February 2016: Food + Favourites!

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

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How are you guys on this snowy Friday? Yes, that's right. I woke up this morning to the sound of peaceful silence as opposed to last night's hammering rain. Up went the blinds and I took a sharp intake of breath at the most beautiful scene outside. Proper, thick snow on the ground plus it was still falling. Needless to say, my day was made.

So, news. I won't be doing my weekly posts any more. I know, I'm sad too. But honestly, getting two full-photo recipes out every week along with a post at the weekend (which is always the busiest for me) was driving me crazy. Instead of a weekly post, I will be rounding up my food and favourites every month. Starting with February! Let's go!

Food: We start with this amazing mousse cake that we had on the plane. It was chocolate cake + chocolate mousse + chocolate glaze.

Ignore the messy plate - you know what breakfast buffets are like. These veggie noodles were amazing in Makkah - super spicy with plenty of soy sauce to boot!

The best hot French fries in Madinah.

Oaty shortbread.

Vanilla chocolate ice cream + toffee chocolate ice cream in Makkah.

Strawberry + chocolate + vanilla + the world's crispiest cone - outside Masjid Qiblatain in Madinah.

Chocolate vanilla + chocolate + raspberry vanilla ice cream - in Madinah.

Strawberry + vanilla + chocolate ice cream + world's crispiest cone - outside Masjid Quba in Madinah.

Gluten-free lemon poppy seed loaf + lemon drizzle.

My cousin baked it to welcome us home.

Our house omelette with red onion, jalapeno, basar curry powder and fresh coriander + my Aunt's minced lamb with karela curry + toast + ketchup.

My Aunt's smoky tandoori chicken + charred onions + chicken pulao + yoghurt.

Stuffed paratha with minced lamb and karela curry + coriander, green chilli and mint yoghurt.

Salted chocolate chunk cookies - so happy to find them in my freezer.

Spicy chicken sandwiches + crisps + tomato + lettuce + cucumber.

Chicken veggie pizza + garlic sauce.

British pancakes + lemon juice + sugar.

Fresh mint + green chilli chutney.

Mum's boneless chicken curry with basar curry powder.

Sticky toffee pudding without dates + toffee sauce.

Mum's chicken curry + my Aunt's creamy yoghurt curry with pakoras {made with her homemade yoghurt no less!} + boiled rice.

Roasted jalapeno cheddar chicken burgers + BBQ aioli.

A bowlful of noodles with soy, ginger, garlic, lime juice and chilli sauce.

Hash with roasted jalapeno cheddar chicken mince + courgette + carrot + cumin + coriander + the fluffiest baked potato with salted butter.

Lemon posset.

the best breakfast! softly scrambled eggs + salt + pepper + crispy toast.

grilled chicken shawarma + sumac lemon chopped salad + mujaddara.

lemony, spicy fried fish + chips.

no-bake tiramisu cheesecake --> the best for celebrating surviving the dentist.

I'm sure she would approve! :)

French onion soup + giant Cheddar tiger bread croutons.

Cheesy chicken plait.

Giant coriander chilli cheese toast.

chicken enchiladas - perfect for Sunday lunch!

Nutella hazelnut chocolate chunk cookies.

Baked spicy chicken wings.

Had to include the money shot when cooking .....

... a giant pot of Saag.

The best with a soft wholemeal tortilla.

Capricci pasta + roasted balsamic red onion + cherry tomato + garlic + basil. 

Favourites: The highlight was obviously our Umrah trip - this being our view for entire week!

In Madinah! Alhamdulillah, our trip was one of the best yet!

The prettiest flowers from my cousin.

Cooking a giant batch of roasted vegetable stock. Plus I have no idea what that vegetable is in the top right hand corner but it looks like a rose! So pretty!

So worth making your own if you have the time!

My mother never apologizes for her butter usage - this was for the Saag tarka. 

Got way too excited at the supermarket with these flower bulbs thinking spring was here. Then, this happened.

Also, I am huge fan of odd pasta shapes.

Finally, snow! You guys know how much I love my snow!

Your Photos: You guys are the best when it comes to sending me pictures of your food - keep them coming!
Crispy Onion Bhajis - cooked by @super.duper.yumm.cooking

Homemade Doughnuts - baked by @hajras_kitchen

The Chocolate Cake - baked by one of you on Instagram.

Easy + Traditional Pakistani Chicken Biryani - cooked by @shaim_aya

Chocolate Brownie Cookies - baked by @royal_mehndi

Cookies inspired by these + sandwiched with Nutella.

Cheesy Chicken Nachos - cooked by @fatemam_m

One of you on Snapchat enjoying my Umrah posts.

Thursday Chocolate Brownies - baked by one of you on Snapchat.

Lately, on the blog:

Makkah Part One: The Journey + The View

Makkah Part Two: Digital Detox + The Kabah

Makkah Part Three: Masjid Aisha + The Road to Madinah

Madinah Part One: Masjids + Mountains

Madinah Part Two: The Exhibitions + The Green Dome

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Keep me in your duas please,

Wasalaam!