SunshineCooking

Spicy Moroccan Prawns with Couscous

2009-05-05T14:58:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

- 500g prawns
- olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- half teaspoon chili
- salt & pepper
- coriander leaves/or dried
- lemon juice to serve
- Your choice of vegetables, chopped (I chose red pepper, mushrooms and fresh spinach leaves)
- mixed herbs
- couscous

Cooking Method:
1- Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, add the garlic and cook until it becomes aromatic.
2- Stir in the cumin, ginger, chili and pepper, heat for about 30 seconds, then add the prawns.
3- Fry quickly, stirring for 3 minutes. Stir in the coriander and season with salt, heat for about 30 seconds.
4- Transfer cooked prawns and juices to a small bowl and cover.
5- Use the same frying pan, add a bit more olive oil and fry your choice of vegetables. (I chose red pepper, mushrooms and fresh spinach leaves). Add a little salt and some mixed herbs.
6- Cook the couscous.
7- Serve couscous topped with the vegetables, topped with the prawns and their juices. Add a little lemon juice if you like.

Fresh Salmon and Stir-fried veg & rice

2009-04-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

Simple, quick and very healthy.

Salmon:
- Place salmon in a baking dish, add salt, pepper, mixer herbs, olive oil and lemon juice.
- Bake in the oven, gas mark 4 for 25 minutes.

Rice:
- Boil 1 cup of rice.
- Choose your favourite vegetables, and chop them. (I used carrot, red pepper, green cabbage, red onion and spring onions)
- Stir fry the vegetables in olive oil for 4 minutes.
- Add the cooked rice to the stir fried vegetables, add some dark soy sauce and stir.
- Serve the rice with the salmon and your choice of salad or bread.

Marble Cake

2009-04-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

4 oz butter, softened
4 oz caster (superfine) sugar
2 eggs, beaten
8 oz self raising flour, sieved
1 oz cocoa powder, sieved
1 pot of single cream

Cooking Method:

1- Lightly grease a baking tin (any shape you prefer)
2- Pre-heat oven to 180c (gas mark 4).
3- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric whisk.
4- Add the beaten egg a little at a time, whisking well after each addition
5- Add the cream and whisk.
6- Fold the flour into the creamed mixture carefully, then spoon half of the mixture into a separate mixing bowl.
7- Fold the cocoa powder into one bowl and mix gently.
8- Place spoonfuls of each of the mixtures alternately into the baking tin, then drag a skewer through the mixture to create a marbled effect.
8- Bake in a preheated oven, 180c (gas mark 4) for 45 minutes until well risen and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
9- Leave the cake to cool in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack.

Arabic Peas & Rice

2009-04-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

This is a Syrian meal. It's easy, healthy and very tasty.
Mince meat (lamb) cooked in tomato (bolognese style) with peas and sweetcorn. Served with rice, salad and plain yoghurt.

Ingredients:

- 500g minced lamb (or beef if you prefer)
- 1 table spoon of lamb/beef stock granuals
- 2 cans or cartons of chopped tomatoes
- 1 onion, chopped
- frozen or fresh peas
- 1 can of sweetcorn
- mixed herbs
- 1 cup of rice
- salt and pepper

Cooking Method:

- In a large saucepan, fry chopped onion in a little olive oil, then add the minced lamb. Fry for 5 mins until all brown, sturring continuousley. Add salt, pepper and beef/lamb granuals, then add a little water.
- Add the frozen peas and some more water and bring to the boil.
- Add the 2 tins of tomato and the mixed herbs and stir well.
- Bring to the boil, then cook on a low heat for 20 minutes. Add the tin of sweetcorn and cook for a further 5 minutes.
- Serve with boiled rice and your choice of salad and plain yoghurt.

Vanilla & Chocolate Marble Cake

2009-04-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

It was my turn to host the mums and babies get together, so while baby Lucy was asleep I baked a quick & easy marble cake.

Ingredients:

175g / 6 oz butter, softened
175g / 6 oz caster (superfine) sugar
3 eggs, beaten
150g / 5 oz self raising flour, sieved
25g / 1 oz cocoa powder, sieved
2 tablespoons of double cream
1 pot of vanilla yoghurt

Cooking Method:

1- Lightly grease a baking tin (any shape you prefer)
2- Pre-heat oven to 180c (gas mark 4).
3- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric whisk.
4- Add the beaten egg a little at a time, whisking well after each addition
5- Add the cream and vanilla yoghurt and whisk.
6- Fold the flour into the creamed mixture carefully, then spoon half of the mixture into a separate mixing bowl.
7- Fold the cocoa powder into one bowl and mix gently.
8- Place spoonfuls of each of the mixtures alternately into the baking tin, then drag a skewer through the mixture to create a marbled effect.
8- Bake in a preheated oven, 180c (gas mark 4) for 35 minutes until well risen and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
9- I found the top of the cake was a light colour, so returned to the oven for a further 5 minutes on a higher gasmark. It gave it a golden colour.
10- Leave the cake to cool in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2008-08-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

When my sister Amanda visited last week, we baked cookies together ... very yummy :o)

Ingredients:
- 250g butter, chopped
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 2/3 cup (150g) castor sugar
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2.5 (375g) plain flour
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips

Method:
- Beat butter, essence, sugar and eggs in bowl with electric mixer until smooth.
- Stir in dry ingredients and chocolate chips and mix well.
- Drop level tablespoons of mixture about 5cm apart onto greased oven trays.
- Bake in moderately hot oven (200c gas mark 5) for about 15 mins.
- Stand cookies for 2 mins before lifting onto wire racks to cool.

Sunday Raspberry Pancakes

2008-02-18T22:10:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning pancakes ... what a perfect way to start the day :o)

Ingredients:
170g/6oz self-raising flour
1 tbsp baking powder
115g/4oz caster sugar (I only used 2oz)
Pinch of salt
2 eggs
275ml/10fl oz milk
A little butter

Method
1. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and caster sugar into a bowl.
2. Using a whisk, add the eggs and the milk.
3. To cook the pancakes, preheat a non-stick frying pan. Add a little olive oil and pour a ladel-full of the mixture into the pan - Don't make them too big.
Cook until golden brown and turn over to colour the other side. Remove and place on a large plate. Keep it in the oven while you cook the other pancakes.
4. Serve with jam or cream or fruit ... or chocolate and bananas ... whatever you fancy :)

Arabic salad

2008-02-17T13:13:00.000-08:00

Ingredients for Arabic salad are:
Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, onion, fresh parsley and fresh mint.

Chop all the ingredients into small pieces. Then add salt, 3 tbsp of lemon and some olive oil. Mix well .... and it's ready :o)

Fish in the Oven

2008-02-14T22:25:00.000-08:00

Healthy and tasty :o)

Place the fish (cod or haddock) in an oven tray, drizzle with olive oil & lemon. Add salt, pepper and mixed herbs. I added some mushrooms into the tray as well.
Bake in the oven for 30 minutes at gas mark 5.
Serve which either potatoes or pasta and your choice of vegetables or salad.
You can aslo serve it with parsley sauce to make it more interesting :o)

Easy Sunday Roast

2008-02-14T22:24:00.000-08:00

Roast chicken legs covered with herbs, honey, lemon and olive oil.

Roast potatoes, carrots and broccoli

My Moroccan Recipe

2008-02-14T22:21:00.000-08:00

I was wondering what to cook this weekend, I had a look through my Morrocan cook book and didn't really have the ingredients for any certain recipe ... and I didn't have much time ... so I used a combination of ingredients and created my own Morrocan recipe ... it tasted very very good ... adding lemon and cumin to the recipe was a brilliant idea :o)
If you like Morrocan flavours .. I recommend this recipe :)

Ingredients:

- 2 chicken breasts, cut into cubes
- 1 medium onion
- 5 spring onions
- chopped garlic
- mushrooms, chopped
- broccoli, chopped
- green olives
- a handfull of sultanas (or raisens)
- lemon juice
- olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon saffron
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- salt and pepper
- 300ml chicken stock

Cooking Method:

- In a large saucepan heat the olive oil, fry the onion, spring onions and garlic. Add the chicken and cook for a few minutes.
- Add the saffron, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, salt and pepper and keep stirring.
- Add the lemon juice.
- Then add the broccoli and mushrooms and the chicken stock and sultanas.
- Cover and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes. Add water if it looks dry. Add the green olives 3 minutes before removing the pan from the heat. You should end up with nice tender chicken in a lemon/cumin juice.
- Serve with rice or couscous.

