Turkish Pie.

Hello everybody.

Needed something to back up yesterday’s lunch so this pie would be great, since many of my cousins and aunties been doing it and posting its photos on my Facebook page so I think it’s time for me to try it. A success for sure, boys loved it.

Ingredients and method :
Dough :
* 2 1/2 cups flour.
* 1 cup warm milk.
* 2 tsp instant yeast.
* 2 tsp sugar.
* 2 tsp salt.

Filling :
* 1/2 kg minced beef meat.
* 1 small chopped onion.
* 1/2 cup sweet corn.
* some chopped green peppers.
* grated mazorella or kashcaval.
* some sesame and black seeds.

* Mix all dough ingredients together, knead well for 5 minutes then leave in a warm place to rest and rise.

* sauté meat and onions with some oil till done.
* add the corn and spices,I added salt, pepper, all spice and some chili powder.

* grease and pie pan the spread 3/4 of the dough to the edges.
* add the filling then half of the cheese.
* cover with the rest of the dough then cover top with remaining cheese,sesame and black seeds.
* bake in a medium heated oven for 40-50 minutes..

Serve with green salad or sautéed vegetables.

Spinach Pastries.

Hello everybody.

Cold and rainy this morning and expected to continue till tomorrow, a warm comfort meal is in demand !

I cooked spinach with minced meat and rice on the side,kids love this dish though my husband hate it,so I made this new way of spinach pastries which are usually done as a big loaf ,very thin and full of olive oil, but made them as small squares and not soaked in oil a lot.

You make a simple no yeast dough,flour,salt and water only. leave to rest then form it into small balls, roll each one into a thin layer then add spinach mixed with cooked onions,salt,pepper,chili and lemon juice to make 2 layers of spinach and three of the dough then fold it as square and pat them as thin as you can.

Bake in a greased pan in a well heated oven till golden, really good with some fresh yogurt from Irbid.

Salami Cheese Pie.

Hello everybody.

Still have leftovers from yesterday,no intention to cook at all, but upon my youngest son request,whom I’m actually pampering these days cause he’s in his senior year and needs snacks while studying, I made this kind of a pie or pastry.

I made a simple 10 minutes dough (pizza dough) split it in half ,spread one in a big pan then added all kinds of cheese I have, topped them with salami and oregano then topped them with the other half. Sprinkled sesame seeds and made small holes with the scissors and bake then slice them to triangles.

He actually ate them for lunch with a simple lettuce vinaigrette salad,will be a perfect snack for the next few days,if they lasted that long !!

Traditional Apple Pie.

Hello everybody.

No cooking today,I still have lots from yesterday,plus I went out with my friends for breakfast to a kind of new place in town Shakespeare & co. really pleasant place,beautiful decor, tasty food and excellent service I might say 🙂

This doesn’t mean no work,my mother in law’s school friends are coming tomorrow morning so I made apple pie and za’tar sticks but as round pastries this time, will be great with a cheese platter and Tabouleh.

You may find various apple pie recipes all over,I usually make this one which is easy and always work.

Ingredients and method of apple pie:

*Crust:

* 1 egg.

* 1 tsp vanilla or lemon zest.

* 1/2 cup sugar.

* 3/4 cup butter.

* 1 3/4 cups flour ( you may need 1/4 more to make a firm dough)

* pinch of salt.

* 2 tablespoons cold water.

Filling:

* 5-6 large apples peeled and cut to slices.

* 1/2 cup walnuts (optional).

* 1/4 cup raisins (optional).

* 1/4 cup brown sugar.

* 1 tsp lemon juice .

* 1 tablespoon cinnamon ( sorry forgot to add it in the photo)

* beat the egg.vanilla,sugar and butter till creamy.

* add flour and salt and knead well till you have a firm round dough ( add more flour if it’s sticky and you can’t handle it)

* leave to cool in the fridge for 30 minutes.

* spread 3/4 dough in pie pan evenly in bottom and sides.

* pinch it with a fork so as it won’t form a bubble.

* mix filling ingredients well and pour them into the pie pan.

* make shapes to decorate top of pie from remaining dough ,sprinkle surface with flour or use plastic bag for easier handling.

* bake in a medium heated oven for 30-40 minutes or till sides and bottom are golden then toast the surface.

You can reheat it and serve it with vanilla ice cream or as is with a sprinkle of icing sugar,depends on how the lovely ladies prefer tomorrow .

Sfeeha ( meat on a dough).

Hello everybody.

Upon my Uncle Abu Rashed’s recommendation, I ordered a good amount of Sfeeha today for lunch and to freeze the rest for Ramadan,can be useful as a side dish on the table.

Well after this successful trial I do recommend this place also,Al-Basha butcher and bakery,really tasty, we brought two kinds,with tomatoes and yogurt mix.both really delicious.

Sfeeha or meat on a dough is a very famous kind of pastry in many Middle Eastern countries as well as Turkey and many other places,recipes or mixtures may vary between them but basically it’s a very thin dough with minced meat mixed with either tomatoes and chili or yogurt ,of course many other flavors may be added like tahini or pomegranate sauce,this depends on restaurant or kind you like.

Today’s Sfeeha was great,place called Al Basha,gardens strt,tel 06 5680535.

