Ghrayba biscuits

Ghrayba 

This is a very tasty biscuit that is made and sold all over the Middle East. It is like a butter cookie that melts in your mouth. I was at a friends place, and she had a selection of food there for us. Everything was displayed beautifully and it was as though she had hired professional caterers. Anyway, it was time for tea, and I helped myself to a piece of this fine cookie. Immediately i needed to know where she bought these little delights, and it turned out that she actually made them herself. It so happens that her father owns a famous Lebanese bakery, and this is where she learnt all her skills. So she kindly offered to give me the recipe, and I didn't hesitate. 

    Preheat oven to about 180 C and prepare a baking tray (lightly grease it). 

    So what you will need for this: 

           3 cups self raising flour

·         3 cups icing sugar

·         6 tbsp ghee

·         2/3 tbsp coconut butter

·         Pistachio (optional)

        Simply a matter of kneading all the ingredients together barr the pistachio, and shaping it. Some pwople shape it as a small circle, then place a pistachio in the centre, and others prefer to shape it like a small pretzel (which is what I normally do). Sometimes if im out of pistachios, I wont even bother, and they taste just as good. 

    Bake for about 5 minutes, you don't want it to brown. Remove and allow to cool. And there you have it.. Bon apetit :)

Bake for 5 minutes ONLY

SPICY ARABIC RICE

SPICY ARABIC RICE

Excite yourself with the tantalizing flavours of this spicy arabic rice dish. Using the right spices, this rice dish will liven up any menu. I serve it with plain natural yoghurt to help tone down the spice.. MMmm Hmm.. The smell of the spices coming off the rice are just amazing, wait til you get a whiff of it! Deeee Liiiish

What you will need 

• 2  cups basmati rice
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons sunflower oil 
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 chopped tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 whole dried lemon (optional)
• 1 bay leaf

Spices

• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ginger powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon  salt
• cloves (approximately 6 of them)
• cardamom (approximately 6 of them)

In a large pot, heat the oil and fry the onion and ginger. Now add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, dried lemon and bay leaf. Add the basmati rice into the pan, followed by the water. (Note: to cook basmati rice, for every 1 cup of rice, cook in 1 1/2 cups of water).  Stir the rice, making sure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.

Stir in all the spices. Bring the rice to the boil. Simmer until the rice has absorbed the water. You are now ready to serve :)