Strawberries & Jam Cake

2008-02-10T21:44:00.000-08:00

Our friends came round for tea and cake today ... so I made this vanilla victoria cake with a layer of jam and a layer of strawberry in the middle. I was really pleased with it :o)

Ingredients:
- 125g butter, softened
- 250ml sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 500ml self raising flour
- 15 ml baking powder
- 2.5ml of salt
- 5ml vanilla essence
- 100ml milk
- 50 ml water

Baking Method:
1- Cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
2- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3- Add sifted flour, baking powder and salt.
4- Add the vanilla essence, milk and water.
5- Mix with a wooden spoon until smooth.
6- Spoon into a deep cake pan (greased).
7- Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180C for 45 minutes until golden in colour.
8- Cool completely on a cooling rack then split in the middle and fill with strawberry jam and slices of fresh strawberries.
9- ENJOY WITH A NICE CUP OF ENGLISH TEA :o)

Fruity Coconut Oat Flapjacks

2008-01-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

Oats, sultanas, chocolate chips, glace cherries and coconut (stuck together with honey) ..... a PERFECT combination :o)

I've made these flapjacks a few times now, and they are always a hit :)

Ingredients:
125g butter, melted
1 cup (90g) rolled oats
2/3 cup (110g) sultanas
1/2 cup (45g) coconut
chopped glace cherries
1/2 cup (75g) self-raising flour
1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar
2 tablespoons honey

Method:
- Grease 23cm square slab cake pan, place strip of baking paper (grease-proof paper) to cover base and extend over 2 opposite sides.
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.
- Press mixture into prepared pan (I used a potato masher to press the mixture down firmly)
- Bake in moderate oven (180c) for about 20 minutes or until golden.
- Cool in pan, refrigerate before cutting.
- ENJOY :o)

My Chicken Curry

2008-01-21T21:48:00.000-08:00

I cooked chicken curry tonight ... all from scratch. It came out really well :o)

Ingredients:
- 400g chicken chunks
- 5 small carrots, sliced
- broccoli
- 1 onion
- 3 cloves of garlic
- salt and pepper
- 1 tsp madras curry powder
- 1 tsp chili
- 1 tsp cumin
- half tsp of cinnamon
- 1 tsp of saffron
- tomato paste
- garlic paste
- mixed herbs
- olive oil

Cooking Method:
1- Make the curry paste first. Warm some olive oil in a pan and fry the onions and garlic. Add the herbs and spices and tomato paste. (You can add half a tin of chopped tomatoes if you like). Stir together to make a paste.
2- Add the chicken and stir well. Lower the heat and cook the chicken.
3- Add some water, carrots and broccoli and keep cooking on low for 12 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
4- Meanwhile cook the rice and add some saffron for colour.
5- Serve rice and chicken with your choice of naan bread, salad or yoghurt.

Gordon Ramsay's Sticky Lemon Chicken

2008-01-20T21:33:00.000-08:00

Gordon Ramsay is one of my favourite TV personalities at the moment.... I think he is a brilliant chef.... his recipes are creative, easy to follow, tasty, healthy and really good.

I've watched him cook on TV many times, and watched him cook this recipe on youtube yesterday ..... (I'm a bit sad I know haha).

Ingredients:
1 large chicken jointed into 8-10 pieces (I used chopped chicken breasts)
Sea salt and black pepper
3-4 tbsp olive oil
1 head of garlic, halved horizontally
Few thyme sprigs (I used dried Thyme)
Splash of vinegar
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
3 tbsp honey
1 lemon, finely sliced
Bunch of flat leaf parsley, chopped (I didn't have any)

Cooking Method:
1) Season the chicken with salt and pepper and heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan. Brown the chicken pieces (in batches if necessary) over a high heat with the garlic and thyme for 2–3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Return all the chicken to the pan, add the vinegar and bubble until reduced by half. Drizzle over the soy sauce and honey and shake the pan to mix.
2) Pour in a good splash of hot water and add the lemon slices. Let the liquid bubble and reduce down until syrupy, which will take about 10 minutes or so. By now the chicken should be cooked through.
3) Transfer the chicken to a platter and sprinkle over the chopped parsley.
4) Serve with mashed potato (boil potatoes, add milk and butter and mash together, add cooked peas and carrots and some thyme).

vegetarian spaghetti bolognese

2008-01-20T00:29:00.000-08:00

For a healthy Saturday lunch, I cooked a vegetarian spaghetti bolognese.
Served with some salad and a fruit smoothie (unfortunately salad and smoothie are not in the photo).

Ingredients:
- spaghetti
- 1 onion
- 1 leek
- 4 cloves of garlic
- either a jar of prepared bolognese sauce if you are lazy, or a can of chopped tomatoes
- tomato paste
- mixed herbs
- salt and pepper
- olive oil

Cooking Method:
- Place spaghetti in boiling water, add salt and olive oil. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 11 minutes (check the packet for details)
- Slice the onion, garlic and leek.
- In a separate pan, add some olive oil and gently fry the onion, garlic and leek. Add some salt and mixed herbs.
- Add the tomato paste and stir
- Add half the jar of bolognese sauce, or the tin of chopped tomatoes.
- If using the jar, it'll be quicker to cook (just a few minutes), if using the tin of chopped tomatoes then cook for 10 minutes on low.
- Drain the spaghetti and add the rest of the tomato sauce.
- Serve with your choice of salad, garlic bread, olives etc.

Another one of my favourite stir fries

2008-01-20T00:27:00.000-08:00

Prawn Stir Fry

Ingredients:
- prawns
- 5 spring onions
- 1 leek
- 1 red pepper
- 4 handfulls of fresh spinach leaves
- 3 cloves of fresh garlic
- salt and pepper
- A packet of your favourite stir fry sauce
- soy sauce
- Noodles for 2 people
- olive oil

Cooking Method:
- Heat some olive oil in a wok, and stir fry the garlic, spring onions, leek, red pepper and spinach for 4 minutes.
- Add salt and pepper
- Add the prawns and stir fry for 2 minutes.
- Add some soy sauce and stir
- Add your favourite stir fry sauce and stir well.
- In a separate pan cook the noodles for 4 minutes in water, drain the water and add some of the stir fry sauce to the noodles.
- Serve and enjoy (I always love eating green olives with a stir fry ... a bit weird I know, but very tasty)

Stuffed Courgettes

2008-01-13T12:48:00.000-08:00

This is a Syrian / Lebanese dish.

Cored courgettes stuffed with rice and mince meet.

Use the pulp to cook a side dish.

Ingredients:
- 8 courgettes
- half a cup of rice
- 250g of mince meat (beef or lamb)
- salt and pepper
- teaspoon of dried mint
- 2 tins of tomatoes

Cooking Method:
- Wash the courgettes, slice off the top and bottom of each one. Carefully hollow out pulp using a corer (reserve pulp to use in another dish)
- Thoroughly mix the mince meat, rice, salt, pepper and dried mint with 3 tablespoons of water.
- Stuff each courgette with the mixture, leaving 2 cm at the top. It's best to do so with your hands, shaking the courgettes and lightly pressing the mixture down.
- Place filled courgettes in a saucepan and cover completely with water. Add salt. Bring to the boil.
- Add 2 tins of tomatoes and bring to the boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and cook for 1 hour.

My Favourite Stir Fry

2007-12-16T00:07:00.000-08:00

I'm really loving stir fries lately .... vegetables, chicken and soy sauce ... simple and perfect :o)

Ingredients:
- Chicken, cut into chunks
- Leek, sliced
- Red pepper
- Cabbage
- Garlic, lots of fresh garlic, chopped
- Mixed herbs
- Salt and pepper
- Dark soy sauce
- 1 cup of rice
- Olive oil
- Pine nuts

Cooking Method:
- Heat olive oil on a saucepan and add the fresh chopped garlic, and half the leek slices. Then add the chicken and salt and mixed herbs and fry for 5 minutes, stirring.
- Heat olive oil in a wok, add the rest of the leek slices, cabbage, red pepper, mixed herbs and salt.
- Keep stirring the vegetables for 5 minutes and add the pice nuts.
- Add the chicken to the stir fried vegetables, and add some dark soy sauce, stir.
- Serve with boiled rice .... and some olives.

Ready in 25 minutes

2007-12-13T23:05:00.000-08:00

Quick, easy, tasty ... and healthy.

- Cook fish in the oven for 20 minutes.
- Prepare a side salad

For the rice dish:
- 1 leek
- 5 spring onions
- 1 onion
- half a green cabbage
- 1 red pepper
- 1 cup of rice
- olive oil
- mixed herbs
- salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- half teaspoon of chili
- pine nuts
- soy sauce

1) slice leek, spring onions, onion, cabbage and red pepper, and stir fry in a wok in olive oil.
2) add salt, pepper, mixed herbs, cumin, chili and pine nuts
3) keep stirring
4) add some soy sauce and stir
5) cook rice in a separate pan for 20 minutes, then add to wok with stir fried vegetables and add a little more soy sauce.
6) serve fish, rice and salad

Chinese Chicken & Noodles

2007-12-03T21:54:00.000-08:00

I started baking chicken breasts in the oven to cook an English meal but then realised I didn't have any potatoes ... so the meal turned into a chinese meal .... here's what I did:

Ingredients:
- chicken breasts
- herbs
- soy sauce
- onions, chopped
- spring onions, chopped
- fresh garlic, chopped
- cabbage, cut into strips
- red pepper, cut into slices
- salt
- chili
- olive oil

Cooking Method:
- Bake chicken breasts in the oven, topped with herbs and soy sauce, for 30 minutes.
- Heat olive oil in a wok, and stir fry the vegetables, onions and garlic
- Add salt, chili and herbs
- Add soy sauce at the end
- Cook noodles in water, drain and add some soy sauce.
- Serve noodles, topped with vegetables, topped with chicken.
- Olives go so well with this meal :o)

Stir Fried Chicken Salad

2007-12-02T17:16:00.000-08:00

When I came back from badminton on Friday, Rob cooked me this lovely chicken stir fry with garlic, onions, herbs and red pepper.
Served on a bed of mixed salad. I also had a couple of slics of wholegrain toast as my supply of carbs .... my hubby is a good chef :o)

Minced Lamb & Okra

2007-11-29T22:55:00.000-08:00

This is a Syrian recipe that my mum learnt from my grandma (my dad's mum).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okra

- 500g mince lamb
- okra (lady's fingers)
- 1 red pepper, chopped
- 1 large onion
- 6 spring onions
- chopped fresh garlic (lots)
- Mixed herbs
- Salt, pepper
- 1 tablespoon of gravy granuals
- tin of chopped tomatoes (or a jar of bolognese sauce if you don't have a lot of time).
- 1 mug of rice
- olive oil

Cooking Method:
- Chop the onion, spring onions and garlic, then fry in some olive oil in a large pan.
- Add the minced lamb, salt and herbs and cook until browned
- Mix in the gravy granuals.
- Add the okra and red pepper, then add the tomatos and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add a bit of water if required.
- Meanwhile cook the rice in a separate pan.
- Serve with rice and sald and olives .. yummy!

