Hello everybody.
Love this dish, full of spices and different from everyday tastes, prepared all ingredients early morning and quickly cooked it when my tiny guest left home.
Chicken tikka masala and Indian rice was our lunch today.
yummy !
spices
Date Rolls.
Hello everybody.
It’s been such a long time since I did these, maybe in Eid Al-Adha meaning seven months now.
Date Rolls are such a favorable kind of cookies, they have a nice aroma, taste and texture that everyone love, made a small batch for my dear sis to take with her back home next week and hopefully I’ll have time to make her some rock cookies also.
Love you sis
ready to go!!
all lined ready for baking.
all packed.
Pumpkin Cupcakes.
Hello everybody.
First day in Winter timing and it coincides it’s cold and rainy today, plus It’s Halloween this weekend. I made these cupcakes for my friend’s son going to a sharing party today.
I love pumpkin and all its recipes,gives you a feeling of warmth specially in cold weather, I think I’ll make the remaining pumpkin a soup or stew tomorrow !
Lunch was out in Taj Mall at Hanin Cafe today,really yummy go try it, knafeh cheescake is a must try believe me.
Ingredients and method:
* 3 eggs.
* 1 cup sugar.
* 1 cup pumpkin puree ( boiled till done then mashed)
* 1/2 cup oil.
* 2 tablespoons butter.
* 1 tsp cinnamon,pinch of nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice if available.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* 2 tsp baking powder and pinch of salt.
* 2 cup flour.
* Icing is cream cheese with whipping cream and orange food coloring.
* Mix all ingredients alternatively then fill cupcakes till half and bake till done.
* decorate with icing and sprinkles.
I decorated the tray with dry leaves,nice right?
special Autumn effects 🙂
Knafeh cheesecake,mouthwatering !
Traditional Iraqi Maher Party.(عقد قران عراقي).
Hello everybody.
Last night I witnessed for the first time an Iraqi engagement or let’s say wedding vows commitment ceremony, though we’ve been to many Iraqi parties before but this one was for for a close member of my family,my sweet sister in -law’s daughter.
Ceremonies took place as soon as the Sheikh or Judge entered, first of all bride sat infront of a big table filled with silver and white ornaments and bowls,each one symbolizing something which includes:
* Silver mirror.
* 7 bowls filled with white sweets,sugar,candy,cookies…etc.( for good luck and white happy sweet life ahead)
* 7 bowls filled with certain spices ( so that couples life be filled with spiced moments).
* lock and key.
* bottle of mercury.
* big white candle.
* white boxes contains all brides dowry (new clothes,perfumes..etc that the groom’d family bought her)
* silver bowl with water and bay leaves in.
* cardamon and honey.
* 2 big sugar cones.
They started by bride placing her feet in the bay leaf water, placing cardamon between her fingers and reading a certain verse from the Holy Quran meanwhile four girls (whom must be in the age of marriage) holds a white sheet over her head,another girls stands to unlock the key,one to shake the mercury, and this one I loved most a happily married lady with children rubs sugar over the bride’s head,how’s that ??
Finally when Sheikh finishes writing the wedding contract he comes in and ask her if she agrees and they all sign and of course all family and friends come in to congratulate the couple and their family ,followed by Iraqi dancing and a delicious dinner .
Lovely bride made an amazing candy bar filled with yummy candy and cookies and each guest filled a small bag before she left, very nice give away thought !
Congratulations for the lovely couple may your life together be as sweet and spicy as possible,love you both <3
Roast Beef.
Hello everybody.
Bought this extremely tender roast beef last week and hadn’t got the chance to do it till today,you can cook it in many ways either baked or boiled with vegetables.
This time kids wanted it roasted and crispy,they didn’t even wait to make a gravy or any sauce, just sliced as a cold cut and they made different sandwiches, it was really good and well done.
Ingredients and method:
* piece of tender lean beef.
* some garlic cloves.
* salt and various mixed spices ( pepper ,mixed spices,roast spices,chili…etc)
* olive oil.
* cut garlic to slices and then made a deep cut into meat and insert it all over the piece.
* rub salt and spices all over the roast and leave for some time to be well absorbed.
