GeorgeTown Literary Festival 2013

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Emila doodles
Faten scribbles
Over Gula Melaka Ice Cream
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China House, Penang

 - GeorgeTown Literary Festival 2013 -

Real Traditional Style Hummous

Hummous

Ingredients

• 3 cloves of garlic, smashed 
• 1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), half the liquid reserved 
• 4 tbsp lemon juice 
• 3 tbsp tahina 
• 1 tsp salt (add gradually to taste as some canned bean can be salty) 
• black pepper to taste 
• 2 tbsp olive oil 
• 1 tsp toasted cumin seed

  Steps 

1. Pour garbanzo beans into food processor, reserving about a tablespoon for garnish. Place lemon juice, tahina, 1 tbsp of oil, garlic and salt in blender. Blend until creamy and well mixed. 
2. Taste the dip. Add additional tahina, lemon juice, salt or pepper, if desired.
3. Transfer the mixture to a medium serving bowl. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the top. Garnish with toasted cumin and the reserved garbanzo beans. 
4. Serve as a dip with pita bread, cut vegetables crudites or chips. If you prefer a cold dip, chill in the refrigerator prior to garnish. Store refrigerated in an airtight container.

Classic Baba Ganoush Recipe

Baba Ganoush

Ingredients

• 1 eggplant (about 400g), roasted
• 1 head of garlic, roasted
• 2 tbsp tahina
• 4 tbsp  lemon juice (or more to taste)
• ¼ tsp whole cumin, toasted
• ½ tsp crushed black pepper
• ½ tsp salt, or more to taste
• 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp minced fresh cilantro /parsley, for garnish
• Extra virgin olive oil, topping
• A handful of pomegranate seeds for topping 

 Steps 

1. Pierce the eggplant with fork all over. Roast over fire until the skin is charred and the flesh has collapsed a little bit. Put the charred eggplant in a bowl and cover (you can also use a bag) to sweat the skin off while cooling.
2. Cut the top off the head of garlic, oven roast it for about 25-30 minutes until the pulps are soft. Remove from skin, mash.
3. Gently remove and discard the charred skin from the roasted eggplant and place the flesh in a bowl along with the mashed garlic.
4. Add tahina, fresh lemon juice, cumin, salt, pepper and 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil to the bowl.
5. Use a fork and/or spoon to mash together the mixture, using firm pressure to break up the roasted garlic, and any stringiness of the eggplant. Mix until well combined.
6. Taste the dip. Add additional tahina, lemon juice, salt or pepper, if desired.
7. Drizzle the surface of the dip lightly with extra virgin olive oil.
8. Garnish with cilantro or parsley, toasted cumin seed and pomegranate seeds.
9. Serve as a dip with pita bread, cut vegetables crudites or chips. If you prefer a cold dip, chill in the refrigerator prior to garnish. Store refrigerated in an airtight container.

 Note : Baba Ganoush is also known as Mutabel in some places. It is sometimes refered to as poor men's caviar,

Dinosaurs came to live because the kids have such cool parents.

Happy Children's Day!

Easy (3 Ingredients) Nutella Brownies

This must be the easiest brownies recipe ever, only 3 ingredients, and best of all, you will only need one bowl and a spatula to prepare, less to clean up, my idea of the perfect recipe!

All in all, it  takes only 25 minutes to make it from scratch and that includes the cleaning up time plus while waiting for it to bake, I am updating this recipe on my blog.

Easiest Nutella Brownies

ingredients:

1 1/4 cup Nutella
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour

optional ingredients you can add:

A pinch of seasalt
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
A handful of mixed nuts

1/4 teaspoon instant coffee granules

directions:

1. Grease a 9 x9 baking pan and preheat oven to 350F.

2. Mix Nutella and eggs in a bowl until smooths.

3. Add flour (plus salt and baking powder, if using) until just combined.

4. Pour into baking pan and smooth top with spatula.

5. Bake for about 15 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Careful not to bake too long otherwise brownies will dry out.

Let brownies cool and set before cutting and serving.

I think I am going to serve it with some vanilla ice cream.