The MENA Sultan's Kitchen Cookbook

[Krissy! 0]

I'd like a copy. The proceeds go to what?

$20.00 is fair

To me...I'm getting my nails done J/K

Miss you ... how are u feeling babes?

Hehe. Can I join?

Miss you too. I'm well, but still got a cold. Something I have managed to avoid in the past year (amazingly), so it's about time.

Anyway....

I'm looking forward to learning how to prepare MENA dishes! Yay!

[Carolyn 1]

I would like a cookbook too, please!

Maybe this will inspire me...my husband is a fabulous cook, but not such a patient teacher! It would be nice to surprise him...

By the way, are there any good recipes for Moroccan style beans in the cookbook?

[nu7015 0]

Here's some recipes that have received ooh's and ahh's from the hubby:

Couscous

1 t tumeric

1 t black pepper

2 t ginger

1 t cumin

1 pinch saffron (tumeric)

1 t paprika

2 t salt

1 t coriander

2 lb chicken

2 T olive oil

2 t garlic (minced)

1 onion (chopped)

4 c water

1 c tomato sauce

5 carrots quartered

3 potatos - peeled & quartered

zucchini

red bell pepper

squash

1 can chick peas

Mix spices in bowl. Cut chicken into chunks; heat oil and brown chicken in large pot. Add onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes.

Add water, spices and tomato sauce and cook 5 more minutes. Add carrots and potatos and cook for 10 minutes. Add zucchini, squash and red bell pepper and cook for 10 minutes. Add chick peas and cook additional 20 minutes.

Prepare topping (optional-husband doesn't like it, I do so I just add to my own serving-he says that this is what northern Morocco does but not central Morocco where he's from):

Carmalized Onion Topping:

1 onion-minced

2 T olive oil

3/4 c brown sugar

1 t cinnamon

saute onions; add rest of ingredients and cook until bubbly

I use the couscous you buy in the grocery store and boil in chicken stock and add 1/4 c butter. Spoon couscous on plate, top with chicken and add the carmalized onion topping if you like.

Moroccan Chicken

1/2 c orange juice

2 T lemon juice or lime juice

1 T soy sauce

4 garlic cloves, minced

1-2 T fresh ginger, minced

1/2 t ground cumin

1/2 t salt

1/2 t cinnamon

1/4-1/2 t cayenne pepper

1/2 t black pepper

12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 lg. onion, chopped

2 carrots cut into 1/2 inch slices

2 c garbanzo beans

1/4-3/4 c dates, pitted and chopped

1/2-3/4 c almonds or pecans

1 T olive oil

1 T tomato paste

2 T fresh parsley

Combine first 10 ingredients and put into plastic bag for marinade. Cut chicken into chunks and add to marinade in bag. Refrigerate and marinate 4-24 hours. Put rest of ingredients in casserole dish. Add chicken and marinade and mix. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 1/4 hours.

Here's a quick way to make really good chicken:

Quick Moroccan Chicken

1 t cumin

1 t ground coriander

3/4 t salt

1/2 t ground ginger

1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 t black pepper

4 boneless chicken breasts or thighs

2 t olive oil

1 garlic clove, minced

Put all ingredients in a plastic bag and mix to cover chicken well. Put in baking dish with extra marinade and bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees F.

Here is what I use in my Ras el Hanout (I make a big batch of it to keep on hand):

1 t ground cumin

1 t ginger

1 t salt

3/4 t black pepper

1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 t coriander

1/2 t cayenne pepper

1/2 t allspice

1/4 t ground cloves

I'll use the Ras el Hanout in American dishes like meatloaf, hamburgers, chicken dishes; just about everything and that goes over well with hubby.

Edited October 26, 2008 by nu7015

[♥JP♥ 5]

Remember...Moroccans don't call all those things the same as you both listed.

Also something calling for za'tar doesn't always necessarily mean the herb thyme by itself. Za'atar is many times (in the Middle East) a spice blend that has thyme, sumac, roasted sesame seeds, and salt in it. Moroccans don't use that spice blend, but call wild thyme za'atar.

Also labneh is kefir, not kefar.

Here are some basics of Moroccan important food items that are most likely in the recipes you will be including:

cumin= kamoon

cinnamon= karfa

saffron= zafrane

tumeric= moulwwin (they really just call this fake saffron) lol

ginger= skinjbir

paprika= tahmira

sesame seeds= jinjelan

caraway= karwiya

coriander seed= kosbour

ras el hanout= a blend of many spices, each chef having a different recipe. Usually 10 or more spices blended.

onion= bsla

garlic= toum

parsley= madnouss

cilantro=kosbour

mint=nana

hot chili paste= harissa

olives= zitoun

oil= zeit

butter=zbda

salt=milha

pepper=bzar

almonds=luz

sugar= s'kar

eggs= bid

preserved lemons= l'hamd mrakad

You Rock too!!!!! Now I just have to figure out how to get them graphed. I think I'll do a chart with english - jordanian- moroccan translations.

