Monday 26 December 2011

Algerian Cookies Recipe

algerian cookies recipe tutorial muslim blog

Today I am sharing with you a family recipe for some Shaped Vanilla Cookies. This recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law, it is my favourite! These are very popular cookies in Algeria and each family will differ a little in how they are made.

Ingredients:
  • 7 eggs
  • 250g Sugar
  • 1 cup of vegetable oil
  • Vanilla flavouring
  • lemon flavouring
  • 1kg Self Raising Flour

Step 1: Make sure you have all the ingredients. (Pic 1)Remove 2 egg yolks from 2 of the eggs and place in a cup as these are needed later.(Pic 12)
Step 2: Mix eggs and sugar in a basin. (Pic 2,3,4)


Step 3: Add vanilla and lemon flavouring (about a teaspoon)
Step 4: Add one cup of oil and mix. (Pic 5)
Step 5: Add the flour gradually (Pic 6) with a spoon until it becomes thick, then use your hands. My children helped join in with this (Pic 7). Until it forms into a ball (Pic 8)


Step 6: Roll out the dough on a floured surface (Pic 9)
Step 7: Cut out the dough using cookie cutters. (Pic 10)
Step 8: Place on a greased tray (Pic 11)
Step 9: Then brush over the cookies with the egg yolk. (Pic 12,13,14) 


Step 10: Place the trays into the oven I use electric oven at 140 for 15-20 minutes.
Step 11: Take out once browned slightly and place on a cooling rack. (Pic 15)
Step 12: Ready to serve (Pic 16)

This recipe should produce quite a few trays, so once you have removed one lot you can put the other trays in the oven. Sometimes these can be decorated, but I prefer them as they are. Occassionally my children add red food colouring and cut out heart shapes - this makes them pink inside when you bite into them!

 The photo below shows my table with these lovely cookies on display. These don't last very long in my house because they really are so delicious and melt in your mouth so that the children finish them off so quickly.
algerian cookies recipe tutorial muslim blog
You may find me at the following parties:
  Pink Hippo PartyBeneath the Rowan TreeMonday Monkey Hop at Mommy of Two Little MonkeysKeeping It SimpleA Marvelous MessThe Girl Creative

Monday 19 December 2011

Burp Cloth Tutorial

burp cloth tutorial muslim blog

This is the first time I have made a burp cloth and I was extremely surprised at how easy they are to make. I made this with a bundle of baby gifts using the same fabric. I downloaded a free pattern but you could just make up your own design.  This is where you can get the free pattern - they also have their own tutorial with great graphics: cloud9fabrics.blogspot.com


Step 1: Download and print pattern if required. (Pic 1)
Step 2:  Place pattern over your chosen fabric and cut out two pieces. Make sure you cut out one shape fabric facing and one not fabric facing - so that when sewn together they are the same shape. (Pic 2)
Step 3: Pin the fabric together - fabric facing touching each other. Then stitch all the way around - leaving a small gap - to turn inside out!.
Step 4: Turn the fabric the right way around and press with an iron. Then top stitch all the way around. (Pic 3) You now have a lovely gift for a new mum. (Pic 4)

How easy was that!

The photograph below shows you the Tagged Blanket that I also made from the same fabric. Here is the link to that tutorial: tagged-blanket-tutorial


You may find me at the following parties:
  Pink Hippo PartyMonday Monkey Hop at Mommy of Two Little MonkeysKeeping It SimpleA Marvelous MessThe Girl Creative

Monday 12 December 2011

Felt Strawberry Tutorial

felt strawberry tutorial muslim blog

The photograph above shows a felt strawberry that I made. These are so easy to make and you don't need a sewing machine, just needle and thread! I have made a quick tutorial on how I made this.

Requirements
  • Red Felt
  • Green Felt
  • Brown/Gold coloured Thread
  • Needle
  • Stuffing
  • An Old CD (anything round!)
  • Paper (optional if you want to make a paper pattern)
   
felt strawberry tutorial

Step 1:  Make sure you have everything you need (See Pic 1)
Step 2: To make a paper pattern, use something round, I used a CD, to draw a circle on some paper. Fold the circle in half and cut across the crease. This will be your paper pattern for the strawberry. Cut out a semicircle from the red felt. (Pic 2)
Step 3: To make a leaf paper pattern - cut out a small square of paper (5cm x 5cm), cut this out into a 4 leaf shape. To make mine, I folded the square in half and then half again. I then snipped of two corners and unfolded the paper, leaving the leaf pattern. (Pic 3)
Step 4: You now have 2 paper patterns (Pic 4) and a semi circle of red felt. Now cut out the green felt into the leaves shape as shown.

felt strawberry tutorial

 Step 5: Fold the red felt into half. Stitch along the curved edge securing both sides. (Pic 5) Leaving the top open.
Step 6: Turn the strawberry inside out, so hiding the stitches already done. (Pic 6)
Step 7: Now stitch loose stitches all along the top of the opened fabric (You are not sewing anything together - these stitches are for gathering). Leave the needle threaded. (Pic 7)
Step 8: Place some stuffing into the strawberry. (Pic 8)

felt strawberry tutorial
Step 9:  Pull on the thread to gather the stitches so closing the top of the strawberry. (Pic 9)
Step 10:  Sew a few stitches to securely fasten. You now have the body of the strawberry.
Step 11: Using your coloured thread, sew random crosses all around the strawberry. I placed the needle through the top of the strawberry to hide the knot. And brought the needle through the top to finish. (Pic 11)
Step 12:  Place the green felt over the top of the strawberry and secure to the top by a couple of stitches in each leaf to the main strawberry (Pic 12) You now have a completed strawberry.

These really are easy to make, my 9 year old daughter made a couple of these too. You can also use these as a pincushion!
You may find me at the following parties:
  Pink Hippo PartyMonday Monkey Hop at Mommy of Two Little MonkeysKeeping It SimpleA Marvelous MessThe Girl Creative