Maamoul the Arabic Cookie

Submitted By: Fouad Hout

What is Maamoul? Is it the only Arabic cookie popular in the world or is it one of many other types? How many types of it are there? What are its ingredients? How does it taste? Is it as popular around the world as much as it is popular in Arabic countries or is it only popular in local geographic areas?
Maamoul is a dessert that is most consumed in Lebanon and Syria. It is also well known in many other countries in the Middle East. People like it because it is sweet but does not include a lot of calories. It is the preferred dessert in many countries in the region. It is popular for personal consumption as well as gifting. It is liked much more popular than other desserts that are of inferior nutritional value. People prefer Maamoul mostly because of its nutritious ingredients and sweet taste that is not found in most other cookies that are popular in these countries. This dessert however is not the only one available to people in the region. There are many other cookies that people love as well.
Karabij for example is another cookie that people like to eat. It also tastes very good especially when dipped with its special cream that is called “Natef”. This cream is made exclusively for these cookies. One of the important commonalities between this type and the previously described one is that they are made from similar ingredients. The latter is just a special version of the former. It is actually a miniaturized version of it but has the added characteristic that it is served with Natef to dip it in. Because this latter version is small, it is usually offered in large quantities because people tend to eat a lot of them. It also has an elongated shape while Maamoul is always given a round shape. The latter version is more popular and most people prefer it because they can eat it anytime anywhere since they don’t need to dip it in the special cream. This makes handling it much more practical.
We have already mentioned that both of these two desserts have a lot of nuts in them. What kind of nuts however is a point of difference among the two. Maamoul is known to exist in many versions as you can put many different kinds of nuts and other fillings in it. The most used nuts filling is pistachios. Dates filling is however also popular along with walnuts and some other less used versions like almonds for example. Karabij is different when it comes to filling. It is filled with pistachios only. Dates, walnuts, and almonds are never used with it.
All these different version of Maamoul also come in different shapes. In general they have a round shape, but the exact form changes from piece to the next depending on what filling is used in it. Some are more rounded and others are more elongated. This shape is rather a tradition than a requirement. In theory, you can shape it in any way you like, but tradition has it that it is usually given a rounded shape.
One question remains, and that is about when do people eat Maamoul? You can really eat it anytime anywhere. It is sweet, and thus most people consume it as a dessert. Since it is small and each piece is usually sealed, you can take a few pieces with you to work and have them after lunch or send a few with your kids to school so that they eat them after their main meal.
In summary, Maamoul is a popular dessert consumed during formal desserts as well as at work or in school. It is nutritious and sweet at the same time.

Published At: Isnare.com

Simple Chocolate Recipes

Submitted By: J. Highland

Who doesn’t like chocolate? Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or not, a lot of people just can’t help the temptation of eating chocolates. Aside from its delightful taste, eating chocolates also makes you happy. What makes chocolate even greater is that it can either be an additional ingredient for a much tastier recipe or a candy on its own.
Chocolate, either as an ingredient or as a finished product, comes in various forms. It can be white, dark, or milk chocolate. Since its discovery, chocolate has become a major part in the lives of many people. There are many complex recipes where chocolate can be used, but it is best to start off with simpler recipes when learning.
One of the simplest forms of chocolate recipes is chocolate candy. Chocolate candies come in various types. Listed below are only some of the many simple chocolate recipes everyone can try at home:
1. Peanut Butter Chocolate Delight – this particular recipe is simple but creamy and a sure mouthful. For this delicious recipe, you’ll be needing chocolate filled sandwich cookies, peanut butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, peanut butter cup candies, instant chocolate pudding, cold milk, heavy cream, butter, and softened cream cheese.
Mix crushed cookies with melted butter. In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese thoroughly. Then add peanut butter and powdered sugar into the fluffy cream cheese. Beat the mixture until it gets smooth. After which, you can sprinkle diced candies over the mixture. In another yet smaller bowl, mix together the pudding, cold milk and cream. In a bigger bowl, mix the frosting mixture, last package of softened cream cheese and powdered sugar. Finally, mix the chocolate pudding mixture with the cream cheese/frosting mixture and layer the candies with it. Cover the finished product and store in refrigerator for about 4-5 hours.
2. Luscious Kay Bars – this particular recipe is a special mixture of a cereal bar, peanut butter and chocolate. The main ingredients for this recipe are brown sugar, granulated sugar, corn syrup, peanut butter, crisp rice cereal and chocolate chips. In the first bowl, mix together the sugars and corn syrup. Heat the bowl in a microwave on high for two minutes. Stir the mixture again and repeat the same heating for another two minutes. After this step, remove the bowl from the oven and add peanut butter. Stir the mixture well before adding the cereal into the bowl. After the mixture has been stirred thoroughly, spread it evenly on a greased pan.
3. Chocolate Lollipops – For this recipe, get a block of milk or white chocolate. Spray a cooking pan with non-stick grease and melt the chocolate on low heat. Stir the mixture occasionally to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pan. Pour the chocolate into molds and add a lollipop stick. Allow to cool at room temperature for a few hours.
On a separate bar, mix the chocolate chips and peanut butter and heat on medium in the microwave oven for two minutes. Repeat the same procedure until the chips are totally melted. Spread the coating mixture on top of the cereal mixture. Cover the pan and let it cool.

