Anise Biscuits ( قرشله).

Hello everybody.

Woke up to an empty cookie jar this morning, something that rarely happens in our house!

Well though I was busy preparing today’s order which was steak with mushrooms along with mashed potatoes, lasagna, chicken pie and rocca mushroom and pomegranate salad. I searched my old cookbook for something light and healthy to refill the jar.

Came across this old recipe from a dear aunt, anise biscuits or what we call in Arabic ( قرشله), though they’re always available in all bakeries but homemade ones are definitely different.

Ingredients are very basic and simple, all done in minutes. I wonder why I don’t do them often!

Ingredients and method :

* 4 eggs.

* 1 cup sugar.

* 1 cup vegetable oil ( or half olive oil and half vegetable)

* 1 tsp vanilla.

* 3 tablespoons anise seeds.

* 2 tablespoons sesame seeds.

* 1 tsp baking powder.

* 4 cups flour.

* Beat eggs and sugar well till creamy

* add vanilla, anise seeds and sesame.

* add oil.

* add baking powder and flour.

* Beat all well till dough is smooth.

* you can either shape dough as logs or circles as you wish, I formed it as a log, rolled it in sesame seeds then cut them to one inch circles.

* bake in a medium heated oven for 20 minutes or till bottom is golden.

* roast surface a bit till biscuits are dry and golden.

And since I was in the baking mood, I did some raisin oatmeal cookies, all so yummy 😋

Here’s the recipe but I didn’t use cranberries today:

Ingredients and method:
* 1 egg.
* 1/2 cup brown or regular sugar.
* 1/2 cup red currents.
* 1/2 cup raisins.
* 1/2 cup crushed walnuts and almonds.
* 3/4 cup butter.
* 3/4 cup oatmeal.
* 3/4 cup flour.
* 1 tsp baking powder.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* pinch of salt.
* cinnamon and ginger powder.

* beat butter with sugar till creamy then add egg and vanilla.
* mix all dry ingredients together.
* mix batter with dry ingredients to form a firm dough.
* scoop a small spoonful and line them on an oven tray .
* bake in a medium heated oven for 10-15 minutes.

Iraqi Date Cookies . ( كليجه عراقيه)

Hello everybody.

Sorry for the absence the last couple of days, too busy and no new recipes done but today after I finished an order of Egyptian cookies and had some dates left extra so I thought I’d makes these super easy cookie recipe for you , Iraqi date cookies which is known as Kleijja (كليجه)

I’m sure this is not the only recipe cause it’s a traditional dessert so each lady will add her touch to it, took this one from a beautiful auntie cause it’s very basic,light and easy to do.

Ingredients and method:

3 cups flour ( 3 كوب طحين)
1 cup vegetable oil ( كوب زيت نباتي)
tsp baking powder ( ملعقه صغيره باكينغ باودر)
pinch of salt (رشه ملح)
3/4 or 1 cup water. ( كوب او اقل ماء)
pitted dates.( I added a bit of cardamon and nutmeg)

Mix flour , salt,baking powder very well ( some prefer to use a sieve so as mixing will be better).
add oil and rub it with flour till crumbly.
add water and knead well till you get a smooth easy to handle dough.
add some oil to the dates for easier handling, original recipe requires heating dates with some oil till it softens but I skipped this step
form same size small balls of dough and dates then fill dough with date and close well.
flatten cookies a bit then cut a bit on sides with knife or scissors.
heat the oven then lower it to medium and bake cookies for 15-20 minutes or till bottoms are golden.
brush the surface with a bit of egg wash and roast till golden as well .

End result looked and tasted very good, test will be tomorrow from the experts at lunch !

lovely box from recycled magazines.

Corn Chicken Soup.

Hello everybody.

Woke up with a terrible flu,headache and fever that shouts out for hot drinks and soup.

I boiled some chicken with whole onion, carrot and seasoning ( cinnamon stick, pepper kernels, cardamom and bay leaf) with the intention to make chicken vegetable soup but then I switched to corn and cream cause kids prefer it I’m sure.

Ingredients and method:

*one small onion finely chopped.
* 1 cup corn.
* some cooked chopped chicken pieces.
* 2 tablespoons butter.
* 3 tablespoons flour.
* 4 cups chicken broth.
* 1 cup fresh cream.
* salt,pepper and a pinch of nutmeg.

