Zaytoun In My Kitchen

I don't have very much that is new in my kitchen this month, just a handful of things that I would like to share.  I have a small selection of Zaytoun produce.  Zaytoun is a social enterprise founded in 2004  to create and develop a UK market for artisan fairly traded Palestinian produce that carries the stories of  'the producers and their land'.  Last month Zaytoun celebrated their 10 year anniversary.  

I discovered Zaytoun when I lived in Glasgow and went along to a Fairtrade event and have been using their ingredients in my kitchen since, especially  their Palestinian Za'atar made with wild thyme, toasted sesame seeds and sumac - a very versatile ingredient, but to be honest I've never really written about Zaytoun on my blog, until now.

In my kitchen this month not only do I have the zesty seasoning za'atar, I also find myself with some maftoul.  Maftoul is a large, hand rolled and pearly grain made from dun-dried bulgar wheat, it has a unique, nutty flavour, some large Om Al-Fahem premium almonds that are sweet,  and large caramelised almonds, a packet that I know once opened you will not want to share with anybody, but a deserved treat for yourself.     

The Zaytoun organic extra virgin olive oil is like no other extra virgin olive oil that I have ever tasted.  The extra virgin oil is extremely luscious and rich, thick, packed with flavour and smooth like velvety gold.  It really is hard to describe. You will have to try it to know what I mean.

Just a couple of weeks back, I tore into my packet of smoky green wheat grain Freekah and made a Smoky Freekeh Warm Salad dish with Roasted Aubergines and Chickpeas.  Hand on heart it was one of the most simplest and most delicious meals ever and I really put it down to the ingredients, rather than the recipe.   If you ever stumble upon Zaytoun ingredients, I would encourage you to try something from the Zaytoun range. 

I forgot to share these Oxfam Ice Tea and Lemonade cans with you last month for IMK, I got them from Bruge, Belgium from Oxfam whilst there for a long weekend.  Yes, I was sold by the pictures on the can, I've never seen anything like this in the U.K, so had to bring back home some to show to friends and family interested in diversity related issues.  I wonder if they will hit the UK Oxfam stores next year?!

I also picked up this gorgeous  ceramic cookie press/mould from Bruge, Belgium for a bargain price of 5 euros reduced from 10 euros.  Of course, I have yet to use them.

These crochet apple baubles are not strictly for the kitchen, but because they a apple shaped, I just felt I had to share them.  I picked them up early in the month from a local craft fair.  

And finally, Christmas Collection tea-bags from Yogi Tea.  I was introduced to Yogi tea by my friend Leah when I visited her in the USA, the only one I tend to buy now and again is the Choco Chilli, but with it being Christmas, well I thought I would treat myself.  

I am sharing this post with Celia at Fig and Jam for November edition of In My Kitchen Series. Please go by and check out the other IMK posts. 

Banana Flapjacks and Banana Beer

Thank you all for you kind comments. Although I am still coughing , sniffling and hearing strange noises coming from my chest as I breathe, I am actually much better than I was at the weekend. I can't say the same for my husband though, he is still very unwell and refuses to take any medication or go to the doctors. Maybe like me his symptoms will just ease away.
I made these banana flapjacks during Fairtrade Fortnight, but had not got round to posting it. So here it is a little late. They are quite simple and straightforward to make. A good breakfast treat.

We had also purchased a bottle of Mongozo Banana beer, more for the novelty taste factor. It was actually quite good, and I'm not a beer girl at all. Next time i'll try the coconut beer.
Banana Flapjacks
Makes about 8 – 10 slices
Ingredients
100g margarine
3 tablespoons honey
375g porridge oats
50g sesame seeds
50g sultanas
2 large ripe bananas, mashed
Method
Preheat oven gas mark 4
Butter a 9 by 13 inch tin. Melt the margarine and the honey in a pan then stir in the remaining ingredients. Spread the mixture into the tin and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 – 25 minutes or until firm and golden. Cool slightly before turning out on a board and cutting into slices.

