Moussaka.

Hello everybody.
Today’s lunch is Greek ♡♥.
Mom gave me some fresh eggplants looks really good, moussaka was the choice, first thing I wanted to do them as we normally cook it..I mean arabic version of it (منزله باذنجان ) but then changed my mind, white sauce in moussaka gives it a delicious twist, plus Greek moussaka reminds me of beautiful picturesque small village in Cyprus mountains where I ate it the first time..It was really really good.

Ingredients and method:
* 1 cup cooked minced veal.
* 2-3 large eggplants.
* 2-3 potatoes. (Optional).
* thinly sliced green peppers (optional).
* 1 small onion finely chopped.
* 1 clove garlic.
* 1 big ripe tomato. Peeled and chopped.
*1 spoon tomato paste.
* 2-3 cups white sauce (bechamel).
* mozzarella cheese for topping.

* saute onion, garlic with meat till tender then add chopped tomato and paste, season with salt and pepper and leave to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
* cut eggplants and potatoes to circles, sprinkle with salt and leave for 15 minutes to drain.
* deep fry them in oil till golden.
* set on kitchen towel till extra oil is out.
* layer potatoes , half of eggplants and green peppers in a deep oven pan.
* add meat tomato sauce.
* layer the other half of eggplants.
* pour all white sauce in top.
* cook in the oven in low heat for 30-40 minutes then sprinkle grated cheeese on top and roast.
* serve hot with Greek salad .

Tuna Sandwiches and Cheese Buns.

Hello again.

We’ve been eating too much meat, chicken, fatty food this week. So today I’m keeping it simple.

I made tuna sandwiches, only added lettuce, lemon juice, mayonnaise, salt and pepper to a can of tuna, with some pickles in the sandwich and that’s it.

Early morning though I was rearranging the fridge, found lots of already cut cheeses from breakfast, thought to make cheese buns with them. So I kneaded a dough, exactly like pizza , then arranged cheese slices with tomato slices and thyme. Form them into buns and baked them. Perfect for school lunches or snacks for kids.
Well, I had some dough left so I cut some fresh oregano from the garden, chopped a tomato on them, added dry oregano and sesame and made more buns.

Ended with a light delicious lunch…important point is that hubby and kids loved it ♡♥♡♥

Tabouleh♡♥

Hello everybody.
As I said yesterday no cooking today!!!!!
Yesterday my hubby went to Ghor and brought a big bunch of fresh parsley. So lovely and green calling for a tabouleh.♡♥
Remember I once made it but with spinach, same ingredients except you use parsley instead of spinach. Chopped onions, tomatoes, salt, pepper, lemon juice, olive oil and of course soaked burghul.
chicken with noodles and spinach tabouleh .
Tabouleh is a famous traditional dish in many Middle Eastern countries,homemade or in restaurants it’s always a favorite dish as appetizer or alone.
I sent a message to my lovely friends on Whatsapp, whoever is free come for tabouleh and coffee..unfortunately only three of them could come on such short notice. It was such a lovely sudden gathering ♡♥♡♥.

Kebab with Tomatoes (كباب هندي )

Hello everybody.
Couldn’t decide to cook or no today. I still have some rice but won’t be enough. So I decided to cook kebabs today and keep all leftovers for tomorrow

Kebab with tomatoes is a very old dish.easy to make and convenient if you’re going out,, I mean easily reheated.

Ingredients and method:
* kofta meat ( ready from butcher)
* onions.
* garlic.
* tomatoes.
* green peppers.
* 1 can chopped tomatoes
* 1 spoon ketchup and mustard.

* mix kofta with ketchup and mustard.
* form it to small kebabs finger shaped.
* coat them with flour then keep in fridge for a while.
* heat some olive add the kebabs till brownish from all sides.
* add chopped onions, garlic, peppers sautee with meat till tender.
* add 2 peeled chopped tomatoes and the can.
* leave to simmer for 30-40 minutes. Or you can put it the oven if you like.
* serve with rice.

Enjoy♡♥♡♥.

Spaghetti and Tzatziki Salad.

Hello everybody.
Saturday is back!!!!

Grocery and errands, kids wanted spaghetti, of course I didn’t object..easiest thing to do.
Today I made the sauce by using:
*minced meat.
* one can chopped tomatoes.
* 1 spoon tomato paste.
*1 spoon pesto sauce.
* chopped mushrooms.
* Mix meat with all other ingredients add a bit of water then leave to simmer till done.
* add salt, pepper, oregano or paprika according to your taste.
* cook pasta then add olive oil, salt and pepper , mix them all till heated
* serve with sauce abd cheese on top.

I found a bottle of tzatziki herbs in my husband’s picnic basket. Took it to use before it expires.
We usually eat this salad in all Cypriot restaurants, it’s served with traditional meat or fish mezze. It resembles the cucumber and yoghurt salad we make but it’s thick and eaten with bread.
Tzatziki seasoning can be bought ready as the bottle I show you or it can be done easily at home by mixing garlic powder with a bit of salt, oregano and dried mints. Original recipe uses only garlic, salt and vinegar. But adding herbs gives is a great taste.
Ingredients and method:
* 3-4 grated cucumber.
* 2 cups strained yoghurt or thick creamy yoghurt (
لبن بالقشطه او لبن نعاج )
* 1 tsp tzatziki powder.
Or salt, vinegar, crushed garlic, oregano and dried mints.
* Drain and squeeze cucumbers till all water is out.
* add herbs and salt.
* Add yoghurt and mix well.
* drizzle with olive oil.
* Can be garnished with paprika and olives.

Avocado Dip.

Hello again.
Today I have enough food from yesterday . So I have no intention to cook, but I have one avocado that I put inside the rice to ripen. I’d better do it before it becomes black.

