Monday, April 30, 2012

41. Habeet: Iraqi Stewed Lamb


Habeet is a hearty stewed lamb dish served with Arab flatbread and on a bed of rice. The ingredients and method are simple enough, keeping in mind that many minor variations exist in different parts of Iraq.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

40. Cheese Snails - Halazon


I stumbled upon this recipe quite by accident on this cute website called thefreshloaf, and decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

39. 5 Minute Nutella Mug Cake


Very few, if any, people don't like Nutella. I think the fact that it was such a staple in our childhood has alot to do with it. It is good in all shapes and forms... smeared over a piece of bread, stuffed in a pancake, or straight out of the jar! Mug cakes are just cakes in a mug.

Friday, April 27, 2012

38. Nescafe Latte


This recipe is something of a mini-miracle for me. As a coffee lover, I never imagined that three ingredients available at all times at home, when combined in a special way, would give me the most decadent cup of latte...

Thursday, April 26, 2012

37. Cornflakes Cookies


I got this recipe from a friend whilst still in middle school. I used Kellogg's Special K, but I don''t see why you cannot use any of your own favorite cornfakes in it.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

36. Chicken Tandoori


Chicken Tandoori is a famous Indian dish, consisting of chicken marinated in a yogurt-spice mixture.
It is known to be spicy, but this can be moderated according to taste. Originally, the bright red hue would come from the red chili spice, but this is rare outside India, as it takes getting used to and most people are not capable of withstanding such a great force of spicy heat.

Monday, April 23, 2012

35. Sun Dried Tomato and Pesto Panini


Panini is an Italian sandwich, that has been pressed and toasted between two grills.
This is an at-home gourmet panini because it uses fresh basil pesto and sundried tomatoes.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

34. Spinach Kubba Soup


This is a very simple soup that uses the semolina kubba base recipe.
It is very filling, and can easily be consumed by itself as an entire meal.

33. Fresh Basil Pesto


Pesto is an Italian invention, consisting mainly of garlic, pine-nuts, and basil leaves all pounded together in a generous helping of olive oil. I substituted almonds for pine-nuts in this recipe, which I adapted from the Senses 2 cookbook.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

32. Rosemary Olive Knots


I have heard many a-people confess how daunting the idea of making bread is to them, despite the fact that we all know all it takes is flour, salt, water and yeast. So maybe the fear lies in the technique. I was no exception.

Friday, April 20, 2012

31. Classic Flapjack



Flapjack is a tray-baked sweet made of porridge oats, and is of British origin. This is the recipe for classic flapjack because so many variations may be made to this base recipe.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

30. Minced Meat Rolls


Adapted from Manal, these cigar-shaped minced meat rolls are enveloped with a crispy pastry wrap that conceal a tangy concoction in the middle. The secret ingredient is, without a doubt, the pomegranate molasses, which is a wonderful combination of sour, sweet, tangy, decadent, and ever-so-slightly citrus.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

29. Cos Salad



Cos salad (need I say is another versatile dish?) can have as many or as little ingredients in it.
It uses cos lettuce, a Mediterranean long lettuce, is distinct for its crunchiness.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

28. Barley Mushroom Pilaf




Another versatile recipe featured today: barley mushroom pilaf. Already packed with nutrient value, the yogurt-mint topping maximizes both dietary value and taste. The barley can be easily substituted for couscous or cracked wheat.

Monday, April 16, 2012

27. Banana Cake Cookies


These cookies are deserving of their name, because although the are of the shape and proportions of cookies, they are actually very cakey and soft in texture. This cookie is great as is, or you may add your choice of that extra ingredient: nuts, or chocolate chips, or fresh berries, or dried fruit...

Sunday, April 15, 2012

26. Chicken Turn-Over


I got this idea from The Iraqi Cookbook by Lamees Ibrahim, which you can buy from Amazon (my version has a different cover because it is the first edition). I say idea and not recipe because I depended on the picture rather than the description of the recipe to make it because there were inconsistencies between them.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

25. Apple Tarts



This recipe can be as simple or as elaborate as you like it. There are no real quantities specified because this is a recipe that you almost literally throw together.
You may keep it simple using only apples and sugar on the puff pastry.

Friday, April 13, 2012

24. Fig Tart


The first figs of the season are here!! I had a surplus of figs and was just about to make a boring smoothie, when I came across his simple recipe in an out-of-the-way food blog (here).

Thursday, April 12, 2012

23. Chickpea-Coriander Soup



This is a hearty and satisfying soup, that is really packed with flavor, and is proof that meat-less is not necessarily boring.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

22. Mini Kofta Rolls



Kofta is a mixture of minced meat, vegetables, and spices, that are shaped like fingers on a skewer and grilled either over a barbicue or electrically.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

21. Leek Quiche



Quiche is a French introduction to the world. What it is, is really just an open-faced pie, but the savoury kind, not sweet. The main idea is that a pastry crust is filled with a seasoned egg and cream or milk mixture, and then baked until solidified (this is essentially a custard).

Monday, April 9, 2012

20. Upside-Down Apple Cake



When we hear "Upside-Down Cake," more often than not we think of pineapple (or ananas) upside-down cake. But there are so many possibilities to vary the fruit used in an upside-down cake, each lending a different and unique flavor and texture. Strawberries, cranberries, blackberries, pineapple, apples, and figs are just a few possibilities.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

19. Lentil-Walnut Burger Sliders


This is a Martha Stewart recipe from the book Everyday Food. A very similar adaptation can also be found on her website. In Martha's words: "These Mediterranean-inspired veggie burgers pack in the flavor without adding on the pounds". Surprisingly satisfying, and packed with flavor; this recipe makes healthy look good.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

18. Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies


This delicious gem is truly comforting and satisfying eaten warm with a cold, cold glass of milk.
It is a must-try and just might form the base of many, many cookie variations in your future.

Friday, April 6, 2012

17. Roast Chicken With Vegetables



Roasted chicken come in so many varieties and flavors that the spectrum of options is almost endless.
The chicken may be stuffed or not, whole or in pieces, spicy or plainly salted...

Thursday, April 5, 2012

16. Chocolate Covered Strawberries



This is all the craze recently, and it is as simple as dunking clean fresh strawberries in melted chocolate of your choice and setting it aside to allow the chocolate to set.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

15. Orangettes


Orangettes are French in origin, and are strips of orange peel, candied, and dipped in chocolate.
It is another food considered a delicacy, and expensively sold in stores.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

14. Crystallized Ginger / Candied Ginger





Ginger is a spice that you either love or hate. However, the sheer diversity of its uses in the kitchen are almost endless, and can take up so many different shapes and forms.
Crystallized ginger, or candied ginger according to the Americans, is excellent eaten on its own to freshen your breath, or combat nausea, or simply like candy for pure enjoyment.