Italian Style Courgettes and Meatballs.

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.

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Soup for Sure.

Hello everybody.

Another cold and rainy day, I’m definitely positive most houses in Jordan have a soup on the table today , it’s the most effective heart and body warming tool these days 🙂

I made noodles with carrots and peas soup,added a bit of green onions and garlic, yummy with a twist of lemon juice.

Though I have some courgettes from yesterday but won’t be enough as always so I made some macaroni and cheese, pasta mixed with sauteed onions,mushrooms and two packs cooked mushroom soup with cheese on top.

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Chicken Fajita.

Hello everybody.

Another full of events weekend,last night was the Henna party for our lovely bride Tara,lovely alive party and delicious food catered by Gourmet,wish the bride and groom an everlasting love and happiness. Today we’re invited to a wedding at the Four Seasons,best wishes to newlyweds as well!

Well lunch today was chicken fajita,very hot weather and dinner out needs a light lunch.

Ingredients and method:

* 1 large shredded boneless chicken breast.

* 1 shredded green or dry onion.

* shredded carrots.

* shredded colored peppers.

* fajita spices ready or homemade like the ones I made for quesadillas.

* pitta bread.

 

* marinate chicken in a bit of lemon juice or vinegar and 1 tablespoon of spices .

* heat some vegetable oil then add chicken and stir till dry and colored.

* add the onions,carrots and peppers and stir fry till all done.

* before serving add some sour cream or labaneh or avocado dip on the pitta bread then add chicken mix.

* wrap and toast a bit on the toaster.

Serve with simple lettuce vinaigrette salad or any of your choice.

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Artichokes.

Hello everybody.

Didn’t know whether to cook or no today cause I still have courgettes from yesterday but not that much,it needs an appetizer or a small thing with it.

Had to manage something from what I have in fridge or freezer cause my son took my car,so after searching I took out a bag of frozen artichokes,cooked mince meat and some carrots and peas, they’ll do for a stew !

Out of curiosity I searched for benefits of artichokes and usage, turned out to be a very useful plant, actually great for liver and digestive system,read the link for more info if you like.

As always when staying home,I baked something,za’tar sticks but added cheese and coarse sea salt on top and made Rita’s salad ( this is its name from now on )

Ingredients and method of artichoke stew:

* 1 pack frozen artichokes.

* cooked mince meat.

* cubed carrots.

* peas.

* small onion.

* salt,pepper and lemon juice.

 

* saute chopped onions in some oil till tender then add carrots,peas,salt and pepper.

* simmer on low heat till tender.

* stuff meat in artichoke hearts and arrange them on top of veggies.

* add lemon juice and a bit of boiled water and leave to simmer for another 30 minutes.

* serve alone or with rice as you like.

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Steak Rolls (stuffed with vegetables)

Hello everybody.

last day of this long weekend,I was intending to do a cake and decorate it like the Jordanian flag on the occasion of Independence Day but I had to make date rolls order so no time left, maybe tomorrow.

I cooked for lunch early in the morning, took out some steak pieces and prepared to do this dish that I used to do a lot long time ago, easy to do but if you’re in a hurry you can do it chopped not rolled.

Ingredients and method:

 

* Steak pieces.

* carrots,peppers,green onions,mushrooms and cabbage. all chopped to thin strips.

* soy sauce,ketchup,salt and pepper.

* sesame oil or vegetable oil.

 

* chop a bit of the carrots,peppers,green onions and mushrooms to small thin strips and saute them in some oil and sprinkle them with soy sauce.

* with a steak hammer make the steaks as thin as you can,salt and pepper them then stuff with veggies and roll.

* close rolls with thread or toothpicks then saute with some oil from all sides till brownish.

* remove from pan then all all veggies and saute till tender adding soy sauce,ketchup a bit salt and pepper ( you can ginger and a bit sugar to give the sauce a sweet and sour taste if you like)

* add the rolls and leave to simmer on low heat till done,some boiled water can be added to keep sauce from drying.

* serve with rice or alone.

Enjoy and Happy Independence Day Jordan <3

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Veal with Mushroom Cream Sauce.

Hello everybody.

Back to normal routine after a long vacation, kids will want a good satisfying meal after school for sure.

My cousin posted this dish on my Facebook group last week and I promised to make it soon,though he made made it with chicken but today I used veal, but  same other ingredients.

Turned out absolutely delicious,only guilty thing is that recipe contains fresh cream and butter,won’t be the same without them, though tastes great but I always try to avoid these fatty ingredients as much as possible. Guess once in a while won’t hurt don’t you think ?

Ingredients and method:

* Veal steaks.

* Fresh cream.

* Mushrooms.

* salt,pepper,all spice,ginger,garlic powder and oregano for seasoning.

* 1 maggi cube.

* mozzarella cheese.

* vegetables : carrots,courgettes,cherry tomatoes,sweet peppers, broccoli,corn and potatoes.

 

* Season veal with all mentioned and leave for 1 hour.

* saute veal with some butter on both sides till almost done.

* remove to another pan then saute sliced mushrooms till tender.

* add fresh cream and maggi cube and leave to simmer 10  minutes then pour over veal and leave all to simmer on low heat or in the the oven till done.

