Niçoise Salad and German Chocolate Cake.

Hello everybody.

Needed a light healthy lunch bit have no mood to cook so I decided to do this lovely colored salad, It’s a French dish made of veggies,tuna and boiled eggs.

Ingredients and method:

Salad :

* Lettuce,tomatoes,cucumber.

* 2 large boiled and sliced tomatoes.

* some boiled string beans ( didn’t have ones today)

* boiled eggs.

*tuna.

* black olives.

* you can add parsley or fresh basil all optional.

* Dressing:

* 1 clove garlic shopped.

* 1 small chopped onion.

*lemon juice.

*dijon mustard.

* salt,pepper.

* olive oil.

* Arrange all ingredients either mixed or next to each other.

* mix all dressing ingredients then add over salad before serving.

20150226_153626  healthy fulfilling salad.

20150226_133208 ingredients.

 

First thing in the morning I did 2 portions of my favorite chocolate cake recipe, half covered with ganache done from Milka Hazelnut chocolate and another with German Chocolate Cake frosting to my sister in-law cause I think chocolate is a big cheering and mood enhancing kind of food ,new moms really need that kind of thing for sure.

Ingredients of frosting:

* 1 1/2 cups of coconut.

* 2 big spoons butter.

* 2/3 cup Carnation condensed milk ( I used !/2 cup milk and 2 big spoons cream ,good enough also).

* 1/2 cup sugar.

* 1 egg.

* 1 tsp Vanilla.

* 1/2 cup crushed walnuts.

 

* Mix all ingredients except walnuts very well .

* boil over medium heat till mixture is thick .

* add walnuts and fold in.

* Use as filling and cover over chocolate cake.

* German chocolate cake contains 1 big spoon instant coffee with the basic cake ingredients.

 

Well,hope you like it dear sis and enjoy the almost warm sunny weekend everybody.

 

20150226_131125 German Chocolate Cake with baby icon.

20150226_125832 filling in the middle.

20150226_131501  hazelnut ganache.

20150226_131615  20150226_131323 two lovely ones .

 

 

Yemini Mendi and Digestive Log.

Hello everybody.

Planning  to cook this dish a month ago or actually since my cousin posted it in my group,this is a traditional Yemini dish usually bought ready here from several restaurants.

My husband bought a pack of ready mixed Mendi spices and I added a bit of the spices originally in the recipe, I also used local chicken that my husband brought from the farm.

I  also made this super easy dessert cause I have some cream left from yesterday’s cupcakes thought I’d use them, you simply stack plain digestive biscuits with cream in between,I added some coconuts also , then you cover all with cream, leave to cool completely then top with chocolate ganache all over and decorate, looks a lot like Christmas Log Cake and looks very elegant , a nice idea for Valentine tomorrow right?

 

Ingredients and method of Mendi:

* Marinade for chicken:

* Ketchup.

* olive oil.

* salt,pepper,coriander,cardamon,cloves.

* bay leaves.

* copped onions and garlic.

* Marinade chicken pieces in all these for two hours then cover and leave in a medium heated oven 1 1/2 -2 hours then roast till golden.

 

* Rice:

* saute some sliced onions and garlic till golden.

* add one grated carrot.

* wash the rice and add it on them.

* add same spices as above then add add water and leave to simmer till rice is done.

*Note: use basmati rice or long .

 

* When rice and chicken are done arrange all in a deep serving dish then heat a piece of coal till very hot and red then add some oil on top and place it in the middle of rice chicken dish and cover for 15 minutes so as to give a smoky flavor to the whole dish.

* serve with roasted raisins,Tabasco and green salad.

20150213_153030  smoked chicken and rice.

20150213_134843 20150213_141938

20150213_152729 20150213_152651

20150213_154004 20150213_154547

20150213_154753 fumed charcoal.

Screenshot_2015-02-12-23-56-54~2 original recipe in Arabic.

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I  also made this super easy dessert cause I have some cream left from yesterday’s cupcakes thought I’d use them, you simply stack plain digestive biscuits with cream in between,I added some coconuts also , then you cover all with cream, leave to cool completely then top with chocolate ganache all over and decorate, looks a lot like Christmas Log Cake and looks very elegant , a nice idea for Valentine tomorrow right?

20150213_163100  yummy biscuits log.

 

20150213_143325   20150213_144414 stacked biscuits and cream.

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20150213_162500 20150213_162528

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After Eight Cake.

Hello everybody.

Busy Saturday as usual,many errands and work at home plus cooking and baking a cake, but all was done by time to go to the gathering at my uncle’s house.

I promised my auntie to bring something sweet and after searching a lot for something new and different ended up taking this recipe from my dear friend Ola,turned out really yummy everybody loved it.

