Three Simple Recipes :-)

I cooked three simple super easy recipes yesterday with a FB friend :-) It was so much fun. I just wanted to share the recipes with you all.... They are on my FB Group: Ansam's Kitchen.

1. Almost Mashed Potato Salad
Ingredients:
2 medium sized potatoes - cubed and left in salted water for a while
1 large celery stick - sliced
1 scallion (spring onions) bulb - chopped
4 table spoons ranch dressing

Method:
Bring water to boil, add potatoes on medium heat until cooked
In a bowl mix all of the ingredients, mashing the potatoes a little

2. Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients:
8 Giant Holland mushrooms - Stems removed and chopped (only stems)
18 small hotdogs (the really small ones or 6 regular sized) - chopped
Pasta sauce
Mozzarella cheese
2 limes - juiced

Method:
In an oven tray place the mushrooms, stuff them with the hotdogs and chopped stems. Cover with tomato pasta sauce and cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and place in the oven until its cooked and cheese fully melted (170C for 30 mins)

3. Spicy Chicken with Sun-dried Toamtoes
Ingredients:
4 chicken breast cut into smaller pieces
Mixed spices (pepper, salt, garlic, citrus)
1 lime juice
1/3 cup balsamic
Sun-dried tomatoes
4 tbs olive oil (two for marinade and 2 for frying)
1/4 onion - chopped

Method:
In a bowl mix balsamic, oil, spices, lime, and chicken. Let it marinate in the fridge. In a frying pan heat some olive oil and add onion until caramelized. Add the chicken but do not fully cook it (like for a minute) then remove from stove, and place it in an oven tray. Add the marinade and cook in the oven (170 - 40 mins) adding the sun dried tomato after 30 minutes.

Cheers!


PS: I know... I know, PICTURE QUALITY IS BAD :-( I was told by my friend to wait till after the elections for that cameras now are expensive... So I shall wait and see :-S

Ansam's Kitchen on Al Watan

A teaser :-P

It was today!

I waited till I was 100% sure about my report on Sabah Al Watan and I was aired earlier around 10:00am! I had to watch it online though via http://watan.tv and asked my parents to tape it.

You can watch the rerun at around 2:50pm-3:00pm this afternoon on Al Watan Plus :-)

Cheers!
Ansam

Hopefully its Today ;-)

I will be on today... hopefully :-)

Al Watan TV: 8:00am and 11:00am
Al Watan Plus: 1:00pm and 4:00pm

If you dont know what I'm talking about.... click here.


UPDATE: I am so sorry to tell you that Al Watan changed my report timing AGAIN... so I wont announce it next time until I actually see it on Al Watan TV.... THEN I will post about it here for you all to watch Al Watan Plus... this way I wont be bothering you with it.. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience I may have caused :-S

ANOTHER UPDATE:
OK! This is interesting... I got so many calls JUST now saying that AlWatan just announced Ansam's Kitchen segment is on and I tune in to www.watan.tv and I see Ghanima Al Fahad!

So Maybe I will be on?

Sticky -Hunny- Wings

To make up for the show that was not aired today... I am providing you with the recipe for my chicken wings...

Ingredients:
5 medium-size chicken wings
2 tbsp pineapple juice
1 tbsp mixed spices (garlic powder, seasalt, mixed pepper, Moroccan spices)
1/3 cup honey
1/4 soy sauce
1 lime juice
1 tbsp fresh ginger (shredded)

Method:
Place the chicken wings in a bowl and add all the above ingredients. Mix'em well. Let the wings marinate for AT LEAST an hour (over night if you're not in a hurry)

Preheat oven first to 130 degrees.

Place the chicken in an oven tray and cook for about 45 minutes while using a spatter to keep it moist with its juices between now and then... that is 30 minutes on one side and then flip them over for the remaining 15 mins.

Enjoy!

Ansam's Kitchen

Watch AlWatan TV today for the show "Sabah AlWatan" 8:00AM-11:00AM OR alWatan Plus from 1:00PM-4:00PM.... ;-)

UPDATE I:
Day TBA :-) It has been moved!!



UPDATE II:
The email from AlWatan Tv...

"Dear fans of Ansam's Kitchen,

I apologize for not airing Ansam's report on the morning show today due to unavoidable circumstances. I will notify Ansam as soon as I find out when it would be aired. Hopefully sometime early next week. For now, live well...eat well :-)"

Fettujani Salad

About the name... DONT ask! My sis named it this way cuz its Fettoush with Bathinjan (egg plants) salad that she came up with the recipe for!

