Healthy Arbuz

Hamir Hasip (Beef Dumpling) Recipe
The very first time I ate these dumplings were in my mom’s kindergarten where the cook makes delicious, from scratch meals every day. Although I have heard of Hamir Hasip (in literal translation it would mean Dough Sausage) before, as it is an Uzbek dish, it was never made in our house. When I tried them for the first time, I really fell in love with their simple but delightful taste. These beef dumplings do not have a big variety of ingredients in it, which, in my opinion, make them appealing to little children. You can certainly dress them up with a spicy or sweet chutney, sour cream or plain yogurt. I like to enjoy it with a little bit of caramelized onions in ghee, sour cream and a side of pico de gallo.
Lahmacun Recipe
Here it comes – an easy lahmacun recipe. If you would like to check out the original recipe, which still tastes divine, click here. The idea of using a pre-made dough for easy Lahmacun recipe came about pretty suddenly, in the shape of a dough, which I would typically use for quesadillas. It would take such a long time to roll out the dough from the original recipe, I honestly would limit making this dish to once in a couple of months. After the discovery of Fresca Tortillas, I can whip these easy lahmacuns very quickly. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you will find an easy print out for this recipe.
Aebleskiver Pancake Puffs Recipe
These Pancake Puffs called Aebleskiver (meaning: apple slices in Danish) taste divine. If your family loves pancakes, this will be a huge hit in your circle. The only extra thing you will need to obtain for it is the aebleskiver pan, which you can get from amazon or stores like Bed Bath and Beyond. You only buy it once, but it serves you forever. I’ve had my cast iron one for good eight years now. You can also purchase a teflon one, if it is easier that way. While taking care of cast iron might be slightly harder, I like how it makes perfect pancakes with a harder shell outside and uniform and fluffy on the inside.
Breakfast Oats Soaked in Kefir
There are many different ways for using oats in our daily lives. But one of the favorites, of course, is to utilize oats for our breakfast needs. I usually just add milk, cook oats in low heat, add butter and a little brown sugar. That’s the way my kids always enjoyed their “kasha” (porridge). While I knew I could add berries and a lot of other ingredients, what I didn’t know that I could also enjoy oats cold and soaked in plain Yogurt or in Kefir. During our trip to Jordan, I learned this nifty recipe from Nasim’s sister. This recipe includes array of ingredients like nuts, raisins, shredded coconut threads and honey to make this dish one fulfilling breakfast. If it passed my husband’s test, I can say that any oat lover will enjoy it. Not to mention that if you have all the necessary ingredients, you can toss this recipe together in less than 5 minutes.

Cauliflower Soup Recipe

February 16, 2010 by Lola Elise 6 Comments

Today’s recipe is dedicated to this fine vegetable called Cauliflower. To be precise, it is dedicated to a Cauliflower Soup. Need I say how healthy this creamy-looking vegetable is? OK, you talked me into it! Cauliflower is full of dietary fiber, rich in vitamin C and a perfect fighting remedy against multiple types of cancer. That is if you choose to cut it in pieces and eat it raw. I am not sure if it keeps the cancer fighting benefits once cooked. It is also very low in carbohydrates and a perfect substitute for potatoes in many meals. If you like broccoli, you’d better like cauliflower :) They are the same type of “animal” except for the color.

Stawberry-Apple Galette Recipe

February 7, 2010 by Lola Elise 23 Comments

Honestly, I love, love, love this Strawberry-Apple Galette! If you do not love it back, I do not want you in my blog for three days! Yes, you will be punished for not sharing the awesomeness… I am just kidding. But seriously, try it out, you will not regret it!

Eggplant Casserole Recipe

February 4, 2010 by Lola Elise 26 Comments

Do you like eggplant? Do you like tomatoes? Than this Eggplant Casserole is for you! OK, that sounded like a cheap soap commercial. Please do not think that way :) This a perfectly delicious recipe for those who enjoy the combo of vegetables with meat. How did I find this recipe? Well, it happened like in a tale that starts with “once upon a time”…

Tabouleh Recipe

February 3, 2010 by Lola Elise 18 Comments

The original Tabouleh recipe originates in Levantine cuisine, which includes traditions of many Middle-Eastern countries. Personally, it is one of my favorite salads. Very healthy, easy and tasty. What else do you need from a salad? :) Tabouleh goes well with kebabs, grilled dishes and goes exceptionally well with Eggplant Casserole. If you haven’t tried it, it is time for you to consider making this fantastic salad for your family!

Chicken Teriyaki Recipe

February 1, 2010 by Lola Elise 78 Comments

If you love Chicken Teriyaki, this recipe will not leave you indifferent. I was not much of a Teriyaki person for a long time myself, but I had to reconsider my preferences once Omar started liking it. Being a cook-from-scratch lady, I looked for the perfectly tender, delicious Chicken Teriyaki recipe for almost 2 years. After many trials and errors, mixing multiple recipes, the perfect Teriyaki Chicken was born!

Lagman Recipe

January 29, 2010 by Lola Elise 48 Comments

Lagman (similar to Lo-mein) falls right under the category of perfect, hand-made noodles that will please any child or adult with their softness and flavor. The broth of Lagman is rich, tasty and healthy. It is a Central-Asian dish, with the roots connecting to Chinese and Koren kitchens. There are multiple variations of this dish. I decided to start with the most simple one and gradually introduce you to more complicated ones. You just have to try it out! It might look a little complicated at first. But once you get used to the process, it will become a breeze, I promise! :)

Chicken Cutlet Recipe

January 25, 2010 by Lola Elise 20 Comments

It was one of those days when my refrigerator was nearly empty and the freezer only had 1 pound of chicken breasts in its premises. Hesitant to go to a grocery store alone with a baby and a pregnant belly, I searched for ways of utilizing the chicken I had. My cousin Guzal, who lived in another state at the time, recommended to make these delicious cutlets. I checked for the ingredients and surprisingly, had everything I needed for the recipe! It is very easy to make and you will be surprised about how good it tastes with these ingredients.

Apple Pie with Dried Fruit

January 21, 2010 by Lola Elise 34 Comments

During our curtain hanging process a couple of weeks ago, we discovered a treasure hidden in a box, at the far corner of the balcony. It is not money, jewelry or an expensive artifact of any type. But the long road my husband travels to buy these delicious honey crisp apples is priceless. I was shocked that I forgot about their existence in our house. Surprisingly, honey crisp apples hold up pretty well, for up to 5 months, if stored properly.

Pan grilled Khachapuri

January 14, 2010 by Lola Elise 49 Comments

Khachapuri is a Georgian appetizer, which consists of a dough and a springy cheese filling. My husband is in love with these little things. They always remind him of the vacation days he spent in Georgia, while he was a little kid. Nasim asked me if I could make Khachapuris for him a while ago. Since then I’ve been looking for the perfect and dead on recipe of Khachapuris.

Tasty & Healthy Arbuz

Hamir Hasip (Beef Dumpling) Recipe

Lahmacun Recipe

Aebleskiver Pancake Puffs Recipe

Breakfast Oats Soaked in Kefir