Citrus Cupcakes

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I think it is too much, I am only posting sweet/baked goods. Why do I remember my camera as I only bake and forget it when I cook other things..I've no clue..

Ingredient:

200 gram butter, room temperature

1 cup caster sugar

four eggs, room temperature

1 tbs freshly grated orange peel

1 tbs freshly grated lime peel

1 cup milk, room temperature

4 tbs lime juice

2 cups self-raising flour (sifted with 1/4 tsp baking powder)

method:

• Beat butter and sugar till light and fluffy
• Add eggs, one by one as you continue beating
• Add lime juice, orange and lime peel
• Add milk, and continue beating
• Add self-raising flour and beat till just combined
• Fill cupcake liners to half (obviously I went too little in filling them, which left space)
• Bake in a preheated oven (170 degrees Celsius) for 20-25 minutes or till toothpick inserted comes out dry.

Eggless Pancakes

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

An eggless pancake recipe which sure you'll share my love for it <3

1 cup all purpose flour

1 1/4 cups milk

3 tbs sugar

2 tbs oil/or butter

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp cardamom powder (optional)

1 full tsp baking powder

• In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients alone 
• add wet ingredients, and mix till just combined
• warm your pan, add your batter and let it cook for few minutes, keep checking it
• turn it and cook for less than a minute
• serve

Cinnamon Muffins

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

You can't go wrong with these muffins, they are easy (and fast) to make plus they taste so good. I've adapted the recipe from this blog and made minor changes to suit my taste buds :).

200 gram melted butter

1 cup granulated sugar

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 eggs, room temperature

3 tsp baking powder

1 cup milk, room temperature

1 tsp cinnamon

For the topping:

melted butter

granulated sugar mixed with cinnamon powder (I did not use specific measurement, the amount used is up to you)

Method:

• Sift together dry ingredients and set aside
• mix using a whisk the wet ingredients
• add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mix till just combined
• grease your baking tray (I used my cupcake tray) and fill each cup 3/4
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, do not bake longer otherwise they'll dry up
• dip warm muffins into butter, then into sugar and cinnamon mixture.

Ginger Cookies

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

It is funny that while I am on my laptop working on my assignment, I feel like posting a recipe, Emm very bad of me.

Ingredients:

200 grams salted butter

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup corn flour

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons freshly grounded dry ginger

• Beat sugar and butter till light and fluffy
• Sift together corn flour and all purpose flour and add ginger to it
• add the dry ingredients to the sugar and butter mixture and mix using your hand or a wooden spoon
• use a cutter to shape into cookies, bake in a preheated oven (165 degrees Celsius) for 15 minutes.

I should have these cookies beside me as I'm concentrating (very hard) on my assignment :)

Waffles

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The typical me, spending more than I should away from my favourite blog. I can say it is all due to time constraint, plus I hate spending time downloading photographs, re-sizing them and posting them :).

I feel exceptionally happy when I attempt many recipes of specific dish, and then I come up with my one!..it is an accomplishment in the food world for ME..:) it has always been..

I try to bake something at home every weekend so my son can have a home made snack (or part of it actually), I don't trust everything in stores. So this is usually made for that purpose, although it doesn't last us even half of the week. 

Ingredients (all in room temperature):

200 gram butter (salted)

5 eggs

1 1/4 cups caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

3/4 cup water

3 cups self-raising flour

• Beat butter and sugar till light and fluffy
• Add eggs, one at a time and continue beating
• Add vanilla
• Sift flour with cardamom and add them to the mixture alternating with water till well combined
• heat your waffle maker, coat it with butter or oil, add your batter and cook till waffles are golden brown. I add small portions (as I mentioned earlier specifically for children)

Cheese Cookies-And Happy Eid

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I've seen this recipe somewhere, and made a mental note of it. and now I've spent long time searching for the blog where I found the recipe, but couldn't find it. I loved the idea and adapted it, but still I want to link back to give credit to the one who made it, will still look for it.I made these for eid as we bake and bake lots of sweets to serve for guests and take to the houses we visit as well. Happy Eid everyone...:)

