marmite et ponpon

Apple carrot cake

Posted on January 13, 2016 | Leave a comment

Sometimes all you need is a simple and easy cake recipe for everyday. Breakfast or dessert, this is the wholesome cake to adapt. It has fruits (apple and carrots), nuts (walnut), eggs and milk.

It’s a complete meal or snack, made it healthier by replacing the butter with vegetable oil and using low fat milk.

So much flavors in a simple cake to enjoy and indulge.

You will need: (9″ baking dish)

5 eggs
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
zest of one lemon (approx 1 tbsp)
zest of one orange (approx 1 1/2 tbsp)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tbsp baking powder
1 large carrot grated
1 medium apple grated
1/2 cup milk (low fat)
1 cup dark chocolate chip
a handful walnut

Preheat oven on 180°C. Butter a 9″ dish and dust with flour then put it aside.

Start by mixing eggs, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on high speed until light in color and fluffy. Mix in the lemon and orange zest and the oil and keep mixing for another 5 minutes on low speed.

Fold in the flour, baking powder, grated carrot, grated apple and milk. Mix gently until all ingredients are well incorporated.

Pour in the baking dish and bake for an hour or until a skewer comes out clean.

If you wish to wrap the cake with chocolate, sprinkle 1 cup dark chocolate chip on top when the cake is done and still hot then garnish with a handful walnut. If you don’t want to add chocolate, chop the walnuts and add them to the batter before baking.

It’s so fluffy and rich, beware that one piece could drag another. In other words it’s addictive.

This cake is so versatile, you can add cinnamon if you’re fond of, and if you wish to enjoy a deep flavor, you can add a pinch of nutmeg and clove.

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.

Epiphany traditional sweets – Zlebyeh

Posted on January 5, 2016 | 1 comment

Epiphany (غطاس) is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of Jesus, the son of God: In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates the visit of the Magi, the three kings Gaspard, Balthazar and Melchior who came to pay their tribute to the world famous baby born Jesus. La galette des rois , is a typical french tradition celebrated on this day.

Moreover, the feast in Eastern Christianity commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan river. Zlebyeh(زلابية) or fried dough is one of the Lebanese traditional sweets prepared that day.

The story says; on the epiphany day, Jesus met a poor woman, she was frying a dough to feed her children, so he multiplied and increased her dough. We fry zlebyeh to remember this act of kindness, asking God to increase our blessings.

Another tradition for that night, requires to prepare a small dough with coins inside and we hang it on the tree waiting for Jesus دايم دايم to pass by midnight and bless it. This way our food and money are blessed for the whole year. I love these traditions, they are so beautiful and it’s nice to practice them and pass them on to our children.

You need:

1 cup flour
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp yeast to be dissolved in 1/4 cup of warm water and a dash of sugar
1/2 cup of water

Mix flour, oil and sugar. Give the yeast 10 minutes to dissolve in the warm water with a dash of sugar, after that add it to the flour mix with another 1/2 cup of water. Knead well and let it rest (covered at room temperature) for at least 2-3 hours to double in size.

Divide into 10 strips (10-12 cm each). You can keep them as is like fingers or twist each two together like i did. Fry them until golden brown. Usually they are served with sugar, but some people like them with honey too.

This is my first post to this year, happy reading and happy Epiphany.

دايم دايم بالخير

دايم دايم بالصحة

دايم دايم بالمحبة

دايم دايم بالفرح

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 dessert, special occasions

Tagged deyim deyim, epiphany, fried dough, ghtas, jaymmy, marmite et ponpon, recipe, sweets, traditions, zlebyeh

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

Create memories that will last – Christmas photo booth

Posted on December 24, 2015 | Leave a comment

Beautiful moments deserve beautiful photos. Create memories that will make you smile for long with this cute Christmas photo booth.

Last year we enjoyed the props so much, this i wanted something different with the same enjoyment we had before. A photo booth to unite the whole family in one picture.

It’s a 120x100cm frame printed on foam board to have the necessary thickness. Click on photo booth to download the printable file. It’s a vector one, easy to make changes on it to fit your desire.

Cherish and preserve your memories, a picture is worth a thousand word. Happy holiday to everyone, Jesus is born!

I will upload later our photo booth pictures from the Christmas eve.

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.

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.