Traditional Apple Pie.

Hello everybody.

No cooking today,I still have lots from yesterday,plus I went out with my friends for breakfast to a kind of new place in town Shakespeare & co. really pleasant place,beautiful decor, tasty food and excellent service I might say 🙂

This doesn’t mean no work,my mother in law’s school friends are coming tomorrow morning so I made apple pie and za’tar sticks but as round pastries this time, will be great with a cheese platter and Tabouleh.

You may find various apple pie recipes all over,I usually make this one which is easy and always work.

Ingredients and method of apple pie:

*Crust:

* 1 egg.

* 1 tsp vanilla or lemon zest.

* 1/2 cup sugar.

* 3/4 cup butter.

* 1 3/4 cups flour ( you may need 1/4 more to make a firm dough)

* pinch of salt.

* 2 tablespoons cold water.

Filling:

* 5-6 large apples peeled and cut to slices.

* 1/2 cup walnuts (optional).

* 1/4 cup raisins (optional).

* 1/4 cup brown sugar.

* 1 tsp lemon juice .

* 1 tablespoon cinnamon ( sorry forgot to add it in the photo)

* beat the egg.vanilla,sugar and butter till creamy.

* add flour and salt and knead well till you have a firm round dough ( add more flour if it’s sticky and you can’t handle it)

* leave to cool in the fridge for 30 minutes.

* spread 3/4 dough in pie pan evenly in bottom and sides.

* pinch it with a fork so as it won’t form a bubble.

* mix filling ingredients well and pour them into the pie pan.

* make shapes to decorate top of pie from remaining dough ,sprinkle surface with flour or use plastic bag for easier handling.

* bake in a medium heated oven for 30-40 minutes or till sides and bottom are golden then toast the surface.

You can reheat it and serve it with vanilla ice cream or as is with a sprinkle of icing sugar,depends on how the lovely ladies prefer tomorrow .

Fig Jam and Raisins Cake.

Hello everybody.

Back to school,which is by the way last week of it,I can’t believe how quick this academic year was,do you like Summer vacation or no?

Today’s lunch is stuffed courgettes like the ones I did before with it’s pulp as a side dish, it’s my eldest son favorite so it must be repeated at least once every month 🙂

I found a jar of fig jam about to be expired in the fridge,then remembered that I do have a recipe somewhere that has it in the ingredients,so I took out all my cookbooks,searched till I found it in my small favorite book Cafe Cakes, you know that these small specified books you find in bookshops are a lot better than big famous ones, that’s what I found out after all these years of cooking and baking .

Very easy to do and delicious.

Ingredients and method:

*125 gm butter ( I used 2 tablespoons butter and 1/4 cup vegetable oil,worked out just fine)
* 2 eggs.

* 1/2 cup brown sugar.

* 1 1/2 cup flour.

* 2 tsp baking powder.

* 1/2 cup fig jam.

* 1 cup raisins ( I added a bit of walnuts also)

*1/2 cup milk.

* beat butter and sugar till creamy then add eggs,jam,raisins,flour and baking powder till you get a creamy batter.

* pour in a medium sized baking pan ( any shape you like) and bake in a medium heated oven for 45-50 minutes.

* cool and decorate with cream cheese topping or whipped cream if you like.

today’s lunch.

Rock Cookies ( كعك صخري)

Hello again.

As I mentioned earlier I also made some cookies and packed a bit as a gift, I think this is a very loving giveaway or gift, I mean when you cook or bake something for someone you love or care about, you can feel that in the taste or look, is this true or do I imagine this??

Rock cookies are very popular,In Irbid you can find them in every house you visit in Eid time, I have this recipe from my auntie who’s very famous in doing them, but I modified a bit by using brown sugar instead of white and added dried cranberries.

Ingredients and method:

* 2 eggs.

* 1 cup sugar or 3/4 brown sugar.

* 3 big spoons butter.

* 1 cup mixed nuts ( walnuts,almonds,pistachios,hazelnuts)

* 1/2 cup raisins.

* 1 tsp cinnamon,pinch of cloves,cardamom and nutmeg.

* vanilla,1 tsp baking powder and a pinch of salt.

* 2 cups flour.

* mix eggs,sugar and butter till creamy.

* toast nuts in the oven for 10 minutes then crush them.

* add nuts and raisins to flour,baking powder and salt then add egg mixture.

* mix very well with wooden spoon till you have a not too soft nor tough dough.

* make spoonfuls of the dough on a baking pan,size of a small ball.

* bake in a medium heated oven for 10-13 minutes or till edges are golden.

* store in a well sealed jar or tin.

Enjoy 🙂

Rubi’s Apple Cake.

Hello everybody.

Just came back from Irbid,we were invited to a lovely lunch at my husband’s cousin. Food was incredibly delicious, have to admit I ate too much, but couldn’t resist 🙂

Early morning I made apple cake to take with me,my cook book says Rubi’s apple cake ( recipe from my dear friend Ruba <3), very simple,juicy and easy.

Ingredients and method:

*2 big peeled sliced apples.

*1/2 cup brown sugar.

* raisins or cranberries.

* 1/2 tsp cinnamon.

* 3 eggs.

* 1 1/2 cups sugar.

* 3/4 cup oil.

* 1 cup milk.

* lemon zest.

* 1 tsp vanilla.

* 3 tsp baking powder.

* 2 cups flour.

* spread brown sugar ( you may add a bit of butter if you like ) ,apples,raisins and cinnamon in a cake mold or high baking pan.

* beat eggs,vanilla,sugar till creamy then add oil,milk and zest.

* add flour and baking powder beat for 5-10 minutes.

