled right before you serve so as pittas stay crisp otherwise they’ll be so soggy.

 

As for the soup…you’ll need one small onion.4-5 carrots. 1 cube chicken stock.butter. one big spoon oatmeal.cream or milk and 4 cups water.
Sautee the onions and carrots till tender.add the chicken stock cube.oatmeal  and water.salt.pepper and a bit of cinnamon.

Let it simmer for 45 minutes on low heat till carrots are soft.
Mix all with a mixer or blender..add the cream..then let it boil for another 10-15 minutes…..and serve hot with toasted croutons if you like
wpid-wp-1435168847502.jpeg fava beans.

wpid-wp-1435168859616.jpeg eggplant fatteh.

wpid-wp-1435168853683.jpeg wpid-wp-1435168875401.jpeg

wpid-wp-1435168883373.jpeg Ceazer salad.
wpid-20140126_103908 carrot soup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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Mhammara ( محمره)

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Hello everybody.

Today I made a selection of appetizers with the leftovers of yesterday in very little amounts.

One dish which is a favorite of mine is mhammara, usually done in Lebanese restaurants.I also made baba ghanouj which is roasted eggplant with tomatoes and parsley.

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One the side I made some chicken liver sautéed in olive oil and pomegranate sauce and chili potatoes.

Ingredients and method of mhammara :
# 1 cup walnuts.
# 1 cup breadcrumbs or toast bread.
# 2 tablespoons tomato paste.
# salt,pepper.
# chili powder.

# 1 tsp cumin powder.
# 3/4 cup olive oil.
# water till paste is smooth.

# mix all ingredients together in food processor till all homogeneous add water till you get a good consistency.

#garnish with walnuts and olive oil.

Day 4 is done, now thinking about what to cook tomorrow.

 

wpid-wp-1434910055415.jpeg wpid-wp-1434910062480.jpeg

wpid-wp-1434910076619.jpeg  selection of appetizers.

wpid-wp-1434910068895.jpeg chicken liver and chili potatoes.

wpid-wp-1434910034126.jpeg today’s dinner.

 

 

 

 

Homemade Qatayef.

Hello everybody.

Today I decided to try my cousin’s recipe of Qatayef ,a homemade one cause she lives abroad and this typical Ramadan dessert is not available, but my version was to make a big one filled half with cheese and half with walnuts.

ingredients and method:

* 1 cup flour.

*1 cup semolina.

* 1 tablespoon corn flour.

* 1 tsp vanilla.

* 2 tsps baking powder.

* pinch of salt.

* 1 tablespoon sugar.

* 2 1/4 cups warm water.

* syrup

* Mix all ingredients well in a blender then leave to rise or bubbly.

*heat a nonstick pan till very hot then reduce heat and pour a bit of dough the size you like.

* leave till all dry then remove to cool on a clean cloth.

* stuff and close with sweet cheese or walnuts.

* fry or bake as you wish then dip in syrup.

 

Dinner tonight was a bit of leftovers a plus a steak sandwich loaf ,which is usual steak sandwich filling ( shredded beef,onions,peppers,mushrooms) spread over a rectangular pizza dough , I added mustard and cheese also. Fold the dough and bake all in a medium heated oven till golden and crispy.

 

Usual appetizers were mashed fava beans and fatoush.

 

 

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wpid-wp-1434739305573.jpeg steak sandwich loaf.

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wpid-wp-1434739388417.jpeg fatoush and fava beans.

wpid-wp-1434739305573.jpeg wpid-wp-1434739312481.jpeg today’s work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramadan Preparations.

Hello everybody.

Busy morning preparing for Ramadan cause I get too tired first day so thought I’ll do some things to be at ease.

Did some samboosek, cheese rolls, roasted bread and a big pot of syrup for the sweets.

Lunch was various fries, potatoes, eggplants and cauliflowers with pickles and tahini sauce.

Salad was Rita’s recipe, wide green beans with garlic and cherry tomatoes.

Ramadan Kareem everybody.

wpid-wp-1434464407603.jpeg fries of all kinds.

wpid-wp-1434464442959.jpeg green beans salad.

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wpid-wp-1434464490439.jpeg cheese rolls.

wpid-wp-1434464474344.jpeg samboosek.

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Kebab Sandwiches and Seperable Cheese Garlic Bread.

Hello everybody.

Another busy day though it was planned to be a relaxing Friday.

Well thank God that I have a pack of kebab meat that were not done last night so they were a rescue today at lunch,grilled them with some onions and summaq, did some yogurt mayonnaise dip with it.

On the side I made two loaves of cheesy garlic bread one for lunch and the other for tomorrow’s picnic.

 

wpid-20150612_151638.jpg separable cheese garlic bread.

wpid-20150612_152749.jpg kebab sandwich.

wpid-20150612_151812.jpg  yummy  when dipped with olive oil balsamic vinegar.

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Potatoe Cheese Frittata.

Hello everybody.
After a busy morning preparing the final touches for my son’s graduation party I went home with the intention of not cooking anything.

Well my plan didn’t work cause yesterday’s leftovers were not enough so I made a mix of potatoes,cheese, egg and flour with a bit of parsley and baked a delicious frittata, see cooking isn’t hard when you think a bit :mrgreen:

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wpid-wp-1433342008663.jpeg a great mix !

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