Bagels.

Hello everybody.

Housework and cleaning up today, too much dust in this country.

When done I was looking for something to do for a quick breakfast cause my son wants something ready to go or easy to fix each morning before going to the university.

Crossed over this bagels’ recipe and thought I’d give it a try,resembles a lot the soft pretzels one, result was not bad I guess waiting for the boys to judge.

Lunch was leftover lasagna with some chili potatoes with garlic and coriander.

my favorite dish ever.

I also made dried fruit cake,light and not sweet to have with Nescafe in the morning.

rich delicious cake.

Ingredients and method of bagels :
# 3 1/2 cups flour.
# 1 1/3 cups warm water.
# 1 tsp salt.
# 2 tsp sugar.
#1 1/2 tsp instant yeast.
# boiled water.

# mix dry ingredients together well then add warm water and incorporate well together.
# knead for 5-10 minutes till smooth.
# cover and let rise for 1 hour.
# when doubled in size knead once more then form 6-8 balls.
# with a floured finger make a hole in the middle.
# leave to rise again then broil in boiling water for 1 minute on each side then remove to dry.
# line up on a floured oven pan.
# brush surface with some egg whites then sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds or salt.
# bake bagels in a medium heated oven for 20-30 minutes.

Guess they’re fine as a first trial.

bagels in the making.

FISH!

Hello again.

Lunch today was a big fish in the oven stuffed with garlic, onions, tomatoes, parsley, lemon, salt,pepper, chili and cumin with a drizzle of olive oil on top.

Of course with its companions French fries, fried bread and tahini parsley salad.

FISH!

Hello again.

Lunch today was a big fish in the oven stuffed with garlic, onions, tomatoes, parsley, lemon, salt,pepper, chili and cumin with a drizzle of olive oil on top.

Of course with its companions French fries, fried bread and tahini parsley salad.

ready to enter the oven.

ready to be eaten!

Kofta with Tahini Sauce.

Hello everybody.

Today I splitted the cooked kofta balls into two pans to satisfy all family members.

One pan with onions, garlic, potatoes and tomato sauce for the boys and the other with some potatoes and tahini sauce on top. All then in the oven till a bit roasted.

Love kofta with tahini and this was the only solution to eat it cause mostly I’ll eat it alone, don’t mind that at all

meat balls with tahini and potatoes.

same balls with tomato sauce.

Nicoise Again.

Hello everybody.

Busy day, no time to cook at all so the easiest thing that keeps everybody happy is a rich nicoise salad.

I cut the potatoes before boiling to save time and heated some pasta from yesterday, fair enough.

Honey Cakes.

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Hello everybody.

Happy Easter to all friends celebrating today,though usually it’s supposed to be a Spring warm day this time of year specially on Easter Sunday but today happened to be rainy and cold, but I’m sure everybody celebrating felt the warmth and spirit of this Holy day.

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Honey cakes are traditional Cypriot and Greek dessert usually done Easter time or New Years, so delicious and aromatic plus very easy to do.

Ingredients and method: ( I did half quantity only)

* 1 cup butter.

* 1 cup light olive oil.

* 1 kilo flour.

* 1 cup sugar.

* 1 tsp cinnamon.

* 1/2 tsp cloves.

* grated peel of a lemon or orange.

* 2 tsp baking powder.

* 1 cup yogurt.

* 1 cup crushed walnuts.

For the syrup:

* 2 cups sugar.

* 3 cups water.

* 1 cup honey.

* juice of one lemon.

* walnuts and cinnamon to sprinkle.

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* Put the butter and flour in a big bowl and beat well.

* add oil ,sugar, cinnamon,cloves and peel.

* add soda and yogurt and knead well.

* add walnuts .

* make small balls then roll them over the grater to get a nice shape.

* bake in a medium heated oven till golden from bottom and surface.

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* meanwhile make the syrup by boiling sugar and water for 10 minutes then adding the honey and lemon and boil further more till it’s thick.

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* when cakes are done and cooled dip them in syrup then sprinkle with cinnamon and crushed walnuts

Spinach Gnocchi.

Hello everybody.

Warm sunny day,I just love these days, though chilli at night but at least you can enjoy a beautiful day.
Lunch was Italian style except the rice which was the Iranian recipe, it’s becoming our kind of rice these days.

