Making Food Gifts For Christmas

[mudbug]

I like to try and do different things, like encourage my friends to try a new recipe by giving them the ingredients already mixed in a jar along with the written directions.... ie: sticky chicken, Asian ribs marinade, infused sugars and salts.... I've found they like it because it's so easy and it takes less time for them to make a meal. They have fun to trying something new.

Or ingredients they wouldn't normally buy for themsleves like: garlic chili paste (huge hit), dark soy, hot bean curd....

Of course these are for friends who like to cook. For those who aren't into cooking, this year I'm looking into making Middle Eastern pastries.... ie: knafi, naruma, bourma, bassma, fingers, bird's nest, baklava... depending on what I can find recipes for!

[shroomgirl]

Never heard of naruma....???

[mudbug]

shroomgirl, there are so many variations on each dessert and then they vary regionally, no way to keep up with them all! (Like the version of Ashta you want to find...)

Nammoorah - Namura or Basbousa (Egyptian) - Nammurra (Lebanese) or Hareesa (Palestinian) - Namoura - Nammoura - Nammura - Namurrah - Nammura

Ingredients for the SYRUP
3 cups of suggar
1 1/2 cups of water
4 drops fresh lemon juice or rose water


For the sweet - ingredients:
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of coconut
1 cup of yogurt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup heavy cream
1 1/4 cup of semolina
2 medium eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder.


DIRECTIONS for the SYRUP
Prepare syrup by putting the sugar and water in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil while constantly stirring to dissolve the sugar. Let it boil until it appears clear. Add few drops of lemon and let it boil for a minute or so.Remove from saucepan and let it cool completly.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE SWEET:
Preheat the oven to 350F.In a bowl combine all the ingredients (sugar,coconut,yogurt,oil,cream,semolina,eggs and baking powder)and stir until well mixed.

Grease 2 9 inch round pans and divide butter among them. Decorate the surface with whole blanched almonds,pistachios or pine nuts. Bake until golden (30 minutes).

Remove from oven and pour some syrup on the whole pan or on each small muffin size and return the pan to the oven for a few minutes (5 minutes) to dry the surface. Allow to cool,cut into squares like brownies.

Good apetite.