Recipe:
2 diced large cucmbers
2 medium size tomatoes
1 cup shredded lettuce
Parsley (as much as you like)
1 LARGE cubed egg plant and fried in olive oil
1 pomegranate
Green olives (as much as you like)

! pita bread cut into small fried (or in the oven) - squared

Dressing:
1 tbs dibbs Arruman (Thick pomegranate sticky sauce)
1 lemon juice
1 tbs white vinegar
3 tbs olive oil
Summac
1/2 tsp Salt
(Mix all the dressing ingredients and set aside)

Method:
Mix all the ingredients (without the bread) together. Add dressing and garnish with bread.


Oh... and you can use chives at the end for garnish ;-)


Enjoy!

For more recipes, join Ansam's Kitchen Facebook Group

Tuna Salad

I got inspired to make this salad after reading about it on Q8Diet.
Thanks Dr. Dhari :-D

Facebook users can find more recipes here!


Ingredients:
2 medium size cucumbers, sliced
10 Cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 medium size red bell pepper, chopped into small pieces
1/2 medium size yellow bell pepper, chopped into small pieces
Hand-full cilantro leaves
2 cups cooked pasta (I used 2 colors organic pasta)
1 can white tuna

Dressing:
3 tbs olive oil
3 tbs balsamic
1/2 lemon, juiced
Oregano
2 tbs Dijon mustard

Method:
Cook pasta as directed on the packet, then rinse with cold water and mix with the above ingredients. Add dressing. You can eat it right away or leave it in the fridge for a maximum of ONE day :-D


Enjoy!

Very Berry Fruit Salad

I was shopping in Sultan Center yesterday after work. We had a potluck and I wanted to make a fruit salad.. I was thinking hmmm ok pineapples, strawberries, papayas, and dragon fruit... hmmm no no! How about kiwi and strawberries.... until I saw the berries on the shelves.. they got my attention immediately and I was like "I wanna make berries fruit salad"

So I bought a pack each (two for strawberries)

At home, I washed them all and placed them in a bowl. I poured in two KDD Guava juice with 5 tbs rose water (optional). I drizzled the top with brown sugar and mixed.

Yummm! I am making another one soon for another potluck I am hosting :-D

I do have more recipes on my facebook group Ansam's Kitchen. Click on it if you ever wanna join and check out the pics & recipes :-)

Ansam's Kitchen!

Are you into cooking? Join my facebook group; click here!

Food!!!

I cooked again last Friday... we had some friends over and I was in the mood. I made Sweet Chicken Salad, Stuffed Tomatoes and Bell peppers, and Strawberry Trio Dessert. There were more food items on the menu, but I am just posting my dishes.... do you want to see other dishes?? Oh ok... the Burritos are my sister's recipe, and so it the Sweet and Sour Chicken ;-) I hope you like'em!

Yeah yeah yeah... and I posted the pictures during the day! Sue me :-P

Enjoy!

UPDATE:
This is specially for Shurooq

Sweet Chicken Salad
********************
Ingredients:
1 cup cooked Popcorn chicken
Shredded lettuce
Baby carrots cut into rounds
Small turnips cut into rounds
Crushed nachos
1 can corn (kernels)

Dressing:
2 TBS light mayo
4 spoons sugar
A dash of pepper (I used the mixed five ground peppers)
Skimmed milk

Method:
Mix the ingredients in a salad bowl

for the dressing, mix the mayo, sugar, and pepper well together. Add milk gradually to your taste (thick dressing or watery dressing) and drizzle on the dry salad ingredients above




Stuffed Tomatoes and Bell Pepper
********************************
Ingredients
1/2 to 3/4 cup rice
300 gm ground beef
12 medium size tomatoes and bell peppers (dont get soft tomatoes)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green onion, chopped,
Moroccan spices mix
1 small KDD tomato paste
Salt and Pepper

Method:
*Preheat oven to 170C
*Cut the tomatoes and bell peppers (decap'em) and emtpy them from the inside (keep the tomatoes insides)
*Cook rice, but dont over cook it because you will let it cook more in the oven
*In a pan heat oil with onions and then cook in the ground beef, salt and pepper, spices, and half of the tomato's insides
*In another sauce pan, heat oil with green onions, spices, and tomato paste. Add 1 cup of water gradually to the mix
*Mix the rice with the beef and stuff the tomatoes/bell peppers
*Drizzle with olive oil and the tomato sauce mix
*Place in the oven and let it cook :-)




Strawberry Trio
***************
Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 Sara lee Cake cubed
Strawberry Sauce
12 small cups of Very Berry Strawberry from Baskin Robbins
Walnuts

Method:
In a bowl, place a layer of the cubed cakes, top it with semi melted ice cream, sprinkle it with strawberry sauce and walnut
Repeat the above three times and top it with ice cream

You can add fresh strawberries




Burritos
********
Basically you get ready made tortillas (bread) from Sultan Center and fill it with your choice..

