French Madeleines – small, soft and light shell-shaped sponges. I figured it’s not only me that needs time to adjust to new surroundings, my camera does too! Rather I need to get used to not having as much light permeate the windows and the harsher shadows that exist this time of year. Maybe I just haven’t found the right … Read more
The more lemon you add, the better the cake! In my opinion that is, so let’s get started…. How It’s Made First let’s make homemade buttermilk, using 1/2 cup whole milk plus 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice, stir together then set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle /beater attachment, beat … Read more
Easy & Light Lemon Coriander Chicken Couscous Being a sucker for all things lemon and my favourite herb being coriander it was destiny (masha’Allah) I put the two together. I’ve been eating a lot of chicken lately and it’s the perfect carrier for this flavour combo, well I’ve never heard of a lemon and coriander cake, have you?! As much as … Read more
Lemon Ricotta Cake ~ a light yet moist cake, flavoured with tangy lemon zest and a covering layer of crunchy flaked almonds. We were given dishes to try from the country of Malta by our host Yasmeen of A Wandering Spice . Located just 95 kms south of Sicily (Italy) and 290 kms from the North African coast Maltese cuisine is strongly influenced by … Read more
Sweet Lemon & Cardamom Rolls ~ sweet, sticky, tangy, aromatic yeasted buns ideal for breakfast, brunch or dessert! Made using part whole wheat flour they have more substance than your regular white and fluffy cinnamon rolls which means they should keep you satisfied for longer, they are also refined sugar-free. I used unrefined cane sugar i.e. golden cane sugar. … Read more
Tarte Au Citron – Lemon Tart A buttery sweet shortcrust pastry, encasing a rich baked lemon custard. I absolutely L.O.V.E lemon-anything and everything! Lemons not only look pretty – give me a bowl of lemons instead of a bouquet of flowers and I’ll be happy, they bring freshness and sourness to many a baked good, dessert, drink, chicken … Read more
Fresh and zingy lemon drizzle scones filled with mascarpone and strawberry jam. After making buttermilk vanilla scones the other week they went down so well with the family I decided to make more. this time instead of vanilla being the star now it’s lemon. We are gently holding on to summer flavours whilst putting our best foot feet … Read more
These lemon scones may just be my best scones to date….. Scones are my go-to these days when I want to bake. They are quick to make with minimum ingredients that I almost always have at home. My in-laws lemon tree is yielding fruit this time of year. I’ve taken full advantage of this and … Read more
Lemon Meringue Roulade with home-made lemon curd. Deliciously light and lemony! My Pinterest board ‘Bakes & Makes‘ features so many lemon-flavoured desserts I may have to rename the board ‘All things Lemon’ and that’s putting it mildly as I’m really rather obsessed! So yeah, this lemon meringue roulade caught my eye via an email from Good To Know. … Read more
Today I have for you an Easy Lemon Yoghurt Loaf Cake recipe. It’s sweet, tart, and comes together in a jiffy – without an electric mixer. And…look out! because this easy loaf cake will be devoured in no time. A cake that is moist, rich and dense – in the best possible way. Eat a slice or two … Read more
Eggless Honey Lemon Ginger Cake – not exactly what the doctor ordered to cure a cold / flu but it will definitely keep your energy levels up! My family and I have caught a cold actually it could be flu and then again it could be hayfever, confused? I know I am. I’m no doctor … Read more
As-Salaamu Alaykum, Angel food cake with lemon curd is a must bake from this years series of The Great British Bake Off It was given to the Bakers by Paul and Mary as their first technical challenge. Needless to say really, this is not an easy recipe for a novice baker to attempt however with a little know how (different stages of whipping egg whites, how to make an angel food cake) and … Read more
How are you all? I’ve had a long week taking care of my poorly children, Alhamdulillah it’s nothing major, they have cold. We have had quite a number of sunny days here this week Masha’Allah but not helpful when making pastry coupled with the kids being sick and needing extra care and attention i’ve not had the time or desire to do Take 2 of Vanilla Custard Slice, it is … Read more
Twabaa – Algerian cookies that are traditionally flavoured with citrus zest, vanilla and/ or anise seeds. I highly suspect Twabaa are the same cookies as the very similar named Tabaa cookies which take their name from the Algerian word for cookie cutter / mould BUT, the thing is these cookies today don’t need such cutter. Hands roll the soft,slightly sticky dough into balls which are … Read more
This was my first attempt at a GIANT lemon cupcake. It didn’t all go according to plan but i’m sure there will be a next time to perfect my cupcake creation, maybe EID inshaAllah. So here is what went wrong:- I undercooked the top of the giant cupcake even i tested it with a scewer and it came out clean! This was evident when i tried … Read more
As- Salamu Alaikum / Greetings Reader, My sincere apologises to any of my instagram followers who saw my pic of these mini vanilla custard slices many days ago now and have been waiting to hear more about them, well let me tell you they didn’t take all this time to eat, they were gone within 24 hours = proof you need to … Read more
Djaj – Chicken, Qdra – Pot, Shorba – Soup I always go to soup and stews recipes as a healthier comfort food option, this soup hit all the right spots in terms of ease and flavour. The spices Saffron and Cinnamon are the best of north african flavours and both play a key role in this wholesome bowl of Chicken … Read more
