Mahshy warqenab (Stuffed Grape Leaves )

Recipe by:meedo

1 1/2 jar (454 g) Grape leaves pickled in brine, rinse each leaf before use.

2 Large tomatoes,sliced.
2 Large potatoes,sliced.
Juice of one lemon.
pinch of salt.
3 Tablespoons olive oil.
enough boiling water to cover the stuffed grape leaves.

For Filling:
3 cups short grain white rice(known here as Egyptian rice), washed and drained.
2 teaspoons dried mint.
2 teaspoons dried parsley.
1/2 teaspoon Arabic Gulf mix spice*.
salt (to taste).
Juice of two lemon.
1/4 cup olive oil.
2 tomatoes,finely chopped.
3/4 cup scallion(green onion),finely chopped.

1)Mix well all filling ingredients.

2)Place grape leaves side up on a plate,place a rounded tablespoon of filling on each
leaf,roll up firmly,folding in sides to enclose filling.

3)Cover base of 30 cm heavy-based pan with tomatoes & potatoes slices,place stuffed grape leaves in layers over tomatoes & potatoes,pour over combined lemon juice,oil,salt & boiling water.

4)Place a plate on top of stuffed leaves to keep stuffed leaves in position during cooking.
5)Simmer,covered,over low heat about 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until cooked through.

Mahshy warqenab also known as Dulma,yabre.
Every Arab country make it with different filling & spices.
*for spice you can use allspice.
also you can use minced meat in the filling.
This recipe can be made a day ahead & serve cold to enjoy the better flavor.

Enjoy & Ramadan Kareem

Mini Grilled Flatbread with Hummus & Baba Ghanoush

Recipes by:zainab

Mini Grilled Flatbread

Recipe adapted from Kath Eats Real Food (without adding the herbs)
Makes 16 mini flatbread

2 cups unbleached flour (you can use 1 cup whole wheat flour + 1 cup unbleached flour).
3/4 cup warm water.
1/2 teaspoon salt.
1/4 teaspoon dry yeast.
1 Tablespoon olive oil.
1)place all ingredients in a bowl of mixer , knead for 10 minutes to make a soft dough.
2)Cover the dough and let rise for 90 minutes.
3)Preheat oven to 550 F.
3)Divide the dough into 16 pieces; shape each piece into a ball, allow to rest for at 20 minutes.

4)Roll them into circles (4 or 5-inch circle) on a floured board.
5)Bake on hot baking surface for 1 minute per side.

Hummus

2 cans (about 410g each)chickpeas.
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice.
1-2 clove garlic, crushed.
1/2 cup tahini.
2 Tablespoons olive oil.
salt (to taste)
enough water to smooth the hummus.

olive oil for drizzling.
Red hot pepper for garnish.

1)Place all all ingredients in a food processor.
2)Process until smooth (add water if need it).
3)Drizzle olive oil on top & sprinkle with red hot pepper .

Baba Ghanoush

500 g medium eggplants (roasted).
1/8 or 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice.
1-2 clove garlic, crushed.
8 Tablespoons tahini.
2 Tablespoons olive oil.
salt (to taste).
1/8 cup Fresh Labneh or you can use strained yogurt.
1/4 cup fresh coriander.

olive oil for drizzling.
1/4 cup fresh coriander for garnish.

1) Pierce eggplants in several places with a skewer.
2) Place whole eggplants on oven tray. Bake, uncovered in 450 F oven about an hour or until soft; cool 30 minutes.
3) Peel eggplants, chop flesh; discard skins.
4)Place all all ingredients in a food processor.
5)Process until just combined.
6)Drizzle olive oil on top & sprinkle with fresh coriander.


I am sending this Grilled Flatbread to Susan for YeastSpotting host this week by Nick .

Thank you so much Anam & Lien for sharing those awards with us.
& we passing those awards to all blogger friends (too many to list)

Have a good day

Delicious Date Molasses & Cardamom Moist Cake

Recipe by:zainab

7cups all-purpose flour (you can use 3 1\2 cups whole wheat flour +3 1\2 cups all-purpose flour).

1 cup oil.

1 cup low fat milk or soy milk.

2 Tablespoons baking powder.

2 Tablespoons ground cardamom.

1\2 Tablespoon baking soda.

2 cups Date molasses.

*Walnuts Filling:

1cup chopped walnuts.

1\4 cup raw sugar.

4 Tablespoons rosewater.

Pinch of ground cardamom.

