A few days ago I set up a Lemonade Bar for our Eid lunch and it was a hit, especially with kids since Houston’s wildly temperamental weather swung from near-freezing temperatures early in the week to sunny, record-breaking heat by Eid day.

If you are planning to host a birthday, bridal shower, baby shower, graduation or any other kind of party this summer, here is how you can set up a Lemonade Bar for your guests.

Lemonade Bar Essentials: Everything You Need to Get Started

• Lemonade
• Syrups
• Fruits and herbs,
• Boba pearls
• Ice
• Cups and Straws
• Lemonade Bar Sign

You can use as many varieties of syrups, fruits and boba pearls as you like.

Making Lemonade for a Crowd

You can make lemonade from scratch or use a powdered mix. I chose the easy way out and used Country Time Lemonade Mix . The 19 oz makes 8 quarts of lemonade. I mixed the entire pack into 7 quarts of plain water. When it was almost time to serve I added a quart of unflavored sparkling water and a few slices of lime and lemon. I chilled the drink by adding ice to the ice core of my beverage dispenser instead of adding ice directly as it dilutes the drink when it melts. You can also chill it in the fridge before serving.

How Much Lemonade Do You Need?

• 8 quarts = 32 8oz servings
• Plan 1–2 cups per guest
• For 20-25 guests → make 10-12 quarts

Tip: For aesthetic appeal fill the base of your clear dispenser with lemons, limes and faux ivy vines.

Syrups for Lemonade Bar

I bought a variety pack of Torani syrups from Amazon which included Strawberry, Raspberry, Peach and Vanilla. These were 25.4 fl oz bottles and we had lots of leftover syrups but the expiration date was far away so hopefully we can use them later. Other popular flavors of Torani syrups for Lemonade Bars include Blue Raspberry, Coconut and Lavender. You can also find sugar free versions of these syrups.

I also purchased a rack for displaying the syrups and set of pumps for dispensing. The rack can hold up to 6 syrup bottles.

Fruits & Herbs

I chose to keep sliced strawberries, berries, lemon, lime and mint as add-ons. You can also add raspberries and peaches. If the party is outdoor you might consider keeping the fruit tray on a bed of ice. A fruit serving tray with ice compartment and condensation mat is a great option for outdoor parties.

Boba Pearls

When it comes to boba, my family’s favorite are the Black Tapioca Pearls . These boba pearls need to be boiled and stored in a sugar syrup for them to stay soft. For best results, they should be made maximum 1-2 hours before the party so that they remain soft. After boiling and cooling according to package instructions, I transferred them to a sugar syrup. The sugar syrup can be made by boiling equal quantity of sugar and water and then cooled to room temperature. Use a slotted spoon for guests to scoop out the boba from the sugar syrup.

You can also use different flavors of ready to use Popping Boba Pearls for your lemonade bar.

Ice

Nugget ice is a popular choice for drinks. You can also use cubed ice from your freezer and keep them in an ice bucket with scoop for your lemonade bar.

Cups and Straws

I used 12 oz clear plastic cups with straws and added some boba straws for those who added boba pearls to their drinks.

To keep things organized I put the straws in mason jars and arranged all cups, lids and straws on a tray.

Lemonade Bar Sign

I initially planned to print my Lemonade Bar sign and place it in a photo frame for display. However, I realized we had our Alexa Echo Show on the counter where I planned to set up our Lemonade Bar. So, I decided to convert my sign to Landscape mode and use the Photo display feature to display the sign.

Here’s a free downloadable and printable version of the Lemonade Bar sign in portrait as well as landscape modes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make lemonade ahead of time?
Yes, prepare it a few hours in advance and keep chilled.

What’s the best ice for a lemonade bar?
Nugget ice is ideal, but regular cubes work fine.

Can I make this sugar-free?
Yes! Use sugar-free syrups and low-sugar lemonade mix.

Can I boil boba pearls in advance ?
Boba pearls are best made 1-2 hours before a party in order to ensure that their texture is just right. Keep them in sugar syrup during the party.

If you try this Lemonade Bar setup, I’d love to see it! Tag me on social media or leave a comment below.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

The post How to set up a Lemonade Bar appeared first on My Culinary Adventures.

Usually, fried rice is served as a side dish but this colorful Pineapple fried Rice full of veggies, chicken and pineapple is a complete one pot meal in itself. If you have the rice ready it comes together in a snap .

