Tip of the day #5

How about eating rice filled with aroma instead of that old boring taste..
I suggest adding these spices when the rice is boiling in water (mix and match) :
Bay leaves,cloves,cardamom seeds,Fennel seeds,black lemon,cinnamon sticks.
Add a touch of turmeric for color.

 If you want to go the extra mile saute some onions and tomatoes in the pot your going to cook the rice in,then take it out and boil your rice with the chosen spices for 2-3 minutes then drain and fold in gently the onions and tomatoes and a touch of turmeric on top. Cover for 15 minutes on slow heat..Enjoy..

 # For 1cup of rice I add 1 1/4 tea.s salt. 

It's FALAFEL!!

Oh yeah Falafel can be easily made at home.

Ingredients:(makes 40 falafel approximately)

1. 5cups chick peas (soaked the night before )
2. 1/2 onion & 2garlic cloves
3. 1 bunch of parsley and 1/2 bunch of cilantro (optional cilantro )
4. 2 table.s flour
5. 1 tea.s baking powder,salt and cumin
6. sesame seeds (optional)

Method:

1. wash the soaked chick peas and drain from water
2. blend till most of the peas are crushed then add chopped onion and garlic
3. add the parsley and cilantro and spices and baking powder
4. when the texture is smooth add the flour and knead with hands
5. form small balls then press gently to form somehow a disk shape
6. coat with sesame seeds 
7. deep fry on low to medium heat until its done ( 3mints approximately)..
8. serve with pita bread and hummus or tahini with lemon. Enjoy...

# You can fry the amount desired and freeze the rest for later use. Or you can fry the whole batch and then freeze it.

Beehive Treat

It is a savory sweet treat filled with cream cheese and topped with honey..

Ingredients :

1. 4 cups all purpose flour
2. 5 table.s sugar
3. 1/4 cup milk
4. 1 1/2 table.s active yeast
5. 1/2 cup oil
6. 1/4 tea.s salt
7. Philadelphia cream cheese and warm water

Method:

1. Mix all dry ingredients together
2. add oil and mix till all flour is coated with oil and crumbles
3. add 1 cup of warm water and knead then add water gradually till you have an elastic dough.
4. knead for about 3minutes then cover and let it rise at least one hour
5. pre heat the oven on 350F
6.when the dough doubles in size form small balls and fill with desired amount of cream cheese.
7. place in a greased Pyrex or a greased non stick pizza pan ( round preferably )
8. brush it with milk and sprinkle sesame seeds on top (optional )
9. place in the oven 360F for 20-25 minutes
10. when its done and hot drizzle with honey
11. serve warm or room temperature..ENJOY..

 

Grilled Salad dipping

This yummy healthy side can be used as a dipping sauce or as a side with grilled food or anything really :-)
I inspired it from my Tunisian friends..

Ingredients :

1. 1 onion
2. 1 green bell pepper
3. 1 jalapeno pepper
4. 2 tomatoes
5. 1/2 an eggplant
6. spices ( salt,black pepper,cumin,lemon jucie,olive oil ) add to taste

Method :

1. preheat the oven on 400F
2. dice all the vegetable into chunks
3. drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper
4. place in the oven for 30-40 mints then broil till golden brown
5. remove from the oven and let it cool
6. add cumin,lemon juice,olive oil to taste and adjust the salt if needed.
7. blend till smooth and ENJOY...

Eggplant rolls

Ingredients: (4 servings)

1. 1cup ground beef
2. Chopped onion
3. Parsley
4. Diced Tomato
5. 2 garlic cloves,minced
6. 1/4 tea.s of salt,black pepper,cumin,salary salt,oregano
7. Eggplant
8. feta and mozzarella cheese

# sauce : 1/4 cup pizza sauce,1/2 cup water,1 table.s sour cream.

Method:

1. Slice the eggplant and fry it in olive oil (dont deep fry)
2. Season it with salt,pepper and oregano
3. sautee chopped onion then add ground beef and  minced garlic.
4.when its half done add diced tomato and chopped parsley
5.add spices
6. When it's done, lay down each slice of eggplant and fill it and carefully roll it.
7. Place it in a Pyrex and pour on it the sauce mixture
8. Garnish with cheese and place it in a preheated oven on 450F for 10 minutes.
9. Serve hot..Enjoy..

Tip of the day #4

Before slicing the pineapple place it in the fridge up side down for 30 minutes. This way the juice will run throw the whole body of the pineapple and all the slices will be yummy and juicy not only the bottom ones.

Enjoy..

Tip of the day #3

The food always tastes better if it is marinated over night.
Specially if your marinating for a BBQ the next day.

Your meat or chicken will be jucier and even cooks faster on the grill!!

I 80% use yogurt and lemon in marinitation.
If you want a Shwarma flavour add Tahini.

Try this delicious recipe: (coconut milk chicken)

1 chicken breast cubed
1/2 tea.s of (salt,cumin,curry,garlic powder,ginger powder)
1/4 tea.s of ( black pepper,paprika,hot chilli powder)
1 tea.s of sugar and white vingar
1table.s olive oil
1/2 cup coconut milk

# you can double this recipe #

Enjoy..