tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648Fri, 31 May 2019 13:22:41 +0000DessertComfort FoodQuick/WeeknightChocolateMain DishesCakeFruitNutsHealthyAppetizersParty FoodherbsVegetariansummerBreakfastChickenCupcakesCreamPistachioseasyAlmondMiddle EasternPastachiliCookiestomato7 Desserts 7 DaysArabicCurriesSaladcheeseBananasLemonStrawberriesVegetablesBeef/ LambBirthdayCinnamonCoconutCustardFood and TravelIndianPuddingRaspberriesSoupTravelValentine'sbreadgiveawaygrilledAppleBundtCoffeeCuminDMBLGiTEidNutellaPancakesPastryPearsPhotographyPressRamadhanSaucesSeafoodValentine's. CoconutberrieseggslunchspringBarsBlueberriesCauliflowerCitrusDatesDrinksFishHolidayIce CreamMuffinsPeachesPotatoesRiceTanzaniaTartsbeansbiscuitjammilkpeasrosemaryApricotsBeetsGuest PostHazel NutsMeatNoodlesPeanutsPlumsRosewaterYeastalmondsarugulaautumnbakedbean sproutsbeefblackberriesburgerscarrotcarrotscheesecakechristmascilantroclementinecocktailcream cheesecrepescrumbledinnerdrinkdubai. abu dhabifalafelfigsfrostigganachegrand mosquehazelnutsicingkidslate summerlettucelondonmangomaryammelonmilk. oatsmonthly mingleno bakeone bowlorangespeanut butterpineapplepizzapomegranatepopsicleprawnsroast chickensmoothiesthaitourismtriflevideozaatarhttp://sipsandspoonfuls.com/noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-4844354244709788090Wed, 03 Sep 2014 09:47:00 +00002014-09-03T02:54:04.405-07:00 Our summer has finally come to an end. It's been long and eventful. Filled with lots of travel, family visits, celebrations. And work too amongst all the play. We celebrated Ramadhan, then Eid. A few birthdays were dotted along the way- it seems like July is a popular month for birthdays, no? We ate a lot of this. We visited the beautiful city of Cape Town. One of the most amazing http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2014/09/baghrir-pancakes-with-honey-mascarpone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2164tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-7622951998446839409Mon, 31 Mar 2014 10:39:00 +00002014-03-31T03:42:47.150-07:00 My very first post on this blog was a beef stew. A very muddled and brown looking concoction that graces our table at least once a week. A curry that I can cook with my eyes closed and my brain off, a recipe that doesn't really follow exact measurements. One that is based on taste as opposed to numbers. Since then, I have published numerous recipes on this site. http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2014/03/indian-roast-chicken-and-smoked-kofta.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)581tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-649487332074013624Mon, 24 Mar 2014 08:32:00 +00002014-03-24T03:48:20.057-07:00 If you asked me what my weekend looked like 10 years ago, even seven, I'd describe it like this. A few days in advance, I would scour the internet and newspapers trying to decide which restaurant to make a reservation at. There were many rules- it had to be one we hadn't visited before, it needed good reviews, somewhere close to a tube station, somewhere that served good honest food. That http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2014/03/rib-eye-steaks-with-zaatar-butter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)359tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-6293744411467636145Thu, 13 Mar 2014 18:17:00 +00002014-03-13T11:17:58.401-07:00 One of my most favourite things to do on a weekday morning when I have no work scheduled, when the kids are in school, when I have that precious few hours to myself is to lay out all my food magazines, cookbooks and recipe cards around me. Last week was definitely one of those weeks.  As I was flicking through glossy page after page, bouncing from cover to cover, I came across Food, http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2014/03/spicy-peanut-prawns-and-garlic-noodles.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)385tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-5800229109528747899Tue, 04 Mar 2014 09:06:00 +00002014-03-04T01:10:21.170-08:00 Breakfast hasn't always been my favourite part of the day. I've told you that before right? Well, it is now, especially on a weekday. Whilst the day starts early and hurriedly for me, breakfast comes after the kids are in school. They're comfortable and laid-back. Almost lazy.  It's the time I look forward to leisurely talks with Akber, my favourite way to spend time together. It's http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2014/03/coconut-french-toast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-7302823801718649133Wed, 26 Feb 2014 18:25:00 +00002014-02-26T10:25:28.787-08:00 This is a bit of a spontaneous post. Following on from a spontaneous dessert. One that involved making a mess. Literally. But also entailed some cleaning up as well. A bit of a clean up your fridge dessert if you will. I happened to have a lot of leftover shoot ingredients these days. Cream and meringues this time (I'm not complaining though). And that's the story of how this dulce de leche http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2014/02/banoffee-eton-mess.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)435tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-1767569114228779057Sat, 22 Feb 2014 14:22:00 +00002014-02-22T06:22:24.001-08:00 Anyone who knows me knows I love to entertain. For me, there's no better feeling then inviting friends and family into our home, our table, our way of eating. The look of satiated bellies, full hearts and satisfied smiles makes all that time in the kitchen absolutely worthwhile. Our menus and tables are always eclectic. And unexpected. But always relaxed. My absolute favourite http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2014/02/pea-potato-and-carrot-samosas-and-asian.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)595tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-4586558927521869939Sun, 09 Feb 2014 07:34:00 +00002014-02-08T23:34:22.671-08:00 Winter has really hit Dubai full force this season. Relatively speaking that is. In my seven years here, it has been the coldest, wettest, greyest. Oh, but I'm not complaining, just remarking.  