Prawn Stir Fry

2007-11-27T21:58:00.000-08:00

Quick, easy and healthy .... Prawn stir fry is ideal for a healthy meal home-made in minutes ... here's what to do:

- 1 leek, sliced
- 2 carrots, thinly sliced
- 6 spring onions
- 1 large courgette, sliced
- fresh prawns
- noodles
- salt
- pepper
- mixed herbs
- basil
- soy sauce
- olive oil
- garlic, chopped

Cooking Method:
- slice the vegetables
- heat olive oil in a wok, and stir fry the spring onions, leek, corgette, carrots and garlic.
- add salt, pepper and herbs, and continue stir frying. Add soy sauce and fry for a further 3 minutes.
- In a separate pan (or work) add olive oil and stir fry some garlic, then add the prawns and basil. Stir fry for 3 minutes. Add soy sauce and fry for a further 2 minutes.
- cook the noodles in a 3rd pan. (follow pack instructions).
- Serve noodles topped with vegetables, topped with the prawns.
(please note: you can replace any of the vegetables with your favourite veg, you can also use rice rather than noodles).

Chicken Salad

2007-11-25T22:14:00.000-08:00

Stir fry some chicken with white onions and spring onions. Add some basil, salt and pepper. Then serve on a bed of mixed lettuce leaves, cucumber, red pepper and green olives ... with toasted wholegrain bread (bread not in photo). Yummy :)

Feta Cheese Pastries

2007-11-25T22:06:00.000-08:00

This is both a Greek and an Arabic (Syrian/Lebanese) recipe.
It's quick and easy to make ... and a very tasty snack.

I only made a few as a test .. and they came out really good.

- 100g Feta cheese
- 50g Cheddar cheese (or cottage cheese)
- Your favourite herbs, I chose Basil
- Sheets of filo pastry.
- Olive oil

Method
- Crumble the feta cheese and cheddar cheese and combine with the herbs (basil) and some olive oil (some recipes say to beat in an egg, but I didn't do that).
- Cut the filo pasty into strips.
- Take each strip, put a heaped teaspoon of the cheese mixture on the bottom left corner. Fold over the corner with the filling so that it meets the long side edge and forms a triangle. Continue folding the filling up and over from side to side to form a neat triangle.
- Place the pastry on an oiled baking try and brush with oil.
- Continue until all the filling has been used.
- Nake the pastries in a preheated oven (190C, Gas Mark 5) for about 15 minutes until golden brown. Serve hot as a snack, or part of a mezza.

Chocolate Fudge Cake

2007-11-03T22:36:00.000-07:00

It's my father-in-law's birthday on Tuesday, so I baked him a birthday cake this weekend.
The cake sunk in the middle as I got it out of the oven, so I turned it upside-down and spread the chocolate fudge icing on the bottom of the cake instead of the top. It looks good, until you slice it and notice the wonky bottom haha.

Ingredients:
125g butter, softened
375ml brown sugar
3 eggs
150ml sour cream
300ml cake flour (self raising flour)
5ml baking powder
2.5ml bicarbonate of soda
125ml cocoa powder

For icing:
50g butter
40ml water
60ml castor sugar (fine sugar)
250ml icing sugar
30ml cocoa powder

Cooking Method - for the cake:
1- cream the butter and sugar together until light and creamy.
2- beat in the eggs, one at a time, then add the sour cream.
3- sift the flour, baking powder, soda and cocoa together then fold into creamed mixture.
4- spoon the mixture into a 20cm greased cake pan and bake in a preheated oven at 180c (gas mark 4) for 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in the cake pan before turning onto a cooling rack.

For icing:
5- place the butter, water and castor sugar into a saucepan and melt over a gentle heat.
6- Sift the icing sugar and cocoa powder and stir into the melted butter mixture.
7- Mix well, then cool until starting to thicken, then beat with a wooden spoon and spread over the cooled cake. Decorate as you like.

Lactose-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

2007-10-27T23:12:00.000-07:00

I made some lactose-free cookies this weekend. I used 'Pure' which is a dairy-free sunflower spread, in place of butter.
I replaced milk chocolate chunks with dark chocolate chunks.

Ingredients:
- 185g 'Pure' (dairy-free sunflower spread)
- 110g caster sugar
- 1 egg
- 225g self-raising flour
- dark chocolate chunks
- dark chocolate coco powder

Cooking Method:
- Beat sunflower spread , sugar and egg in a bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Stir in sifted flour.
- Mix in chocolate chunks
- Add the coco powder to half the mixture
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 200C, gas mark 5.
- Roll rounded tablespoons of mixture into balls and place on greased oven trays. Bake in oven for 15 minutes, then cool in trays.

Turkish Potato Beef Casserole

2007-10-21T21:17:00.000-07:00

I copied binnur's Turkish recipe but didn't have any lamb chunks, so replaced the lamb with mince beef. It's very similar to the English cottage pie.

Ingredients:
400g mince beef
5 tbsp diced tomato, in a can
1 cup hot water

3 tbsp sunflower oil
6 medium white potatoes, peeled, sliced
3 carrots, peeled, sliced
1 large onion, sliced

1 cup beef stock
5 tbsp crushed tomatoes, in a can
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or butter
salt & pepper
mixed herbs

Cooking Method:
Cook the minced beed in a little olive oil, add salt and pepper. (here I added a tin of peas as well).
Add 1 cup of hot water with diced tomatoes and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, lightly fry the potatoes with sunflower oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then put aside. Then fry the carrots and onions. Stir occasionally.

Spread the minced beef in a medium sized casserole dish

and arrange the fried vegetables on top.

Whisk the crushed tomatoes with the beef stock and pour in from the side of the dish. Drizzle the olive oil, sprikle salt, pepper and mixed herbs all over the top.

Preheat the oven to 400 F (200 C). Bake for about 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Steak with Creamy Pepper Sauce

2007-10-14T22:40:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Flapjacks

2007-10-14T22:38:00.000-07:00

My sister Sophie and her fiance Lee visited us this weekend to celebrate Eid.
I made these dark chocolate (lactose free) flapjacks specially for Sophie ... she loved them ... and so did Lee :o)

Ingredients:
125g Pura (dairy free butter), melted
90g rolled oats
Dark chocolate chunks
45g coconut
10g chopped glace cherries
75g self-raising flour
110g caster sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon golden syrup

Method:
- Grease 23cm square slab cake pan, place strip of baking paper (grease-proof paper) to cover base and extend over 2 opposite sides.
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.
- Press mixture into prepared pan- Bake in moderate oven (180c) for about 20 minutes or until golden.
- Cool in pan, refrigerate before cutting.
- ENJOY :o)

Home-made Chicken Curry

2007-10-05T21:12:00.000-07:00

I own many cook books, but I still tend to make up my own recipe when I am cooking. I always pick up tips from cook books and copy what people do, then piece the tips together into a 'Hanan' recipe :o)
Here is my home-made chicken curry. Here's how I made it:

Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons of Madras curry powder
- 1 teaspoon on chili powder
- 1 teaspoon of cumin
- 1 teaspoon on tumeric
- 2 teaspoons of saffron
- 1 teaspoon of ginger powder
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- salt
- olive oil and/or sunflower oil
- 4 chicken breasts, cubed
- peas
- carrots
- cherry tomatoes
- half pint of chicken stock
- flour
- mixed herbs
- rice

Cooking Method:
1- pour olive oil and/or sunflower oil into a big pan and heat
2- add all the spices into the pan and keep the heat on low
3- mix continuousley to make a curry paste
4- (ideally add onions, but I didn't have any)
5- add the cubed chicken breasts and mix with the spices
6- add salt
7- keep stirring on a medium heat, do not let it burn
8- add half a pint of chicken stock and stir
9- add some flour to thicken it
10- stir in the vegetables of your choice (I chose peas, carrots and tomatoes)
11- stir in the mixed herbs
12- slow cook on a low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
13- serve with cooked rice, salad and bread

mmmm ... all gone ........

Marbled Chocolate Cake

2007-09-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

As a weekend treat for me and Rob tonight I baked a marble cake.It tasted so good with a cup of tea :)

Ingredients:
- 175g / 6 oz butter, softened
- 175g / 6 oz caster (superfine) sugar
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 150g / 5 oz self raising flour, sieved
- 25g / 1 oz cocoa powder, sieved

Cooking Method:
1- Lightly grease a baking tin (any shape you prefer)
2- Pre-heat oven to 180c (gas mark 4).
3- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric whisk.
4- Add the beaten egg a little at a time, whisking well after each addition
5- Fold the flour into the creamed mixture carefully, then spoon half of the mixture into a separate mixing bowl.
6- Fold the cocoa powder into one bowl and mix gently.
7- Place spoonfuls of each of the mixtures alternately into the baking tin, then grad a skewer through the mixture to create a marbled effect.
8- Bake in a preheated oven, 180c (gas mark 4) for 35 minutes until well risen and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
9- Leave the cake to cool in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack.
10- Enjoy with a cup of tea ... yum :)

Smarties Cookies

2007-03-11T21:50:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
- 125g butter
- 250ml light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 350ml flour
- Smarties
- milk chocolate chips (I also added chopped KitKat and Twix)

Cooking Method:
1- Cream the butter and sugar well.
2- Beat in the egg.
3- Add the sifted flour and mix well.
4- Stir in the chocolate chips and smarties.
5- Place tablespoonfuls of dough onto a greased baking sheet and flatten slightly.
6- Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180C for 15-20 minutes.

