Ground Beef Zucchini Recipe

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Eat-O-Live

Easy, tasty recipe that kids love.

Ingredients:

One Sliced Zucchini

½ Pound of Ground Beef

Diced Onion

5 Cloves of Garlic One

Lemon

Salt and Pepper

How to Prepare:

Sauté the onion until soft then add the ground beef and stir until it is all brown.

Add salt, pepper and the garlic cloves and stir for few minutes on medium heat.

Add the zucchini slices and stir for a few minutes.

Add water to cover the zucchini. Then add a dash of salt and pepper and cook for about 30 minutes after the water starts boiling.

Squeeze the lemon, adding as much as desired, and serve.

Posted in Meat, Vegetables | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Stuffed Eggplants

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Eat-O-Live

Today, we are going to make stuffed eggplant. It might take some time to prepare, but I guarantee that the effort is worth it. It is one of my favorite dishes.

Ingredients:

6 pieces of  Eggplants

1.5 Cups of Rice

1/4 Lb of Ground Beaf

Butter

Salt & Pepper (I use sweet all spice)

3 Tomatoes

Diced Onion

How to Prepare:

Cut the stem of the eggplant and hollow removing the guts of the eggplant (as shown in the pictures).

Mix the  rice and ground beef with some salt and pepper.

Melt the butter and pour over the rice and beef then mix all together (as shown in the picture).

Take the eggplants and stuff them with the rice and beef mixture, making sure that you only stuff 3/4 of the eggplant so the stuffing won’t come out during cooking.

Boil the tomatos for 7 minutes, then peal, and crush into a sauce.

Heat one tablespoon of butter and saute the onion.

Add tomato sauce to the pot with onion.

Put the stuffed eggplant into the pot.

Put a small dish (ie. bread plate; depends on size of pot) above the stufffed eggplant in the pot – this prevents the stuffing from coming out of the eggplant.

Add water until it is a half inch above the plate and then add a pinch of salt and some pepper.

Cook on a medium flame. When the water starts to boil, lower the flame. Cook for about 45 to 60 minutes.

Now we are ready to eat! Alot of effort but an amazing taste!

Posted in Stuffed Vegetables | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Muscat – Oman

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Eat-O-Live

In Muscat you are still in the Arabian Gulf yet you will find an experience like no other in the Gulf. Oman has mountains, the desert, miles of beaches, greenery and traditional architecture. I spent 10 days there and enjoyed the friendliness and hard-working Omani people.

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Sandy’s Special

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Eat-O-Live

Growing up in a small town in the Middle East there were no Pizza places so the only good place to have pizza was home (If you were lucky to have a good cook living with you!).  Until this day even after tasting New York Pizza, my mom’s is still the best to me.

Ingredients for Pizza Dough:

Two Cups of Flour

Two tablespoons of Vegetable Oil

Pinch of Salt

One Tablespoon of Yeast

One Cup of Warm Water

How to make the Dough:

Put the flour in the bowl.

Add the vegetable oil and salt to the flour.

Mix the yeast in the cup of warm water. Do this until the yeast dissolves.

Add the water and yeast mix into the bowl.

Using your hand, mix all the ingredients in the bowl together.

Start kneading the dough until it turns into one piece of sticky dough.

Warm the dough by covering the bowl towels and/or blanket. The dough must get to 85F. Keep it covered for 30 minutes.

Or if you are in a hurry, heat the oven and place the dough in it after turning it off for 10 minutes.  It is now ready to use.

Ingredients for Pizza Sauce:

Two Tomatoes

One Piece of Diced Garlic

Half-Diced Onion

Pepper & Salt

One Teaspoon Ground Thyme

Vegetable Oil

How to Prepare:

Boil the tomatoes for 5 to 7 minutes. Peel the skin and then crush into a sauce.

Add one tablespoon of vegetable oil to a medium-sized saucepan and put on burner at medium flame.

Add the onion and garlic and cook until golden yellow.