Spice it Up

My kids prefer the simple flavors of garlic, soy sauce, salt and pepper along with veggies, pineapple and chicken but you can add your favorite sauce for a kick if you wish. Also, feel free to add scrambled egg or any other stir fry veggies that you have on hand. This time I simply added frozen peas, carrots, red bell pepper and green onions but I often add chopped onions, frozen broccoli florets and sliced mushrooms to it.

Getting the perfect rice texture

We normally use basmati rice in our house but for this particular recipe I prefer using Jasmine rice to get the authentic Chinese restaurant like texture. It is usually recommended to use day old refrigerated rice for fried rice as it ensures that the rice does not get mushy and each grain remains separate after frying. However, I often make a fresh pot of Jasmine rice in the morning and let it cool completely before using it in the afternoon for lunch. If you are in a rush you can spread the rice on a tray for it to cool down faster.

To rinse or not to rinse, that is the question . I grew up seeing that rice always needs to be rinsed several times and soaked before cooking. It wasn’t until recently that I found out that using the same technique for rice such as Jasmine or Long Grain which is commonly available here in the US leads to extremely mushy rice and also we end up rinsing out nutrients. I normally use Mahatma Jasmine Rice and the website states that ” Most white rice produced in the US is thoroughly washed then fortified with vitamins and other nutrients, which appear as a dusty layer on the individual grains. If you want to preserve those nutrients, do not rinse.” So, while I still rinse and soak basmati and other varieties of Indian rice, I don’t do the same for Jasmine rice any more, especially when I am making fried rice.

Print

Easy Pineapple Fried Rice with Chicken

Quick and easy Pineapple Fried Rice with Chicken recipe

Course Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Keyword Pineapple fried Rice

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Sadaf Afshan

Equipment

• Wok or Large Frying Pan

Ingredients

For Boiling Rice

• 2.5 Cups Jasmine Rice
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tbsp Cooking Oil

For Chicken Marination

• 1 lb Boneless Chicken Small Cubes
• 1 tsp Garlic Paste
• 1 tsp Ginger Paste
• 1 tbsp All Purpose Soy Sauce
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Pepper

Other ingredients for Stir Frying

• 1 Cup Frozen Peas and Carrots
• 1/2 Red Bell Pepper Chopped
• 1 Bunch Green Onions Chopped
• 1 Cup Canned Pineapple Tidbits
• 1 Tbsp Crushed Garlic
• 1.5 Tbsp All Purpose Soy Sauce
• 1.5 Tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
• Salt According to taste
• Pepper According to taste
• 4 Tbsp Cooking Oil Divided

Instructions

Prepare Boiled Rice

• Boil Jasmine Rice according to package instructions. Add salt and oil while boiling.
• When rice is done, fluff gently with fork. Cool completely. If you want to cool rice quickly you can spread it in a tray. Leftover rice that has been refrigerated works well too but it is best to bring it to room temperature before using.

Marinate and cook Chicken

• Marinate boneless chicken for about 15 minutes with ginger and garlic paste, soy sauce , salt and pepper.
• Heat about 2 tbsp oil in a large wok or non stick frying pan. Stir fry the marinated chicken on high heat until cooked thoroughly. Take out from the pan and keep aside.

Prepare Fried Rice

• In the same pan which was used to cook chicken add about 3 tbsp oil and heat. Add the frozen vegetables followed by chopped bell pepper, white part of green onion, crushed garlic and pineapple. Stir fry briefly on high heat. The vegetables should remain crunchy.
• Add soy sauce, salt and pepper.
• Add cooked chicken.
• Add cooled rice, breaking large lumps with your hand. Mix everything well on medium-high heat and saute for a few more minutes until rice is steaming hot and no white rice can be seen. Adjust seasoning.
• Add the green part of onion. Switch off flame and cover pan for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy !

Notes

• You can add veggies like frozen broccoli florets, sliced mushrooms, boiled corn.
• Scrambled egg can also be a good addition to fried rice.
• For flavor variation you can add Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Chili Garlic sauce or Sriracha.
• If you don’t have Dark Soy Sauce you can substitute it with equal amount of Regular All Purpose Soy sauce.
• Do not over cook the veggies. They should remain a bit crunchy.
• If you are using fresh peas and carrots instead of frozen, par boil them before adding.

The post Easy Pineapple Fried Rice With Chicken appeared first on My Culinary Adventures.