Organic Potato and Vegetable Curry

2007-03-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

My organic vegetable box arrived yesterday, so I made a vegetable curry.

Ingredients:
- Potatoes
- Your choice of veg (carrots, courgettes, leek and onions)
- Chili
- Cumin
- Madras curry powder
- Tumaric
- Saffron
- Mixed Herbs
- Salt and pepper
- Vegetable stock
- Rice

Cooking Method:
- Fry onions and leek in olive oil
- Add the herbs and spices
- Add the vegetables
- Add vegetable stock
- Bring to the boil then simmer for 25 minutes
- Serve with rice, yoghurt and bread ... yummy :o)

Strawberry & Blackberry Smoothie

2007-03-10T14:19:00.000-08:00

It's Saturday .... so let's have a healthy start to the day :o)

Blend strawberries, blackberries, a banana, a small pot of strawberry yoghurt and orange juice for 30 seconds.
Rob and I drank this with some wholegrain toast .... yummy :o)

Chicken Stir Fry

2007-03-09T23:50:00.000-08:00

Chicken Stir Fry

Chicken breast, red onion, red peppers, courgettes and green beans.... stir fried in olive oil with herbs and black pepper.
This photo was taken before I added the chow mein sauce.Serve with noodles or rice.

Healthy Fish Supper.

2007-03-05T20:17:00.000-08:00

I baked haddock (fish) in the oven marinated with herbs, olive oil and lemon.Served on a bed of oven baked aubergines with roast potatoes and broccoli.

Healthy and so tasty :o)

Sponge Cake with Raspberry Jam

2007-02-01T23:46:00.000-08:00

It's my turn to take treats into work for our Friday morning team meeting.I bought some croissants from the supermarket, but wanted to bake something too.So I made this sponge cake and some chocolate chip cookies.

Ingredients:
- 125g butter, softened
- 250ml sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 500ml self raising flour
- 15 ml baking powder
- 2.5ml of salt
- 5ml vanilla essence
- 100ml milk
- 50 ml water

Baking Method:
1- Cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
2- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3- Add sifted flour, baking powder and salt.
4- Add the vanilla essence, milk and water.
5- Mix with a wooden spoon until smooth.
6- Spoon into a deep cake pan (greased).
7- Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180C for 45 minutes until golden in colour.
8- Cool completely on a cooling rack then split in the middle and fill with raspberry jam.
9- ENJOY WITH A NICE CUP OF ENGLISH TEA :o)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2007-02-01T22:53:00.000-08:00

It's my turn to take treats into work for our Friday morning team meeting. I bought some croissants from the supermarket, but wanted to bake something too. So I made these chocolate chip cookies and a sponge cake.

Ingredients:
- 125g butter
- 300ml light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 350ml flour
- milk chocolate chips
- white chocolate chips

Cooking Method:
1- Cream the butter and sugar well.
2- Beat in the egg.
3- Add the sifted flour and mix well.
4- Stir in the chocolate chips.
5- Place tablespoonfuls of dough onto a greased baking sheet and flatten slightly.
6- Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180C for 15-20 minutes.

Chicken Noodle Soup - again

2006-11-26T23:13:00.000-08:00

I made my favourite Chicken Noodle Soup again yesterday.

I followed the same receipe as last time but used different vegetables:

Ingredients:
- 6 cups (1.5 L) chicken stock
- 3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 1 onion
- 3 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 Leek, sliced
- half a white cabbage
- 100g thin rice noodles (or egg noodles)
- mixed herbs of your choice
- salt and pepper
- half teaspoon chilli powder

Cooking Method:
1- In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring the stock to a simmer.
2- Add the chicken breasts and simmer until tender and no trace of pink remains (about 15 minutes).
3- Remove the chicken and let it cool down a bit, then cut into cubes. Set aside.
4- Return the chicken stock to simmer and add the onion, Leek, carrots & cabbage.
5- Simmer for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are soft.
6- Add the cubed chicken, noodles, herbs and salt and pepper. Simmer until noodles are tender, about 10 minutes.
7- Serve the soup with bread and salad.

Lamb Rogan Josh

2006-11-26T23:10:00.000-08:00

Lamb Rogan Josh

Ingredients:
- 500g lamb steak (cut into cubes)
- 2 medium ripe tomatoes (chopped)
- 1 large onion (cut into slices)
- 50g full fat plain yoghurt
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp tomato puree
- oilve oil
- vegetable oil (I used sunflower oil)
- salt
- ground cumin
- ground coriander
- red chilli powder
- turmeric
- garam masala
- cinnamon
- paprika
- Your favourite vegetables (I chose peas and carrots)

Cooking Instructions
1- Heat the oil in a large non stick pan, fry the meat over a medium heat until it is brown. Set aside.
2- In the same pan, fry the onions until golden brown.
3- Lower the heat and add the garlic, fry for a minute stirring quickly.
4- Add the chopped tomatoes, chilli powder, turmeric and fry for 30 seconds
5- Add the meat with juices, ground coriander and ground cumin, mix and stir occasionally for 3 minutes on a medium heat.
6- Stir in the cinnamon, paprika, tomato puree and salt, cook for 5 minutes and add 125ml water. Bring to the boil.
7- Add your favourite vegetables (I added some peas and carrots)
8- Cover and simmer on medium heat for 40 minutes or until the meat is tender, stirring occasionally.
9- Stir in the yoghurt and mix well.
10- Garnish before serving. Sprinkle with garam masala, finely chopped coriander and a squeeze of lemon and serve with rice and salad.

Sophie's Birthday Cake

2006-11-19T22:16:00.000-08:00

I made Sophie a birthday cake with princess sugar decoration :o)

Recipe:
-----------

Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups caster sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 2 tsps baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup veg oil
- 2 tsps vanilla

Method:
1- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
2- Add water, oil and vanilla.
3- Beat with electric mixer until blended.
4- Pour into a greased baking tin (any shape).
5- Bake at 180C (350F) for 15 to 18 minutes.
6- Remove from pan and cool on wire.
7- Frost and decorate as desired.

Homemade Lamb & Onion Burgers

2006-11-19T22:07:00.000-08:00

Rob and I made Lamb and Onion Burgers for Sophie & Lee. Homemade Burgers are the best... so fresh, healthy and tasty :o)

Cooking Method:
- Chop onions into small cubes.
- Mix the lamb mince with the onions and some salt, pepper and mixed herbs.
- Add a little olive oil.
- Shape the burgers with your hands and make them nice and flat
- Fry in sunflower oil or olive oil on a low heat, turining a few times, until cooked

Cripsy chips ... cripsy fries.... potato chips ... frensh fries .... whatever you would like to call them ... they are very yummy :o)

These chips went very well with the Lamb Burgers!

'Children In Need' Bake Sale

2006-11-19T22:01:00.000-08:00

'Children In Need' Bake Sale.

Today is 'Children In Need' day. It's a charity event raising money for needy children.
For this event we are trying to raise as much money at work as possible. One of the things we are doing is a 'bake sale'.
So I baked some chocolate cupcakes last night and took them into work today.

Here is what we did for 'Children In Need' last year

Recipe:
-----------

Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups caster sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 2 tsps baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup veg oil
- 2 tsps vanilla

Method:
1- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
2- Add water, oil and vanilla.
3- Beat with electric mixer until blended.
4- Spoon into greased or paper-lined muffin cups, filling 3/4 full (I did both).
5- Bake at 180C (350F) for 15 to 18 minutes.
6- Remove from pan and cool on wire.
7- Frost and decorate as desired.

Pouring Yumminess:

Which one would you choose?

Nicely Decorated:

George Foreman's lean mean grilling machine

2006-11-19T21:53:00.000-08:00

Rob bought me a "George Foreman's lean mean grilling machine" a while ago.
But it got tidied into a cupboard a few months ago. Yesterday I fancied some grilled vegetables, so got the machine out and grilled some courgettes.
I also made a grilled cheese sandwich (mixture of feta cheese and cheddar cheese - no photo I'm afraid).
All served with salad ... yummy :o)

Baked White Haddock with Herbs, Lemon & Olive Oil

2006-11-19T21:50:00.000-08:00

Baked White Haddock with Herbs, Lemon & Olive Oil

I'm not usually a big fan of fish, but trust me .. this meal is soo good.

Use fresh fish (Haddock or Cod), place on an over tray and add your choice of herbs, salt and pepper (I added some ground cumin too).
Squeeze a fresh lemon over the fish, and some olive oil.
Bake uncovered in the oven at 180 C for 25 minutes.

I served it with oraganic couscous and salad.

Samrties Chocolate Cupcakes

2006-11-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the Feast (Eid-ul-Fitr), which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, I baked these chocolate cupcakes & a lemon cake (covered with Raspberries & Blueberries) and took them into work on Monday morning.
I took in some bought goodies as well.

