Nina’s Recipes

01/28/2026

Blueberry Cream Cheese Loaf

Ingredients
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups blueberries

Optional: lemon zest or light glaze

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Beat butter, cream cheese, and sugar until creamy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
5. Mix in dry ingredients just until combined.
6. Gently fold in blueberries.
7. Bake 45–60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean (cover loosely if browning).
8. Cool 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack before slicing.

Tip: Toss blueberries in flour to prevent sinking 🍇

01/28/2026

01/23/2026

🥩 Carne Asada (Mexican Grilled Steak)

Ingredients
• 2 lbs flank steak or skirt steak
• ¼ cup fresh lime juice
• ¼ cup orange juice
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• Optional: 1 jalapeño (minced) or 2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Marinade
1. Whisk lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, garlic, spices, salt, and pepper.
2. Add steak, coat well, cover, and marinate 2–4 hours (or overnight for deeper flavor).

Grill
1. Heat grill or cast-iron pan to high heat.
2. Grill steak 3–5 minutes per side (medium-rare to medium).
3. Rest 5–10 minutes, then slice against the grain.

Serve With
• Warm corn tortillas
• Chopped onion & cilantro
• Lime wedges
• Salsa, guacamole, or pico de gallo

💡 Tip: Skirt steak gives the most authentic flavor, but flank steak works great too.

01/23/2026

Toumeya (Arabic Garlic Paste) – Classic & Fluffy

Ingredients
• 1 cup garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup neutral oil (canola or sunflower), very cold
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, cold
• 2–3 tbsp ice-cold water (as needed)

Method
1. Blend garlic + salt until very smooth.
2. With blender running, drizzle oil very slowly until it thickens.
3. Alternate tiny pours of lemon juice and oil.
4. Add a little ice-cold water to keep it light and fluffy.
5. Blend until white, creamy, and spoonable.

Tips
• Everything cold = success.
• Go slow with the oil to avoid splitting.
• Keeps 1–2 weeks refrigerated.

01/23/2026

Shish Tawook

Ingredients
• 1½ lb boneless chicken thighs, cubed
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• ¼ cup plain yogurt
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 tsp each: cumin, paprika, allspice, coriander
• 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper

Steps
1. Mix all ingredients to make a marinade.
2. Add chicken, coat well, marinate 1 hour (or overnight).
3. Skewer chicken (add veggies if you like).
4. Grill on medium-high, turning, 15–20 min until cooked.
5. Rest 2 minutes. Serve with pita and garlic or tahini sauce.

01/22/2026

Ingredients:
Puff pastry, 1 egg (wash), 3 cups mushrooms, 1 onion, 1 cup Gruyère, 2 garlic cloves, thyme, rosemary, olive oil, salt & pepper.

Method:
1. Heat oven to 200°C / 400°F.
2. Sauté onion & mushrooms in oil until golden. Add garlic, herbs, seasoning.
3. Cool slightly, mix in cheese.
4. Place filling on pastry, cut sides and braid.
5. Brush with egg, bake 25–30 min until golden.

01/21/2026

Egyptian Rice Pudding

Ingredients
• 1 L whole milk
• 1 cup white rice
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tsp vanilla

Topping (optional)
• Raisins, chopped almonds & walnuts
• Shredded coconut, cinnamon

Instructions
1. Cook rice in water until very soft and water is absorbed.
2. Add milk, sugar, and cream; bring to a boil, stirring.
3. Simmer 10 minutes on low.
4. Mix cornstarch with 2 tbsp water, stir into pudding until thick.
5. Turn off heat, add vanilla, rest 5 minutes. ゚viralシ

01/20/2026

Middle Eastern Stuffed Potatoes

Ingredients
• 10 medium potatoes

Filling
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 300 g minced beef
• 1 tsp allspice
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp cardamom
• Salt, to taste

Sauce
• 1 kg tomatoes
• 2½ cups water
• Salt, to taste

⸻

Instructions
1. Peel and core the potatoes (use a potato or apple corer).
2. Sauté onion in olive oil until soft. Add beef and spices; cook, then set aside.
3. Fill potatoes with meat mixture.
4. Shallow-fry potatoes in olive oil until golden; drain on paper towels.
5. Blend tomatoes, water, and salt until smooth.
6. Place tomato slices in a baking dish, arrange potatoes on top, and pour sauce over.
゚viralシ

01/20/2026

Italian Cookies

Ingredients
• 10 Tbsp salted butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 Tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Pinch of salt
• 3 cups flour
• 3½ tsp baking powder

Glaze
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1½–2 Tbsp milk
• Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions
1. Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet.
2. Beat butter & sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt.
3. Mix flour with baking powder; add to dough until firm.
4. Roll 1 Tbsp dough into balls or shapes. Place 2” apart.
5. Bake 8 minutes. Cool completely.
6. Glaze and decorate with sprinkles.

✨ Simple, soft & classic Italian cookies! ゚viralシ

01/20/2026

Tomato Basil Soup

Ingredients
• 2½ lb roma tomatoes, halved
• ¼ cup olive oil
• Salt & black pepper
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• ⅓ cup carrots, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp fresh thyme
• 1 cup fresh basil (+ more for garnish)

Instructions
1. Roast tomatoes at 350°F with 2 Tbsp oil, salt & pepper for 1 hour.
2. Sauté onion, carrots & garlic in remaining oil until soft.
3. Add tomatoes, broth, vinegar & thyme. Simmer 20 minutes.
4. Blend until smooth, add basil, pulse.
5. Season and garnish with fresh basil.

✨ Cozy, fresh & flavorful ゚viralシ

01/09/2026

Chicken Mole:

Meat
4 pieces Chicken thighs ゚viralシ

Produce
3 Ancho chiles, medium
1/4 cup Cilantro, Fresh
4 cloves Garlic cloves
3 Guajillo chiles, medium
1 can Tomatoes, Fire-Roasted
1 Yellow onion, medium

Canned Goods
1 cup Chicken broth, Low-Sodium

Baking & Spices
4 oz Mexican chocolate
1 Stick cinnamon

Oils & Vinegars
2 tbsp Olive oil

Nuts & Seeds
1/2 cup Pumpkin seeds

01/09/2026

Dawood Basha Kofta ( Meatballs )
Meat
2 1/4 lbs Ground beef, fresh

Produce
1 tsp Coriander, ground
1 tbsp Garlic
1 Little chopped parsley
1 Onion, medium

Canned Goods
3 1/3 tbsp Tomato paste

Condiments
1 large cup Tomato sauce, cooked

Baking & Spices
1 tsp Black pepper
1 pinch Black pepper
1 tsp Cinnamon, ground
1 tsp Paprika, sweet
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Spices, mixed ground

Oils & Vinegars
1 Little oil

Nuts & Seeds
1 tsp Cumin

Dairy
1 tbsp Ghee or clarified butter. ゚viralシ