This template is back from my school days when i studied food technology/home economics, we were tasked with designing a healthy cereal bar. The baker in me was graded a B and although i was keen on baking back in the day, i never thought of pursuing it as a career choice as i was also … Read more
Tasty north african spiced, baked chicken kebabs also known as kabobs. I found this recipe whilst browsing pinterest, original can be found on closet cooking. Changes I Made I used Halal Chicken Thighs which were skinless, boneless and diced, The original recipe doesn’t state what part of the chicken to be used but I like thigh … Read more
This month MENA Cooking Club members were set the challenge to cook like an Egyptian! Egyptian cuisine is largely vegetarian based as the country’s fertile nile valley and delta produce large quantities of high quality legumes and vegetable crops. Bread is also a big part of the cuisine much like it is in Algeria but instead of baguettes or … Read more
Earlier this week i mentioned my trouble baking Madeleines, it’s not that I haven’t made them before but well i was out of practice and had forgotten which recipe I previously used. This is one of the reasons I started to blog so I would have a log of all my favourite baking recipes without having to search in cupboards and draws for that printed recipe you know you had but it’s … Read more
Seriously, does salad need a recipe said I not too long ago when posting this couscous salad on Instagram. It had no recipe because when I’m really hungry I don’t count or measure salad ingredients accurately. I look, grab, chop veg, drizzle EVO oil, shake salt, toss and go eat. Ok in the above case … Read more
Irish soda bread: basic but wholesome! Following on from my wholemeal pancakes I tried this Irish soda bread that uses half wholemeal flour and with no added yeast the breads rise comes from the alkaline baking soda reacting with the acidic buttermilk and is a great recipe for your young budding scientist / child to get involved in and help … Read more
It’s Friday, the best day of the week and I have something very special for you in the first of a 2-part Dessert & Dinner guest post from my blogging buddy Maryam of Maryam Makes. Let’s get started with dessert and what better dessert there is than cake, chai spiced layered carrot cake and well we all secretly want to eat dessert … Read more
Almond Cupcakes ~ flavoured with deep, nutty, french bitter almond extract, brightened with the zest of a lemon and topped with natural flavoured cherry bakewell buttercream icing. Last Friday afternoon I got the sudden urge to bake. It hasn’t happened in a while this baking urge but I’m guessing I felt the need to bake … Read more
English Madeira Cake ~ A cake with a firm yet light texture, similar to pound cake and traditionally flavoured with lemon. Many people mistakenly believe Madeira cake 1.contains Madeira wine or 2. is from the Madeira Islands. Whilst the cake neither has Madeira wine or is from the islands (see Bolo de mel) it is still named after the Portuguese … Read more
Bursting with butter, Brioche Brioche is a very rich, yet beautifully light and fluffy French bread / pastry. It’s high butter and egg content gives the brioche a rich and tender crumb. I adapted Paul Hollywood’s Brioche recipe which has no less than, 250g butter and 5 eggs to 500g bread flour plus full fat milk to bring the dough together. I added the … Read more
Date & Walnut Tea Loaf Cake has; a super tender crumb, sweet chewiness from dates and just the right amount of bite from crunchy walnuts. The caramel-like sweetness of the loaf is lightened with lemon zest and Earl Grey tea. It’s no secret I like the date & walnut combination, see date & walnut cookies and date & walnut couronne and as you … Read more
Super easy Citrus Cardamom Honey Yogurt Cake. First of all being English I should know we spell it Yoghurt not Yogurt, but as I adapted an Ina Garten (American) recipe you can forgive me right?! and yes it’s a long title, I feel I should have put a comma or an & in somewhere… One taste of … Read more
As-Salaamu Alaykum, Chicken Tikka Masala is arguably the most popular foreign dish in the UK.It is mainly of south Asian origin but some say the rich creamy sauce was added later, to satisfy the British peoples desire to have their meat served in ‘gravy’. No matter the origin. The dish has certainly won a place … Read more
My favourite soups & stews to be serving in these colder months. Even in Algeria North Africa we have had a drop in temperature, a few rainy days and even a few stormy nights a couple of weeks ago and what came along with that? Apart from fear, no electricity therefore no internet. We don’t really value … Read more
A delicious and nutritious bowl of chicken and green lentil soup….. It’s been just over a week since my last post and a major change has occurred, we moved home maa shaa Allah (as Allah willed) and Al hamdu lillah (all praise and thanks to Allah) While I continue unpacking boxes and large black bags full of clothes, here’s a … Read more
This humble stew is one of many I have on the blog but somehow this feels special, not only because I took a few more minutes to ‘dress’ the plate. 10 years ago I’d never even heard of an artichoke let alone tasted one. Come to think of it most of the ingredients I … Read more
Moroccan Spiced Chicken Tagine with Artichoke, Fennel and Peas. Also known as Sunshine On A Plate! It feels good to be getting back to a savoury recipe, after all the sweet recipes I’ve shared lately and what can be better than an easy one-pot meal? This space is full of them! Now, I’m no stranger to the three/four … Read more
