crispy potato & cheese balls (croquettes)

 

🧀 Crispy Potato Cheese Balls

Ingredients:

• 3 large potatoes, boiled & mashed
• 1 cup mozzarella or cheddar cheese (cubed or shredded)
• 2 tbsp cornflour
• 1 tbsp butter
• Salt & black pepper (to taste)
• ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
• Breadcrumbs
• 1 egg (beaten)
• Oil for frying

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix mashed potatoes with butter, cornflour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
2. Take a small amount, flatten it, add cheese in the center, and form into a ball.
3. Dip each ball in beaten egg, then coat with breadcrumbs.
4. Fry in hot oil until golden brown and crispy.
5. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

Tip: Serve with ketchup, mayo, or chili sauce 🔥

Crispy Potato Bites (Potato Croquettes) 🥔✨

 

Crispy Potato Bites (Potato Croquettes) 🥔✨

Ingredients:

• 3–4 medium potatoes, boiled & mashed
• 1 egg
• ½ cup grated cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt & black pepper (to taste)
• ½ cup flour
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• Oil for frying

Instructions:

1. Prepare the mix: In a bowl, combine mashed potatoes, egg, cheese, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
2. Shape: Roll the mixture into small balls or nuggets.
3. Coat: Dip each piece in flour, then breadcrumbs (for extra crunch, dip in beaten egg then breadcrumbs again).
4. Fry: Heat oil over medium heat and fry until golden brown and crispy.
5. Drain & serve: Place on paper towels. Serve hot with mayonnaise or garlic sauce.

Tips:

• For extra crispiness, chill the shaped bites 15 minutes before frying.
• You can bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20–25 minutes, turning halfway.

Enjoy! 😋

Slow-Braised Beef Pot Roast (Tender & Juicy)

 

🍖 Slow-Braised Beef Pot Roast (Tender & Juicy)

This dish looks like a classic oven-braised beef pot roast—super tender, glossy sauce, with carrots and potatoes. Here’s an easy recipe to get the same result 👇

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📝 Ingredients

• 1.5–2 kg beef chuck / shoulder (whole piece)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 3 carrots, large chunks
• 3–4 potatoes, big pieces
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup water (or more broth)
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried thyme or rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tbsp butter (optional, for shine)

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👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Sear the beef
   Heat oil in a heavy pot or Dutch oven. Brown the beef on all sides (very important for flavor).

2. Build flavor
   Remove beef. Add onion and garlic, cook until soft. Stir in tomato paste for 1 minute.

3. Braise
   Return beef to the pot. Add broth, water, salt, pepper, paprika, herbs, and bay leaf.
   Liquid should come halfway up the meat.

4. Slow cook
   Cover and cook:

   • Oven: 160°C for 3 hours
   • Stovetop: very low heat, 3 hours
     Turn meat once halfway.

5. Add vegetables
   Add carrots and potatoes during the last 45 minutes.

6. Finish
   Remove bay leaf. Add butter if desired. Slice beef and spoon sauce on top.

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🔥 Tips for Perfect Tender Meat

• Don’t rush the cooking time
• Meat should pull apart easily
• Even better the next day

Beef & Potato Stew (Hearty Classic Recipe)

 

🍲 Beef & Potato Stew (Hearty Classic Recipe)

This looks like a rich, slow-cooked beef stew with potatoes—tender meat in a deep, savory sauce. Here’s an easy and delicious recipe 👇

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📝 Ingredients

• 1 kg beef (chuck or shoulder), cut into cubes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3–4 potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
• 3 cups beef broth (or water + stock cube)
• 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp cumin (optional)
• 1 bay leaf
• Fresh parsley (for garnish)

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👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Brown the beef
   Heat olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add beef and brown on all sides.

2. Add onion & garlic
   Add chopped onion, cook until soft. Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds.

3. Build the sauce
   Stir in tomato paste and flour. Cook 1 minute to remove raw taste.

4. Simmer
   Add beef broth, salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, and bay leaf.
   Bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover, and simmer 1–1.5 hours until beef is tender.

5. Add potatoes
   Add potatoes and cook 20–25 minutes until soft.

6. Finish
   Adjust seasoning. Remove bay leaf. Garnish with parsley.

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🔥 Tips

• Tastes even better the next day
• Serve with bread or rice
• Can be cooked in a pressure cooker (35–40 min)

Beef and Gravy Over Mashed Potatoes

Beef and Gravy Over Mashed Potatoes

Comfort food at its best — tender beef, rich gravy, and creamy mashed potatoes.

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Ingredients:

For the beef & gravy:

• 1½ lb beef stew meat or chuck, cut into cubes
• 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce (optional, for extra flavor)
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp thyme or Italian seasoning
• Salt & black pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp flour or cornstarch (for thickening)

For the mashed potatoes:

• 2 lb potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 3 tbsp butter
• ½ cup milk or cream
• Salt & black pepper, to taste
• Garlic powder (optional)

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Instructions:

1. Cook the potatoes
   Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender (15–20 minutes).
   Drain, add butter and milk, mash until smooth. Season and set aside.

2. Brown the beef
   Heat oil in a large pan or pot.
   Season beef with salt & pepper.
   Brown beef on all sides (5–7 minutes). Remove and set aside.

3. Make the gravy
   In the same pot, add onion and sauté until soft.
   Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
   Sprinkle flour, stir 1 minute.
   Pour in beef broth, Worcestershire, soy sauce, paprika, thyme. Stir well.

4. Simmer
   Return beef to pot. Cover and simmer on low 45–60 minutes until tender.
   (Or pressure cook 20 minutes / slow cooker 6–8 hours.)

5. Serve
   Spoon beef and gravy generously over mashed potatoes 🤍

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🔥 Optional upgrades:

• Add mushrooms
• Add carrots & peas
• Finish with fresh parsley
• Use cream instead of milk in gravy for extra richness

This is perfect winter comfort food — especially if you love cozy meals like harira 😉

Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken & Linguine in Alfredo Sauce

 

Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken & Linguine in Alfredo Sauce

Rich, creamy, and full of garlic-butter flavor — perfect for lunch or dinner!

Ingredients:

For the chicken:

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp paprika (optional)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

For the pasta & sauce:

• 12 oz linguine (or fettuccine)
• 3 tbsp butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1½ cups heavy cream
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• Salt & black pepper, to taste
• ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

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Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta
   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook linguine according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

2. Cook the chicken
   Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
   Season chicken with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika.
   Add chicken and cook 5–7 minutes until golden and fully cooked.
   Add minced garlic and cook 1 more minute. Remove chicken and set aside.

3. Make the Alfredo sauce
   In the same pan, melt butter.
   Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds.
   Pour in heavy cream and milk. Simmer 3–4 minutes.
   Add Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, salt & pepper. Stir until creamy.

4. Combine everything
   Add cooked chicken and pasta to the sauce.
   Toss well until everything is coated.

5. Serve
   Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve hot 😍

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🔥 Optional add-ins:

• Mushrooms
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Shrimp instead of chicken

Perfect for family dinners or party meals 💯

Can You Spot All the Triangles

 

This is a classic “count the triangles” puzzle 👀🔺

If you count all possible triangles (small ones and bigger ones made by combining them), the correct answer is:

👉 10 triangles

Explanation (simple):

• 6 small individual triangles
• 3 medium triangles
• 1 big triangle (the whole shape)

Total: 6 + 3 + 1 = 10

So if you saw 10, your eyes are sharp 😄