Chicken Curry.

Hello everybody.
Back to school today, the sun is bright but you can feel a crisp cold breeze.
Chicken curry is suitable for this weather. This dish reminds me of the good old days when we used to gather at my best friend’s house, exactly last day of midterm exams, her lovely mom would make us chicken curry upon our request ..Sahmo’s specialty ♡♥♡♥.
We actually ask her to do it till now whenever we’re gathered at summer time.

Ingredients and method:
* 1 cubed boneless chicken.
* cubed carrots, potatoes, chopped peppers and sliced mushrooms.
* 1 chopped onion and 2 cloves garlic.
* 1 tablespoon cornflour dissolved in 1 cup of milk OR coconut milk.

* chicken broth or water with 1 cube maggi ( 5-6 cups).
* salt, pepper, all spice and 2 big spoons curry powder.

* marinate chicken in some of spices and curry for 1/2 hour.
* heat some oil and saute chicken till tender.
* add onions and garlic.
* add potatoes, carrots and peas, mix all till a bit done.
* add rest of spices.
* add peppers and mushrooms.
* add milk and cornflour.
* add broth or water, boil and simmer for 40-50 minutes.
* serve with plain white rice.

Enjoy ♡♥♡♥.

Freekeh with Chicken. ( فريكه )

Hello everybody.
As I mentioned earlier today we’re having a big lunch, friends and relatives coming.

My mother in law made freekeh with chicken among other things.
Freekeh is a roasted green wheat, meaning wheat is harvested when still green and roasted outdoors on a big fire. Very healthy and nutritious. I even saw an old episode of Dr. Phill today by coincidence advising people to eat it cause of its many benefits.
Freekeh is mainly done with roasted chicken on top and cooked with the chicken broth.served with salad or yoghurt.
Quantities depends upon how many people you’re serving.

Ingredients and method:
* chicken cut to big pieces ( with bones)
* 3 cups freekeh.
* seasoning for making chicken broth : salt, pepper, all spice, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom and onions.
* ghee or margarine.
* roasted almonds and pine nuts for decorating.

* Make chicken broth by cleaning chicken very well, sautee them till excess water is dry ,add all seasoning and water then leave to boil till done.

You can do this only with the wings, back and neck of chicken then discard them and use broth.
* As for breasts and thighs, rub them well with salt , pepper and olive oil and put them over a bed of coarsely chopped onions in a big oven tray. Cover with foil paper and cook them in the oven for 1 1/2-2 hours.then roast till golden.
* wash freekeh very well,make sure you look through it before cause usually you might find some small stones or dirt specially if bought directly from farms.
* saute them with ghee then add to each cup of freekeh 1 1/2 cup of broth.
* you may add some salt according to your liking.
* leave to cook on high heat till it absorbs most of broth.
* lower heat to minimum and leave covered to cook slowly for 1 hour or a bit more till it’s done.
* serve in big wide plate with roasted chicken, almonds and pine nuts on top.

Yummy yummy :).

Light Healthy Lunch.

Hello everybody.

Family gatherings are truly wonderful , however specially in our culture,, family time means lots and lots of eating. Too many kinds and invitations.
So cause today is free and we have a big lunch tomorrow also..I cooked a light meal, used to make it when my son was on diet last year. It’s basically chicken breasts with garlic, lemon and oregano with sauteed veggies on the side.
I also had some extra courgettes so I made a small dish of cooked pulp of it. (حفاره او لب الكوسا ).
Ingredients and method:
* 2-3 chicken breasts sliced or whole.
* 3 cloves garlic.
* lemon juice.
* salt, pepper, oregano.
* vegetables : carrots, mushroom, broccoli, peppers, corn, courgettes…etc

* heat some olive oil in a skillet or wide covered pan.
* add chopped garlic the chicken, keep turning them till golden.
* add all coarsely chopped veggies.
* season with salt.oregano, all spice.
* cover and lower heat to minimum. Leave till vegetables are done then sprinkle lemon juice all over.

As for courgettes..it’s not necessarily to use only pulp, I usually bring big courgettes and grate them all.
Cook them till tender,you might need a bit of water, then add crushed garlic, salt, dried mint and olive oil..leave on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
Very light healthy appetizer that can be done now during our dear Christian brother’s fasting.

Who says light and healthy is not delicious.???

Cannelloni and Cheesy Garlic Bread.

Hello again.
Well got back home to cook lunch.:)

Today I’m making cannelloni the way a friend on fb cooks it, I usually stuff it then add tomato sauce on top then in the oven, but last time Mary posted a photo of cannelloni that looked nicer than the ones I make. Told me she does it the other way around..I mean tomato sauce then cannellonis on top..this keeps their shape better.
http://www.facebook.com/Mary’s dinner clubs Limassol
A change today also, I used chicken instead of meat cause we ate too much meat last week.

I also made a cheesy garlicky loaf, been wanting to make this recipe for so long..though it didn’t turn out exactly like the original.

