A friend's Idea for Lunch

When I'm bored of cooking but still want to eat  a rich lunch, I use this recipe which I learned from a friend of mine but with some modifications of course :).
You can do it with either meat or chicken.

Ingredients ( serves 2) :

1. 2 cups of rice soaked in warm water for 30 minutes
2. half chicken ( boiled in water with a dash of salt , 5 cardamom seeds,6 cloves,2 bay leaf, 3 inch cinnamon stick)
3. 1 medium onion shredded
4. 2 carrots shredded
5. 1/4 cup or less of raisins and almonds and cashews
6. Spices used : salt and black pepper to taste , 1/2 tea.s turmeric , 1 tea.s cumin and curry powder , 1/2 tea.s garam masala ( optional ).
7. 1/4 cup rose water with Saffron soaked in it.
8. Chicken topping : 1 heaping table.s yogurt, 1 tea.s tomato sauce(if u have a paste make it 1/4tea.s) , pinch of turmeric, garlic powder and curry powder and cumin, drops of the rose water with saffron and if u like add a little of clarified butter.

Method:

1. Sautee the onions in little oil until browned a bit then add the shredded carrots and add more oil if needed.

2. add the mentioned spices above and stir occasionally on medium heat till everything is fried and melted together.

3. at the same time in another non stick pan brown the cashews and almonds and then add it to the onion-carrot mix along with raisins. mix for few minutes then set a side.

4. take the chicken out when its done and spread the topping mentioned above and broil.

5. to make the rice boil the chicken stock  with 2 tea.s + 1/2 tea.s of salt with few more cardamom seeds then add the rice and let it boil for 3 minutes then strain the excess water. Add quickly half the portion of the onion-carrot mixture to the pot with rose water and gently fold it in the rice and cover till the rice is done.About 20 minutes.

6. serve the rice with the chicken or meat on top and garnish. Enjoy its soooo Yummy.

Cardamom & Saffron Cupcake

It's a traditional cake made back home (Bahrain),usually baked in a tube pan but I like it in small cupcake bites :) my recipe works for both :)

Ingredients: (yeilds a dozen and half aprox)

1. 5 eggs
2. 1 cup sugar
3. 1 1/4 cup flour
4. 1/2 cup oil
5. 1/4 cup rose water with saffron strings soaked in it for 5-10 minutes
6. 2 tbl.s ground cardamom
7. 1 1/2 tea.s baking powder
8. 1/4 tea.s vanilla extract
 9. sesame seeds for sprinkling

Method:

1. whisk the eggs until fluffy then add the sugar , oil and vanilla and beat with an electric mixer
2. add the rest of the ingredients and mix
3. pour into a cake pan or cupcakes and sprinkle with sesame seeds
4. bake in a pre heated oven on 360 F for 30-35 minutes for pan or 20-25 minutes for cupcakes.Enjoy.

Indian Daal

If your fridge is almost empty! And your out of chicken or meat!
This recipe is for you, easy and will fill your stomach for sure :)

Ingredients: ( 2-4 servings)

1. 1 cup Daal ( orange lentils )
2. 3-4 garlic cloves minced
3. 1 small onion chopped
4. about 2 tbl.s chopped ginger
5. 1 hot chilli chopped ( optional)
6. 2 large tomatoes diced
7. 3 bay leaves
8. 2 tbl.s tomato sauce
9. 1 tbl.s cumin seeds
10. spices ( salt,cumin powder,curry powder,turmeric)
11. chopped parsley or cilantro for garnish

Method:

1. Using a pot, drizzle some oil or clarified butter and brown the onions.
2. add the garlic and ginger and hot chilli and careful don't burn the garlic.
3. add the tomatoes and cover. let it cook for few minutes until the tomatoes melt
4. add the Daal and season to taste with the mentioned spices above.
5. cover and let it cook on low heat for 30 minutes.
6. when its done. remove the bay leaves and blend using immersion blender until smooth.
7. in a frying pan heat some oil then add the cumin seeds brown for few seconds then pour the whole thing into the Daal and mix.
8. garnish with chopped parsley and serve with rice or bread. Enjoy.

Spicy Fish In Tomato Sauce

I love this recipe,its so easy to make and yummy too.

Ingredients: ( you can double the quantities ) 

1. 2 Tilapia fish fillets,cut in half or squares

2. 1/2 tea.s tandoori spice , turmeric and salt

3. 1/4 tea.s curry powder and ginger powder

4. 2 large tomatoes

5. chopped onion about 1/2 cup or less

6. 2 garlic cloves minced

7. 1/2 lemon squeezed

8. 1/4 cup tomato sauce+ 1/2 cup water,salt and cumin to taste

9. a dash of black lemon powder ( optional)

Method:

1. In a blender add the tomatoes,onions and garlic and blend till smooth

2. pour into a bowel and add your fish fillets and spices and lemon. mix well and let it marinate in the fridge for an hour.

