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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Pesto Pasta and Ceazar Salad.

Hello everybody.

Upon my son’s request today’s lunch was on his favorite dishes, pesto pasta with chicken, mushroom and cream. Easiest thing to do specially if you have an outing.

On the side and made a big bowl of Ceazar salad, yummy and fresh goes along with the warm sunny day.

wpid-wp-1427131358774.jpeg wpid-wp-1427131341822.jpeg

wpid-wp-1427131366736.jpeg  Fresh pesto done and cooked at the same time,amazing !

wpid-wp-1427131376289.jpeg dessert was a piece of yesterday’s cake !

Best thing that happened to me today is receiving a big beautiful greeting card on the occasion of Mother’s day from my best friend’s lovely beautiful daughter Ward, though I don’t have a daughter of my own but I really love all my friends’ beautiful young ladies as mine, thank you loving Whardo,you’re the sunshine of my life.

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wpid-wp-1427131394170.jpeg I will keep cooking,promise 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicken Tikka Masala and Indian Rice.

Hello everybody.
Back to cold and gloomy weather, plan was to plant and arrange the garden today but clouds and eastern crisp wind aren’t encouraging at all.

Lunch was chicken tikka masala, same recipe is always make, but this time I did Indian rice on the side, though one ingredient is missing ‘ mustard seeds ‘ and original recipe contains cumin seeds not powder, but result was superb, light and aromatic and goes well with the chicken.
Ingredients and method :
* 2 cups rice ( I used basmati)
* cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks.

*1 tsp salt.
* small chopped onion.
* 2 cloves garlic.
* ghee or oil.
* 1 tsp mustard seeds.
* 1 tsp cumin seeds.
* 1 tsp turmeric powder.
* 1 tsp chili flakes.

* boil washed rice with lots of water and the cardamom pods and cinnamon till it’s done.

* when done pour in sieve and wash, remove pods and sticks.
* in the same pan heat oil then sauté mustard seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric and chili till seeds start to pop.
* add onions and garlic and saute till done.
* add the rice and mix all well then leave for few minutes to heat all over.

* serve with tikka or kebabs.

 

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wpid-wp-1426868145969.jpeg end result !

 

 

 

 

Chicken and Greek Quesadillas.

Hello everybody.
Though shopped groceries and went to vegetables’ shop but still had no clue what to cook till just before lunch.

Winner was chicken quesadillas and when I had two more extra pitta breads I made them Greek style,very tasty.

On the side I made a fava bean smashed dish,with tomatoes onions peppers and cumin also yummy.

Hope you all enjoyed the weekend
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A nice kitchen decor my husband made yesterday,from old fridge magnets, thank you Abu Khalil.

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Baked Fennel!

Hello everybody.
So excited today, my friend’s son is getting married tonight, so happy for her and looking forward for the gathering of all of us at the party and thank God for the sunny nice weather so that all ceremonies won’t be difficult cause of rain or cold, congratulations to the beautiful bride and groom wish them all the happiness in the world.

Lunch was quick and easy, chicken scallop with mashed potatoes,salad and some baked fennels.

I have lots of these from our friends farm so thought I’ll try baking some,tastes really nice. You only add salt,pepper, olive oil and a bit of balsamic vinegar and bake uncovered in a well heated oven, that’s it.

Well have to go get ready,bye now!

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Yemini Mendi and Digestive Log.

Hello everybody.

Planning  to cook this dish a month ago or actually since my cousin posted it in my group,this is a traditional Yemini dish usually bought ready here from several restaurants.

My husband bought a pack of ready mixed Mendi spices and I added a bit of the spices originally in the recipe, I also used local chicken that my husband brought from the farm.

I  also made this super easy dessert cause I have some cream left from yesterday’s cupcakes thought I’d use them, you simply stack plain digestive biscuits with cream in between,I added some coconuts also , then you cover all with cream, leave to cool completely then top with chocolate ganache all over and decorate, looks a lot like Christmas Log Cake and looks very elegant , a nice idea for Valentine tomorrow right?

 

Ingredients and method of Mendi:

* Marinade for chicken:

* Ketchup.

* olive oil.

* salt,pepper,coriander,cardamon,cloves.

* bay leaves.

* copped onions and garlic.

* Marinade chicken pieces in all these for two hours then cover and leave in a medium heated oven 1 1/2 -2 hours then roast till golden.

 

* Rice:

* saute some sliced onions and garlic till golden.

* add one grated carrot.

* wash the rice and add it on them.

* add same spices as above then add add water and leave to simmer till rice is done.

*Note: use basmati rice or long .

 

* When rice and chicken are done arrange all in a deep serving dish then heat a piece of coal till very hot and red then add some oil on top and place it in the middle of rice chicken dish and cover for 15 minutes so as to give a smoky flavor to the whole dish.

* serve with roasted raisins,Tabasco and green salad.

20150213_153030  smoked chicken and rice.

20150213_134843 20150213_141938

20150213_152729 20150213_152651

20150213_154004 20150213_154547

20150213_154753 fumed charcoal.

Screenshot_2015-02-12-23-56-54~2 original recipe in Arabic.

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I  also made this super easy dessert cause I have some cream left from yesterday’s cupcakes thought I’d use them, you simply stack plain digestive biscuits with cream in between,I added some coconuts also , then you cover all with cream, leave to cool completely then top with chocolate ganache all over and decorate, looks a lot like Christmas Log Cake and looks very elegant , a nice idea for Valentine tomorrow right?

20150213_163100  yummy biscuits log.

 

20150213_143325   20150213_144414 stacked biscuits and cream.

