Rice in Puff Pastry.

Hello everybody.
Home all day cleaning and putting away carpets and heavy clothes, an annual ritual!

Even the kitchen had it’s turn, arranging fridge and freezer , I don’t like keeping frozen food for long periods always try to use it specially if fresh veggies are in season, so today took out some green thyme and made za’tar sticks, some pieces of puff pastry stuffed them with spiced rice, peas,carrots and meat plus some poppy seeds and made orange cake with seeds in.

Too much work but all yummy and needed as snacks for my son studying for his finals.

Good luck to all IB students around the world.

 

wpid-20150503_172032.jpg a rich nice meal !

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wpid-20150503_164855.jpg Orange cake and za’tar sticks.

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wpid-20150503_165817.jpg my lovely pot and mints 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

Milano Restaurant.

Hello everybody.
After a long day working and cleaning up at home we decided to go out for lunch to a long time favorite place of ours,Milano Restaurant.

I’m sure all fellows my age remember this nice cozy place in Shmeisani, used to be and still our favorite hang out though it’s been a long time since we came but greetings and words of the eversince waiter were so welcoming as usual.

Outside garden is renovated,relaxing summary atmosphere, food excellent and yummy.

So glad we came :mrgreen:

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wpid-dsc_0167.jpg  specialty of the house french fries with cheese.

wpid-20150501_181257.jpg steak melt sandwich.

wpid-dsc_0168.jpg a coffee is a must after such a meal !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Galaxy Ganache Chocolate Cake.

Hello everybody.

Summer is here at last,isn’t it enjoyable?  I just love it.

Went out with my lovely friends to celebrate two birthdays at Dahab restaurant and cafe in Abdoun, very nice place,delicious food and atmosphere.

Cake was plain chocolate with Galaxy Ganache, you simply melt galaxy bars on a water bath then add cream and mix well, all was yummy we had great time as always.

 

wpid-20150429_094836.jpg isn’t it elegant?

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wpid-20150429_121006.jpg hummus and za’tar manousheh.

wpid-20150429_121029.jpg yummy meat pizza,though I usually don’t like to eat meat in the morning but this is really good.

wpid-20150429_121123.jpg Foul and veggies.

wpid-20150429_120946.jpg Greek Salad and cheese pastry.

wpid-20150429_121935.jpg highly recommended place.

wpid-20150429_094808.jpg Happy birthday lovely ladies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

French Pizza.

Hello everybody.

Lunch today was steak with mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes, though potatoes weren’t successful cause I cut them to cubes then boiled them till done ( I usually keep it as is)  so mash was runny  didn’t like it at all, never again.Thank God steaks were excellent.

On the side I made my famous French Pizza, always a favorite side dish at any meal or occasion,very simple and easy.
Chopped peppers, mushroom, olives with some cheese, mayonnaise, salt and pepper mixed then topped over sliced French baguettes.

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wpid-20150428_134922.jpg even photo wasn’t good enough.

wpid-20150428_170024.jpg french pizza.

wpid-20150428_173901.jpgDessert and coffee, happening now :mrgreen:

Soft Pretzels.

Hello everybody.

Stayed home today,a relief after busy days and a chance to put away heavy clothes and boots, hoping that no more cold rainy days are coming.

Since I have leftovers for lunch from yesterday which was fresh new baby string beans in olive oil and I had time before lunch I tried this recipe, been searching for the most suitable and light one for a while and did this with slight changes.

I also made a simple cake since the oven is on and hot,been craving it since I made it for my brother’s colleagues last week.

Ingredients and method :
* 1 1/4 cups warm water.
* 2 tablespoons instant yeast.
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 5 cups flour.
* 1 tsp salt.
* 1 tablespoon butter.
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil.
* 1/2 cup baking soda.
* 4 cups boiled water.
* 1 egg yolk.
* some kosher or coarse salt.
* some melted butter.

* mix water, yeast, sugar till bubbly.
* mix flour, salt, butter and oil.
* add water yeast mixture and knead well.
* leave to rise for 40-50 minutes.
* make long ropes from the dough, this quantity makes 10-12.
* shape them into Pretzels.
* mix soda with hot water then dip each pretzel into it for few seconds.
* line them in a floured pan.
* brush with egg yolk then sprinkle with salt.
* leave to rise again then bake in a medium heated oven for 10-15 minutes.
* brush with a bit of butter to keep them shining then roast till golden.

