COMPANY'S COMING

It is hard to take pictures when you have company coming.  You have so much to remember.  I made special efforts to take pictures this time.  Pictures did not turn out very well but I wanted to share my menu anyway.  Most of the recipes are already on my blog

Deserts, stuffed oyster and stuffed grape leaves from friends.  Everything else from my kitchen.   Full Menu:

Oven Fried Chicken

Roast Beef

Rice Pilaf with fried noodles

"Crisco" Borek

Romano Beans in tomato sauce

Chick Peas with Cauliflower

Stewed Zucchini

Eggplant with Yogurt Sauce

Mixed Green Salad

Stuffed Oysters

Stuffed Grape Leaves

Deserts:

Tahini Cookies

Dream whip dome cake

Bite size Brownies

Tulumba

ORANGE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE

I thought of making a cake with chocolates and oranges after eating a orange chocolate bar the other day.  It also gave me the opportunity to use a chocolate sauce I saw in a German recipe book.  The recipe book stated if you melt chocolate chips in coconut milk, it made it shiny and more presentable.  After trying it, I see that it is true.  From now on, I am making my chocolate sauce with coconut milk.

1 package orange cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)
3 eggs
1 1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 orange (skin for the cake and juice to pour on the cake)

Decorations
2/3 cups chocolate chips
1/3 cup coconut milk (or regular milk)
Candies

• Wash and grade the orange skin using the thick part of the grader
• Juice the orange and set aside
• Prepare the cake according to package instructions.  In my case, it called for 3 eggs, 1 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup vegetable oil.  I added the graded orange skin. Add the cake flour
• Pour into a non stick (or spray the pan with vegetable oil) cake pan
• Cook at 350 35 to 40 minutes.  When you insert a toothpick into the middle, it must come out clean
• Let it cool
• While still in the pan, make deep holes using a wood skewer or fork.  Pour orange juice over the cake.  Be careful not to get to the edges as juice makes it stick to the pan and makes it hard to take the cake out of the pan.  I covered and left the cake in the fridge overnight to make sure orange juice soaked well into the cake
• Prepare your chocolate sauce.  Put chocolate and the coconut milk into a microwave safe bowl.  Heat at high for 30 seconds and mix well. 
• Pour chocolate sauce over the cake.  I covered all of the cake with it but it is also nice if it is just on the top of the cake
• Decorate with colourful candies.

TURKISH APPLE COOKIES (ELMALI KURABIYE)

Fall is Apple season.  I used McIntosh apples for this recipe.  I was also short of time this morning so I took a short cut.  Instead of individual cookies that are oval shaped, I rolled them into a log and cut them to show the middle part.  They are a similar consistency to shortbread in that they not very sweet and on dry side just the way we like them with coffee or tea.

Cookie dough:
250 gr margarine
1/2 cup yogurt
1/2 cup icing sugar (if you like sweeter cookies, you can increase to a cup)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 package (9gr.) vanilla
3 cups flour
Filling:
3 middle size McIntosh Apples
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup walnut chips

• Start with soft margarine that is room temperature.  Add in yogurt, icing sugar, vanilla and baking powder.  Slowly add in flour to get a soft dough.  Cover and set aside to rest.
• Peel apples and grade them.  Put in a pot, add in sugar and cook until all the juice is gone.  Add in walnuts and set aside to cool.
• Depending on the shape you want to use, roll out the dough and arrange the middle.  In my case, I rolled it out to a rectangle on waxed paper, spread the filling all over.  I rolled into a log making sure wax paper could be removed.  I removed the waxed paper and moved it onto a cookie sheet.
• Cook at 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes until it is golden brown. 
• Let it cool completely
• Cut into shape, arrange on a plate and sprinkle generous amount of icing sugar.

SOBIYET (CREAM FILLED BAKLAVA)

This recipe has a story.... When we first moved to Canada, I was a teenager.  A family friend would make Sobiyet but he would not share his recipe (his secret).  No Internet at that time.  After having his Sobiyet a few times, I tasted semolina in the filling and created my own version of the filling.  I used my mother's measurements for the syrup and store bought dough.  This desert has since become "my" specialty for my friends and family.  My children, and grandchildren can safely say this is one of those true family recipes.

1 Package Filo Pastry (It must be a brand with thinner sheets like Krinos's)

Ground raw Pistachios

1 cup unsalted butter

Filling:

1.5 cup milk

4 tablespoons fine semolina

Syrup:

2 cup sugar

1.5 cups water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Topping

Ground raw Pistachios

• First prepare the filling.  Mix cold milk and semolina together until smooth in a pot and cook at medium heat until it thickens. Notice there is NO sugar added at this stage. Cover and let it cool.
• Melt the butter and pour some at the bottom of the cooking pan.  Use a cooking pan with higher sides because later you will be pouring the syrup, you don't want it to leak.
•  Open the package of Filo pastry and lay it on a table or a big cutting board.  In this recipe you do not separate the sheets. You will be using the stacked up sheet as is.
• Cut Filo pastry in strips (width wise).  See the picture below
• Cut lengthwise to create small squares
• Put a teaspoonful of the filling in the middle of the square.  Sprinkle half teaspoon of ground pistachios on top.  Fold sobiyet into a triangle.  You will need a bit of water at the edge to make the dough stick and keep its shape while cooking
• Fill your pan with uncooked Sobiyets.  Make sure there is a bit of room between each one.
• Pour melted butter over them all.  You may want to use a little brush to start to make sure each of the Sobiyets has a bit of butter to start them off.
• 1 package makes approx. 30 - 35 Sobiyets
• Preheat oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit
• Cook the Sobiyets until they are golden brown.   Approx 45 minutes to 50 minutes
• While Sobiyets are in the oven, make the syrup
• Stir water and sugar together.  Bring to boil.  Add in lemon juice.  Reduce heat to medium.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Remove from heat
• Pour syrup over the Sobiyets as soon as they come out of the oven.  Both Sobiyets and the syrup will be hot.  Move pan all around a few times to ensure syrup spreads across all of the Sobiyets.  Leave it aside.  
• Once most of the syrup soaks into the Sobiyets (Approximately 15 minutes) put it in the fridge.  Fridge is a key step.
• Sobiyets will look "crispy".  Move them to a serving plate.  Pour whatever syrup is left in the pan over them.  
• Sprinkle with ground pistachios just before serving

One of the best things about this recipe is that it freezes well.  You can make them weeks ahead and store them in the freezer.  If you take them out of the freezer 2 hours before serving, it leaves them a bit cold and crispy which is the preferred way to eat for some people

GREEK PASTA SALAD

This is a healthy salad.  Original recipe is from Heart and Stroke foundation web site.  I added olives.  I also think sliced cubenalle peppers would be good in this recipe as well.  You can use any shape pasta.  I used bow tie pasta.

2 cups (500 mL) whole-wheat pasta
2 cups (500 mL) diced English cucumber
2 cups (500 mL) grape tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup (125 mL) thinly sliced red onion
1 cup (250 mL) cubed light feta cheese, rinsed
1/2 cup black olives

Dressing

1/4 cup (50 mL) red wine vinegar
2 tbsp (25 mL) olive oil
1 tbsp (15 mL) fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp (5 mL) dried oregano
1/2 tsp (2 mL) black pepper

• Cook pasta as per directions on the box. Drain, rinse and place in a large bowl.
• Add the rest of the salad ingredients to the bowl.  Keep some of the feta cheese for the top.
• In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients for the dressing. Pour over the salad and toss.
• Crumble remaining feta cheese at the top of the salad
• This salad can be made one day ahead. Keep refrigerated.

CHICK PEA STEW (ETLI NOHUT)

I used stewing beef for this recipe.  You can use also use lamb (preferably bone in) or chicken breasts.  Although canned chick peas also work, my recommendation is always to use dried chick peas.  You can taste the difference.  If it is tomato season, you can add in a couple of crushed tomatoes.  I cook mine in a pressure cooker.  You can serve with sticky white rice or bread.  Don't forget the pickles!

1 cup dried chick peas
200 gr. stewing beef
2 medium sized onions
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 table spoon tomato paste
1/2 table spoon red pepper paste (optionally choose spicy)
Salt and pepper
Hot water

• Soak the dried chick peas in plenty of water overnight. 
• The next day, if you are not using a pressure cooker, you will need to boil the chick peas in a pot and enough water to cover the chick peas to soften them first and drain.
• If you are using canned peas, you can skip the previous steps.  Just drain and wash the chick peas.  Also, you'll need to cook the meat before you add in canned chick peas to avoid them turning to mush.
• Put chopped onions into a pot with olive oil.  Add in the stewing beef and stir fry a little.  Cover and reduce heat and cook until the meat is soft
• Add in chick peas, tomato paste, pepper paste, salt and pepper.  Add in boiled water
• Cook for another 5-10 minutes
• Serve with sticky rice or bread (juice is really good for dunking)

Note: In the pressure cooker, I add all of the ingredients (after soaking time for the chick peas) together.  I add in 3/4 cup hot water.  Once the pressure cooker is ready, reduce heat and cook for only 5 minutes.  I turn off the stove and leave it on until it is time to serve.

ITALIAN RICE WITH NOODLES

Easiest side dish ever. Goes with everything.  You can choose any shape noodles, star shaped, alpahbets, or just regular orzo or soup noodles.  You can also serve them with a spoon or use a design for company with cookie cutters or small cups. You simply put the rice in a cup, press and turn it over on the plate.

1 cup Unico Italian style rice
2 cups water
1.5 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoon noodles
2 tablespoon butter

• Put the butter in a pot with the noodles.  Brown them.
• Add water and salt and bring to boil
• Add washed rice
• Reduce heat to low
• Cover and cook for 15 minutes

Note: Rice may require different amount of water and cooking time.  Make sure to read the package instructions.