Basbousa Semolina Cake

Basbousa Semolina Cake with Lime Syrup and Lime Curd

Basbousa cake is a not-too-sweet semolina confection soaked in lime syrup, often hawked on the streets of Egypt. Cut in rounds, this version is topped with lime curd, whipped cream, and berries.
Recipe created by Susan Feniger

Recipe created by Susan Fenige

Servings: Serves 8

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup lime juice (3 limes)
• 8 Tbsp. (1 stick) butter , melted
• 2 eggs

• 1 cup and 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 6 Tbsp. lime juice (2 to 3 limes)

• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 12 Tbsp. (1 1/2 sticks) butter , melted
• 1 Tbsp. lime zest
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 cups semolina semolina flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• Whipped cream , for garnish
• Fresh Fresh berries , for garnish

Directions

Note: The lime curd and lime syrup can both be made ahead and refrigerated.

To make lime curd: Fill a medium pot with 1 1/2 inches water; bring to a simmer. In a medium, heatproof bowl, whisk together sugar, lime juice, butter, and eggs for 1 minute. Arrange bowl over simmering water and stir mixture constantly until thick, 8 to 10 minutes; let cool 20 minutes; cover and refrigerate.

To make lime syrup: Combine 2 cups water, sugar, and lime juice in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook gently until reduced to approximately 2 cups syrup, about 20 minutes; set aside.

To make cake: Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9" square cake pan with cooking spray; set aside. Whisk together buttermilk, butter, lime zest, and vanilla in a large bowl. In a second large bowl, stir together semolina flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture and stir until combined. Transfer to prepared pan and smooth the batter. Bake until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. While cake is hot, pour lime syrup evenly over surface.

Serve cake warm or at room temperature, topped with spoonfuls of lime curd, berries, and whipped cream.

Lemon Meringue Dip with 7-UP Dippers

Lemon Meringue Dip

Cook time: 5 Min  Prep time: 10 Min  Serves: 12-18 servings

Ingredients

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)

3 large eggs, separated

1/2 c fresh lemon juice

3 Tbsp corn syrup, light

a pinch cream of tartar

Directions

1. Whisk egg yolks and juice over medium heat in small saucepan, heat and stir until custard like, about 5 minutes. Place this mixture in the refrigerator to chill.

2. In a mixer bowl whisk egg whites, corn syrup, and cream of tartar on high until stiff peak form. set aside.

3. Remove yolk mixture from fridge and whisk in the sweetened condensed milk. Blend well. Pour into a 9x13 inch baking dish (suitable for serving at buffet table). Heap and spread meringue on top of lemon sauce. Place in oven and broil 1 to 2 minutes until meringue is slightly browned. Refrigerate to chill. Make sure dish can go from hot to cold, so it does not break.Corning or pyrex is fine, or metal. Serve with 7-UP Pie Crust Dippers

- UP Pie Crust Dippers

Cook time: 5 Min  Prep time: 10 Min  Serves: amount depends on size of cutters

Ingredients

1 1/2 c all purpose flour-exact measure

1/2 Tbsp salt

1/2 c crisco- regular or butter flavor-exact measure

5 Tbsp ice cold 7-up or other soda pop

Directions

1. Stir together flour and salt. Cut in shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Do not over work pastry.

2. Add the ice cold soda pop gradually to the flour mixture, then blend together until moist. Place pastry in plastic wrap, flatten slightly. Chill 30 minutes.

3. Remove from fridge and roll out like making pie crust on a flour dusted surface or between 2 pieces of waxed paper (i do it this way) to about 1/8 inch thickness. Using your favorite small cookie cutter or just cut into circles or strips 4 x 1 inch.

4. Place on parchment covered cookie sheet brush with melted butter and sprinkle with granulated sugar and bake for bout 5 minutes or until golden. Cool completely before using so that they are crisp. These work great for appetizers too!

Mine took longer than 5 minutes to bake, but I think I didn't roll them thin enough.

