GREEN CHILI PEPPER CHEESE DIP

Spicy Dip with Ooey Gooey Melting Cheese!

This is one hell of an addictive crowd pleaser dish!

If you ever loved Jalapeno Poppers at TGI Fridays, you just secured yourself the homemade alternative!

The first time I made this dish was at the biggest family gathering I ever hosted. Believe it or not, I forgot to serve it at the beginning & it made its way to the table halfway through dinner yet it was the first plate to be finished to the last bit. Since then, I am asked to bring it to any family gathering (actually I am not really welcomed without it).

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WALNUT PECAN BUTTER

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Fresh walnuts & pecans roasted until their aroma fills your kitchen then blended to an out of this world creamy butter!

You know those recipes that just cross your mind out of the blue? This is one of them.

Believe it or not, I was never a fan of nut butters; never one of those kids who grew up eating peanut butter. I hated the idea of nut butters until I got pregnant & for 9 months I craved nothing but peanut peanut peanut …. Butter (probably that’s why I am still trying to lose the extra weight until now)!!

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ONE POT TOMATO CILANTRO PASTA

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Creamy … Delicious …Quick … Easy! This is the perfect dish for any busy or lazy day!

Today I will start to share one of many posts to come for PASTA; one of my favorite foods on earth. If I am to be stuck alone on an island, I would choose pasta with all its forms, shapes & tastes to be my companion.

The hype for “one pot” pasta has been going on for a while but I was never very interested to try it as all what came to my mind was “how will my pasta taste with all this starch in the sauce?”. Until one day about 8 months ago, I was too lazy to cook; actually lazy to even get out of bed so I thought to myself “it’s time to give this crazy idea a try”. To my surprise, the pasta came out delicious – very creamy as if it had cream but the only thing that went wrong that time was the cooking technique.

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SMOKED CHICKEN MUSTARD SANDWICH

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A filling & delicious homemade alternative for your lunch breaks healthier than ready made sandwiches.

I was never a fan of making sandwiches; what’s the point of making one while I can buy it from anywhere? I always bought a sandwich on my way to work or university; of course the only sandwich my mum made me was white cheese so if I wanted the tinniest change, it had to be takeout.

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TERIYAKI BEEF STIR FRY

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For all Teriyaki lovers, this is your new addiction!

Ever since Teriyaki Stir Fry Beef appeared on the menus of Asian restaurants & I fell in love at first bite. I just ADORE it … I can devour anything .. literally anything covered in Teriyaki.

I searched the Internet over & over for the recipe but it always required Mirin & Sake which aren’t available in Egypt. I tried to work around with Soy Sauce & all kinds of sweeteners but still didn’t reach the flavor I am looking 

& FINALLY I NAILED IT!

Here you go ladies & gentlemen … Teriyaki Beef Stir Fry!

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Stir frying is a very easy yet tricky cooking technique. The dish is cooked in no time but you have to be aware of 3 very important things:

  • You need a hot pan … a really hot pan!
  • The beef cut you are using makes a huge difference in the outcome of this recipe; I am using beef tenderloin & not those store-bought strips
  • You have to prepare all the ingredients next to you before cooking because if the beef is overcooked you will end up with rubbery slices

TERIYAKI BEEF STIR FRY

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients:

For the marinade:

  • 800 gm lean tenderloin beef, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 tsp ginger powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder 
  • Salt & pepper

For the sauce:

  • 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce (see notes) 
  • 1/4 cup black molasses  عسل أسود 
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp fresh grated ginger (optional) 

For the stir fry:

  • Olive oil
  • 1 medium green pepper sliced into 1.5 cm strips
  • 1 small onion sliced into 1.5 cm strips
  • 2 small green onion sprigs thinly sliced (green & white parts separated)
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds

Directions

  1. Place the beef slices in a bowl, add all the marinade ingredients & keep in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes.
  2. Whisk all the sauce ingredients in a separate bowl & set aside.
  3. Cook the beef: Heat a large pan over high heat until hot. Add 1 tbsp oil then add the beef slices. Cook for 2 minutes on each side until the edges start to caramelize. DON’T OVERCROWD the pan; you can do this over 2-3 batches because you want the beef to get a nice color & not steam. Remove the beef onto a plate & set aside.
  4. Cook the Veggies: With your heat still on high, add another tbsp oil to the pan then add the pepper, onion & white parts of the green onion. Stir fry for 3-4 minutes until slightly softened, remove onto a plate & set aside.
  5. With the heat still on high, add the sauce to the pan*, let boil for about 1 minute to thicken & reduce.
  6. Return the beef slices & veggies to the pan, toss with the sauce. Turn off the heat, sprinkle with the sesame seeds & green parts of the green onion.  Serve immediately.

Notes: 

  • Teriyaki sauce bottle is available in the Asian Aisle of Seoudi, Alfa, Sunny Supermarkets & Hypermarkets.
  • Adding 3/4 of the sauce amount to the pan creates the perfect beef to sauce ratio but in case you like a lot of sauce to spoon over rice/noodles, add the full amount stated in the recipe.
  • Remember! This dish cooks over high heat & takes literally minutes to come together. Don’t worry your beef will not be undercooked!

CHOCOLATE CHIPS BANANA BREAD (CAKE)

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SIMPLY the fluffiest … the most moist … the best … Banana Bread Ever!

I love cakes! I grew up in a house where we always had a box of fresh cake in the living room “of course store-bought as my mum hates cooking” but the idea continued with me even after marriage and when my kids grew a little it became even more essential.

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