November 2014

Minnie's has been very busy these past few weeks, trying to bring you a variety of new items. And here they are!

Kiwi: back on the dryer and on our list. Green and crispy and tart.

Guava: we cut the fruit in allumette and dried it. The result is fantastic, a must try, although fresh guavas are in season.

Mushroom: white button mushrooms dried to a nice chewy bite. Great for soups, in gravies and in salads.

October 2014

Slow Food! Torino, Italy! Terra Madre! 

What are all these words and names?

The words are for a group that Minnies belongs to: Slow Food Egypt.
The others are the names of places where Minnies Dried Fruits & Vegetables has been to. 

Not Minnies in person, no, not this year, but where Minnies products have been.

The Slow Food group we are members in was gracious enough to take with them some of dried vegetables as part of the delegation representing Egypt and its ethnic foods in Torino Italy at the bi-annual event called Terra Madre.

People from all of the world attend this event and Minnies dried mololheya and dried okra had the honor of being displayed and tasted there. 

Here are a couple of pictures taken at the event and you can see Minnies boxes :

Minnies boxes on display

Minnies boxes and people listening 

Samira wrote this about it: 'a few photos (attached) at our Egypt booth with people tasting your products, with our amazingly helpful cashier Franscesca. 

It was really great to have them along because it allowed the visitors to taste our molokheya and see the okra and the other herbs. Next time you must come yourself. As one of the Workshop givers about how to dry the veggies and present them in a new, modern packaging!! Well done Minnie!!'

Thank you Samira for reporting. 

Chia Seeds

We have some boxes of chia seeds available now. And we are planting the seeds of chia and hope to have a nice crop in a few months.  Look at the beautiful blue flowers that attract butterflies. 

Read more about this wonderful seeds that comes to us from South America.

http://www.revitaliseyourhealth.com/benefits-of-chia-seeds

October 2014

Fall is in the air! 

The wind is a little nippy in the morning! 

The green parakeets are back from their summer break! 

The sky is slowly changing from that steel blue color of summer, to the softer blue of Fall!

The white puffs of clouds are floating in the morning sky!

And most importantly, less humidity!

Definitely a change of season, ever so subtle!

The fruits are also changing with the season, the mangos and dates are almost finished and the oranges are coming to market. Still a little too green to dry, but soon they will be ready for our solar tunnel.

Our stock room is full of the summer bounty and we are ready for all the markets and bazaars that are scheduled in October and November. You will find dried fruits & vegetables that have been dried using solar energy and have retained their nutritional value. So get ready for bamia weeka, for eggplants and red peppers and tomatoes, and of course cherries, dates, mangoes. Take your pick. Our list is updated regularly, so order soon or come see us at markets.

We are looking forward to seeing you there:

Nun Farmers' Market: every Saturday from 10 to 2pm at 4 Shafik Mansour St. in Zamalek
Kattameya Healthy Living on October 22, from 11 to 7pm
WOW bazaar: on November 12 in Maadi
Kattameya Healthy Living on November 26, from 11 to 7pm.

Upcoming events

What is happening the week of September 13 to Sept 19?

September 13: 

Minnie's will be at the Nun Center Farmer's Market on Saturday from 10 to 2pm.  

September 17: 

Minnie's will be at the Kattameya 

Farmer's market from 11 to 7pm.

September 2014

September! New beginnings! New school year! New planting seasons! New Farmers' Markets! 

And what is new at Minnie's Dried Fruits & Vegetables?

Mangoes: They are not new to us, our dried mangoes have become a staple. always on the lookout for better or new varieties, I found this season an orchard that grows varieties of mangoes I was not familiar with.  They also follow very strict agricultural practices and control the fruit flies very well without spraying. I experimented with a few of their mangoes and selected two kinds that I think are great dried. Their color is a happy orange and their taste is exquisite.  I know you will enjoy them.

Figs: we have been drying figs for a couple of years now, with no preservatives, no sulfur and no added sugar. We used to flatten them and dry them. This year, wanting to improve on their color we decided to peel them and to quarter them. Result: a great looking fig with an unbeatable sweet taste.

