Nia's Birthday Cake

As I shared in my previous posting, that we were celebrating seven birthdays in the family. We choose Valentine Day February 14^th, for the big celebration, as my sister in law lives with her family in Mississauga which is the next big city after Toronto, and they are part of the celebration party. Mississauga is almost four hours driving to North Bay.

It was a simple choice for the birthday cake, the Landry's love love love chocolate, I choose a double chocolate cake with chocolate ganache frosting, check the earlier posting for the recipe.

Now when it comes to a child birthday cake, you have to very careful with what you are using… my plan was doing an Ariel Cake and cover the cake with homemade fondant as well as the doll, also make fondant under the sea characters. To be honest, it will be a gorgeous cake, but do you really want a five years old girl to eat all that sugar even if its her birthday cake, who cares if the cakes is gorgeous or not… It’s covered with sugar. I know for surel that Lorraine will not be happy giving Nia all that sugar, and the cake will stay in North Bay for someone to eat, and will not go with them to Mississauga…

For sometime I wanted to try Farida’s Zebra Cake www.azcookbook.com/zebra-cake/ it looks great the recipe doesn’t include lot of sugar … I still wanted to go with under the water theme, and I wanted to use a nice icing which will stay perfect on the cake, light and not overly sweet… and my seven minutes icing is perfect for the job... it never failed me before. The candy store has a big variety of jelly candy, I found several under the sea characters , I grabbed couple of each and went back to assemble the cake.

By the way when we carried the two cakes we left Nia’s cake in the truck, I wanted to surprise her… and oh boy, she was surprised for sure, she yelled, cried from joy and hugged and kissed me then hugged me again... I leave the rest for the photos.

The big surprise on Miss Nia... She new there is a big cake for all of them but didn't expect a special one for her!!!!

P.S. my husband is after me now to bake him some Zebra CupCakes for his lunch box.

H2OPE FOR HAITI & A Double Chocolate Cake

It’s been snowing since last night; the ground is covered with snow… I was sitting on a bar stool in the kitchen, waiting for the coffee and looking outside at the falling snow , I felt happy to see the white powder again, funny for someone who hates the winter cold snowy season, I felt happy to see the snow…

We didnt have a bad winter season this year. It was mild in comparison to earlier years... Especially in Northern Ontario where we will be covered with snow till mid of March…It didn’t snow all January, and this is the first snow in February.

In just the past two years alone, there have been major food and fuel crises, a global recession, and climatic disasters. There have also been other natural catastrophes, like the earthquake in Haiti which wrought so much pain and destruction. Last week Madeira landslide changed the map of the City, taking with it several victims, hundred of families lost their homes.

The devastating magnitude 7.0 quake that ripped through Haiti last month, reportedly killing thousands of people, the severe shaking which was so damaging, leaving thousands homeless without a safe shelter, the infrastructure is completely destroyed leaving the victims without food and water.

From Sunday, February 21 to Sunday-March 7th, 2010

BloggerAid Changing the Face of Famine (BA-CFF) will be launching H2Ope for Haiti, an online raffle to raise funds for Concern Worldwide relief effort in Haiti.

They selected Concern Worldwide because of its long track record and quick response after the quake to provide clean drinking water and water purification tablets.

Concern Worldwide estimates that its initial response to the emergency will last at least six months. The money raised by this raffle will be paid directly into Concern Worldwide's account by Justgiving and will be used exclusively for the Haiti relief effort

Although the donation is small ; coming from a warm sincere heart will make a difference, and penny over penny will reach the target

Go to the Justgiving donation page and follow the instructions on how to win. You will find the list of great raffle prizes donated such as an I-Pod Shuffle, artwork, autographed cookbooks and so much more!!! You can also see the list of prizes on www.cooksister.com/2010/02h2ope-for-the-haiti-the-prizes.html for a complete list of prizes

One raffle ticket will give you the chance to win your choice of wonderful prizes donated by some fabulous bloggers. How's about an I-Pod Shuffle, an autographed copy of David Lebovitz's latest cookbook, Indian artwork or many more exciting prizes.

Also I got a $50.00 shopping spree from http://www.csnstores.com/, they have over 200 stores. you can shop online from Baby & kids, Home Decor, Home Improvement, Housewares , Outdoors, and many more PRIZE CODE: HFH35

Double Chocolate Cake

I've been using the Epicurious Double chocolate Layer Cake since some years now, and every time I make the cake, I try to add a new flavour. The original recipe of this cake make two 9 " round cake pans. Because I made this cake for a big birthday Party I doubled the recipe using two 12" cake pans, and four pounds of Callebaut Chocolate between the cake the ganache and the the chocolate flowers which were my first time trial. "the birthday party was on Feb 14th - what's better than chocolate on this special day"

For cake layers

• 3 ounces fine-quality semisweet chocolate such as Callebaut
• 1 1/2 cups hot brewed coffee
• 3 cups sugar ( use 2 1/2)
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups well-shaken buttermilk
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla

For ganache frosting

• 1 pound fine-quality semisweet chocolate such as Callebaut
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter

for my cake I have to use 2 1/2 pounds of chocolate.