A plateful of this warming Jwaz Zitoun – Olive Stew is in order, now the temperatures are slowly dropping. The days are getting shorter and the nights will soon be long and cold. Autumn is near. Succulent iron-rich beef, sweet carrots and potatoes complement the contrasting strong olive flavour. Making this a dish you will want to make … Read more
Imam Bayildi made even easier! and a Turkish delight of a dish. The name translates to ‘the Imam fainted’. Yes, apparently he fainted after tasting this delicious olive oil ladened aubergine dish. While the story (read stories) behind the dish maybe a bit of an exaggeration (tell me a ‘foodie’ who hasn’t exaggerated?!) it’s definitely a dish I enjoy … Read more
Smooth, velvety Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Kirmizi Mercimek Çorbasi)… Recently I was bowled over by the flavours in Maryam’s Turkish Couscous Salad I simply had to try another Turkish recipe. The combination of onion, paprika/chilli, mint and lemon juice in this salad worked extremely well, together with the excellent flavour carrier that is couscous and the fresh crunchy vegetables (ok tomato is … Read more
Upma – Simple South Indian Semolina Breakfast I’m away from blogging any new recipes right now, due to a few issues I have with my tech. Here is an updated recipe for Upma from the lovely Famidha of My Life In Yanbu Blog. The original guest post is from last year when I first moved here…. Assalamu Alaikum dear readers … Read more
Eat your greens, yes ma’am. Lebanese style lentil spinach vermicelli soup. Brighter days with bitterly cold winds mean only one thing, spring is here near and it’s still more than OK to eat soup, yipeee! In this months MENA cooking club host Sara gave us 3 dishes from Lebanon to choose from. I chose Rishta soup: I love soup I like to vary what I cook (last … Read more
Mouskoutchou a light and spongy Algerian cake. Traditionally flavoured with citrus zest and/or vanilla. I’ve put my own twist(s) on Mouskoutchou; adding Tahini into the cake batter for a toasted nutty flavour and sprinkling with white sesame seeds for added flavour, texture and visual. Mouskoutchou has a gentle sweetness and a simple decoration. An easy ‘everyday’ type of cake to … Read more
I’ve been waiting for the ‘right time’ to post this recipe for just over a month. I first got the urge to try a new cookie at the beginning of December. When these cookies were an instant hit and I had the urge to share, I stepped back. Thinking how my posting a cookie recipe … Read more
Are you a Muslim who loves cooking and exploring new flavors? If so, you may have wondered whether certain ingredients commonly found in recipes are halal. One such ingredient is rice wine vinegar. While it is a popular choice in Asian cuisine, some Muslims question its status and whether it is permissible to consume according … Read more
Do you find yourself craving some delicious chicken wings but want to make sure they are halal? Well, look no further because we’re here to answer the burning question – Is Wingstop Halal? When it comes to halal food options, Muslim customers need to have a variety of choices that align with their dietary requirements. … Read more
Lablabi / Leblebi – Tunisian chickpeas soup or stew and Tuna Egg Brik – fried pastry parcels. MENA Cooking Club is back! After missing a month, we are back trying recipes from the Middle East and North Africa. Tunisia is the country we have explored this last month, through dishes chosen by moi. The dishes I chose: Brik, Lablabi and Kaber El Louz. … Read more
Home-made Tulumba: Turkish deep-fried choux pastry fluted fritters soaked in honey or syrup. Tulumba are sold in Ethnic food shops around Britain, particularly those that specialise in Middle Eastern and Greek ingredients. I remember when my husband first came to the UK some seven and a bit years ago, he wasted no time exploring the cities surrounding … Read more
No monkeying around – quick and easy banana-oat muffins. What to do when your husband brings home 3 clusters of small bananas for just £1?! The next time you want a seriously good deal, head on over to your local market right before closing. Of course have your fair share of banana smoothies and let’s admit there … Read more
As a child raised by grandparents I had the pleasure of indulging in Bakery staples such as these sticky Iced Fingers at least once a week. We would always have a meat and salad sandwich on bread that was very similar, if not Scottish Baps followed by a sweet treat. Of course my grandparents washed their egg custards down with … Read more
In the realm of Islamic dietary laws, the question surrounding whether mussels are halal or haram has sparked a debate among Muslim consumers. As seafood holds a significant place in many diets and cultures around the world, Muslims need to discern which sea creatures fall under the permissible category. Seafood itself can be considered halal … Read more
In recent years, kombucha has gained popularity as a trendy beverage that offers numerous health benefits. But for those who follow Islamic dietary laws, there may be some confusion surrounding its halal status. Kombucha is a fermented tea that undergoes a unique fermentation process using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). During this … Read more
Cardamom & Rose Ka’ak ~ aromatic yeast leavened cookies. These cookies were a surprisingly wonderful addition to our EID Al Adha table last week along with the regular Makrout. I made the cookies the day before Eid, adapting Linda’s Algerian Ka’ak recipe which uses the traditional flavours of fennel and anise seeds. I chose the middle eastern and desi … Read more