Eggplant Lasagna.

Hello everybody.

As I mentioned yesterday I did grocery shopping for many dishes this Saturday, one of the things I got stuff for is this recipe that I read in Al-Rai newspaper Friday morning,by the way they do publish very nice and applicable recipes each Friday,try to look through them they’re very useful.

Recipe is lasagna with eggplants,all veggies no meat or chicken.I made regular traditional one and a small one in my pottery pan with eggplants as trial,turned out very good and rich in taste,a success I might say,will be great in Ramadan or lunch parties.

Ingredients and method:

* 1 large eggplant cubed and fried.

* 1 small onion.

* 2 cloves garlic.

* 2 tablespoons tomato paste.

* 2 large tomatoes peeled and chopped.

* 1 small red sweet pepper chopped.

* 1 cube chicken stock (optional).

* 2 cups water.

* 1 pack feta cheese.

* 200 g, ricotta cheese ( I used some brie cheese and kiri instead)

* 2 tablespoons pitted black olives.

* bunch of parsley.

* 1 pack spinach lasagna.

* Parmesan or kashcaval cheese for topping.

* some olive oil and butter.

* salt and pepper.

* heat oil and butter then add onions,garlic and saute till golden.

* add peppers,tomato paste stir well.

* add tomatoes,maggi cube and water then leave to simmer till sauce is thick.

* mix feta cheese with olives and parsley.

* in a deep oven pan,add some of tomato sauce in the bottom then add layered lasagna sheets.

* add some sauce,then half eggplants.

* add cheese mixture then continue with another layer of lasagna,eggplants then sauce on top.

* bake on low heat for 45 minutes then add cheese on top and roast.

* wait for it to cool a bit and settle before serving, I also made some spinach labaneh salad on the side,yummy yummy 🙂

love my new IKEA suff <3

Creamy Avocado Tomato Basil Pasta.

Hello everybody.

Very hot and dusty today,need a cool dish to go with this weather. last night I found this recipe in my WordPress reader written by “ Cooking with a Wallflower” and since I have 2 avocados ripened from last week I thought this will be a good option for lunch.

Upon my youngest son request I made a kind of pizza called Calzone ,cause he bought some chili salami and wants me to make something with them,though I’m not in the mood to bake in this hot weather,but I kneaded a small dough,made half filled with salami,cheese,oregano and tomato paste then closed it like a pie and filled the other half with chocolate and bananas,will be a good dessert in the afternoon.

Ingredients and method for the pasta:

* 1 pack spagetti.

* 2 ripe avocados.

* 2 cloves garlic.

* 2 tablespoons yogurt.

* bunch of fresh basil.

* cherry tomatoes.

* Parmesan cheese.

* some sun dried tomatoes (optional).

* cook pasta as directed.

* mash avocados with salt,pepper and yogurt.

* chop garlic,basil leaves and tomatoes.

* just before serving toss all ingredients with the pasta and sprinkle with the cheese.

* As for the Calzone,knead a pizza dough then spread it and add filling then close it , you can use various kinds of fillings of veggies or cheeses or chocolate 🙂

Enjoy .

Pasta and Armenian Tabouleh .

Hello everybody.

Busy Busy day,Newly weds coming home from honeymoon,went to pick them from airport and the flight was late plus I had to take my mom for some errands,and of course drop and pick from school.

I made the only quick easy dish ever PASTA, always a savior . I already have cooked minced meat and all other ingredients always ready in the pantry,I made some white sauce to put on top to make a change a bit.

As for the Armenian Tabouleh, it’s the same as regular one but they use cooked brown lentils instead of burghul and use a good amount of pomegranate sauce, you can add pomegranate seeds if available also.We always eat this dish in the famous Levant Restaurant and many others.

Pasta ingredients and method:

* any kind of pasta.

*minced meat.

* one finely chopped onion.

* tomato puree and paste.

* mushrooms.

* white sauce.

* mozzarella cheese.

* salt,pepper,oregano and chili or Tabasco.

* saute onions in some olive oil then add meat and mushrooms.

* add cooked pasta and tomato puree and paste.

