How to Make Sun-dried Tomatoes?

Hello everybody.

Tomatoes are in season now and I do have plenty cause my hubby planted some in the farm and it all ripened in this heat, so better do something with it.

Searched for ways to make dried tomatoes, results were either in the oven for 5-7 hours which is something I’ll never do in this heat or sun-dried for 3 days and since weather is dry and hot these days so this was my option.

You simply cut ripe hard tomatoes to halves or quarters, remove seeds and watery bulb, sprinkle freely with salt and/or pepper, oregano and basil.

Spread all on a flat sieve or wooden tray, I flattened them on a metal mesh ( the one we use for BBQ) and leave them in the sun for three days or till completely dry .

Cover with cheese cloth or anything light to keep insects and dust away.

Will post end result when they’re done.

salt,pepper,oregano and basil on top.

Nicoise Salad.

Hello everybody.

Another hot and dusty day with expected thunder rain,again no mood for hot cooked food.

Choice was niscoise salad, veggies, boiled eggs and potatoes, olives with lemon onion olive oil dressing.

Satisfying in these conditions.

cool nice salad.

Muhalabieh with Caramel.

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Hello everybody.

Had this recipe in my book since Ramadan,a friend of mine made it and I took it right away in order to make it then but I didn’t have any chance,so today when the milkman came it crossed my mind and I bought some fresh milk and did it at last.

Very easy cooling recipe and the caramel adds a lot to the taste for sure.

Ingredients and method:

Note :this quantity yields 12 small jars or pots.

* 6 cups milk.

* 6 big tablespoons starch.

* 1 tsp mistaka finely crushed with 1/4 cup sugar so as not to stick to the grinder.

* 1 tsp rose water (optional)

* more sugar also optional cause the caramel sauce is sweet.

* leave one or two cups of milk aside and mix starch in them very well.

* add to other quantity,mix all very well then boil till it thickens.

* add mistaka and sugar and the rose water.

* pour in one big bowl or small glass bowls or jars.

* cool in the fridge for at 2-3 hours .

Caramel:

* 1/2 cup sugar melted till caramelized and golden.

* 1/2 cup water added very carefully to the browned sugar.

* stir very well and leave to simmer a bit till it’s thick.

* Before serving flip the muhalabieh in a slightly deep dish then garnish with crushed pistachios and drizzle with the caramel sauce.

Kofta Eggplant Bundles.

Hello again.

Lots and lots of eggplants in my fridge, have to cook them before they’re ruin I guess.

Lucky me my sister came to lunch today and she’s an eggplant lover cause half of my family doesn’t eat it at all by the way.

Quick lunch solution, kofta balls wrapped in fried eggplants as bundles then cooked in tomato sauce. Though the shape wasn’t perfect but taste was very good.

I also did some Gazpacho soup, good in this hot weather.

Watermelon Granitta.

Hello everybody.

As I mentioned and I seriously mean it I’ll try to make as much as I can of granitta flavors this Summer.

Today’s pick is watermelon,upon my son’s advice which turned out a big add up to the recipe I added some cranberry juice, soooo yummy.

Ingredients and method :
# 4 cups of watermelon cubes.
# 1/2 cup of sugar.
# juice of half a lemon.
# 1/2 cup cranberry or berry juice ( optional)
# mix all ingredients in the blender.
# pour in a big metal pan.
# freeze for 1 hour then start scrapping edges every now and then till you get crystals or slushy mixture.

Enjoy this amazing world of iced desserts, I’m so sorry I didn’t know about it long time ago. One really live and learn.

so good please try it.

Vegetables Stew (طباخ روحو)

Hello everybody.

This dish is a very very old traditional one, I remember till now that my grandma used to cook it a lot and we all hated it and run away lunch time to buy a falafel sandwich instead. I isn’t kid’s friendly I guess.

But since a have lots of pumpkin, courgettes, eggplants and tomatoes I thought I’d do some though I did it with small cubed meat pieces not big boned ones which is how it’s originally done.

Ingredients and method :
# 4-5 pieces of lamb with bones cooked till done with it’s stock (2-3 cups)
# 3-4 big courgettes cut to chunks
#1 bug eggplant cut to chunks.
# 1 slice of pumpkin or 3 big green pumpkins also cut to chunks.
#1 big onion sliced.
# 4 ripe tomatoes peeled and cut to small pieces.
# 4 cloves of minced garlic.
# 1 tsp dry mints.
# olive oil.
# salt, pepper, all spice.