Pinch Saffron.

* Mix all filling ingredients and keep a side.

1)Mix Date molasses with milk and than mix it with oil.

2)Combine flour with cardamom, baking powder, and baking soda in large mixing bowl.
3) Mix step 1 and step 2 together and now you have the dough.

4) Divide the dough into 2 equal portions (use water or oil when you divide the dough)
5) Flatten dough into 22cm x 30cm pan, fill with walnuts filling, then but the second portion and flatten.

6) Bake at 350F for 30-33 minutes or until done.
7) Keep it in the pan and cool it for 2-3 hours.

8) Cut and serve with cardamom & saffron milk or cardamom tea or Arabic Gulf Coffee.

I am sending this to BBD#22 (sweet bread) event started by Zorra , & hosted this month by Stefanie.

Enjoy

Multigrain Bread , Brilliant Weblog Prize & Arte Y Pico Award

Recipe by:zainab

This is my entry for BreadBakingDay #13, Whole Grain Breads, hosted by Jude (Apple Pie, Patis, and Paté) .

Deadline: September 1st, 2008

Makes 1 loaf or 12 rolls .

1/2 cup Oat bran (I used Bob’s Red Mill brand)
1/4 cup Ground Golden Flaxseed (I used Bob’s Red Mill brand)
2/3 cup Oats.
1/4 cup Rye flour (I used Doves Farm brand)
1 1/4 cups Whole Wheat Graham FLOUR (I used Hodgson Mill brand).
3 cups Country Grain Bread flour ( I used Allinson brand)
1/4 cup date molasses or honey
1/4 cup oil.
2 cup water or as needed.
2 teaspoons salt.
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast.

1) Put the oats, oat bran & water together in a saucepan and set the heat to medium high , continue to stir until the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes or so. When the mixture thickens, remove from heat, stir in date molasses & oil, and let it cool to room temperature.

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

3) Cover dough and let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 60-90 minutes.

For Bread:

Shape into loaf, cover; let it rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 40-60 minutes.
Bake at 350 F for 30-40 minutes.

For Rolls:

Divide dough into 12 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, take one piece of dough and shape it into your favorites shape.

Place the rolls on a baking sheet, brush the top with milk, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Cover and let rise for 30-40 minutes.

Bake at 350 F, for 20-25 minutes or until browned.

For Feta Cheese & Zaatar breakfast Rolls:

Roll the dough into rectangle. Fill with 1/2 cup Feta Cheese or more, sprinkle with Zaatar & a drizzle of olive oil.

Roll up from the long side and seal well. Cut into 12 even slices.

Place the slices on a baking sheet.

Cover and let rise for 30-40 minutes.

Bake at 350 F, for 20-25 minutes or until browned.

********************************************

During the last few weeks Haley @ Appoggiatura & George @ Culinary Travels Of A Kitchen Goddess were kind enough to pass the “Brilliant Weblog Prize” to us .
Thank you so much Haley & George

Brilliant Weblog is a prize given to sites and blogs that are smart and brilliant both in their content and their design. The purpose of the prize is to promote as many blogs as possible in the blogsphere. Here are the rules to follow:

1. When you recieve the prize you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link them back.
   
   


2. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs (or even more) that you find brilliant in their content or design. Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing they were prized with ‘Brilliant Weblog’.

We pass this award to :

Cynthia @ Tastes Like Home.

Deeba @ Passionate About Baking .

Mallugirl @ Malabar Spices.

Susan @ wild yeast.

Kevin @ Closet Cooking .

Gretchen Noelle @ Canela & Comino.

Jai and Bee @ Jugalbandi.

We also recieved the Arte Y Pico Award from Rajani @ vegetarian in me.
Thank you Rajani

The rules of Arte Y Pico award are:

Pick five blogs who deserve this award because the content of their blog is creative, interesting, and they inspire the blogging community. Each recipient has to have their name and link back to their blog. The recipient must display the award and link back to the blog that awarded them the award. The recipient must also show the link back to Arte y Pico blog so everyone knows the origin of the award.

& we pass on this award to :

Manuela @ Baking History.

jeena @ jeena's kitchen.

Yasmeen @ Health Nut.

Mona @ Zaiqa .

Mandira & Aswin @ Ahaar.

Congratulations to all .... Enjoy your Award

Thank you again Haley,George & Rajani

Esh al bulbul (Konafa with nut)

Recipe by:meedo


This is Arabic Bites entry for event "It's all about memories" hosted by Jeena.