Here is a list of some popular joints that will be offering sehri during Ramadan 2022:

Karachi Restaurant

Karachi Restaurant in Sugar Land is offering a Sehri Buffet on Fridays and Saturdays as well as a daily à la carte menu for Ramadan this year.

Mirchi Peri Peri & Others

Mirchi Peri Peri is offering Sehri Night every Saturday and Sunday 12am-5am during April at their Sugar Land location in collaboration with Gyro Hut, Rollin Phatties, The Chai Shack, Taco Fuego, Clutch City Cluckers and Smookah.

Largess

Largess is a food truck in Spring, Tx. They have a limited menu for sehri nights. The sehri nights will start from 12am and last order will be taken by 3:30am.

Filli Cafe

Filli Cafe, Texas is offering sehri until 4 am every Friday and Saturday at their Sugar Land location (Hwy 6 and Voss).

OMG Burger

OMG Burger will be serving a variety of burgers, rolls, omelettes and more for sehri at all three of their locations – Sugar Land, Katy and Spring. Check out the dates in the flyer below.

Aqsa Grill

Aqsa Grill is a food truck in Sugar Land, TX which will be offering free sehri every Friday this Ramadan.

Chai Shai

Chai Shai in Hillcroft will be serving sehri every Saturday & Sunday from 12 midnight till 4am. Seating is limited but patrons are welcome to bring picnic chairs or eat in their cars.

KB’s Hot Chicken

KB’s Hot Chicken, Sugar Land will be serving sehri on Friday & Saturday, 12:00am to 5:00am. Outdoor Patio seating is available.

Sehri nights become even more popular during the last ten nights of Ramadan when people spend long hours at the masjid (mosque) and many restaurants and food trucks offer pop us sehri nights . Apart from the above names, IHOP and other breakfast joints which are open 24 hours are also popular choices for sehri during Ramadan.

Have you ever ventured out for sehri during Ramadan ? Which is your favorite sehri joint in Houston, Tx ? Please let me and my readers know in the comments section below.

The post Houston Restaurants Offering Sehri / Suhoor for Ramadan 2022 appeared first on My Culinary Adventures.

Holy Smokes BBQ

Holy Smokes BBQ is a catering service based in Rosenberg, Tx (Greater Houston Area). They are offering a complete feast with a whole, Smoked Turkey, standard sized half trays of Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, Bacon Mac & Cheese, Salad, Dinner Rolls, & Pumpkin Spiced Bread Pudding. The package is priced at $179.99. You can order it on their website.

Truboy BBQ

Truboy BBQ is taking pre orders for their smoked Airline Turkey Breast until Nov. 18th for delivery by Thanksgiving. Orders can be placed on their website. They ship nationwide.

Mezban Restaurant and Caterers

Like previous years Mezban is taking turkeys orders for Thanksgiving 2021. You can order the whole package for $160 with sides or just the turkey for $89 .

Bar BQ Village

Bar BQ Village , Houston is offering halal whole turkey with stuffing for $89.99 and sides are $20 each. Please call ahead on 832-593-7252 to place your order.

Nazif’s Grill

Nazif’s Grill is taking preorders for their Thanksgiving special : Roasted Turkey + special rice with cranberry, almonds and carrot (Serves 13 to 16 people ) + Sweet potato for $160

For orders and reservations please call 713-977-4476

A to Z Cuisine

A to Z Cuisine is a home based business in Sugarland, Tx (Greater Houston Area). They are taking orders for Thanksgiving Turkey meal. It’s $89.99 for the turkey and every side is 12$. They also make chicken chargha or lamb/goat raan roast platter for Thanksgiving feast . Contact @8328335693

Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill

Fadi’s roasted turkey package includes:
18-20 Lb Roasted Turkey
Turkey Gravy 16 oz
Fresh Cranberry Sauce 16 oz
Choice of Vegetarian Rice, Lebanese Style Rice or Mashed Potatoes
Options: Ready to serve or Half cooked
Fasi’s has 6 locations across Houston. You can order online on their website

Phoenicia Specialty Foods

Phoenicia offers halal Whole Roasted Turkey with citrus, garlic and herbs along with a variety of classic side dishes and Mediterranean fare for the holiday season. You can check out Phoenica’s holiday catering menu here. Make sure to ask for halal because they offer other kinds too.

