Category Archives: appetizers & salads

Roast pumpkin soup

Posted on February 17, 2016 | 1 comment

I am a big fan of any kind of soup and I believe you can make soup with almost any vegetable you have on hand! And the fact that we are abstaining from eating meat for the lent, i am trying all types of meatless soup.

Today i am sharing with you this incredibly delicious pumpkin soup. The secret of the depth of flavor is in roasting the pumpkin, no other method will do.

Did you know that a cup of cooked pumpkin contains more than 200% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A?! Pumpkin is an excellent food for sharp eyesight! I think this soup will be a staple one in my kitchen as long as pumpkin is in season.

You will need: (serving 2 generous bowls)

500g butternut pumpkin cut into large pieces (skin and seeds removed)
1 medium onion halved
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt and pepper for seasoning
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a tray with baking paper to place the pumpkin and onion. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle the olive oil. Cook for 35-40 minutes or until the pumpkin is soft. Transfer the pumpkin and onion to a saucepan. Add the vegetable broth and blend. Put on medium-low heat, add the cream and simmer for 10 minutes.

Serve with croutons or cheese crusty bread to have a complete combo! For me soup and croutons comes together like Romeo and Juliet. The crunchiness of croutons and the smooth texture of the soup are made for each other, a heavenly match. Oh yes i am in love with bread!

Some people like to top it with sour cream before serving. Feel free to add anything you like to pair with your soup and enjoy! Don’t hesitate to try it and let me know if you heart soup like me 🙂

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

1 Comment

Posted in appetizers & salads

Tagged easy recipe, healthy, jaymmy, marmite et ponpon, pumpkin, roast pumpkin soup, vitamin A

How to host a Raclette party at home

Posted on December 30, 2015 | 2 comments

Raclette is a type of cow milk cheese, consumed in Switzerland and France. It’s commonly used for melting in small pans known as coupelles that are placed under a specialized grill looking like an electric table-top grill. Then the slices of melted raclette are poured over veggies, pickles, charcuterie and meat. Served with wine to seal the deal!

Throwing a raclette party at home is the most fun thing. Tomorrow is new year, and with kids outing became a bit difficult; We are hosting at home a raclette concept party.

Not going so much traditional, we are not just melting raclette, we got gruyere, mozzarella, gouda and brie. You can use any cheese of your choice that melts. As for the side ingredients with the cheese, you can go as much creative as you want; go for anything that pairs well with your choice of cheese.

My favorite raclette ingredients that i am serving :

Veggies (fingerling potatoes, sliced courgettes, sliced aubergines, sliced mushrooms, asparagus spears, broccoli florets, sliced capsicum, onion rondelles and cherry tomatoes). You can precook them if you want to save time.
Fruits (melon, strawberry and grapes)
Pickles (cornichons, pearl onions, jalapenos and olives) you can add to this list anything pickled that you fancy
Meat (strips of beef, bresaola, salami)
Condiments (salt, pepper, basil, rosemary and oregano)
Nuts (walnut), the crunch of nuts is a tasty contrast to the creaminess of cheese.

You can simply pour the melted cheese over these ingredients or include baguette slices.

If you want to end your dinner with a dessert, melt chocolate and marshmallows to satisfy your sweet tooth. With fruits you can take it to the next level.

Hopefully this post was beneficial to you whether it’s your first time to have a raclette or you are already a connoisseur. Enjoy it, nothing says happiness more than cheese 🙂

With this post and being the 7th most viral blog for 2015 (in lebanon), i wrap up this year, wishing you a beautiful new one ahead full of blessings, joy, good health and new exciting events in your life.

If you wish to see me again among the top Lebanese bloggers in 2016, like my post and give it some shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come. See you in 2016!!

2 Comments

Posted in appetizers & salads, DIY, special occasions

Tagged bread, cheese, DIY, fruits, homemade, jaymmy, marmite et ponpon, meat, nuts, pickles, raclette, veggies, wine

Deck the table with these 5 dazzling hors d’oeuvres

Posted on December 22, 2015 | Leave a comment

Get your Christmas dinner start with these beautiful and easy first course. These relish 5 appetizers takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and bring the wow factor to your Christmas table.

This amuse bouche made with broccoli and cherry tomato is inspired from the Christmas tree. Serve it with cocktail or ranch sauce.

No forks or spoons required for these easy-to-pick-up appetizers; Caprese skewers can replace a salad.

A snowman cheese is an impressive hors d’oeuvre, so cute to be eaten. You can prepare it with any white creamy cheese you like; feta, boursin, rambol, goat cheese….

Go beyond a cheese board with these cute feta thyme appetizer. The tomato hat made all the difference 🙂

Kebbeh is a staple on the Lebanese table, take it to the next level by cutting it into Christmassy shapes like ginger man, tree, star, snowflake, snowman….Kids will love it too.

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

The best homemade mushroom soup

Posted on December 15, 2015 | 2 comments

I heart soups, especially the homemade ones, where you can indulge in a flavorful one without feeling any guilt. This soup is so rich in flavors and low in calories. It is super easy to make plus it takes less than 30 minutes to be ready.

500g mushroom sliced
1 medium onion finely diced
50g butter
2 tbsp flour
4 1/2 cup vegetable broth (less fat, less salt)
salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a casserole and cook the onions until fragrant and tender, about 2-3 minutes. Add the mushroom and cook about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over while still cooking for another 2 minutes. Pour the broth and mix. When u see the first bubble forming, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

Puree in a blender and serve. You can keep aside some mushroom slices if you like chunks in your soup.

If you wish to have a creamier version of this soup, you can add one cup of heavy cream 2 minutes before turning off the heat. You can still enjoy a low calorie soup if you choose low fat cream. Personally i prefer it without cream, i like to enjoy the exclusive taste of mushroom.

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

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Posted in appetizers & salads

Tagged food, food blogger, homemade, jaymmy, lebanon, low calorie, low fat, marmite et ponpon, mushroom soup, qatar, recipe, soup

La salade niçoise

Posted on June 9, 2015 | 1 comment

After two long hektic weeks, moving to a new house, i am back if you are wondering where i’ve been!

My first post from my new kitchen, eagerly presenting the french “salade Niçoise”, in the style of Nice, France.

Traditionally made with hard boiled eggs, boiled potatoes, olives, green beans, tuna, anchovies, tomato and onion presented on a bed of lettuce. Some sources exclude anchovies, add artichoke hearts or even presented without lettuce.

To serve 4 people you will need:

3 canned tuna drained and flaked
4 hard boiled eggs quartered
8 small potato boiled and quartered
12 cherry tomato halved
150 g green beans steamed
around 24 black olives pitted
1 big onion cut rondelles
1 head romaine lettuce chopped into bite size pieces

Mix all together drizzle with vinaigrette or lemon olive oil dressing and serve!

Usually this salad is served as an entree, but with some french baguette or croutons it can be a wholesome and sustaining dinner.

Happy to be back, miss you 🙂

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.