20150213_144654 20150213_152358

20150213_162500 20150213_162528

20150213_16282220150213_163037

 

Roasted Lemony Chicken and Potatoes.

Hello everybody.

As I mentioned yesterday we had a dinner gathering and I made a chicken and potato dish, which was incredibly juicy and well flavored cause of the awesome marinade I used.

 

Ingredients and method ( for 8  small pieces of chicken)

* zest and juice of one lemon and one orange.

* 1 tablespoon fresh or dry rosemary.

* 1 tablespoon oregano.

* 1 leaf fresh or dry sage (ميرميه)

* salt,pepper and olive oil.

*Marinate chicken in all these for a whole night or 3-4 hours minimum.

* in a deep oven pan,add some onion slices,bay leaves,cinnamon stick and few cardamons then add chicken with marinade close tightly with foil and leave in a medium heated oven for 1 1/2 -2 hours.

* when done roast chicken till golden then remove each piece to a deep serving dish.

* sieve remaining juices to get a clear fluid then add 1 tablespoon flour or starch diluted in cold water.

* leave to simmer till it thickens.

* You can bake some veggies or only potato cubes in another pan alongside also seasoned with rosemary,oregano,salt,pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.

* arrange potatoes around chicken pieces and drizzle sauce all over them before serving.

 

Really easy tasty dish,went well with the eggplant maqloubeh last night.

DSC_0293 roasted chicken and potato.

DSC_0292 eggplant maqloubeh.

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Garlic Oregano Chicken with Veggies and Iranian Rice.

Hello everybody.

All requested a light lunch, we had a big mansaf the other day and boys made burgers yesterday so we’ll try to make it light for a few days.

I have some chicken breasts and various vegetables, so all was grilled in my thick grilling pan with garlic, ginger, oregano and a sprinkle of lemon. Veggies were carrots, peppers and broccoli.

Made some rice the Iranian way, recipe was posted by a friend in my page, very light and easy to do but I should’ve waited for potatoes to be toasted more but kids were hungry and couldn’t wait.

You simply soak rice in hot water for and hour then boil it till almost done in salted water. Then sieve it and place some oil and potato slices in the bottom of the same pan, add the rice and make holes in it,add some water diluted saffron and mix then cover with a clean cloth or foil and leave to simmer over very low heat till done.

Ahhh a hummus dish is our daily table friend nowadays, yummy yummy.

 

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wpid-wp-1422024886453.jpeg cover with cloth or foil.

  hummus.

wpid-wp-1422024930666.jpeg  veggies and chicken breasts,

wpid-wp-1422024845622.jpeg  awesome light rice,loved it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double Meat Pasta.( معكرونه بالسجق والدجاج)

Hello everybody.

Grocery shopping today, had to think of something quick to make  cause boys were hungry and I had no time so I bought stuff for this recipe my cousin made yesterday , it was absolutely delicious, so from now on it’s Manal’s Pasta.

This dish is suitable for meat lovers cause it contains both beef sausages and chicken with lots of garlic,a rich tasty combination.Of course you can use one kind alone up to you but both together are very homogeneous <3

 

Ingredients and method:

* 1 cup chopped sausages.

* 2 pieces chopped chicken breasts.

* 4-5 cloves of garlic.

* 1 bunch finely chopped fresh coriander.

* 1 pack or bottle pasta sauce.

* 1 pack (500 ml) fresh cream.

* pasta of any shape.

* salt,pepper and chili powder.

* grated Mozzarella cheese.

 

* saute sausages in olive oil till tender and brown in color.

* add chicken, salt,pepper and chili and saute alongside till almost done.

* add garlic and saute with them.

* add salt,pepper,chili and some garlic powder if you want a stronger garlicky taste.

* add the tomato sauce over all meat mix.

* add the cream,stir and mix till bubbly.

* add the boiled pasta and mix well.

* cover and leave to simmer for 15 minutes.

* add cheese on top and roast in the oven till golden.

 

Thank you dear Manal for the easy solution,I’m sure many housewives will consider this one frequently.

 

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DSC_0396  cream tomato meat mixture.

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20150117_143216  Hot spicy sharp tasting result:)

 

 

Homemade Msakhan Bread! (مسخن)

Hello everybody.

Due to weather conditions it’ll be risky to go out and stuck in snow and since the plan was to make msakhan today

so I decided to bake the bread at home,after searching many websites to find a way of baking it in a regular oven I found this good one,very easy and outcome was superb !!

 

Msakhan is an old traditional dish made from chicken,onions,plenty of summaq and olive oil all placed on special kind of bread with nuts on top.

ingredients and method of bread:

Note : this quantity makes 4-5 bread pieces.

* 2 cups flour.

* 1 tsp salt.

* 1/2 cup warm milk.

* 1 1/2 spoons instant yeast.

* 1 tsp sugar.

* 1 cup warm water.

 

* Mix water,yeast and sugar and cover till bubbles are formed.

* add to flour milk and salt.

* knead well by hands for 10 minutes.

* cover and leave to rest and rise in a warm place for 1 hour.

* divide to 4-5 balls.

* roll or spread them into bread shape.

* heat the oven very well with a big oven tray in it.

* when well heated turn on the upper flame .

* place the breads on the tray and bake till surface is golden,bottoms will be done cause tray is already very hot.

* do all breads the same way,make sure the pan is always very hot before each batch.

 

You can do these not only for msakhan,actually boys ate some as is before lunch. Fresh bread is the best food ever 🙂

20150107_153102  final outcome .

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DSC_0256  20150107_152203

 

20150107_153123   Msakhan.

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