Las Brasas Charcoal Chicken

Las Brasas is offering very limited quantity (50 turkeys) of their halal slow cooked charcoal turkey. You can email them at Ca******@La**************.com with your name and phone number to place your orders. They will call you within 24 hours.

Chuckwagon BBQ & Burgers

Chuckwagon BBQ and Burgers can accommodate special requests for halal turkeys at the same price as mentioned in their flier for the non-zabihah ones ($90). They also offer half trays of sides priced at $40 each.

Aga’s Restaurant & Catering

Aga’s is offering a Thanksgiving feats for $99 which includes 12-14 lb turkey, 24 dinner rolls , mashed potatoes and gravy.

If you choose to order halal turkey from any of the above places my readers and I would love to hear your reviews. Please post them in the comment box below.

Happy Feasting !

The post Houston Restaurants Offering Halal Turkey for Thanksgiving 2021 appeared first on My Culinary Adventures.

The best part is that it is very easy to set up and you can have as many or as little toppings as you want.

Making the Waffles

I use my Secura Upgrade Automatic 360 Rotating Non-Stick Belgian Waffle Maker w/Removable Plates which I had purchased on Amazon. It has served me well during the last one year or so. I usually use Pearl Milling Company Pancake and Waffle Mix for convenience sake, especially when making large batches but of course, you can use your favorite recipe. It takes me about 3-3:30 minutes for one waffle, depending upon the level of desired crispiness.

Warming the Waffles

Some people like to keep pre measured waffle batter in disposable cups so that guests can make their own waffles on the spot and enjoy them right out of the waffle maker. However, I prefer making the waffles a couple of hours before guests arrive. I keep them on Oven Safe Wire Racks set on baking sheets. Just before serving time I pop them in a pre heated oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes.

You can also keep the waffles directly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper but I find that keeping them on wire racks prevents them from turning soggy.

Toppings For Waffles

The most fun part of setting up the Waffle Bar are the toppings. Here are some ideas:

Berries – Strawberries and blueberries seem to be the most popular choice when it comes to waffles but feel free to add some blackberries and raspberries for variety.

Bananas – Bananas are another popular choice as a waffle topping.

Syrups – No waffle bar can be complete without some syrups. Chocolate Fudge sauce, maple syrup, flavored waffle syrups, ‘Original syrup’ all add variety to the Waffle Bar. In my experience, if you have kids in the party make sure to have some ‘Original Syrup’ on hand. Many of them prefer the sugary stuff over real maple syrup or other options.

Whipped cream – A squirt of whipped cream from an aerosol can adds a special touch to any waffle.

Other toppings – Sprinkles, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, Nutella – the possibilities are endless !

Setting Up The Waffle Bar

Cut up the waffles into quarters to avoid wastage, especially if there are other items in your breakfast/brunch buffet. It also allows guests to experiment with different toppings with each piece of waffle.

You can use a cake stand to keep syrups or other toppings. Similarly, a Tiered Serving Stand can also be used to vary the height of different items on the buffet table and add visual appeal .A sectional plate can be used for serving toppings such as sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts or berries.

A small table sign saying ‘Waffle Bar’ or ‘Waffle Station’ adds a nice touch and directs guests to their choice of station at a buffet. If you don’t have the time to design your own you can download the template that I designed for my party. Simply print it using your home printer and put it in a table top frame.

A vase of fresh flowers also adds a lovely touch to any buffet .

More Ideas for Brunch Buffet

For my last brunch party I had a mix of Continental and Western Dishes. Here’s the menu I had:

Continental – Waffle Bar, Chicken Croissant Sandwiches, Variety of Muffins, Bread Pudding.

Indian – Pav Bhaji, Makki Ki Roti with Sarson Ka Saag, Shami Kababs, Egg Bhujiya (Indian styled scrambled eggs), Rotis.

Other items – Tea, Juices, Fresh Fruits

Other popular combinations for an Indian/South Asian menu include:

Halwa , Puri, Chole, Aloo Sabzi

Paratha, Keema, Omelette, Aloo Bhujiya

Upma, Idli , Medu Vada, Uttapam, Sambar, Chutneys

For continental options you can consider Mini Quiches, Breakfast Burritos, French Toast, Pancake Bar.

For general party planning tips and sample dinner menus check out this blog post.

Happy Hosting !

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

The post How to set up a Waffle Bar appeared first on My Culinary Adventures.

Food

The server informed us that all the items are zabihah halal.