Tomatoes: we usually dried them as tomato rounds, they were good, but I wanted a fleshier dried tomato, so we experimented with tomato wedges. Result: a much nicer tomato, great color and meatier.

September is a very busy month!

Nun Center will hold its first farmers market on Saturday the 6th of September, and then every Saturday after that except on official holidays. Market hours are from 10-2pm at the Center at 4 Shafik Mansour Street, Zamalek. Come see us there and taste before you buy.

On the 17th of September, a Wednesday, Minnie's will be at the Kattameya Healthy Living Event from 11 am to 7pm.

On the 26th of September, a Friday, Minnie's will take part in the annual Date Festival at Fagnoon. The theme is about dates and date palm tree. So vendors will be there exhibiting and selling products made with dates, from chutneys, cookies, and cakes, to items made from parts of the tree including chairs and tables and much more.  Fagnoon is a fun place for the family, so come and enjoy the celebration of the Egyptian dates.

August 2014

It is already the latter part of August. Where did the days go? Oh well, it doesnt matter because we have continued to work even with the electricity power cuts, because our dryer and our products do not rely on electricity. 

They need the sun, its energy and its heat. 

And that we have had plenty of. 

And it is free. 

So we have dried the luscious khashaby pears, the juicy barshoomey figs, some watermelon, raisins of all colors and sizes, tomatoes, lemon grass, bay leaf and the MANGO!

We tested a new variety of mango called "ananas". It dried beautifully, keeping a wonderful orange color and a flavor to die for. We also dried some hendi mango which dried nicely, if a little darker than ananas. We are continuing to dry mangoes and hope to have a large enough supply this year to last the entire year.

We want to thank the Lemon Tree for putting Minnie's products on their menus at the Sahel. I hear that Lemon Tree at Marassi was a great hit and I personally loved the Beach Bar at Telal. In Sesaon in Zamalek, also uses some of our products. And soon more restaurants in Zamalek will be carrying our products and using them in their menus. I will keep you posted as they open.

Dont forget that the Bioshop in Zamalek carries our range of products, so does its sister store in Degla Maadi. 

You can also find us on line at NGS (ngs-egypt.com) and Offah.com

Have a great end of summer and looking forward to seeing you at the farmer's markets once they resume in September.

August 2014

Earlier this year I wrote about a few restaurants around town that use Minnie's Dried Fruits & Vegetables in their menus and breakfast buffets.

I would like to tell you more about some of them.  

In Season Store, located at 3 Ismail Mohamed in Zamalek is operating in soft opening mode. Just as the name indicates, they use ingredients that are in season, and they also use some of our products because they are prepared with no additives, no preservatives, no sugar and no coloring.

The Lemon Tree & Co. in Zamalek also "has squeezed the juice out of its last lemon of the season. Our zesty Zamalek venue will be closing its doors for the summer in preparation for a fabulous Fall. In the meantime the fun continues at Marassi... this time with a tantalizing twist." They have moved to the Sa7el for the rest of the summer and have opened two new venues , one at Marassi, an elegant restaurant that uses Minnie's products, the other at the beach in Telal, where they will serve the catch of day in a more relaxed atmosphere and sprinkle Minnie's products on their plates.

So if you are anywhere near Telal or Marassi do take the time to check these two new places out and report back to us.

Good eating, and bil hana wel shefa

END OF RAMADAN

EED FEAST

I would like to wish everyone a peaceful end of the fasting month of Ramadan and a very happy feast amidst all the heartbreaking news about children dying, cities being bombed, fellow humans being annihilated, and humanity ceasing to have a heart.

We are closing so as to give our women at Minnie's the opportunity to get ready for the end of the fasting month.  They are going to be busy with what is known in the West as Spring Cleaning. They will be washing, cleaning and baking to get ready for  eed.

Eed is the celebration at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting in the Muslim community. It is celebrated in Egypt by eating:  Eating kahk and ghorayeba, the specialties of this feast.  They are baked sweets, a little like shortbread, filled with either dates or honey or a jelly made with honey and rose water then powdered sugar sprinkled on them. They are yummy and come just in time after fasting.

See you in early August with our dried pears, figs and more!