3. In a deep pan saute the fish fillets in little oil on both sides then add the rest of the marinade sauce to it and let it cook on medium heat.

4. add 1/4 tomato sauce and water. adjust the salt and cumin to your taste.

5. let it cook on medium low heat for 20-30 minutes..Serve with rice or bread,Enjoy.

Bokhari Chicken

This dish is a common dish in the Arabian Gulf countries.

Ingredients:

1. Half a chicken
2. Onion sliced thinly
3. 2-3 carrots shredded
4. 2 tomatoes diced
5. 2 cups rice ( soaked for 30 minutes at least)
6. 1/4 cup tomato sauce ( optional)
7. spices ( salt,black pepper,cumin powder,2-3bay leaf,6 cardamom seeds )

# Garnish : fried shredded carrots , sliced almonds (browned), raisins

Method:

1. In a pressure cooker or pot, saute the onions in oil until browned
2. add the chicken and season with the above spices. add more oil if needed.
3. add the tomatoes and tomato sauce and about a cup of water,stir and cover.
4. cook on medium - low heat for 30 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked.
5. uncover and add the shredded carrots.cook for few more minutes then take out the chicken and broil until golden brown.
6. add more water to the pot if needed and bring to a boil then add the rice and salt ( remember 1 cup rice = 1 1/4 tea.s salt ). boil for 3 minutes then rinse and cover on low heat for 20 - 30 minutes or until the rice is done.
7. serve the rice and on top of it the chicken + garnish...Enjoooy

Coconut Milk Chicken

Ingredients:

1. Two chicken breasts or half a chicken
2. 1 tea.s salt
3. 1 tea.s cumin,curry powder,garlic powder,ginger powder.
4. 1\2 tea.s chilli powder(optional)
5. 1 table.s sugar and white vinegar
6. 1 cup coconut milk
#sauce: 1cup water (you can add more later depending how thick you want the sauce to be) + 1/2 cup coconut milk+ 2 table.s tomato sauce.

Method:

1. Cut the chicken into cubes and marinate it with the mentioned ingredients. Let it sit in the fridge for an hour at least or over night.

2. Saute the chicken in little oil until it browens on both sides.

3. Add 1 cup of water+2 table.s Tomato sauce and cover.cook on high for few mints then lower the heat to medium low for 15-20 mints.

4. Uncover and add 1/2 cup coconut milk.stir and sprinkle some sugar and adjust the salt of needed.add more water if needed.Simmer on low heat for 10 mints.Serve with rice or bread..Enjoy..

Fall Colors Salad

Ingredients:

1. red,yellow,orange bell peppers
2. sweet yellow whole kernel corn
3. medium or sharp cheddar cheese block 
# marinade : milk(2-3 table.s),sugar,mayonnaise,salt,black pepper

Method:

1. chop the peppers into small bites
2. chop the cheddar cheese into small squares
3. mix the ingredients in a bowel and then add the marinade ingredients to taste.
4. chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour or over night...Enjoy :-)

Guacamole fast & cheesey

Since I learned how to make my own Guacamole dipping I never went out to buy one.
Its easy tasty and healthier to make it at home without all the extra preservatives, colors and God knows what they put in it!!

Ingredients ( 2-3 servings) :

1. 1 ripe Avocado (Guacamole),mashed
2. 1/2 garlic clove minced
3. 1tea.s finely chopped onion
4. 2 table.s cream cheese softened
5. 1/4 cup or less of finely chopped tomatoes
6. some chopped jalapeno (optional)
7. salt, black pepper,chilli powder,lemon juice to taste

Method:

1. mix all the above ingredients in a bowel
2. cover and chill in the fridge for 1 hour at least..Serve with nacho chips and Enjoy :-)

Yummy Banana Muffins

Hearty Muffins that are great anytime of the day.

Ingredients: ( yields 1 1/2 dozen approx)

1. 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
2. 2 eggs
3. 3 bananas smashed
4. 3/4 cup sugar
5. 1/2 cup butter
6. 1 tea.s vanilla
7. 1 tea.s cinnamon powder
8. 1 table.s baking powder
9. 1/4 cup milk
10. some lemon zest ( optional)
11. about 1/2 cup or less walnuts (optional)

Method:

1. pre heat the oven on 350F
2. using an electric mixer,mix the eggs first with the vanilla extract and cinnamon powder
3. add sugar and butter and mix
4. add the rest of the ingredients and mix well
5. using an ice cream scoop, fill the cupcake pan and bake for 30-35 minutes on 360F.Cool and Enjoy ;)

Groats & Mixed Vegetables

A traditional dish served back at Home ( Bahrain ).