Ghee Roast Dosa – This was definitely the star of the show for me. Perfectly crispy dosa cone with homestyle, subtly spiced masala on the side and a variety of chutneys and sambar.

Chole Bhatura – The huge bhatura was perfectly puffed up . The chole were perfectly spicy and tangy. Even though Chole Bhature is considered to be a North Indian dish, I find it to be a welcome addition to most South Indian menus.

Chicken Biryani – I ordered this was for my daughters who are hardcore carnivores and not very adventurous when it comes to desi food. This was supposed to be one of their milder biryanis but unfortunately it was too spicy for them. We were not expecting it to be the same as Pakistani or Mughlai/North Indian biryani but still felt that a particular component of garam masala (couldn’t figure out which one as I just had a couple of bites) was overpowering the entire flavor profile.

Naatu Koli Varuval – This stir fried chicken dish had a good balance of powdered spices, curry leaves and dried red chillies.

Mutton Kolambu – We found this mutton curry to be average in taste but liked the super flaky South Indian parottas (similar to lachcha parathas or Malaysian roti canai) that came with it.

Mint and Lime Cooler – Kumar’s offers a variety of freshly squeezed drinks. We chose the Mint and Lime Cooler . It was a bit too ‘minty’ for our taste and also felt overpriced for the serving size.

Service

Service was great. Our server was very courteous and knowledgeable about all the dishes. We inquired about some ingredients as my daughter has food allergies and he immediately addressed our concerns.

Ambiance

There was ample seating and the place was neat and tidy.

Price

The place is a bit more expensive as compared to similar places but I believe the variety that they offer makes up for it.

Overall Experience

Overall, I think just the dosa is enough reason for me to come back, if not anything else. I would like to try their other vegetarian dishes too.

Kumar’s Houston

Address: 8383 Westheimer Rd Suite 168, Houston, TX 77063

Hours: 

Phone: (832) 767-5223

Have you tried Kumar’s Houston? What are your favorite menu items there ?

The post Kumar’s Houston: Restaurant Review appeared first on My Culinary Adventures.

Okra is slit into thin long pieces, marinated with powdered Indian spices, coated with besan (gram flour) and corn flour and then deep fried. It is best eaten piping hot when it is perfectly crunchy . However, if you cannot make it last minute you can keep it uncovered and reheat in the oven for few minutes at around 400 degrees F.

Print

Kurkuri Bhindi

Spicy and crunchy deep fried okra

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Indian

Keyword Kurkuri Bhindi

Servings 6

Author Sadaf Afshan

Ingredients

• 500 Grams Okra (Bhindi)
• 1 tsp Coriander Powder
• 1 tsp Cumin Powder
• 1 tsp Garam Masala
• 1 tsp Chaat Masala
• 3/4 tsp Red Chilli Powder Or according to taste
• 1/2 tsp Kashmiri Chilli Powder Optional
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 3/4 tsp Salt Or according to taste
• 6 tbsp Gramflour (Besan)
• 2 tbsp Cornflour
• Oil For deep frying

Instructions

• Wash and pat dry the okra thoroughly.
• Trim the ends and slit each okra into four long pieces.
• Marinate the okra with all the powdered spices (Coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala, chaat masala, red chilli powder, Kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric and salt). Be careful while adding salt as some brands of chaat masala powder already contain lots of salt. Leave the marinated okra for 10-15 minutes.
• Mix gram flour (besan) and corn flour in a small bowl. Add the mixture to the marinated okra and mix well so that all the pieces get coated properly.
• Heat enough oil in a small wok for deep frying. Deep fry the okra in small batches on high heat until golden and crunchy. Do not overcrowd the wok and take care not to burn the okra otherwise it will taste bitter.
• Take out the fried okra with a slotted spoon and drain on a plate lined with paper towel. Serve immediately.

Notes

This dish is best eaten when it is piping hot and crunchy. However, if you plan to eat it after some time you can keep it uncovered and reheat for  few minutes in a pre heated oven at around 400 degrees F.

The post Kurkuri Bhindi appeared first on My Culinary Adventures.

Every time we choose a flavor we do ask the server about it’s halal status but I decided to settle the debate once and for all by writing to their US Corporate Office and was mighty pleased with their reply. So here’s some great news for The Cheesecake Factory lovers who prefer halal desserts.

I am reproducing the email verbatim below for the benefit of all readers.

