main dish
Hello everybody.
Guess many people cooked beans in this storm, actually it’s heart warming in this cold weather,specially with some pickles,peppers and olives.
Had a small chance to go grocery shopping today,first time out since last week,roads still slippery and full of snow, hope tomorrow will be better !
pickles,olives and beets.
beans and rice.
Hello everybody.
Extremely cold today,bet most moms made a soup in this weather, I did a super mushroom soup from the ones my cousin sent me from Rome,I also used the mushroom cubes which made a big difference in taste,really rich aroma and flavor I didn’t even add any spices. Big evidence is it’s all gone !
Lunch was Kebabs in tomato sauce(كباب هندي) ,kept some of the kebabs and wrapped them in thinly sliced fried eggplant then cooked wraps in tomato,onion and garlic sauce then sprinkled some chopped parsley on top. Really good and well stewed ,eggplants gave it a nice twist !
Oh and I made a fresh pesto sauce to keep in my new pistol and mortar all from scratch!
mushroom soup in a bun.
eggplant rolls.
homemade pesto.
Hello everybody.
Found these fresh small fava beans in the supermarket early this morning so I changed my plan at once,intended to make shushbarak cause I have some Ewe yogurt that must be cooked but couldn’t resist the beans though not everyone at home loves it but personally this is one ofmy favorite dishes.
You simply cook the beans with some onions, salt and pepper then add cooked steaks or lamb cubes and leave to simmer then add cooked yogurt on them and leave on low heat till done.
I also made some fava beans with olive oil,garlic and coriander,really yummy.
Hello everybody.
Today’s lunch idea is from my dear cousin living in Rome,she’s a great source of many dishes I did, love her recipes because I feel they’re original or taken from Italian housewives not books and restaurants. Thank you dear you always give me new ideas which are always yummy.
Though courgettes in Rome look different than ours but guess taste is similar, I even did some pumpkins with them. Idea is to stuff them with meat only and I made rice on the side.Taste is really yummy and everybody loved it.
I also made a small side dish from the remaining meat,stuffed them with mozzarella cheese and made them balls,coated with bread crumbs then sauteed them in some oil.Amazing with some thick tomato sauce as dip on the side.
Ingredients and method:
* hollowed courgettes ( cut them from both sides)
* mined meat mixed with 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs( or 1 egg and little breadcrumbs as you prefer),salt,pepper,some chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese.
* For the sauce:
* finely chopped tomatoes ( 4-5) or a can.
* 1 stick celery.
* 1 small onion.
* 1 small carrot.
* basil leaves,salt and pepper.
* mix meat well and stuff courgettes then line them in a Pyrex or oven pan.
* chop onion,celery very fine and saute in olive oil.
* add grated carrot and tomatoes.
* add a bit of water and leave to simmer till thick.
* pour over courgettes,cover and leave in the oven for one hour till done.
Note : I used remaining meat mix to make mozzarella stuffed balls.
mozzarella stuffed meat balls
Hello everybody.
In addition to routine shopping I went to the butcher this morning, though I’m not a meat expert but I managed to get what I want with the help of the friendly butcher in Miles store.
My youngest son who’s a big meat lover asked for lamb chops,even searched for a new kind of marinate or seasoning and came out with this one to try, really delicious mind that meat is very tender and fresh also.
I made some potatoes mixed with herbs and spices, some Greek quesadilas cause I have some tortillas from last week that must be used before they ruin and a big bowl of salad.
Excellent meal to end the weekend 🙂
Marinate for lamb chops :
* 1/4 cup honey.
* 1/4 cup soy sauce.
* 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce.
* 1/4 cup mustard.
* salt,pepper.
* some Italian seasoning,chili,oregano.
* some bay leaves.
* olive oil.
* lemon juice for serving.
* mix all and marinate chops in a bag for 1-2 hours then roast uncovered in a medium heated oven till done.
Hello everybody.
Must say that my birthday this year was extraordinary, filled with loving people around me,I got hundreds of wishes and texts, got beautiful gifts specially those super knives and ended with a wonderful dinner with my lovely family. Thank God for all his blessing,this year was really awesome hope the coming one will be as good or even more.Thank you everybody <3
Lunch today is minced meat with onions,tomatoes and chili in pitta bread (عرايس) and a small dish of freshly cut mallow (خبيزه) leaves with olive oil and onions, great with a sprinkle of lemon juice <3
Hello everybody.
