Banana Smoothie Recipe

Today’s recipe is super easy, healthy and refreshing especially in this hot weather.  

Everybody almost knows how to make smoothies but since some of the readers of this blog are my teenage-students who are keen to learn new “western” and international dishes, I try to include easy to prepare basic recipes from time to time.

All you have to do is just putting all the ingredients in the blender and enjoy.

For the milk you can use any kind like low-fat or vegan milk  (almond, rice, soy).

For the sweetener it’s optional and you can use any kind of sweetener you like, and for the vanilla it's optional . I like using vanilla beans when available. Since, it's hard to find it where I live. 

Banana Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 medium banana
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp raw honey
• 1 cup ice cubes

Cooking Directions

1. Peel the banana and cut it into pieces.
2. Place all ingredients in a blender.
3. Blend until smooth
4. Pour into a glass and enjoy

Eggless Custard Butter Cookies

I am back to cooking and sharing recipes with you dear friends.  Last September  I was sent to work in the desert as a teacher and since then I stopped making desserts. 

I am planning on preparing lots and lots of dishes. I started with a middle-eastern cookie recipe because it is very easy to make and at the same time very yummy. It tastes like store-bought cookies and it goes well with Turkish coffee that I am addicted to this period. 

One of the famous sweets in the Middle East  is butter cookies which they call "ghrayba". Of course there are numerous types of butter cookies especially in Tunisia that I hope I can share with you.  This time I will share with you my mom's favorite type of butter cookies. 

These egglless melt-in-your-mouth cookies are perfect for those who don't prefer eggs in dessert recipes like me. 

Eggless Custard Butter Cookies

Recipe by Marwa

Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Total time: 40 mins
Ingredients

• 1, 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup vanilla custard powder
• 2, 1/4 cup flour

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F/180C.
2. Sift the flour, custard powder, and icing sugar together.
3. Add the butter and vanilla extract and knead until you get a soft and smooth dough.
4. Make small balls (about 1 inch balls) out of the dough.
5. Line on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
6. Press the balls on top with a fork to mark lines.
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
8. Cool the cookies on the sheet.