“Dear Sadaf Afshan:

Thank you for your interest in The Cheesecake Factory. As with most high end pastries and desserts, when needed, we use gelatin over a host of gums and artificial additives.

Below I have included a list for cheesecakes that “do” and “do not” contain animal gelatin for your convenience. For those that contain gelatin, it is Halal beef gelatin. They are all delicious, and we hope you will find a flavor to enjoy!

Cheesecakes that DO NOT contain animal gelatin:
Original Cheesecake
Fresh Strawberry Cheesecake
Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake
Reese’s® Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake
Toasted Marshmallow S’Mores Galore Cheesecake
Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
Salted Caramel Cheesecake
Coconut Cream Pie Cheesecake
Hershey’s® Chocolate Bar Cheesecake
30th Anniversary Chocolate Cake Cheesecake
Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake
Very Cherry Ghirardelli® Chocolate Cheesecake
Cinnabon® Cinnamon Swirl Cheesecake
Tiramisu Cheesecake
Fresh Banana Cream Cheesecake
Adams Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake
Lemon Raspberry Cream Cheesecake
Low-Licious Cheesecake
Low-Licious Cheesecake with Strawberries
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake
Chocolate Tuxedo Cream Cheesecake
Celebration Cheesecake
Chocolate Caramelicious Cheesecake Made with Snickers®
Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Pumpkin & Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecakes (seasonal)

Cheesecakes that DO contain Halal Beef Gelatin:
Godiva® Chocolate Cheesecake
Dulce de Leche Cheesecake
Oreo® Dream Extreme Cheesecake
Key Lime Cheesecake
Mango Key Lime Cheesecake
Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake
Peppermint Bark Cheesecake (seasonal)

For your convenience, we’ve included a handful of desserts that contain alcohol from liqueur as an ingredient. These desserts will have alcohol in the finished product.

Cheesecakes that contain Liquor:
Tiramisu Cheesecake
Tiramisu Cake
Lemon Raspberry Cream Cheesecake
Key Lime Cheesecake

Note: Our cheesecakes contain Vanilla Extract, which contains alcohol, yet it’s evaporated during the baking process. Thank you again for your inquiry. Should you have further questions, please feel free to contact us anytime. We appreciate your interest and look forward to serving you soon!

Sincerely,

Rebecca Garner
Guest Services Specialist”

Bon Appetit !

Have you tried cheesecakes from The Cheesecake Factory ? Which one is your favorite ? Please let me and my readers know in the comment box below.

The post Halal Cheesecakes at The Cheesecake Factory appeared first on My Culinary Adventures.

A few days ago it was my niece’s birthday and we had a small family dinner at my place. I decided to put together a small dessert / treats table . Since I had to make a few time consuming dishes for dinner, I decided to go for mostly store bought treats instead of making everything from scratch.

I mostly used items lying around the house for making the backdrop as well as setting up the dessert table. Here is a step by step guide on how I made this white, gold and green dessert/treats table.

Make the backdrop

Take a clothing rack which can fit behind your table. It is OK if the length of the rack is a bit smaller than that of the table as the balloons will fill up the gap.

Put white net curtains on the rack. My curtains were a bit long but it didn’t bother me as they wouldn’t show behind the table.

Stick some fake leaf vines on top of the curtains with clear tape. You can find these leaf vines on Amazon. Place rack behind your table.

Balloon Garland

I bought a white and gold balloon garland/arch kit from Amazon and used my electric pump to blow them up. The balloon kit came with a plastic tying tool but I found it quicker to tie using my fingers. My fingers were sore at the end though . I added some extra confetti balloons which were leftover from our Welcome Ramadan party After tying the balloons attach them to the transparent strip provided in the kit. Simply slide each balloon into the big hole and pull towards the smaller hole to secure. Repeat for all balloons.

Attach balloon garland to backdrop

Attach the balloon garland to the backdrop with matching strings or clear tape to make an arch. Attach the fake tropical leaves in the balloon kit with the help of glue (also included in the kit.)

Set the table

Spread a golden plastic table cover and a green runner . Place cake stand in the middle along with gold charger plates and other gold/white accessories and serving ware.

I used my green and gold hijab (scarf) as a table runner. The gold charger plates are from Dollar Tree. Apart from the gold basket I also used an apothecary jar filled with white shells (not in pic) to hold marshmallow pops. Try to use serving ware of different heights instead of laying everything flat on the table.

