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Fig and Date Bread

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup chopped pitted dates
1 cup chopped dried figs
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x4 inch baking pan.
In a medium bowl, combine the dates, figs, butter and baking soda. Pour in the boiling water, stir well and let stand for 15 minutes.
Beat the sugar, walnuts and eggs into the date mixture. Combine the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder and salt; stir into the date mixture just until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Pomegranate Jelly

INGREDIENTS:
4 cups pomegranate juice
7 1/2 cups white sugar
2 lemons, juiced
1 (6 fluid ounce) container liquid pectin

DIRECTIONS:
Combine pomegranate and lemon juice with sugar in a large, stainless steel saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat, and at once stir in liquid pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil, and boil exactly 1/2 minute. Remove from heat, and skim off foam.
Ladle into hot, sterilized jars to within about 1/4 inch of the top. Seal, and process in a boiling water canner for 5 minutes.

Fereni Starch Pudding

INGREDIENTS:
2/3 cup cornstarch
2 cups milk
6 whole cardamom seeds
1/2 cup ground almonds
rosewater to taste
1/4 cup blanched slivered almonds
1/4 cup white sugar

DIRECTIONS:
Dissolve corn starch in 1 cup of cold milk.
Bring remaining milk to boil with cardamom and ground almonds. Then add corn starch mixture and stir continuously with a whisk. Add sugar and rosewater to taste. Allow the mixture to boil for about 3 more minutes on medium heat. Remove cardamom seeds from the mixture and pour it into serving dishes. Garnish with slivered almonds and serve warm or cold. Enjoy!

Syrian Bread

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/8 cups water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

DIRECTIONS:
Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough cycle; press Start.
Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into eight equal pieces and form into rounds. Cover the rounds with a damp cloth and let rest.
Roll dough into thin flat circles, about 8 inches in diameter. Cook two at a time on preheated baking sheets or a baking stone until puffed up and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Repeat for remaining loaves.

Black Glutinous Rice Porridge

INGREDIENTS:
1 2/3 cups water
1 pandan leaf
3/4 cup black glutinous rice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 cups coconut milk

DIRECTIONS:
In a saucepan bring water and pandan leaf to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove pandan leaf and stir in brown sugar and white sugar. Continue to cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk and remove from heat.