Orange Coconut Cookies.

Hello everybody.

Had a small gathering this morning, didn’t have too much time but managed thank God.

A cheese platter with dried fruits, some veggies and za’tar puffs is always an elegant easy thing to do, so that was the salty part.

As for the sweets I made a dry fruits cake last night and since I’m baking the puffs thought I’d do these old times favorite cookies.

These were a big hit back when we were kids, mom used to make them all the time,along with the pineapple upside down cake and jello with apples, life was very simple and basic back then right?

Ingredients and method :

* 2 eggs.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* 2 tablespoons butter.
*1 cup sugar.
*zest and juice of one big orange.
*3 cups coconut flakes.
* 2 teaspoons baking powder.
* 2 cups flour.

*beat sugar and butter till smooth and creamy.
* add eggs,vanilla, zest and juice.
* add coconut, flour and baking powder.
* dough must be neither soft nor tough so you can easily scoop it with two small spoons.
* line your cookies on a cookie sheet then bake them in a moderately heated oven for 10-13 minutes.
Note: be careful not to over bake them or else they’ll be dry.
*cool and store in a well sealed jar.

These cookies were featured in Family Flavors October issue by the way.

rocca salad.

all was yummy !

Beets Orange Salad.

Hello everybody.

Did the second step in makdous today, stuffed it and put it aside so all water will drain till tomorrow.

Had some extra small ones left so they were today’s lunch, stuffed with minced meat and cooked in tomato sauce.

Side salad dish was both simple and juicy, beets with orange slices with a sprinkle of orange juice and drizzle of oil.

Cranberry Orange Muffins.

Hello everybody.

Babysitting my adorable nephew today, thank God I have leftovers for lunch cause he’s such a polite cute bundle but I got busy with him,well it’s been such a longtime since I took care of a baby. God bless them all.

In my free time while he napped, I made these muffins, new recipe I found so as to use the last box of berries, very easy and tasty.

Ingredients and method :
# 2 eggs.
# 1/2 cup sugar.
# 1/2 cup brown sugar.
# 1/2 cup vegetable oil.
# zest of an orange or as I did today 1 tablespoon marmalade.
# 1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt.
#1 tsp vanilla.
# 1 tsp baking powder.
# 1 tsp cinnamon.
# 2 cups flour.
# 3/4 cup flour dusted cranberries.

For the topping :
# 1/2 cup sugar.
# 1/2 cup flour.
# 1/4 cup butter.
# 1/4 tsp cinnamon.

# beat eggs, sugar, oil and zest till creamy.
# add yogurt, cinnamon, vanilla.
# add flour and baking powder.
# dust cranberries with flour then fold into batter slowly.

# pour till half in muffin paper.
# make topping like crumbles with your hands then sprinkle on top.
# bake in a medium heated oven till golden ( 20-30 minutes) .

extremely yummy.

lovely bunch.

New Style Tuna Sandwiches.

Hello everybody.

Every time I decide to stay home and relax in end up working too much or doing multiple things at the same time.

First thing when I entered the kitchen this morning I realized I have one very ripe avocado and one lonely eggplant so made a dip (mashed with some lemon juice,tahini,yogurt and salt) and baba ghanouj ( chopped grilled eggplants with diced tomatoes,peppers and some mints then topped with pomegranate sauce)

Then the daily question of what to cook started nagging in my mind, then decided to do a new sandwich style my cousin posted last night with shredded chicken but I made it with tuna, turned out really good, kids loved it.

Secret ingredient is the crunchy sandwich bread or crust done by cutting edges of toast then soaking each couple together in whisked eggs then coating all with breadcrumbs. I let them cool in the fridge so as to hold better then deep fried till crunchy, when cooled open and fill with any stuffing you like, today is added tuna with corn,capers, relish, mustard, mayonnaise and green onions,served with fries and big mixed salad.

Another task for today was making fresh pesto before basil turns black and a fresh fruit cocktail from new honey from Ghor, oranges, pineapple and bananas, really refreshing after all this.

guacamole dip with tomatoes,chili,dried mints and olive oil on top.

baba ghanouj بابا غنوج

mixed salad with everything in .

fresh pesto.

fresh oranges and new honey.

colorful table!

Detox Water and Couscous Salad.

Hello everybody.

Very busy Saturday as usual,too much was done today.

In an attempt to cut down food or at least try to start a diet I made a big jug of detox water,recipe was shown on Roya TV you simply add two slices of lemons,oranges, one strawberry and a bunch of fresh mint leaves, I also added some ginger slices and rose water. Leave to diffuse for two hours then start drinking from it all day. It’s excellent for cleansing your body from all toxins.

Lunch was pizza and a bowl of couscous salad, this one is simply done by adding hot water to 1/2 cup of Italian couscous till it’s light,tender and fluffy then add it to your regular salad, really yummy.

so refreshing.

couscous salad.

Beans Orange Salad and Thumbprint Cookies.

Hello everybody.

Had visitors last night with no time to do lots of stuff,so I made this easy salad and some cookies and arranged some fruits,with coffee,tea and nuts turned out a pleasant evening.

Salad contains red beans,sweet corn,chopped colored sweet peppers with orange slices on top,dressing was salt,oregano,lemon,vinegar and olive oil.

As for the cookies, these are ingredients and method:

* 1/2 cup butter.

* 1/4 cup sugar.

* 1 large egg separated.

* 1 cup flour.

* pinch of salt.

* 3/4 roasted finely crushed nuts.

* jam

* beat egg yolk,butter,sugar and salt till creamy.

* add flour and knead till you form a ball.

