Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
August 2015: The One Where We Baked Giant Cookies.
August 1: rainy day baked potato.
August 2: Sunday always needs cake. this time, from the freezer.
August 3: successful scone bake.
August 4: harvesting the basil.
August 5: christening the bundt tin.
August 6: leftovers.
August 7: eggs for dinner.
August 8: that naan though.
August 9: Sunday rice and curry.
August 10: vegetarian.
August 11: everything on boards from now on please.
August 12: who said scones should be sweet?
August 13: giant cookie!
August 14: baking with the littles.
August 15: testing Yorkshire puddings.
August 16: Sunday bake.
August 17: bubblegum ice lollies though.
August 18: parathas with achar.
August 19: one-pot wonder.
August 20: cheat's biryani.
August 21: two favourites.
August 22: weekend taco bar.
August 23: hijacked the bagels and turned them into doughnuts.
August 24: pure magic.
August 25: simple.
August 26: bubble, bubble.
August 27: wedding cake!
August 28: cherry picking.
August 29: whoosh!
August 30: tiny biscuits.
August 31: melon balling.
I've been wanting to have a go at a polenta cake (gluten-free!) and this raspberry orange one was amazing.
there's been a bundt tin on the cake tin shelf for ages now and I finally had a chance to use it this month. I baked this sticky toffee pudding in it with toffee sauce and fleur de sel.
first, chicken noodle soup with carrots. I used this recipe.
tandoori baked salmon + quick spiced potato, cauliflower and peas + fresh lemon.
recipe for the salmon is here.
chicken marinated in chilli garlic oil + chickpea Greek salad + minty Greek yoghurt + quick spiced cauliflower, potato and peas.
chicken tikka skewers + really soft naan bread + green yoghurt chutney + lettuce + cucumber + cherry tomatoes + lemon.
veggie pizza: base + no-cook tomato sauce + courgettes + red onion + sweetcorn + peppers + Cheddar + salt + pepper + dried oregano.
pan-fried white fish coated in rice flour, salt, red chilli flakes, ground cumin, ground coriander, lemon juice and white wine vinegar + carrot courgette baked fritters + sweetcorn.
steamed chilli salmon + potato hash.
August 4: harvesting the basil.
August 5: christening the bundt tin.
August 6: leftovers.
August 7: eggs for dinner.
August 8: that naan though.
August 9: Sunday rice and curry.
August 10: vegetarian.
August 11: everything on boards from now on please.
August 12: who said scones should be sweet?
August 13: giant cookie!
August 14: baking with the littles.
August 15: testing Yorkshire puddings.
August 16: Sunday bake.
August 17: bubblegum ice lollies though.
August 18: parathas with achar.
August 19: one-pot wonder.
August 20: cheat's biryani.
August 21: two favourites.
August 22: weekend taco bar.
August 23: hijacked the bagels and turned them into doughnuts.
August 24: pure magic.
August 25: simple.
August 26: bubble, bubble.
August 27: wedding cake!
August 28: cherry picking.
August 29: whoosh!
August 30: tiny biscuits.
August 31: melon balling.
my tablet wallpaper this month.
my phone wallpaper this month.
baking challenge: this month, I baked cinnamon raisin bagels. I've been wanting to make these at home for a while now so was really glad that I did.
in other baking firsts this month, I baked scones with a difference. these ones were made with orange zest, poppy seeds, double cream and buttermilk.I've been wanting to have a go at a polenta cake (gluten-free!) and this raspberry orange one was amazing.
there's been a bundt tin on the cake tin shelf for ages now and I finally had a chance to use it this month. I baked this sticky toffee pudding in it with toffee sauce and fleur de sel.
finally, I've seen giant cookies around the internets for forever and got to baking one myself. we turned it into a pie and it was delish!
my fave meals: I know most of us struggle with what to cook each night so I hope this new feature of my favourite meals from the past month will inspire you. if you want any full recipes, let me know and I'll be happy to share.first, chicken noodle soup with carrots. I used this recipe.
tandoori baked salmon + quick spiced potato, cauliflower and peas + fresh lemon.
recipe for the salmon is here.
chicken marinated in chilli garlic oil + chickpea Greek salad + minty Greek yoghurt + quick spiced cauliflower, potato and peas.
chicken tikka skewers + really soft naan bread + green yoghurt chutney + lettuce + cucumber + cherry tomatoes + lemon.
veggie pizza: base + no-cook tomato sauce + courgettes + red onion + sweetcorn + peppers + Cheddar + salt + pepper + dried oregano.
pan-fried white fish coated in rice flour, salt, red chilli flakes, ground cumin, ground coriander, lemon juice and white wine vinegar + carrot courgette baked fritters + sweetcorn.
steamed chilli salmon + potato hash.
shredded, baked spicy chicken + garden salad {lettuce, cherry tomatoes, peppers, pickled peppers, lime} + mint sauce swirled plain yoghurt + tortillas + roasted sweet potato fries + chilli garlic sauce.
red lentil curry + pilau rice + cucumber.
chicken kebab + oven chips + steamed Savoy cabbage, carrots, broccoli, green beans.
disaster: the first batch of bagels that just would not come off the tray even though I had liberally greased and lined it.
lesson learnt:
Do not carry the worries of this life because this is for Allah.
And, do not carry the worries of sustenance because it is from Allah.
And, do not carry the anxiety for the future because it is in the Hands of Allah.
Carry one thing:
How to please Allah.
Because if you please Him, He pleases you, fulfils you and enriches you.
Do not weep for a life that has made your heart weep.
Just say:
"O Allah, compensate me with good in this life and the Hereafter".
Sadness departs with prostration. Happiness comes with a sincere prayer.
Allah does not forget the good you do. Nor does He forget the good you did to others and the pain you relieved them from.
Nor will He forget the eye which was about to cry but you made it laugh.
Live your life with this principle:
Be good even if you don't receive good.
Not for the sake of others but because Allah loves those who do good.
Who spend (in the cause of Allah) during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon people - and Allah loves the doers of good.
{Surah Aale Imran, Verse 134}
See --> January 2015 + February 2015 + March 2015 + April 2015 + May 2015 + June 2015 + July 2015.
I pray that the Almighty blesses the month of September and keeps us happy and healthy.
Keep me in your duas, please,
Wasalaam!