JP, are the spices u named primarily jordanian terms? If so, then the chart will work.

also, JP, When u bakd knafeh, is it at 350 center rack?

Yes...350 center rack. As far as the terms, thats what I call them but I believe arabs from the levent use the same terms. Moroccan cooking is very different. As far as using translations, I would have your husband translate them from english to arabic script. He could also give you the proper arabic work for it.

[amal 4]

People requesting a copy are:

Noura -1- title# - ok to use VJ ID

MrsAmera -1- title# - ok to use VJ ID

Turia -1- title#3-

mo&melinda -1- title# -

Henia -1- title# -

HisLittleMasriyah -1- title#1-

Yvette -1- title#2 -

Nawal -1- title#2-

Dorothy -1- title#2 -

brnidokiegurl -1- title# -

Donna A -1- title# -

a1angied -2- title#3 -

Yardiewife -1- title#3 -

JP -0- title# - ok to use VJ ID

sara535 -1- title# -

Moe_lisa -1- title# -

TinaMsea -1- title# 3-

Jax -0- title#2 -

caybee -1- title#3 - ok to use VJ ID

nu7015 -1- title#1 - ok to use VJ IDr

Rajaa -1- title#3 -

star_dragpm -1- title#

k&0 -1- title#

Carolyn -1- title#

Personal friends -3-

---------------------------------

#26 books requested

Hey count me in for a book too

noted

I'd like a copy. The proceeds go to what?

$20.00 is fair

noted

So far, the cost is just to cover printing and shipping. I thought about doing a VJ "charity" of sorts for our fellow VJ'ers who are in serious need of some help. Then I figured that would be a great big mess coz one person might feel someone else deserved the "help" more than another and so on and so forth. So basically I've left it at cost to cover the printing and shipping.

I would like a cookbook too, please!

Maybe this will inspire me...my husband is a fabulous cook, but not such a patient teacher! It would be nice to surprise him...

By the way, are there any good recipes for Moroccan style beans in the cookbook?

noted

Remember...Moroccans don't call all those things the same as you both listed.

JP, are the spices u named primarily jordanian terms? If so, then the chart will work.

also, JP, When u bakd knafeh, is it at 350 center rack?

Yes...350 center rack. As far as the terms, thats what I call them but I believe arabs from the levent use the same terms. Moroccan cooking is very different. As far as using translations, I would have your husband translate them from english to arabic script. He could also give you the proper arabic work for it.

thanks for clarifying that JP!

I'm still undecided on wether to add them or not. Hubby and I have been throwing that idea around but haven't made a final decision yet.

[nunyab 0]

and you're welcome to use my vj ID as well, not sure for what but whatever... boy this is really taking off girl... whooooo hooooooo!!

[amal 4]

and you're welcome to use my vj ID as well, not sure for what but whatever... boy this is really taking off girl... whooooo hooooooo!!

noted, thanks The VJ ID is for putting ur name with the recipe(s) u submitted (if any) so that nobody gets mad if they see their VJ ID in a public book. If there is a different name you'd rather have used, just let me know. If you don't want anything associating the recipe with you, let me know and I'll make the name "unknown".

I am really hoping to at least get up to 100 books out. We're at 44 so only 56 more to go!!!

People requesting a copy are:

Noura -1- title# - ok to use VJ ID

MrsAmera -1- title# - ok to use VJ ID

Turia -1- title#3-

mo&melinda -1- title# -

Henia -1- title# -

HisLittleMasriyah -1- title#1-

Yvette -1- title#2 -

Nawal -1- title#2-

Dorothy -1- title#2 -

brnidokiegurl -1- title# -

Donna A -1- title# -

a1angied -2- title#3 -

Yardiewife -1- title#3 -

JP -0- title# - ok to use VJ ID

sara535 -1- title# -

Moe_lisa -1- title# -

TinaMsea -1- title# 3-

Jax -0- title#2 -

caybee -1- title#3 - ok to use VJ ID

nu7015 -1- title#1 - ok to use VJ ID

Rajaa -1- title#3 - ok to use VJ ID

star_dragpm -1- title#

k&0 -1- title#

Carolyn -1- title#

me -18- (family/coworkers)

---------------------------------

#44 books requested !!!