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How to Make Your Own Homemade Candy

Submitted By: J. Highland

Candies are like all time favorite treats. You can have them in almost any occasion and never stop giving delight to your guests’ sweet tooth. The sweet and flavorful sensation of candies never ceases to amaze children and adults alike. Candies are one of the best things you can offer for your guests in various occasions.
You can find candies in almost every corner of your home. In most cases, you can easily buy some in your local grocery or convenience stores. Buying candies is one thing but, making some on your own is a delightful and fun-learning experience everyone should try.
For most first-timers, the first time is always the hardest. Once you get a hang of it, everything else will come naturally. Making homemade candies is just like baking cakes in the oven. The first thing you need to do is decide on what type of candy or flavor you wish to make in your kitchen. You can look for candy recipes in books or on the internet for some flavorful choices. Once you have decided what particular candy you feel like making, then these simple and basic steps will follow:
1. Get the ingredients. Different recipes have different ingredients needed. So you should make sure that the candy recipe you have chosen has ingredients that can be easily bought in your local grocery stores. In most cases, you often see sugar, cocoa, fresh eggs, milk and butter on the list. In order to lessen your expenses, it is best to choose a recipe with the most number of ingredients that are already available in your kitchen. You also need some molders to achieve the desired shape for your candies. These shapes highlight your creativity in making candies.
2. Check you tools. Making your own candies means there will be a lot of mixing, stirring and beating required. To do these, you need to have at least a set of mixing bowls, a wire whisk, hand beater, rubber spatula and pastry blender. You also need to have the perfect measurements of your ingredients to achieve the desired taste for your treats so you’ll need some spoons and measuring cups.
3. Follow the given instructions one at a time and appropriately. Every candy making recipe has its own set of procedures. Just like in most algorithms, it is a step by step procedure. Avoid skipping one or a few steps. This may greatly affect the outcome of the whole cooking process.
4. Cook your candy mixture under the specified degree of heat. Also give high consideration on the required time it needs to be properly cooked.
5. Candies from the stove need to be given enough time to cool down. You should also make sure that you have platters already set.
Making homemade candies doesn’t require you to have a well experienced chef in your kitchen. You only need to have a good reference, a complete set of tools, and creative hands to do the whole package and make your own delicious candy treats.