# in a deep nonstick pan saute courgettes, eggplants and pumpkins till golden.
# add onions and leave to simmer till all veggies are a bit tender.
# add meat pieces and stock.
# season with salt, pepper and all spice to your taste.
# add the tomatoes and cover to cook over low heat till all stewed well together.
# add minced garlic and dry mint and leave for another 15-20 minutes.
# Serve with plain rice.

I also made a bowl of Ceazar salad in case keep kids didn’t like it.

Oh I forgot to mention that the exact translation of this dish Arabic name is ” cooked by itself ” cause it does actually!

Melon Granita.

Hello everybody.

Saw this recipe on Fatafeat cooking channel the other night, when I searched the net I found a big variety of recipes of the basic one but with many flavors either fruits or coffee.

First trial was with melons and it turned out really good,refreshing and light I even liked it more than ice cream, definitely a winner!

Ingredients and method :
# 1/2 cup sugar.
# 1/2 cup water.
# 10 ice cubes.
# 1 melon cut to chunks.
# 3 tablespoons lemon juice.

# dissolve sugar with water and boil for 3 minutes then add ice cubes,leave till they melt.
# in a blender mix syrup, melons, lemon juice all together.
# pour mixture in a big metal pan and put in freezer.
# after one hour begun scrapping edges and mix all together.
# keep doing this every now and then till you get a crystal or slushy mixture.
# Serve with fruits or alone.

Note: you can blend mixture a bit if it gets too hard next day.

granita before icing.

Pumpkin in Tahini Sauce.

Hello everybody.

Two days ago my husband brought me two giant pumpkins from the farm, I’m not exaggerating they’re really giant that’s how they grow.

Thank God I managed to give away one of them to my neighbor and today I began processing the other, some for freezing and some I cooked today and guess I’ll give away some more cause I don’t have more space!

Today’s recipe was sent to me by my dear chef Rahmeh, pumpkin pieces cooked in tahini sauce with minced meat on top, really delicious and tasty plus everybody loved it, will definitely be on my favorite list.

Ingredients and method :
# 1 kg of pumpkin cut to large cubes.
# 1 kg of plain yogurt.
# 6 tablespoons of tahini.
# 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
# 1 cube chicken stock.
# salt, pepper.
# 3 cloves crushed garlic.
# 1 bunch fresh coriander.
# some cooked seasoned minced meat.
# sauted almonds or pine nuts.
# cooked white rice to serve with.

# deep fry the pumpkin and leave in a sieve till all oil is out.
# meanwhile whisk yogurt, tahini, lemon, salt and pepper all together very well.
# transfer into a pan and cook till it boils and thickens.
# saute garlic till golden then add the chopped coriander to it.
# add garlic to sauce and stir very gently.
# add the pumpkin pieces and leave to simmer for 10 minutes.
# you can add a bit of hot water if sauce was very thick.
# pour in a deep dish then garnish with minced meat and nuts.
# Serve with rice or pitta bread.

Very nice presentable dish, thanks again Rahmeh.

final result.

Cousin’s Lunch Gathering.

Hello everybody.
Had a warm loving lunch for my cousin and her cute daughters visiting Jordan from Rome, it was really a pleasure.
Menu was Banan’s rice, Fava beans with cooked yogurt and steaks, a pesto pasta and salad.Dessert was plain cake with chocolate Ganache on top and fruits.

pesto pasta. baba ghanouj.

dessert.

Okra in Olive Oil.

Hello everybody.
Quickest solution for lunch since I didn’t intend to cook anyway was freshly picked okra fried then sautéed with garlic, onions and chopped tomatoes then seasoned with salt, pepper and paprika.

I also made a dish of white cheese and watermelons and a small one of labaneh with black olives, all yummy and cool.

okra in olive oil.

best food in this weather.

What to cook today?

day by day cooking ideas

jordan

How to Make Sun-dried Tomatoes?

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Nicoise Salad.

Like this:

Muhalabieh with Caramel.

Like this:

Kofta Eggplant Bundles.

Like this:

Watermelon Granitta.

Like this:

Vegetables Stew (طباخ روحو)

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Melon Granita.

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Pumpkin in Tahini Sauce.

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Cousin’s Lunch Gathering.

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Okra in Olive Oil.

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