walnuts

Banana Chocolate Biscotti.

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Hello everybody.

It’s been a long time, missed writing new recipes a lot cause ever since I started catering I haven’t got enough time to try something new , till today 🙂

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Lucky me no cooking this morning so I found it an opportunity to use the lonely ripe 3 bananas in the fruit basket into something instead of becoming too soft and then throw them away.

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So after looking through my fridge i found two Lion Bars also, some walnuts and butter. New biscotti trial then it is and the result was super yummy.

Ingredients and method:

  •   2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup sugar.
  • 1 cup butter and vegetable oil
  • 3 ripe mashed bananas
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup walnuts
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chunks (any kind you like)
  • 3 tablespoons coccoa
  • 2 1/2 to 3 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder.
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Beat eggs with vanilla and sugar.

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Add butter and oil then all ingredients and knead well to get a soft manageable dough.

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Form it into a wide log then cut lengthwise to thin strips.

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Lay them on baking sheets.

Bake in a medium heated oven for 15020 minutes or till a bit dry.

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Dip ends with melted chocolate and crushed walnuts if you wish.

 

21463282_10155474239885907_6612385071947535000_n great with morning coffee for sure.

Morning Gathering. 

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Hello everybody.

A simple elegant cheese platter with dried fruits and strawberries with crackers or breads can be the best thing for a small gathering specially if done with love to loving friends. 

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I used a selection of cheeses, white, cheddar, Camembert and kashkaval with healthy dried fruits, some olives and a selection of jams (figs,quince, marmalade) 

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I also made some sweet light cheese served with mixed berries jam.

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Persian Walnut Cookies.

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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:

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* 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.

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* 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.

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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.

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Homemade Sweet Cheese.

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Hello everybody.

We had a big brunch this morning for my mother in-law’s old friends.
Lovely group full of  old memories, besides things I made I ordered others like haluva, kibbeh and yalanji.

I made falafel rolls,cheese platter, Greek salad, date rocca salad and za’tar puffs.

For dessert I kind of created two elegant dishes, made cream cheese yesterday then molded it today to two parts. One with caramel, walnuts and figs. The other with strawberry sauce and almonds.

ingredients and method:

  • 2 liters of fresh milk.
  • 9 tablespoons white vinegar.
  • 1 small pack cream (علبه قشطه صغيره)
  • Boil milk well then add the vinegar, curd will immediately start to crumble.
  • With a sieved spoon collect curd in a fine sieve so as all water goes out.
  • Add the cream and mix well.
  • when no more water comes out put a kitchen towel on top and cool it in the fridge for several hours.
  • you can serve it with any sauce you like e.g caramel,strawberry,honey …etc.

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Everybody loved it, a really nice looking elegant dish. Other desserts were brought by the guests ,a dessert done in a  Shishani sweets bakery ,  delicious as well.

wpid-wp-1446118872687.jpg don’t know the name of this dessert but it’s yummy.

 

 

 

 

 

Toffee Cake with Butterscotch Sauce.

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Hello everybody

No intention at all to do a cake or dessert cause we’re all trying to cut down sugars , at least try, but my mother in-law gave these dates she didn’t like cause they ‘re too sweet so I thought i’d do this cake with them and send her most of it.

 

Recipe is easy so is the cake specially if you eat it with ice cream and sauce.

Ingredients and method:

  • 3 tablespoons butter.
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil.
  • 2/4 cup brown sugar.
  • 1 1/2 cups pitted dates.
  • 1 tsp baking soda.
  • 1 tablespoon molasses.
  • 2/3 cup boiling water.
  • 3 eggs.
  • 1 tsp vanilla.
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.
  • 2 tsp baking powder.
  • 1 tsp ginger.
  • 1 tsp cinnamon.
  • 1 2/3 wholewheat flour.

* In a deep bowl soak dates,molasses,baking soda,ginger and cinnamon in the boiling water.

*Beat butter,oil and sugar till creamy.

*Add  eggs one at a time at a time then vanilla.

*Add flour and baking powder.

*Add walnuts and date mixture and mix with wooden spoon.

  • bake in a medium heated oven for 40-50 minutes or till done from inside.
  • Cool then serve with ice cream and sauce on top.

 

Butterscotch sauce:

1/2 cup brown sugar.

1 tablespoon butter.

1 pack cream

2 tablespoons maple syrup.

Mix all ingredients together and heat till heat till sugar dissolves then simmer for 2 minutes.

keep warm .

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wpid-wp-1441891945649.jpg cake and sauce.

wpid-wp-1441891955643.jpg wpid-wp-1441891965402.jpg  smooth rich cake.

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Homemade Qatayef.

Hello everybody.

Today I decided to try my cousin’s recipe of Qatayef ,a homemade one cause she lives abroad and this typical Ramadan dessert is not available, but my version was to make a big one filled half with cheese and half with walnuts.

ingredients and method:

* 1 cup flour.

*1 cup semolina.

* 1 tablespoon corn flour.

* 1 tsp vanilla.

* 2 tsps baking powder.

* pinch of salt.

* 1 tablespoon sugar.

* 2 1/4 cups warm water.

* syrup

* Mix all ingredients well in a blender then leave to rise or bubbly.

*heat a nonstick pan till very hot then reduce heat and pour a bit of dough the size you like.

* leave till all dry then remove to cool on a clean cloth.

* stuff and close with sweet cheese or walnuts.

* fry or bake as you wish then dip in syrup.

 

Dinner tonight was a bit of leftovers a plus a steak sandwich loaf ,which is usual steak sandwich filling ( shredded beef,onions,peppers,mushrooms) spread over a rectangular pizza dough , I added mustard and cheese also. Fold the dough and bake all in a medium heated oven till golden and crispy.

 

Usual appetizers were mashed fava beans and fatoush.

 

 

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wpid-wp-1434739305573.jpeg steak sandwich loaf.

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Humming Bird Cake.

Hello everybody.

Did this beautiful cake for my best friend’s son birthday, a traditional American recipe full of flavors and looked elegant as well.

Ingredients and method :
# 3 eggs.
# 1 1/2 cups suger.
# 3-4 ripe bananas.
# 1 can pineapple with syrup.
# 3/4 cup vegetable oil.
# 3/4 cup crushed walnuts, almonds or pecans.
# 1 tsp vanilla.
# 2 tsp baking powder.
# dash of salt.
# 1 tsp cinnamon.
# 3 cups flour.

Cream cheese frosting:
# 1 pack cream cheese.
# 1/4 cup icing sugar.
# 1/4 cup butter.
# some roasted crushed nuts.

# Beat eggs with vanilla, sugar and oil till creamy.
# mash and mix in blender bananas and pineapple can all together.
# add puree to cake mix.
# add rest of ingredients alternatively.
# bake in two small pans or one if you don’t want it layered.
# bake in a medium heated oven for 30-40 minutes or till dry from inside.
# beat frosting ingredients well and cool in fridge till stiff.

Decorate cake with filling inside out.

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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

 

 

Anise,Almond Walnut Biscottis.

Hello everybody.

Going to visit my cousin this evening,excited to go see her new baby.

As a usual custom now I made her some biscottis,some with anise seeds and some with almonds and walnuts, though the ones with nuts become so crumbly but taste is good, these will be great with coffee or tea in the morning.

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wpid-wp-1426690548536.jpeg biscottis before cutting.

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Lunch was beans from yesterday and some lentils with rice ( mujadara)  and a big salad.

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