Published At: Isnare.com

Healthy and Sweet Alternatives to Candy

Submitted By: J. Highland

Candy is something kids love to eat. We try to look for different kinds, but we usually fail to buy the healthy ones. There are actually healthy and sweet alternatives to candy which will surely be enjoyed by kids and all of us.
Why is candy unhealthy?
Some of us are addicted to candies. Over the years, candies have been one of the most common and popular snacks. Candy is often high in sugar and fat content, which causes obesity to not only kids but also adults. Nowadays, this problem is out of control. In United States, over 190 million people are obese or overweight and child obesity has tripled and continues to increase over the last three decades. The medical expenses for obesity are overwhelming and the burden is increasing every year. I have observed that other consumers’ grocery lists include unhealthy candies which make me sad knowing that it will eventually lower the life expectancy.
We wonder why we feel hungry so quickly after finishing 2 packs of candy. The reason for this is that the candies usually contain empty calories with no nutritional value. The ingredients usually include food coloring, all kinds of sugars (maltose, dextrin, dextrose and fructose), acid, artificial flavors and preservatives. Candy is not bad when eaten in moderation, but if you are addicted to it, you’re health is at risk.
What are the healthy and sweet alternatives?
Fruits are a healthy alternative and most people and kids love fruits too. Generally, fruits have high vitamins and low fat content. There is a wide variety to choose from depending on what you or your kids love. You can eat fruit by itself or you can fix a fruit salad as your snack.
Another alternative is fruit popsicles which will satisfy your sweet tooth. They are scrumptious and sweet, yet healthy and very light. They are easy to make. Just take fruit juice and pour it into an ice cube tray. Then freeze it for a few minutes, add a toothpick in the middle, and freeze some more. Once frozen, take it and serve when needed. You will surely enjoy this quick healthy treat.
The next alternative is dried fruits. They might not have as much vitamins as the fresh fruits but they have a substantial amount of fiber. You can choose from raisins, prunes, dried apricots, dried apples, dried mangoes, etc.
The last alternative that’s recommended for a healthy lifestyle is a homemade energy bar. The ingredients include: peanuts, sunflower seed kernels, raisins, uncooked oatmeal, toasted rice cereal, peanut butter, small amount of brown sugar, a little bit of corn syrup and a teaspoon of vanilla. Mix the peanuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, oatmeal and rice cereal. Then on the other bowl, mix brown sugar, peanut butter and corn syrup, and then microwave them. Take them out form the microwave, add vanilla and then pour on the dry the ingredients. Stir them until it is coated well. And then pour in the pan and set it on the table for an hour and you are done.
These healthy alternatives will surely change your lifestyle to healthy and better living.

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Home Coffee Roasters Rock! Best Coffee Ever!

Submitted By: James Friedrich

How would you like to drink the freshest and best-tasting coffee in the world? Well, it is actually very easy and a lot of fun. And you can save money in the process. All you need is a home coffee roaster. After all, how can any coffee be fresher than coffee that you roasted in your own home? And you can create coffee to suit your own taste.
Unfortunately, home coffee roasting has not always been possible – or, at least not convenient. Traditionally, roasting coffee was a smelly affair accompanied by a lot of smoke. But not anymore, modern innovation has given us the smokeless home coffee roaster. Also known as smoke-free coffee roasters, these roasters are easy to use. Two models are available and, depending upon how much coffee your household consumes, either one would pay for itself in a 1-2 years.
The Nesco Professional is about the size of your everyday food processor and will roast up to 5.5 ounces of green coffee beans in 20-30 minutes. The Behmor 1600 is just a bit larger, but will roast a full pound. Once roasted, it is generally recommended that the beans be allowed to “de-gas” for several hours. During this period, the coffee will reach its peak flavor - a level of perfection that it will maintain for several days. Thus, for a 1-2 person household, the Nesco is probably a good choice unless your family drinks a lot of coffee or you wish to share your roast with friends and family. In either case, be aware that after about two weeks, coffee quality will be less than one-half the original peak. No wonder store-bought coffee simply does not compare to home-roasted coffee! And to think that store-bought coffee is actually more expensive!
But there is more. Owning a home coffee roaster will provide a wealth of enjoyment. You will savor the aroma of your coffee even as it is being roasted. It is like baking your own bread. And you will also appreciate the sound. Coffee roasting is all about “cracks.” Roasting alters the physical and chemical nature of the coffee bean. These changes are announced by the sound that the coffee makes. “First crack” is somewhat similar to the sound of popcorn when it is popping. If you prefer a light roast, you would stop the roasting process shortly after the first crack. With a little more roasting, medium roasts (City, American, regular, breakfast) are obtained. And just as the “second crack” occurs you would have a Full City roast to be followed by dark roasts (Vienna, French, and Italian). Roasting coffee is like grilling steak. Do you prefer rare, medium rare, medium, or well done?
Finally, you will enjoy the wide world of green coffee beans. Coffee is grown in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and even in the good ole U.S.A. Seriously! One of the best coffees is Kona coffee from the Big Island of Hawaii. This coffee is mostly produced by small landowners and is famous for a rich, bold flavor. And the crème de la crème is the Peaberry. Noted for having only one bean in each coffee cherry, the Peaberry is an exquisite Hawaiian coffee. Only about 5% of the entire Kona harvest is Peaberry.
The great thing about green coffee beans is their shelf life. Green coffee beans can be stored for a couple of years without any change in quality. With a home coffee roaster, you will be able to explore the wide world of coffee. Find a green coffee bean supplier that is “cupping” new coffees on a regular basis and you can follow their lead on assembling your own private collection of truly gourmet coffees. And don’t forget organic and Free Trade coffee. You can even buy decaffeinated green coffee beans. It is all there for you – better, cheaper, and a lot more fun!

