Sour Cream and Raspberry Chocolate Bread

Last night I was really craving chocolate, so I thought if I make chocolate bread in the morning I can eat it and call it breakfast.. it is bread .. right? :)


Ingredients:


125g butter, softened
2,5 dl brown sugar
2 eggs

1 tsp pure vanilla powder
2 dl sour cream
4 dl unbleached flour
1 dl cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

2,5 dl frozen raspberries

250 g 70% chopped dark chocolate

2 tbsp boiling water

1. Mix eggs, butter and sugar till all creamy, then add the vanilla powder and sour cream and mix some more.

2. Add the frozen raspberries, they will be crushed while being mixed in the batter, that's ok!

3. Mix all the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add to the batter and mix in with a spoon then with the mixer.

4. Add the boiling water and mix for a minute more then add the chopped dark chocolate and mix in with a spoon.

5. Oil a bread pan and spoon in the batter. 

6. Bake for 50 minutes in a 180 Celsius degrees oven. Take out and let cool for 10 minutes in the pan before taking in out. 

ENJOY!

Date Newtons! The Best Newtons there is!

Traditionally in Egypt, fig newtons are filled with dates, so this week I decided to modify my fig newtons recipe and use dates instead of figs. The outcome is beyond what I imagined.. they are delicious!!



Filling:

200 g soft dried dates
2 dl water
2 dl apple juice
1 tbsp dark brown sugar
juice of a medium orange
1/2 orange grated zest
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger

1 pinch nutmeg

1/2 tsp pure vanilla powder

2 tbsp dates syrup (debs el tamr- can be found in major super markets even here in Stockholm)

1. Chop the dates roughly (the smaller you chop them the quicker they cook).
2. Add all the ingredients, except for the dates syrup to a pot and bring to a boil while stirring.
3. Lower the heat to medium and stir every now and then so the date marmalade would not get stuck to the bottom of the pot. This process should take from 30 to 45 mins. It should be quite thick by now. Almost no liquid at all left.
4. Turn off the heat and either mix the marmalade in your kitchen machine or you can use a hand mixer till you have a smooth marmalade. Don't leave any clumps.

Dough:

125 g butter cold, cut in small cubes
4 dl unbleached baking flour
1/2 dl dark brown sugar
1/2 orange grated zest
1/2 tsp pure vanilla powder
1 egg white
1 tbsp water

Egg Wash:

1 egg yellow
1 tsp water

1/2 dl pealed sesame seeds to sprinkle on top.

1. Mix all ingredients into a smooth dough, you add the water after you have kneeded everything else to bring the dough together.
2. Cut into two balls then roll out the dough about 5 mm thick.
3. Cut into rectangles about 7 - 10 cm wide and as long as your dough allows.
4. Spread some of your marmalade in the middle of the rectangle.
5. Fold one side then with your finger brush some egg wash on the tip.
6. Fold the other side so that they barely touch.
7. Flip it around and spread some egg wash on top, then sprinkle the sesame seeds.
8. Cut with a knife into bite sized pieces and place on a baking sheet.
9. Bake in an oven 200 Celsius degrees for 15 minutes.

Roasted Chickpeas, a Healthy Snack!!

Lately I have been completely obsessed about chickpeas... they taste so good, and are very good for you :) 

I have used them in many different recipes, like my Vegetarian Thai Curry or my Oven Baked Rice.

These roasted chickpeas are great for snacking without guilt.. you might want to double the recipe ;) 

Ingredients:

2 cans chickpeas (2 x 410 g)

1 tbsp sunflower oil

1 tsp onion powder

3/4 tsp cumin

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1. Drain the chickpeas then spread them on a towel and leave them for 10 mins to dry.

2.  Mix the spices with the oil in a bowl then add the chickpeas and mix well.

3. Spread the chickpeas on a baking sheet and put in a 150 Celsius degrees oven for 45 minutes or until they are roasted. Check on them every now and then, each oven is different!

Enjoy!!

 

Vegetarian Chickpea & Spinach Thai Curry

When you look at the ingredients of this recipe it might not make sense to you at all.. but believe me it is worth cooking and the flavours work very well together.. it's become a family favourite and we make it once a week :)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp butter
1 yellow onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
2 cm peeled and grated ginger
1 dl sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 lime juice
1,5 tbsp red Thai curry paste

1 tbsp brown sugar (can be replaced by honey)
1 can chickpeas, drained (410 g)
1 bag fresh baby spinach (65 g)
1 can coconut milk (400 ml)

salt to taste

1. Melt the butter in a wok pan, then put in the onions and garlic and fry till the onions are transparent.

2. Add the ginger and sun-dried tomatoes and stir for a couple of minutes.

3. Add the drained chickpeas, and lime juice, then add the coconut milk and red Thai paste.

4. Let it simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes, then add the baby spinach and the moment you add it and stir it in turn off the heat and let the spinach wilt.

5. Serve on a bed of mashed roasted sweet potatoes.

6. To roast the sweet potatoes, just put them in a 200 degrees Celsius oven for 45 minutes or until they are tender to your poking finger.

Healthy Fig Newtons or Ka3b El-Ghazal

Fig Newtons, or Ka3b El-Ghazal, literally the heals of the deer has always been my absolute favourite. I remember my dad buying big portions of it from the bakery nearby and I just devoured them.
This recipe is much healthier less sweet and tastes of oranges and figs.. YUMMY!

They little bites taste better the day after, as the crust softens.

Oh and by the way the filling makes for the best fig marmalade that I have ever had.. blue cheese and crackers anyone?

Filling:

2 dl soft dried figs
3 dl water
2 dl apple juice
1/2 dl dark brown sugar
juice of a small orange
1/2 orange grated zest
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger


1. Chop the figs roughly (the smaller you chop them the quicker they cook).
2. Add all the ingredients to a pot and bring to a boil while stirring.
3. Lower the heat to medium and stir every now and then so the fig marmalade would not get stuck to the bottom of the pot. This process should take from 30 to 45 mins.
4. Turn off the heat and either mix the marmalade in your kitchen machine or you can use a hand mixer till you have a smooth marmalade. Don't leave any clumps.

Dough:

125 g butter cold, cut in small cubes
4 dl unbleached baking flour
1/2 dl dark brown sugar
1/2 orange grated zest
1 tsp pure vanilla powder
1 egg white
1 tbsp water

Egg Wash:

1 egg yellow
1 tsp water

1/2 dl pealed sesame seeds to sprinkle on top.

1. Mix all ingredients into a smooth dough.
2. Cut into two then roll out the dough about 3 - 5 mm thick.
3. Cut into rectangles as shown in the picture above.
4. Spread some of your marmalade in the middle of the rectangle.
5. Fold one side then with your finger brush some egg wash on the tip.
6. Fold the other side so that they barely touch.
7. Flip it around and spread some egg wash on top, then sprinkle the sesame seeds.
8. Cut with a knife into bite sized pieces and place on a baking sheet.
9. Bake in an oven 180 Celsius degrees for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!