You simply mash the avocado add salt, lemon, 1 big spoon yoghurt and 1 spoon tahini.

Mix well then decorate with chopped tomatoes and mint leaves.

Enjoy♡

قلايه بندوره . Cooked Tomatoes

Hello everybody.

I came back from breakfast yesterday with no intention to cook anything. But then felt guilty if I’m full doesn’t mean everybody in the house is.
So as a quick solution I made cooked tomatoes (قﻻيه بندوره ) . It’s a very famous meal always done by all families.
You need chopped onion, garlic , green hot pepper and 4 large peeled tomatoes. Plus salt, pepper, chilli powder and olive oil.
Heat some oil, sautee onions, garlic and pepper till tender. Add tomatoes and leave to simmer till tomatoes are done.
That’s it.♡

Tacos.

Hello everybody or should I say hola!!!!

Shopping again today with no time or any clue what to cook. As I went through store shlelves I found taco shells, so here it is..today’s lunch.I remembered that I already have cooked minced beef in the freezer so lunch will take 10 minutes to be ready. I only need to bring all ingredients:)

You will need:
* minced beef.
* taco shells.
*taco seasoning.
* canned red beans.
* 2-3 spoons sweet corn.
* small chopped onion.
* 1 chopped tomato.
* few drops Tabasco.
* sour cream ir labaneh will do.
*shredded cheddar cheese.

Method:
Cook the beef till done with a bit of oil, add half of the chopped onion, 3-4 spoons of beans, corn , 1 small spoon of taco seasoning and few drops of Tabasco. Simmer for 10 minutes on low heat.
To the other half if onion add tomatoes, drops of Tabasco and one big spoon if ketchup, mix well.
Note: this dip or filling can be bought ready made from any store, and you can make as spicy as you wish.
Arrange the shells in an oven tray and roast till a bit crispy.
Take them out then spread the shell with sour cream, add a spoonful of beef mixture, then another of tomato filling. Sprinkle with cheese and back in the oven till cheese melts. Serve it hot with a salad. Very fast and diffrent lunch for a change.

Homemade Kebab.

Hello everybody.

Sometimes you don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant or pay too much money for a fancy meal.
You can make homemade kebab and let it taste like it’s done on a bbq even.
I usually make many side dishes with it.today i’ll make yoghurt dip,roasted tomatoes, hot spicy potatoes.
I learned the yoghurt and tomato recipies from my husband. He usually makes them when going hunting with his friends.easy and quick.convenient for outdoor picnics also.
Yoghurt dip is made by mixing 3 big spoons of yoghurt with 2 big spoons of labaneh.add 1 small spoon of dried mint leaves and oregano.drizzle with olive oil.

As for roasted tomatoes, you roast 3-4 ripe red tomatoes, one hot pepper, 4-5 cloves of garlic sprinkled with salt and oil and folded in foil paper,,all in a hot oven till done.
You peel all, mash them with a fork add salt to taste…that’s it.

For the spicy potatoes.cut them to cubes and soak them in salted water.chop 4 cloves of garlic sautee in a bit if olive oil.
Deep fry the potatoes till crispy.leave on paper towel to remove excess oil then when still hot sprinkle with pepper, paprika, hot pepper and Tabasco if you like them extra spicy.mix well then add over garlic.
Before serving heat the potatoes till extra crispy and sprinkle some freshly chopped coriander (you can put them in the oven a bit also ).

Now to main dish.kebabs are simply kofta meat ( minced lamb meat mixed with onion, parsley, salt, pepper) usually bought ready from butcher. I add to it small spoon of mustard, ketchup, soy sauce and 2 spoons if flour and mix it very well.
Then you mould them over wooden sticks.
Tip: soak the sticks in water so as not to burn in the oven.
Place the sticks in a pan put leave them on the sides not bottom.
Put them in a well heated oven for 30-40 minutes. When all done and crispy heat one quick flaming charcoal till red and put it between the kebabs and close the oven so as they’ll absorb the flames..a trick that’ll give them a bbq taste.

Enjoy♡♥♡♡

Cold today…a soup is a must ( Carrot Soup).

Woke up to a cloudy cold weather….a spicy soup after work and school will be heart warming♡♥.
Of course soup alone won’t be enough…I made Kofta (كفته )….this is an arabic dish…consists of lamb meat finely chopped and mixed with onions.parsley…and spices…I usually buy it ready made from the butcher.
But I do add a bit if ketchup. mustard and oatmeal or breadcrumbs as available.
You spread the meat in a pan..not too thick nor too thin.
Leave it on the oven till all water is dry.
You can do Kofta in many ways..either keep it simple. add olive oil on top and roast it in the oven.
Or add tomato and potato slices..put it the oven till potatoes are tender..then roast it.
Another way is to add tahini yoghurt mixture(طحينيه ) on top and in the oven till it thickens.
It’s usually eaten with pitta bread or plain rice.

As for the soup…you’ll need one small onion.4-5 carrots. 1 cube chicken stock.butter. one big spoon oatmeal.cream or milk and 4 cups water.
Sautee the onions and carrots till tender.add the chicken stock cube.oatmeal and water.salt.pepper and a bit of cinnamon.

Let it simmer for 45 minutes on low heat till carrots are soft.
Mix all with a mixer or blender..add the cream..then let it boil for another 10-15 minutes…..and serve hot with toasted croutons if you like

What to cook today?

day by day cooking ideas

tomatoes

Moussaka.

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Tuna Sandwiches and Cheese Buns.

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Tabouleh♡♥

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Kebab with Tomatoes (كباب هندي )

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Spaghetti and Tzatziki Salad.

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Avocado Dip.

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قلايه بندوره . Cooked Tomatoes

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Tacos.

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Homemade Kebab.

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Cold today…a soup is a must ( Carrot Soup).

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