Cheese cake cookies (adapted from somewhere):

400 gram salted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

4 1/2 cups flour (I remember the original recipe called for 3 1/2)

1 cup cream cheese

2 tsp baking powder (mixed with the flour)

2 eggs

vanilla

crushed digestive biscuits

• Beat butter, sugar and cheese till mixed well, add eggs one at a time and then add vanilla
• add flour and continue mixing at low speed
• the dough will be soft, so you can cover it and refrigerate it for around one hour
• shape your cookies and roll them on crushed biscuits, bake for around 15 minutes 160 degrees Celsius

Harira soup

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Harira, a chickpea soup. it is a Moroccan/Algerian soup served mostly during the month of Ramadhan. It is hearty, filling and delicious. I have been looking for a recipe and got this one which is delicious.

Ingredients:

1½ large onion, grated (I used two medium onions)

½ glass lentils, pre-cooked

200 g chickpeas, pre-cooked (or canned)

1 celery stalk, chopped

2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped

1 tsp tomato paste

2 tbsp flour

3 tbsp vermicelli

2 tbsp fresh parsley, coarsely chopped

2 tbsp fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 liter boiling water

½ tsp ground pepper

1/3 tsp ground cinnamon

1/3 tsp ground ginger

pinch of ground turmeric

pinch of rasa el hanut (I didn't have this)

2 threads of Moroccan saffron (I used Iranian saffron, which I have)

2 tsp salt (up to you)

Method:

• Cook the soup: Put a pan over medium heat to warm up. Add oil and then onion, celery, chopped parsley, half of the chopped coriander and spices; let simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and let simmer uncovered for 5 more minutes stirring now and then. Add tomato paste, pre-cooked lentils and chickpeas and stir well – let simmer for 5 more minutes. Add water and bring to boil, then let cook for 5 minutes longer.
• Thicken the soup: In a cup dissolve the flour in a small quantity of water and carefully mix into the soup constantly stirring. Let cook for 5 more minutes stirring now and then for the flour to expand. Put the vermicelli and let cook for 5 more minutes.
• Serve: Garnished with the rest of the chopped cilantro when serving.

ingredients and methods adapted from the site mentioned above.

Sponge cake with chocolate ganache

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I made this to celebrate the start of ramadhan (few weeks ago). The sponge cake recipe has been a favourite for few years now. However, this is my first time to make the chocolate ganache, if you like bittersweet taste of chocolate, than you would love this. 

Sponge cake recipe:

Six large eggs, separated (make sure that the white has no traces of yolks)

1 cup caster sugar, separate in half and sifted

3 tbs water, room temperature

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup flour

3/4 tsp cream of tartar

vanilla (I also add cardamom powder, around 1/2 tsp)

1 cup flour, sifted, and remove one spoon and add one spoon of corn flour- or use cake flour instead

Method:

• Beat egg whites till foamy, add cream of tartar and beat till egg white form a peak.
• add half of sugar to the egg white gradually while continuing beating it, set aside
• beat egg yolk and then add remaining half of sugar while continuing beating. 
• add vanilla, cardamom powder and 3tbs water to the egg yolk and continue beating.
• sift the flour gradually to the egg yolk mixture and fold for few seconds using a wooden spoon
• fold the egg whites mixture into the flour mixture gradually
• be careful not to overmix
• pour your batter into a lined pan, I use a cheese cake pan so it is easy to take out your cake when its ready. Be careful not to add any butter or oil to your pan.
• bake in 170 degrees preheated oven for 30-40 minutes

too hot and it is starting to melt :)

Chocolate ganache

• 500 gram dark chocolate
• 1-2 cups cream
• 1/4 cup corn syrup
• 2 tbs butter

melt butter, chocolate and corn syrup together in low heat

when it is melted add cream, mix and use

Date cake

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

This is our family (forever) favourite cake recipe. You just have to become addicted to it, as long as you love dates.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

200 gram butter, room temperature

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

4 medium eggs, room temperature

1 cup dates, chopped and pitted (I use dates that are sold ready for baking)

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup almond, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup walnut, chopped

Method;

