Banana Chocolate Biscotti.

Hello everybody.

It’s been a long time, missed writing new recipes a lot cause ever since I started catering I haven’t got enough time to try something new , till today 🙂

Lucky me no cooking this morning so I found it an opportunity to use the lonely ripe 3 bananas in the fruit basket into something instead of becoming too soft and then throw them away.

So after looking through my fridge i found two Lion Bars also, some walnuts and butter. New biscotti trial then it is and the result was super yummy.

Ingredients and method:

2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar.
1 cup butter and vegetable oil
3 ripe mashed bananas
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup chocolate chunks (any kind you like)
3 tablespoons coccoa
2 1/2 to 3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder.

Beat eggs with vanilla and sugar.

Add butter and oil then all ingredients and knead well to get a soft manageable dough.

Form it into a wide log then cut lengthwise to thin strips.

Lay them on baking sheets.

Bake in a medium heated oven for 15020 minutes or till a bit dry.

Dip ends with melted chocolate and crushed walnuts if you wish.

great with morning coffee for sure.

Anise Biscuits ( قرشله).

Hello everybody.

Woke up to an empty cookie jar this morning, something that rarely happens in our house!

Well though I was busy preparing today’s order which was steak with mushrooms along with mashed potatoes, lasagna, chicken pie and rocca mushroom and pomegranate salad. I searched my old cookbook for something light and healthy to refill the jar.

Came across this old recipe from a dear aunt, anise biscuits or what we call in Arabic ( قرشله), though they’re always available in all bakeries but homemade ones are definitely different.

Ingredients are very basic and simple, all done in minutes. I wonder why I don’t do them often!

Ingredients and method :

* 4 eggs.

* 1 cup sugar.

* 1 cup vegetable oil ( or half olive oil and half vegetable)

* 1 tsp vanilla.

* 3 tablespoons anise seeds.

* 2 tablespoons sesame seeds.

* 1 tsp baking powder.

* 4 cups flour.

* Beat eggs and sugar well till creamy

* add vanilla, anise seeds and sesame.

* add oil.

* add baking powder and flour.

* Beat all well till dough is smooth.

* you can either shape dough as logs or circles as you wish, I formed it as a log, rolled it in sesame seeds then cut them to one inch circles.

* bake in a medium heated oven for 20 minutes or till bottom is golden.

* roast surface a bit till biscuits are dry and golden.

And since I was in the baking mood, I did some raisin oatmeal cookies, all so yummy 😋

Here’s the recipe but I didn’t use cranberries today:

Ingredients and method:
* 1 egg.
* 1/2 cup brown or regular sugar.
* 1/2 cup red currents.
* 1/2 cup raisins.
* 1/2 cup crushed walnuts and almonds.
* 3/4 cup butter.
* 3/4 cup oatmeal.
* 3/4 cup flour.
* 1 tsp baking powder.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* pinch of salt.
* cinnamon and ginger powder.

* beat butter with sugar till creamy then add egg and vanilla.
* mix all dry ingredients together.
* mix batter with dry ingredients to form a firm dough.
* scoop a small spoonful and line them on an oven tray .
* bake in a medium heated oven for 10-15 minutes.

Teramisu in Easter Chocolate Eggs.

Hello everybody.

Have this teramisu order tomorrow so as usual I always do cold dessert a day before.

Today’s twist in teramisu was that I used chocolate Easter eggs as cups, removed top with a sharp hot knife, filled them with lady finger biscuits dipped in coffee and cream.

Final presentation was really elegant and nice, hope taste will be as well.

beauties .

Persian Walnut Cookies.

Hello everybody.

As always I like to try a new recipe,it’s becoming like a weekly challenge for me. Today’s trial was an interesting cookie one from the Persian cuisine.

Ingredients can give you a hint that it’s delicious, all nutty and aromatic but next time I’ll make them a bit smaller cause they spread well when baked.

Ingredients and method:

* 1 1/2 cups crushed walnuts.
* 3/4 cup sugar.
* 3 egg yolks.
* 1 tablespoon rose water.
* 1 tsp cardamom.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* 1 tsp baking powder.
* pinch of salt.
* 1 extra egg yolk plus one tablespoon water.
* extra whole walnuts for garnish.

