Posted in June 2011

royal rice and peas

royal rice and peas

Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 1/2 cup short grain white rice 2 cup frozen peas 1/2 cup almonds, peeled 1 1/2 cup tap water salt, pepper, baharat optional: red meat (mince, flakes, cubes – your choice); or a variety of vegetables, such as slices of carrot   Method: Soak the rice for no less than an … Continue reading »

nifty naan pizza

I have a serious problem with my oven. I don’t like it. It’s my enemy in cooking. It burns my food. It turns off half way through the cooking process. It browns the top of my cake, but not the bottom. It. Makes. My. Pizza. Crusts. Harder. Than. RocK. fati… …you have to find a … Continue reading »

goodbye grandma: suitcase cake

So a few weeks ago, it was time for my grandmother, who is filled with the most delicious traditional recipes one can’t find anymore, had to go back to her home country after a couple-month stay here at Down Under. And boy was it hard say goodbye.   I didn’t know how I should let … Continue reading »

luxurious lasagne muffins

luxurious lasagne muffins

Yields: ~ 10 Ingredients: Lasagne: 2 – 4 lasagne sheets (depends on the size) grated cheese (I used tasty) Meat mixture: 150 – 170 g minced meat 1 large onion, finely diced 1 1/2 tbs tomato sauce 3 tbs barbecue sauce 1 tsp soy sauce 3 tbs tomato paste salt, pepper, baharat, paprika is optional … Continue reading »

charming chicken strips

charming chicken strips

I usually put photos of the steps involved when making my dishes, but this one’s too easy, so I opted out the step-photos and put in some of the final-dish pics instead Just to get your taste buds moving… This recipe follows it’s former: captivating pan-bbq chicken, I did a few changes, just for a change, not because the original … Continue reading »

glamorous green beans

glamorous green beans

Serves: 4 Ingredients: 500 g grean beans 4 cups water 4 tbs tomato paste 150 g minced meat 1 medium onion, finely diced 10 peppercorns salt, pepper, baharat (preferably Syrian) – which I once called “mixed spice”     Method: Wash the green beans and cut the ends off. Next slice each bean into thirds/quarters. You … Continue reading »

alluring artichokes

alluring artichokes

Alluring Artichokes – Colourful and healthy   Serves: 4-5 Ingredients: 1/2 kg artichoke bottoms (I think you can get a packet of frozen ones which have up to 10 bottoms) 1/3 cup pine nuts 150-180g minced meat 1 med-large carrot, finely diced into cubes 1 cup pea pods 1 medium onion, finely diced citric acid, salt, … Continue reading »

shimmering shish barak

shimmering shish barak

Shish barak with coriander in the yoghurt Serves: 6 Ingredients: Shish Barak Dough: 2 1/2 plain or wholemeal flour (or a combination of both) 1/4 cup water 1 egg 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp sugar Shish Barak Filling: 180g minced meat 10 sprigs coriander, finely diced 1 medium onion, finely diced salt, pepper, mixed spice … Continue reading »

gleaming guacamole

gleaming guacamole

I realised with guacamole that there are two types of recipes. Ones with tomato and onion, others with sour cream. I personally love the smoothness of the sour cream recipe, so this is my version below (perhaps one that’s at least 100′s people’s version, too??) Serves: makes a fairly large plate Ingredients: 3 small-medium ripe avocados 200 … Continue reading »

passionate pancakes

passionate pancakes

Serves: ~ 5 Ingredients: 375 g pancake mix (for the lazy cooks!) 1 tsp strawberry jam (per pancake) powdered vanilla seasonal berries or hazelnuts Method: Prepare your pancake mix. Spray a large, flat pan on medium heat. Use your finger to oil the inside of a heart-shaped egg molder. Place the molder in the pan Fill … Continue reading »

mesmerising makdous

mesmerising makdous

Makdous. Magdous. Maqdous. Call it what you want. So long you eat it. This dish is based on the olden day methods of storing food for winter when little produce was available. Basically, it’s eggplant stuffed with capsicum and walnuts, cured in oil to produce the most divine tangy taste eggplant could ever give the … Continue reading »

candid citricade

candid citricade

Candid Citricade – Why Just Lemonade? Serves: 6 Ingredients: 6 medium yellow grapefruits 1 large red grapefruit 2 oranges 1 mandarin 2 1/4 cup white sugar (or to taste) 500 mL cold water   Method: Wash the fruit if you’re a perfectionist Cut the fruits in half. I used an electric juicer because I don’t … Continue reading »

precious pomegranate juice

precious pomegranate juice

It’s so tasty, there was only a glass left for 3 people to share. Next time, I’ll sticky tape my mouth when doing this! Serves: 4 Ingredients: 8 medium pomegranates (even if they’re partially unripe) 1/2 cup sugar water Method: Cut the pomegranates in half. Seed the pomegranates using your preferred method. The one I use … Continue reading »

prudish potato salad

prudish potato salad

This recipe is inspired by the simple thinking Arabian cuisine undertakes. Potato salad = potato + salad. Where ever did mayo get into the story? Perfect for those who don’t like mayo Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 large potato 1 medium tomato 1 Lebanese cucumber 1 cup chopped lettuce 1 spring onion, finely diced 1 medium … Continue reading »

poised potato mash

poised potato mash

Serves: 2 Ingredients: 1 1/4 cup potato cubes 1/4 cup milk (lactose free, lite, whole – doesn’t matter) 1 tbs butter (make sure it’s not a heaped tbs!) 1 clove garlic, crushed (optional) fresh chives or spring onion (optional) salt, pepper, mixed spice, dried mint, za’tar (dried thyme) Method: Cook the potato cubes in boiling … Continue reading »