Feeding Cravings

Blondies

2016-04-19T10:51:00.000+01:00

Being a follower of many American blogs, I get introduced to various sweet treats that I would normally never encounter in a British bakery or cafe. One of them is these 7 layer cookies that I got to know through my lovely American friend, which are still requested by various family members. Another one, that I have been making almost as long are these blondies.

What are blondies? Well, I asked the same question 3 years ago, and did what any normal person would do, and consulted google. The first definition that came up was: A blonde-haired person, typically a woman or a girl. Uhhh, not sure that was the answer I was looking for. Thankfully, the next definition gave me a little more clarity: a small square of dense, pale coloured cake, typically of a butterscotch or vanilla flavour. Now that definition didn't sound too bad. After a little more research I understood that a blondie is very much like a brownie, but instead of the cocoa in a brownie, blondies are about the vanilla, and they get their butterscotch-y flavour from brown sugar, whereas brownies usually call for white sugar.

Couscous Salad with Chicken Meatballs and Yoghurt Sauce

2016-02-15T13:01:00.002+00:00

When I was working, I used to find it very hard to find lunch options that I would look forward to, especially a meal that was both filling and healthy. I would usually have a quick homemade sandwich for lunch, or if I wasn't organised enough, it would be a sandwich from the nearest supermarket (think boring tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches from Tesco). Sometimes it would be a bland soup or dull salad from the canteen, which would have me scavenging for food an hour later, or a heavy jacket potato with beans or tuna, which put me in a state of lethargy once lunch was over. If I was lucky, it would be last nights dinner's leftovers, but I wouldn't always be so lucky to find a microwave to heat it up in, especially seeing as I was always on the move.

Chicken, Barley and Vegetable Soup

2016-01-31T09:02:00.002+00:00

Recently, after spending a few weeks in the beautiful London, I returned with a souvenir for myself; a nasty cold. Or maybe it was the flu. I couldn't tell but either way it wasn't an ideal situation to have it paired with my jet lag. I spent a lot of time in my bed for the next few days questioning my life: how many hours can one actually sleep? will this headache ever leave? has my nose turned into a tap? are there enough tissues for this tap? and why hasn't anyone made me soup yet?!

Banana, Walnut and Date Cake

2016-01-21T07:20:00.001+00:00

Here's something that a lot of people don't get about me: I don't like dates. I don't know what it is about the dates that I don't like or what experiences have led me to avoid them, but we just don't get along. In Ramadan I try to get away with breaking my fast on anything but dates, but when faced with someone offering me a date, I usually just take one and eat it, especially if I really don't want to explain to the person that I don't like dates and don't feel like listening to a lecture on the benefit of dates. It's not like I find them repulsive to the point where I will spit them out and wash my mouth out with soap, but they just don't appeal to me. And their appeal didn't get any better when one of my friends resembled a squashed cockroach to a date. Charming, I know.

Coconut Daal

2016-01-14T11:49:00.000+00:00

It has been a really long time. Where did a year and a half go? How did it pass so quickly? What happened? Time really does fly, but now the bitch is back. And she's here to stay (well, lets hope so. we never know with my track record). 1 post in 2014. 0 posts in 2015. 2016 is our year.

Broccoli Slaw

2014-08-07T16:25:00.002+01:00

Hi all.

It's been a while.

Giant Couscous Salad with Roasted Aubergine and Courgette

2013-07-24T15:04:00.002+01:00

I should have posted this a few weeks ago when the weather was consistently hot and sunny, and there were barely any clouds in the sky, and it wasn't Ramadan so having your daily ice-cream in the sun was becoming part of your everyday routine. I really miss that routine.

Berries and Cream Cheesecake

2013-07-16T13:19:00.001+01:00

I know I've already posted a cheesecake a couple of posts ago... But because I've been so bad at posting recently, I feel like this cheesecake can have its time to shine now, because the other one was so, like, 2 months ago!

Stuffed Aubergine with Lamb and Pine Nuts

2013-06-27T16:37:00.003+01:00

I've admitted before that I am lazy. Lazy, lazy, lazy. I procrastinate a lot. I have all the materials and information I need to finish off my post, but somehow it takes me like a week to do, when I am sure if I just sit down and bang it out I can do it in an hour. And this is what I am doing on my sick day, while I sit on the couch wrapped in my blanket watching Anna Olson make butter tarts and pumpkin pie on the food network, and as much as I want to stuff my face with what she's making, moving seems so effortful right now.

So instead, from the comfort of my couch, I'm going to post something delicious I made when I had the energy to move. One of my friends told me that I don't post enough main meals, so here is one of my favourites that I've made recently. It's so good that its the only dish that I've made twice in the past few months. Don't be fooled by its unphotogenic-ness, the aubergine was perfectly soft, topped with the flavourful lamb mixture and served with plain white rice. And maybe I loved it so much because it's a little similar to my other favourite dish, in a less complicated and fewer ingredients sort of way.