Lunch was chicken curry and chicken giblets ( قوانص).

DSC_0457 DSC_0455chicken curry and giblets.

Ingredients and method:

* 3 eggs.

* 1 cup sugar.

* 1/2 cup vegetable oil.

* 8 small spoons cocoa.

* 2 tsp baking powder.

* 1/2 tsp bicarbonate.

* 1 big spoon peppermint essence.

* 1 1/2 cup flour.

* 1 cup boiled water.

* 1 pack After Eight.

* 1 pack cream.

 

* Beat sugar and oil well till creamy then add eggs,vanilla,mint,cocoa, baking powder, soda and flour.

* In a small baking greased baking pan pour batter and directly add a cup of boiled water on top.

* bake in a medium heated oven for 35-45 minutes or till surface and center are dry.

* On a water bath melt 10-15  After Eight pieces and whisk till they melt then add the cream and mix well.

* when cake is cooled cover with minty ganache and decorate as you like.

 

Afternoon gathering was nice as usual,we had tabouleh,yalanji,chicken pastries,oregano loaf, salad and cheese cake all yummy yummy 🙂

20150131_154219  Minty chocolate cake.

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DSC_0438DSC_0440 boiling water on top.

DSC_0442DSC_0444

DSC_0446  crispy surface.

DSC_0452  a perfect cake for sure.

 

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Happy New Year :)

Hello everybody.

Waited till now to write my post so as not to ruin the surprise,  I baked  a beautiful birthday cake for my lovely cousin  requested by her sweet sister-in-law,I also made an Apple Pecan Pie as a gift from me. Happy Birthday dear doc and Happy New Year to you and all your family, love you all.

As for our new year’s eve, we had a small special candle lit dinner at home , very early so as not to eat heavy late at night then ended it with our usual coffee with chocolates, typical family celebration, we’ll watch T.V for the rest of the night.

Dinner was steaks with sauteed veggies, cheese pastries, mixed green salad with lentils pomegranate and feta cheese  and a new dish which was extremely delicious “Italian Mushroom Risotto” got these dried mushrooms from my cousin living in Rome, soaked them in water then sauteed them with onions and butter then cooked the rice with mushroom soaking water, really yummy yummy.

 

Ingredients and method of Apple Pecan Pie:

* pie crust.( same as apple pie)

* filling:

* 3 big peeled chopped apples.

* 3/4 cup chopped pecans.

* 1/2 cup sugar ( brown or regular)

* 1 tablespoon starch.

* 1 tablespoon cinnamon.

* 1 tablespoon butter.

 

For the crumble:

* 1/2 cup finely chopped pecan.

* 2 tablespoons butter.

* 3/4 cup flour.

* 1/2 cup sugar.

 

* spread pie crust in special pie pan.

* mix filling ingredients together and add on crust.

* mix crumble ingredients in food processor till crumbly .

* add on top of pie filling.

* bake in a medium heated oven till golden from sides. (30-40 minutes)

 

Enjoy your night everybody and wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR <3 <3 <3

20141231_114632   20141231_114233   always a delight !!

20141231_170223  Apple Pecan Pie.

20141231_170107  20141231_110049

20141231_103713  20141231_105803

 

DSC_0140  lovely family candle lit dinner .

DSC_0147  20141231_193917  cheese pastries and lentil pomegranate salad.

By the way Italians believe that eating pomegranate and lentils at new year’s eve is a good omen,the more you can eat the more money you get, so we’ll see what will happen next year !

DSC_0137 20141231_194015  Mushroom Risotto.

DSC_0145      DSC_0153

20141231_201739~2  Great end to a nice dinner <3

 

 

 

Walnut Caramel Truffles.

Hello everybody.

It was a pleasure to welcome my old university colleagues this morning for breakfast,though we don’t meet much but it’s always a pleasure to see them, good  memories and lots of laughter 🙂

Food was simple and delicious or is it the company that makes it enjoyable? cheeses,labaneh,cream cheese and jam from yesterday and a selection of croissants filled with salmon and turkey.

Dessert was these chewy walnut caramel truffles I made last night and a dish of fruits , found the recipe on Pinterest but made few changes, taste is just perfect.

Ingredients and method:

* 1 cup crushed walnuts.

* 2 cups crushed plain biscuits.

* 1/4 cup brown sugar.

* 1/4 cup maple syrup.

* 2 tablespoons cream.

* melted chocolate.

* Mix all ingredients together except chocolate then form it into small balls.

* line in wax paper and cool in fridge for 30 minutes.

* dip in melted chocolate and cool again,you can decorate top with walnuts while still hot.

These will be excellent for Christmas by the way,can be done and stored a week ahead.