* heat butter then saute onions.
* add flour and whisk well.
* add broth and keep whisking or you can use hand blender if you got clots.
* add corn and chicken.
* season and leave to simmer for 20-25 minutes.

Serve with sticks or garlic bread.

Today’s order was a special request for my beloved niece, Sable cookies and simple cake and I made another one with Sativa sugar for us.

Persian Walnut Cookies.

Hello everybody.

As always I like to try a new recipe,it’s becoming like a weekly challenge for me. Today’s trial was an interesting cookie one from the Persian cuisine.

Ingredients can give you a hint that it’s delicious, all nutty and aromatic but next time I’ll make them a bit smaller cause they spread well when baked.

Ingredients and method:

* 1 1/2 cups crushed walnuts.
* 3/4 cup sugar.
* 3 egg yolks.
* 1 tablespoon rose water.
* 1 tsp cardamom.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* 1 tsp baking powder.
* pinch of salt.
* 1 extra egg yolk plus one tablespoon water.
* extra whole walnuts for garnish.

* Beat eggs, vanilla, cardamom, sugar well.
* add walnuts,rose water, baking powder and salt.
* dough will be sticky so use two spoons to scoop small amount on baking tray layered with wax paper.
* put a walnut on each cookie then brush with egg water mixture ( I think I’ll skip this next time maybe)
* bake in a medium heated oven (180 c) for 15-20 minutes only or till edges are brownish.

Note: cookies will be soft when hot but don’t worry they’ll harden later on.

Store in a closed jar later, they great with coffee or tea,rich in flavor and extremely delicious.

Baking Cookies Again.

Hello everybody.

Cookies order today, it’s been a while since I baked so many of them specially the crinkles.

Made chocolate crinkles but jumbo size, rock cookies and coconut orange ones.

All so yummy, love making these cute things 💝💝

Red Velvet Chocolate Cookies.

Hello everybody.

Second attempt to make something nice for Valentine’s day, this time a velvety full of chocolate cookies.

Found this recipe on my favorite application Pinterest, only thing I altered was that I used Toblerone dark chocolate chunks instead of the usual chocolate chips, taste is amazing specially that it’s moist and crunchy.

Ingredients and method :

* 1 egg.
* 3/4 cup brown sugar.
* 1/4 cup sugar.
* 1/2 cup butter.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* 1 1/2 tsp red food coloring.
* 1/4 cup cocoa powder.
* 1 1/2 plus 1 tablespoon flour.
* 1/2 tsp baking soda.

*1 tablespoon milk.
* 1 cup chocolate chips ( I used crushed dark Toblerone)

* beat butter and sugar well till creamy then add egg,vanilla and food coloring.
* add all dry ingredients and mix well.
* fold in chocolate chips.

* keep the dough in the fridge for 3-4 hours, it’s very important to cool it very well so as not to stick in your hands.
* form dough into medium sized balls then bake for 10-13 minutes in a medium heated oven.
* leave to cool completely before handling.

Happy Valentine’s everybody 💝💝

Fig Newtons.

Hello everybody.

Cold rainy day with expected snow this evening, since I have leftovers and only made lentil soup to go along with weather conditions I made this new healthy recipe.

Fig Newtons are traditional Italian cookies made from dried figs, they’re a very good source of fibers and nutrients specially during Winter times.

Ingredients and method :

Dough:

* 3/4 cup butter.
* 1/4 cup sugar.
* 1 egg.
* 1 tablespoon orange zest.
* 1 3/4 to 2 cups flour.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* 1 tablespoon cold water.
* pinch of salt.

Filing :
* 1 cup dried figs chopped to medium sized chunks.
* 1 cup water.
* 1 cup apple or orange juice.
* 1/2 cup crushed walnuts.

* mix and knead dough ingredients till you get a firm soft ball.
* keep wrapped with nylon in the fridge.
* meanwhile boil figs with water and juice then leave to simmer for one hour, figs will sticky and tender.
* may figs till they’re like a paste then add walnuts.
* cool completely.
* on a floured surface roll dough then cut into similar shaped rectangles.
* fill each piece with the filling then close it all over.
* cut to small pieces then line all cookies on a floured pan.
* bake in a medium heated oven for 20-25 minutes or till golden from sides.

excellent in this weather.