• if the dates you are using are dry, chop them and soak them in the milk with 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda for an hour, other wise move to the next step
• preheat oven 175 degrees Celsius, combine (sieve) flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and set aside
• with an electric mixer, beat sugar and butter till light and fluffy, add eggs one by one while continuing beating,
• add vanilla, milk and dates, beat till well combined
• add nuts
• add flour mixture and beat for two minutes, then mix using a spoon
• bake for 40-45 minutes

for other variety:

*add or remove nuts

*use white sugar instead of brown

*add raisins

 *add chocolate chips

Garlic and Oregano Bread

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I can proudly say that I made up this recipe, and I am satisfied with the result. I hope you would agree with me on loving it.

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbs yeast

1 tsp salt

4 tbs olive oil (and extra for kneading)

1 tbs mashed garlic

2 tbs oregano

water, for kneading (about 1 1/2 cups)

Method:

• Mix flour, salt
• dissolve yeast in a cup of water, set aside
• mix oregano and mashed garlic, and add olive oil to the mixture, shift into the flour
• Add water to flour and start kneading, add extra oil if necessary, knead till it is well combined, soft, and not too sticky
• cover the dough and let it rise for an hour
• roll the dough and cut into squares, arrange them in the baking pan, brush the top with milk or beaten egg
• bake for half an hour or till ready in a 175 degrees preheated oven
• let it cool before serving (and this is my mistake as I wanted to take a picture while it was still warm and cutting the bread at this stage makes it look heavy and wet)
• enjoy

Mango and orange juice

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

It is too hot nowadays in Oman, the temperature is never below 45 degrees, so you only feel like drinking cold drinks, they are refreshing, and keep you safe from dehydration.

Ingredients (they can be adaptable according to your preferences):

1 raw mango (which is green and May/June was the season for it, so I had them peeled, cut into thin pieces and freeze them to use them longer), peeled and cut into thin pieces

1 orange, peeled and cut into pieces

2 tbs tang (which is a flavoured powdered drink, comes in different flavours, I used mango and orange flavour)

2 tbs fresh mint leaves

sugar (optional)

ice cubes (optional)

Method:

mix all ingredients in a blender, modify quantities according to your preference, if you don't have raw mangoes (which are quite sour), you can add lemon juice.

For some variety:

I add frozen strawberries always, but didn't have them that day, moreover, you can add rose water which gives you a sweet flavour

A note:

having all ingredients make it easy to prepare a fast refreshing drinks for your family and guests 

Brownies

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

What is better than good brownies, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream? nothing :)

I was craving for something very chocolaty, and this was just the perfect thing to make, at 8 pm, easy to make, and enjoyable to eat.

Ingredients:

100 g butter

3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1/4 cup white granulated sugar

2 eggs

125 g chocolate

1 tbsp golden syrup

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup all-purpose flour

Method:

• sift flour and baking powder and set aside
• place butter, both sugars, chocolate and golden syrup in a pan, heat in low heat till it is smooth and melted, set it aside
• in another bowl, whisk eggs, than add to the previous mixture
• add the flour mixture, mix with a spoon
• pour the mixture into a baking tray, bake in a preheated oven (170 degrees), for 20-25 minutes.

Vanilla Cupcakes with honey-cinnamon frosting

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I am still in search for the best vanilla cake recipe, and I can give this one 4 stars. I still didn't find the five star one, which I will keep searching for. 

Ingredients:

3 cups self-raising flour

1 1/4 caster sugar

200 g butter, room temperature

1 cup milk, room temperature

5 eggs, room temperature

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

Method (makes around 24-26 cupcakes):

• sift together flour and baking powder, set aside
• beat butter and sugar for 7 minutes, till light and fluffy
• add eggs, one by one while beating the mixture
• add milk and continue beating
• add self-raising flour, and fold with spoon
• bake for 25-30 minutes in a preheated oven (175 degrees)

Honey-cinnamon frosting (from Martha Stewart book-cupcakes):

2 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted

200 g butter, room temperature

2 tbs honey

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

with an electric mixture, beat all ingredients.

use mixture or refrigerate for up to 5 days

(the frosting has lovely flavour of honey and cinnamon, however, it was too sweet)

Oven baked fish

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I know the title is not that fancy, but you got my point :D..