For accessories I used a small crystal and gold carriage, potted plant, clear vase with water beads and tea ligh(not in this pic)t, LED lights (not in this pic).

Add Desserts

Since I had to make a couple of time consuming dishes for dinner, I had to rely on mostly store bought desserts for the table this time. Here are the different desserts that I had:

• Bundt Cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes – I added some gold and green sprinkles on the cake to match the theme
• Marshmallow Pops – To make marshmallow pops simply stick each marshmallow into a candy/cake pop stick . Dip into melted chocolate and add green and gold sprinkles. Use a styrofoam block to dry them. I used halal Campfire Giant Roasters Marshmallows for making these Marshmallow Pops. However, next time I would prefer using the regular sized ones as it was too much sugar for kids to consume in one go.
• Kalakand – I used my easy peasy Microwave Kalakand recipe for the adults in the group who prefer Indian mithai (sweets) over cake and other treats. I served them in green and white cupcake liners.
• Jello Shots – I used shot glasses for making individual servings of halal banana (green) and mango (golden yellow) flavored jello.
• White Chocolate covered oreos and pretzels – I found these at Walmart and served them in gold charger plates.

Light up the candles and LED lights and you are all set for the party !

For more party ideas please click here.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

The post Easy DIY Dessert Table – White, Gold and Green Theme appeared first on My Culinary Adventures.

Las Brasas Charcoal Chicken

This year we have decided to place our Turkey order with Las Brasas because we have been fans of their charcoal cooked chicken for a long time. We also liked the fact that they are offering 2 whole chicken along with turkey in their package for those who don’t like turkey. I will be posting my review for their turkey package on my Facebook page after Thanksgiving.

Turkeys are available 25th-27th November 2020 . Email them at Ca******@La**************.com. Leave your Name and phone number and they will contact you within 24 hours. The meals are 100% Halal. Delivery is available at an additional cost. You can get more info at http://www.lasbrasastogo.com/

Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill

Fadi’s roasted turkey package includes:
18-20 Lb Roasted Turkey
Turkey Gravy 16 oz
Fresh Cranberry Sauce 16 oz
Vegetarian Rice or Lebanese Style Rice
Options: Ready to serve or Half cooked
You can order online at www.fadiscuisine.com
Earn 150 Loyality Points on your checkout.

Phoenicia Specialty Foods

Phoenicia offers halal Whole Roasted Turkey with citrus, garlic and herbs along with a variety of classic side dishes and Mediterranean fare for the holiday season. You can check out Phoenica’s holiday catering menu here.

Mezban Restaurant and Caterers

Mezban is taking turkeys orders for Thanksgiving 2020. To place your order please contact 713 952 0606 or Text 214 325 6068. Everyone can place their order online through https://www.mezban.biz

Lazeeza Restaurant

Lazeeza is offering 3 different types of turkey packages for Thanksgiving 2020.
Special Package

Whole turkey w/stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, 12pcs. dinner rolls – $89.99 + tax

Deluxe Package

Whole turkey w/stuffing, 1/2 tray fried rice, mashed potatoes, mango delight, cranberry sauce, 12pcs. dinner rolls – $119.99 + tax

Supreme Package

Whole turkey w/stuffing, 1/2 tray fried rice, 1/2 tray chicken chow mein, mashed potatoes, mango delight, cranberry sauce, 12pcs. dinner rolls -$139.99 + tax

Bar BQ Village

Bar BQ Village will be serving Turkey from Nov 26 to Nov 29, 2020. Halal Whole Turkey with stuffing is for $79.99 and sides are $15 each. Please call ahead on 832-593-7252 to place your order.

Shahnai Restaurant

Shahnai Restaurant is offering halal roasted turkey along with a variety of options for sides for just $99.99 plus tax.

Raja Mediterranean Food & Grill

Raja Mediterranean food and grill is offering a 20-22 lb Roasted Turkey with Saffron rice, Lebanese salad, Hummus, Garlic and Hot sauce and Pita bread for up to 25 people – $199.99 plus tax. Add Baklava for $30

Chopan Kabob House

Chopan Kabob House’s Halal Turkey comes with half tray rice and grilled potatoes.

Do you know of any other Houston restaurants or caterers offering halal turkey for Thanksgiving 2020 ? Have you tried turkey from any of the above places ? Please let me and my readers know in the comments section below.

The post 9 Houston Restaurants Offering Halal Turkey For Thanksgiving 2020 appeared first on My Culinary Adventures.