Ingredients: ( 3-4 servings)

1. 1 1/2 cup of Groats
2. 1 onion finely chopped
3. 2-3 tomatoes diced
4. 1 or 1 1/2 cup frozen mixed vegetables
5. 2 1/2 cups chicken stock ( homemade if possible )
6. 3 minced garlic cloves
7. 1/4 cup tomato sauce
8. 1/4 cup chopped parsley
9. spices to taste ( cumin powder, garam masala (or any mixed spice available ),curry powder,hot chilli powder,turmeric, 1 1/2 tea.s salt.

Method:

1. using a non stick pan brown the groats then set a side to cool.
2. using a pot , saute the onions first until browned then add the garlic
3. add the diced tomatoes and let it cook until its melts then add the tomato sauce and the mixed vegetables.
4. add the groats and parsley and season with the spices mentioned above.
5. add the salt.
6. gradually add the chicken stock while stirring on medium heat, until most of the stock is absorbed lower the heat and seal the pot with aluminum foil then cover and let it sit for 45 minutes aprox on low heat. you can check if its done after 30 minutes. if you feel it needs more moisture just add a little water on top and cover again.. Enjoy..

Roasted Vermicelli sweet balls

This simple treat will only take few minutes to prepare but with a lasting sweet taste to remember.

Ingredients:

1. 1 package roasted Vermicelli
2. About 1/2 can sweetened condensed milk(depends how sweet and sticky you like it)
3. Butter
4. Crushed pistachio (optional)

Method:

1. Crush the vermicelli in a bowel with your hands then Saute with some butter until its comes soft. It takes only few minutes.

2. Return it to the bowl and add sweetened condensed milk gradually while mixing until it sticks together and you can shape it with your hands or using a shot glass or something similar.add some crushed pistachio to the mix or just on top. Shape it into small balls or cones.

3. Cool in the refrigerator for 15 minutes at least before serving..Enjoy..

Tameece Bread

The most Delicious bread I have tasted yet!! You can eat it by itself :)
Its made inside the old clay or stone ovens but you can make it at you regular oven.
Its originated form the Arabian Gulf countries mostly in KSA(Saudi Arabia).Some stuff it with cheddar cheese , chocolate or even meat.

Ingredients:(6 medium disks approx)

1. 4 cups all purpose flour
2. 3 table.s milk powder ( I used Needo brand)
3. 1/2 cup melted butter or ghee ( you can mix them )
4. 1 table.s yeast
5. 1 table.s sugar
6. 1 tea.s salt
7. 1 tea.s baking powder
8. chredded cheddar cheese(optional )
9. sesame seeds and milk to brush the face
10. warm water

Method:

1. mix the dry ingredients first then add the melted butter.
2. add the water gradually while kneading until you got an elastic dough.
3. cover and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours
4. after it doubles in size cut the dough into how many balls you desire.
5. have a griddle or pan on the stove on medium-high heat ready to use and your oven on on the broiler.
6. roll the ball into medium thickness then sprinkle with cheddar cheese or brush with chocolate spread if desired.and flip it close and roll again.
7. brush  the top with milk and saseme seeds. and poke it with a fork or with your fingers.
8. cook it on the griddle until you see it rise a bit and check that its browned under then transfer it to the oven to brown the top.it takes few minutes the whole process.Enjoy :-)

A date with DATES!

DATE CAKE

Ingredients:

1. 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2. 5 eggs
3. 3/4 cups sugar
4. 1 cup oil
5. 1 cup crushed walnuts ( optional)
6. 30-40 dates + 1 table.s butter
7. 1 table.s baking powder
8. 1 tea.s ground cardamom,cinnamon and ground fennel seed
9.1/2 tea.s vanilla

Method:

1. in a small sauce pan heat up the dates (seeds removed ) with the butter until its all melted and set a side.
2. whisk the eggs with the vanilla extract and cardamom,cinnamon powder and ground fennel seeds
3. add the sugar then the oil
4. add the flour and baking powder and then add the dates paste and walnuts.
5. pour into a greased cake pan or Pyrex and bake in a pre-heated oven on 360 F for 40-45 minutes..ENJOY..
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Date Rolls

Ingredients:

1. thawed spring rolls
2. around 15-20 dates
3. cinnamon powder and ground fennel seeds,ground cardamom ( optional) to taste
4. 1 table.s sweetened condensed milk
5. Tahini for garnish

Method:

1. in a small sauce pan heat the dates ( seeds removed) with some butter (optional) and add the condensed milk
2. melt the dates and add the flavorings and set a side to cool
3. cut the square spring roll sheets into four small squares 
4. fill each square with little of the dates paste and roll up, seal it with water if needed
5. fry until golden brown in medium heat ( it will take few seconds to cook)
6. drizzle with Tahini and serve..Enjoy..