Baked mexican eggs in tortilla cups

Here are some products I purchased from the Fairtrade event held at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow. I decided not to purchase the usual suspects of chocolate and coffee as I get these all the time, so decided to spend my money on these Streetwires key rings: chilli pepper, strawberry and a ladybird - all made in Cape Town, South Africa. But me being me, have decided to use these as Christmas decorations, instead of sticking them with my clunky keys.

Yes, I know Fairtrade products are expensive, but that is the point - its about fair wages.
As you would expect there were many stalls there, including a Cooperative called Greencity. I often see their products being sold at Roots and Fruits. I tend to buy in bulk and could easily spend lots of pounds there, so asked the lad could I come along and make some substantial purchases. But the lad at the stall said they only deal with traders. Surely the point is to widen ordinary peoples knowledge of ethically sourced products and encourage them to eat more wholesome and healthy food, it left me feeling that it was not very welcoming to the ordinary person on the street. So what was the point of them being at the Faritrade where the majority of people their are individuals with families who were not permitted to shop at Greencity, should they not be at a Trade Fair?

Something else struck a chord with me as well, the Green Party were there too with a petition questioning whether Glasgow City Council really warranted having its fairtrade status. But more thoughts on that later.

Anyway, after wandering the streets of Sauchiehall, I came home and made a Mexican Themed breakfast which D named Baked Mexican eggs in tortilla cups. Fancy name eh? A friend of mine, who now lives in America made these for me one time. I tried to memorise the ingredients, the sauce is not authentic, it should be chipotle sauce, but I don't have any of that, so I used some red hot sauce I made a few days ago.
Ingredients (Makes 6)
For the red hot sauce
400g can tomatoes, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
A few slices of picked jalapeno chillies
1 tablespoon jalapeno chilli juice from a jar
1 teaspoon of red chilli powder
Salt to taste

Place the sauce ingredients in a small pot and bring to the boil. Simmer very gently till reduced and thick. Allow to cool.

For the tortilla cups
Olive oil
3 large/medium Tortillas, each cut into 4 wedges
6 eggs
75g Mature cheddar, grated
3 spring onions, sliced
1 teaspoon smoked cayenne pepper

Heat the oven to gas mark 6. Generously oil 6 of the non-stick muffin tin holes. Use two wedges to line each muffin hold (overlap them so that the pointy end lay on top of the other, flat across the base). Brush the tortilla with olive oil, then spoon in a generous tablespoon of red hot over the bottom of each and crack in an egg. Top with the grated cheese and spring onion, then lightly dust with smoked cayenne.

Bake for about 15 – 20 minutes or until the egg is set to your taste.
Serve salad and extra red hot sauce on the side.

Fairtrade Brownies

As you know this week marks the beginning of Fairtrade Fortnight 23 February to 8th March 2009. http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

I used to work in the Scottish heritage and environmental sector and was aware that Paisley, Bishopton and Lochwinnoch had Fairtrade town and village status, but only recently learned that last year Renfrewshire had been officially named as Scotland’s newest Fairtrade Zone following a hugely successful campaign by Renfrewshire Council, local voluntary organisations, schools, churches and businesses. Change comes from a mobilised grassroots. The impact ordinary people can make is huge. This is the link to the other places in Scotland that now have fairtrade status http://www.scotiafairtrade.com/fairtrade-towns-scotland-ep-29-2.html

I often get to visit some of these places, especially when I have family up from England and Wales. This gives me an opportunity to visit some of these fair-trade shops.

Throughout the year like many I play my small part in supporting Fairtrade initiatives. I like many buy fair-trade bananas from the local supermarket. I will visit the One World Shop which opened in 2002 in Glasgows West End and buy fair-trade Palestine olive oil (so delicious dipped with crusty bread or dribbled over some salad leaves), dried mango and papaya pieces; and from Oxfam I will get my large tub of cafedirect coffee, cocoa powder for baking, chocolate bars, as well as some Traidcraft products.
Anyway, these homemade brownies are made from the fair-trade chocolate above.

Enjoy!