Small Pie with Meat and White Sauce

Ingredients

The dough:

1½ cups flour
½ tsp salt
½ cup chilled butter pieces
4-5 Tbsps cold water







The filling:

Cooked minced meat (or chicken pieces)
Any ripe vegetable cut into cubes
White cheese sauce
Grated Parmesan cheese

Method

 

 

• Mix all dough ingredients in a bowl until they make firm dough. Set aside in the refrigerator for an hour at least in order to shape it easily. 
 
• Spread the dough on a lightly floured work surface and cut into circular shapes and then spread in medium mould.
 
• Put adequate amount of the filling with the minced meat in the dough, and spray the white sauce on top, and sprinkle with grated cheese on the surface.
 
• Bake in an oven of 180 centigrade for 30-45 minutes.

How To Make Custard

Ingredients

 

11/2 cups milk
½ cup sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
11/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 egg yolk

Method

 

- In sauce pan put 11/4 cup milk, add sugar and vanilla, stir until completely dissolved.
 
- Let it come to a boil, lower the heat.
 
- Dissolve the starch in the remaining milk.
 
- Gradually add the starch mixture to the milk mixture with frequent stirring until come to a boil again.
 
- Lower the heat and leave till fully cooked and thickened.
 
- Set the mixture aside, then whisk the yolk and add it to the milk, stir until well combined.
 
- Leave the custard to cool, cover with a parchment paper directly touching the surface of the custard to avoid forming a crust.
 
- Custard is used as a pie filling, and could be thickened more to be cut and rolled on flour and fried in butter.

Cookies Filled with Fig, Dates and Apricot

Ingredients

The filling 

1 cup dry fig 

1 cup dry apricots 

1 cup dry dates 

1 cup water 

½ cup sugar

For the dough

½ cup soft butter

½ cup cream cheese 

½ cup sugar 

1¾ cups flour 

1 tablespoon anise 

½ teaspoon baking powder 

¼ teaspoon baking soda 

½ teaspoon salt 

½ teaspoon vanilla 

1 egg (beaten for brushing)

Method

The filling

- In saucepans separately put figs, apricots and dates over a medium heat , divide both the water and sugar amounts over each one, cook for 5 minutes. 

- Remove from heat, and puree each in a blender to have a paste consistency. 

The dough 

- Preheat oven to 180 °C. - Combine butter, cheese and sugar in an electric beater; beat on a medium speed until creamy. 

- Mix flour with anise, baking powder, baking soda vanilla and salt, gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beat until well-combined and homogenous dough is obtained. 

- Cover the dough and chill for 30 minutes.

- On a floured surface, roll out the dough with a rolling pin, and divide it into 3 thin rectangles. 

- Put the desired stuffing on the rectangle dough, roll it to form a cylinder, brush the surface with egg wash, cut into slices and place them on a baking sheet.

- Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. 

- Allow to cool, then arrange on a serving plate.

Sambosa

Ingredients

For dough

1 ½ Cup flour
¼ Cup oil
½ Cup water
Salt
Oil for frying

For filling


½ Kilo ground beef (lamb or beef)
1 Onion (medium size), chopped
½ Tbs oil
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp ground all spice
1 Egg, boiled
¼ Cup parsley, chopped 

Method

For filling

- Cook meat over medium heat until browned.
 
- Remove any excess fat resulting from cooking.
 
- Add onion and oil, season with salt, pepper and spices. Stir over medium heat for 5
minutes or until onion is tender.
 
- Cut boiled egg into small pieces then mix with meat and parsley.
 
- set aside to cool.


For sambosa dough


- Mix flour, salt and make a well in the flour.
 
- Add oil, water gradually; mix until lightly firm dough is formed.
 
- If using electric mixer, combine flour, salt, oil and water on medium speed for 10 minutes.
 
- Divide dough into small equal balls, roll on a lightly floured surface and cut into thin circles.
 
- Place a tablespoon of the filling mixture on one side of the circle.
 