Took out this leg of lamb I had in the freezer for a while so it’s time to cook it, I don’t like keeping food frozen for so long.
I mixed all spices,pepper,cinnamon and salt all oven the meat,sealed it in hot oil from all sides then added some onions,carrots,garlic,bay leaves,cardamon and cinnamon stick to meat with boiled water and cooked it in the pressure cooker cause I was in a hurry.
When done I removed it,added it with some potatoes,carrots and onions in a big pan and added some flour to the meat stock and sieved it over the meat.
Cooked it in the oven till meat and veggies are well done, nice meal in a cold day.
Hello everybody.
Bought this extremely tender roast beef last week and hadn’t got the chance to do it till today,you can cook it in many ways either baked or boiled with vegetables.
This time kids wanted it roasted and crispy,they didn’t even wait to make a gravy or any sauce, just sliced as a cold cut and they made different sandwiches, it was really good and well done.
Ingredients and method:
* piece of tender lean beef.
* some garlic cloves.
* salt and various mixed spices ( pepper ,mixed spices,roast spices,chili…etc)
* olive oil.
* cut garlic to slices and then made a deep cut into meat and insert it all over the piece.
* rub salt and spices all over the roast and leave for some time to be well absorbed.
* heat oil very well then place meat to be browned from all sides very well.
* put the meat on a rack and in the oven for 30-40 minutes till done,you can tell when no juices are out when you pinch it with a sharp knife.
* leave to stand and cool before cutting to slices or pieces according to how you want it.
* serve with sauteed potatoes or vegetables or salad.
Hello everybody.
After yesterday’s big breakfast I went shopping to prepare for dinner,our dear friends Salam and Flora came to dinner last night with sweet adorable baby Mariam,lovely evening and food.
I made a big appetizers platter similar to the one we ate last week at Bonita Restaurant,well it was close enough but not as perfect. It contained avocados with tomatoes,smoked salmon with cream cheese dill filling on a bed of rocca, frilled chicken with pesto sauce on top and grilled eggplants ant tomatoes with cheese in between or as they name it eggplant tower.
Salad was Rocca with pomegranate seeds,walnuts and cheese, main dish was grilled steaks with lemon thyme butter on top and baked potatoes and veggies on the side.
Dessert was an extremely rich delicious Velvet Cake done by my lovely guest ( homemade from scratch), you’re right Flora tasted even better today, thank you my dear <3
table setting.
Hello everybody.
Didn’t know what to cook today then I took out an old book I have Dinner Beef and went through the recipes , decided at last to do this one since school ends early today so I have time to grill the steaks just before lunch.
The seasoned butter used in this dish can be stored in the freezer for various others like grilled chicken or fish,really tasty.
Ingredients and method:
*Steak with lemon thyme butter:
* pounded beef steaks.
* 4 large potatoes cut to wedges.
* 2 red onions cut to wedges.
* 1 lemon cut to wedges ( unpeeled)
* some olive oil.
* fresh thyme.
For the butter:
* 3-4 tablespoons soft butter.
* 1 crushed clove garlic.
* 2 tsp grated lemon rind.
* 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme.
* Make the lemon thyme butter by mixing all ingredients and wrapping them then freeze till you’re done cooking.
* mix potato wedges with onions,lemon,thyme ,oil,salt and pepper then bake uncovered in a hot oven till potatoes are done and crisp.
* just before serving,grill seasoned steaks on high heat on both sides till done then add a slice of the lemon butter on top of each steak and leave to melt.
* Pumpkin Carrot Risotto.
* 1 cup coarsely chopped pumpkin.
* 2 large chopped carrots.
* 4 cups chicken stock.
* 1 small chopped onion.
* 1 1/2 cups rice.
* 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
* 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
* saute carrots and pumpkins till soft in the butter and oil then remove from pan.
* add the onions and saute also till soft then add washed rice.
* stir in 1 cup of hot stock ,cook and stir till liquid is absorbed.
* continue adding stock in batches till rice is soft.
* gently stir in pumpkins,carrots and Parmesan.
* total cooking time should be about 30 minutes or till rice is done.
Note: you must be careful when cooking risotto not to leave water dry and you must cook it just before you serve it cause if left for a while it’ll be gooey .
A very tasty rich lunch to be honest,kids and hubby loved it 🙂
lemon thyme butter.
butter roll.
added some mushrooms also.
photos in cookbook.