I think on that day we had it stuffed with tomatoes, green onions, lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, beans, ground beef (chili)




Sweet & Sour Chicken with a Twist
*********************************
Get chicken breast, cut them into small pieces, drizzle'em with salt and pepper + garlic

In a bowl mix mustard, honey, basil, parsley, and oregano

Pour half the mixture into the chicken and place in the oven, leave it to cook for 30 minutes, then take it out of the overn, stir and turn the chicken on the other side
Pour whats left of the mixture and cook for another 10-15 mins ;-)

Three Cheese Quiche with Turkey

Here is the recipe I promised you since this post.

I hope you like it :-)


Preheat oven to 180C/350F

Ingredients;
Filling
*******
*Get the kind of cheese you like. I mixed Gruyere, Edam, and a Provolone
*Deli Turkey slices cut into medium to small size squares
*Chappati bread (ready made in Coops) - MY SECRET PIE CRUST LOL

Custard
*********
In a bowl, mix 1 1/4 light cream (I used Elle et Vire brand)
4 eggs
1 tablespoon mustard
salt and pepper

Recipe:
********
In a foil/aluminum plate, place the chappati bread (or any kind of crust/pie crust you have)
put a layer of the cheese(s), then turkey and repeat three times making cheese your last layer on top

Mix wthe custard well and pour it onto the plates you have prepared with turkey and cheese

Cook in the oven for about an hour... until golden on top

Let it cool for 10 mins before you try to take it out of the foil

Cheese and Mushroom Omlette

Yes! Still trapped in the cooking mood!

Ingredients:
*2 eggs
*4 medium size mushrooms diced and sprinkle with olive oil
*2 tbs shredded provolone cheese
*1 1/2 tbs butter
*Italian spices
*Salt & pepper

Recipe:
*In a small bowl beat eggs
*In a small skillet and over medium heat cook the sprinkled mushrooms till a little bit brownish... drizzle with spices
*In another skillet, melt the butter and spread evenly until it sizzles
*Pour beaten eggs spreading them evenly, cook until they thicken but do not over cook'em
*Pour in mushrooms to one side along with the cheese
*Fold the omelette on the mushroom and cheese
*Fold again tucking one side under

Voila... nothing special, just an easy to make cheese and mushroom omelette for you :-)

Updates

I had a very long tiring week! Mostly at home in bed... I have been out of it for few days! Been sick :-( And was not able to go to work for three days (Mon - Wed). I could not even finish the paperwork for my new car, which I was waiting for since April, when the dealer called me on Sunday... I waited till Wednesday when I felt a little better!

So Sunday I had a couple of friends over. We spent our time in the kitchen making Quiches, waffles, and fruit salad. We had so much fun... at night my muscles cramps were getting worse... I could not sleep, and I could not get out of bed in the morning to go to work on Monday.

Tuesday, was even worse! Heartburn and achy allover. I went to see two doctors;
Doc #1: For my spasms. He told me I was stressed and very tensed... and that I looked tired and asked for some blood tests. I went to the lab, and my blood pressure was low, which is not unusual for me, so the nurse sticks the needle and NO BLOOD will come out. At this point I started laughing and my head was hurting (not a nice feeling to have a needle stuck in your arm and wait for blood to come out) so she tried with my other arm, and blood finally came but with SLOW FLOW! She told me the results would be out in a couple of hours.

So I went to see the other doctor, Doc #2, who immediately admitted me to the "One Day Case" unit for endoscopy! He was like since you are fasting lets go ahead and see whats wrong! The thing is I went to the hospital with the driver, and I asked him to go home and come back after two hours since I was told I will be under sedation. I called dad to come and asked Isaac to go. I went into the mini OR room, and the nurse was about to inject me with the sedative... I asked her: "When will I be sleeping" and then things started to get funny, I dont remember it all well, but I was awake at some points -flashes- here and there! I dont remember how I got back to my bed, but I heard my dad's voice "Excuse me nurse, where is Ansam?" so I opened my eyes and looked at dad approaching me and was waving with a stupid smile on my face LOL! I kept asking them to let me go but they wouldnt. They brought a wheelchair and I started laughing telling them I can walk fine, but they wouldnt let me...

