Spanish Rice Pudding (Aroz Con Leche)

This is a typical and very popular dish that is served in households all over Spain. It is rich and sweet with a touch of Orange & Cinnamon  flavor.

Ingredients:

1               Cup regular Rice 

2               Cups water

1               Cup Milk 

1               Cup Heavy Cream

1/2 & 1/4 Cup Sugar 

Zest of one Orange peel

1               Teaspoon Salt 

cinnamon to garnish

Steps:

1- Place the rice in a large saucepan with the water, and salt let it boil then lower the heat and cook, covered, until most of the water has been absorbed.

2- Stir in the milk, and sugar, stirring constantly, over low heat until the mixture thickens.

3- Add the Heavy Cream and stir , let it Boil over low Heat , Add the Orange Zest , let thicken little bit .

4- Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 to 20 minutes.

5- Garnish with ground cinnamon ans some Orange Zest if desired.

Enjoy !

Barbari Bread

this was actually a very interesting type of Bread , That i had to try when i saw it online, it's called Barbari Bread..a type of Persian flatbread .." Barbari" means "of or related to Barbars" in Persian & the Barbars are a group of people living in Khorasan  near eastern borders of Iran & this bread was baked by them  before it was brought to Tehran, it was popular during the Qajar period.. it's very delicious!

Ingredients:

for the Dough:

2& 1/2 Cup of All-purpose Flour 

1          Teaspoon Baking Powder

1           Teaspoon Salt 

1           TBS Yeast

Whole Wheat Flour or Corn Meal 

Sesame Seeds

For the Glaze:

1   Teaspoon all purpose Flour 

1   Teaspoon Baking Soda

2/3 Cup Water 

(Bring those Glaze Ingredients to Boil , then turn off the Heat and let cool aside)

Steps:

1- Dissolve the yeast with Pinch of sugar in 1/3 cup of warm water, let sit a few minutes to proof (foam).

2- Mix bread flour (i used the Mixer with the Bread Hooks) , baking powder and salt together. Make a well in the flour, and slowly incorporate the yeast mixture, and then Mix and add Warm water Gradually till you form a Sticky Dough.

3- Knead 15 minutes  until smooth and elastic.

4- Sprinkle a large baking sheet with Wheat Flour, transfer the dough to it. Lightly cover and place in a warm place until doubled in bulk for 1 Hour.

5- Brush lightly the Glaze Mixture over the dough, Dip your fingers into the glaze Again , and lightly punch the dough down with the edges of your hands to form several long parallel ridges along the dough.

6- Preheat oven to 375°F

7- Brush the dough with the glaze again, sprinkle with sesame seeds. 

8- Carefully stretch the dough lengthwise, better to not make your Bread too Thin! as you see i stretch it little bit more than i had to.

9- Bake 25-30 minutes, or until golden. The bread should be slightly flexible when done.. careful to not over cook it .

Tostones (fried plantains) with Creamy Garlic Cilantro Dip

Tostones also known as patacones pronounced "pataˈkones", are a popular side dish in many Latin American countries,The dish is made from sliced green (unripe) plantains cut either length-wise or width-wise,   fried twice,They are Very Delicious and Unique!

Ingredients:

 2     Green plantains
 4     Cloves roasted garlic
 1     Cup sour cream or plain low fat greek yogurt
 1/2  Cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
 1     Green onion, roughly chopped
 Pinch salt
 Pinch fresh cracked Black pepper
 Canola or safflower oil for Frying
 Sea salt
 Juice of 1 lime

Steps:

To make the garlic dip:

1-  Add roasted garlic, sour cream or the Greek yogurt, cilantro, green onions, and lime juice to a food processor or blender. Process until well blended. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chill until your tostones are ready.

Fry the plantains:

2- To peel the plantains: Start by running a paring knife 3-4 times along the length of the plantain, only going deep enough to slice the thick skin , then peel it away of the plantains.

3- Slice the plantains, on the bias, about 1 or 1/4 inch thick.  Place slices in a bowl of lightly salted water to prevent browning before cooking if your oil isn't hot enough.

4- Heat 1 to 4 cups oil (depending on the size of your cooking vessel) in a large pan over medium high heat (oil should reach 350-375 degrees F). Dry the plantains and carefully add to the hot oil, making sure not to crowd the pan. Fry the plantains 2-4 minutes on each side, then remove to a plate lined with paper towel.

5- Carefully press the plantains between two sheets of wax paper, using a tortilla press, or by the bottom of a large glass ( While they still Hot) . Fry the smashed plantains another 1-2 minutes in the hot oil.

6- Sprinkle with sea salt, Dip and enjoy!

Italian Focaccia Pizza

Focaccia , pronounced as "FOKATCHA".  It is an Italian light flat-bread, made from a soft and sticky dough enriched with good and strong olive oil. Traditionally, the oil is sprinkled over the dough before baking, it is easy to make and seriously good!

