Year: 2016

Mini Choco Beet Cakes

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Don’t Kill my BEET! I am probably under some music influence. This weekend started with music in the background and boiled beetroots on the counter top. I could have made a salad or beet hummus but chocolate always wins especially on a Friday morning after a hectic week (weekend in Saudi starts on Fridays). This recipe is great for all the mommies out there trying to feed undesired veggies to their kids (it can be done with zucchini  as well). Let’s cut the story short and get to the tasty part with the recipe 🙂 Ingredients: 2 medium beetroots (boiled a nd peeled) 100g flour (gluten free) 1 tsp baking powder 2 tbs cocoa powder 2 eggs 50g brown sugar 2 tbs agave syrup 150g dark chocolate 100g butter (you can use coconut butter or any other substitute) 1 espresso shot => Use a muffin tray and paper cups for the mini cake version 1. Grind the beets in a food processor or use a cheese grater 2. Preheat the oven to 400 F 3. Sift …

The Famous Labneh Tart

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You might have tried it or even seen it! I love serving the Labneh Tart as a starter for a typical Lebanese lunch with a twist. This tart translates my vision of modernity & tradition. First, it has what I love the most: “Labneh” and not any ordinary one, the Goat Labneh. Second, it has this fine art in the pastry with the “Pate Brisee”. The best part is that you get to top it with whatever you feel like tasting and drawing (or simply what’s left in the fridge). My trick is to have circular drawings so that each slice has a bit of everything! Ingredients: Tart brisee 300g Goat Labneh (I love using “Tanayel Les Fermes” or “Goodies” from Lebanon) 20ml Cooking Cream 1/2 White Onion Sumac, Salt, Pepper Possible Toppings: Black Olives Chopped Mint or Zaatar Mixture Sun-dried Tomatoes Thinly sliced Radish Sliced Spring Onions You can work the labneh mixture while the Pate Brisee is baking in the oven (refer to Pate Brisee recipe). 1. Put the onion in the mixer with 1/2 tsp of sumac, salt and pepper, …

The Tart Edition (2): Tarte Brisee

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Here it is! basic unsweetened pie crust, used for savory pies and salted tarts.

I just love this pie crust because I know it can’t get wrong with the topping. Besides, I get to have it in the freezer on standby for any occasion.

Now that it is summer and we need lots of freshness in our menus, I am certainly doing couple of those for my gatherings.

Here is a super fast recipe where you can use a ready made pastry sheet and you can accompany it with a salad on a lazy day!

Zucchini Tart

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I decided to mix the art of tart with quiche. I am not fond of thick quiches but love puff pastries so why not having it thin like a tart? Here is a super fast recipe where you can use a ready made pastry sheet and you can accompany it with a salad on a lazy day! Ingredients: 1 Puff pastry sheet 2 zucchinis 1 cup cream 2 tsp Dijon Mustard 1 tsp Mustard seeds 1 egg salt & pepper Thyme to sprinkle Parmesan for topping Sundried tomatoes for topping On a floured surface, roll the dough to a 1 cm thick circle; transfer to a 28cm tart plate. Flute the edge and trim pastry from beyond rim of plate; make holes with the fork and refrigerate while preparing the filling. Cut the zucchinis lengthwise and season then cook in olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until colored and tender Whisk the mustards, cream and egg until blended and season well. Spread the mustard cream over the pastry shell and line up the zucchini …

Banana Bread

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My new breakfast favorite! The Banana Bread is a good substitute to toast for breakfasts and handy snack with your afternoon tea/coffee. My dairy and sugar free recipe is made of easy-to-find ingredients (Okay, probably not the almond milk which could easily be replaced by coconut milk). Ingredients: 2 Eggs ¼ cup Almond Milk (or Coconut Milk) 1 ¾ cup Whole Wheat Flour ½ cup Honey 1/3 cup Olive Oil 1 cup mashed ripe Bananas (2 large bananas) 1 tsp Baking Soda 1 tsp Vanilla extract ½ tsp Salt ½ tsp Cinnamon, plus more to swirl on top Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans, chocolate chips, raisins, chopped dried fruits, fresh banana slices, etc. Preheat oven to 185 degrees Celsius (about 350 degrees F); In a large bowl, mash the banana and add the oil and honey with a whisk or a fork; Add the eggs and beat well, then whisk in the almond milk; Add the baking soda, vanilla, salt and cinnamon, and whisk to blend. Then, switch to a big spoon and stir in the flour (in 3 …