My sweet daddy got my blood test results and we quickly went back to Doc #1. I am glad dad was with me to talk to the doctors because I really dont remember well what was going on around me... how I got to the car.. or left the pharmacy! I was in a good mood, and got two sick leaves (Doc #1 gave me three days, and Doc#2 gave me two days)... I tried to read through the reports and its funny how sometimes they say things like, "Patient was pale, but in a good mood...." or "She tolerated the procedure well!"

Anyhow... I am fine now, and I went to work yesterday! I had to go wrap things up before my leave... My manager and coworkers were extremely nice and tried their best to make sure that all is well with me...


Ohhhhh and another highlight of the week! I had to say goodbye to my old car.... who served me really really well since 2002. I would still see you at home (we still have it) so I will be saying hello to you between now and then...

Waffles

Dry Ingredients:
* 2 cups flour (you can use one cup regular and one cup whole wheat)
* 2 teaspoons sugar
* 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
* 1/2 teaspoon Salt
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (Optional)

Liquid Ingredients:
* 1 and 2/3 cups milk
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 2 eggs (separating whites and yolks)

Recipe:
*In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients
*In another bowl mix the liquid ingredients without the egg whites
*Whip the egg whites (do not over mix it)
*Mix the dry and liquid ingredients
*Whip the egg whites and add them to the mixture

Spray the waffle maker surface with butter and start making them!

Easy :-D

Seafood and Seafood

This is from a competition I went for... Cooking! Lets hope I win hehehehe WISH ME LUCK my loyal readers :-)
Here is my story....


I was thinking it is summer time, and that I have to be creative... I decided to go with seafood. As an early start, I went earlier today to the fish market in Sharg and got me plenty of clams. I later on headed to Sultan Center to buy my ingredients. Whats interesting is that I kept imagining the dishes that I was going to cook so I did not have an actual list to buy! Even better? I am gonna name each dish myself hehehe.

Here is my outcome (and pictures will be posted in the group album)

Starter...
It takes Two to Mango
(Two main ingredients - crab meat and mangoes)
Dressing:
Four tablespoons mango chutney
Two tablespoons lemon juice
Two tablespoons lime juice
One teaspoon curry powder
Two table spoons lemon mayo (knorr)
In a blender mix the above ingredients

Salad:
One small mango cubed
Butter lettuce leaves
Red lettuce chopped
Crab meat (processed - Japanese)
One small shallot chopped
One clove of garlic - crushed
Salt, pepper, curry powder, and white pepper
One lurpak butter (the small ones)

In a saucepan heat, melt the better, add shallots, garlic, and the spices mentioned aove. Cook in the crab meat.
Arrange the butter lettuce leaves in a plate. Mix the mangoes with the red lettuce and add the crab mix. Place all on the arranged lettuce and add dressing

Main Dish
Linguine Alle Vongole
Cook pasta as instructed on its pack, but only make sure you dont fully cook it... set aside

for clams
250 grams fresh clams
Six tablespoons olive oil
Dash of dried oregano
Four tablespoons butter
One teaspoon crushed garlic
Two diced shallots
A handfull of chopped basil
Two cups fre premium white non alcoholic wine (available at sultan center)

Recipe:
In a saucepan, heat olive oil, dried oregano, and butter. Add in garlic and shallots... cook well until fragrant (hmmm hmmmmm)Add clams, basil, and wine. Also add salt and pepper... let it boil and when all clams open lower the heat. Then let it simmer.
After that, you add in the pasta to the clam mix and let it simmer again

For dessert after seafood.. you want something refreshing. I decided to go with fruit!

Lemony Fruit Sticks
You need
Papaya
Dragon Fruit
Kiwi
Elle et Vire pineapple yogurt
Lemon
Lime
wooden skewers

In a bowl mix one serving of elle et vire yogurt, grate lemon zest (one teaspoon), squeeze in some lime and lemon juices (to your taste) and whisk well. Refrigerate.

Cube the pieces of fruit you have and place them onto the skewers. Top them up with the yogurt and have some on the side for extra dip

Voila :-) I hope you like it