Maglooba

Maglooba means upside down :)..
Its a rice dish made with meat or chicken or even shrimp and fried vegetables ( onions,carrots,potatoes,eggplant,tomatoes,squash) ( Middle Eastern ).

Ingredients: ( 2-3 servings )
1. I used lamb this time but you can exchange it.
2.  1 carrots cut into round or thin strips
3. sliced onion
4. sliced 2 potatoes
5. sliced almonds ( for garnish )
6. lamb spices used (a dash of black pepper,salt,cumin powder,turmeric,curry powder or any other mixed spice you got,3-4bay leaf,7-10cloves,7-10cardamom seeds,2-3 cinnamon sticks 2-3 inches long approx, ).
7. 1 1/2 cups of rice ( soaked in water for 15 minutes at least before cooking )

Method:

1. In a pressure cooker add your lamb shanks and add water until its covered or almost and the spices mentioned above. set it on high for 10 minutes then on medium heat for 1 hour.
2. meanwhile fry your veggies but not deep fry..add salt and pepper and cumin (optional ) to taste and set aside.
3. brown the sliced almonds and set a side
4. when the meat is done. take it out and broil for few minutes ( optional )
5. strain the water from the spices seeds and sticks and then bring to a boil and add the rice in it for 3 minutes plus 1 1/2 tea.s salt or you can add salt to your measurements. then drain it.
6. spread a little ghee butter or clarified butter in the bottom of the pot then place your potatoes and the vegetables then add the rice and top it with the meat and almonds and cover on low heat for 20-30 minutes or until its fully cooked..Enjoooooy :)

Breeka ( Tunisian )

A Tunisian Appetizer * I believe *, I have learned it from my lovely Tunisian friends..
The idea is simple : have a spring roll sheet ready and mainly stuff it with potatoes ( either boiled,fried,baked ) , eggs ( cooked or raw or both ) , cooked shrimp , tuna , parsley or cilantro and litlle spices to taste..plus cream cheese or shredded ( optional )
mostly when I have some leftover  cooked potatoes I make with it some BREEKA :)
The traditional shape is making a triangle, but you can do rolls too if you like , BREEK CIGARS ;)

Ingredients:

1. spring roll sheets ( thawed )
2. fried cubes of potato or boiled ( seasoned with little salt and pepper )
3. about 1/3 cup of chopped parsley or clinatro
4. half a can of tuna
5. few cooked shrimp ( optional )
6. eggs ( raw and boiled or just raw ) ( depending on your quantity , crack each egg at time and mix because you dont want the mixture to be too runny!! )
7. salt,black pepper,cumin,drops of lemon juice and hot chilli sauce to taste.

Method:

1. mix all the ingredients above in a bowel and as I mentioned above crack the eggs one at a time until the ingredients are well sticky together but yet not runny mixture!!
2. another way to do it is cracking only one egg on top of the mixture above in each triangle sheet of spring roll and seal the edges with water.
3. fry the triangles or rolls until golden brown..
4. Serve with a lemon wedge on the side..Enjoy...

Creamy Prawns

An Italian inspired dish..and as you may notice I like to serve almost everything with rice!! :p
But if you want to do it the Italian way mix this dish with penne pasta and cheese.

Ingredients: (2-3 servings )

1. 10-13 large or jumbo cooked shrimp
2. 1 small onion thinly sliced
3. 3 garlic cloves minced
4. 1 green bell pepper thinly sliced ( you can add red bell pepper too )
5. few Broccoli flowers ( optional )
6. 3-4 mushrooms sliced
7. 3/4 cup water
8. 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
9. salt,black pepper and cumin to taste
10. 1/2 tea.s flour
11. pinch of sugar (optional)

Method:

1. saute the onions in a large skillet until browned
2. add the mushrroms and some butter and brown them too
3. add the garlic wait until its golden then add the prawns and let it cook for few minutes
4. add the remaining vegetables
5. season with salt,pepper and cumin powder and mix
6. deglaze the pan with 3/4 cup of water and stir then gradually add the cream and cover for 10 minutes on low-meduim heat.
7. uncover and simmer for extra 10 minutes and add 1/2 tea.s of flour for a thicker sauce.
8. Go Italian: have a boiled penne pasta ready in a pot and pour the mixture on it and let it cook for few minutes then stir in the cheese and serve hot..Enjoy..

