Saturday 28 June 2014

Giant Cookies + Iced Tea + Pre-Ramadan Rush: 21 June - 27 June 2014

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful







Ramadan officially begins tonight, inshallah, and I can feel the excitement in the air. 
The anticipation for the first Taraweeh prayers tonight, 
the first Qiyam-ul-Layl to be prayed in the early hours, 
the first Sehri breakfast to be enjoyed in the early morning, 
the long sleep after the Fajr prayer, 
the recitation of the Quran throughout the day, 
the study of Islamic books to boost our knowledge, 
the hungry wait for the evening Iftar meal,
the special prayers made before the sun sets, 
the dates and water to quench our thirst,
the Iftar meal in all its glory,
and then the knowledge that it all begins again tomorrow!
Alhamdulillah for another Ramadan - don't take these moments for granted.


Saturday: One of my favourite snacks this week have been this berry mix from Graze.
Paired with a Pink Lady apple, they are the best.
Lunch was this Mozzarella and Pesto Pizza.
In our weekly shop, I stocked up on these refreshing sorbets - perfect for a summer Ramadan.
I love the feeling of having fresh fruit and veg in the house - so many recipe ideas.
A delicious, thin crust pizza perfect for summer with mozzarella and pesto.
My first time trying tender-stem broccoli, and I love it now!
For dinner, I cooked a roast dinner with a twist based on this recipe.. I marinaded pieces of whole chicken with salt, red chilli powder, lemon juice, lemon zest, yoghurt, garlic, rapeseed oil, fresh thyme and fresh rosemary.
For the mash, instead of the usual potatoes, I used sweet potatoes.
The chicken roasted for about 30 minutes.
And, was then joined by the broccoli. This is a really good idea because the broccoli soaks up the gravy from the chicken and is really juicy.
The sweet potatoes are boiled and peeled. 
Then, mashed with light cream cheese, salt and black pepper.
And, by now the chicken is ready!
Roast Thyme Rosemary Chicken, Tender-Stem Broccoli, Sweet Potato Mash



Sunday: Breakfast was Cinnamon Crepes. The batter was made by mixing together:
75 grams Plain Flour
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 Egg
225 ml Milk
To accompany the crepes, take Strawberries, Banana and Natural Peanut Butter.
Cook the crepes in a lightly oiled pan for 2 minutes on one side and then 1 minute on the other.
When they're done ..
.. spread with a little peanut butter.
Serve with sliced strawberries and bananas.
Cinnamon Crepes with Strawberries, Banana and Peanut Butter
My mum was cooking up a pot of Kheer which is Indian rice pudding made with milk.
And arborio or risotto rice - Insha Allah, I will post the full recipe soon.
Update: Here is the recipe.
For lunch, I sliced up cabbage and spring onion.
Heated up Smoked Kippers .. 
.. and poached a few eggs.
Based on this recipe:
Smoked Kippers, Bubble and Squeak, Poached Eggs
My full photo recipe is here!
We enjoyed it outside in the garden on what was a blisteringly hot day.
We had dinner at my cousins' house where poppadums were being fried.
All the kids loved the fresh, crispy poppadums.
Lamb Kebabs
Tamarind Mint Chutney with Red Onion
Russian Salad made with mayonnaise, potatoes, carrots, chicken, raisins, walnuts, apple, salt and pepper.
Tomato Soup made with fresh tomatoes, tinned tomatoes, celery, carrots, onion, tomato puree, vegetable stock, water, salt, sugar, pepper and single cream.
Feta Salad made with cucumber, tomato, feta cheese, pine nuts, olives and salad leaves.
Gosht Shorba - a spicy, thin curry made with lamb on the bone.
Tamarind Chutney
Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks

Cold Kheer for dessert garnished with crushed pistachios.

It was a beautiful summers evening - perfect to be out in the garden.
I needed a coffee to cool off though.
Along with a refreshing treat - Frozen Grapes.



Monday: Omelettes for breakfast!
Sliced chestnut mushrooms were cooked down.
Along with spring onions.
Eggs, light cream cheese, salt, pepper, fresh chives and fresh basil.
Sliced Tomatoes were grilled.
Once the mushrooms and spring onions were cooked down ..
.. the egg mixture was added.
Serve up the omelette with the grilled tomatoes.
Mushroom Basil Omelette with Grilled Tomatoes
Full written recipe is here!
I prepared a frozen treat on Monday using bananas, dark chocolate and natural peanut butter.
Peel and slice the bananas.
Pair the slices up and dollop a little peanut butter onto one.
Sandwich the bananas together.
Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave. You could also use milk chocolate too.
Cover the bananas in the chocolate, and pop onto a tray lined with baking paper. It's messy but worth it in the end.
Freeze for a few hours.
Time to snack on more frozen grapes!
A little iced Fanta Lemonade to accompany lunch.
Along with my new favourite pickle - Picalilli!
Once the banana bites are completely frozen, dig in. The sweet, creamy frozen banana is complimented by the chocolatey flavour - almost like a choc ice but with a salty, peanut kick at the end.




Dinner was a Leftover Chicken Pie made with leftover roast chicken, tomato basil sauce, red chilli powder, salt, light cream cheese, fresh peas and homemade pastry. 
Leftover Chicken Pie



Tuesday: A really simple snack or dessert is always fruit and yoghurt.
Blueberry Yoghurt with Sliced Strawberries
I marinaded some salmon for the next days lunch with garlic and ginger.
Random thought - We have been loving iced fruit tea this week.
Especially with this selection box from Twinings.
Back to the salmon - season with a little salt, soy sauce and sesame oil.
Add the salmon fillets and leave to marinate. Pan-fry for a quick lunch with steamed vegetables.
Dinner was Chicken Pulao, Gosht Shorba and Fresh Coriander Yoghurt.

Wednesday: Woke up craving porridge so that was breakfast sorted.
I had a pack of fresh cherries in the fridge and I decided to bake something with them.
Insha Allah, I will be sharing the recipe soon!
Update: Here is the recipe.
Dinner was a random plate of things.
Cajun Grilled Chicken Strips wrapped in Lettuce
Butter Bean Lime Salad
Spicy Daal
Washed down with Strawberry Mango Iced Tea.
Thursday: Lunch was:
Cheese and Onion Quiche, Oven Chips, Butterbean Lime Salad
Remember the fresh cherry baking that I was doing?
I finished it off the next day, and it was really, really tasty. Here is the full recipe.
Potatoes were being roasted for dinner.
Along with my take on a Peruvian dish.
Update: Here is the recipe.
And, there was still Spicy Daal floating around.
Friday: I felt like making fresh chocolate chip cookies.
The recipe is really easy and I think the best I've baked so far. You can get the recipe here!
I rolled the batter in clingfilm and froze most of it ready for a dessert in Ramadan.
Six were baked and they were so good!
Update: Here is the recipe.
My cousin baked this Chocolate Cake with chocolate sponge, chocolate ganache and chocolate fingers.
A chocolate lovers dream!
And, another baked these yummy Chocolate Cream Cupcakes - chocolate sponge with whipped cream topping - really good!


Recipes posted at This Muslim Girl Bakes this week:


Smoked Kippers, Poached Eggs with Bubble and Squeak

Eton Mess Cake



I hope you all have a wonderful first week of Ramadan filled with lots of prayer and good actions.

Keep me in your duas, please,

Wasalaam!


Spice Enthusiast
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