Apple pie cinnamon rolls

Saw this recipe on Domestic mommy hood site, but modified it especially as I think there is always to much sugar in recipes like this,  I cut the sugar in the dough and also in the apples. I also simplified some steps. It was so delicious warm !

Ingredients:

• For the dough:
  1 package Active Dry Yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
  1/2 cup water, lukewarm                                                                                                                 2 tsp of sugar
  1/2 cup milk, lukewarm
  1/3 cup butter, melted
  1 egg, room temperature
  2 tsp salt
  4 cups all-purpose flour
• For the Apple Pie Filling:
  5-6 Medium Apples, peeled and chopped
  2 Ttbsp Lemon Juice
  1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  1/4 cup Cornstarch
  1 tsp Cinnamon
  1/2 tsp Nutmeg
  Salt
  2 cups Water

4 tbsp Butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp ground cinnamon

• For the Icing (Optional):
  1 Cup Powdered Sugar
  1 tbsp water
  1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1) Stir together yeast, water and 2 tsp. sugar in a small bowl and allow to rise for 10 minutes.

and this how it looks when it’s ready

2) In a large mixing bowl combine milk, melted butter, egg and salt and mix well.

3) Stir in half of the flour and mix well, stir in the yeast mixture and continue mixing. Slowly add in the rest of the flour and blend well.

4) Sprinkle flour onto your counter top and move your dough on top of it and knead for approximately 5 minutes.

5) Place dough into a greased mixing bowl and cover with a towel. Allow dough to rise approximately 1-2 hours.

6) To prepare the apples, choose and peel around 5. Add to a mixing bowl the apples with lemon juice to prevent browning and set aside.

7) In saucepan, add apples, cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of salt. Mix and add the water. Cook on low until water has reduced.

8) Remove from heat and set aside. Melt your butter to be ready.

9) When your cinnamon roll dough has risen, divide in two. Sprinkle some flour on your kitchen table and roll dough. Spread some melted butter and sprinkle some brown sugar, add half of the apple pie mix.

10) Roll in a log, slice dough evenly and place in a 9 x 13 pan. Repeat with the second part of dough. Let rise.

11) Preheat @ 350 and cook for 20-25 minutes. During this time prepare icing sugar.

and voilà delicious with a nice cup of coffee 

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Bagels

We love Bagels. we live in Niger, West Africa where bagels do not exist so once in a while i get into the work of making them. I like also making them whole wheat.

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons of active dry yeast
1 ½ tablespoons of granulated sugar
1 ¼ cups of warm water (you may need more)
3 ½ cups of  flour (for whole wheat 1 ½ whole wheat flour, remaining all purpose flour)
1 ½ teaspoons of salt

Preparation:
1. In ½ cup of the warm water, pour in the sugar and yeast. Do not stir. Let it sit for five minutes, and then stir the yeast and sugar mixture, until it all dissolves in the water.

2. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and pour in the yeast and sugar mixture.

3. Pour half of the remaining warm water into the well. Mix and stir in the rest of the water as needed. You want to result in a moist and firm dough after you have mixed it.

4. On a floured counter top, knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Try working in as much flour as possible to form a firm and stiff dough.

5. Lightly brush a large bowl with oil and turn the dough to coat. Cover the bowl with a damp dish towel. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in size. Punch the dough down, and let it rest for another 10 minutes.

6. Carefully divide the dough into 8 – 10 pieces. Shape each piece into a round.

7. Coat a finger in flour, and gently press your finger into the center of each dough ball to form a ring. Stretch the ring to about ⅓ the diameter of the bagel and place on a lightly oiled cookie sheet. Repeat the same step with the remaining dough.

8. After shaping the dough rounds and placing them on the cookie sheet, cover with a damp kitchen towel and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 425ºF / 220ºC.

9. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Reduce the heat. Use a slotted spoon or skimmer to lower the bagels into the water. Boil as many as you are comfortable with boiling. Once the bagels are in, it shouldn’t take too long for them to float to the top (a couple seconds). Let them sit there for 1 minute, and them flip them over to boil for another minute. Extend the boiling times to 2 minutes each, if you’d prefer a chewier bagel.

10. Once all the bagels have boiled transfer them to a lightly oiled baking sheet. If you want a topping, prepare an egg wash (1 egg with a few drop of water). I like sesame seeds.

12. Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown.

13. Cool on a wire rack.

 

Cheesecake parfait

This is one easy and very creative dessert as you can use any kind of fruit you would like. Living in Niger, I use strawberries in season and mangoes… One of our favorite quick dessert.