Eid Mubarak (Happy Eid) Everyone!

I used the same recipe as my Halloween Cupcakes which I used last year :o)

Recipe:
-----------

Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups caster sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 2 tsps baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup veg oil
- 2 tsps vanilla

Method:
1- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
2- Add water, oil and vanilla.
3- Beat with electric mixer until blended.
4- Spoon into greased or paper-lined muffin cups, filling 3/4 full (I did both).
5- Bake at 180C (350F) for 15 to 18 minutes.
6- Remove from pan and cool on wire.
7- Frost and decorate as desired.

Roast Pesto Chicken and Vegetables

2006-11-09T20:01:00.000-08:00

Chicken covered with pesto, roasted in the oven with sliced courgettes and carrots.

Cooking Method:
Season chicken legs with salt, pepper, and your favourite mixed herbs. Add pesto (you can choose between red or green pesto) and olive oil. Roast in the oven covered for 40 minutes.
Uncover and add the courgettes and carrots and continue roasting in the oven for a further 15 minutes. Add a little more olive oil if you like.
Serve with pasta or potatoes or rice .... and enjoy :o)

Home-made Chicken Noodle Soup

2006-11-09T19:56:00.000-08:00

Home-made Chicken Noodle Soup:

When we were in China, we ate LOADS of noodles, and lots of noodle soup.

So now back in the UK, after a 3 week break from Chinese food (we love Chinese food but overloaded on it in China, so needed a break), I made chicken noodle soup. Check out the steam in this photo :o)

Ingredients:
- 6 cups (1.5 L) chicken stock
- 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 5 sping onions
- 2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 courgette, cubed
- mushrooms
- 100g thin rice noodles (or egg noodles)
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- salt and pepper

Cooking Method:
1- In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring the stock to a simmer.
2- Add the chicken breasts and simmer until tender and no trace of pink remains (about 15 minutes).
3- Remove the chicken and let it cool down a bit, then cut into cubes. Set aside.
4- Return the chicken stock to simmer and add the sping onions, carrots & courgettes.
5- Simmer for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are soft.
6- Add the cubed chicken, noodles, mushrooms, parsely and salt and pepper. Simmer until noodles are tender, about 5 minutes.
7- Serve the soup with bread and salad.

Roast Chicken Breast Meal

2006-11-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

Roast Chicken Breast Meal:

I cooked roast chicken breast covered with herbs in the oevn for 50 minutes. I also made some roast potatoes, carrots, sprouts and white cabbage. I did make some gravy as well but it's not in this photo ... yummy English Roast :o)

Wholemeal Arabic Sfeha

2006-11-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

I fancied having another go at making Arabic Sfeha (meat pastries), I made some with white flour, and made these with wholemeal flour as an experiment. They came out really well :o)

The open pies are beef mince pies. Some of the closed triangle ones are stuffed with feta cheese, and the others are stuffed with spinach.
I made a few mini pizzas as well.

Here is a mixture:

Here's the recipe from last time:
Homemade Sfeha (mini lamb pies).

Preperation Time 30 mins (plus standing time)
Cooking Time 10 mins

Dough Ingredients:
- 150g plain flour
- 7g dry yeast
- half teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 125ml warm water
- olive-oil spray.

Lamb topping Ingredients:
- 100g lamb mince
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon salt
- half teaspoon pepper
- quarter teaspoon chilli powder
- half an onion cut finely
- pine nuts
- 2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses

Cooking Method:
1- Make dough by mixing flour, yeast, salt, oil and enough warm water until mixture forms a ball. Place ball of dough in oiled medium bowl, spray with oil. Cover and stand in warm place about 1 hour until dough doubles in size.
2- Meanwhile, make lamb topping by combining the ingredients in a small bowl.
3- Pr-heat oven to moderately hot. 200C (400F) Gas Mark 6
4-Knead dough on lightly floured surface 5 minutes, roll dough to 2cm thickness. Using 7cm cutter, cut 20 rounds from dough, place rounds on oiled tray.
5- Divide topping among rounds, press a little to ensure it sticks.
6- Bake uncovered in oven about 10 to 12 minutes.
7- You could also make other shapes such as boat shaped with the edges up etc.
8- Enjoy with yoghurt, salad and Syrian dips such as hummos and aubergine dips.

2006-11-09T19:43:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the lunches I make for Rob to take to work:

1- BBQ Chicken & Salad Bagel

close up:

Mango Chicken Baggette:

Mango chicken, cheddar cheese and cucumber in a white baggette. The mango chicken was interesting, I'm not sure the combination of mango and chicken is my favourite ... might go back to the BBQ chicken next time :o)

Chicken Tikka Bagel:
Another day ... another lunch for Rob to take to work.
Today we have chicken tikka with cheddar cheese and cucumber, on a white bagel.

Turkey, Cheese and Lettuce Wrap:
Today we have a turkey, cheese and lettuce wrap with mayonnaise.
Simple, easy, tasty and healthy :o)

Lamb Mint Burgers

2006-11-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

I'm afraid these burgers are not home-made by me.... but freshly bought from Waitrose supermarket's meat counter (not frozen).

They tasted soooo good. I cooked them in a griddle pan with green peppers and courgettes. Yum!

Green Beans Bolognese

2006-11-09T19:34:00.000-08:00

Our friends Mira, Paul, Bash & Anisha came round for a meal last weekend. I made a few Arabic meals and mezze. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of the whole meal together as we were all too hungry :o)

As there were a few vegetarians among us, I cooked vegetarian bolognese.... well it's the arabic version of bolognese but not really called that.
I usually cook this meal with mince beef or lamb. This time I replaced the meat with chopped carrots, onions and red pepper.... cook, then add the green beans, and bring to the boil... then add tomato paste and a couple of tins of chopped tomatoes and lots of herbs (for example basil, parsley, thyme etc)... cook for 20 minutes and serve with rice and salad.

In Arabic, this meal is called fasolia.

Pasta Salad Snack

2006-11-09T07:51:00.000-08:00

Pasta Salad Snack:

I had some leftover pasta cooked in red pepper pesto and sweetcorn in my fridge, so as a snack, I used the pasta to make a pasta salad and served it with some wholemeal bread ... yummy and healthy :o)

Sunday Roast on a Saturday

2006-08-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

I love cooking and always wish I could cook fancier meals during the week... so I made an effort this Saturday to cook a yummy roast dinner for me and Rob.

Roast beef, roast potatoes, broccoli and carrots.

Roast Potatoes and Vegetables

2006-08-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

Rob and I love roast potatoes... I roasted baby potatoes with their skin in with a large red pepper and a large courgette.

I boiled the potatoes first then tossed in olive oil and mixed herbs and basil, then placed on an oven try with the vegetables. And roasted for 50 minutes.
I think I left the red peppers in for too long, I won't keep them as long next time.

Very yummy and healthy and goes well with any meat or salad :o)

Homemade Apple Pie

2006-07-15T00:44:00.000-07:00

I made an apple pie tonight. Rob loves apple pie, so I made him this as a surprise.

Ingredients
For the pastry:
255g/9oz plain flour
pinch of salt
140g/5oz hard margarine or butter
6 tsp cold water
For the filling:
2 large Bramley cooking apples, sliced
sugar, to taste
cinnamon
caster sugar, to serve

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2. Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl.
3. Rub in the margarine or butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
4. Add the cold water to the flour mixture. Using a knife, mix the water into the flour, using your hand to firm up the mixture. The pastry should be of an even colour and suitable consistency for rolling.
5. Divide the pastry into two halves. Take one half and roll it out so that it is big enough to cover an 20cm/8in enamel or aluminium plate. Trim the edges with a knife using the edge of the plate as your guide.
6. Cover the pastry with the apples and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon to taste.
7. Roll out the other half of the pastry. Moisten the edge of the bottom layer of pastry and place the second piece on top.
8. Press down on the pastry edges, making sure that they are properly sealed. Trim off any excess pastry with a knife in a downward motion, again using the plate as your guide.
9. Flute the edges with a pinching action using your fingers and thumb.
10. Prick the surface of the pastry lightly and brush with milk before placing the pie in the oven. Cook for 25 minutes.
11. When the pie is cooked it should move slightly on the plate when gently shaken.
12. Slide on to a serving plate, dust with caster sugar and serve.

Olive Bread Chicken Salad Sanwich

2006-07-15T00:43:00.000-07:00

I made 2 of these chicken salad sandwiches for Rob to take to work for lunch today.

I bought the olive bread from Sainsbury's, it's sooo tasty. I'd like to try making olive bread at home after tasting it.

Chicken, lettuce, cucumber and salad cream... mmm :o)

England 1 - Paraguay 0

2006-07-15T00:34:00.000-07:00

It was England's first game in the 2006 World Cup in Germany when I took these photos.
I invited my sister Sophie, Lee and Darren round to watch the match with me and Rob. I made us lunch to nibble on while watching England beat Paraguay 1-0.

Come on ENGERRRRLAND! :o)

Cubbee from Selfridge's in London. It's minced meat and cracked wheat, stuffed with mince meat and pine nuts. Very Middle Eastern, and so tasty :o)

Stuffed Vine Leaves from Selfridge's in London

Hummus Dip and chopped salad

Potato salad

Curley Fries

Oven cooked chicken drum sticks, marinated in olive oil, chili, herbs, salt, pepper, cumin, ypghurt and honey.

Fruity Coconut Oat Bars - Flapjacks

2006-06-22T22:59:00.000-07:00

Here's my second attempt at making these flapjacks. I made them last xmas, and fancied them again last weekend.

