Beautiful Gathering

Hello everybody.
Such a lovely day, great for sitting outdoors and enjoying the breeze and warm weather with my lovely group of friends.
A visit postponed many times to eat Caraway since my nephew was born, got the caraway powder straight from Nablus this time from my friend,fresh and tasty though unfortunately she couldn’t come today, thank you dear Nadia.
I also made some fresh ka3ek with sesame seeds, cheese platters and spinach tabouleh, all yummy with great company of course.

 

wpid-wp-1428430080346.jpeg Thank you Lulu for the lovely flowers.

wpid-wp-1428430085782.jpeg yummy caraway.

wpid-wp-1428430106573.jpeg wpid-wp-1428430115509.jpeg cheese and tabouleh.

wpid-wp-1428430125065.jpeg wpid-wp-1428430150496.jpeg  yummiest ka3ek ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Shakshouka.

Hello everybody.

Beautiful weather a real Spring day,going to a gathering this afternoon so my share is Za’tar Puffs amazing how dough rises quickly in warm weather, all process of kneading, cutting and baking took less than an hour.

Lunch was kids’ favorite Shakshuka, great option, easy and everyone love it.

 

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wpid-wp-1428237889200.jpeg wpid-wp-1428237913744.jpeg yummy yummy.

 

 

 

 

Grilled Pina Colada.

Hello everybody.

Went out noon time for a drive to IKIA,lovely spring day and greenery everywhere, love this time of year.

On our way back home we suddenly decided to BBQ, though weather is a bit cold and wind is crisp but it was nice cause quantity is not big like when you have a crowd.
I did the usual appetizers roasted tomatoes, yogurt mint oregano mix, hummus, salad. Plus I baked some fresh bread which was a real treat.

While eating I peeled a fresh pineapple and put it on the grill, when done I sliced it, added some sugar and grilled it more till golden then served it with nuts,cream and coconut, yummy yummy :).
Of course a BBQ must end with tea on charcoal, though boys made it a bit sweet but it was warming since we stayed outside enjoying the last minute of daylight.

Hope you all enjoyed your day.

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wpid-wp-1428081650538.jpeg wpid-wp-1428081657433.jpeg  tea time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Nuts cake and Pavlova.

Hello everybody .

No cooking today cause each one is invited somewhere and hubby went hunting.

I did two desserts though,a chocolate nuts cream cake for my friend’s sister birthday and a fruit Pavlova to take with me to my uncle’s house for dinner.

All looked yummy, hope taste is as good !

20150402_114927 Happy birthday sweet Lulu 🙂

20150402_144043 fruit,nuts and blueberries Pavlova.

20150402_123615 20150402_144901 20150402_152834  Spring is coming !

 

 

 

Lentil Soup Fatteh.

Hello everybody.

Seems like winter is back again, weird weather this morning, rainy with heavy fog.

Well I’m sure a big percentage of Jordanians cooked lentil soup today, it’s a rain tradition i guess.

Today I’ll do it with a twist, and member in banancooking.com made this dish and while ago and it looked interesting.

You cook soup as usual but I made it a bit thicker, then you assemble it with all fatteh ingredients. Roasted bread, soup then tahini yogurt sauce and garnish it with cooked minced meat, almonds and parsley.

A big big success, very fulfilling but not heavy, mother in-law and kids loved it,waiting for hubby’s approval now.

 

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wpid-wp-1427897740952.jpeg end result .

 

 

 

New Style Tuna Sandwiches.

Hello everybody.

Every time I decide to stay home and relax in end up working too much or doing multiple things at the same time.

First thing when I entered the kitchen this morning I realized I have one very ripe avocado and one lonely eggplant so made a dip (mashed with some lemon juice,tahini,yogurt and salt)   and baba ghanouj ( chopped grilled eggplants with diced tomatoes,peppers and some mints then topped with pomegranate sauce)

Then the daily question of what to cook started nagging in my mind, then decided to do a new sandwich style my cousin posted last night with shredded chicken but I made it with tuna, turned out really good, kids loved it.

Secret ingredient is the crunchy sandwich bread or crust done by cutting edges of toast  then soaking each couple together in whisked eggs then coating all with breadcrumbs.  I let them cool in the fridge so as to hold better then deep fried till crunchy, when cooled open and fill with any stuffing you like, today is added tuna with corn,capers, relish, mustard, mayonnaise and green onions,served with fries and big mixed salad.

Another task for today was making fresh pesto before basil turns black and a fresh fruit cocktail from new honey from Ghor, oranges, pineapple and bananas, really refreshing after all this.