Note: I added 2 cups of toasted sliced Hazelnuts , this is optional
I use a strong brewed Melita Coffee, then add extra tbsp of Nescafe to the mix.


All I can say, this is the best ever chocolate cake you will ever eat PERIOD

Once again I remind you to check the justgiving and bid on one of the prizes.. there are plenty to choose from. and remember your money is going toward a great cause, God will bless every penny paid . Thank you so much every one for your support.

Mankousheh or Oregano Bread

The Humble Mankousheh

Out of the Oven

Ready for the Oven

Ash Wednesday, in the Western Christian Calendar, is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter.

For the first day of Lent I want to offer a simple recipe from the Lebanese Kitchen which is easy to prepare , tasty, full of nutritious ingredients, an energy booster. It's a breakfast staple, great for lunch , wonderful as a snack, and amazing any time of the day... This is my weakness.. The Humble Mankousheh.... which is bread dough stuffed either with Zaatar Mix and then it's called Mankousheh Zaatar (Oregano Bread) or stuffed with Cheese and its Mankousheh Jibneh or stuffed with meat and its called Lahem BiAjeen or Sfeeha.

In every corner of every neighbourhood in Beirut, you will find a Manakish Bakery; they open with the first light of the day, to prepare their dough, to be ready with the first customer entering their doors. During breakfast rush hour, all the bakeries are busy. On the weekend you have to have a ticket specially if some ladies, bring their own Zaatar mix to make their own Manakish at the bakery; you will ask for some dough and they give it to you rolled on a wooden board, one beside the other, as much as you want, when you finish stuffing your bread, they will bake it for you . Some ladies even bring Zaatar and cheese mix or meat mix for Lahem Bi Ajeen or Sfeeha. This is how much we love our Manakish burning hot out of the oven, served with fresh mint leaves, some black olives and slices of tomatoes.

You will have a nice treat , If you get to taste Mankousheh done on the Saj, which is a metal disk burns either on wood or Propane Gas. My mom has a Gas Saj she bought it to make our daily lavash bread during the war . Our treat at the end of a bread day; baking some nice hot Mankousheh on the Saj. On some weekends we used to invite our neighbors in the building for Manakish breakfast with Zaatar and Cheese accompanied with a cup of warm tea.

Because my mom is a farmer's daughter, she is used to prepare all the food specially the Mouneh from scratch (Mouneh is the larder that comprises foodstuff preserved in the ancient tradition for th winter season, and I am her daughter) which includes making the Zaatar Mix... which till now I find it the best mix I have ever tasted...her secret is adding some toasted nuts to the wild thyme/oregano , sumac , toasted unshelled sesame seeds, she also adds toasted chickpeas, and sometimes toasted pistachios or peanuts....and she ground them all in a big stone mortar and pestle...

I do get my share from her amazing Zaatar mix. She became friends with a spice mill place in our area, she takes some Zaatar to Sami the owner to package the Zaatar in a sealed bag from his Mill... this way if she is travelling or sending it with someone... she will not have any problem at the customs... Smart!

To prepare the best Mankousheh, you must have a good quality of Zaatar mix, good quality of Olive Oil, I like the Greek Olive Oil, because its very close to our oil, most of all a good dough, because if you don't have a good dough, all the above will not matter.

Dough:

when making my dough I use Sourdough Starter:
1 cup starter, with 2 cups of warm liquid (combination of water and 1/2 cup olive oil)
4 cups of unbleached flour, one teaspoon of dry yeast one tsp salt and tbsp of sugar....
the dough needs to rest and take its time to double... be patient and don't ever rush your dough

a cup or so of a sponge dough. Sometimes you need to add some more flour or more liquid , it all depends on the climate , the flour brand and your sponge.

When the dough rise and double, I take around a big ball and put in a freezer bag, to use it the next time I make another bread dough.

Zaatar Mix: Can be purchase from any Middle Eastern/Lebanese Store and you mix it with olive you to a spreadable Constancy to cover your dough... If the mix is too thick the Mankousheh will be dry and if the mix is too runny from the olive oil it will run out of the dough and burns before the bread is baked.

My weakness



A Treat from mom

Greek Olive Oil or Italian

Mom Zaatar Packaged in Sami Bittar's Spice Bags

Good in children lunch boxes

This is how I introduced the Manakish @ the Farmer's Market the first year..Now they all want the real Mankousheh.





Note: Mankousheh is a single Oregano Bread

Manakish is the plural of Mankousheh

Lebanese Chicken Provencal & BloggerAid Culinary Olympic 2010

BACFF is hosting an event to promote both our sport (food) and our mission (to be actively promoting the alleviation of world hunger). We invite you to participate and represent your country. Here’s how:

1. beginning today and ending on February 28th at midnight, please submit a recipe that represents your country to blogs4famine (at) gmail (dot) com. Let's show some national pride in our countries cuisine.