Rob and I went for a picnic with Mira and Paul. It was Mira's birthday, so we all took some goodies and sandwiches, then played some ball games. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIRA!

Fruity Coconut Oat Bars Recipe:

125g butter, melted
90g rolled oats
110g sultanas
45g coconut
50g chopped dates
10g chopped glace cherries
75g self-raising flour
110g caster sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon golden syrup

Method:
- Grease 23cm square slab cake pan, place strip of baking paper (grease-proof paper) to cover base and extend over 2 opposite sides.
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.
- Press mixture into prepared pan (I used a potato masher to press the mixture down firmly)
- Bake in moderate oven (180c) for about 20 minutes or until golden.
- Cool in pan, refrigerate before cutting.
- ENJOY :o)

Haloumi Cheese and Tomato Toastie

2006-05-20T23:04:00.000-07:00

For lunch today, I made haloumi cheese and tomato toasties on wholegrain bread, and served them with wholemeal pasta and salad.

To make the toasties:
- Choose you preferred type of bread (I chose wholegrain buns)
- Spread with cheese spread (or mayonnasie)
- Add slices of haloumi cheese, and slices of tomato.
- Add a little pesto (optional), I added some red pepper pesto.
- Grill or toast in a sandwich toaster for a few minutes until the cheese has melted a bit.

Enjoy :o)

Mediterranean Soup

2006-05-14T23:57:00.000-07:00

I'm in a "home-made soup" mood at the moment. Today I made a Mediterranean soup to serve with the lamb burgers and home-made fries I cooked.

Sundays are for naughty eating :o)

Soup Ingredients:
- 1 potato
- 1 carrot
- 1 leek
- 1 red pepper
- 1 courgette (zucchini)

Bring all the vegetables to the boil.
Add salt, pepper, chili, mixed herbs and vegetable stock.
Simmer for 20 minutes, then blend and serve! Yummy :o)

Lamb Burgers, Homemade Fries and Soup

2006-05-14T23:55:00.000-07:00

Sunday Treat!

As a Sunday treat for me and Rob, I made lamb burgers (bought from the Halal shop), with cheese and lettuce in wholemeal English muffins. Served with home-made chips (french fries), and home-made mediterranean soup.

Sundays are for naughty eating :o)

Soup Ingredients:
- 1 potato
- 1 carrot
- 1 leek
- 1 red pepper
- 1 courgette (zucchini)

Bring all the vegetables to the boil.
Add salt, pepper, chili, mixed herbs and vegetable stock.
Simmer for 20 minutes, then blend and serve! Yummy :o)

Homemade Potato & Leek Soup

2006-05-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

I made some potato and leek soup on Monday.

It's a really simple meal to make and so tasty and healthy.

Just boil some chopped up potatoes, leek and a carrot in water.

Add vegetable stock, salt, pepper and your favourite herbs and cover and simmer for 20 minutes untill all the veg are tender.

Blend in a blender for a couple of minutes, add a little butter if you like to give it more flavour.

Serve with warm bread, toast or your choice of crackers... yummy :o)

Wholemeal Baps

2006-04-23T23:38:00.000-07:00

I baked some wholemeal baps today.

They came out so soft and tasty. I followed the recipe properly this time (think I was a bit lazy last time), and when it said knead for 5 minutes, I set a timer and did as I was told!! It's a really good recipe, have a go...........

I put the photos on my Flickr page.

Here is the 'BEFORE BAKING' photo.

Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons (7g) dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup (125ml) warm water
- 1/2 cup (125ml) warm milk
- (200g) wholemeal flour
- (135g) plain flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 40g butter

Cooking Method
1- Combine yeast, sugar, water and milk in a small bowl, whisk until yeast is dissolved. Cover bowl, stand in warm place about 10 mins or until mixture is frothy.
2- Sift flour and salt into a large bowl, rub in butter. Stir in yeast mixture, mix to a soft dough. Turn dough onto floured surface, knead about 5 mins or until smooth and elastic. Place dough in a large greased bowl, cover, stand in warm place about 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size.
3- Turn dough onto a floured surface, knead until smooth, divide dough into 6 equal portions, knead into balls. Place balls about 5cm apart on floured oven tray. Dust lightly with a little extra flour, cover with a cloth. Stand in a warm place about 10 mins.
4- Dust balls again with a little more flour. Bake in hot oven (210C) for about 15 minutes.

Can a snack be any more English? :o)
Bread with strawberry jam and a cup of tea ... perfect!

2006-04-23T23:18:00.000-07:00

I cooked this Greek recipe today for dinner.
It was supposed to be Spicy Aromatic Chicken, but I only had turkey in the freezer so I improvised a little :o)

The spices give this dish a true Balkan flavour. It is thought to have been invented by nomadic tribes who once wondered all over the Balkans and Greece. Serve with rice, pasta or potatoes. I chose to serve it with Roast Potatoes.

Ingredients:
- turkey pieces
- lemon juice
- olive oil
- garlic paste
- tomato paste
- 400g canned chopped tomatoes in juice
- pinch of sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground all spice
- salt and pepper
- can of peas

Cooking Method:
1- Cover the turkey pieces with the lemon juice. Heat the olive oil in a large flameproof casserole or large lidded pan. Add the onion and fry for 5 mins until soft. Add the turkey pieces and fry for 5-10 mins until browned on all sides.
2- Poor in a little more lemon juice and add the tomatoes with their juice, the sugar, cinnamon, allspice, garlic paste, tomato paste, salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Cover the pan and simmer for 45 minutes, until the turkey is tender.
3- Add the peas 10 mins before the end of cooking, and continue to simmer until heated through. Serve hot with a little feta cheese sprinkled on top if desired. Enjoy :o)

Grilled Vegetables and Chicken

2006-04-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

Courgettes and Aubergines are my favourite vegetables so I cooked a meal of grilled veg tonight, with chicken, feta cheese and green olives.

You can also find details of this recipe on my Flickr page

Method
- Either using a grill, a BBQ or a griddle pan, grill courgettes (zucchini), aubergines (egg plants) and mushrooms with a little olive oil.
- Stir fry some chicken pieces
- Arrange the vegetables neatly on your plate with the chicken in the middle.
- Decorate with feta cheese, green olives and carrot slices.

ONION Week + Rice Bolognese

2006-04-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

I took this photo specially for Friday Food Fiesta ONION Week, while I was making Bolognese.

Taken specially for the Friday Food Fiesta Group - ONION Week.

Rob has made me a mini studio to take my food photos. It's great. He made it using white foam boards and lamps etc. Rob took the 2 photos above using my new setup :o)
I can't wait to take more food shots yay :)

I created the collage of the 2 pictures using Picasa.

Here is the Rice Bolognese I made:

Method
- Fry onions and mince beef in a little olive oil until browned
- add salt, pepper, basil, corriander and parsley
- add a little beef stock for taste.
- add some tomato paste and a little garlic paste and mix well.
- add 2 tins of chopped tomatoes and bring to the boil then cover the pan and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring regularly
- cook the rice while waiting.
- serve with vegetables or salad of your choice :o)

Pineapple Collage

2006-04-19T19:13:00.000-07:00

Playing around using picasa.

I bought a pineapple a few days ago, and decided to cut it up for dessert last night. It was perfectly ripe and so juicy.

Fresh pineapple is so much nicer than canned pineapple... but more effort hehe.

No Cooking Tonight

2006-04-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

I didn't have time to cook a full meal last night, so I stopped at the supermarket and bought some fresh salads and meals and put them together.

The weather was nice last night, so I took the food outside :o)

I've copied the ingredients off the packets so I can try making them myself next time: Here you go:

Rice, Lentil & Roast Aubergine with Garlic Dressing
Ingredients:
- Cooked green lentils
- Cooked rice
- Cooked wild rice
- Red peppers
- Roasted Aubergines
- Garlic dressing (made from lemon juice, rice vinegar, salt, garlic puree & black pepper)
- Sunflower oil
- Celery (ewww)
- Spring onions

New Potato Salad
Ingredients:
- New potatoes
- Mayonnaise
- Salad onions
- Salt
- Pepper

Cheese & Onion Rolls
Creamy Taw Valley Cheddar & juicy onions, wrapped in butter enriched puff pastry (that's all it said on the packet)

Garlic and Herb Mini Chicken Fillets
Ingredients:
erm garlic, herb and chicken? hehe.

Try making them and let me know how you get on :o)

Colourful Treat

2006-04-19T19:09:00.000-07:00

I took this photo for Friday Food Fiesta JELLY week on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanan/127518396/in/photostream/

Griddle to Colour

2006-04-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

Rob and I had fishcakes for dinner on Sunday. I griddled some courgettes and mushrroms to serve with the fishcakes and some pasta.

I topped the griddled veg with some feta cheese too mmm :o)

I did take a photo of the whole meal but it's not a very good one as I was in a rush, so I will leave you to enjoy these yummy veg instead :o)

Mustard & Honey Chicken Casserole

2006-04-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

I did a bit of multi-tasking tonight after work.
I put 3 chicken breasts in a casserole dish, and added salt, pepper, basil, parsley and corriander.
Then I topped the chicken breasts with 'Honey & Mustard Sauce' (not home-made unfortunately, however I intend to make it from scartch next time).
I covered the dish with foil, then put it in a pre-heated oven at 180C for ONE hour.

Then I quickly changed into my running clothes and went for a 45 minute run while it was cooking.