- Crimp down the edges with a fork or wet your finger and rub it along the inside edge of the dough and fold.
 
- Heat oil to 350° F, deep fry sambosa for 3 - 5minutes until golden (for best results do not put a big amount at a time).
 
- Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel.

Note
- Sambosa can be preserved after frying in a sealed plastic bag and refrigerated for a
month, then heated in the oven.

Veal with Paprika

Ingredients

½ kg veal meat
salt and pepper
4 Tbsps flour
½ cup paprika
2 Tbsps vegetable oil
2 Tbsp butter
2 cups onion, chopped
4 Tbsps tomato paste
4 cups chicken or beef stock
2 Tbsps whipping cream or sour cream

Method

- Wash and dry the meat then cut it into thin strips and season with salt and pepper.
 
- Mix half the paprika with the flour.
 
- In a large bowl combine the veal strips with the flour and paprika mixture, shake off excess flour.
 
- In a skillet heat the oil over medium heat, then add the butter*.
 
- Brown beef strips for 7 minutes, add the onions and stir for another 5 minutes.
 
- Add the rest of the paprika to the meat stirring frequently until it is cooked half way.
 
- Blend the tomato paste into the stock. Add the stock to the meat, bring to a boil then reduce heat. Cover and simmer until meat is fully cooked and the sauce is thickened.
 
- Garnish with cream. Serve hot with pasta or boiled potatoes.

*Butter should be added to medium heated oil.

Kibbee

Ingredients

1 cup of cracked wheat (bulgur)
1 pound ground meat (beef or lamb)
1 grated onion
1 teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoon Black pepper
1 teaspoon Allspice or kibbee spices
¼ ice cold water or crushed ice
Filling

½ pound ground meat (beef or lamb)
½ onion, diced
¼ cup toasted pine nuts
½ teaspoon Allspice or kibbee spices
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
oil for frying

Method

- Wash the cracked wheat very well. Let drain and squeeze out the excess water.
- Take the cracked wheat and place it on a tray to dry for about 2 hours.
- Grate the onion, mix it with the cracked wheat and add the meat. Mix them together until well combined.
- Add your seasonings. Salt, pepper, and allspice. Mix once again very well.

TIP: You can mix these ingredients in a food processor so that they become better combined.

Preparation for the filling

- Heat up the oil, then add your diced onion, cook until golden in color.
- Add the meat to the onions and cook until the meat is done.
- Add your salt, pepper and allspice.
- Drain any excess fat from the filling.
- Add the toasted pine nuts.
Making Kibee Balls

- Soak your hands in cold water. Take a small piece of dough.
- Push with your index finger into the center of the ball making an indentation or place for the filling to go. The hole should be long in length in order to fill the dough ball.
- Once this is done take a small amount of the filling and place it into the ball.
- Close the ball with your index finger and thumb. Repeat this step with every ball.
- Once all of them are made, you will heat up your frying oil and place each Kibbee Ball into the hot oil for frying.
- Once they are medium brown in color, take them out of the oil and place on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.

Grilled chicken marinade

Ingredients

1 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin, powder
1 cup yogurt
2 Tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

• Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
• Add chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
N.B. (this amount is suitable to marinate around ½ Kg chicken)

Fatigue and Sleepiness and How to Fight Them

Food Allergies

 

Some doctors believe hidden food allergies can make you sleepy. If your fatigue intensifies after meals, you could have a mild intolerance to something you’re eating -- not enough to cause itching or hives, just enough to make you tired.

Fix: Try eliminating foods one at a time to see if your fatigue improves. You can also ask your doctor about a food allergy test.

If your fatigue lasts more than six months and is so severe that you can’t manage your daily activities, chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia are a possibility. Both can have various symptoms, but persistent, unexplained exhaustion is a main one.

Fix: While there’s no quick fix for CFS or fibromyalgia, patients often benefit from changing their daily schedule, learning better sleep habits, and starting a gentle exercise program.

