Biscottis.

Hello everybody.

Been trying different types of biscottis lately , all results were excellent by means of taste and texture.

not so sweet and not too hard, the right thing to have with your morning coffee.

Base of dough is almost the same but I used different flavors, anise seeds, coconut and blackberry jam and today’s amazing ones were chocolate with nuts.

Ingredients and method:

Coconut jam biscotti:

3 medium sized eggs or 2 large .
1 cup sugar.
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil.
1 cup coconut
3 tablespoons blackberry jam
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder.
2 cups flour ( might need a bit more to make dough easy to handle)

Chocolate Nuts Biscotti:

substitute coconut and jam with 3 tablespoons cocoa and half a cup of crushed nuts ( walnuts ,almonds and hazelnuts)

*Beat eggs, vanilla and sugar well till creamy.

*Add butter and oil.

*Add all other ingredients subsequently till you get a a dough , you can add extra flour to make it easy to form.

*Shape dough to a cylinder then cut with a sharp knife to slices.

*Bake in a medium heated oven for 10-15 minutes or till bottom is firm .

*Leave to cool then store in a cookie jar or tin.

Enjoy them with coffee or tea , taste is magical believe me.

Persian Walnut Cookies.

Hello everybody.

As always I like to try a new recipe,it’s becoming like a weekly challenge for me. Today’s trial was an interesting cookie one from the Persian cuisine.

Ingredients can give you a hint that it’s delicious, all nutty and aromatic but next time I’ll make them a bit smaller cause they spread well when baked.

Ingredients and method:

* 1 1/2 cups crushed walnuts.
* 3/4 cup sugar.
* 3 egg yolks.
* 1 tablespoon rose water.
* 1 tsp cardamom.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* 1 tsp baking powder.
* pinch of salt.
* 1 extra egg yolk plus one tablespoon water.
* extra whole walnuts for garnish.

* Beat eggs, vanilla, cardamom, sugar well.
* add walnuts,rose water, baking powder and salt.
* dough will be sticky so use two spoons to scoop small amount on baking tray layered with wax paper.
* put a walnut on each cookie then brush with egg water mixture ( I think I’ll skip this next time maybe)
* bake in a medium heated oven (180 c) for 15-20 minutes only or till edges are brownish.

Note: cookies will be soft when hot but don’t worry they’ll harden later on.

Store in a closed jar later, they great with coffee or tea,rich in flavor and extremely delicious.

Ka3ek and Cheese.

Hello everybody.

Two lovely friends came to visit this morning and since I woke up so early today I decided to bake some ka3ek.

A small simple breakfast with minted tea,I always feel good about myself when I bake breads don’t know why, guess it’s the smell maybe.

Dough ingredients :
* 6 and extra half cups flour.
* 2 tablespoons oil.
* 1 tablespoon instant yeast.
* 2 tablespoons sugar.
* 2 1/2 cups lukewarm water.
* 2 teaspoons salt.
* 1/2 cup milk.
* some sesame seeds.
* some semolina to sprinkle under the Ka3ek.

* Mix water,yeast and sugar and leave ten minutes till bubbles are formed.
* Mix flour,salt and oil then add yeast and water and knead well.
* leave in a warm place till it rises ( 1-2 hours)
* knead again then form it to loaf shape or place a metal ring inside to make a circle in the middle.
* Brush with milk and sprinkle sesame seeds in top.
* leave to rise again then bake in a well heated oven for 15 minutes.

this hot weather did a miracle in raising these buns.

lovely breakfast.

Anise Bars.

Hello everybody.

Though we’re Mansaf-ing today but it’s not me cooking so I baked these bars this morning,good choice with coffee as a quick breakfast for my son before leaving to college everyday.

Recipe is very easy almost a simple cake but you bake it in a big wide pan then slice it when done and ready bake or toast bars till crunchy.

Really yummy.

Ingredients:

* 4 eggs.
* 1 cup sugar.
* 1/2 cup olive oil.
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil.
* 2 big spoons anise powder.
* 2 big spoons anise seeds.
* sesame seeds
* 2 tsp baking powder.
* 1 tsp vanilla.
* 2 cups flour.