The recipe "Esh al bulbul " one of the recipes it's reminds us of "Ramadan" the ninth month of Islamic calendar or as we call it Fasting month.

Ramadan is family time here in saudi arabia, so we enjoy that time every year with our wonderful family and friends,& the end of the month we celebrate Eid for 3 days.

In fact Ramadan is not just about food & celebration,It's a month full of Spiritual ,Prayer & reading of the Qur'an.

The true meaning for Ramadan sympathy for those who are hungry, hurting, and alone,& try to help them.

For "Esh al bulbul " you will need:

1 package (about 500 g) konafa =kataifi shredded pastry .

Almonds, Pistachios, hazel nut.


For shira (syrup):
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon orange blossom water or rose water
1 tablespoon lemon juice


To make shira (syrup):
Combine all ingredient in a medium pan, stir over heat, until sugar is dissolved simmer, uncovered without stirring about 15 minutes or until mixture is thickened.

To make konafa :

1)Take a small amount of shredded pastry ,roll it around your finger then Place on baking sheet.

2)Bake in 350F oven, for 20 to 30 minutes or until it lightly browned ,then fill each one with 2 or 3 pieces of your favorite nut,(dip the nut in the syrup then place it in the center of konafa).

3)Lower the oven heat to 300 F , and bake for 10 to 15 or until they gold and crunchy.

Fattoush (Mom's Way)

1 pita, cut into small squares.
1 medium lettuce, chopped.
3 large tomatoes, chopped.
1/2 -1 cup parsley, chopped.
1/2-1 cup mint, chopped.
2 medium Lebanese cucumbers, chopped.
1 medium carrot, shredded
2-3 scallions, sliced (Optional).
1/2 cup black olives.
1/2 cup green olives.

Dressing:
2 Tablespoon olive oil.
Juice of two lemon.
Salt to taste.

1)Preheat oven to 350 F, place pita on a baking sheet,& bake until crisp, about 10 minutes.

2)Add all ingredients to bowl, mix until combined. Drizzle with dressing, top with pita chips.

Best made just before serving.

Homemade Strawberry Jam

Recipe by:zainab

8 cups Strawberries sliced or crushed.
4-5 cups sugar.
Juice of one lemon.


1) Add all ingredients to large pan.

2) bring to boil, simmer over Medium heat for 30 minutes (until jam is thick).

3) Pour into sterilized jars.

Zainab's Home Made Zaatar Mix

Recipe by:zainab


Zaatar Seasoning:dry blend of roasted sesame seeds,thyme and sumac,available in Arabic specialty shops.


My Mix:

1 cup dried thyme.
3 tablespoons sumac.
1 teaspoon salt.
1\4 cup roasted sesame seeds.
1\2 teaspoon Lemon salt.

Salata Hara

Recipe by:zainab



3 chopped tomatoes.
1/2 cup fresh coriander.
Juice of half a lemon
salt to taste.


To make Salata Hara:
Blend or process chopped tomatoes+ fresh coriander until pureed than add the lemon juice & salt to taste.

Baba Ghanoush (moutabal al batnjan)

Recipe by:zainab

I got alot of requests for Baba Ghanoush (moutabal al batnjan) recipe by email ,so I finally did it I hope every one request it try it & likes it .

800 g small eggplants (roasted).
1/4 cup low fat yogurt.
1/8 cup fresh lemon juice.
1-2 clove garlic, crushed.
1/4 cup tahini.
3/4 -1 teaspoons salt.
1/2 cup fresh coriander.

1) Pierce eggplants in several places with a skewer.

2) Place whole eggplants on oven tray. Bake, uncovered in 450 F about an hour or until soft; cool 30 minutes.

3) Peel eggplants, chop flesh; discard skins.

4) Blend or process eggplants flesh with remaining ingredients until combined.

5) Sprinkle with chopped parsley or coriander and Serve with pita bread or try it with my quick flat bread.

Quick 10 Minutes Dough flat bread

Recipe by:zainab

Makes 4 large or 8 small.

1 recipe 10 Minutes Dough ( I use 2 whole wheat flour cups +3 white flour cups in this recipe).

1) Preheat the oven to 550F.

2) Divide dough into 4 or 8 pieces.

3) Shape each piece into a ball.

4) Roll each piece to round.

5) Place onto oven trays or hot baking surface for 2-3 minutes.