* add 1-2 cups water and season.

* leave to simmer a bit then add white sauce.

* put it in the oven or up on the stove over low heat till done (30-40 minutes).

* add cheese on top and toast it till golden.

Tabouleh:

* cook lentils till done .

* chop parsley,fresh mints,tomatoes and onion very fine.

* to lentils add lemon juice,salt,paprika,pomegranate sauce and olive oil.

before serving mix all ingredients together.

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 🙂

Tuna Salad.

Hello everybody.

Very hot and dusty weather today,annoying for people with allergies and asthma,hope it’ll rain as the forecast says to reduce heat and dust.

Nobody in the mood to eat something hot so I made this simple salad, still have some steak from yesterday if anybody feels like it. Plus I had another lesson and order of date rolls this morning so no time for cooking

Ingredients and method:

* any kind of small pasta, boiled till done.

* 2 cans tuna.

* sweet peppers.

* green onion.

* cherry or big tomatoes.

* mayonnaise.

* salt ,pepper and lemon juice.

* cook pasta and drain water then add tuna,chopped onions,peppers,mayonnaise,lemon juice,salt and pepper.

* mix all together very well before serving.

That’s it ,simple and easy .

Aromatic Herbs.

Hello everybody.

Friday’s lunch is always a dilemma cause all is home, late sleepers, late breakfast or outings. Decision wether to eat at home or what to eat is usually spontaneous.
As for today I stopped by grocery shop before Friday prayers, after a look of available vegetables and options got some ready frozen chicken scallops, baby potatoes, fresh bunch of basil and pasta.

I made roasted potatoes with rosemary, oregano and basil with olive oil, fried the scallops. Made fresh pesto sauce and mixed it with cooked pasta.
As for salad, I made sliced white cheese (originally made with fresh mozzarella ) with tomatoes, pesto sauce, walnuts and some fresh mint leaves on top, very refreshing.

Turned out a nice meal, even invited our cousin at the last minute.

Enjoy your weekend and Happy Easter. ♡♥

Ratatouille.

Hello everybody.

Today’s dish is French , it means tossed vegetables. We usually do make a similar one but with big lamb meat pieces, late grandmas used to cook it, called (طباخ روحو ) which means “it cooked itself” cause just like Ratatouille vegetables are left on very low heat to simmer and become a well done stew.
Well today kids don’t want anything with meat or chicken, so I made ratatouille plus a big bowl of pasta with yoghurt and some French fries.

Ingredients and method:
*Ratatouille:
* 1 large eggplant cut to cubes.
*2-3 courgettes.cubed.
* 1 chopped onion.
* 2-3 chopped cloves of garlic.
* 1 chopped sweet pepper.
* 2 large chopped tomatoes.
* 1 chilli pepper or chilli powder.
*olive oil.

*saute onions and garlic in oil then add chilli.
* add courgettes then peppers.
* fry eggplants till golden, leave on paper towel till dry then add over mixture
*add tomatoes.
*season with salt and pepper.
*leave to simmer till all homogeneous and little liquid remains.

*Pasta with yoghurt:
* 1 pack penne pasta.
* 1 yoghurt can .
*2-3 garlic.
* 1 spoon dried mints.
* mix yoghurt with crushed garlic, mint, salt.
* cook pasta then saute with some butter or oil.
* just minutes before you serve mix together and heat a bit.
* decorate with pine nuts or almonds.

Enjoy ♡♥♡♥.

Maccaroni and Cheese

Hello everybody.

No time at all to cook today, had to go with my sister to do errands . But as usual I always have pasta in stock for days like these.
I learned this super easy quick recipe from a dear friend who’se been living in the States and still is . We were still at freshman year when we went for a sleep over to her house and cooked it..Miss you dear Nancy ♡♥.

Ingredients and method :
* 1 pack snail shaped pasta.
* 1 pack mushroom. Sliced.
* 1 small finely chopped green pepper.
* 1 green or dry onion finely chopped.
* 1 pack mushroom soup mixture.
* mozzarella or kashkaval cheese.