Published At: Isnare.com

Non Alcoholic Drink Recipes For a Baby Shower

Submitted By: J. Highland

In special occasions like weddings, birthdays and baby showers where you have invited your closest friends and relatives to come over and celebrate the moment with you, serving drinks is a basic rule. Since food and other treats are expected to be present, drinks should never be left out. And since it is a family occasion, non-alcoholic drinks are usually more appropriate.
Drinks are as important as the dishes you want to be served on special occasions such as a baby shower. Hence, it is vital to have at least a few non alcoholic drink recipes at hand for you to use for the event. Listed below are just some of the many options you may want to use for your baby shower:
Lime Rickey:
1 large lime juice
Sugar
Club soda
For this recipe, mix lime juice with a teaspoonful of sugar in a glass and stir well. Add at least two ice cubes and club soda then stir again. An optional garnish of lime slices will make the drink look attractive.
Pineapple Daisy:
8 parts pineapple juice
1 part grenadine
2 parts lemon juice
Mix the ingredients altogether. You can either stir it or shake it. After mixing, pour into the glass and add fresh pineapple and strawberries as decorations.
Spicy Coffee Cooler:
Cinnamon
1 cup heavy whipped cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Ground coffee
15 whole cloves
7 cups cold water
Mix the cloves, cinnamon and coffee with water and then brew. Add powdered sugar to the brewed mixture after straining. Fill half of the glass with crushed ice and then pour the brewed mixture. Add a touch of sweetened cream on the top.
Raspberry Mint Crush:
2 cups lime juice
1 cup red raspberries
2 cups sugar
A bunch of mint
2 cups boiling water
Mix the sugar into the water and let it chill. After a while, add crushed mint and lime juice into the mixture and let it chill again in the refrigerator for another 2 to 3 hours. Strain the mixture and pour it over a glass with cracked ice and garnish it with mint leaves.
Planters Punch:
3 quarts ginger ale
2 cups grenadine
2 cups lemon juice
2 cups orange juice
Sliced strawberries and pineapple
Mint leaves
Mix all the juices along with grenadine and let it chill for about 12 hours or overnight. Add ginger ale over the chilled mixture before serving. Garnish the drink with slices of strawberry and pineapple.
The recipes mentioned above can still be added with other ingredients to add more taste and flavoring. The secret also comes on how you present these drinks to your guests by way of the garnishes that you use. You should also know how to make further experiments on the drinks to be able to come up with a revised version of the drink recipes mentioned above. To do this, the testing phase should be done at least a few days before the exact day of the baby shower to allow certain adjustments if there are any.

Published At: Isnare.com