Ingredients:

2 cups of yogurt that you drain – to make Greek yogurt

1 tsp vanilla

sugar as needed

whip cream + sugar as needed

Strawberry sauce made of strawberries & sugar

cookies (petit Lu or graham crackers)

To put this little dessert together : take a small cup (enough for your family or guests)

Pulse the graham crackers or cookies in a food processor- add to the bottom of cup.

Mix the Greek Yogurt, with some sugar, vanilla and a bit of whipped cream. Mix with a spatula. Taste to see how sweet you want it. Add some of the yogurt mixture in bowl.

Make a strawberry sauce with fresh or frozen strawberries and sugar. When cooked, mix. Add cool on top of the yogurt. Add another layer of yogurt and some whip cream to top it. Add slices of mangoes and freshly roasted coconut. You can imagine any kinds of combinations of fruit… it’s light and delicious.

Baklava

Homemade Baklava seems intimidating at first especially the phyllo dough but it is very easy once you know what to do.

This recipe makes 2 9x 13 baklava – it’s so delicious. I like when the baklava is not to sweet and soaking in syrup. SO the syrup recipe is good for the 2 pans.

Ingredients

2 (16 ounce) package phyllo dough (in 1 box you get 2 package)

1 pound chopped nuts ( i like it chopped small)

1/2 cup butter – more as needed

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Syrup

1 cup water

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup of honey

1 tsp cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(175 degrees C). Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9×13 inch pan.
2. Chop nuts and mix with cinnamon. Set aside. Unroll first package of phyllo dough.  Cover phyllo with a dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work. Place one sheet of dough in pan, butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered. Sprinkle nut mixture on top. Top again one sheet at time and butter dough. After a few more sheets add nuts.  The top layer should be about 6 – 8 sheets deep.
3. Using a sharp knife cut into diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan. Bake for about 45 minutes until baklava is golden and crisp.
4. Make syrup while baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted. Add vanilla and honey. Simmer for about 20 minutes. I use this syrup to be enough for both pans.
   
5. Remove baklava from oven and immediately spoon sauce over it. Let cool. Serve in cupcake papers. This freezes well. Leave it uncovered as it gets soggy if it is wrapped up.

καλή όρεξη!

Vegeterian moussaka

In Niger, we get the same vegetables and so many times you need to create new dishes with what you have. I created this vegetarian moussaka. I made it again adding also some zucchini and potatoes for extra veggies. We all love it and just melts in your mouth.

 

INGREDIENTS

1 kg of eggplant

olive oil

1 prepared tomato sauce

1 bechamel sauce

emmental cheese

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Wash eggplants and cut in slices.

2. Put all the eggplant slice in a colander and sprinkle salt. let it seat at least 15-20 minutes.

3. Put the slices in a baking pan and sprinkle olive oil. Broil.

4. Check often and turn them around. When done remove from oven.

5. Place the broiled eggplants in a baking pan.

6. Add a prepared tomato sauce (i use my pizza sauce)

7. Make a bechamel sauce.

8. add the bechamel sauce on top of the eggplant dish and add emmental cheese.

9. To the oven.

10. Ready to eat …

Bon appétit

Curry Coconut Carrot soup

This is a soup I have created and we just love the flavors of curry, coconut and carrots together. Serve with homemade pita chips. A must try.

INGREDIENTS
1-2 onions
olive oil
1 Kg of carrots
water and chicken bouillon
coconut milk
curry

 INSTRUCTION

1. Peel your carrots

2. Sauté 1-2 onions in 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil.

3. Add carrots cut in pieces. and Sauté together a few minutes.

4. Add water to cover and 1 chicken bouillon cube or 1 tablespoon of bouillon paste. Add curry to taste.

5. Cook in pressure cooker

6. When done, use a hand blender to make it as a soup. add more curry if you see not enough.

7. Serve with some coconut milk. We add it on top.

So delicious ….

Nana’s waffles

Nana’s waffle recipe is always a great HIT at our house topped with fresh fruit and maple syrup.

Ingredients

3 eggs (separated)

1/2 cup of melted butter

1 cup milk

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups of flour

1 tbsp of vanilla

1 tbsp baking powder

Instructions

1. Heat the waffle maker.

2. Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl until meringue forms.

3. melt butter.

4. Beat egg yolks, milk, butter and vanilla in another bowl.

5. Combine remaining ingredients into egg mixture and beat well.

6. Fold in with rubber spatula the egg white in the mixture.

7. Ready to cook in the waffle maker

Bon appétit !