* cook soup as directions on envelope.
* saute onions, peppers and mushrooms.
* add soup on them and leave to simmer for 15 minutes.
* cook past till done un salted water.
* drain and add to soup mixture.
* season with salt, pepper and oregano. Mix very well.
* sprinkle cheese in top and put in oven till cheese melts.

That’s it..very easy and sure tastier than ready mac and cheese !!!!

Cannelloni and Cheesy Garlic Bread.

Hello again.
Well got back home to cook lunch.:)

Today I’m making cannelloni the way a friend on fb cooks it, I usually stuff it then add tomato sauce on top then in the oven, but last time Mary posted a photo of cannelloni that looked nicer than the ones I make. Told me she does it the other way around..I mean tomato sauce then cannellonis on top..this keeps their shape better.
http://www.facebook.com/Mary’s dinner clubs Limassol
A change today also, I used chicken instead of meat cause we ate too much meat last week.

I also made a cheesy garlicky loaf, been wanting to make this recipe for so long..though it didn’t turn out exactly like the original.

Ingredients and method:
*1 pack cannelloni.
* 1 can chopped tomatoes.
* 1 spring onion or leek.
* 2 big ripe red tomatoes.
For cannelloni filling:
* 2 chopped chicken breasts.
* 1 cup spinach.
* 2-3 cups thick white sauce ( 2 big spoons butter, 2 big spoons flour, 2-3 cups milk.)
* cube of white or fetta or ricotta cheese.
* some grated parmesan.
* mozzarella or kashkaval chesse for topping.

* start by making the filling cause it must cool before you use it.
* sautee chicken pieces with some oil.add salt and pepper till golden.
* make the white sauce by adding flour to heated butter, stir well till golden then add milk slowly and whisking at the same time.take care cause it may clott , if so use electric whisker to make it creamy.
* add spinach and chicken, cheeses then season to taste.
* keep uncovered to cool.
* make the tomato sauce by frying chopped onions, adding tomatoes (2 kinds) and salt, pepper, chilli, paprika as you like.
* leave for 15-20 to cook.
* stuff cannellonis with filling with a small spoon or as I do….wear a disposable glove and stuff..much more quicker:)
* arrange over tomatoes then put them covered in a medium heated oven 45-50 minutes.
* note: I actually added a bit of water on top during baking cause I felt pasta is drying.
* sprinkle with cheese and roast till it melts.

Cheesy garlic bread:
Saw this recipe on fb, thought it’ll go well with cannelloni.
You’ll need :
* a whole loaf
*butter.
* various kinds of cheeses.
* garlic powder.
* fresh coriander or parsley or oregano as you like.
* cut the loaf to rectangles only from the top.
* stuff the cheeses in holes.
* sprinkle garlic, butter and coriander.
* bake till cheese melts and ….. eat:)

Fettuccine ♡♥

Hello everybody.

I was invited to breakfast this morning, this means I had to cook something quick. So fettuccine with chicken and cream was the best solution. Told you from the beginning pasta is a must everyweek!!!
Ingredients:
* 1 pack fettuccine pasta.
* 1 small carton fresh cream.
* 1 chicken breast.
* mushrooms.
* 1-2 cups milk.
* butter.
* pesto sauce if you have.
* parmesan or mozzarella cheese.
* salt.pepper.
Method:
* cut chicken breast to small chunks.
* heat a spoon of butter with a spoon of pesto.
* add chicken, stir till done then add mushrooms.
* add the cream, milk , salt and pepper.
* leave to simmer till sauce reduced or thick.
* cook the pasta in boiled salted water till done.
* mix it with cream and chicken.
* add cheese and more milk if the mixture is too thick.
* sprinkle parmesan and oregano on top if desired.

Enjoy♡♥

What to cook today?

day by day cooking ideas

pasta

Eggplant Lasagna.

Like this:

Creamy Avocado Tomato Basil Pasta.

Like this:

Pasta and Armenian Tabouleh .

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Strawberry Shortcakes :)

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Tuna Salad.

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Aromatic Herbs.

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Ratatouille.

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Maccaroni and Cheese

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Cannelloni and Cheesy Garlic Bread.

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Fettuccine ♡♥

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