chocolate

Lovely Cousin’s Visit <3

Hello everybody.

Today I was really thrilled to meet my cousin coming for Summer vacation from Qatar, It’s been a long time since we saw each other and had lots and lots of catching up.

Though I was willing she’d come for lunch but due to her full schedule visit ended up in the morning and we had breakfast together.

I also made her favorite chocolate cake,we used to make it when we were in college every week,such great memories <3

Well truth is nothing beats cousins and good old friends,everlasting memories !

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Lazy Cake <3

Hello again.

Last Wednesday we were invited at my uncle’s house on the occasion of his son’s graduation from university. As usual my auntie made lots of yummy food,table was various and full of many kinds of both finger food and desserts.

I made for her the old fashioned lazy cake,this might be the oldest and first dessert a girl might start doing in her teens,cause it’s easy and quick to do,that’s why I think it’s called lazy cause any lazy person can do it without much effort 🙂

This old recipe of mine contains eggs,but cooked not raw, you can find many modified or other ones without it,but this one is a sure success every time and unbelievably tasty.

Ingredients and method:

* 3-4 packs plain biscuits.

* 3/4 cup butter.

* 3/4 cup cocoa powder.

* 1 cup sugar.

* 3 eggs.

* vanilla.

* crush biscuits to medium size pieces.

* mix butter,sugar,cocoa,vanilla and eggs very well and heat till all combined to a smooth thick mixture.

* add over biscuits then pour into a mold of your choice.

* decorate with melted chocolate or cocoa powder.

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Big BBQ dinner party :)

Morning everybody.

Last night was a blast,we have cousins visiting from abroad and as usual a BBQ in the garden is a tradition whenever they come.

I wasn’t responsible for grilling or handling the meat,but did the salads,appetizers and sweets. All delicious and either wiped out or gone take away !

I made  white cheese with tomatoes and pesto,tabouleh,pasta salad,eggplant dip,chili tomatoes,hummus and yoghurt. dessert was creme caramel and peanut butter brownies.

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20140801_212106 main dish.

20140801_192358 a trick to minimize insects and flies

a lemon with cloves inserted in it,very effective!

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20140801_171428 lovely evening 🙂

Lamb Chops !!

Hello everybody.

Today I wanted to make something that my youngest son likes cause he’s not eating well since beginning of Ramadan so I went bought some fresh lamb chops,his favorite dish 🙂

My eldest is going to a sharing dinner with his friends so I made him Caezar salad and brownies.

I also made fava beans fatteh ,samboosek and a simple salad for ftoor.

For dessert I made Greek semolina cake and got these cute mini desserts filled with pistachios,they’re good but a bit hard !!

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Teramisu and Labaneh Mold.

Hello everybody.

Two events today,a small gathering for my lovely Auntie and her daughter coming from Irbid and a bigger gathering for my cousins this afternoon. Don’t ask me how I managed but I did don’t know how! time management is the key word,that’s for sure.

I made a Teramisu but a bit different from the real Italian one,no mascarpone cheese cause it’s not always easy to find it , but this recipe that I have from my dear friend Rula is very good, I even found out I don’t have sweetened condensed milk for it but I added cream and some sugar so taste was almost the same.

I also made labaneh with mint and oregano layered in toast bread and decorated with tomatoes,cucumbers and olives,you can decorate it anyway you like.

Ah I forgot to mention,I made spinach tabouleh and cheese rolls as well 🙂

Ingredients and method for teramisu:

* 2 packs whipping cream.

*2 packs kiri or cream cheese.

* 1 can condensed milk (or cream and 1/4 cup sugar)

* lady fingers biscuits.

* Nescafe ( 1 big spoon dissolved in 3/4 cup warm water)

* mix cream,condensed milk and cheese together very well.

* arrange biscuits in a deep serving dish then soak them in coffee mixture. * add half of cream mixture then repeat process. * refrigerate for 3-4 hours.

* sprinkle cocoa powder on top. All set and ready now,waiting!!

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20140616_124625  this is the morning gathering.

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Gardening !

Hello everybody,hope you’re enjoying your weekend.

Today is gardening Friday, it’s a ritual each year to go to plant nurseries and remodel our garden,we’re even late this year,so today is the day.Started early in the morning and just finished planting now,not me of course,  I’m only my hubbies helper,to be honest I never planted anything and lived so I gave up long time ago!! all credit goes to Abu Khalil for sure <3.

At lunch time we crashed at my mother-in law,she already made roasted chicken and potatoes and  I quickly made pasta with white cheese,pesto sauce and parsley as a side dish.

As a reward after a long hot day working outside I made a dish of Banana Split but without cream, only ice cream,bananas,biscuits,fruit salad and chocolate syrup.

Lovely day,but work is yet not finished,we’re continuing tomorrow Insha’Allah.

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Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie <3

Hello everybody.

Went out to lunch with the boys today,to tell you the truth I haven’t eaten junk food since beginning of the blog, I really miss it,though I’s not my kind of food but it was really good,

We went to the famous Buffalo Wings and Rings and I had a classic gyros sandwich,really yummy.

My eldest came back to study with his friends,big exam tomorrow so I thought a little treat will make them happy cause they’re all grumbling about how difficult the exam material is, so I made this giant chocolate chip cookie,in a skillet then served it with ice cream while still hot.

Ingredients and method:

* 2 cups flour.

* pinch of salt.

* 3/4 cup butter.

* 3/4 cup brown sugar.

* 1 egg.

* 1 tsp vanilla and 1 baking powder.

* 1 cup semi sweet or dark chocolate chips.

* mix flour,salt and baking powder.

* beat sugar with butter till creamy then add egg and vanilla.

* mix batter with flour with a spoon then add chocolate chips, mixture will be a bit crumbly.

* grease a medium sized skillet ( one that can be put in the oven or use a small oven pan)

* bake in a medium heated oven for 15-20 minutes or till sides are golden.

* serve directly when still hot with ice cream of your choice.

Enjoy <3

 

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BROWNIES♡

A dessert is a must on a Friday also.
My son always complain that my brownies are always not moist enough or are more chocolate cake than a sticky browny.

Today I told him.I’ll make the very old recipe I have  on my cook book,used to make it with my sister since we were in school and thank God it was just perfect.

Ingredients:
*4 eggs.
*2 and 1/2 cups sugar.
*1 cup vegetable oil.
*1 cup cocoa powder.
* 1/2 cup crushed walnuts.(optional).
*1 spoon vanilla.
*1 spoon baking powder.
*1 and 3/4 plain flour.
*pinch if salt.

*mix all ingredients alternatively.mixture is usually thick.
*spread in a medium sized greased pan.
*bake in a medium heated oven for 30-40 min or till surface is crispy but careful not to let it dry.

Serve alone
or with ice cream.

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