Enjoy 🙂

Strawberry Shortcakes :)

Hello everybody. This morning my youngest son amazed me with a question ” Are we allowed to repeat one of the recipes you posted or you have to cook something new? ”

I was really impressed,my hubby and boys are becoming like me,always thinking what to cook the next day and how to keep ideas and recipes flowing !! Thank God I think one can always innovate and search,each day comes with its new post without even planning 🙂

So upon my son’s request I cooked chicken with broccoli and mushrooms but made rice instead of pasta on the side.As for today’s title,I made these cute strawberry shortcakes for my son’s friends who came over this afternoon,better than eating candy and sweets !

Ingredients and method:

* fresh strawberries.

* cream ( 2 packs dream whip)

* for the shortcakes:

* 1 3/4 or 2 cups flour.

* 3/4 cup butter.

* 1/2 cup sugar.

* 1 tsp baking powder.

* 1/4 cup cream or milk.

* pinch of salt.

* crushed almonds (optional)

* stem and cut strawberries,add a bit of sugar on them and leave aside till cakes are done.

* beat cream powder as directed till stiff and keep in fridge to cool.

* beat butter with sugar then add salt,baking powder and flour.

* mix with your hands till dough is crumbly.

* add milk or cream gradually and knead till you form a firm but not hard ball then leave to rest 15 minutes.

* roll dough to a rectangle then using a cookie cutter or cup form circles then move to a floured baking pan. keep flouring surface of table or use wax paper to avoid sticking.

* add crushed almonds on top then bake for 10-13 minutes or till biscuits are golden.

* assemble layers of biscuits,cream then strawberries in cups or glasses or plates as you wish,garnish with strawberry syrup and fresh mints.

* keep in fridge to cool before serving.

That’s today’s post,hope you all like and try it 🙂

Spinach Cheese Pie.

Hello everybody.
Have you ever seen this picture?

I did try it few months ago but result was nothing like it at all.
Well today I encouraged myself for a second trial, this time with more patience . Result was very much better, not as perfect as the picture but not bad at all 🙂

It’s basic dough, today with mixed whole wheat and white flour. Stuffing is spinach and white cheese.
You can use other kinds if stuffing. It’s the shape that counts.

Hope you try it !!

Burgers in a Bun!

Hello everybody.
Finally the weekend is here. It’s been a long week, full of events.

Well today kids usually go out so I make a light lunch specially if we’re going out at night also.
I still have some burgers in the freezer from last time , so to make a change in taste from regular ones I kneaded a dough, same one I usually do. Grilled burgers till medium done then assembled them in the dough as usual burgers, then baked them altogether.
They really tasted good, juicy and all flavors infused together.
I also made some carrot soup as a starter.

Have a nice weekend my friends♡♥.

PIZZA.

Hello everybody.

I’m pretty sure all kids won’t say no to pizza.specially if coming right from the oven and topped with each member’s taste

To solve this problem and save time at the same time.I bought large rectangular oven trays,I spread the dough and make 3 kinds of pizza toppings .all will be happy and eat it hot at the same time.

One can find many recipies for pizza dough, I usually stick to this one.
You will need:
*1 big spoon instant yeast.
*1 small spoon sugar.
*1 big spoon powdered milk.
*1 cup flour.
*1 cup warm water.
Mix all together till creamy.cover and leave for 10-15 min or till bubbles are formed.then add:
*1/2 cup vegetable oil.
*1/2 cup olive oil.
*5 cups flour.
*1 spoon salt.
*1-1/2 cup warm water.
Knead well for 10 min.leave in a warm place to rise.
This dough is called the 10 minutes dough، cause it does rise quickly and it’s very easy to handle.

As for pizza sauce. I usually mix canned tomatoes, tomato paste, clove of garlic, oregano, basil..then leave to simmer.cool and use.
Toppings are various according to your family’s choices. Today I have mushrooms.black olives.courgettes.I will make 2 small ones..one with za’tar , the other with labaneh, rocca leaves and tomato slices.
Bake the pizza in a well heated oven.add the cheese when it’s almost done not before.then drizzle a bit of olive oil on top before roasting.makes it extra crispy.

Though I know that many people prefer to order pizza, but I find homemade ones more, I don’t know how to describe it, maybe
loving.hahaha:)
Enjoy♡♥♡♥

PIZZA.

Hello everybody.

I’m pretty sure all kids won’t say no to pizza.specially if coming right from the oven and topped with each member’s taste

To solve this problem and save time .I bought large rectangular oven trays,I spread the dough and make 3 kinds of pizza toppings on the same tray.all will be happy and eat it hot without waiting.

One can find many recipies for pizza dough, I usually stick to this one.
You will need:
*1 big spoon instant yeast.
*1 small spoon sugar.
*1 big spoon powdered milk.
*1 cup flour.
*1 cup warm water.
Mix all together till creamy.cover and leave for 10-15 min or till bubbles are formed.then add:
*1/2 cup vegetable oil.
*1/2 cup olive oil.
*5 cups flour.
*1 spoon salt.
*1-1/2 cup warm water.
Knead well for 10 min.leave in a warm place to rise.
This dough is called the 10 minutes dough cause it does rise quickly and it’s very easy to handle.