Add the crushed tomato to the pan and add a dash of salt & pepper to the mixture.

Cook until the sauce is thick.

Turn off the flame and add the ground thyme and mix.

Ingredients for Pizza:

Shredded Mozzarella

Sliced Mushroom

Shredded Mortadella (Bologna)

Cut Olives

How to Prepare the Pizza:

Spread the dough on the sheet.

Spread the tomato sauce on the dough.

Add the mushroom, olives and the mortadella on the top of the sauce.

Sprinkle the Mozzarella on the top of the pizza.

Pre-heat oven to 425F/250C.

Bake the pizza for 7 to 10 minutes.

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Eggplant Parmesan Recipe/ Aubergine Parmigiana

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Eat-O-Live

A classic Italian dish, this features blissfully tender sliced eggplants layered with melting mozzarella, fresh parmesan and a good homemade tomato sauce

Ingredients

2 lbs (about 2 large) Eggplants
Salt and Pepper
3 whole peeled Tomatoes
Finley Chopped Onion
2 crushed Garlic cloves
Olive oil
1/2 cup fine dry breadcrumbs
Mozzarella cheese, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
Grated high quality Parmesan cheese
1 packed cup of fresh basil leaves

How to prepare:

Cut the eggplants lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices. Arrange one layer in the bottom of a large colander and sprinkle evenly with salt. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, salting, until all eggplant are in the colander and let them drain for 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water.

While the eggplant is draining, prepare the tomato sauce. Crush the tomato until it gets saucy. Pre-heat some vegetable oil and sauté the onion and garlic then add the tomato sauce with some salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil then heat and simmer for a few minutes until it gets a little thick. Add the basil leaves and stir.

Pre-heat the oven to 200 C/400F

Place the eggplant slices in a non-stick pan and brush them with olive oil then place in the oven for 10-15 minutes until they get soft.

Place the eggplants in a greased Pyrex sheet and then add the mozzarella, the tomato sauce and the parmesan mixed with the breadcrumbs on top of them accordingly.

Bake for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.

Serve with some pasta and side salad if desired.

Posted in Vegetables | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Chicken Spring Rolls

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Eat-O-Live

Homemade Chicken Spring Rolls. Does it get any better?

Ingredients (this will make you 20 Pieces):

Three boneless Chicken Breasts
One Carrot
One cup of diced Mushrooms
One large Onion
Three Garlic cloves
One cup of Bean Sprouts
Two pieces of Rice Noodles
One Green Onion
Cooking Oil
Pepper
Soy Sauce

How to prepare the filling:

Dice the onion, garlic, carrots and mushrooms.

Grind the Chicken breasts.

Cook the rice noodles by placing them in boiling water for about 2 to 3 minutes then drain.

Using a stir fry or large pan, heat two tablespoons of cooking oil.

Add the onion and sauté a little bit.

Add the garlic and stir for a minute.

Add the chicken and stir well until the chicken changes color.

Add the carrots and mushrooms to the chicken and stir for a few minutes.

Add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and sprinkle some pepper.

Add the bean sprouts and cooked rice noodles to the pan and stir well.

Lower the flame and let them cook for 2 minutes.

How to roll your chicken spring rolls:

Heat some cooking oil for deep frying the rolls before rolling them.

Let one end of the squared rolls face you.

Add about 2 table spoons of the filling to the roll toward the bottom of it (as shown in the picture)

Roll the bottom to cover the filling then the sides in a way that the filling will not spill out of it then continue rolling like a cigar.

Stick the end of it with water so it will not open during frying.

Deep fry the roll in hot oil for a few minutes until the color becomes blonde not dark.

Posted in Appetizers, Chicken | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Maldives

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Eat-O-Live

A week of total relaxation by the beautiful Indian Ocean, the white sand and beautiful views. Snorkeling was a beautiful, colorful world under the water. Kayaking was so much fun, but relaxing at the pool and having a drink was all that I needed before going back to the fast, busy life.

