Tag Archives: Easy recipes

Oven-Baked Sea Bream

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Baked Fish

Hey folks, gather ’round for a slice of our neighborhood tales! It’s like just yesterday when my hubby and I reveled in the joys of tucking our little ones into bed, eagerly anticipating our own night out. Fast forward, and here we are, with a teenage daughter and a legally adult second one. Now, they’re the ones ushering us into dreamland before hitting the town.

Our eldest is spreading her wings a bit, navigating the world solo. Meanwhile, the youngest is still under the no-cab-alone rule. So, when she’s out, we’re either stationed at home, ready to pick her up, or hanging with our awesome neighbors who, I must say, are more like family now. Shoutout to Rania and Alain – they’ve been our partners in crime through countless celebrations, from Easter to Christmas to graduation and birthdays. We’ve even lost count of the wine bottles during our weekly dinner gatherings.

Tonight’s rendezvous is set for 8:30, featuring some baked fish and roasted cauliflower. Time to detox from all the cheese and raclette bingeing since Christmas – gotta keep it healthy, you know?

Speaking of fish, my go-to is SEA BREAM. Its mild, white meat is a winner for me. Found in various corners of the globe, it’s perfect for grilling. A decent-sized one, around 400gms, can be thrown on the grill whole – head and all.

My cooking mantra for this beauty? Keep it simple. A sprinkle of salt and pepper, some sliced onions and tomatoes for stuffing, lay it in a baking pan with lemon wedges and aromatic leaves, drizzle some oil, and voila! Pop it in the oven for 45-50 minutes, and you’ve got yourself a tasty treat. Who says healthy can’t be delicious? Cheers to good food and great company!

Ingredients

  • 2kg / 3-4 fresh Sea Bream fish (cleaned, gutted and scaled)
  • Sea Salt and coarse pepper
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 onion, cut in circles
  • 2 large tomatoes, cut in circles
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 3 sprigs of rosemary
  • 10-12 Basil leaves
  • Olive oil, to drizzle
  • 1/2 cup of White Wine
  • Kumquat (Optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 220°C
  2. Wash fish, pat dry and place in oven dish.
  3. Liberally sprinkle salt and pepper over all parts of the fish and inside the body cavity.
  4. Fill in and surround with zest, onions, tomatoes, lemon slices, rosemary and basil. Drizzle with olive oil.
  5. Pour the wine inside the pan and cook for about 50mn or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Carrot Cake

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Photography Serge Oryan – IG @sergeoryan_photography

Are friendships like recipes?

Imagine friendship as a thoughtfully crafted recipe. There are moments when I want to sprinkle in extra spices to infuse excitement, and other times, a dash of sugar to sweeten the bond. For depth, a pinch of salt is added, and for nourishment, a touch of aroma is introduced. I’d prepare it on high heat for a profound connection or simmer it slowly for a more leisurely pace. Casual friendship resembles a comforting cup of tea on chilly days, providing warmth and solace, while long-lasting friendships are akin to a glass of wine on challenging days, offering both tranquility and a touch of sparkle.

I am not only blessed with the most amazing family, but I am also surrounded by numerous friends whom I love and trust, whether it’s a day of joy or a day of difficulty. I know you are many, and you know who you are. Let’s continue to enrich our friendship, making it enduring and meaningful.

Back to the kitchen where baking lifts my spirits when I’m in a good mood, and even when I’m not, it has a way of brightening my day. Yesterday’s choice landed on carrot cake, a household favorite, possibly inspired by the fall season or the Halloween decorations adorning my house.

There are different variations, but I’ve been loyal to this recipe for years now. I wonder why I never thought of posting it before. It contains shreds of carrots, walnuts and raisins for added texture and flavor. The use of carrots in cake recipes can be traced back to a time when sweeteners like sugar were scarce or expensive. Carrots provided natural sweetness and moisture to cakes. However, the carrot cake we know today, can be quite high in sugar and calories, particularly with the cream cheese frosting.

This cake is appreciated for its sweet, moist, and subtly spiced flavor. Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup brown sugar

  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups shredded carrots

  • 3/4 cup shredded coconut
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt

  • 1 can / 227g crushed pineapple in juice

  • ¼ cup chopped toasted walnuts

  • ½ cup raisins

Preparation:

  1. Grease and flour a 13x9x2-inch baking pan (or a 7-inch/18cm round pan).
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar and oil. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
  3. Add shreds of carrots and coconut and beat until combined.
  4. In another bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
  5. Stir into the egg mixture. Stir in pineapple chunks with the juice, chopped walnuts, and raisins.
  6. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 180°C / 350°F for about 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.
  7. Let it cool in the pan on a rack.

If desired, you can spread cream cheese frosting on the top, and this is how you make it:

Ingredients: • 227g / 8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature • 2 tbsp butter, at room temperature • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 2 cups icing sugar, sifted • A pinch of salt

Preparation: Whisk together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add sugar, vanilla, and salt, and beat on medium-high speed until well combined.