I had a quick shower then cooked some rice to go with it and cut up some salad.

It was really really yummy, which has made me want to make it from scratch next time.
The ingredients of the sauce include:
- Water
- Carrots
- Mustard
- Onion
- Honey
- Vinegar
- Cream
- Sunflower oil
- Garlic
- Salt
- Parsley

When I find a complete recipe I'll give it a shot :o)

Easter Bunny and Treats

2006-04-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

Rather than buying a huge Easter egg, I decided to buy a few mini treats for me and Rob. Mmmmmm I'm looking forward to the Lindt "Gold Bunny" the most :o)
Lindt rules!

Birthday Coffee Cake

2006-04-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

Rob's mum made this lovely coffee cake for his birthday.
It was really tasty and the coffee icing on top was soo good :o)

Here is the recipe:
It was a coffee flavoured victoria sponge ie
150g butter or margarine
150g caster sugar
150g self raising flour
3 eggs
1 teaspoon of coffee granules

Grease and line two 8" sandwich tins and heat oven to 180C or gas mark 4
Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Dissolve the coffee granules in tiny drop of hot water and add to the creamed mixture. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, into creamed mixture adding a little of the sieved flour with each. Carefully fold in the remaining sieved flour.(sometimes I add a teaspoon of baking powder to the flour before sieving).Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for about 25mins in the preheated oven.
When cool sandwich together with butter icing again flavoured with a teaspoon of coffee granules dissolved in a tiny amount of hot water. It was topped with coffee glace icing -Hope you enjoy it from Rob's Mum

Musli Snack

2006-04-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

18 March 2006

Rob and I went for a run this morning. After a nice looong shower, I fancied a nice healthy snack rather than a big lunch. So I made a random sanck of musli, topped with strawberry yoghurt, nuts, dried fruit and sliced peaches.
I also added some fresh strawberries after I took this photo, but was too hungry to take another photo hehe :o)

Kick Start Your Friday

2006-04-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

I had Special K cereal this morning with strawberries and a banana.
I bought the flowers from a flower lady on Tottenham Court Road in London, I didn't have much cash on me so could only buy 2. I'll go back to her again (with more cash :o) next time I am in London.

Have a lovely Friday everyone... and a great weekend :o)

Moroccan Lamb Tagine

2005-12-14T10:51:00.000-08:00

Rob's sister Sarah brought this brilliant Tagine Dish for us back from Morocco.
I tried it out at the weekend and made a Lamb and vegetable Tagine. The falvours were soooo tasty.
A Tagine Dish is a shallow, round earthenware glazed pot with a tall, conical lid like a chinese coolie's hat, that traps the steam rising from the stew cooked in the bottom and prevents the stew drying out during the lengthy cooking time.

Moroccan Lamb Tagine Recipe

- 1kg shoulder or leg of lamb, cut into large pieces
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 large red pepper,sliced (I used a green pepper as I didn't have a red one)
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon chili
- 600ml (1 pint) vegetable stock
- 1 tablespoon clear honey
- 375g okra (I didn't have okra so replaced it with courgettes)
- 75g whole blanched almonds
- salt and pepper

Method:
1- Put the lamb, onion, garlic, pepper, ginger, cinnamon, chili, stock and honey into a heavy flameproof casserole (or traditional tagine dish) and heat to just on simmering point.
2- Cover tightly and cook for about 1 and a 1/4 hours, stirring occasionally.
3- Add the okra (courgettes) and almonds. Cover the casserole (tagine) and cook for a further 15 minutes.
4- Season to taste and serve with couscous or rice and salad.

Xmas Tree Sponge Cake

2005-12-11T12:17:00.000-08:00

I baked this sponge cake for our friends Katie and Michael's Chrismas party last night.
I wanted to give the cake a seasonal touch so I cut out a Christmas tree shape, then rolled out some green icing and cut out the same shape.

I spead jam over the cake then added the icing ontop (the jam helps the icing stick onto the cake).
Then using red icing, I created mini balls and cake decoration.
The mini xmas pictures are edible too :o)

Sponge Cake Recipe:
I used double these quantities as I wanted a BIGGER cake, but for a round cake this is what you would need:

125g butter, softened
250ml white sugar (I used castor sugar)
3 large eggs
500ml cake flour
15ml baking powder
2.5ml salt
5ml vanilla essence
100ml milk
50ml water

Method:
- Cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add this to the creamed mixture, along with vanilla essence, milk and water.
- Mix with a wooden spoon until smooth.
- Spoon into deep 20cm or 23cm greased cake pan (I used a bigger pan so I can cut out the xmas tree shape)
- Bake in preheated oven at 180c for 45-60 minutes until golden in colour (45 minutes was enough for mine).
- Cool on cooling rack, then split the middle and fill with strawberry jam (if required).

Left Over Pieces of Cake:
I decorated the left over pieces of cake with chocolate icing, smarties, mini eggs and dolly mixture.

Fruity Coconut Oat Bars

2005-12-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

Rob and I went to Katie's xmas party last night. I baked a xmas tree cake (see my blog). I also baked a healthy option........ fruit flapjacks. There were very tasty and disappeared very quickly at the party.

Fruity Coconut Oat Bars Recipe:

125g butter, melted
90g rolled oats
110g sultanas
45g coconut
50g chopped dates
10g chopped glace cherries
75g self-raising flour
110g caster sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon golden syrup

Method:
- Grease 23cm square slab cake pan, place strip of baking paper (grease-proof paper) to cover base and extend over 2 opposite sides.
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.
- Press mixture into prepared pan (I used a potato masher to press the mixture down firmly)
- Bake in moderate oven (180c) for about 20 minutes or until golden.
- Cool in pan, refrigerate before cutting.
- ENJOY :o)

Would You Like a Slice of Apple Pie?

2005-12-02T01:35:00.000-08:00

Recipe:

FOR THE PASTRY:
- 350g/12oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting
- pinch of salt
- 175g/6oz butter, diced, plus extra for greasing
- 75g/3oz caster or icing sugar, sifted
- 1 egg, beaten, plus 1 egg for brushing
- 3 tbsp milk

FOR THE FILLING:
- 4 large cooking apples
- a bit of sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice

METHOD:
1- For the pastry, sift together the flour and salt. Rub the diced butter into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
2- Stir in the sugar.
3- Add the beaten egg into the mix , then slowly add the milk until it begins to form a dough.
4- Cover dough and chill in fridge for 30 minutes.
5- Peel apples and cut into thin slices.
6- Preheat the oven to 180C
7- Grease a baking dish or pan.
8- Roll half the pastry and shape into a circle. Place at bottom of cake pan. Add apple silces and a little sugar (depending how sweet you'd like it), and the lemon juice.
9- Roll the other half of the pastry and place on top of the apple. Seal the edges.
10- Prick the pie with a fork or knife in a few places, brush with the extra egg and place in the oven. Bake for 40 minutes.
******** ENJOY :o) **********

2005-11-29T15:25:00.000-08:00

Rob and I made these Halloween Cakes for Halloween. We enjoyed decorating them with icing :o)

Here's how I made them step by step, aided by photos that Rob took :o)

Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups caster sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 2 tsps baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup veg oil
- 2 tsps vanilla

Method:
1- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
2- Add water, oil and vanilla.
3- Beat with electric mixer until blended.
4- Spoon into greased or paper-lined muffin cups, filling 3/4 full (I did both).
5- Bake at 180C (350F) for 15 to 18 minutes.
6- Remove from pan and cool on wire.
7- Frost and decorate as desired.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Halloween Cup Cakes

2005-11-29T15:17:00.000-08:00

Rob and I made these Halloween Cup Cakes and Decorated them for Halloween. It was good fun :o)

Recipe:
-----------

Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups caster sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 2 tsps baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup veg oil
- 2 tsps vanilla

Method:
1- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
2- Add water, oil and vanilla.
3- Beat with electric mixer until blended.
4- Spoon into greased or paper-lined muffin cups, filling 3/4 full (I did both).
5- Bake at 180C (350F) for 15 to 18 minutes.
6- Remove from pan and cool on wire.
7- Frost and decorate as desired.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Syrian Sfeha (Mini Lamb Pies)

2005-11-29T07:10:00.001-08:00

This is a Syrian meal...
Homemade Sfeha (mini lamb pies).

Preperation Time 30 mins (plus standing time)
Cooking Time 10 mins

Dough Ingredients:
- 150g plain flower
- 7g dry yeast
- half teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 125ml warm water
- olive-oil spray.

Lamb topping Ingredients:
- 100g lamb mince
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon salt
- half teaspoon pepper
- quarter teaspoon chilli powder
- half an onion cut finely
- pine nuts
- 2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses

Cooking Method:
1- Make dough by mixing flour, yeast, salt, oil and enough warm water until mixture forms a ball. Place ball of dough in oiled medium bowl, spray with oil. Cover and stand in warm place about 1 hour until dough doubles in size.
2- Meanwhile, make lamb topping by combining the ingredients in a small bowl.
3- Pr-heat oven to moderately hot. 200C (400F) Gas Mark 6
4-Knead dough on lightly floured surface 5 minutes, roll dough to 2cm thickness. Using 7cm cutter, cut 20 rounds from dough, place rounds on oiled tray.
5- Divide topping among rounds, press a little to ensure it sticks.
6- Bake uncovered in oven about 10 to 12 minutes.
7- You could also make other shapes such as boat shaped with the edges up etc.
8- Enjoy with yoghurt, salad and Syrian dips such as hummos and aubergine dips (I will add recipes for them soon).