If you have mild fatigue that isn’t linked to any medical condition, the solution may be exercise. Research suggests healthy but tired adults can get a significant energy boost from a modest workout program. In one study, participants rode a stationary bike for 20 minutes at a mild pace. Doing this just three times a week was enough to fight fatigue.

Working nights or rotating shifts can disrupt your internal clock. You may feel tired when you need to be awake. And you may have trouble sleeping during the day.

Fix: Limit your exposure to daylight when you need to rest. Make your room dark, quiet, and cool. Still having sleep issues? Talk with your doctor. Supplements and medications may help.

When fatigue strikes during everyday activities, such as cleaning the house or weeding the yard, it can be a sign that your heart is no longer up to the job. If you notice it’s becoming increasingly difficult to finish tasks that were once easy, talk to your doctor about heart disease.

Fix: Lifestyle changes, medication, and therapeutic procedures can get heart disease under control and restore your energy.

Your fatigue can be a sign of dehydration. Whether you’re working out or working a desk job, your body needs water to work well and keep cool. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.

Fix: Drink water throughout the day so your urine is light colored. Have at least two cups of water an hour or more before a planned physical activity. Then, sip throughout your workout and afterwards drink another two cups.

In people with diabetes, abnormally high levels of sugar remain in the bloodstream instead of entering the body’s cells, where it would be converted into energy. The result is a body that runs out of steam despite having enough to eat. If you have persistent, unexplained fatigue, ask your doctor about being tested for diabetes.

Fix: Treatments for diabetes may include lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, insulin therapy, and medications to help the body process sugar.

If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you’re probably familiar with the burning pain and sense of urgency. But the infection does not always announce itself with such obvious symptoms. In some cases, fatigue may be the only sign. A urine test can quickly confirm a UTI.

Fix: Antibiotics are the cure for UTIs, and the fatigue will usually vanish within a week.

Caffeine can improve alertness and concentration in moderate doses. But too much can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and jitteriness. And research indicates too much actually causes fatigue in some people.

Fix: Gradually cut back on coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, and any medications that contain caffeine. Stopping suddenly can cause caffeine withdrawal and more fatigue.

The thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck. It controls your metabolism, the speed at which your body converts fuel into energy. When the gland is underactive and the metabolism functions too slowly, you may feel sluggish and put on weight.

Fix: If a blood test confirms your thyroid hormones are low, synthetic hormones can bring you up to speed.

You may think of depression as an emotional disorder, but it contributes to many physical symptoms as well. Fatigue, headaches, and loss of appetite are among the most common symptoms. If you feel tired and “down” for more than a couple of weeks, see your doctor.

Fix: Depression responds well to psychotherapy and/or medication.

Anemia is a leading cause of fatigue in women. Menstrual blood loss can cause an iron deficiency, putting women at risk. Red blood cells (shown here) are needed because they carry oxygen to your tissues and organs.

Fix: For anemia caused by an iron deficiency, taking iron supplements and eating iron-rich foods, such as lean meat, liver, shellfish, beans, and enriched cereal, can help.

Eating too little causes fatigue, but eating the wrong foods can also be a problem. Eating a balanced diet helps keep your blood sugar in a normal range and prevents that sluggish feeling when your blood sugar drops.

Fix: Always eat breakfast and try to include protein and complex carbs in every meal. For example, eat eggs with whole-grain toast. Also eat meals and snacks throughout the day for sustained energy.

Some people think they’re sleeping enough, but sleep apnea gets in the way. It briefly stops your breathing throughout the night. Each interruption wakes you for a moment, but you may not be aware of it. The result: you’re sleep-deprived despite spending eight hours in bed.

Fix: Lose weight if you’re overweight and sleep with a CPAP device to help keep airway passages open at night.

It may seem obvious but you could be getting too little sleep. That can negatively affect your concentration and health. Adults should get seven to eight hours every night. 

Fix: Make sleep a priority and keep a regular schedule. Ban laptops, cell phones, and PDAs from your bedroom. Still having trouble? Seek help from a doctor. You may have a sleep disorder.