Harissa Powder

For dried harissa powder. 

This is what I use. 

HARISSA POWDER
* 1/2 C + 1 T coarsely ground Aleppo pepper

* 1 1/2 t granulated garlic

* 1 1/2 t citric acid

* 2 1/4 t pimentón

* 2 1/4 t ground cumin 

* 1 1/2 t roasted garlic powder

* 1 1/2 t kosher salt

* 1 1/2 t sweet paprika

* 1 1/2 t ground caraway

* 1/8 t cayenne

Halba chicken with millwee

1 cup halba seeds boiled (see note below). 

2 cloves garlic, peeled ends cut off

1 tablespoon sem smelly butter (see note below). 

1 tablespoon tumeric, 

1 tablespoon ginger, 

1 tablespoon 100 spices

1/2 tablespoon black pepper 

1/2 tablespoon salt or to taste) (can add salt after cooked.) 

1/2 cup oil

5 onions thinly-sliced 

1 bunch parsley, minced

5-6 small tomatoes cut in half

1 whole chicken (prepped see note at bottom )

Water enough to cover chicken

I use a pressure cooker can use a big pot but will take longer

Heat the oil then add onions,garlic, minced parsley; all the spices and halba seeds saute , risne chicken then add to pan cook about 15 minutes then add water and tomatoes. 

Put top on pressure cooker and tightly seal cook about 45 minutes, is done when chicken is tinder and about to fall off bone

Serve over bread called millwee (type of moroccan bread ) torn into small pieces place chicken in center then ladle sauce around and over it serve hot

(Note to prep halba seeds place in small sauce pan with water bring to boil. Boil 5 minutes; drain water off then add to pot .)

(sem smelly butter is type of moroccan butter)

(Note: to prep chicken in large bowl place washed chicken sprinkle salt all over chicken rub in then take one lemon roll on countertop then cut in half squeeze out lemon juice, onto chicken let sit at least 15 minutes.’ this is were i prepared other ingredients. 

Rinse chicken then add to pan .)

Feeling Sad , Can’t Fast

As Salam Alikum Readers

I am feeling a bit sad and melancholy, I’ve been dealing with a few health issues and got the results of my blood work back and my ferritin levels are very low they are a ten and I had a follow up appointment with my doctor to see what it means and now I have to follow a specific diet / eating plan and am not allowed to fast this Ramadan doctors say it’s to dangerous with my iron reserves being so low. The diet / eating plan I’m on is very healthy lots of fresh leafy dark vegetables as they are high in iron beets and oranges as well a quinoa fish and oatmeal lots of red meat and eggs. Basically the doctor wants me to eat my iron and vitamins and to be honest sometimes it’s hard as I don’t feel hungry or have a appetite, I am also taking a multivitamin called alive women’s chewable and a liquid plant based iron supplement to see if this will help improve my iron stores .

I will be feeding hungry people to make up for my missed fasts , I was actually looking forward to fasting but now I have to make plans and adjust because ones health is important. I have noticed a improvement with my feet and legs since I started taking the vitamins and plant based iron supplement they don’t go numb as much . 

Meat stuffed khobz

1 pound ground beef, 

1 onion minced 

1/2 each of parsley and cilantro minced 

3 pieces garlic minced

Salt tt(I used 1 teaspoon). 

Pepper 1/2 tsp 

Cumin, 1 teaspoon 

In big cast iron skillet saute everything above for 5 minutes then add

Paprika, 1tsp 

Add water as needed I used a cup sauté 5 minutes then add

1 cup minced kalamata olives, 

Saute 5 minutes 

Cool and used as stuffing for bread or egg rolls, also can use puff pastry or filo dough
I added shredded Cheddar cheese over top of meat before folding dough closed 

Use whatever kind of cheese suits you or no cheese.
Below is bread recipe I used

2 cups flour, 

2 cups semolina flour

1 teaspoon salt, 

2 cups warm water 

Place everything in food processor and blend till forms a ball mix about 5 more minutes then hand knead for few minutes using semolina flour to keep from sticking 

Oil well and let rest for about 1/2 hour then using oil divide into 6 pieces. 

To shape flatten out using well oiled hands to flatten to desired thickness. 

Add filling fold then cook over medium high heat. Till brown flip to other side brown serve hot or cold if not eating right away wrap in cloth and set aside .

Green Smoothie

If you are new to green smoothies, This is the place to start.

 This was the first green smoothie that I tried and my whole family has loved it from the start. 

I promise that you can not taste the “green” in this smoothie. 

Yield: (2) 10-ounce servings 

1 cup orange juice 

1 very large handful baby spinach leaves 

1 cup green grapes, frozen 

1 medium banana, frozen 

Layer the ingredients into the blender in the order listed. 

Puree until completely smooth. 

Strawberry Date Smoothie

Strawberry Date Smoothie

Thick enough to pour into a glass and eat with a spoon or slowly sip, 

This smoothie is a naturally sweetened strawberry milkshake that can’t be topped. 

Yield: (3) 8-ounce servings 

1 cup milk 

2 medjool dates, pits removed 

1 small banana 

12 frozen strawberries 

Pour milk into the blender and add the dates. 

Blend until the dates are dissolved into the milk, about 30 seconds. 

(The goal is to have a sweetened base for the smoothie, without chunks of dates.) 

Add the banana and berries.

 Puree until the smoothie is thick and smooth.

Broccoli, Potato and Chedder Cheese Soup

6 small potatoes peeled and chopped into cubes

8 cloves of garlic minced

1 onion minced

3 tablespoons butter

1 bag broccoli florets about 5 cups 

3 tablespoons cornstarch

3 cups half and half

1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese grated 

Salt 

Pepper 

4 cups water

Melt butter in big deep pan add minced garlic sauté two minutes stirring constantly add onion and sauté until it is translucent add potatoes, salt and pepper cook two minutes then add water and simmer until tender.

In a separate pan bring water to boil and Blanche broccoli until bright green remove from water 

Grate cheese and set aside ( I use my Cuisinart food processor)

In cuisinart with blade run broccoli through until small pieces , and other bowl run until its creamy then add to potatoes add cheese and stir taste for seasoning check and add more pepper if needed 

Mix one cup cream with corn starch add rest of cream when it’s boiling add the cream with cornstarch and stir until thick then remove and serve hot .