* add mozzarella cheese on top to melt before serving.

* bake veggies with a drizzle of oil in the oven.

* bake foiled potatoes and serve it with sour cream on the side.

* steam broccoli florets then cover them directly with iced water so as to keep the green color.

I don’t like to brag but it really  looks and tastes better than any fine restaurant !!!!

hope you all try it,thank you Sa’ed for the recipe 🙂

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Rice with Peas and Carrots.

Hello again.

I prepared the strawberry sauce and started to cook  lunch. Today I made rice with peas, carrots, chicken mixed with rice. Didn’t cook this since a while, though my husband doesn’t like it but I still have some leftovers to manage this problem.

Ingredients and method:
* chicken or meat cubes.
* 1 pack frozen peas and carrots or fresh if available.
* 1 small onion.
* 1 cube maggi or chicken broth.
* 2 cups rice.
* salt, pepper, all spice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and pinch of nutmeg. ( according to taste or enough to make rice brownish).
*ghee or vegetable oil.

* heat ghee then saute seasoned chicken till tender and golden.
* add chopped onion.
* add peas and carrots and cover all till veggies almost done.
* add maggi cube.
* wash rice and season it .
* add over veggies and chicken.
* add water till above rice by 1 inch.
* cook over high heat till all water almost absorbed, then lower heat to minimum and leave till rice is done.
Note:you can add a bit more water if rice stays hard.
* serve with salad or yoghurt.

Enjoy♡♥♡♥

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Grilled Vegetables with Kofta .

Hello again.

Lunch now!!!!
I took out some kofta from freezer last night, it was an extra amount from last time, so it won’t be enough for all, needs something extra to go with it.
  A quick solution , took out all veggies in fridge to grill them plus a big bowl of salad!

Ingredients and method:
* all sorts of veggies cut to large slices or chunks.
* green onion, garlic, lemon juice and oregano.
* butter and olive oil.
* salt and pepper.

* in a thick cast iron pan (preferably one that’s lined) heat some butter and oil.
* add veggies in turns till tender and stripes show on them.
* mix lemon juice, chopped onion and garlic with oregano, salt and pepper.
*sprinkle all over veggies then leave to simmer for 20-30 minutes on low heat.
* serve with any kind of meat or chicken.
* I made a delicious rocca, mushroom, cherry tomato, walnuts salad with vinaigrette dressing.

Enjoy ♡♥♡♥
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French Pizza and Cole Slaw Salad.

Hello everybody.
Weekend at last!!!
We’re invited to a wedding tonight and boys going out with friends so a light lunch is enough.
I have fresh cabbage from Ghor, small enough to do a salad, and i made small pizzas on baguette bread, that’s why it’s called French Pizza.

Ingredients and method:
French Pizza:
* 2 baguettes .
* 1/2 cup chopped sweet peppers.
* 1 cup seeded black olives.
* 1 pack mushrooms, finely chopped.
* 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella or kashkaval cheese or mix of both.
* 3 tablespoons mayonnaise.
* salt, pepper and paprika.
* mix all ingredients together and season.
* cut baguettes to 1 inch slices.
* scoop 1 spoonful of mixture over each bread slice.
* toast for 20-25 minutes till golden.
* serve hot.

*Cole Slaw Salad:
* shredded cabbage.
* grated carrots.
* mayonnaise.
*raisins.
* salt, sugar and white vinegar.
*mix all ingredients together .
* mayonnaise quantity must be enough to coat all ingredients.
* you can add thick yoghurt to lessen mayonnaise portion if you want it lighter.

Enjoy your weekend everybody ♡♥♡♥.

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Rice in Puff Pastry . اوزي صرر

Hello again.

Well soup alone isn’t enough specially cause kids don’t favor this kind a lot. I’m usually busy Saturdays so needed something easy and quick. I already have some cooked minced meat and frozen peas and carrots, so I decided to bring puff pastry and make them with rice in bundles,, what we call “ouzi sorrar” اوزي صرر.
Well many people usually make a dough at home or use thin ready made pastries but since a while I started using puff pastry for many reasons. First easily handled, second you can cancel butter or ghee from the recipe cause they’re buttered already..plus they’re very crunchy and delicious.

Ingredients and method:
* 1 pack puff pastry.
* 1 cup cooked minced, or cubed meat or cooked boneless chicken. As you desire.
* some toasted almonds or pine nuts.
* 1 cup peas and carrots, some people use only peas. So go with whatever your family like.
* salt, pepper, all spice, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg,, all according to taste.
* 1 cup rice.

* saute peas and carrots with a bit of oil or butter.
* wash rice and add all spices to it.
* add rice to vegetables and mix.
* add water to cover over rice by an inch and leave on high heat till water absorbed then lower heat to minimum till rice is done.
* add the meat and mix.
* leave to cool cause if stuffed while very hot pastries will have holes.
* spread puff pastry over floured tray.
* spread each pastry to bigger squares with a roller.
* put the pastry in a deep dish.
* add some almonds and 2 big spoonfuls of rice mixture then close it to form a ball.
* bake in a medium heated oven for 30-40 minutes.
* roast the surface till golden.
* serve with salad and yoghurt.

Hope you try it…very tasty I assure you.

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