Rock Cookies with White Chocolate.

Hello everybody.

Today’s order was for a friend of mine, date rolls and rock cookies but with a twist this time .

I have some white baking chocolate so a crushed them into big chunks and added them to the classic rock cookies batter, increased cranberries also cause both ingredients works well together I presume.

Result was super yummy .

ingredients and method of rock cookies:

* 2 eggs.

* 1 cup sugar or 3/4 brown sugar.

* 3 big spoons butter.

* 1 cup mixed nuts ( walnuts,almonds,pistachios,hazelnuts)

* 1/2 cup raisins ( you can add dried cranberries also)

* 1 tsp cinnamon,pinch of cloves,cardamom and nutmeg.

* vanilla,1 tsp baking powder and a pinch of salt.

* 2 cups flour.

excellent results.

* mix eggs,sugar and butter till creamy.

* toast nuts in the oven for 10 minutes then crush them.

* add nuts and raisins to flour,baking powder and salt then add egg mixture.

* mix very well with wooden spoon till you have a not too soft nor tough dough.

* make spoonfuls of the dough on a baking pan,size of a small ball.

* bake in a medium heated oven for 10-13 minutes or till edges are golden.

* store in a well sealed jar or tin.

Enjoy 🙂

Broockies.

Hello everybody.
Tried a new recipe today, loved its name “Broockies ” meaning it’s a mix of both brownies and chocolate chip cookies.

Recipe needed some adjustments specially the chocolates chip dough, it was so soft and flattened when baked, good thing I did one as test first.

End result was really good after adding more flour, I may decrease butter amount next time.

Ingredients and method :
Brownies dough :

10 tablespoons butter.
1/2 cup brown sugar.
2/3 cup sugar.
1 egg and one egg yolk.
1 tsp vanilla.
1 1/4 cups flour.
1/2 cup cocoa.
1 tsp baking powder.
beat butter and sugar till creamy then add other ingredients till you get a stiff dough.

Chocolate chip cookie dough.

10 tablespoons butter.
1 cup sugar.
1 large egg plus one yolk.
1 tsp vanilla.
2 1/2 cups flour.
1 tsp baking powder.
1 cup chocolate chips.
Beat sugar and butter till creamy then add whisked eggs and other dry ingredients.

Make a small ball of each dough then press them gently together to form a cookie shape then line on baking sheet or parchment paper.

Bake in a medium heated oven for 8-10 minutes.

leave to cool then store in a well closed jar.

Egyptian Cookies Again.

Hello everybody.

Actually order is for tomorrow but I usually like to make cookies a day before cause they are more tender the next day. Kind of settle down and flavor is much better.

Here’s the ingredients again :

Ingredients and method :
# 2 cups fine semolina.
# 4 cups flour.
# 2 cups butter or ghee ( I used 1/2 ghee, 1 butter and 1/2 vegetable oil)
# 1 tablespoon anise powder.
# 1 teaspoon fennel powder.
# 1 tsp special cookie spice (كلفه كعك)

#1/2 tsp mihleb

#1/4 tsp mistaka.

#2 tablespoons sesame seeds.
#1/2 cup sugar.
# 1 tsp instant yeast dissolved in 1 tablespoon sugar and a cup of warm water.
# 2 tablespoons rose water.

# pitted dates mixed with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and anise powders.

# Heat butter then mix with semolina, flour and all spices very well till crumbly.
# leave for 2-3 hours or better overnight till all butter is well absorbed.
# add frothy yeast and water and mix all well.
# add rose water and knead all together.

# start working right away by stuffing small portions of dough with dates and shape them in the molds.

What to cook today?

day by day cooking ideas

cookies

Iraqi Date Cookies . ( كليجه عراقيه)

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Corn Chicken Soup.

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Persian Walnut Cookies.

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Baking Cookies Again.

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Red Velvet Chocolate Cookies.

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Fig Newtons.

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Rock Cookies with White Chocolate.

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Broockies.

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Egyptian Cookies Again.

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