 

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wpid-wp-1427724814840.jpeg guacamole dip with tomatoes,chili,dried mints and olive oil on top.

wpid-wp-1427724827238.jpeg  baba ghanouj بابا غنوج

wpid-wp-1427724841568.jpeg mixed salad with everything in .

wpid-wp-1427724857679.jpeg fresh pesto.

wpid-wp-1427724862878.jpeg fresh oranges and new honey.

wpid-wp-1427724833542.jpeg colorful table!

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Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam Cake.

Hello everybody.

I also did this beautiful cake today but didn’t want to mix both chicken and cake in the same post, better to keep sweet lovely things together.

Got the recipe from a new cookbook my cousin gave to me the other day,it’s really informative and today is my start up in discovering its contents.
A really easy simple cake, great with coffee or tea.
Ingredients and method :
* 1 package cream cheese.
* 1/2 cup butter.
* 1 cup sugar.
* 2 eggs.
* 1/4 cup milk.
* 1 tsp baking powder.
* 1/2 tsp baking soda.
* 1/2 tsp vanilla.

* 1 3/4 cups flour.
* 1/2 cup strawberry or raspberry jam.

* beat cream cheese and butter till soft then add up all other ingredients consequently except jam.

* batter  should be a bit thick.
* grease and medium sized oven pan.leave then add batter.
* add jam in small spoonfuls on top then swirl gently with a knife to create a marble effect.
* bake in a medium heated oven for 30-40 minutes.

Very tasty try it.

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Chicken in Salt Crust.

Hello everybody.
After a discussion the other day between members of my group about fish in salt crust, I did a quick research and found out that it can be done with chicken as well, so today was my first trial.

I also did a layered veggie pot containing pumpkin, eggplants and potatoes with sweet peppers and tomatoes on top and full of herbs. Only cooked on low heat then drizzled with olive oil and roasted.

Ingredients and method of chicken :
* 1 whole chicken.
* onion,garlic, oregano, cinnamon sticks, cardamom and rosemary for stuffing the chicken.
* butter.
* for the dough you’ll need :
* 1 3/4 cups salt.
* 4  1/2 cups flour.
* tsp of oregano and mixed herbs.
* 1 cup water.
* mix all dough ingredients till easy to handle and stiff, you may need a bit more water.
* clean and dry chicken well then stuff inside with all stuffing mentioned ( you can change or add anything you like)
* rub butter, pepper and all spice all over chicken,or you can put butter in between flesh and skin.

* cover chicken with dough and seal completely very good.
* bake in a medium heated oven for 2 hours.
* crack open the crust and serve.
Note: crust must be discarded not eaten cause it’s too salty.

 

wpid-wp-1427649487898.jpeg peeled crust.

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wpid-wp-1427649444938.jpeg wpid-wp-1427649433991.jpeg chicken all wrapped.

wpid-wp-1427649401565.jpeg final look after baking.

wpid-wp-1427649423439.jpeg layered veggies.

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Pineapple Roca Salad.

Hello everybody.
Long full day, lots of things to do and places to go, end was a sudden visit from my mother in-law’s cousins, and lovely group but a shame I don’t have any dessert or cakes,but we really had a great time.

Lunch today was a variety of many delicious dishes:
* Asparagus soup.
* Pineapple roca salad with dried cranberries, walnuts and a lemon, oil, salt balsamic vinaigrette.
* Cute Caprese salad.
* Green fava beans with garlic and coriander.

All very fresh and yummy.

 

wpid-wp-1427568743793.jpeg colorful table !

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wpid-wp-1427568787991.jpeg lovely easy Caprese.

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Asparagus Pie.

Hello everybody.

End of a very busy week at last, hope weekend will be relatively relaxing, though till now too much is scheduled already.
Well lunch today was an open buffet as I call it,all leftovers in the fridge but I did a small side dish cause I have these freshly picked asparagus so it’s a shame not to do something with them, so I picked this recipe from Pinterest ,easy and quick and luckily I have all ingredients.

Ingredients and method :
* 1 pack puff pastry.
* 2 tablespoons labaneh or sour cream.
* 1 tsp mustard.
* 1 egg.
* 1 cup grated cheese ( any kind that melts).
* asparagus.
* Salt, pepper and a bit of nutmeg.

* when pastry is tender roll it to a rectangle shape then put it in a rectangular oven pan.leave sides up a little.
* bake in a medium heated oven for 20 minutes or till it’s golden from bottom.
* mix half of the cheese, egg, labaneh and mustard well then add salt, pepper and nutmeg.
* spread mixture over half baked pastry then line up the asparagus after cutting the hard stems.
* sprinkle rest of cheese on top then bake again for 15 minutes then roast top till golden.
Serve hot as a side dish with any roasted beef or chicken.

 

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wpid-wp-1427388336543.jpeg simple ingredients once asparagus is around.

wpid-wp-1427388368699.jpeg yummy indeed.

 

 

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