July 2014

Ramadan 1435 

And the seasons change….

Spring has eased into Summer and Ramadan is here with its  spirituality and its commercial side: this year's Sissi lanterns, new lights and new mosalsalaats.  As the pace of life slows down and some of you head to the cooler shores make sure you take Minnie's with you wherever you go. Minnie's dried products are easy to keep: they do not need electricity nor do they need special storing facilities. My grandchildren who are in town now, have requested that we take Minnie's dried fruits as we head out to the shore. So you too as you head out make sure you Minnie's goes along! 

Minnie's has just attended its last event of the season and I would like to say that I had a lot fun seeing old friends and making new ones at all the interesting  markets and events we attended all over Cairo, at the Lotus Center in 6th of October City, at the Arkan Mall, the Kattameya Country Club and of course our regulars at the Nun Farmer's Market.  My cousin from Kansas came to Egypt and was part of the Minnie's operation. She enjoyed meeting you and talking with you and working side by side with the women in Dahshour.   On behalf of all f us at Minnie's I want to thank each and everyone of you for making it such a great, enjoyable and fun season. We are grateful for your continued support and love that you love our products.

As to our news, it is now cherry season and the young women in Dahshour are busy pitting them and setting them out on the dryer. It is a long and tedious process.  It will take them a few days to dry and then... packed and ready to be eaten with the Ramadan khoshaf.  The same happens with the grapes! We have started with the red grapes and already have a nice stock. Soon the Egyptian green grapes will hit the markets and we will dry them too.  In between the cherries and the grapes we dry bamia (okra)  for those of you who enjoy 'waika'.  Then the pear season will be upon us and will soon be ready for drying.

At the moment we have a wonderful selection of Egyptian fruits, full of flavor and great as a 'sohoor' option:  apricots, prunes, raisins, and apples, cut up into a bowl of yogurt, or just plain out of the box. 

Although Minnie's Dried Fruits & Vegetables attended its last Farmer's Markets and events for the season you can still buy our delicious products throughout Ramadan and the hot summer months. Click on the tab "Products and Price List" to find out what is available now and to select what you like.You can find our products in several stores, so please check the tab 'Finding Minnie's' for an updated list of places that carry our products.  And remember you can place orders by email at minnies or by calling our mobile at 01111047555. We deliver too; free if you live in Maadi and for a small delivery fee for all other areas.

Bil hana wel shefa

June 2014

Already June! and soon the end of the school year, the beginning of summer vacation! 

And spring and early summer fruits! Apricots, nectarines, plums and Egyptian apples. We are getting ready for Ramadan too!

This year our dried apricots are magnificent and their color is just the right dark orange. The plums are pitted and dried to a tart tasting prune. The nectarines are delicious and the Egyptian apples are cut into crescents to differentiate them from the Italian apples.

Please check our Product list as  a few of our popular items are out of stock . We no longer have mangoes, oranges and tangerines although we dried the same amount as last year. 

But we have linseed and coriander seeds grown under safe agriculture. Are you interested? 

May 2014

We closed down in May for a few weeks to do some maintenance at Minnie's. And now we are back in full swing!!!

Nun Farmer's Market

In fact on May 17 we were at Nun's Farmer's market in Zamalek in the morning, then we went all the way up to Kattameya to Al Hayah International Academy at the invitation of their PTA ( Parent Teacher Association) to celebrate with them their 10th anniversary and their healthy living week. 

Al Hayah's PTA is promoting healthy eating and has prepared a week long program called  "Change Your Life to Healthy" week addressing the whole school body and including 
activities such as morning jog, healthy snacks competition, yoga, healthy nutrition workshop, etc.

The week ended with a Healthy Fun Picnic day & Farmer's market on Saturday May 17th.

What a great idea!! I hope more and more schools will initiate such programs and ensure that the kids at school are eating properly balanced meals and are leading active healthy lives.

Minnie's was there and we want to thank the PTA for including us as well as all the parents-and children who stopped our table to sample and buy.

Minnie's goal has always been to be included in schools/university cafeterias or canteens to provide a healthy option to students-and their parents too!