* heat oil very well then place meat to be browned from all sides very well.
* put the meat on a rack and in the oven for 30-40 minutes till done,you can tell when no juices are out when you pinch it with a sharp knife.
* leave to stand and cool before cutting to slices or pieces according to how you want it.
* serve with sauteed potatoes or vegetables or salad.
Chicken Fajita.
Hello everybody.
Another full of events weekend,last night was the Henna party for our lovely bride Tara,lovely alive party and delicious food catered by Gourmet,wish the bride and groom an everlasting love and happiness. Today we’re invited to a wedding at the Four Seasons,best wishes to newlyweds as well!
Well lunch today was chicken fajita,very hot weather and dinner out needs a light lunch.
Ingredients and method:
* 1 large shredded boneless chicken breast.
* 1 shredded green or dry onion.
* shredded carrots.
* shredded colored peppers.
* fajita spices ready or homemade like the ones I made for quesadillas.
* pitta bread.
* marinate chicken in a bit of lemon juice or vinegar and 1 tablespoon of spices .
* heat some vegetable oil then add chicken and stir till dry and colored.
* add the onions,carrots and peppers and stir fry till all done.
* before serving add some sour cream or labaneh or avocado dip on the pitta bread then add chicken mix.
* wrap and toast a bit on the toaster.
Serve with simple lettuce vinaigrette salad or any of your choice.
Lentils ( mujadara)
Hello everybody.
Lots of events going on today,I went out to breakfast with my lovely friends to celebrate dear Wafa’s birthday, early this morning I baked another Nescafe Cake, I think this one will be my trademark from now on,with the same ornament and flowers. Everybody enjoyed it and was a delightful surprise.
Back home I got the nicest present from my lovely niece Layan,a box of mixed herbs from Istanbul, thank you dear 🙂
At lunch time plans changed a bit,I’ve already cooked some lentils before I left ,thought I’ll make one of Mary’s recipes from her lovely book “On Healthy Cooking” but then discovered I don’t have all ingredients available,so ended up making mjadara with fried onions and some salad.
here are links for today’s recipes;
* Mjadara.
* Mary’s Dinner Clubs Limassol.
beautifully packed spices and herbs from Istanbul.
Date Rolls (مقروطه )
Hello everybody.
My sweet cousin requested this recipe since I started my blog, I didn’t have time or chance though. I usually make these cookies or rolls after Ramadan , serve them in Eid . Actually became my speciality. I took this recipe from my mother in-law’s cousin, though i’ve been doing them for years now but nothing beats hers..♡♥.
Tomorrow we’re going to visit a friend from old school days so I thought i’ll take some with me. A homemade present is always heart warming. Hope she’ll like them.
Ingredients and method:
* 5 cups flour
* 4 cups whole wheat flour (طحين اسمر ).
* 1 cup vegetable oil.
* 1 cup olive oil.
* 1 cup margarine or ghee.
* seeded and ground dates (2-3 packs).
* 1/2 cup sugar.
* 1 tsp sodium bicarbonate.
* 2 big spoons ground anise (يانسون ).
* 1 big spoon ground fennel (شومر ).
* 1 big spoon cinnamon.
* 2-3 spoons sesame seeds and black seeds ( سسمسم وقزحه ).
* 1 small spoon mahaleb (محلب )
* mix all oils and spices with flour well till it forms crumbles and leave overnight so as flour absorbs all oils and essences.
* to the dates add olive oil, cinnamon, anise powder, nutmeg, cardamom . A little sprinkle just to add some flavor.
* add warm water to flour enough to make a dough 1-2 cups..it must be easy to handle not hard nor soft.
* cut dough and dates to four portions.
* roll one part of dough to a big thin rectangle between nylons.
* roll dates all to same size rectangle between wax paper or nylon.
* place date over dough and cut unorganized edges.
* roll dough and dates together 3 or 4 rolls.
* cut to 1 inch slices then pat with your hand to flatten them a bit.
* with a sharp knife cut surface to small lines.
* bake in a medium heated oven till bottoms are golden and then toast surface a bit.
* store in a cookie jar or well sealed box.
