Balalit

Recipe by:meedo

450g Vermicelli Pasta.
1 cup sugar.
2 to 3 teaspoons ground cardamom.
3 tablespoons rose water.
1 tablespoon butter or oil + 1 tablespoon oil to add in boiling water.
Pinch of saffron.


1)Place the pasta on oven trays under the broiler until golden brown.

2)Cook the pasta in 3 litters of boiling water +1 tablespoon oil for 3 minutes, drain and sit a side.

3)In large pan mix butter, sugar, cardamom, saffron, rose water, stir in a medium heat.

4)Add the pasta, stir to combine, let it cook on a very low heat for 1/2 hour.

5)serve it hot or warm.

Walnut & Coconut Meedo's Cake

Recipe by:meedo

This is my entry for bbd #10 - breakfast breads hosted by Baking a Sweet Life .

* For Cake:
1 cup whole wheat flour.
1 cup white flour.
1/2 cup sugar.
1 Tablespoon baking powder.
1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
1/4 teaspoon salt.
3 Tablespoons shredded coconut.
1 egg.
1/4 cup low fat yogurt.
1/4 cup low fat milk.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
2 Tablespoons oil.

*Coconut & Walnut Topping:
1/3 cup walnut.
3 Tablespoons shredded coconut.
1/4 cup low fat cream cheese.
Vanilla powder or vanilla extract.
3 Tablespoons oat.
2 Tablespoons sugar.


*1 Tablespoon sugar for sprinkling.


1) Mix all cake Ingredients & press the mixer onto a 9-inch glass pie plate, press firmly into the edges.

2) Mix all topping Ingredients then sprinkle the mixer over the cake to cover completely.

3) Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon of sugar on the top.

4) Bake for 18 minutes at 350 F, & another 10 minutes at 375 F.

Gulf Cardamom Puff

Recipe by:meedo

Astrid from Paulchen's Foodblog selected oat as theme for this month's Bread Baking Day.

2 1/2 - 2 3/4 cups white flour.
1 1/2 teaspoons yeast.
2 Tablespoons oat flour.
1 teaspoon ground cardamom.
1/2 teaspoon baking powder.
1 teaspoon vanilla powder or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
1 Tablespoon butter.
3 Tablespoons pistachios, finely chopped.
Pinch of saffron.
1 cup water.
1 egg.

1) Place all ingredients in the bowl of mixer; beat 10 minutes to make soft dough.

2) Cover dough and let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

3) Take the dough out onto a floured board, roll it out to 1/4 or 1/2 inch thickness, and cut with your favorites shape cutter.

4) Place on a baking sheet, Cover and let rise for 20-30 minutes.

5) Deep-fry in hot oil in batches until browned, drain on absorbent paper.

6) Coat the puff into powdered sugar just before serving.

Saudi Klejah

Recipe by:zainab & meedo



This month BreadBakingDay #8 celebration breads hosted by Susan from Wild Yeast .
Deadline: April 1st, 2008.

In Gulf & Arabic region we celebrate Mother's Day at March 21(first day of spring).

So Happy Mother's Day Mom , we love you .

9 cups whole wheat flour.
1/2 cup corn oil or sunflower oil.
1 cup sugar.
1 teaspoon yeast.
1 Tablespoon ground cardamom.
Pinch of saffron.
1/4 cup rose water.
4 cups warm water or as needed.

*For Filling:

2 cups dates,seeded,chopped.
1 Tablespoon rose water.
1 Tablespoon butter.
Pinch of ground cardamom.
Pinch of saffron.


1)Sift flour with oil until well combine, stir with other dry ingredients, add warm water, mix well let set for 30 minutes.

2)Divide dough into walnut size pieces.

3)Shape each piece into a ball,cover, let set for 15 minutes.

4)Drop a teaspoon of filling into centre of each piece,shape into ball,flatten slightly then make a cross lines using back of knife or fork .

5)Place it on baking sheet, bake in 350 F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

6)Serve with arabic gulf area coffee or cardamom tea , you can also try it for breakfast with Cardamom & Saffron Milk.


*Filling: combine dates,butter & water in small pan,stir over low heat until dates are softened,stir in remaining ingredients,cool.

Fatayer cremate al joben (delicious cream cheese Fatayer)

Recipe by:zainab

Left to Right:cream cheese fatayer,mini pizza,Feta Cheese +spinach ftayer.

2 1/3 cups flour, unbleached, whole wheat, or a mixture of the two.
1 cup warm water.
1\4 cup oil.
1 Tablespoon sugar.
1 1/2 Tablespoons yeast.
1 teaspoon salt.
1/2 cup warm milk.
3 Tablespoons oat flour.

cream cheese filling:
125 g light cream cheese.
1 1/2 cups low fat Yogurt.
1 egg. 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded.
Pinch of black pepper & salt.
* For filling: combine all ingredients in bowl; mix well.


1)Place all ingredients in the bowl of mixer ,beat 10 minutes to make a soft dough.

2) Cover and let rise for 10 minutes.


3) Divide dough into 32 pieces. Roll each to a 9 cm round.

4) Fill each with 1-2Tablespoons of cream cheese filling.

5) Place Fatayer onto oven trays.

6) Bake at 375 F about 20 minutes or until browned.

Sahan Fatayer

Recipe by:zainab

I made this recipe for BreadBakingDay #5.

Chelsea from Rolling in dough, the host of BBD #5, has chosen filled breads as theme.

Left to Right:cream cheese fatayer,mini pizza,Feta Cheese +spinach ftayer.

1 recipe 10 Minutes Dough.

*For Feta Cheese Filling:
450 g Feta Cheese.
chopped fresh mint.
1 teaspoon sumac.
1/2 teaspoon olive oil .