Ingredients and method:
*1 pack cannelloni.
* 1 can chopped tomatoes.
* 1 spring onion or leek.
* 2 big ripe red tomatoes.
For cannelloni filling:
* 2 chopped chicken breasts.
* 1 cup spinach.
* 2-3 cups thick white sauce ( 2 big spoons butter, 2 big spoons flour, 2-3 cups milk.)
* cube of white or fetta or ricotta cheese.
* some grated parmesan.
* mozzarella or kashkaval chesse for topping.

* start by making the filling cause it must cool before you use it.
* sautee chicken pieces with some oil.add salt and pepper till golden.
* make the white sauce by adding flour to heated butter, stir well till golden then add milk slowly and whisking at the same time.take care cause it may clott , if so use electric whisker to make it creamy.
* add spinach and chicken, cheeses then season to taste.
* keep uncovered to cool.
* make the tomato sauce by frying chopped onions, adding tomatoes (2 kinds) and salt, pepper, chilli, paprika as you like.
* leave for 15-20 to cook.
* stuff cannellonis with filling with a small spoon or as I do….wear a disposable glove and stuff..much more quicker:)
* arrange over tomatoes then put them covered in a medium heated oven 45-50 minutes.
* note: I actually added a bit of water on top during baking cause I felt pasta is drying.
* sprinkle with cheese and roast till it melts.

Cheesy garlic bread:
Saw this recipe on fb, thought it’ll go well with cannelloni.
You’ll need :
* a whole loaf
*butter.
* various kinds of cheeses.
* garlic powder.
* fresh coriander or parsley or oregano as you like.
* cut the loaf to rectangles only from the top.
* stuff the cheeses in holes.
* sprinkle garlic, butter and coriander.
* bake till cheese melts and ….. eat:)

Chicken Fatteh (فته دجاج )

Hello everybody.
Kids been telling me since last week to make fatteh for lunch. I waited for a day when I’m sure everybody is home at lunchtime cause it cannot be heated and must be eaten directly or else bread inside will be soft.
This dish is mostly served as an appetizer in restaurants or big lunches but I usually make it as a main dish,it’s rich, fulfilling and kids love it so fair air enough, no need for more .
Ingredients and method:

* 1 chicken, whole or only breasts as you wish. cooked till done with usual spices (salt, pepper, cinnamon, all spice, bay leaf, cloves, onion).
* fried bread cubes.
* rice cooked in chicken broth and spices.
* tahini sauce (tahini, yoghurt, lemon juice, salt).
* finely chopped parsley and roasted pine nuts for decorating.
* boil chicken in water and spices till done. Keep the broth.
* cook the rice as usual but use a bit of broth when making it and add spices to make it more flavored like all spice, cinnamon, cardamom according to taste.
* Assemble the fatteh by layering bread, rice, chicken pieces, sprinkle hot sieved broth so that bread is a bit tender. Then add tahini sauce.
* Garnish with parsley and pine nuts.
* You can add crushed garlic to tahini sauce if you like.

Enjoy♡♥

Fettuccine ♡♥

Hello everybody.

I was invited to breakfast this morning, this means I had to cook something quick. So fettuccine with chicken and cream was the best solution. Told you from the beginning pasta is a must everyweek!!!
Ingredients:
* 1 pack fettuccine pasta.
* 1 small carton fresh cream.
* 1 chicken breast.
* mushrooms.
* 1-2 cups milk.
* butter.
* pesto sauce if you have.
* parmesan or mozzarella cheese.
* salt.pepper.
Method:
* cut chicken breast to small chunks.
* heat a spoon of butter with a spoon of pesto.
* add chicken, stir till done then add mushrooms.
* add the cream, milk , salt and pepper.
* leave to simmer till sauce reduced or thick.
* cook the pasta in boiled salted water till done.
* mix it with cream and chicken.
* add cheese and more milk if the mixture is too thick.
* sprinkle parmesan and oregano on top if desired.

Enjoy♡♥

Sticky Spicy Chicken.

Hello everybody.

Been searching for a recipe for hot spicy chicken all morning cause upon my son’s request he wants something spicy hot for lunch. Came across this one in BBC food magazine, it’s originally for wings but I did it with a whole chicken.

Ingredients:
* 1 whole chicken.
* 1 big spoon soysauce.
* 2 big spoons ketchup.
* 1 big spoon white or brown sugar.
* Tabasco as desired.
* 2 cloves garlic.
* some olive oil.
* 1 small onion.
* salt.
* baking bag.

Mix all ingredients with chicken, put them in bag, add 1 spoon flour then close and bake for 1 hour.

I also made a new potato recipe called gnocchi with burnt butter and sage.(ميرميه ) This is an Italian dish, though recipe looked easy but to tell you the truth I won’t make it again, it took time and potatoes stayed sticky and not easy to handle. Though they tasted great but final result wasn’t like supposed to. Mashed potatoes would have been as good and easier to make.
But i’ll write the recipe nevertheless.

