marmite et ponpon

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

Three cheese and white wine penne

Posted on February 16, 2016 | 3 comments

I would call this comfort food at its best! Sometimes after long day at work or at home with kids, all you need is to lay back on your chair with some comfort food in your plate and good movie to watch. Such moments, the least you care about is counting calories, just enjoy the deep flavors and unwind from the pressure of stress of the day.

To prepare two generous portions you need:

1 cup penne or nearly 250 g (uncooked)
1 cup white wine
75g gruyere, shredded or small cubes
75g emmental, shredded or small cubes
75g cheddar, shredded or small cubes
1/2 tbsp cornstarch
pinch of powdered garlic
1/2 cup cream
handful shredded mozzarella

Cook the pasta as per the pack instructions and set aside

Heat the wine (2-3 minutes), when the first bubble starts to show add the cheeses little by little with the cornstarch. When all melted and well incorporated (5-7 minutes) add the pinch of garlic and cream. Cook for another 1-2 minutes.

Mix the sauce with the penne and pour in a baking dish. Cover with a layer of mozzarella and bake in the oven (200°C) until the surface is golden, about 5-8 minutes.

Very easy and ready in less than 30 minutes! The ultimate satisfying food; it’s thick, creamy and rich in flavors. More than that, it is boozy too 🙂

If you want to make a bigger portion just double the ingredients and enjoy it with friends or the next day leftovers.

Nothing says happy more than wine and cheese 🙂 Enjoy!

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.

3 Comments

Posted in main dish

Tagged cheddar, comfort food, creamy food, emmental, gruyere, jaymmy, less than 30 minutes, marmite et ponpon, penne, recipe, three cheese and wine penne, white wine

Adas bhamoud (chard and lentil soup)

Posted on February 15, 2016 | 7 comments

Another traditional Lebanese soup, served also as a main dish due to its powerful ingredients; featuring chard, lentil and potato. A hearty soup, full of iron, protein, fibers and vitamins, suitable for vegetarians and people abstaining from eating meat during the lent period.

Chard health benefits:

Chard is one of the most powerful anti-cancer foods due to its combination of traditional nutrients; chlorophyll, other plant pigments, and soluble fiber. It is an excellent source of vitamins C, E, and K (is especially beneficial in the maintenance of bone health), carotene. It is also an excellent source of several minerals including potassium, magnesium, iron, and manganese. Chard is also a good source of many other nutrients including vitamin B6, protein, calcium, thiamine, selenium, zinc, niacin, and folic acid.

You will need:

chard; leaf and stems (coarsely chopped) about 500g
1 cup lentils
2 cups medium cubed potatoes
1 big onion finely diced
3 garlic cloves roughly chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
salt to taste
juice of 2 lemons or so (your choice to taste)
1.5 -2 liters water

Cook the onion and garlic with the olive oil until tender and fragrant. Add the washed lentils and cover with 1 liter of water. Boil for 10 minutes then add potato and chard with another half liter of water (If you want a more watery soup you can add 1 liter).

When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat then add salt and lemon as per your taste.

My husband doesn’t like lemon too much, unlike me. To please all taste, you can serve lemon aside, so each of you can season individually.

Serve it warm and enjoy one of my favorite soup.

This quantity serves 4-6 plates. If you are pairing it with another food, it will serve even 8 plates. Sahtein!

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.

7 Comments

Posted in main dish

Tagged adas bhamod, chard, easy, healthy, jaymmy, lebanese cuisine, lemon, lentil and chard soup, lentils, marmite et ponpon, potato, recipe, traditional lebanese food

Chocolate strawberry cake

Posted on February 12, 2016 | 4 comments

Of all valentine’s desserts i believe a decadent chocolate and strawberry cake shouts it better! Nothing says i love you more than a homemade dessert, it holds so much care.

This special cake is not just looking beautiful but it is delicious too. It is love at first bite!

Whether you celebrate valentines day or you don’t, you can bake this cake any day you wish to spread love and joy at home.

You will be surprised from this foolproof cake, how easy and doesn’t require baking skills at all. You will be encouraged to do it more often if you are not really a big fan of baking.

You will need:

1 1/2 cup flour sifted
1/4 cup cocoa powder sifted(of a good quality)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 1/2 cup chopped strawberry

Mix all dry ingredients together then add vanilla, vinegar, oil and water. Combine well before folding in the strawberries.

Grease a 9″ heart pan and bake on 180°C for 30-35 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Keep aside until completely cool and meanwhile prepare the ganache to wrap it up.

200g chopped chocolate
1 cup heavy cream

Heat the cream until about to boil and dump in the chocolate. Let it rest for 5 minutes before mixing well. The silky ganache will appear gradually while mixing.

Let it rest 15 minutes in the fridge to hold itself before pouring it over the cake.

I told you it’s so easy and could be done in no time! Garnish with strawberries for the festive look. Isn’t it so beautiful?! Wait until you taste it too.

The moist texture is heavenly. It stays up to 3 days outside the fridge, and if you wish to serve it cold, keep it for up to one week in the fridge. This cake doesn’t feature eggs, milk or butter so the life duration is longer. Don’t hesitate to try it and give me your suggestions.

I wish you love 366 days a year. Isn’t 2016 a leap year? An additional day to love and be loved 😉

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.

4 Comments

Posted in dessert, special occasions

Tagged blog, chocolate strawberry cake, delicious, easy, jaymmy, marmite et ponpon, recipe, say i love you, strawberries, valentines

Makhlouta (mix grains soup)

Posted on February 11, 2016 | 3 comments

Mixed is the literal translation for the word “makhlouta”. This traditional Lebanese soup consists of a medley of chickpeas, pinto beans (or any bean of your choice), lentils and bulgur. A great source of proteins and iron to serve well for people abstaining from eating meat during the lent period.

If you are vegetarian and this is your first introduction to makhlouta, trust me it will be on your to do list from now on. The ingredients look simple but the outcome is deep in flavor.

You will need:

1 cup chickpeas
1 cup beans (of your choice but usually it’s pinto beans)
1 cup lentils
1/2 cup bulgur
2 big onions finely diced
2 tbsp olive oil
salt to taste
cumin powder for seasoning (optional)

Soak chickpeas and beans for overnight or at least 12 hours to double in size.

In a deep pot fry the onions in olive oil until tender and fragrant. When they start turning into golden brown color, drain out chickpeas and beans from water and add them to the onion then the lentils and bulgur. Pour 2 liters of water and cook on medium heat. When it starts boiling, reduce to low heat, cover the pot and let it simmer for an hour. If the water reduces feel free to add some more. The level of water should be always 2-3cm above the grains.

Serve hot with a sprinkle of cumin, it gives a nice deep flavor and helps with the digestion of the grains later. Some people like to add lemon juice for this purpose.

This delicious soup serves 4-6 plates. It’s not an entree like other soups, lebanese people serve it as a main dish as it is so filling! It’s a hearty soup served in old days during winter to supply with the energy needed.

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.