Today, for instance, we awoke to drizzle, fog and grey blustery skies. The light is moody with shadowy ghosts. Perfect for playing with chocolate in the kitchen. And for baking. The oven helpshttp://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2014/02/white-chocolate-and-mascarpone-berry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1179tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-1326130698884373618Sat, 25 Jan 2014 19:32:00 +00002014-01-25T11:32:13.099-08:00 This soup is for that long, cold winter's day. You know the one where the sky paints a hundred different shades of grey. The one where your hot water bottle becomes an extension of you, when even two pairs of socks worn together won't cut it. The kind of soup to be eaten when you're tending to a runny nose, the soup that makes enough for leftovers the next day. The kind that cleans out http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2014/01/lentil-soup.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)237tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-2026984445844247098Fri, 08 Nov 2013 10:36:00 +00002013-11-08T02:36:48.490-08:00 A few months ago, I received an email from BBC Good Food to say they were celebrating their sixth anniversary in the Middle East. Would I like to be a part of it by baking my version of a childhood cake? I'm always game when cake is involved. Then I went back a few years and realised that whenever birthdays came and went, my mom always wanted it to be extra special, a day out of the http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/11/mile-high-pancake-cake.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)283tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-8520166133803271058Thu, 12 Sep 2013 19:13:00 +00002013-09-12T12:14:50.180-07:00almondsautumnBananasBreakfastfigsHealthylate summermilkmilk. oatsNutssmoothies I love breakfast. But haven't always. In the past, it's been more of a chore. Something that needs to be ticked off the to do list, a hurried and tasteless affair. The same routine, day in day out. Nowadays, I think about breakfast from the night before whilst falling asleep. It's the last thing Maryam talks about. Or rather, demands, what she wants the next morning. It's also one of the http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/09/fig-oat-and-banana-smoothie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)878tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-6017605104930075032Thu, 05 Sep 2013 18:46:00 +00002013-09-05T11:46:34.922-07:00 If you peeked into my fridge right now, you may let out a horrified scream. You would find stacks of jars- pestos, relishes, jams. Some opened, some not. There will be stacks upon stacks of herbs, Of all kinds. It almost looks like a forest in there.  'Mom, are there trees growing in our fridge?' Maryam always manages to say the cutest things. Once, she even commented that the yoghurt http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/09/lahmacun-turkish-pizza-with-spiced-lamb.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)296tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-758439263398567753Tue, 27 Aug 2013 19:31:00 +00002013-08-27T13:13:46.080-07:00bean sproutscarrotsChickencilantroeasygrilledlettucelunchpeanut buttersummerthai I wasn't meant to blog about this lunch. It kind of just happened. I had some leftover ingredients from a shoot, ingredients I don't normally cook with on a daily basis. Bean sprouts, pickled ginger and mountains of baby cos lettuce.  Then this happened, a beautiful lunch of leftovers. These kind of lunches are my favourite. Lunches that come together in less than half an http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/08/chicken-satay-lettuce-wraps.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)208tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-9072390372766061122Tue, 13 Aug 2013 15:33:00 +00002013-08-13T09:53:52.882-07:00berriesCreamCustardeasyjamNutsPeachesPistachiosRaspberriessummertrifle Trifles was one of the first desserts I ever ate. Or made at home. My mom would only make them in the months of Ramadan. I remember waiting in anticipation as she assembled the different layers. First she would make the jelly layer and pour into a white and blue ceramic platter. A platter she still has to this day. One I may need to steal on my next visit to Dar. I would poke the http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/08/peach-melba-trifle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)175tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-1870695826292117960Tue, 06 Aug 2013 19:20:00 +00002013-08-06T12:20:46.280-07:00 The first ever recipe I posted on this site was savoury. And carnivorous. The kind that graces our table at least once in 2 weeks. You know the one where you don't even need a recipe to make? The kind that you can cook with your eyes closed. The one you ask your mom to make when you go visit her. The kind your children eat without ever complaining. And finish every last morsel. http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/08/chicken-schnitzel-sandwich-with-tomato.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)196tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-3070556610564207457Thu, 01 Aug 2013 10:18:00 +00002013-08-01T03:18:03.056-07:00BananasbiscuitChocolateeasyIce Creamkidsmaryampopsiclesummer When Maryam was 6 months old, I decided I needed to go back to work. At least part time, to give me some sanity, adult conversation and take a break from being a mommy for a few hours a week. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved being a mom and Maryam was a dream child, still is. She slept all night, ate everything on her plate and never cried. I always joke that the amount Hassan http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/08/banoffee-pie-popsicles.