Onion Dip

2 cups diced sweet onion
2 cups mayonnaise
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

mix all ingredients together and bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until edges are golden.  Serve with corn chips or hot, buttery crackers.

Marshmallow Dressing

Ingredients

2 cup sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup hot water
2 egg whites
dash of salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
2-4 tablespoons orange concentrate (to taste) (straight from the can before water is added to make juice)

Directions

In heavy pan, combine sugar, corn syrup, hot water.  Heat slowly, stirring until sugar dissolves.  Then boil without stirring to firm ball or thread stage. (248° F.)  Beat egg whites with salt.  When stiff gradually beat in the hot syrup, beating until thick and fluffy. Add vanilla and fold in mayonnaise, orange rind and orange concentrate.

Makes 3-1/2 cups.  (I store it in a quart jar)

Serve with fruit

J'Deanne Rackham (originally called Nut Tree Marshmallow Dressing - but adapted with a couple of slight changes) now a holiday tradition in the Larry Rackham household!

Vegetable Sushi

Ingredients
1 1/4 pounds sushi rice (2 3/4 cups)
3 cups water
1/4 cup mirin, plus additional for moistening nori
5 sheets nori (1 package)
4 teaspoons wasabi powder, mixed with 2 teaspoons water
1/2 cup small-diced red onion
1 carrot, julienned
1 red bell pepper, julienned
1 yellow bell pepper, julienned
1 scallion, julienned (green part only)
1 hothouse cucumber, seeded and julienned
1 (10-ounce) jar pickled ginger

Directions

Place the rice in a strainer and rinse under cold running water until the water is fairly clear, about 5 minutes. Shake the water out and allow the rice to dry in the strainer for 15 minutes.

Put the rice in a pot with exactly 3 cups of water and cook covered over high heat until it starts to foam, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and sprinkle with 1/4 cup mirin. Replace the lid and allow the rice to steam for 15 minutes. Place in a bowl and cool to room temperature.

To prepare the sushi, place a bamboo sushi roller flat on a table with the bamboo reeds horizontal to you. Sprinkle lightly with water. Place 1 nori sheet on top, smooth side down, and moisten lightly with mirin. With damp hands, press 1 1/4 cups rice flat on top of the nori, leaving 1 1/2-inch edges on the top and bottom, but pressing all the way to the sides. Make sure the rice is pressed even and smooth.

Spread 1/4 teaspoon of wasabi paste in a horizontal stripe near the lower edge of the rice. Over the wasabi, lightly sprinkle the red onions in a horizontal stripe. Place strips of carrots in a horizontal stripe, on top of the wasabi and onions, and follow by piling the red and yellow peppers, scallions, and cucumbers on top, making a tight, straight bundle of vegetables. Place 1 layer of pickled ginger slices on top.

To roll the sushi, pick up the near edge of the bamboo roller and hold it with the nori, then pull them up and over the vegetable bundle until the nori reaches the rice on the other side. Press the roller to make a round bundle, then roll the bundle to the far edge of the nori and press again to make a round bundle. (The nori should totally enclose the rice and vegetables in a round tube, but the ends will have rice and vegetables sticking out.) Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients. Keep the rolls under a damp towel and refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve, slice off the ends with a very sharp knife and slice each roll into 8 equal pieces.

Serve with Sushi Dipping Sauce

Sushi Dipping Sauce

1/2 teaspoon wasabi powder
1/4 teaspoon water
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon minced pickled ginger
1 teaspoon minced scallion (Green part only)
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons good soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon dark sesame oil

Directions

combine the wasabi powder and water to make a paste. Mix in the red pepper flakes, ginger, scallions, vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Serve the sushi at room temperature with the dipping sauce.

Churros

Ingredients:

1 cup water
2-1/2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 quarts oil for frying
1/2 cup white sugar, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, salt and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in flour until mixture forms a ball.

1. Heat oil for frying in deep-fryer or deep skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Pipe strips of dough into hot oil using a pastry bag. Fry until golden; drain on paper towels.

1. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon. Roll drained churros in cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Serve with Chocolate Sauce

Chocolate Syrup

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups water

1-1/2 cups white sugar

1 cup cocoa powder

1 dash salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1.      Combine the water, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt together in a saucepan over low heat; whisk constantly until the mixture thickens and begins to simmer. Remove from heat and stir the vanilla into the sauce. Serve warm or cover and refrigerate until serving.

Blueberry Lemon Sweet Rolls

Blueberry Lemon Sweet Rolls photo by Tasty Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 
  
• FOR THE DOUGH:
• 4 cups Whole Milk
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Canola Oil
• 2 packages Active Dry Yeast, 0.25 Ounce Packets
• 8 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 cup (additional) All-purpose Four
• 1 Tablespoon (heaping) Salt
• 1 teaspoon (scant) Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon (heaping) Baking Powder
• 
  
• FOR THE FILLING:
• 1 stick Butter
• ¾ cups Sugar
• 2 whole Lemons, Zested
• 2 cups (Heaping) Fresh Blueberries
• FOR THE GLAZE:
• 1 whole Lemon, Juiced
• 2 whole Lemons, Zested
• 3 cups Powdered Sugar
• 2 cups Whole Milk, Or As Needed
• 1 dash Salt
• 3 Tablespoons Melted Butter

Preparation

For the dough:
Mix milk, 1 cup sugar, and canola oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Heat over medium heat until very warm but not boiling. Remove from heat and allow to cool until warmer than lukewarm but not hot.

Sprinkle yeast over the surface of the liquid, then add in 8 cups flour. Stir gently until totally combined. Mixture will be very wet and sticky. Cover with a tea towel, keep in a draft-free place, and allow to sit for 1 hour.

After 1 hour, add in an additional cup of flour, as well as the salt, baking soda and baking powder. Mix until combined. Refrigerate dough, covered, until you need it. (Refrigerating the dough helps make it easier to handle.)

Preheat oven to 375 F. Butter a large baking dish (or a couple of smaller dishes) generously. you could use a 9×13 or two 9-inch pie pans which is what I did.

Melt 1 stick of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted remove from heat.

Divide dough in half. Store one half in the fridge for another use (another batch of these, a batch of cinnamon rolls, a batch of dinner rolls). Turn the other half of the dough onto a floured surface. Roll into a large rectangle, about 30 inches wide by 10 inches deep. Roll as thin as possible! Drizzle melted butter over the dough, using your fingers to spread evenly.

Using your fingers, mix sugar and lemon zest so that it’s a nice, light yellow sugar. Sprinkle it all over the butter. Sprinkle the blueberries evenly over the surface.

Beginning at the side furthest from you, roll dough toward you until it’s in the shape of a tight log. Tuck as you go so the roll stays tight. Pinch the edges to seal the seam shut. With a sharp knife, slice into 1/2 thick hick rolls and lay the slices, cut side down, into the buttered baking dishes. Allow to rise for 20 minutes, then place in oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until deep golden brown on top.

To make the glaze: Add lemon juice, lemon zest, powdered sugar, milk, and dash of salt in a bowl. Add melted butter and whisk together until smooth. Taste it and add more of whatever it needs.

Remove rolls from oven and drizzle the glaze all over the rolls. Be sure to get it all around the edges and covering the surface so they’ll be nice and moist!

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Chili Tots

Chili Tots Recipe photo by Taste of Home

1 pound ground beef
2 cans (15 ounces each) chili
8 ounces tomato sauce
2-1/4 ounces sliced ripe olives, drained
4 ounces chopped green chilies
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
32 ounces frozen Tater Tots

Directions

1. In a large skillet, cook the beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the chili, tomato sauce, olives and green chilies. Transfer to two greased 8-in. square baking dishes. Sprinkle with cheese; top with Tater Tots. Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months.
2. Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until heated through.
3. To use frozen casserole: Remove from the freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw). Cover and bake at 350° for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until heated through. Yield: 2 casseroles (6 servings each).