Noni Afghani

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 (.25 ounce) envelope active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• 1/4 cup corn oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon caraway seed (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup warm water and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top, and let stand for about 10 minutes, until foamy.
2. Place flour in a large bowl, and stir in salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the corn oil and yeast mixture. Add the remaining water in small amounts until you have a soft moist dough that can be handled. Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead for at least 5 minutes. Return to the bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Deflate the risen dough, and divide into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball with a rolling pin so it is oval shaped, about 6 inches long, and 1/2 inch thick. Use a fork or dull knife to draw three lines on the top of each loaf. Place the loaves on a baking sheet. Mix together the egg and remaining tablespoon of water; brush the tops of the loaves with the mixture. Sprinkle caraway seeds over the tops, if using.
5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until the loaves are shiny and golden brown.

posted by All The Best Wallpaper Free @ 00.52, ,

Indian Mustard Fish

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen cut green beans
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• salt to taste
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the green beans into a large pot, and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt to taste, and put the lid on the pot. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until beans are cooked to your desired doneness. Syrians like it cooked until the green beans are turning brownish in color. The idea is not to saute them, but to let them steam in the moisture released by the ice crystals.
2. Add cilantro and garlic to the beans, and continue to cook just until the cilantro has started to wilt. Eat as a main course by scooping up with warm pita bread or serve as a side dish.

posted by All The Best Wallpaper Free @ 00.34, ,

Iskender Kebab

INGREDIENTS

• 4 pita bread rounds
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - chopped
• 2 medium onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can tomato puree
• ground cumin to taste
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Arrange pita bread on a baking sheet, and lightly toast in the oven. Cut pita bread into bite-size pieces, and keep warm.
2. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the chicken, onion, and garlic, and cook until chicken juices run clear. Mix in tomato puree. Season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking 10 minutes.
3. Arrange pita pieces in a serving dish. Drizzle with butter, and top with the chicken mixture. Garnish with yogurt and parsley to serve.

posted by All The Best Wallpaper Free @ 00.24, ,

Turkish style eggs

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 quart water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 6 eggs
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon paprika

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, combine the garlic, yogurt and pinch of salt; mix well.
2. In a large saucepan or stockpot, combine water, vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt; bring to a boil over high heat. When the water is boiling hard, reduce the heat and gently break the eggs into the water, spacing them well apart. Cook until the whites have set over the yolks, immediately remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and place on a serving dish.
3. Melt butter in a small skillet or saucepan. Stir in paprika. Pour yogurt sauce over eggs and top with paprika butter. Your cilbir is ready!

editor's note:
That is a very good recipe, it is very light for the summer dinners...

posted by All The Best Wallpaper Free @ 00.15, ,

Rice Pudding With Dates

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups cooked white rice
• 2 cups 2% milk
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 15 dates, pitted and chopped

DIRECTIONS

Place the rice into a food processor or blender, and process until coarse, but not pureed. Transfer to a saucepan, and stir in the milk, sugar and dates. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until the dates are tender, about 20 minutes. Serve warm or cold.

editor's note:
This recipe tastes better warm than cold, but it is good either way. 15 dates are perhaps too many if you are using high quality, plump, large dates. Makes it almost too datey. An excellent Suhoor meal which has not left me hungry yet today and it's been 8 hours. So easy to prepare!

posted by All The Best Wallpaper Free @ 23.59, ,

Syrian Bread

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/8 cups water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

DIRECTIONS

1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough cycle; press Start.
2. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
3. Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into eight equal pieces and form into rounds. Cover the rounds with a damp cloth and let rest.
4. Roll dough into thin flat circles, about 8 inches in diameter. Cook two at a time on preheated baking sheets or a baking stone until puffed up and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Repeat for remaining loaves.

editor's note:
Very GOOD!!! Crunchy and tasty, the whole kitchen smelled like a "BAKERY"!

posted by All The Best Wallpaper Free @ 23.46, ,

Indonesian Banana Fritters

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 tablespoon vanilla powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon rum flavoring
• 4 ripe bananas, sliced
• 2 cups oil for frying

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and vanilla powder. Make a well in the center, and pour in milk, egg, melted butter and rum flavoring. Mix until smooth. Fold in banana slices until evenly coated.
2. Heat oil in a wok or deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
3. Drop banana mixture by tablespoon into hot oil. Fry until golden brown and crispy, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove bananas from oil, and drain on paper towels. Serve hot.

Note of the writer:
These were really good,I am not a banana lover but I even enjoyed them.MUST BE SERVED HOT!!

posted by All The Best Wallpaper Free @ 23.23, ,