Rich Fruit Cake#SundayFunday

This is a delicious Rick Fruit Cake with awesome flavor. There is no need to soak these in advance. Soak them overnight and they are good to use.

Ingredients
113 Grams Butter
113 Grams Caster Sugar
113 Grams All Purpose Flour
3 Eggs
¼ Teaspoon Baking Powder
¼ Teaspoon Salt
80 Grams Chopped Nuts
400 Grams Chopped Dried Fruits
3 Tablespoons Rum
1 Teaspoon Cake Spice - Homemade
¼ Teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
¼ Teaspoon Nutmeg Powder

Method 

I have used golden raisins, sultanas, mixed fruit peel, cranberries, homemade candied grapefruit and sweet lime peels, plums, glazed cherries.
soak all the fruits in 300 Ml rum overnight. An hour before mixing the cake. Place all the soaked dry fruits in a colander to drain off all the rum. Reserve the rum to use it later. 

Add softened butter into a bowl and then add sugar and cream them together until light and fluffy. Add eggs (one at a time)
If you are using vanilla extract ,you can add at this point.
Add in the flour mix (combination of baking powder, salt ) and lightly fold in with a spatula. Fold in the spices and drained fruits into the batter. This smell and flavor is so awesome of this rich fruit cake. Pour it into lined 6" pan's. 

Bake it at 180°C preheated oven for 20 - 25 minutes. As soon as the cake it out of the oven pour in the rums on them. Cool these on a wire rack. These went for my friends.

Labels: Cake, Cake Spice Mix, Cinnamon, Rum, Golden Raisins, Christmas, Sunday Funday 

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Makaronah Bil Beshemel - Baked Bechamel Pasta - Egypt

Makaronah Bil Beshemel is  easy to prepare, baked pasta dish.  This is a one dish meal, we enjoyed it with a bowl of soup or  you can have it with  salad.  This is an healthy and delicious dish which has no cheese, yet taste divine.  

Quick and easy to make, have all the ingredients ready and  this dish is ready in minutes.  Here, I, have used Bezar spice, which is an arabic spice and goes very well with this dish, this spice mix has an awesome taste and flavor.

Serves 2 
Ingredients
1 Cup Heaped Macaroni  Pasta
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Teaspoon Bezar Spice Mix  - see recipe
1  Onion - chopped
200 Grams  Boneless Chicken - finely cubed 
Salt to taste
1.1/2 Cups Thick Bechamel sauce - see recipe 

Method

Cook pasta in 5 cups or waters as per the packet instruction or till al dente.  Drain and add a teaspoon of warm oil and toss it, keep aside.

While pasta cooks, we prepare the chicken layer.

Heat oil in a frying pan, add onions and saute till onions are translucent.  Then add the chicken and saute till it turn pink to white then add the bezar spice and saute  for 2 to 3 minutes, cover and cook  till the chicken is done.  Open the lid and evaporate all the moisture or till the mixture is dry. Keep aside to cool.

In the meantime preheat the oven  at 200 degrees.

Butter a casserole dish well,

Spread 2 tablespoons of bechamel sauce  

Now spread half of pasta 

Spread layer of  chicken mixture

Top with remaining pasta

Pour the  bechamel sauce evenly on to dish. Sprinkle a little   bezar spice and place it in oven till it browns on top .

See the layers.. looks too tempting.. na.

Cool it a little and cut slices of this  rich dish,  enjoy with soup or salad of your choice. 

My Notes 

You can use any pasta of your choice.
Can use lamb or beef mince for the filling too.

Bezar spice is an Arabic spice and has a flavorful taste, try this spice you will love it.

Labels : Bechamel Sauce, Bezar,  Spice Mix , Chicken, Mena cooking club, Pasta & Noodles, Healthy, Egypt

Homemade Cake Spice Mix

Many recipes say use mixed spices or cake spice mix, then you wonder what exactly is this!  I have not found cake spice mix here in any baking stores or supermarkets.   So, here is, the recipe of easy and quick cake spice mix, with ingredients readily available in your pantry.  It's a combination of spices and the aroma is awesome.  Can be used  for cakes, breads, puddings or any spice flavored desserts.

Ingredients
1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg powder
3 cloves
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon powder
1/4 Teaspoon Mace powder
1/4 Teaspoon Black pepper powder
½ Teaspoon Ginger powder

Method

Place all the ingredients in a small mixer jar and pulse till well mixed.  Store in an airtight bottle, keep it in the refrigerator to preserve the color and flavor.

Labels : Homemade, Cake,  Spice Mix, Masalas 

Bezar Spice Mix / Bezar Masala - How to Make this Arabic Spice at Home

Bezar is a spice mixture mainly used in middle east countries this is a Traditional Arabic Spice blend. This a also know as Omani Spice mix used in Arabian cooking.Its can be used to make stews non veg and as well as veg, fish etc. This is like the garam masala that is used in India. Its very flavorful and aromatic, the spices are first roasted then pounded together. Once the bezar has been prepared, it can be kept in an airtight container and refrigerate, it will remain fresh for a year.

Ingredients
20 Grams Cumin seeds
20 Grams Dried Coriander seeds
5 Grams Black Peppercorns
20 Grams Fennel seeds
5 Nos Dry Red chillies
15 Grams Turmeric powder
5 Grams Cinnamon sticks

Method

Dry roast all ingredients (except turmeric ) one by one till they turn aromatic. Take care not to burn any of the spices or your will get smoky charred smell.

Let everything cool down to room temperature and grind to a fine powder. Stored in an airtight container, the mix will keep for up to 12 months, I have refrigerated it to preserve the color and flavor of the spice mix.

Labels : Masalas, Bezar, Spice Mix, Arabic, UAE