* pour batter over apples then bake in a medium heated oven for 35-40 minutes or till dry from inside.

* turn upside down when cooled.

Just perfect with afternoon tea or coffee , enjoy your weekend my friends <3 <3

Dried Cranberries Raisin Cookies.

Hello everybody.
Back to school and work, house always a mess after the weekend as usual, lots of cleaning and laundry 🙁
Cookie jar empty also, thought I’ll make a small batch, got some dried red cranberries yesterday, perfect with raisins, nuts and oat for a healthy cookie dough.

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.

When I was done Mom and niece came by and brought me some fresh strawberries and sweet Anoud wanted a milkshake. So good with the cookies.
Yummy yummy♡♥♡♥

Rice with Vegetables (Banan’s Rice)

Hello everybody.

Today I had the honor to cook for my big brother’s office colleagues. Each one of them hosts lunch each Sunday so I volunteered to cook in his turn. They’re a group of 20-24 plus the boss is coming today from abroad. Feedback was great thank God ♡
Though I ran a bit out of time and I think rice needed a bit more cooking
Well my bro sent me this photo in less than an hour after I delivered food.

Wiped out he wrote !!!!!

I got this rice recipe from our dear neighbor when I was a newlywed. Been doing it a lot specially when I have guests..that’s why it became my specialty Banan’s Rice my cousins always say.
I also made caramelized kebab sandwiches with tahini sauce and spiced potatoes. Dessert was basic orange cake and jam biscuits (مبروشه ).
I will post ingredients without specifying amounts cause today I cooked for a big crowd, you can measure according to number of people you’re cooking for. I’m ready for any question of course if anyone needs help.

Ingredients and method:
* large boned chicken pieces.
* basmati rice.
* vegetables include: peas, carrots, mushrooms, peppers and onions.
* raisins.
* almonds and pine nuts.
* ghee or margarine.
* curry powder, salt, pepper, paprika.
* bay leaves, cinnamon sticks and cardamom for chicken broth.

* first you clean and wash chicken pieces very well.
* make broth from wings backs and necks of chicken by boiling them with salt, pepper, all spice, cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaf plus 1 big spoon curry powder. When done sieve and use broth for cooking rice.
* add same seasoning to breasts and drumsticks with some olive oil and chopped onions and put in a medium heated oven for 2 hours or till tender and golden..also sprinkle them with curry and paprika.

* now prepare veggies, saute them alternatively ( except onions) with ghee starting with carrots then adding others always sprinkle with curry then add raisins last thing. You can add maggi cube with them, gives a really good flavor but for those who don’t like it add salt and spices. Leave to simmer on low heat.
* in another pan saute sliced onions in ghee then add a bit of broth and leave to simmer till tender.
* wash rice and season it with salt, pepper, all spice and curry powder.
* add to onions, mix all together then add broth till covering rice by 1 inch.
* cook rice and when almost all broth absorbed pour it over vegetables then leave all to cook together on very low heat till rice is done.
* you may need to add a bit more broth or water.
* roast almonds and pine nuts for decoration.
* upon serving turn vegetables and rice pan upside down in a big wide serving tray.
* arrange chicken pieces on top.
* decorate with almonds and pine nuts.

I know this might be a difficult dish with many steps but it’s always worth the hardship. ♡♥

always a success.

all veggies are sprinkled curry.

steps to cook the rice.

enjoy.

Carrot Cake.

Today my mother in law is invited to lunch at her friend’s house. I told her will bake you a cake to take with you for the lovely aunties as a dessert.
Carrot cake is always a favorite.carrots are juicy and sweet this time of the year.
I have this recipe from a tv show long time ago.always a success.
You will need:
*3 eggs.
*1 spoon vanilla.
*1 cup sugar or 2/4 brown sugar.
*3/4 cup vegetable oil.
*juice of one orange.
*1 spoon orange zest.
*3 spoons baking powder.
*1and 1/2 cups grated carrots.
*1/2 cup raisins.
*1/2 cup crushed walnuts. *1 small spoon cinnamon. *1/4 small spoon cloves.
*pinch of nutmeg and salt.
*1 cup whole wheat flour.
* 4 big spoons white flour.

Mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, oil, orange zest and juice very well then add to carrots, spices, walnuts, raisins, baking powder and flour.fold mixture in dry ingredients .
Bake in a medium heated oven using any kind of baking tin for approximately 30 minutes or till center is dry.

Usually I make frosting of cream cheese and double cream, but aunties today prefer it with only icing sugar on top. Lighter they say.

Well I usually make another cake for the kids since im baking anyway.
They usually prefer basic simple cake.
You will need:
*4 eggs.
*2 cups sugar.
*1/2 cup oil.
*1 cup milk.
*21/2 to 3 cups flour.
*vanilla.
*3 tsp baking powder.

Mix all ingredients alternatively in with cake mixer.add the 21/2 cups flour then check if mixture is too thin add more till it’s thick enough.
Trick in simple cake is that mixture should be neither thin nor very thick so that it’ll be soft and juicy.
Today u split mixture to two parts.one with raisins in top for hubby. The other in cupcake tray with chocolate pieces on top for the kids.

tip: sprinkle the raisins with flour and shake well so as not to sink in the bottom.
This also needs 30-40 minutes in the oven.

Will post today’s lunch when done.
See you♡♥♡♥

What to cook today?

day by day cooking ideas

raisins

Traditional Apple Pie.

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Fig Jam and Raisins Cake.

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Rock Cookies ( كعك صخري)

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Rubi’s Apple Cake.

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Rice with Vegetables (Banan’s Rice)

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Carrot Cake.

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