2. Include the name of your blog (if you have one), your URL and a photo of your submission.

3. Feel free to use the event logo/avatar and include a photo of your country flag (the flag is optional but we’re encouraging national pride)

4. Post your submission on your blog with a link back to BACFF at http://www.bloggeraidmarketing.ning.com/ and also a short piece encouraging readers to buy The BloggerAid Cookbook available at Create Space https://www.createspace.com/3405882. Include stories of your countries athletes, cuisine or anything else you would like to include. It is only limited by your imagination!!!!

Here are some general guidelines:

1. if you’re an expat, you can choose to either create something that represents your country of birth or the country you are currently in.

2. You must be a member of BACFF to participate

3. All entries will be posted on BACFF on March 5th.

From a small Country of 10,452 km2, three Lebanese athletes marched their way to represent Lebanon in the Winter Olympic Games in Alpine Skiing.

The tourism industry in Lebanon has been historically important to the local economy and remains to this day to be a major source of revenue for Lebanon. Before the Lebanese Civil War , Lebanon was widely regarded as, "The Switzerland of the Middle East." Often being cited as a financial and business hub where visitors can experience the Levantine Mediterranean Culture.

Skiing is one of the winter sports in Lebanon, we have seven skiing places .

Like British Columbia, in Lebanon you will be skiing on top of high mountain slops and in two hours you will be swimming in a beautiful azure warm water.

For the second year Beirut is voted the best tourist destination in the world according the New York Times.

I am participating in the BloggerAid Culinary Olympic 2010 Event. Though I am now a new Canadian, married and living in North Bay, a beautiful city in Northern Ontario. I was born and raised in Lebanon, and the love of my Country is very strong inside my heart, I share it with my family, with friends and with every one I meet, through the food and the flavours I write about in my blog.

My recipe is extremely tasty, full of flavours, easy to prepare. Though the dish includes chicken, this meal can be a tasty vegan dish, by omitting the chicken and only using roasted potatoes, and following the rest of the step

Lebanese Chicken Provencal

Ingredients:

1-1 whole grain fed air chilled chicken

(Or a store bought roasted chicken)

2- 2 pounds of potatoes washed and cut into cubes

3- 1 large fresh cilantro

4- 2-3 heads of garlic

5- Fresh lemon juice from 2-3 depends on your taste

6- 2 tablespoons olive oil

7- 2 tablespoons canola oil

8- Salt, pepper, cayenne pepper

9- 1/3 -1/2 cup of homemade chicken stock

Preparation:

Wash and dry the chicken, rub with salt and pepper and roast it in the oven, starting in a warm oven at 450F for 15 minutes, then lower the heat to 375F, turn the chicken on the other side and continue roasting... If you have a convection oven, use the convection setting.

Clean and cut the potatoes into cubes, roast them in the oven with the chicken. Add the salt, pepper and the canola oil.

When the chicken is cooked, take it out, and let it cool, debone it and keep the bones for the stock, or freeze them for later.

Wash the fresh cilantro, coarsely chop it. Peel the garlic, and using a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic and cilantro adding little salt.

Prepare your baking dish, add the sliced chicken to the dish, and when the potatoes are ready add them over the chicken and mix them , pour the olive oil and fresh squeezed lemon juice over the cilantro and mix well and pour the mixture over the chicken and potatoes, mix well to combine.. Add the chicken stock and stir to combine. Cover the dish with foil, and return it to the oven. Bake in 350F oven for 10 minutes, then take the cover off and continue roasting for another 10 minutes or until the liquid is soaked and started to roast again…

The smell is amazing

Happy Valentine from my Kitchen to Yours

Some words and quotes about love :

• Love is not finding someone to live with; it’s finding someone you can't live without. - Rafael Ortiz
• You may conquer with the sword, but you are conquered by a kiss. - Daniel Heinsius
• If music be the food of love, play on. - Shakespeare
• It's never too late to fall in love. - Sandy Wilson
• To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven. - Karen Sunde
• Where there is love, there is life - Mahatma Gandhi
• If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. - Unknown
• There is no remedy for love but to love more. - Thoreau
• Some love lasts a lifetime. True love lasts forever. - Unknown
• If love is great, and there are no greater things, then what I feel for you must be the greatest. - Unknown
• Where there is great love, there are always miracles. - Willa Cather

Below are some desserts which will be excellent as valentine gifts.

Platter of Baklawa

Knafeh Naboulsieh - with Clotted Cream and fresh Cheese

Oussmalieh - Katayfeh with Kashta

Baklawa with Semolina Cream /Kashta

Walnuts, Almond and Pistachio Diamond Baklawa

(60-80 layers of phyllo)

Apricot & pistachios Baklawa

Bird's Nest Baklawa using Katafeh

Coffee Baklawa

Chocolate & Hazelnuts Baklawa

Blossom Baklawa with Almonds

Three kinds of nuts baklawa

Pistachios Baklawa

Flower Cookies

Double Chocolate Chips Cookies

with milk and dark chocolates

Homemade chocolate truffles

1- Black Russian Truffles with vodka and walnuts

2- Hazelnuts Tequilla Truffles

3- Brandy Truffles

4- Double chocolate Coffee Truffles

5- Caramel pecans truffles