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Syrian Style Red Lentil Soup

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Eat-O-Live

This is a perfect soup for the cold and rainy days. I serve it with lemon juice and I sometimes cook it with carrots and potato instead of the rice and it gives it a whole another taste. My friend added some chicken to it for the kids.

Ingredients:

One Cup of Red Lentils

Half Cup of Rice

Diced Onion

Cooking Oil

Salt

Water

How to Prepare:

Heat a tablespoon of cooking oil in a large pot.
Add the diced onion and stir until soft.
Add the Red Lentils and the rice and mix.
Add water to the pot until it covers the rice and lentils.
Cover the pot and keep it on a medium flame until the water begins to dry up.
Add 6 cups of hot water to the pot and stir.
Add salt to the pot and stir.
Cook for 25 minutes.

Posted in Soup | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Potato and Ground Beef Gratin

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Eat-O-Live

Easy, tasty meal that takes only a half  hour of preparation.

 

Ingredients:

3 Potatoes

4 Tomatoes

1/2 pound of Ground Beef

Diced Onion

Salt & Pepper

Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

How to Prepare:

Peel the Potatoes then slice them into 1/4 inch thick slices.

Deep fry the potato slices in cooking oil until cooked but not too crispy.

Using a skillet, fry the onion until golden-yellow. Add the ground beef and cook on a medium heat till brown. Add a dash of salt & pepper to the chop meat. Stir for a few minutes.

Boil the two tomatoes for 5 to 7 minutes. Then, peel the skin off the tomatoes and crush into a sauce.

Spread half of the potatoes in a baking dish. Top it with beef; spread remaining potatoes over the beef. Pour the tomato sauce over the potatoes.

Add the mozzarella cheese (as much as desired) to the top of the tomato sauce.

Add the remaining potato slices to the top of it.

Add some more mozzarella on top of the sauce (as much as desired).

Bake at 450F/250C for 10 minutes (until the cheese melts).

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Feeding Baby – Stage Two (6 to 7 Months)

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Eat-O-Live

At this stage, you already know what your baby likes alot and the foods that he gives you a hardtime with.

Once your baby hits the 6 month old mark, you can add some more food to taste.

Vegetable Soup:
You can add green beans and carrots to your vegetable soup.

ALSO after 2 weeks, I started adding one piece of already boiled chicken to the soup while cooking and removing it before blending it so the baby has a tastier soup with some chicken broth.

EGG YOLK:
You can now give your baby a taste of egg yolk (not EGG WHITE) – Make sure to consult with your doctor before doing so. Every other day mix very well boiled egg yolk with the same amount of plain yogurt (so it doesn’t get stuck in the baby’s mouth and make it smoother for the baby to swallow).

Start with a pea size of egg yolk and increase as you go little by little both yolk and yogurt until the baby eats the whole yolk and it becomes more like a breakfast meal (First meal in the morning and last one in the evening should still be milk, so this can come as the second meal in the morning).
P.S. You can mix the egg yolk with orange juice or baby’s formula instead of the yogurt.

Treat:
As a treat, I sometimes mix a boiled apple, a banana, some orange juice and a cracker and blend them all together and feed them to my baby as a meal. I don’t do it often because of the high sugar so it is a treat every once in a while instead of his rice cereal meal. I promise you that your baby will love it.
At six months, you can also switch from rice cereal to wheat cereal. To prepare is the same way as the rice cereal.

At the end of this month, the feeding schedule is:

Wake up           Breast/Bottle

AM                    Cereal

Noon                Vegetable soup

Afternoon        Egg Yolk with Yogurt (every other day)           Breast/Bottle (the other day)

PM                    Breast/Bottle

Bed Time         Breast/Bottle

Snacks in between meals will be 1 to 2 OZ of orange juice or water and a few spoons of one fruit.
It might be a lot of work and preparation but setting your baby up in a healthy foundation is totally worth the time and work.

Posted in Baby | Tagged | 7 Comments