Creamy Chicken Curry

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Photography: Serge Oryan

Hello world! On my side of the continent, temperatures have been very low and our constant search has been lately exclusive for comfort food and soups. My curry recipe is very versatile. The version I’m sharing today is the one that my entire family approves, but I remember cooking this recipe sometimes for lent, using vegetable stock and coconut cream and omitting chicken, (which obviously makes it also vegan). I sometimes add, after blending, boiled cauliflower, pineapple pieces or unsalted cashew nuts. I also like sometimes to have it as a soup by adding one extra cup of stock before blending to have a thinner texture. It not only tastes delicious but it is also very aromatic and can be served on special occasions.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 2-3 chicken breasts, cut into pieces
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 200g pumpkin, diced (optional)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 2 cups fresh tomatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 banana, ripen and sliced
  • 1 apple, peeled, cored and diced
  • 2 cups cooking cream or coconut cream

Preparation

  1. In a large pot, drizzle oil and place chicken pieces to cook. Season with salt, pepper and oregano. Continue to fry until fully cooked. Remove chicken pieces and set aside.
  2. In same pot, coat again with oil and add pumpkin and onion. Sauté until soft.
  3. Stir in ginger, curry powder, cumin and turmeric and continue to sauté for about 1 minute then add tomatoes.
  4. Stir in the stock and continue to cook for about 5 minutes or until it starts to simmer.
  5. Add banana and apple pieces and cook for another 10 minutes.
  6.  Off heat, blend the mixture with hand stick blender or by transferring it to a food processor. Blend until smooth. Return mixture to the pot with the cooked chicken and add the cream to heat just few minutes, without bringing it to a boil.
  7. Garnish with sesame, seeds or shredded coconut, and serve with Basmati rice.

Lemon Rice Salad

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Lemon Rice SaladBlog3

This is the broad beans season in Lebanon and prices have dropped to less than 1000LBP per kg. In Lebanese currency this is really cheap. So we ate “fül” (broad beans) with beer, we cooked some as a stew with cumin and oil, we put a stack in the freezer. What else?

A salad! This salad makes a refreshing side dish. People enjoy most the combinations of fresh thyme and lemon zest that brings a burst of brightness to the rice. It is done with Basmati rice, but I like to mix my basmati with black forbidden rice, I’m not sure if I do it because of the flavors or because of the name. Forbidden rice or “emperor’s rice” earned its name because it was once reserved for the Chinese emperor to ensure his health and longevity, and forbidden to anyone else. It is gaining popularity for its high levels of antioxidants and superior nutritional value. I used today a Tilda Basmati Rice & Wild Rice pack, it contains 2 kinds of rice in 1 bag.

Like any salad, other ingredients of your choice can be added like dill, red onions or yellow pepper. “Who knew Rice Salad could be so good!”

Lemon Rice Salad

Ingredients

  • 1 cup basmati rice, uncooked
  • 2.5 cups water
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/3 cup thyme leaves
  • 3/4 cup fresh broad beans, skinless
  • 1/2 cup unsalted pistachios, soaked in water and peeled

Dressing

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • Sea salt

Preparation

  1. Bring water to boil, then pour in rice. Cook rice until tender and water is all absorbed. (I used a mix of white and black basmati).
  2. Place cooled rice in a salad bowl and stir in lemon zest, thyme, beans and pistachios.
  3. Combine dressing ingredients together and drizzle over the salad. Toss to well combine.

 

 

 

 

Spaghetti Bolognese

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Spaghetti Blog

Hello pasta lovers! Aren’t you numerous? Sometimes I really feel you don’t need a recipe to cook pasta. You throw it in the pan with any ingredients you have on hand and voilà! A fabulous meal is ready and bellies and taste buds are satisfied.

Spaghetti Bolognese is one of the meals that when I cook, I don’t have to worry about who doesn’t eat or who will whine about lunch because it’s everyone’s favorite. A meal I can cook with my eyes shut and my focus off.

Let’s do that!

Spaghetti Bolognese

Ingredients

  • 1 pack / 500g Spaghetti
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 400g minced beef
  • ¼ cup red wine (optional)
  • 400g fresh tomatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper
  • Parmesan

 

Preparation

  1. Cook spaghetti in boiled water according to package instructions
  2. In a large saucepan, sauté onion and garlic until golden.
  3. Add meat and cook for 2-3 minutes, drizzle with wine and continue cooking until browned on all sides.
  4. Add tomatoes and cover with water. Add tomato paste. Season with basil, salt and pepper and let simmer for about 30 minutes or until the sauce is thick and rich.
  5. Drain cooked spaghetti and add to the pan with the Bolognese sauce. Toss well and serve with parmesan cheese.

 

Springtime Crinkle Cookies

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Easter Crinkle Cookies

Axel my daughter turned TEN 2 days ago, despite the confinement because of coronavirus, she still deserves a nice table decoration set by “MOMMY” i.e myself. Axel loves these cookies and they are super easy to make. To color them, you just split the dough in 3 parts and add 3 drops of food color to each. The result is a batch of fluffy Crinkle Cookies with a dash of lemon flavor. 