Edited October 27, 2008 by amal

[amal 4]

People requesting a copy are:

Noura -1- title# - ok to use VJ ID

MrsAmera -1- title# - ok to use VJ ID

Turia -1- title#3-

mo&melinda -1- title# -

Henia -1- title# -

HisLittleMasriyah -1- title#1-

Yvette -1- title#2 -

Nawal -1- title#2-

Dorothy -1- title#2 -

brnidokiegurl -1- title# -

Donna A -1- title# -

a1angied -2- title#3 -

Yardiewife -1- title#3 -

JP -0- title# - ok to use VJ ID

sara535 -1- title# -

Moe_lisa -1- title# -

TinaMsea -1- title# 3-

Jax -0- title#2 -

caybee -1- title#3 - ok to use VJ ID

nu7015 -1- title#1 - ok to use VJ ID

Rajaa -1- title#3 - ok to use VJ ID

star_dragpm -1- title#

k&0 -1- title#

Carolyn -1- title#

me -19- (family/coworkers)

---------------------------------

#45 books requested !!!

Let me know if I'm missing anyone!

[HLM 1]

what do u think about making a thread about this in OT? may be others wd be interested!

[amal 4]

what do u think about making a thread about this in OT? may be others wd be interested!

I think the idea is BUT I'm waiting till I'm farther along with it. It is gonna take me a bit more time than I thought it would. I didn't realize there were as many recipes as there are. I was thinking more like 50...but 200..woah nelly I might omit some of them that don't have anything to do with MENA just to cut it down a little bit. When I get closer to being done, I'll definitely put a topic in OT. Since you recommended it though, it is now officially your responsibility to remind me to make that topic lol!!!

[Aymsgirl 0]

Amal,

I would be interested in a cook book. Let me know the details about payment when it comes time.

Tasha

[amal 4]

Ok everyone...How about this title....

"The Sultan's Kitchen"

With this as the tag line:

This is what happens when

food from the Middle East

and North Africa is being

cooked by Americans!

[morocco4ever 63]

Please add my name to the list, I would love a book.

I had 2 recipes I would like to add, but not sure if you added them yet. I have the recipe for Melwi and Charmoola. Do you have those already?

[HLM 1]

Ok sister will definitley remind u

Ok everyone...How about this title....

"The Sultan's Kitchen"

With this as the tag line:

This is what happens when

food from the Middle East

and North Africa is being

cooked by Americans!

hmmm....or The Sultan's Kitchen; A taste of MENA by American hands.

[amal 4]

People requesting copies are:

Noura -1- title# - ok to use VJ ID

MrsAmera -1- title# - ok to use VJ ID

Turia -1- title#3-

mo&melinda -1- title# -

Henia -1- title# -

HisLittleMasriyah -1- title#1-

Yvette -1- title#2 -

Nawal -1- title#2-

Dorothy -1- title#2 -

brnidokiegurl -1- title# -

Donna A -1- title# -

a1angied -2- title#3 -

Yardiewife -1- title#3 -

JP -0- title# - ok to use VJ ID

sara535 -1- title# -

Moe_lisa -1- title# -

TinaMsea -1- title# 3-

Jax -0- title#2 -

caybee -1- title#3 - ok to use VJ ID

nu7015 -1- title#1 - ok to use VJ ID

Rajaa -1- title#3 - ok to use VJ ID

star_dragpm -1- title#

k&0 -1- title#

Carolyn -1- title#

Aymsgirl -1- title#

morocco4ever -1- title#

me -19- (family/coworkers)

---------------------------------

#45 books requested !!!

Let me know if I'm missing anyone!

Amal,

I would be interested in a cook book. Let me know the details about payment when it comes time.

Tasha

noted

Please add my name to the list, I would love a book.

I had 2 recipes I would like to add, but not sure if you added them yet. I have the recipe for Melwi and Charmoola. Do you have those already?

noted

Ok sister will definitley remind u

Ok everyone...How about this title....

"The Sultan's Kitchen"

With this as the tag line:

This is what happens when

food from the Middle East

and North Africa is being

cooked by Americans!

hmmm....or The Sultan's Kitchen; A taste of MENA by American hands.

I had that idea too and really liked it BUT I dunno about all of you but I plan to give them out as gifts to family, friends, and coworkers. I can't guarantee that everybody is going to know what "MENA" stands for so that is why I went with a more comedical version with MENA extended... I dunno what it is going to end up being... ALL SUGGESTIONS APPRECIATED!

Edited October 27, 2008 by amal