Category Archives: appetizers & salads

Tomates – cerises (cherry tomato) salad

Posted on July 21, 2014 | 1 comment

As promised, here is an adaptation of the tomates cerises salad that i first tasted at la maison de la foret in “tawlet bkassine” restaurant www.tawletbkassine.com

So delicious, couldn’t get enough of it. We need:

300g cherry tomato cut in halves
two small shallot or white onion cut a la julienne. For more information of which type of onion to use click onion guide
handful of mint leaves
handful of basil leaves
handful pine seeds roasted
handful dried raisin soaked in water for 15 mns at least

Mix all with a dash of salt and olive oil drizzle. If you are a fan of lemon you can add one tbsp as well.

As i always say, a healthy salad doesn’t mean a boring salad! Enjoy health on your plate!

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Posted in appetizers & salads

Tagged blog, cherry tomato, dried raisin, jaymmy, la maison de la foret, marmite et ponpon, pine seeds, recipe, salad, tawlet bkassine, tomates cerises

salade au chèvre chaud (salad with hot goat cheese)

Posted on July 14, 2014 | 1 comment

Chèvre is a young, mild and creamy cheese, “Pur Chèvre” from France is made entirely from goat’s milk. I love cheese! i can pair cheese with anything! Nothing gives me this feeling of satisfaction like cheese.

This salad is very simple and served on your table in less than 15 minutes. Only 4 ingredients make this great salad:

lettuce (i mixed 3 types: red oak, green oak and boston)
cherry tomato
toast
chèvre cheese (goat cheese)

Spread on the toast a 5mm layer of chèvre, if you like the melting cheese, preferably use the aged goat cheese which is coated with white edible rind (similar to the rind of Camembert). Inside it is firmer and drier than Camembert, but once you heat it, it becomes completely soft and melting.

Personally i like the fresh, rindless goat cheese and i sprinkle a bit of bread crumbs on top to add some crispy texture before heating in the microwave for one minute.

Serve this salad with vinaigrette or lemon mayo dressing. Additions are always most welcome with cheese. Some people add walnuts, pine nuts or even dried figs.

No wonder why photographers use the word cheese to make you smile! Say cheeeese it’s my brother in law (Hani) birthday! Wishing you a beautiful year ahead and a prosperous life!

1 Comment

Posted in appetizers & salads

Tagged 15 minutes meal. blog, chevre, goat cheese, jaymmy, marmite et ponpon, recipe, salad

succulento caprese pasta salad

Posted on July 9, 2014 | 3 comments

A brilliant dose of colors on your plate brings life to your dish and health to your life! Original caprese salad was made to resemble the colors of the Italian flag: red, white, and green. Caprese pasta salad is deep in colors and flavors!

Basil is a highly fragrant plant, it has become one of the most recognizable herbs ever since pesto.
Cherry tomatoes are a treasure of riches when it comes to their antioxidant benefits. Intake of tomatoes has long been linked to heart health. And who doesn’t fall in love with buffalo mozzarella, that soft, delicate cheese of southern Italy.

To make this salad you need: (4 persons)

500g spaghetti cooked as per the pack instructions
pesto sauce (click to get redirected to the recipe)
200 g cherry tomato cut in half
350g buffalo mozzarella
salt and pepper to taste
garlic oil/ chilli oil (optional)

Mix all the ingredients and serve it as entree or main dish

One of my favorite cuisine and my comfort zone in cooking! I always had a leaning towards italian food! I confess i am a pasta and pizzaholic.

3 Comments

Posted in appetizers & salads, main dish

Tagged basil, blog, caprese pasta salad, jaymmy, marmite et ponpn, mozzarella, olive oil, pasta, pesto, recipe

5 minutes homemade pesto

Posted on July 6, 2014 | Leave a comment

One day I will have my own small garden where i will grow basil (and other vegetables of course) to prepare this flavorful pesto!

I grew up in a family who loves the nature! My dad used to grow flowers and vegetables (tomatoes, parsley, mint, cucumbers…. ) for us they are both beautiful, like all lebanese families who has a small garden beside the house. Trust me a salad from your garden tastes different! even, It smells like your home country…

A homemade pesto, to use as a great addition to pasta, salads, sandwiches, or as a tasty dip or spread!

You will need:

2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup toasted pine seeds
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)

In the food processor add basil, garlic and pine nuts. Pulse several times until coarsely chopped. Then add lemon juice and olive oil. Once fully combined mix in the parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste.

This simple basic pesto is so easy to make and incredibly delicious. It takes less than 5 minutes and you can spread it on almost everything!

How to store this homemade pesto? After filling a jar to almost the very top, drizzle a little olive oil over the top and seal closed. This can keep for a few weeks in the fridge if you continue to cover the top with olive to keep the herbs fresh.

add the basil, garlic, and pine nuts. Pulse several times until coarsely chopped. – See more at: http://www.servingseconds.com/2013/06/homemade-pesto.html#sthash.ALGMcs2V.dpuf

To a food processor, add the basil, garlic, and pine nuts. Pulse several times until coarsely chopped.
With the processor running, pour in the lemon juice and slowly add the olive oil.
Once fully combined (but still with some texture), scrape all of the pesto into a separate bowl.
Mix in the parmesan cheese, and season to taste with salt & pepper.

– See more at: http://www.servingseconds.com/2013/06/homemade-pesto.html#sthash.ALGMcs2V.dpuf

2 cups fresh basil leaves (or two huge handfuls) 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts 2 cloves of garlic 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup parmesan cheese juice from half a lemon salt & pepper – See more at: http://www.servingseconds.com/2013/06/homemade-pesto.html#sthash.ALGMcs2V.dpufY

quench your thirst with homemade flavored water

Posted on July 3, 2014 | Leave a comment

Ditch boring water and satisfy your thirst with healthy all natural homemade quenchers.

Water is very essential to your good health, it makes up about 60% of your body weight. Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements, but since every system in your body depends on water to function properly, you must replenish its water supply. Studies determined that your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live but roughly we can say an adequate intake for men is 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and for women 2.2 liters (about 9 cups).

It’s a huge amount of water if you think about it and you are not a water lover! That’s why here is 3 homemade recipes for naturally flavored water with added health benefits, to encourage you meet your daily needs, and stay hydrated especially it’s getting really hot outside!

citrus kiss:

Slice up one lemon, one orange and one grapefruit, add them to one liter of water. The longer the ingredients steep, the stronger the flavor will be, so mix them up a few hours ahead depending on how strong you want the taste to be.

Apple cinnamon: