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.

Salmon Cream Cheese Sandwich.

Hello everybody.

Usual Saturday, but today nobody will have lunch at home,each had plans to do so no cooking till tomorrow.

As for me though I’m invited to an engagement dinner at night but was feeling hungry by mid afternoon so I fixed myself some sandwiches,one with Cypriot kashkaval cheese and another with salmon and cream cheese left from dinner the other night,really tasty with lemons and dill.

I love light lunches like this, comfort food for me I guess !

French Pizza and Cole Slaw Salad.

Hello everybody.
Weekend at last!!!
We’re invited to a wedding tonight and boys going out with friends so a light lunch is enough.
I have fresh cabbage from Ghor, small enough to do a salad, and i made small pizzas on baguette bread, that’s why it’s called French Pizza.

Ingredients and method:
French Pizza:
* 2 baguettes .
* 1/2 cup chopped sweet peppers.
* 1 cup seeded black olives.
* 1 pack mushrooms, finely chopped.
* 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella or kashkaval cheese or mix of both.
* 3 tablespoons mayonnaise.
* salt, pepper and paprika.
* mix all ingredients together and season.
* cut baguettes to 1 inch slices.
* scoop 1 spoonful of mixture over each bread slice.
* toast for 20-25 minutes till golden.
* serve hot.

*Cole Slaw Salad:
* shredded cabbage.
* grated carrots.
* mayonnaise.
*raisins.
* salt, sugar and white vinegar.
*mix all ingredients together .
* mayonnaise quantity must be enough to coat all ingredients.
* you can add thick yoghurt to lessen mayonnaise portion if you want it lighter.

Enjoy your weekend everybody ♡♥♡♥.

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.