Walnut Coconut cake Review/ Crunchy cake recipe

I promised last time that I would give reviews on the walnut coconut cake. It was very easy and more importantly very tasty. You can find it on the blog arabicbites.blogspot.com


I also made another cake and now I am kicking myself for not taking a picture of but if was very cute and not to mention yummy.

The recipe for this cake was givin to me by a very dear friend almost a sister. She is always the brave one who will try new cake recipes that I shy away from to avoid big disasters and panic attacks ( which I usually have making anything new).

Its a great cake even for baking rookies.

3 layer crunch cake

Cake part.
5 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour

Bake at 350 for 20-25 mins. In a well greased 10' round cake pan.

Middle crunch layer
5 egg whites
1 cup powdered sugar or regular sugar.

Blend very well until white and foamy. About 5-7 mins.

Bake at 220 for 2-3 hours until very crunchy. Bake in a 10' pan lined with parchment paper.

Cut the cake it half to have two layers.

Cream
1 8oz package of cream cheese
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 stick of unsalted butter
1 cup of heavy cream

blend well with a blender. I stuck the cream in the fridge for about 10-15 mins so it won't be so runny when you are frosting it.

On the bottom layer of the cake add cream be generous because the cream goes along way. Then add the crunch layer and cream. Finally add the top layer and frost the whole cake well leaving no bald spots. I made this cake for a baby shower recently and I found at Michaels very cute baby pink pearl sprinkles and edible glitter.
I packed the sprinkles on heavy around the outside and sprinkled them generously on the top with the edible sparkles in pearly white ( kinda resembled snow).

This cake it a crowd pleaser and is easy when you don't have many ingredients but it will definitely impress.

Arabic Bites

I found the most amazing site. Arabicbites.blogspot.com. I found some really amazing recipes and it would seem selfish of me to keep it to myself.

Check it out it's amazing.

http://arabicbites.blogspot.com/ just it case.... lol

I am making the Walnut coconut cake this weekend for a baby shower I will let you know how it goes.

Long Gone.......

So sorry to keep you waiting so long, but I it definitely took some adjusting to life back in the States. Tajikistan was very different for sure. For the record you don't know how blessed you are until you travel to a place that for most people they are just surviving. Like I said before I left for my journey, I am pregnant and that may hinder my taste buds from trying something new. I know my pregnancies all to well, I was sick like a dog and barely touch food there. I pretty much at something equivalent to top ramen the whole time. LOL what an adventure huh? I also got to see Istanbul Turkey, very up close and personal puking in alleys because of the fish smell from the sea. Traveling abroad in your first trimester is not recommended, take it from me.

One thing I got to appreciate there was the textiles omg if you love fabrics at amazing prices Tajikistan is your place. I was in heaven at the market. I had to buy a extra suitcase to fit all things I acquired over there home. If anyone love the Ikat pattern you have a million choices there for that pattern at fab prices.

For all you that are not familiar here is an example of Ikat pattern on a french sofa.

I am due November 24 to have this baby so forgive me if I disappear again for a while. Lots of new changes and challenges to face with a two year old and a new one.
I will be back though with great new recipes and culture talk.

The Countdown

It has begun, the countdown to our trip to Tajikistan. 5 DAYS until we are off. Since my last post I have found out I am pregnant again. I hope I can keep my promise and try all the food there, but cut me some slack if I don't, nothing smells edible right now. I will be gone for about 3 months so check out my blog around August 1st or so.  I am sure I will have some interesting tales to tell. Also so recipes and pictures.

Why?

Sometimes in life I find myself asking why? Why does this have to happen to me? I am very strong in my faith but I cannot escape this question. Even though I logically know the answers, I can't seem to except them. I am writing today because I am going through some rough times and keep slipping of the cliff of knowledge to find myself  broken and alone in the dark valley. Why? Why can't life get easier. Walking in faith is a challenge, it is some thing that almost feels unnatural at times. I know that God (Allah) is in charge and I know he has a plan a reason for what happens in my life. I must choose to become stronger and overcome. Today that feels like climbing the tallest mountain without the ability to walk, impossible. I am not a victim to my circumstances. Today I ask God ( Allah) to give me the strength to overcome, to be grateful. At least I know the answer to Who? Who can change my circumstances, Who can give me strength and comfort when life suffocates me.

Ya Allah, liberate me from fear. Give me the wisdom to think positively; give me the courage to stand by the truth; give me the openness to connect to those who avoid me; give me a smile, a clean heart and a winning attitude which conquers others; give me more of the world so I can spend in Your Path; give me the perspective that I need to remain satisfied with what You bless me with. Ameen.

French Salad

French Salad

2 large Potatoes
Cabbage
1 Beet
1 large Carrot
1/2 Cucumber
Deli meat any works.
1can of peas
Mayo
Salt to taste

First peel your beet and boil till soft. Peel and chop your your potato french fry style. Fry them till very crispy.
Chop cabbage, carrot, cucumber, beet and deli meat julienne style. Arrange the chopped veggies around your plate, in the center add a little mayo and put your peas on top. ( As shown in the pic.) Gives a great presentation and looks pretty on your dinner table. Before serving mix with salad forks add mayo and salt as needed.

Qurutob

Qurutob is a vegetarian dish that consist of layered crispy bread, yogurt, tomatoes and onion.

Dough for the bread
Flour as needed
tbsp salt
1 1/2 cups-2 cups water
2 sticks butter
First mix water and salt slowly add flour until you form dough. Let you dough sit for about 20 mins till soft, make sure you cover it. Separate them in to 2 balls and let sit again for 10 mins till soft. On a floured surface roll the first dough out very thin. Melt 1 stick of butter till soft and rub dough with butter. Next cut dough into about 5 strips. Take the first strip of dough and roll it very tight. Take that first strip of dough and place it at the end of the 2nd strip of dough. Roll that piece in the 2nd strip of dough and very gently keep stretching the dough to keep thin. Take the 2nd strip and roll into the 3rd strip and so on until you have them all rolled into each other. Now place the dough up right so the swirly end is facing up. With your hand smash the dough down. Let this dough soften for about 20 mins so you can flatten it. Do same process with 2nd ball of dough.
Next grease your pan and preheat oven to about 350. If your dough is soft you can flatten it into a round shaped bread. Not to flat. Take a fork and poke holes in to the bread so it cooks through out. When oven is ready bake bread till the outside and the bottom are crispy and flaky. The center is softer.


Qurutob filling
Plain Greek yogurt large container
water
salt
tomato
oil
2 yellow onion
2 green onion
cilantro

While bread is baking, in a saucepan take yogurt and cook it on med continuously stirring add about 1/4 cup water. Try not to make it to watery.  Salt to taste. Make sure you keep stirring well because it will get chunky.  Cook for about 30 mins.

When you bread is ready break it apart into smaller pieces on a large deep serving platter. When yogurt has thickened put it on warm. In a frying pan on med-high cook 3-4 tbsp oil and fry chopped yellow onion until soft. (salt onion a little)  Now the trick to very yummy Qurutob is to keep your oil hot and pour your yogurt mix all over your bread platter. The oil in your frying pan should be soo hot that when you pour it on your platter you should hear a sizzle. After that dice some tomatoes, green pepper and cilantro to garnish the top.
Traditionally people in tajikistan eat Qurutob with their hands.

Send me an email if you have any questions this can be a difficult dish to make. Bazaarhona@gmail.com