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DSC_1533  DSC_1541

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No Eggs,No Flour,No Milk Cookies.

Hello everybody.

Gave my second cooking lesson today,really excellent one,we did carrot soup,lettuce mushroom salad,chicken rolls filled with broccoli and cheese then dessert was chocolate mousse.

Went back home with an intention to make these cookies,actually a member in banancooking group asked me if I have no flour,no eggs and no milk recipes cause recently she developed an allergy to all these ingredients, so after some research I found a couple of ones, did the cookies today and hopefully will try bread or loaf tomorrow.

Well cookies tasted really good and crunchy,ingredients are  all healthy so everybody on diet can eat them without guilt even if not allergic.

Ingredients and method:

* 3 ripe bananas.

* 1 cup raisins ( I added some cranberries also)

* 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp baking powder.

* 1/2 cup crushed mixed nuts.

* 1/3 cup oil.

* 2 cups oatmeal.

*1/2 tsp cinnamon.

* pinch of salt.

 

* mash bananas then mix all ingredients together.

* use a small spoon and scoop from the batter into a baking tin,then bake for 10-13 minutes .

* leave to cool then store in a closed jar or box.

DSC_0206

DSC_0197  ingredients of cookies.

DSC_0184 carrot soup.

DSC_0171   DSC_0194 mushroom soup.

DSC_0176   DSC_0178  chocolate mousse

DSC_0202  cookies.

 

 

 

 

Black Forest Cake.

Hello everybody.

I know I said I’m on diet,still holding on honestly, lunch was one cup Mujadara with yogurt and that’s it.

As for the cake,I actually did two today,one plain with chocolate frosting for my cousin who’s resting after a minor operation and the the other chocolate black forest for the afternoon visit at my mother in-law’s cousin who moved to a new house. So I’m not guilty till now right?

Ingredients and method:

* 2 eggs.

* 1 1/2 cups both brown and regular sugar.

* 3/4 cup cocoa.

* 3/4 cup vegetable oil.

* 1 1/4 cup yogurt.

* vanilla and 2 tsp baking powder.

* 1 1/2 cups flour.

* whipping cream and blueberry topping for decoration.

 

* beat eggs,vanilla and sugar till creamy.

* add cocoa ,oil and yogurt and beat well.

* add baking powder and flour.

* split batter in two round baking pans and bake in a medium heated oven for 30-40 minutes or till done.

* beat the cream and put in fridge till stiff.

* remove cakes from pans and then assemble by adding cream and blueberry in middle and top.

*Note: you can add grated chocolate pieces on top also.

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20140902_150948

20140902_122530  simple cake with chocolate icing.

20140902_150849  mujadara (lunch)

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Most Perfect Dinner !

Hello everybody.

Can’t think of any other title to describe last night,they say you can feel you’re pouring your love when you cook as much as you love the people to you’re cooking for,well I guess it’s kind of true

Dinner last night was to the  dearest loveliest group of friends, though I did do my best to make everything perfect,or maybe cause the whole atmosphere was warm and loving but food was really fantastic . Love you guys <3

As for the menu, it was:

* Greek and Caprese salads.

* Penne Arabiata and Pesto Pasta.

* Grilled vegetables and baked potatoes.

* Roasted boneless chicken marinated in lemon and herbs.

* Grilled steaks with mushroom sauce.

* Dessert was cheesecake pots and chocolate balls ( done by crumbling old brownies and chocolate cake then mixing with butter,cinnamon and coconut)

Thank God I still have leftovers to take photos <3

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What a Weekend !!

Hello everybody.

What a crazy busy full of events weekend, actually events started since Thursday where we had a Mansaf on the honor of our lovely cousin coming back home from Germany and on the occasion of my son’s 20’th birthday the next day, was followed by brownies and ice cream for dessert. Then dinner invitation at my auntie’s house .

Friday morning we all gathered for breakfast, usual Friday menu. Afternoon we went to Irbid for Caraway at my husband’s cousin to congratulate her for the new baby boy, then went to my cousin’s house for a big family gathering as a farewell for those leaving back after the vacation, we had Knafeh and a big cake on the occasions of both my dear twin cousin’s birthday and wife of one of them. It was a very nice party full of love <3

Today I helped my dear friend baking cookies for a party she’s holding,I made her chocolate chip  and oatmeal raisin cookies and cupcakes .

Lunch was my son’s favorite burgers with onions and mushrooms, above all this I made fig jam and as usual went grocery shopping !!

Am I right or not that this weekend was crazy??

20140821_153715   20140821_170232 20140822_110426   20140822_110437

20140822_212020  20140822_21321220140823_134745 you can feel the hot weather in this photo !

 

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