Al Hayah School

Cut and Dried... Minnie's Dried Fruits & Vegetables

Cut and Dried... Minnie's Dried Fruits & Vegetables

exhibiting dried fruits

strawberries, apples & cantaloup

strawberries & oranges

carrots

parsley

April-May 2014

Happy sham ennessim and Happy Easter! 

What is new at Minnies' Dried Fruits & Vegetables this time of year?

Chia Seeds! Do you remember the chia balls in pots that are sold at bazaars? you buy this potato head and you are told to water the top and watch! And lo and behold, the head sprouts and in a few weeks you have this very cute character  with green grass growing pout of its head!!

Chia plants, butterfly on blue flowers 

Well,  I planted the seeds in the ground and watched them germinate and poke through the black fertile soil of our plot and stretch up towards the sun and form the beautiful spikes full of blue flowers,. And then the flowers turned into husks filled with the little chia seeds.  They dried on their stalks and it was harvest time.



And now we have a very limited supply of chia seeds, grown in Egypt under safe agriculture measures. We sell them in our PET clear boxes of 75 g.

For more about chia seeds as the famous Dr. Oz sees it, please click on the link:
http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/lindsey-duncan-nd-cn/chia-ancient-super-secret


Kiwi rounds are back on our list of products.

Physallis (harankash) dried in  a limited quantity as a trial. They turned out really good, a sweet and tart flavor, and they kept a lovely yellow golden color.

And of course we carry our specialty jams and marmalades, our fruits dipped in chocolate, our ginger and kurkum biscotti's filled with our dried fruits. Click on the tab for Products and price lists to see what is available now.

March 2014

Have you noticed? I skipped February's letter. I was very busy working on new items, actually a new line.

Just in time for the perfect gift for mother's day which is this month in Egypt and just in time  to celebrate the beginning of Minnie's Dried Fruits & Vegetables 

4th year in business.

Solar dried fruit dipped in Chocolate! 

Our new line.  

In cooperation with Ganache, French Chocolate, we bring you Minnie's selection of dried fruits dipped half way in white chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate to tease your taste buds.  We chose the Egyptian apple crescents, the dates, the bananas, the mango , the pears, the strawberries and the candied lareng (bitter oranges).

Beautiful boxes are filled with a mix of the fruits in a mix of chocolate coating. Boxes come in small, medium, big and extra big boxes. Your choice.

JANUARY 2014

Harankash, the fruit of January

Earlier this month, I  posted an article about Physalis or 7arankash. And this week, I made 7arankash marmalade.

7arankash marmalade is a lovely golden color with a tinge of green. I think its taste is exquisite and I think that it will please the taste buds of even those who don't particularly care for the fruit itself.

In order to entice you to try it, we decided to offer two sizes: a small jar averaging 220g that sells for LE20 and a large size averaging 400g that sells for LE 35.  Are you ready to try some?

JANUARY 2014

A new year beginning!

And a few new items at Minnie's Dried Fruits and Vegetables!

A new strawberry season! Although the weather has not been very cooperative, what with being overcast and cold for most of the days, we have managed to dry some of the tastiest and most fragrant strawberries we have ever prepared. 

A new tangerine season is under way as well. Our stock isn't very large yet, but for those of you have been waiting patiently for the new crop, we have a fews boxes ready for your chewing.

We have also taken advantage of the physalis or 7arankash that has appeared on the market a few weeks ago and we have dried a few kilos of it. Why don't you read about physalis/7arankash-if the name rings a bell- under the Article tab and see what you can do with it dried or fresh.

Our dried cherries have been a very successful item this year. Unfortunately we have run out of the pitted cherries, but I have a large stock of cherries with pits and have decided to make cherry jam with them. It is a long and tedious process that is worth every minute of it, as the jam is very tasty, a little tart with a lot of fruit and low in sugar. It reminds me of the sour cherry or weshna jam that we used to find in Egypt a long time ago.

As you know, our products are seasonal, therefore I suggest that you consult our Products & Price list tab to see what is available now in January.   Make your selection and place your order by sending an email to minnies.egypt@gmail.com or calling on 
011 1104 7555