Lifestyle It B

LIFETYLEITB loves ONION SOUP

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A good gratinee on a cold day is the best. ONION SOUP is a simple recipe and yet quite tricky as over caramelized onions have a bitter taste that will ruin the dish. So take your time and stay close to your onions. Sweet onions mixed with red onions have a delicious flavor. 

Peel and slice 8-10 onions. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, 2 teaspoons of sugar and 1 heaped tablespoon of flour. 

Heat butter and add onions stirring occasionally until translucent with a light brown colour. 

Make a bouquet of thyme and rosemary and add to the onions.

Add two drops of Worcestershire sauce and 6-8 cups of beef broth or vegetable stock which I personally prefer. 

Rub slices of baguette with 1 clove of garlic and grill till crisp. 

Place two slices in ramekins and pour ONION SOUP on top. 

Grate Gruyere cheese and add on top. 

Place in a hot oven until melted and grilled.

Sprinkle chopped chives on top and serve.

LIFETYLEITB loves KA'EK  

I love this very simple recipe that is a regular feature on my menus for morning coffees or afternoon teas or even children’s menus when mine were much younger. I do not have any measured ingredients for this recipe so just measure with your eyes.

2 KA’EK Bisimsim

Nabulsi desalted white cheese or Hallumi cheese

Thinly sliced tomatoes

Thinly sliced cucumber or faggous pickles

A few pitted green or black olives

A washed and dried heart of Romaine lettuce 

Dried thyme

Rock salt

Olive oil

Use fresh KA’EK. One hour before serving. Cut open the KA’EK horizontally and place the lettuce then the tomatoes then drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with dry thyme and rock salt, add the cheese then the pickles and olives, cover with the top of the Kaek and place on a tray.  I serve it with some extra olives, pickled cucumbers and hot peppers. 

LIFESTYLEITB POACHES Salmon 

LIFESTYLEITB: TABBOULEH  

 A Lebanese. A Syrian. A Jordanian. A Palestinian TABBOULEH are all the same. It is basically a Parsley salad that is very good for your kidneys. 

Chop the parsley, wash and dry. 

Finely chop the tomatoes, green or dry onions. Cucumbers and hot green peppers are optional.  

Mix all together by drizzling olive oil and lemon juice.

Add salt to taste. 

Chop a big bunch of fresh mint and mix. 

Wash a handful of red cracked wheat ( burghul) and mix last minute. 

serve and don’t let it sit. 

“Tis ARTICHOKE season” says LIFESTYLEITB 

The naturally occurring ARTICHOKE, the (Cynara cardunculus), which is native to the Mediterranean area, has records of use as a food among the ancient Greeks and Romans. Varieties of ARTICHOKEs were cultivated in Sicily since the classical period of the ancient Greeks, the Greeks calling them kaktos. In that period the Greeks ate the leaves and flower heads, which cultivation had already improved from the wild form. The Romans called the vegetable carduus (whence the name cardoon). Globe ARTICHOKEs are known to have been cultivated at Naples around the middle of the 9th century. Further improvement in the cultivated form appears to have taken place in the medieval period in Muslim Spain and the Maghreb. Names for the ARTICHOKE in many European languages today come from medieval Arabic الخرشوف al-khurshūf via late medieval Spain (where it is nowadays alcachofa).

Soak the ARTICHOKEs in water and salt for two hours,

Boil water and add to it half a lemon to avoid discoloration.

Cook the ARTICHOKEs until tender.

Enjoy peeling the leaves and dipping them in a vinaigrette made of lemon, oive oil and salt.

LIFESTYLEITB goes KA3EK & MA3MOUL

During Easter, Christians in the Arab World enjoy a traditional sweet called KA3EK & MA3MOUL made out of semolina and butter and stuffed with dates and Pistachios respectively. It is traditionally known that the Ka3EK represents the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head, and the MA3MOUL represents the sponge that was used to poke Jesus sidewound while on the cross. LIFESTYLEITB suggests presenting them in cupcake cups to hold the fine sugar and semolina. 

LIFESTYLEITB combines DRAMA with all its settings rendering them a magical touch of the theatre. DRAMA is often combined with music and dance. So an #ottomania setting will include the comedy as in the stereotypical ceramic figurines as well as the tragedy as in the aftermath of a heavy brunch!

Save space by using 3,4,or even 5 tier stands. LIFESTYLEITB loves this Moroccan silver stand. It looks elegant, saves space, and the table doesnt look so overcrowded. 

LIFESTYLEITB goes OTTOMAN Christmas 2014 will always be special as LIFESTYLEITB mixed the OTTOMAN and the contemporary.

The Sufi dance  that is proverbially associated with dervishes is best known in the West by the practices of the Mevlevi order in Turkey. The name Mevlevi comes from the persian poet Rumi, who was a DERVISH himself. This practice, though not intended as entertainment, has become a tourist attraction in Turkey.

Update an old table with a MIRROR top to add a modern and contemporary twist to any setting.Enjoy dinner for 2 a la Caprese setting icluding shells, corals and a beautiful Nautilus from Venice.

The menu is quite limited; Fish & Lettuce. Bon Appetit!