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)123tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-8902778304434259678Thu, 25 Jul 2013 19:37:00 +00002013-07-28T04:30:38.225-07:00berriesCakecheesecheesecakeCreamcream cheeseeasyno bakeStrawberriessummer Baking has become a much sought luxury in our house. With temperatures searing, the last thing I want to do is cook, let alone turn the oven on. Besides, we just moved this weekend. For the 10th time in 12 years. I think I've become good at it, requiring only 3 days to unpack all my boxes. My mother in law has been kind enough to feed us during this time.  Such a luxury it is to not http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/07/strawberry-cheesecake.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)230tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-6325819198379052342Tue, 16 Jul 2013 18:07:00 +00002013-07-16T11:07:48.875-07:00FishFood and TravellondonprawnsSeafoodsummerTravel Woah. What a few weeks it has been. Maryam finished school, I went to London, came back at the start of Ramadan and in between all that, I've been shooting images for various projects non stop. And loving it! It's been a dream come true to collaborate with so many creative forces. But today I wanted to tell you about my trip to London. My beautiful London. It was my first trip without http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/07/prawn-cocktail.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)158tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-231348444978092504Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:43:00 +00002013-06-19T09:43:40.399-07:00berriesCakeCoconutFood and TravelRaspberriessummerTravel Early in May of this year, I travelled to Morocco for a blissful ten days. As with any holiday, if my room is good and I can find traditional and authentic food to fill my belly, I can rest assured that my holiday will be a success.  After much searching, we settled on the boutique Riad el Fenn, a  charming boutique riad nestled in a bustling corner of the old http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/06/raspberry-and-coconut-summer-cake.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)255tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-4367178731054757649Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:25:00 +00002013-06-03T11:25:39.712-07:00beefburgerseasygrilledHealthylunchsummer I photographed these burgers in February. I had my fuzzy grey socks on with a hole where my little toe sticks out. Maryam likes to play 'this little piggy' with it when I wear it. It was just overcast enough to naturally diffuse the sunlight but I had to work fast to race against the dying light though. All it wanted to do was play peekaboo with the clouds.  That evening, we had an http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/06/classic-beef-burgers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)157tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-5145766043867584276Sun, 26 May 2013 17:51:00 +00002013-05-26T10:51:16.310-07:00arugulabakedBeef/ LambBreakfastcheesedinnereasyeggslunchpizza This post centres around my recipe for a basic pizza dough.  Or......it could also be about what to make when you feel down. Last September, when Hassan was only nine months old, we moved from a two bedroom flat to our current house. With an extra 2 bedrooms and an office as a bonus, it didn't take long to get comfortable. Very comfortable.  We quickly grew into the place. Day by http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/05/breakfast-pizza.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)109tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-6549803179133098294Tue, 14 May 2013 19:46:00 +00002013-05-14T22:36:00.421-07:00ArabicbeansfalafelherbsMiddle Easternpeasspring It's been a few days since we returned from Morocco. We are still jet lagged. Signs of our epic holiday show from the tans on our faces to the piles of laundry waiting to be done. We had a wonderful time touring Marrakech, Essaouira and Casablanca, mesmerised by the saturated blues and oranges on display. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen a few pictures of the sites http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/05/watercress-and-pea-falafels.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)103tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-4758468521422478742Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:55:00 +00002013-04-29T09:23:34.317-07:00 A while back, I received a lovely email from a reader telling me how much she enjoyed reading the blog. Not condescending in any manner, she told me that whenever she read a post, she thought about what a perfect life I had.  A husband lucky enough to have a different meal on the table at least every couple of days. A sweet note to follow every meal. Model children who ate and http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/04/of-perfection-and-failure.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)153tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-6393234883551162881Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:32:00 +00002013-04-23T00:44:10.292-07:00BananasCakeChocolateCupcakesfrostigganachehazelnutsNuts I can't believe it's been nearly a year and a half since I last baked a banana cake. I was six months pregnant at that time and it was a craving that led me to bake one of my favourite cakes. Since that time, many things have changed. Our family has grown and is complete. We moved to a bigger house to accommodate this- and my growing collection of props. Maryam started school and http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/04/banana-chocolate-and-hazelnut-loaf-cake.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922479254610774648.post-7273549827847550881Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:46:00 +00002013-04-13T10:18:52.076-07:00 There are times when recipes take many hours of testing, much research, abundant time in the kitchen spent trying to perfect them. Ingredients bought many times over with numerous trips to different supermarkets to get just the right brand of chocolate, that perfectly formed tomato, the crispest herbs, the best looking berries.   Amounts and measurements jotted, crossed, halved and http://sipsandspoonfuls.com/2013/04/chocolate-peanut-butter-pudding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)96