Beef Kofta

Beef Kofta can be served with rice or pasta in a heavy tomato sauce or mushroom sauce or just place them in a Sandwich!!

Ingredients: ( yields 10-12 kofta )

1. 1 cup ground beef
2. 1 small potato shreded
3. 1 egg
4. 2 minced garlic cloves
5. 1/2 small onion finely chopped
6. about a 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro or parsley
7. salt,cumin powder,garam masala to taste.

Method:

1. mix the above ingredients and let it rest for 15-20 minutes.
2. shape into small balls ( I used an ice cream scoop to help ) and fry until fully cooked..
3. here I topped each kofta with tomato sauce and cheese and heat it until the cheese melted and served it with saffron rice..

Sweet & Salty Scoops!

Hello my dear viewers. I introduce today a traditional dish from KSA!
They mostly make it in the winter time and its almost like pancakes but Arabian Style hahaha..
Its called Mosabeeb which is something you scoop it down so I named it Scoops :) and it can be eaten either sweet or salty and you can even keep it in the fridge or freezer for later use.

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup whole wheat flour
2. 1 cup all purpose flour
3. 1 egg
4. 1 tea.s yeast
5. 1 tea.s sugar
6. 1 tea.s baking powder
7. 1/4 cup milk
8. 2 cups warm water
9. 1/2 tea.s ground cardamom seeds (optional )

Method:

1. whisk the egg with the ground cardamom until fluffy
2. add the rest of the ingredients and whisk until everything well blend in.
3. cover with a clean cloth and let it sit in a warm place for 30 minutes.
4. heat up an electric griddle or on your stove griddle and brush lightly with oil.
5. with an ice cream scoop, scoop down the mixture forming a round disk.
6. wait until the surface bubbles and almost dries up then flip it to cook on the other side.
7. Serve Hot with butter and Honey or you can roll it up or make sandwiches with any kind of filling you like..Enjoy..

Cheesy Puffs

Simple treat for the whole family :-)

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups all purpose flour
2. 1/4 cup milk
3. 1/4 cup oil
4. 1//2 cup softened cream cheese
5. 1 1/2 tea.s yeast
6. 1 tea.s baking powder
7. warm water for kneading

8. sesame seeds,Nigella sativa seeds for flavoring (optional)

Method:

1. mix the dry ingredients first
2. add the oil and mix then add the milk + cream cheese and knead..add warm water gradually to get a smoother elastic dough.
3.cover and let it rise in a warm place not more than 30 minutes.
4. with a rolling pin spread the dough no too thin or thick and start making desired shapes with cookie cutters..
5. for extra puffiness let the shapes rest for 10 mints or so..then deep fry on both sides..keep an eye on them because they take seconds to cook.
6.drizzle on top with honey or  any sugary syrup..Enjoy..

Homemade pitas

I love making my own pita bread because they taste so fresh and you can add some flavour each time you make them. For example a pinch of cumin, thyme,oregano,fennel seeds you name it..
You may notice in this recipe and any other pastry or bread recipe that I wrote I don't mention the exact amount of water used,that's because it depends on some factors that are different in each house. For example the room temperature,your water temperature if its a bit cold you will need more water and if its too hot you will need less.
I recommend in the winter season to keep your house very warm when making the bread and I heat my oven just for seconds and close it so its a warm place for my dough to rise in.

Ingredients: ( 8 medium pitas aprox)

1. 4 cups all purpose flour
2. 4 table.s sugar
3. 1 table.s+1 tea.s yeast
4. 1 tea.s baking powder
5. 1/4 tea.s salt
6. 1/4 cup milk
7. 1/2 cup oil
8. Warm water or room temperature

Method:

1. Mix in a bowl the dry ingredients first
2. Add the oil and mix . You will see the flour crumbles into small balls.
3. Add the milk plus 1 cup of warm water and knead..add water gradually while kneading until you get a non sticky elastic dough.
4. Cover with a cloth or a plastic wrap and keep it in a dark warm place. I always keep it in the oven. Let it rise for 1 hour or more.
5. After it doubled in size take the dough out and cut it into 8 balls less or more depending on the size of the pita desired.
6. Your oven should be on on the broiler with the oven rack placed just above the center line.
7. From a round pita and place it in the oven ( you can use a pizza stone or pan). It should take few minutes to rise and brown then flip it on the other side. Keep your eyes on the oven because some will be done in no time!
8. Enjoy...