Hello everybody.
A loving grandma ordered this lovely combination of dishes for her visiting grandchildren.
Outcome was very colorful specially the tutti fruitti cake, full of fruits and cream.
Alongside she ordered za’tar puffs, pasta salad, teramisu and a small box of chocolate balls I sent as a gift.
Hello everybody.
A simple elegant cheese platter with dried fruits and strawberries with crackers or breads can be the best thing for a small gathering specially if done with love to loving friends.
I used a selection of cheeses, white, cheddar, Camembert and kashkaval with healthy dried fruits, some olives and a selection of jams (figs,quince, marmalade)
I also made some sweet light cheese served with mixed berries jam.
Hello everybody.
Since it’s quince season, jam is a must I guess.Though many people make it big chunks in syrup but I prefer this way cause it’s easier to spread.
Ingredients and method :
* 1 kg quince fruit cored then grated.
* 5 cups sugar.
* 2 cups water.
* juice and peel of one lemon.
* 1 stick cinnamon.
* 4 pieces cloves.
* wash core and grate quince.
*add sugar, water and lemon juice and peel.
*mix well then add cinnamon and cloves.
* heat till it boils then lower heat and leave to simmer for an hour and half or till quince turns dark and syrup thickens.
NOTE: a quicker way to do it is to cook it in pressure cooker for 20-30 minutes max.
* remove cinnamon stick and fill jam in clean jars.
Hello everybody.
Did this milk pudding or muhalbieh today for my mother in-law’s gathering.
So yummy and elegant plus easy of course, milk pudding is same as muhalbieh with caramel recipe but instead I used the orange sauce which contains orange juice, sugar and starch boiled till it thick.
Happy New Year everybody.
So sorry for this long absence, since I started taking orders and catering I really don’t have time to publish new recipes, guess one can’t get it all.
Today I tried this new recipe I’ve seen a while ago while searching through Turkish dishes,it’s a mix of many flavors together, white and red sauces and roasted eggplants gave it a really amazing taste.
Ingredients and method :
* one big roasted eggplant.
*white sauce :
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk.
Salt, pepper and spices.
1/2 cup mazorella cheese.
Red sauce with meat :
*Veal cubes (1/2 kilo)
*one small finely chopped onion.
* 2 diced garlic.
* 1 big finely chopped tomato
* 1 tablespoon tomato paste
* 1 cup water.
* olive oil.
* start by making the white sauce, melt butter then add flour till a bit golden then add milk slowly and whisk.
* boil till thick then season as desired.
* chop roasted eggplants to small chunks and mix into the sauce.
* add cheese.
* Now make the meat red sauce,heat skillet then add seasoned meat and stir till browned.
* add onions, garlic and tomatoes subsequently.
* add tomato paste and water then leave to simmer till sauce is thick and concentrated.
*Upon service pour eggplant sauce in a wide dish then add red sauce on top.
* Decorate with mazorella cheese or parsely.
Very rich satisfying dish, served with pita bread or without,highly recommended.
Hello everybody.
At last I got the chance to cook this dish, my husband’s been craving it and searching for recipes all the time.
Final pick was an old one from a famous Arabic cookbook, seems logical cause it’s an old traditional Egyptian dish.
I stuffed pigeons with cracked wheat ( فريكه) which was previously cooked,closed well then cooked slowly in boiling water till done.
After they’re done I roasted them and served over the rest of wheat.
Though I’m not a fan of these kinds of dishes but it was really deliciou
s, most importantly hubby loved it.
Ingredients and steps are very simple, you simply cook cracked wheat as usual,season and add enough water to cover then leave on low heat till done then stuff seasoned birds wrap and cook in water.
Hello everybody.
I can proudly say that it’s a successful week, I catered a four days workshop at the Water and Irrigation Ministry, guests were Germans this time.
Did coffee breaks and lunches each day with different kinds of food.
Thank God all were happy and satisfied and ended work with a beautiful cake.
Hello everybody.
Didn’t realize that it’s been this long since my last post!!!
Busy Banan Cooking kitchen for sure, no time for new recipes at all but today I tried this old new one for a change.
I’ve been watching this new TV show accidentally, well it’s on the hunting channel my husband watch everyday that’s why 🙂
This chef is really amazing, cooks in the wilderness many easy delicious dishes,salads and appetizers.
Last night he made this meatloaf, same as the one I usually make with one additional ingredient which is mushroom.You simply sauté onions, garlic and mushroom then add them to meat, egg, breadcrumbs mixture.
Ingredients and method:
* 1 kg minced veal.
* 1 egg.
* 1 spoon ketchup.
* 1/2 cup breadcrumbs.
* 1 spring onion.
* 1 bunch parsley or spinach.
* 1 tsp soy sauce.
* salt, pepper, oregano, all spice.
* 3-4 slices cheddar cheese.
* extra ketchup for surface.
* chop onion and parsley saute in a bit of oil.
* add to meat with rest of ingredients and knead well till mixed.
* spread on wax paper into a rectangle.
* add cheese slices and fold.
* spread olive oil and ketchup on surface.
* bake in medium heated oven for 30-40 minutes.
* serve with fries or wedges.
Made some roasted potatoes with rosemary and oregano on the side plus marinated roasted red peppers.
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.
Hello everybody.
Today I was honored to cater a workshop at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation for a group of Dutch experts.
I can proudly say it was a job well done, everything was perfect and work went on smoothly.
I did assorted cookies and snacks for the coffee break then followed by burgers, shawerma and falafel for lunch.
Along with zatar and cheese puffs all with veggies and olives.
Grand finale was a beautiful lemony cake topped with berries and ganache.