Springtime Crinkle Cookies

Makes 32 cookies 

Ingredients

  • 100g butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp Lemoncello
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup icing sugar

Preparation

  1. Cream the butter and sugar.
  2. Add in eggs and lemoncello until fully incorporated.
  3. Combine flour, baking powder and salt and add into batches.
  4. Split the dough into three portions and color with food color of your choice.
  5. Refrigerate the dough for 2 hours.
  6. Roll dough into balls and cover with icing sugar.
  7. Bake in oven at 170°C oven for 8-10 minutes.

 

Pink Easter Pancakes

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Pimk Pancakes

This recipe is super festive, kids will love it. Serve the pancakes stacked up, melt white chocolate and pour it on the top layer and decorate with your favorite sprinkles and then cut it into pieces!
Pink Easter Pancakes
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
INGREDIENTS
-1 beet, cooked
-1 cup milk
-1 egg
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-2 tablespoons sugar
-1 tablespoon oil
-1 cup flour
-1 teaspoon baking powder
-¼ teaspoon salt

PREPARATION
1. In a blender, place beet and milk and blend until smooth.
2.Add egg, vanilla, sugar and oil. Blend to combine.
3. Add flour, baking powder, and salt Pulse a few times to combine.
4. Transfer batter to bowl.
5. Heat a nonstick pan over medium-low heat. Grease with butter and laddle 1/3 cup of the batter into the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, same as you cook pancakes. Repeat to finish all batter.
6. Pile the pancakes up to form a cake and decorate with icing sugar, fruits, sprinkles, … or serve separately like you do regularly. Bon Appétit!

Blood Orange Upside Down Cake

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Orange Cake

Ingredients

  • 150g butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tbsp orange zest -2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tbsp limoncello
  • 1 blood orange sliced
  • 1 orange sliced

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 180° C.

2. Using a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, add eggs, zest, flour, baking powder and salt.

3. Combine milk and lemoncello and add to batter.

4. Align sliced oranges in the bottom of a greased round pan. Pour the batter in the cake pan.

5. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Check early, cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

6. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack before reversing on a serving dish.

Honey Almond Slices

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Honey Akmond Slices - Blog

FRIENDS… and not the TV show! Friends that we have, from school, work, clubs… and friends we make through our children later in life. How many times while dropping your child at a new friend and when waiting for the door to open, you start wondering about the mom… Is she nice? Fun? Warm? Chatty? Psycho? Does she give a lot of sweets? And how many of them ended to be a keeper and became one of your closest friends. I am blessed with few of them, actually many, and we share a lot; we take trips together, we volunteer for school projects and we sometimes bake together.

The Honey Almond Slices is a new recipe for me. Axel, my daughter, had tasted it at her friend’s house and at pick up time she begged me to bake some for her. The funny part is that the mom bought her bars at the market and doesn’t even know what it was called. Thanks God for Pinterest where I combined few recipes and made my own with less butter and less sugar but still I thank my friend for the inspiration. My eagerness is boundless to try new recipes, especially that belongs to the dessert section.

Ingredients

For the base:

  • 1 ½  cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup ground almond
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 120g butter, melted

For the topping:

  • 150g butter
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 cups sliced almonds

25 cm x 25 cm pan

Preparation

  1. To make the base Combine flour, ground almond, brown sugar and melted butter until you have a moist sandy mixture. Press mixture into a brownie mold or tart tin and bake for 12 minutes at 170°C / 335°F.
  2. To make the filling Inside a saucepan, on low-medium heat, place butter to melt, add sugar, honey and sliced almonds. Stir to well combine.
  3. Spread mixture to top evenly the base and return to oven to bake for 25 minutes or until deep golden brown.
  4. Allow to cool completely. Remove from pan and slice into squares or rectangles and serve.

Cream Cheese Strawberry Cake

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Valentine Strawberry cake2.jpg

I got this heart shaped pan on Mother’s Day few years ago, I’m so happy for Valentine day to find an excuse and use it again. This cake is spongy and smells gorgeous. The texture is close to breads so don’t hesitate to bake it in a loaf pan if desired.

Gifts, flowers and cakes are all expressions of love and celebration, most important of get-together. I wish you all love and happiness and a lot of cakes to bake.

Maya

Cream Cheese Strawberry Cake

Ingredients

  • 200g butter, softened
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2½ cups plain flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup yogurt
  • 1½ cups chopped fresh strawberries

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F. Grease and flour your cake pan and set aside.
  2. Cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar together with an electric mixer.
  3. Add the eggs, one at a time, followed by vanilla and beat.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the cream cheese mixture, beating just until combined.
  5. Add yogurt, mixing well to incorporate. Fold in the strawberries.
  6. Transfer batter to the prepared pan, spreading evenly with a spatula. Bake for 1 hour, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  7. Remove pans to rack, and let cool for 10 minutes. Invert cake onto serving plate and allow to cool completely before slicing.