Method:
* mix eggs, vanilla, sugar with electric mixer till fluffy. Add rest of ingredients.
* sprinkle bottom of pan with sesame seeds, add the cake mixture and bake in medium oven for 30 minutes or dry in center.
* when cooled cut to slices and roast again till golden from both sides.( مثل شكل القرشله)
* leave to cool completely then keep in well closed jar or tin.

relaxing time with some mint tea.

today’s mansaf.

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.

Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam Cake.

Hello everybody.

I also did this beautiful cake today but didn’t want to mix both chicken and cake in the same post, better to keep sweet lovely things together.

Got the recipe from a new cookbook my cousin gave to me the other day,it’s really informative and today is my start up in discovering its contents.
A really easy simple cake, great with coffee or tea.
Ingredients and method :
* 1 package cream cheese.
* 1/2 cup butter.
* 1 cup sugar.
* 2 eggs.
* 1/4 cup milk.
* 1 tsp baking powder.
* 1/2 tsp baking soda.
* 1/2 tsp vanilla.

* 1 3/4 cups flour.
* 1/2 cup strawberry or raspberry jam.

* beat cream cheese and butter till soft then add up all other ingredients consequently except jam.

* batter should be a bit thick.
* grease and medium sized oven pan.leave then add batter.
* add jam in small spoonfuls on top then swirl gently with a knife to create a marble effect.
* bake in a medium heated oven for 30-40 minutes.

Very tasty try it.

Chamomile Ginger Detox Tea.

Hello everybody.
Remember the detox water I did few weeks ago? Well I’ve been doing it every day now and I really think and feel it’s very useful, gives more energy and freshness.
Yesterday my husband picked a big bunch of chamomile from the farm and I’ve been searching for a good healthy drink that has chamomile in it, search result was this refreshing detox tea, made from freshly grated ginger boiled a bit with hot water then you add some chamomile leaves and leave for few minutes. Pour into a glass with one teaspoon honey,slice of lemon and few fresh mint leaves.
I’m sure most of you know how calming and soothing chamomile is for the nervous and gastrointestinal systems plus it’s great effect on boosting metabolism and immunity. It’s a very good drink in cases of colds and flu and abdominal pains specially in babies

aromatic and tasty.

freshly cut chamomiles!

Lunch was green beans stew with rice.

What to do with Last Year’s Olives?

Hello everybody.

Pouring rain today,hope nobody got stuck in traffic or got soaked wet like me,it was sunny when I left home I swear ! anyway thank God for car’s heater , but roads were really awful and I just heard many people were hurt or stuck in floods ,wish you all be safe and warm .

A dear friend told me last week she do this appetizer with olives,since new ones are about to be ready I pitted all last year’s green olives mixed them with grated carrots,crushed walnuts,hot and sweet peppers,lemon slices and some chili then put all in glass jars and added olive oil to the rim. Great appetizer in cold wintry days like today.

Lunch today was chicken curry also a good choice in cold weather and my son insisted to do some Tacos for himself cause he doesn’t like curry a lot .

I also made Anise Cake to have with mint tea now .

Tacos before it’s done .

chicken curry.

Morning Gathering .

Hello everybody.

As I mentioned yesterday we have a gathering this morning for a very special group of ladies that I really love so much, my mother in-law’s school mates,really sweet lovable group <3

Last night I made the apple pie and za’tar pastries,this morning I arranged a cheese platter with some fresh figs and grapes,decorated some pastries with labaneh,tomatoes and olives and made spinach tabouleh and my sister in-law made yalanji and got some Halouva .

Turned out a really elegant table,everybody enjoyed the food and company 🙂

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

What to cook today?

day by day cooking ideas

tea

Biscottis.

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Persian Walnut Cookies.

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Ka3ek and Cheese.

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Anise Bars.

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Date Rolls.

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Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam Cake.

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Chamomile Ginger Detox Tea.

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What to do with Last Year’s Olives?

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Morning Gathering .

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Rubi’s Apple Cake.

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