Ingredients:

Fish of your choice, cleaned, cut into big pieces (around 1 kg)

8 garlic gloves, mashed

1 tbs mashed ginger

1 tsp turmeric powder

salt/ pepper/ red/spicy chilly (to your taste)

One onion, cut into thin pieces

• Mix the marinade, marinate the fish an hour before baking.
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius (the upper heat Only). 
• Bake your fish, turn it after 15 minutes
• Bake for half an hour.
• serve.

Food in Nepal

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم...

I should write something on the two countries I visited, Makkah (Saudi Arabia) on February to perform the Umra for two nights and Kathmandu (Nepal) following my husband for a 30 hours work trip, arriving back to Bahrain yesterday :D, I would post pictures on these two in my English blog. Here though..I can mention something on food...:). I am careful about what I eat outside, as I have been so unlucky suffering from food poisoning many many times, from different food I had from restaurants I thought were clean and careful about what they serve. 

In Saudi Arabia, we had food at the hotel we stayed in. Loads of salads, breads, and of course rice. 

In Kathmandu on the other hand, I was shocked at how unclean the city was. I couldn't have anything outside the hotel. We had a wonderful dinner at the hotel, but for me it was too spicy to handle. So I asked the chief for the recipe, which he kindly shared with me, and I will attempt making the dishes. Of course with less chilly.

a crispy spicy bread (can't remember its name) dipped in achar (a spicy hot pickle) which were in different varieties

lamb cooked with herbs, wonderful

spicy dark lentil (dal), I loved it




A beautiful tradition that we in Oman have as well, a bowl of water that you are given to wash your hands in before and after food. The beautiful thing here it has a piece of lime, which leave your hands smelling fresh :)
 

We had a yogurt-based drink known as lassi, you can have it sweet or salty. I loved it. 


street food in Kathmandu

Chicken Biryani

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Rice is a main meal in the Middle East, we usually have it for lunch. I have never posted any recipes yet because I usually make white rice, with other side dishes. However I thought of posting one of the methods of making chicken biryani, It is quite simple. I guess every household does it a bit differently, I change it sometimes as well and this is one of the ways.

Ingredients:

1/2 kg chicken (marinade: 5 garlic gloves mashed, 1 tbs ginger mashed, red pepper (or black), salt)

2 cups of basmati rice, washed and soaked for at least one hour

2 garlic gloves mashed

1 tbs ginger mashed

2 medium sized potatoes cut into cubes

2 medium sized tomatoes, diced into small pieces

2 medium sized onion diced

1 tsp cinammon powder

1 tsp cardamom powder (plus seeds, optional)

1/2 tsp cumin powder (plus seeds, optional)

1-2 tbs tomato puree

few coriander leaves, chopped

one small onion for garnishing 

3 cups boiled water

3 tbs oil

deep oil fry for chicken and potatoes

pepper i use

• Marinate your chicken, fry the potatoes in deep oil till golden, remove from heat and fry chicken till fully cooked- set aside

fried chicken and potatoes

• In a deep pan (low heat), add the 3 tbs oil, add onion, fry till soft and add garlic and ginger, fry for few minutes

• Add your spices, cinammon, cardamom, cumin, salt, pepper/chilli and cook for few minutes
• Add the diced tomatoes, and tomato puree, if it seems a bit dry add around 1/4 glass of water and cover for 5-10 minutes

• add the coriander leaves, chicken and potatoes, cover for a couple of minutes

• add boiled water (around three to four cups)
• Add the rice, increase heat but watch continuously so it won't get burnt (you might need to add more water), cook uncovered in moderate to high heat till water is almost dry

• Now decrease heat to the lowest, cover the rice and cook for around 10 minutes
• A tip: if you feel you can't control the water/cooking time, you can cook the rice separately. Boil it in salted water till cooked, sieve and add it to the tomato/chicken sauce and cover in low heat for 10 minutes. 
• Garnish with fried onions.