*for mini pizza topping:
Tomato sauce
Green Olives
Black olives
low fat halloumi or mozzarella cheese, shredded.

*for spinach Filling:
2 teaspoons olive oil.
2 small onions, finely chopped.
500-600 g spinach, Fresh or frozen.
2 teaspoons salt.
2 Tablespoons sumac.
1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
1 teaspoon Arabic Gulf mix spice.
1/4 cup lemon juice.
1) Heat oil in pan add onion, cook, stirring until is soft. Than add spices, and spinach, stirring than add lemon juice, cook about 5 minutes (cool to use for filling).

2) Divide dough into 36 pieces. Roll each to a 9 cm round.

3) Fill each with 1-2Tablespoons of any filling above.

4) Place Fatayer onto oven trays.

5) Bake at 375 F about 15 minutes or until browned.

Fatirat dajaj bel khodar (Spring roll & chicken and vegetables)

Recipe by:meedo

24 to 26 spring roll sheets.
500 grams skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced.
1 large carrot, shredded.
1 red paper, halved and thinly sliced.
1 medium onion, chopped.
2 large zucchini, halved and thinly stripes.
1 small tomato, seedless and chopped.
1/4 cup sliced green olives.
1/4 cup sliced black olives.
1/2 cup low fat feta cheese.
1/2 cup low fat halloumi or mozzarella cheese, shredded.
1 teaspoon Arabic gulf spice mix.
1/2 teaspoon dried zatar or oregano.
1/2 teaspoon dried basil.
1/4 teaspoon black paper.
3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste.

1)Sauté onion, stir, cook 5 minutes, Add chicken, salt, spices and herbs , stir, cook, until chicken brown, add carrot, zucchini, red paper, stir , cover, cook until tender. Remove from heat stir with tomato and olives.

2)Grease 20x30 cm pan with a little oil, layer 8 sheets (glue each sheet with sealing mixture).

3)Cover with half of chicken mixture, cover with 4 sheets, sprinkled with half of cheese mixture, and cover with 4 more sheets. Continue layering with chicken mixture, spring roll sheets and cheese, ending with spring roll sheets .

4)Bake at 350 F, for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Safiha (lentils pizzas)

Recipe by:zainab

For dough:
2 teaspoons yeast.
1 teaspoon sugar.
1 1/3 cups warm water.
1 1/2 cups white flour.
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour.
1 teaspoon salt.
1/4 cup olive oil.

For lentils topping:
1 teaspoon olive oil.
3/4 cup brown lentils,(you can use meat).
2 small onion, finely chopped.
2 cloves garlic, crushed.
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
1 teaspoon ground cumin.
1/2 teaspoon arabic mix spice.
2 teaspoons salt.
2 small zucchini, grated.
2 Tablespoons tomato paste.
2 large tomatoes, finely chopped.

1) Combine all dough ingredients. Knead to make soft dough. Knead dough about 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic.

2) Place dough in oiled bowl, cover, and stand in warm place about 1 hour.

3) Divide dough into 36 pieces. Roll each to a 9 cm round.

4) Place rounds onto greased oven trays top each with 1-2Tablespoons of lentils mixture.





5)Bake in hot oven at 400F about 15 minutes or until browned.

Serve topped with coriander.

For lentils topping:
1) Cook lentils for 10 to 15 minutes.

2) Heat oil in pan add onion, cook, stirring until is soft. Than add garlic, spices, zucchini, and cooked lentils, stirring than add paste and tomatoes, cook about 5 minutes or until thickened slightly, cool.

Chicken & Potatoes with Mushroom Sauce

Recipe by:meedo

Easy 3 recipes in 1.




1)For Chicken:

8-9 thin chicken cutlets.
olive oil
salt and pepper.

1)Heat a grill pan over high,season cutlets with olive oil ,salt and pepper,cook 3 minutes per side.

For Potatoes:

8-9 Potatoes,unpeeled.

salt and pepper.

1/4 teaspoon ground sweet paprika.

1 teaspoon oregano.

1 teaspoon basil.

2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese.

2 Tablespoons Nutritional yeast flakes.

2 Tablespoons olive oil.

1)Pre heat oven to 350.

2)Place potatoes into a large pot filled with water and a few pinches of salt. Bring to a boil until tender.

3)Press Potatoes to flatten using back of plat.

4)Sprinkle potatoes with olive oil ,salt,pepper,herb,cheese and spices.

5)roast,uncovered,in oven until browned lightly.

For Mushroom Sauce:

1/8 cup short grain rice, washed and drained.

250 g mushroom,sliced.

1 small onion,chopped.

1 Tablespoon soy sauce.

1/4 teaspoon oregano.
1/4 teaspoon basil.

1/2 cup green peas.

1 1/2 cups low fat milk.

1/2 cup water.

salt.

1))In a large saucepan,heat oil ,add onion,cook,stirring until beginning to brown 6-7 minutes.

2)Add mushroom,stirring until beginning to brown.

3)Add rice and water,cook until rice cooked.

4)Add milk,spices and peas ,simmer for 20minutes over medium heat

Tasaly (crackers)

Recipe by:meedo

1/2 cup white flour.
1/2 cup whole wheat flour.
1/4 cup parmesan cheese.
1/4 cup water.
1 Tablespoon olive oil.
1 Tablespoon maple syrup.
1 Tablespoon baking powder.
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano.
1/2 teaspoon dried basil.
1/4 teaspoon salt.
Pinch of garlic powder.

1)To make dough, mix all the ingredients, knead dough for 2 minutes, divided in to 24 equal pieces, let rest for 10 minutes, shape each pieces to long stick.

2)Place it on a baking tray ,then shape it to zigzag shape . Bake at 350 F for 10-15 minutes, then turn of the oven and let crackers dry inside the oven.

3)Serve with labnah or any of your favorite dips or soup.