Cappuccino Fudge Cheesecake

2013-05-30T14:12:00.003+01:00

Three months and 11 days ago I posted a recipe for Chicken and Sweet Onion Soup. Then I logged off, planned a wedding, got through the wedding, jetted off to my honeymoon, had a great time, came back, sorted out our flat, slowly remembered that I have to go back to work and eased it back into the equation, and then cooking ('cause a girls gotta eat!), and kinda forgot about this blog.

Chicken and Sweet Onion Soup

2013-02-19T01:32:00.000+00:00

Lets rewind to the beginning of February, when I had just posted my honey mustard chicken with olives and spring onions recipe, and I made a mental 'February resolution' that I would not let this month get as bad as January, and that I would post more than 4 times. What a joke, right?

Honey-Mustard Chicken with Olives and Spring Onions

2013-02-02T08:14:00.000+00:00

Here I am, back again with another easy peasy dish. One of my favourite easy dishes, because you do so little and it tastes so good.

Chocolate Cookies with White Chocolate Chips

2013-01-26T10:59:00.003+00:00

I've made a lot of cookies in my lifetime, not all that have been featured on the blog yet. But most of the chocolate chips I've made are the same in one element - they dough is always a basic white dough, not a chocolate dough.

Hummus

2013-01-22T19:07:00.000+00:00

I got on my laptop today feeling really proud of myself for posting so soon after my last post. Until I checked and saw that my last post was a week ago. Ooops.

Caramel Cake

2013-01-15T21:45:00.000+00:00

Ok, I know I have been an absolutely shit blogger this ~~week~~ ~~month~~ year. And I really promised myself that I would really really try to be better, cook/bake more, post frequently, stick to new year resolutions (although you could just take a look at my gym membership activity and know that I've already failed that one). But life just doesn't let me. To be honest, I'm not even sure anyone's out there reading anymore.. Hello? Hellllooooooooooooooo...?

Tepsi Baytinjan

2013-01-06T14:12:00.003+00:00

Happy belated 2013!! I know, I know, what I've posted today has nothing to do with your new years resolutions of being healthier! Eating more salads! Losing that extra weight you've gained over the holidays! Boooooooring. Trust me, this is way better. Since I've started this blog, the main question I get from friends and family friends are "Do you post any Arab dishes?" or more specifically "Do you post any Iraqi dishes?".

My Favourite Brownies

2012-12-29T00:01:00.000+00:00

I'm getting these brownies out there before everyone starts making new years resolutions, usually promising that they'll be healthier this year, eat less sugary treats, make use of that gym membership that they've been paying for and not set foot in the last 4 months (or is that only me?). Whatever it is, food related resolutions always make the list.

Spicy Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower with Pomegranate

2012-12-24T09:05:00.000+00:00

In my last post I spoke about a side dish that I served with my roasted chicken and green rice, and here it is.

Paprika, Honey and Herb Roasted Chicken with Vegetables

2012-12-20T21:08:00.001+00:00

Firstly, let me apologise for the pictures of the end results of this meal. I know it makes this meal look unappealing, and I even considered not posting this until I've made this dish again and taken much more appetizing photos, but the people who enjoyed this meal persuaded me to post this anyway, because they liked it that much.

Mexican Green Rice

2012-12-18T21:41:00.000+00:00

Just looking at these pictures is making me crave this dish. Yes, it may not be the prettiest thing I've made, and yes, it's doesn't look like anything special. But this rice was delicious, and downright addictive.

Abuela's Italian Cream Cake

2012-12-15T14:23:00.000+00:00

In my last post I gave you a hint with what I would do with those spiced pecans, and although it may not be the prettiest thing to decorate a cake with, I think it gave the cake a sort of charm.

Spiced Pecans

2012-12-11T23:21:00.000+00:00

See! I told you I would figure out how to sort out my days! It's not perfect yet, but I am posting something 3 days after my last post rather than a week. Gimme some credit.

Lemon and Poppy Seed Loaf

2012-12-08T09:47:00.000+00:00

I've done it again and disappeared for a while, but don't worry, I'm back with some baked goods!

Cranberry Vanilla Coffeecake

2012-11-25T10:33:00.001+00:00

I'm going to give you all the reasons this cake shouldn't have worked.

Chocolate Cake with Cream and Berries

2012-11-20T16:55:00.000+00:00

This isn't really a birthday cake. It's more like a really, really moist chocolate-y chocolate cake, paired perfectly with lightly sweetened whipped cream and some berries.