Ingredients:

2 Cups all-purpose Flour 

3 TBS olive oil 

1 TBS sugar 

7 gr dried yeast 

1 Teaspoon Salt

Some warm water enough to form a wet and sticky dough 

Topping:

some chicken Breast fingers cooked with the Onions in olive oil seasoned with salt ans black pepper.

4 - 5  cherry tomatoes cut into halves 

1/2 Cup pizza tomato Sauce 

Baby spinach leaves

black olives 

mozzarella & cheddar cheese 

Dried oregano

Steps:

1- I used a mixer with a bread hook to make this bread.  Combine the flour, salt and yeast and knead everything together,  adding gradually water.

2- Knead for at least 5 minutes, then add sugar and oil and keep kneading for another 10 minutes.

3- Adjust the dough's consistency with additional water as needed. 

The dough should be wet and sticky.

4- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl, and allow the dough to rise For 1 Hour , at room temperature, until it's nearly doubled in bulk.

5- After it rise Put some Olive oil in your Hand & Gently deflate the dough and you can feel how the dough can be easily stretched, and becomes elastic and smooth.

6- Preheat the oven to 395 F

7- Shape the dough into a ball and slap it onto a greased baking sheet, then roll it out (or push it out with your hands) into a rectangle.  Dip your fingers into olive oil and press into the dough to make deep dents all over the top.

8- Spread the tomato sauce over the dough, & Dot it with the remaining ingredients.

9- Drizzle with a few drops olive oil and 

finish topping 

with mozzarella and cheddar

 cheese Also sprinkle with some Oregano.

10- let rise for an other 15 min Then  

bake for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Italian Bread Focaccia Dough (La festa del pane italiano Focaccia)

Focaccia Bread, pronounced as "FOKATCHA".  It is an Italian light flat-bread, made from a soft and sticky dough enriched with good and strong olive oil. Traditionally, the oil is sprinkled over the dough before baking and in generous quantities.

Ingredients:

2 Cups all-purpose Flour 

3 TBS olive oil 

1 TBS sugar 

7 gr dried yeast 

1 Teaspoon Salt

Some warm water enough to form a wet and sticky dough 

Steps:

1- I used a mixer with a bread hook to make this bread.  Combine the flour, salt and yeast and knead everything together,  adding gradually water.

2- Knead for at least 5 minutes, then add sugar and oil and keep kneading for another 10 minutes.

3- Adjust the dough's consistency with additional water as needed. 

The dough should be wet and sticky.

4- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl, and allow the dough to rise For 1 Hour , at room temperature, until it's nearly doubled in bulk.

5- After it rise Put some Olive oil in your Hand & Gently deflate the dough and you can feel how the dough can be easily stretched, and becomes elastic and smooth.

6- Preheat the oven to 395 F

7- Shape the dough into a ball and slap it onto a greased baking sheet, then roll it out (or push it out with your hands) into a rectangle.  Dip your fingers into olive oil and press into the dough to make deep dents all over the top.

8- choose any topping and dot it into your dough, let rise for some other 15 min  &  bake for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Chili Chicken

A very popular Indo-Chinese dish, Chili- Chicken is one of the Chinese  food that has been adapted in India. It goes great with rice. 

Ingredients:

1       Boneless Chicken Breast Cut into Fingers or medium size Cubes

4       Garlic Cloves Minced (Divided by 2)

2       Sliced Chilies 

2        Seeded and Sliced green medium Capsicum

2        Sliced medium onions 

2        TBS  chili Sauce

2        TBS soy Sauce (Divided)

1         Egg Beaten 

1/2      Cup water or Chicken Stock or Vegetable Stock 

1&1/2Teaspoon Cornstarch Mixed in 1/2 cup of water

1         Teaspoon vinegar

3          Mushrooms cut into small cubes ( Optional to add richness to the Dish)

Crushed Black Peppercorn

Salt to taste 

Olive Oil
Oil to fry

Steps:

1-  Marinade the boneless chicken in 1 TBS soy Sauce + 2 garlic Cloves minced + 1 Teaspoon salt .

2- Dip the chicken in the Egg then in Flour , and deep fry until Golden.

3- Heat 1 TBS Olive oil in a deep pan add the Onion and the garlic an saute for 1 min add the Mushrooms , the chilies , Capsicums , 1 TBS soy sauce , 2 TBS chili Sauce ,and stir , add the water ( or the chicken/Vegetable stock) Bring the Mixture to boil.

4- After that Add the Cornstarch/water Mixture , Stir to mix it with the remaining ingredients ,add salt and Crushed Black Peppercorn, let it thicken little bit then add the 1 Teaspoon of vinegar and the fried chicken bites and Toss. 

5- Bring it to Boil , and serve Hot over Rice .

Enjoy!