Saturday 1 November 2014

Baked Doughnuts + Chocolate Apples + The October Garden: 25 October - 31 October 2014

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful






I think we need to take the time to tell ourselves we are good people. Good mothers. Good wives, friends and women. 
We have to believe it ourselves, and not apologize for who we are.
We are good people. All of us. In our different stages of life, pursuing different dreams and goals, parenting, believing or living different from one another. We're all good.
We just need to believe it. 
(Love Taza)
 Saturday: After cooking the honeycomb the day before, I left it to cool overnight. When it cools, it becomes so hard.
I used a large knife to break it up into pieces. It had the familiar holes that we are used to and the beginning taste was pretty good too. But as we carried on chewing, the honeycomb stuck to our teeth - in a way that would not make my dentist happy.
So, I decided to blitz it up - it was going be sprinkled over doughnuts after all.
But when I came back to it later on, I found that the whole thing had just hardened up - it wouldn't even come out of the bowl.
So, what have I learned from my adventures in honeycomb?
I've learnt that caramel is not my ally. And, I need to get myself a sugar thermometer. 
Which I bought the very next day.
The doughnuts continued though. I had seen an idea online for baked doughnuts. Not the cake batter kind but real doughnuts. So, I decided to test the method out on one of them.
And, I was pretty impressed. They weren't as golden brown as when they are fried but the taste was just the same.
And, when they are rolled in sugar and filled with vanilla custard ....
... well let's just say, nobody knows any different.
I enjoyed mine with hot coffee ...
... on the last day of the British summer.
Sunday: Today, for lunch, I made a Lemon Pepper Chicken Bake. I placed a few sprigs of rosemary into a roasting tin.
The chicken was marinated in lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, garlic and honey.
The lemons I had zested and juiced were sliced up and added to the tray.
Along with slices of potato ...
... more salt and pepper.
And, the chicken.
The only mistake I made was that I should have covered it when baking. That way, I would have got a delicious gravy with it.
Oh well, it was still delicious on a Sunday afternoon.
We ate it with steamed veg - my favourite!
 Monday: For dinner, we made Lamb Kebabs by mixing together lamb mince, salt, beaten egg, ground cumin, ground coriander, fried onions, red chilli powder and cornflour.
 They were shaped into patties ...
... and cooked until golden brown.

We ate them with salad and Daal.

For dessert, apples and black dates.
 Tuesday: Today, for dinner, I made pasta.
Not just any pasta but Chicken Pot Pie Pasta.
 Imagine the filling for a Chicken Pot Pie ...
... but tossed with pasta. Recipe inspiration can be found here.
For dessert, something which I haven't made for two years.
Apples dipped in chocolate!
I can never finish a whole chocolate apple, so I sliced them in half (without the core, of course) and dipped them in melted milk chocolate.


You can go crazy with the toppings (how about coconut, crushed nuts, caramel sauce, your favourite sweets?) but I kept it simple with just a sprinkle of salt.
 Wednesday: Today, my mum made a curry which was a cross between this and this.
Potatoes and cauliflower were fried until golden and crispy.
Then, the onions were cooked.
Along with tomatoes.
Spices were added ...
... with tomato puree.
When the masala was cooked, lamb mince was added.
It was cooked completely and then the potatoes and cauliflower was put back in!
Thursday: No pictures today so here's a few of my favourites from my Instagram feed. 
Friday: Snacking on my favourites - apples and black dates!
Since today is the last day of October, I thought I would capture the garden in all of its glory. I love autumn!
It looked like autumn out there today but it sure didn't feel like it.



Recipes Posted on the Blog This Week:


Mexican Lasagne - a warming spicy lasagne with layers of lamb chilli, spinach sauce, pasta and Cheddar.


Vanilla Cake with Malted Milk Chocolate Frosting - I have no words for this except: just go, and make it!

My favourite links from around the web this week:

1. This bread though.
2. 29 South Asian foods that aren't chicken tikka masala
3. What does the world eat for breakfast?
4. This rice dish  looks amazing!
5. Turkish pizza anyone?
6. A cookie cake and thoughts on being older. Which I can totally relate to, and hello, cookie cake!
7. A very helpful post  for anyone thinking about Islamic education for children.
8. Oh my god, this.
9. After having a discussion with my niece today regarding marshmallows, I think she may enjoy this.
10. Four words: Custard cream biscuit spread.
11. This would have helped last week.
12. Would you let your children be in charge of family meals?
13. My mum would love this cake.


I hope you all have a beautiful week ahead,

Wasalaam!


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