My Fun Homemade Cupcakes for Charity

2005-11-25T02:41:00.000-08:00

I organised a fund raising 'BAKING DAY' for charity at work yesterday to raise money for 'Children In Need'.
It was a brilliant day, so many people brought in home-baked goodies, cakes, muffins, cookies, biscuits, brownies, fudge etc and we sold them ALL. We raised quite a lot of money and had a fun day :o)

This is a chocolate cake I baked. The following pictures are of things I and other colleagus made... please take a look :o)

----------------------------------------------------
Who We Are Helping:
Children In Need is an annual event that raises money and gives it to charities and projects that work to improve the lives of children and young people throughout the UK.

The donated money goes towards many things including helping children with severe physical disabilities, helping underprivileged children while their mother receives treatment for a life-threatening medical condition,
looking after children with cancer, paying for therapy sessions for sexually-abused children, paying for counselling sessions for children affected by violence at home etc

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recipe:
-----------

Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups caster sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 2 tsps baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup veg oil
- 2 tsps vanilla

Method:
1- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
2- Add water, oil and vanilla.
3- Beat with electric mixer until blended.
4- Spoon into greased or paper-lined muffin cups, filling 3/4 full.
5- Bake at 180C (350F) for 15 to 18 minutes.
6- Remove from pan and cool on wire.
7- Frost and decorate as desired.

Fruit Salad

2005-11-23T17:05:00.000-08:00

Once again.... who said healthy is boring?? Check out how gorgeous and yummy my fruit salad looks :o)

Here's how to make it:
You can whichever fruit you like, I cut up some:
- Apples
- Clementines
- Oranges
- Mango
- Strawberries
- Kiwi
- Grapes
- A tin of Pineapple in natural juice.
- Add the pineapple juice too and some orange or apple juice to keep the fruit fresh and stop it going brown.
- Just before serving I added a banana as well (but always add at the end as Bananas go brown quickly if left out).

Who Said Healthy is Boring?!

2005-11-23T17:03:00.000-08:00

Mmmmm who said healthy is boring? My lunch was so yummy!! Shame our canteen at work isn't as good!!

From Left to Right:
1- Halloumi cheese and green olives
2- Baby Carrots
3- Mint and Garlic Yoghurt
4- Sundried tomato pasta
5- A big Arabic Salad (Lettuce, cucumber, tomato, green and red peppers, dried mint, salt, lemon juice and olive oil)

My Bolongese Stir Fry !!

2005-11-23T17:01:00.000-08:00

I made up my own pasta sauce by stir frying mushrooms, onions, red and green peppers and carrots, then adding tomato paste, a tin of tomatoes and lots of herbs and spices (thyme, basil, parsley, salt, pepper and chili).
Just add to pasta.... yummy!!

Glazed Lemon Cake

2005-11-23T16:46:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

*** Cake ***
4oz butter
4oz sugar
2 eggs
2 pots lemon flavour yoghurt
grated lemon zest
3 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp vanilla
8oz flour
baking powder and soda
*** Lemon Glaze ***
1 tbsp grated lemon zest
3/4 cup lemon juice
3/4 cup icing sugar

Method:

1- Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in yoghurt, zest, juice and vanilla.
2- Mix flour, baking powder and soda. Add to the butter mixture. Scrape into an oiled baking pan and spread level.
3- Bake in 350F 180C oven until edges pull from pan 45-60 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes.
4- To Glaze: Blend glaze ingrediants. Pierce cake all over, and pour glaze over cake. Cool for 1 hour.
Turn onto a platter and garnish with lemon slices.

Chicken Croquettes with Roasted Pepper Sauce

2005-11-23T16:41:00.000-08:00

This recipe combines finely chopped chicken with seasonings which is then shaped into croquettes and fried or baked. I use thighs as they have more flavour, and tend to be more moist than chicken breasts, but you could use either. I like to top these tender tidbits with roasted pepper sauce given here.

Ingredients:
4 Large Boneless Chicken Thighs
1 Slice Bread
1/4 Cup Milk
1 Egg
2 Green Onions, Chopped Into Pieces
1/4 Cup Fresh Parsley
Salt & Pepper
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
Oil For Frying (I baked them)
1 Cup Bread Crumbs

Roasted Pepper Sauce:

Ingredients:
One Large Red Pepper
One Large Yellow Pepper
Salt & Pepper
1/4 Cup Fresh Parsley
1/4 to 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
Dash Of Balsamic Vinegar

To Make The Croquettes: Either finely chop the chicken pieces, parsley and onions, or place in a food processor and pulse. Tear the slice of bread into pieces and place in a bowl. Pour the milk over the bread, and let sit a minute or two. Squeeze the bread of excess milk and place the bread in with the chicken mixture. Add the remaining ingredients except the bread crumbs, and using your hands mix very well. If the mixture is too soft to form into croquettes, refrigerate one hour.

Shape the croquettes into 3 inch discs or tubes, and roll in the bread crumbs. Heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan to a depth of 2 inches until it reaches 375 degrees F. Carefully drop the croquettes into the pan, and cook, turning as each side browns until they are a deep golden brown and cooked through.

Lighter Version: To decrease the fat, simply bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F. for about 20 to 30 minutes or until they are cooked through and golden brown in color.

To Make The Sauce: Roast the peppers in the oven or microwave. Place all the sauce ingredients including the peppers, except the olive oil in a food processor. Pulse a few times until you have a finely chopped mixture. Add half the olive oil and pulse. Check the consistancy of the sauce. It should be thick, but still be loose. Add the rest of the oil if needed.

Serve the croquettes with rissoto or rice or pasta.

Chocolate Chip Muffins

2005-11-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

I was going to visit my sister for weekend, so I made her some chocolate chip muffins.
Check out the little chocolate chips on top :o)

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
- 90g butter, melted
- 2 & 1/2 cups (375g) self-raising flower
- 1/2 cup (50g) cocoa powder, sifted ( I prefer cadbury's)
- 3/4 cup (165g) caster sugar
- 1 egg, beaten lightly
- 1 & 1/3 cups (330ml) milk
- 1 & 1/4 cups (225g) chocolate chips

Method:
- Grease 12-hole muffin pan, or use paper cups
- Combine all dry ingredients into a large bowl and mix. Add other ingredients and mix well. Save some chocolate chips to add ontop of the muffins.
- Spoon mixture into prepared pan, and add extra chocolate chips on top of each muffin.
- Bake in moderately hot oven (200C - 400F) for about 25 minutes.
- Turn onto wire rack to cool before serving.
- You can change the recipe by adding white or dark chocolate chips, or by cutting up a chocolate bar into chunks.

Enjoy :o)

Italian Gnocchi

2005-11-23T08:34:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
4 Medium Sized Potatoes (about 2 pounds)
1 Large Egg Yolk
1-2 Cups Of Flour
Salt

Gorgonzola Sauce:
Ingredients:
4 oz. Gorgonzola Cheese (Room Temperature)
1 oz. Butter
8 oz. Heavy Cream

Garnish:

Fresh Chopped Parsley
Grated Parmesan

Method:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Wash & dry the potatoes. Bake the potatoes until they are fork tender, about 45 minutes or boil them if you are in a rush.
While the potatoes are baking prepare the sauce by cooking the cheese, butter and cream over low heat until the cheese has completely melted into the cream and the sauce has slightly thickened. Set aside. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel and put through a potato ricer.

While still warm, place the prepared potatoes on a large board forming a mound with a hole in the center. add the yolk and the salt into the center. Slowly start adding the flour a little at a time, mixing well with your hands and continue until you have created a soft workable dough. Knead gently only briefly until you have achieved a smooth, pliable if slightly sticky dough.

To shape the gnocchi, first break the dough into fist sized pieces, and roll each piece into a log about the thickness of your thumb. Cut into 1 inch pieces. To finish, take a fork and place it against your work board. With it's back towards you, press each piece of dough with your index finger firmly up the length of the fork tines. Let the gnocchi fall back onto the board and continue with the remaining pieces in this manner. Place the prepared gnocchi on a lightly floured baking sheet and either cook immediately, or keep refrigerated until ready to use, preferably not more than 3 hours. To cook, drop carefully into salted boiling water and remove immediately as they have all floated to the surface. Drain and top with the gorgonzola sauce. Serve sprinkled with the fresh, chopped parsley. Offer grated parmesan at the table.

Home-Marinated Roast Chicken

2005-11-22T16:01:00.000-08:00

I made up my own marinade recipe after looking at a few recipes and combining the ideas.
I added salt, pepper, basil, chilli, cumin, olive oil, yoghurt and honey to the chicken and left it in the fridge for a few hours.
Then I roasted the chicken in the Oven at 180 degrees C for ONE hour.

Meanwhile I boiled the potatoes, covered them with mixed herbs and olive oil, and roasted them in the oven for 30 minutes.

I added the onions and red peppers to the chicken about 15 minutes before the chicken was ready.

The carotts, broccoli and sweetcorn were boiled in water and a little salt for 9 minutes........ ENJOY :o)

First Recipe Blog

2005-11-22T15:28:00.000-08:00

Hello,

This is my first Cooking Blog. I plan to add many recipes here... from Arabic cooking, to English, Italian and Chinese cooking, to cakes, muffins, cookies, flapjacks and anything with CHOCOLATE.
I will try to add as many pictures as I can, and describe the ingredients and method of cooking each meal....... ENJOY :o)