* Beat eggs, vanilla, cardamom, sugar well.
* add walnuts,rose water, baking powder and salt.
* dough will be sticky so use two spoons to scoop small amount on baking tray layered with wax paper.
* put a walnut on each cookie then brush with egg water mixture ( I think I’ll skip this next time maybe)
* bake in a medium heated oven (180 c) for 15-20 minutes only or till edges are brownish.

Note: cookies will be soft when hot but don’t worry they’ll harden later on.

Store in a closed jar later, they great with coffee or tea,rich in flavor and extremely delicious.

Anise Bars.

Hello everybody.

Though we’re Mansaf-ing today but it’s not me cooking so I baked these bars this morning,good choice with coffee as a quick breakfast for my son before leaving to college everyday.

Recipe is very easy almost a simple cake but you bake it in a big wide pan then slice it when done and ready bake or toast bars till crunchy.

Really yummy.

Ingredients:

* 4 eggs.
* 1 cup sugar.
* 1/2 cup olive oil.
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil.
* 2 big spoons anise powder.
* 2 big spoons anise seeds.
* sesame seeds
* 2 tsp baking powder.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* 2 cups flour.

Method:
* mix eggs, vanilla, sugar with electric mixer till fluffy. Add rest of ingredients.
* sprinkle bottom of pan with sesame seeds, add the cake mixture and bake in medium oven for 30 minutes or dry in center.
* when cooled cut to slices and roast again till golden from both sides.( مثل شكل القرشله)
* leave to cool completely then keep in well closed jar or tin.

relaxing time with some mint tea.

today’s mansaf.

Caramel Coffee Nuts Cake.

Hello everybody.

Was invited to a small gathering last night at my friend’s house and it happened that her birthday plus another friend of mine was a few days ago.

As always I did a cake for the occasion, didn’t know what to do at first,wanted something simple and nice then I came out with this one, cake was basic Nescafe cake,frosting was vanilla whipping cream then I decorated it with caramel and roasted nuts.

Final look was awesome and taste was light and yummy.

Ingredients and method:

* 5 eggs.

* 1 big spoon Nescafe dissolved in 1/2 cup of water.

* 1 tsp vanilla.

* 1 1/2 cups sugar.

* 1 cup vegetable oil.

* 4 tsp baking powder.

* 2 cups flour.

* 1 1/2 cups sugar and 3/4 cup almonds for the croquant.

* whipping cream.

* extra Nescafe in water for the cake when done.

* beat eggs with sugar till creamy then add vanilla,oil,Nescafe,baking powder and flour alternatively.

* bake in a medium heated oven in two small baking tins for 30-35 minutes or till dry from inside.

* when cooled, place one layer in serving plate then add some Nescafe on it.

* cover with cream and croquant then add other layer and repeat.

* decorate cake with anything you have .

*Croquant :

* heat sugar and almonds till it caramelize.

* pour in a well greased pan till cold and stiff.

* crush or use food processor to make fine crumbles. ( it actually resembles glass 🙂 )

* leave in fridge to settle before serving.

a beauty.

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.

even photo wasn’t good enough.

french pizza.

Dessert and coffee, happening now

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

ready to go!!

all lined ready for baking.

all packed.

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.

Reef Pizza.

Hello everybody.

No intention to time to cook today so best solution was Pizza,to tell you the truth before this blog thing we used to bring pizza every other weekend sometimes. Just realized today that it’s been really a long time since we ordered food.

We usually order from this same pizza place,same taste and quality since it opened many years ago. Al-Reef pizzeria, thin crust on wood with many kinds and toppings to your liking.

well seated in the car.

Lunch was followed of course by coffee and some yummy Hanuta biscuits.

have a nice weekend 🙂

What to cook today?

day by day cooking ideas

coffee

Banana Chocolate Biscotti.

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Teramisu in Easter Chocolate Eggs.

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Persian Walnut Cookies.

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Anise Bars.

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Caramel Coffee Nuts Cake.

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French Pizza.

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Date Rolls.

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Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam Cake.

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Reef Pizza.

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