Pumpkin Soup.

Hello everybody.

What a day!! up very early don’t know why,been on the run till now I even didn’t have time to cook something at all, plus it’s a gloomy rainy day , hate to start a month like this but keep saying tomorrow is a better day 🙂

I did pumpkin soup very quickly cause I already have some cooked from yesterday, really good in this cold weather with some baked pitta bread !

It’s easily done just saute some chopped onions and pumpkin pulp then add salt,pepper,ginger and cinnamon, when done add 4 cups chicken broth or water with 1 cube Maggi and boil for half hour, mix in blender or hand mixer and add some cream or milk then simmer for 15 minutes.

I’ll make a good meal tomorrow for sure to compensate today’s lousy meal, though nobody at home grumbled and each one managed with a sandwich, till tomorrow then 🙂

Summer Farewell Breakfast.

Hello everybody.
This morning all family ladies gathered at my uncle’s garden for breakfast, a kind of farewell to Summer days cause as usual here in Jordan we suddenly go into Winter, no in betweens !
As agreed from last week it was a sharing party, though my aunt almost prepared most of the food from her household pantry, cheese, labaneh, olives and delicious newly ripened stuffed eggplants (مقدوس )…etc.
The star of the table was fresh home baked bread done by my dear cousin, unbelievably tasty, wiped out instantly.

At the meantime I’m preparing dinner for our dear friends, made some lovely appetizers and salad, will post them later.

Inshallah we always gather each year in all seasons and times in good health and happiness, love you aunties and cousins and sorry expats, I know you all wished to be with us.♡

White Beans.

Hello everybody.

Though it’s supposed to be still Summer you can feel a cold crisp wind specially at night so a wintry meal won’t be too hot to eat today.

I posted this dish earlier in February,as I said then didn’t think I’ll do it till next year,but seems Winter is coming very early , plus it’s a favorite of my husband and youngest son. It’s really good with green peppers and onions.

As for the diet I’m on, I ate a small cup of rice with some beans and one piece of meat,fair enough I guess !!

Shepherd Pie.

Hello everybody.

Feels like Autumn today,cold and cloudy,never had a Summer this strange,very cold at night and only few hot days.

Lunch today is a bit wintry but it suits the clouds!! it’s usually done cause it’s fulfilling and hot in cold days. I also made some mushroom soup with it .

Ingredients and method:

* cooked ground beef.

* chopped onions and garlic.

* some veggies,peas,carrots,corn and mushrooms.

* 3-4 boiled potatoes.

* soy sauce,ketchup and Worcestershire sauce ( i didn’t have it today so I used HP)

* bread crumbs.

* salt and pepper.

* Saute onions,garlic and meat in some oil or butter.

* add the veggies and sauces and simmer till done.

* mash the potatoes with some butter and milk,salt and pepper.

* pour the potatoes over the veggie meat mix.

* bake in a medium heated oven for 30-40 minutes.

* sprinkle some bread crumbs on top and toast.

* Serve hot with ketchup and salad.

Poutine ( french fries and gravy)

Hello everybody.

I know you’re asking yourself what’s that Banan is talking about?

Well my eldest son told me about this dish,his friend living in Canada told him this a famous traditional Canadian dish,so after doing a quick review on various recipes ,today I did this one. Really really good,we all loved it.

Poutine is basically french fries covered with gravy and cheese,but gravy is very rich and tastes great.

Ingredients and method:

* potatoes, cut and fried any shape you like.

* Gravy:

* 2 tablespoons butter.

* 2 tablespoons flour.

* 1 small finely chopped onions.

* 1 chopped garlic .

* 1 yablespoon ketchup.

* 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce.

* 1/2 tsp vinegar.

* 3 cups chicken or veal stock.

* cheddar cheese or cheese curd.

* saute onions and garlic in some oil.

* add ketchup,vinegar and soy sauce.

* stir well and add stock.

* melt butter and mix with flour till brownish,then add to stock.

* mix well and simmer till thick,add salt,pepper and chili if you like.

* fry potatoes then place in a deep dish,cover with gravy and cheese.

* put in the oven a bit till cheese melts and serve.

Today I made kofta with tomatoes and salad with the poutine, to be done again for sure 🙂

Freekeh Soup (شوربه فريكه )

Hello everybody.

Winter is back again, though it’s warm but raining at last ( حمدلله ). So I decided to make soup only just before lunch time , thank God for pressure cooker again.
This soup is very tasty and nutritious , it is made from fine freekeh not the one used in cooking as rice, can be bought from any store.
Ingredients and method:
*1 cup washed fine freekeh.
* 1 small finely chopped onion.
* 1 cube maggi or chicken stock.
* salt, pepper and 1 tsp powdered cumin.
* juice of half a lemon.
* 6 cups water.

* saute onions in some oil.
* add washed freekeh.
* add maggi cube.
* add salt and spices.
*add lemon juice.
* add water.
* leave to cook for 20-30 uf in pressure cooker or 1 hour if in regular pan.

Enjoy♡♥♡♥

White Beans.( فاصوليا بيضاء )

Hello everybody.

Came in the kitchen before going to bed last night to search pantry and fridge for lunch ideas. Found a small bag of white beans,, after approval from hubby and kids, soaked them in water and small spoon sodium bicarbonate. Took out a bag of meat cubes from the freezer to be defrosted in the morning.then off to bed.

This meal is usually cooked in winter so I guess I won’t buy another bag till next year.
Ingredients:
* 1 cup of white beans soaked in water and bicarbonate overnight.
* cubed veal or lamb meat.
* fresh tomato juice.
* 1 pack tomato paste.
* 1 chopped onion.
* 2-3 cloves garlic.
* 1 small spoon cumin powder.
* salt, pepper.

Method:
* in the pressure cooker or regular pan, heat a bit of oil then add meat cubes. Stir till brownish then add onions and crushed garlic.
* wash the beans then add them.
* add spices and salt.
* add tomato juice and paste till it covers all.
* cook for 30-40 minutes if in pressure cooker or 1-1 1/2 if in regular pan.
* be careful not to overcook beans or else they’ll be clotted or mashed.

I also made a delicious eggplant salad that I learned hiw to do it from a restaurant.
You need:
* 1 big eggplant cubed.
* small lettuce.
* 1 bunch rocca leaves.
* 2 cucumbers.
* 1 solid tomato.
* green onion.
* mixed colored peppers.
* lemon juice, tahini, yoghurt .
* sesame seeds, black seeds and some summaq for decoration.

Method:
* deep fry eggplants till golden and leave on paper towel.
* make tahini sauce by mixing 1 small spoon lemon juice, 1 big spoon tahini, salt and 2-3 spoons yoghurt.
* chop lettuce, rocca, cucumber, peppers, tomato and onion.
* before serving add eggplants then top with sauce and sprinkle sesame, black seeds and summaq on top.
* mix it right before eating.
* you can add croutons or fried bread cubes if you like.

Enjoy♡♥♡♥