Did meatballs the way my cousin Rita always do them, with parmesan,breadcrumbs, eggs,nutmeg, salt and pepper then after cooling them in the fridge they’re dipped directly in boiling tomato sauce, really yummy.

Another new side dish was Spinach Gnocchi, and tasty different kind of appetizer. To tell you the truth is did once maybe a couple of years ago but it was a failure then, today I did it with patience and it turned out just perfect.

Ingredients and method :
* 4 cups of spinach, cut washed and squeezed till all excess water is out.
* 1 1/2 cups ricotta or white cheese.
* 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.
* 1 egg.
* 1/2 tsp nutmeg.
* 1 tsp salt and pepper.
* 2 big tablespoons flour.
* some butter and one clove garlic.

* squeeze spinach very well then add all ingredients except butter.
* roll mixture into egg shape.
* roll gnocchi in flour and leave in fridge for a while.
* cook gnocchi in boiling water uncovered till they float on top.
* remove slowly then arrange in an ovenproof pan with butter and garlic then sprinkle with parmesan and mazorella cheese, cook for few minutes till cheese melts.
Buon Apatito as they say in Italian.

perfect end result.

I used our white cheese instead of ricotta.

gnocchi before adding the cheese.

meatballs and Iranian rice.

photo in cook book.

and these are mine!

Freezing Vegetables.

Hello everybody.
No cooking today, each one has plans either for lunch or dinner so no cooking is necessary, did a bowl of Russian Salad it will do just fine in guess.

Spent this morning cleaning and preparing some fresh peas and fava beans for freezing, my husband bought some from side road sellers on his way back from Irbid yesterday, very fresh and green, I usually only cut wash and freeze directly.

Peas were really sweet and tender, boiled some and added them with carrots, corn and potatoes to the salad.

ready for storage.

Russian Salad.
Another Irbid product is garden cress( رشاد) sent to me from my cousin, very tasty with labaneh and green olives or onions, all yummy.

Brioche.

Hello everybody.
Lunch today was a not a favorite to all family members so in order to compensate I did mushroom soup and made some Brioche with it, first time I do it, unfortunately result wasn’t that good either it needed more salt or it didn’t rise as it should. Recipe was easy though I felt it’s not going to be as supposed to when I finished kneading it,if anybody has a better one please recommend.
Ingredients and method :
* 2 1/2 cups flour.
* 2 tablespoons sugar.
* 1/4 tsp salt.
* 2 1/4 tsp yeast.
* 4 tablespoons warm milk.
* 3 eggs plus extra one for glaze.
* 1 cup cubed butter.

* mix flour, sugar, yeast and salt.
* add milk and beaten eggs.
* knead well then start adding butter cubes gradually till all quantity is folded in.
* leave to rise in a warm place, then form into balls in molds or cupcake pan.
* leave to rise again then bake in a medium heated oven till golden.
* brush surface with eggplants wash and roast till golden.
* serve with soup or butter and jam.

brioche with mushroom soup.

Lunch was lamb chops with onions and potatoes all seasoned with a new citrus organic spice, really aromatic and tasty.I also made mushroom soup as I mentioned,some Persian rice and a big bowl of mixed salad with avocado slices.

lamb chops with onions and potatoes.

citrus and herb spices.

my brioches !

Baked Fennel!

Hello everybody.
So excited today, my friend’s son is getting married tonight, so happy for her and looking forward for the gathering of all of us at the party and thank God for the sunny nice weather so that all ceremonies won’t be difficult cause of rain or cold, congratulations to the beautiful bride and groom wish them all the happiness in the world.

Lunch was quick and easy, chicken scallop with mashed potatoes,salad and some baked fennels.

I have lots of these from our friends farm so thought I’ll try baking some,tastes really nice. You only add salt,pepper, olive oil and a bit of balsamic vinegar and bake uncovered in a well heated oven, that’s it.

Well have to go get ready,bye now!

What to cook today?

day by day cooking ideas

potatoes

Bagels.

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FISH!

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FISH!

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Kofta with Tahini Sauce.

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Nicoise Again.

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Honey Cakes.

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Spinach Gnocchi.

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Freezing Vegetables.

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Brioche.

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Baked Fennel!

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