How to Zoodles (Zucchini noodles)

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I am back to Zoodle! It’s been a while I didn’t share any recipe and for my come back I am sharing my latest kitshy dish: the Zoodles, aka Zucchini noodles. A perfect gluten free and vegan recipe, refreshing for summer, light for the tummy and takes 10 minutes to be ready thanks to the spiral slicer “spiralizer”. I found this handy spiralizer at Crate & Barrel Dubai, press on the link for more details. Ingredients: For 2 servings (as a starter) 3 Zuchinis Bunch of cherry tomatoes 1 tbsp Olive Oil 1 tsp Basic Pesto Parmesan (optional) 1. Spiralize the zucchinis. 2. Cut the cherry tomatoes in halves. 3. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the noodles with the tomatoes for a few minutes (keep it ardent). 4. Stir in the pesto and cook for 2-3 more minutes, until well incorporated. 5. To serve, dish up zoodles and top with basil leaves and shaved parmesan if you are not vegan! Check out my video with Arabic subtitles on …

Sound of Silence – Ayers Rock, Australia

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Unforgettable dinner experience under the Milky Way! Travelling to Ayers Rock is incomplete without this magical check-in, especially if the atmosphere is clear. The experience starts before the sunset with an aperitif and the sound of didgeridoo on a platform overlooking the Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park. Then you are seated randomly with other travelers (tourists like us) which would make your night fun. Dinner is served with an open buffet / BBQ and plenty of drinking. The night ends with a star talker pointing out all the signs of the zodiac, the milky way and galaxies in the clear outback sky. For more info check the official website. The Urban Apron Travels

Is the egg still good?

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The worst thing that can happen to me in the kitchen is to crack a rotten egg. It happened to me once and never since because I learned it the hard way. In fact, expiry dates on eggs are not really accurate and bad eggs are easy to identify if you follow below simple steps: 1. Shake the egg: hold the egg up to your ear and shake it gently. If it’s fresh, it won’t make a sound. If it’s old, the egg will make a slight rattle.The reason is that the yolk and white begin to dry out and shrink once the egg gets older, so the air pocket inside the egg  becomes bigger which gives the egg more room to move around inside the shell and create that sound. 2. Drawn the egg: Place the egg in a glass of cold water and look at its standing. If the egg stays in the bottom of the bowl, it is safe to eat but if the egg is floating, it is not fresh anymore! the scientific story is that there is a tiny air pocket inside …

Great Cappuccino Topping

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It’s me myself and my awesome cappuccino! Indulging mornings or afternoons need a savory crunchy cappuccino.This Praline topping has it all to make a major difference in the way you serve a latte or a cappuccino (anything that has a sumptuous mousse). It can be refrigerated for at least a month if it lasts that long 😉 Ingredients: 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup mixed nuts or just almonds 1. Heat the sugar over high heat to dissolve it by just tilting the pan carefully to move it around until color starts to change into caramel. 2. Quickly add the nuts and swirl them in the pan to coat them. 3. Transfer the praline to an oiled baking tray and let it cool for an 1 hour before breaking it. Tip: I’ve put it in plastic bag and smash the praline pieces with a rolling pin to get a dusty praline. Enjoy your Coffee. The Urban Apron

Flavored Water

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For those who dislike water and those who can’t stop drinking it! Fruit & vegetable infused water is known for belly slimming, anti-bloating, craving control, mood boosting and the list goes on. The best part is that it’s so refreshing and super easy to make. Pick your preferred flavor & detoxifying combination: 1. Strawberry, lime, apple, mint 2. Ginger, lime, cinnamon stick 3. Cucumber, lime, lemon, rosemary 4. Apple, lime, cinnamon stick 5. berries, basil, lemon 6. Make your own mix! General directions: Cut the fruits and put them in a water jar Fill the jar with water and store in in the fridge, you can refill water up to 2 days max. Refresh your senses! The Urban Apron