Turned out amazingly delicious, kids loved them.

wpid-20150427_170623.jpg lovely !

wpid-20150427_154450.jpg so easy to do dough.

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wpid-20150427_161740.jpg ready to go.

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wpid-20150427_163308.jpg wpid-20150427_162728.jpg lunch and dessert.

wpid-20150427_170508.jpg will definitely do them again.

 

 

 

 

 


 

Date Rolls.

Hello everybody.

It’s been such a long time since I did these, maybe in Eid Al-Adha meaning seven months now.

  Date Rolls are such a favorable kind of cookies, they have a nice aroma, taste and texture that everyone love, made a small batch for my dear sis to take with her back home next week and hopefully I’ll have time to make her some rock cookies also.

Love you sis

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wpid-20150423_110516.jpg ready to go!!

wpid-20150423_120242.jpg all lined ready for baking.

wpid-20150423_131052.jpg all packed.

 

 

 

 

Family Flavors April Issue.

Hello everybody.

After a small delay this month, April Issue of Family Flavors magazine is issued and in stores.

I posted many delicious Mediterranean dishes like fava beans dip and pear pie with a very interesting calender, plus the usual Healthy and Happy part.

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wpid-20150418_154449.jpg yummy banana Nutella wraps.

 

 

 

Hurry up get your copy!

Baked Crispy Asparagus.

Hello everybody.
Went to visit our friends for Easter greetings last night, went home not only with chocolate and colored eggs but with a bunch of freshly cut asparagus as well and yes two jars of homemade jam also.
Looked for something new to do with them, found this easy quick recipe, crispy and tender inside was the result, yummy yummy.

You simply cut rough ends,coat them with seasoned flour ( salt,pepper, oregano, garlic powder, chili) then dip in eggs then coated again with breadcrumbs.
Grease and nonstick pan with oil or butter, add asparagus and sprinkle cheese on top then bake for 20-30 minutes in a well heated oven.

Serve with dip or ketchup as you wish.

wpid-20150416_161443.jpg excellent light appetizer dish.

 

wpid-20150416_153734.jpg  simple basic coating.

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Extremely Spicy Chicken Wings.

Hello everybody.

Had no clue what to cook though we do have some leftovers but not much.

Went out for some shopping for tomorrow’s lunch at Mom’s,idea struck me when I saw the neat clean wings in chicken fridge, Rania’s wings recipe, she posted them few weeks ago so it’s a good day to try them specially that they’re my youngest favorite and I got some sausages and sauteed them with onions, garlic and olive oil.
Ah almost forgot, did some carrot soup on the side, good in this cold day.

Wings recipe is very easy, here’s its steps :

# marinate wings in lemon and spices.
# dust them all over with equal amounts of flour and semolina.
# keep in freezer for 30 minutes.
# deep fry afterwards.
# melt 3/4 cup of butter with one Tabasco bottle and /or BBQ sauce then dip wings when done in the sauce till all covered.

That’s it,fatty and rich as Zaid loves them but definitely delicious.

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Honey Cakes.

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Hello everybody.

Happy Easter to all friends celebrating today,though usually it’s supposed to be a Spring warm day this time of year specially on Easter Sunday but today happened to be rainy and cold, but I’m sure everybody celebrating felt the warmth and spirit of this Holy day.

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Honey cakes are traditional Cypriot and Greek dessert usually done Easter time or New Years, so delicious and aromatic plus very easy to do.

 

Ingredients and method: ( I did half quantity only)

* 1 cup butter.

* 1 cup light olive oil.

* 1 kilo flour.

* 1 cup sugar.

* 1 tsp cinnamon.

* 1/2 tsp cloves.

* grated peel of a lemon or orange.

* 2 tsp baking powder.

* 1 cup yogurt.

* 1 cup crushed walnuts.

For the syrup:

* 2 cups sugar.

* 3 cups water.

* 1 cup honey.

* juice of one lemon.

* walnuts and cinnamon to sprinkle.

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* Put the butter and flour in a big bowl and beat well.

* add oil ,sugar, cinnamon,cloves and peel.

* add soda and yogurt and knead well.

* add walnuts .

* make small balls then roll them over the grater to get a nice shape.

* bake in a medium heated oven till golden from bottom and surface.

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* meanwhile make the syrup by boiling sugar and water for 10 minutes then adding the honey and lemon and boil further more till it’s thick.

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* when cakes are done and cooled dip them in syrup then sprinkle with cinnamon and crushed walnuts

 

 

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