Author: Sawsan Abu Farha @ Chef in disguise

Cabbage rolls “malfoof”

stuffed cabbage rolls

The weather forecast promises a winter that is the coldest in 70 years and December delivers! After 3 days of none stop rain and snow, all you crave is comfort food.Something warm, that transports you back to your mum’s kitchen. You are a kid again, at your family’s dinner table, hungry, cold and a little gloomy but  the hot steam coming off the plate that mum set before you with a smile makes you feel better just by looking at it.

snow

Stuffed cabbage rolls is one of those recipes. Something my mum used to make on cold winter days. The cabbage leaves are neatly rolled and then cooked to perfection. They are so tender that they nearly melt into your mouth, the slow cooking brings out a subtle sweetness in them that pairs beautifully with the fresh tang of lemon juice and the faint garlic note from the garlic cloves nestled between them.

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Sourdough pizza crust

Homemade pizza at its best

Ever since the sweet and wonderful Sally encouraged me to take a walk on the wild side, any recipe with the word “sourdough” instantly captures my attention! If there is one ingredient that can transform any recipe from regular to extraordinary, it would be sourdough and pizza crust is no exception.

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Sfogliatelle Ricci, 1000 layers of beautiful Italian pastry

Sfogliatelle Ricci italian pastry

This month’s challenge was a real treat!

Sandie of the lovely blog, Crumbs of Love, was our November hostess. Sandie challenged us to make a traditional Italian dessert, along with its American version – Sfogliatelle (or better known in the US – lobster tails!) The flakey, 1000 layers of super thin dough, shaped into a horn and filled with a scrumptious filling. Così buono!

Sandie offered us the recipes for sfogliatelle ricci, sfogliatelle frolle and lobster tail. I chose to make sfogliatelle ricci because it somehow reminded me of an arabic dessert that my kids love that is called warbat. Warbat is a dessert made of layers of a very thin dough that are filled with cream and then drizzled with syrup. The crunch and crackle of the pastry layers, beautifully contrasted by the creamy filling, the hints of rosewater in the syrup. It is simply irresistable.

Sfogliatelle Ricci

Sfogliatelle riccia , it turns out is also made with a, flaky dough, similar to puff pastry or phyllo . It is then filled with a mixture of ricotta, semolina, sugar, cinnamon, eggs and some candied citrus and/or other fruit. It seemed like a dessert that would hit the same buttons as warbat so I knew the kids would love it. I on the other hand loved the challenge of making it! Despite how crazy life has been this month, I was determined not to miss this challenge, so I ended up starting the day before reveal day!Not a good idea when you have such a  demanding challenge to meet, a new pasta machine that you bought because of this challenge and still have to figure out how to use it and a flue that makes your head spin!

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Sopa Castellana #tributetolis #daringbakers

Spanish tomato soup chef in disguise

We all start blogging for different reasons. Documenting a journey, venting emotions, dealing with stress or tragedy, finding some creative outlet, using up spare time, the list goes on and on. What no one tells you when you start blogging,though, is that at the end of the day, the part that you will cherish the most is the connections you will make. The people you will cross roads with.

I know many will argue that the virtual world is no place to “meet” or “get to know” anyone but if you have tried blogging for a while you will know that there is a precious connection that you can share with your readers, fellow bloggers and people you meet on this journey. A connection you can only feel with people who share your passion, who understand the spark of madness that is in every creative soul.

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Caraway spice pudding (Meghli)

 

If you were expecting a baby and you lived in the middle east. Your shopping list for the last few days before the baby arrives would probably include caraway seeds, rice flour and spices. Why on earth would you buy all that stuff with a baby on the way?

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Southwestern salad with parsley lime dressing

Southwestern salad with creamy parsley dressing

I love making my own salad dressings, there is so much room for creativity and if you are a little adventurous you will be rewarded with amazing flavor combinations. The best part about making salad dressings  as opposed to buying them is that you know exactly what goes into your dressing, no preservatives, no additives and no chemicals you can’t pronounce let alone eat!

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Tabbouleh, a beautiful salad lost in the translation

How to make the perfect tabbouleh by Chef in disguise

Tabbouleh despite its world fame is one of the Arabic and Middle Eastern recipes that seem to have been lost in the translation. Sure, you can find it on the menu of many restaurants and delis around the globe but what you call tabbouleh may not qualify as tabbouleh here in the Middle East.Here the tabbouleh police have very strict rules when it comes to what goes into tabbouleh and at what proportions. .

Today I am sharing my way of making tabbouleh, one that gets the Middle Eastern tabbouleh police seal of approval 🙂 Let’s break it down according to ingredients

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Vegetarian Mediterranean Pizza Pot Pie

Individual vegetarian pot pie

Today I have a recipe for you that is good enough to make you step away from the grocer’s freezer section,and make your very own  pot pie from scratch. The name is certainly a mouth full but it is really not that hard to make and I am welling to bet that one bite of this pizza pot pie will change the way you look at pot pies forever. The frozen ready made pot pies don’t even stand a chance!

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Sourdough marble muffins

sourdough muffins with beautiful high domes

My relationship with sweet muffins can mostly be filed under the heading “disasters”. For years, I have  been looking for a muffin recipe that produced those beautiful domed muffins you usually buy at the bakery.  The results are usually either flat cup-cake like things or mini volcanos that spell oven the pan and the oven and result in hours of scrubbing and occasional cursing.

That chapter in my baking adventure finally came to an end this month with the sourdough surprises challenge.

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How to poach an egg to perfection

How to poach eggs perfectly

The perfect poached egg. Tender whites around a warm liquid yolk that oozes out like liquid gold when you cut into it. Place it on top of a salad and it turns into a meal. Place it on top of your favorite vegetables and you have brunch. Layer an English muffin with smoked cheese, roast beef and a poached egg and you have a fancy breakfast to rival that served in hotels and restaurants.

If you have never poached an egg before and you are intimidated by it, don’t be. It is much easier than you think. There are just a couple of “secrets” to learn and you will get perfect  poached eggs every single time.

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Sourdough English muffins

English muffins with butter and jam

Are you in a hurry in the morning yet you want to have breakfast? not any breakfast but a decent one?

Do you have kids who are always bored of the routine breakfast?snack or the stuff you put in their lunch box?  Are you looking for new and refreshing ideas to make them eat their food instead of whining about it?

I have the answer for you..

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