* form small balls then press them with your thumb a bit in the middle.

* beat the egg white and coat cookies with them.

* roast and crush finely the nuts then coat cookies with them as well.

* bake in a moderate heated oven for 13-15 minutes.

* when cooled add a little bit of jam in the thumbprint.

Yummy yummy 🙂

Citrus Almond Syrup Cake.

Hello everybody.

Morning gathering at my friend’s house with the loveliest ladies ever ,my old school classmates, great memories and lots of catching up cause it’s been a while since we saw each other.

My friend did many delicious dishes,pastries, tabouleh,cheesecake and chocolate balls , as for me I baked this super easy juicy cake this morning and took it with me.

By the way this cake is flour-less , very convenient for people who has flour sensitivity ( Celiac desease)

Ingredients and method:

* 2 small oranges.

* 1 1/2 cups almonds.

* 1 cup sugar.

* 5 large eggs or 6 small.

* vanilla.

* 1 tsp baking powder.

Syrup:

* 1/2 cup sugar.

* 1/4 cup lemon juice.

* juice and shredded peel of one orange.

* 1/4 cup water.

* cover whole oranges with water and boil for 40-50 minutes or till very soft.

* in a food processor blend sugar and almonds till very fine.

* cut oranges to quarters and remove seeds then process till smooth ( whole orange peel and pulp).

* gradually add eggs while mixer running , add vanilla .

* add almonds sugar mixture and baking powder.

* pour batter in a round or any baking tin then bake in a moderately slow heated oven for 1 hour or till cake is firm.

* combine syrup ingredients and leave to simmer on low heat till syrupy.

* when cake is cooled add syrup and orange peel on top.

Thank you ladies for the lovely time,always a pleasure to see you.

cake photo in cook book.

Poppy Seed Orange Cake.

Hello everybody.

Today I feel I’m really back to my routine,cause baking a cake is a real satisfying pleasure to me I guess <3

I brought these poppy seeds from Limassol,really fresh, made this awesome cake with them,always a success. They do give the cake or even bread a nice nutty taste specially when combined with oranges.

Ingredients and method:

* 3 eggs.

* 1 cup sugar.

* 1/2 cup poppy seeds.

* 1/2 cup milk.

* 3/4 cup orange juice.

* 1/2 cup vegetable oil.

* 2 cups flour.

* lemon or orange rind.

* vanilla and 3 tsp baking powder.

* Orange syrup:

* 1 cup sugar.

* 2/3 cup orange juice.

* 1/3 cup water.

Method:

* beat eggs,vanilla,sugar till creamy.

* heat milk and add poppy seeds and leave 20 minutes.

* add oil,juice and milk mixture to eggs then add flour and baking powder.

* bake in a medium heated oven for 40-50 minutes or till done.

Syrup:

* mix all ingredients and leave to simmer till it’s sticky or a bit thick.

* pour over cake when cool.

Light lunch with yesterday’s leftovers ( Mushroom Soup and Ceazar Salad)

I know almost every mom faces this problem 2 or 3 times a week leftovers won’t be enough and backup is needed,as my mom always say (سنده ).

Well today I made mushroom soup and Caesars salad.
I usually make mushroom soup from scratch..never used ready packs.it’s very easy and much more tasty for sure.
You will need:
1 small onion.
1 packet fresh mushroom or 1 can.
3 big spoons butter.
3 big spoons flour.
1 cube chicken stock.
1 cup heavy cooking cream or 1/2 cup milk with 1 small pack of cream as u wish.
3 cups of water.

Heat the butter..then add the inions and a small bunch of sliced mushrooms..stirr well till tender then add flour and stirr very well until flour is well absorbed and brownish. .add the water slowly then mix all with food mixer till creamy…
Then add the cream and remaining sliced mushrooms…add salt and pepper. ..leave to boil then simmer for half an hour

As for the salad you’ll need luttuce, mushroom, capers if you like, parmesan cheese, croutons.
For the dressing :
A juice of half a lemon.
1 small teaspoon mustard.
2 big spoons mayonnaise. 2 big spoons yoghurt ( a trick so as not to use too much mayonnaise).
Salt.pepper.dried oregano…and a small cup olive oil.
A useful way to get a thick creamy dressing is to put all ingredients in a tightly closed jar and shake it very well….very easy.

Today I also made orange marmalade. …well I had too much oranges about to be ruined…thought that a jar if marmalade will be a nice gift for family and friends in this cold weather.
This is a very easy recipe I got from tv.
You boil the oranges as is in water…no peeling or cutting…for 10 minutes.
Then you discard the water and add fresh water to cover the oranges and boil for 1 hour.
Discard all water then remove top and bottom of oranges..cut in half to remove seeds then place them with peel in the food processer ..spin but don’t let them be too fine.
Measure oranges in cups..then add 1 cup of sugar to each cup of oranges.
Add a juice of a lemon to the mixture and let it boil on low heat for 1 hour or more…till syrup is thick.
Let it cool then fill it in clean jars.
Note: home made jams and marmalade must be kept in the fridge cause no preservatives are added.

What to cook today?

day by day cooking ideas

oranges

Orange Coconut Cookies.

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Beets Orange Salad.

Like this:

Cranberry Orange Muffins.

Like this:

New Style Tuna Sandwiches.

Like this:

Detox Water and Couscous Salad.

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Beans Orange Salad and Thumbprint Cookies.

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Citrus Almond Syrup Cake.

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Poppy Seed Orange Cake.

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Light lunch with yesterday’s leftovers ( Mushroom Soup and Ceazar Salad)

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