Ingredients:
* 3 large potatoes.
* 1 clove garlic.
* 2 tsp milk.
* 2 egg yolks.
* 1/3 cup parmesan cheese.
* 1 cup flour.
* 3 spoons butter.
* 12 fresh sage leaves.
Method:
* boil potatoes till tender, peel and mash.
* add garlic, milk, yolks, parmesan and enough flour to make firm dough.
* roll over floured surface and cut to oblong shapes.
* press with floured fork to flatten.
* keep in fridge for 1 hour.
* cook gnocchi in large pan of boiling water until they float.remove.
* heat butter until browned. Add sage then drizzle over potatoes.
* sprinkle with parmesan cheese before serving.

I also made Greek salad, turned out a light healthy lunch after all.
Enjoy♡♥♡♥

This is how gnocchi looked like in the book.

And this is how it looked on my table 🙁

Noodles with vegetables and Spinach Tabouleh.

Hello everybody.

Today is the first day of school after winter break, back to order and routine at last.
Lunch must be ready on time, well today I had to go out so needed to cook something quick and easy to heat when kids come home.

Noodles with chicken and vegetables is a great option. I will cook it and boil noodles when we arrive home.
You need:
* 2 shredded chicken breasts marinated in ketchup, soy sauce, fresh grated ginger one big spoon of cornstarch and sugar.

* shredded vegetables. Today I have carrots, mushrooms, mixed colored sweet peppers, courgette, and green onions.
* ketchup, soy sauce, ginger.
* 1 pack noodles , spaghetti or rice noodles.
*sesame oil or vegetable oil.

Method:
*Heat the oil till hot, add chicken stir well till crispy and a sticky sauce is formed around it.
* Add the vegetables sprinkle with a spoonful of ketchup, soy sauce and ginger.mix well.
* leave to simmer till veggies are a bit tender.
* boil the noodles in salted water. Drain then also add ketchup, soy sauce, ginger and a little salt.
* Mix noodles with chicken and veggies before serving.

Salad today is tabbouleh but done with fresh spinach leaves instead of parsley.

*You wash and chop
spinach.
* Finley chop a small onion add to it,lemon juice, salt, pepper, olive oil.
* chopped tomato.
* a small cup fine burghul soaked in lemon juice and hot water till soft.
* mix all together before you eat..add lemon, salt, oil as preferable.

Enjoy ♡♥♡♥

BBQ♡♥♡♥

Another sunny warm day..in honor of many happy occasions (حمدلله ),, baby boy, marriage, engagement,and arrival of my dear cousin from abroad..my beloved uncle (الله يحفظه ) invited us all to lunch in Jerash…a city known by its beautiful scenery and specialized in restaurants of libanese style…serving BBQ with all mezzeh that goes with it.
BBQ was a variety of lamb meat.kebab.lamb chopps.chicken or sheish tawouq.

As for appetizers…..well they are a variety of cold and hot dishes…
Cold ones are fatoosh, hummus, eggplant dip (like the one I made yesterday),pickles, salads, stuffed vine leaves in oil.
Hot ones are kubbeh, grilled cheese, fries, chicken liver in pomegranate sauce, sausages,chicken wings.

Crunchy Chicken!!!

Sunny warm day……..went out this morning to do some errands with mom.. having no clue what to cook…I took out chicken breasts to defrost. .will think of what to do with them when I come back.
I dropped mom home..went to supermarket …bought 3 kinds of potato chips….can u guess why????

Well I got this recipe from my mother in law’s adorable friend Auntie Amira….very very quick and easy….
You simply grind the potato chips in food processer…cut the breasts to slices. .then coat them with the chips ..drizzle with a bit olive oil…then in the oven for half ab hour or till crispy… that’s it!!!

I also made mashed potatoes. …boil potatoes till tender…peel them, add a bit of butter.salt .pepper…into the food processer. .and start adding milk till potatoes are creamy.

As a side dish I made aubergine dip ( متبل ).I roasted a big aubergine on the stove till tender from inside..make a tahini sauce..which consists of 1 spoon lemon juice.1 spoon tahibi.2 spoons yoghurt.small crushed clove garlic.salt…mix very well then take out the pulp of the aubergine. .crush it with a fork then mix it with the sauce. ..

Salad of today was rocca with fresh mushrooms and pomegranate seeds…with vinaigrette dressing (lemon juice, balsamic vinegar,pomegranate molasses.salt.olive oil).

Turned out a nice delicious lunch though made in a big hurry…

Have a nice weekend everybody♡♥♡♥

What to cook today?

day by day cooking ideas

chicken

Chicken Curry.

Like this:

Freekeh with Chicken. ( فريكه )

Like this:

Light Healthy Lunch.

Like this:

Cannelloni and Cheesy Garlic Bread.

Like this:

Chicken Fatteh (فته دجاج )

Like this:

Fettuccine ♡♥

Like this:

Sticky Spicy Chicken.

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Noodles with vegetables and Spinach Tabouleh.

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BBQ♡♥♡♥

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Crunchy Chicken!!!

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