Sesame Egg Noodles with Stir Fried Vegetables

Note: So happy to find out that my blog has been nominated as Best Food Photography on a Blog for this year's The Kitchn Homies. I'd apprecite your vote here.

 

As I brought up Blogger on my screen to write this post, my mind went blank for a few seconds. I forgot what I was to write about. What dish had I photographed? What images had I edited? What exactly did we have for dinner the other night?

You see, I have been having many sleepless nights. I'm certainly not used to it. Maryam started sleeping through the night when she was a mere two months. I never knew what it was like to be up every few hours to nurse, change diapers, burp, rinse and repeat.

Hassan is different though. He certainly wakes more often and it's already taking its toll on me. I just haven't had the time to test recipes as I did previously and baking has taken a back seat. Nor for long though as I have had interesting flavour combinations I've been brainstorming in those late night feeding sessions. Pistachio and chocolate doughnuts, date and nut tea cakes, baklava ice cream sandwich anyone?

For now though, I hope I can entice you with our everyday meals. Like this quick stir fry. Organic egg noodles tossed in sesame oil and whatever vegetables you have on the side. Ready in less than ten minutes and eaten even faster. The perfect meal to prepare when time and energy isn't on your side.

As I quickly whipped this meal in the kitchen, Maryam made her own version of 'loodles' with playdough. We then stole a few quiet moments to have this simple lunch together. It was good- with plenty of crunch left in the vegetables. We sucked up the 'loodles' like vacuums.

I'm hoping to find some time this week to bring some of those baking ideas I've been dreaming about to reality this week. Soon I hope.

Purple Cauliflower Fritters with Garlic and Coriander Dressing

Our weekends are usually unplanned at the moment. Unless we have a kids birthday party to attend (which has been the case for the last three weekends!), we play it by ear. It very much depends on what time the kids wake and how soon can breakfast be ready and eaten. Very casual, very spontaneous.

Kids. Plural. I'm still getting used to that. Still unbelievable to think I'm a mama of two now. But reality certainly hits when you've got two to bathe, two to dress, two to feed, two to pacify, two to put to sleep. One to entertain on the weekends for now.

We haven't been able to visit the farmer's market since it started in November lasy year. First it was the end of my pregnancy and then Hassan was born. But this weekend, I made a prior plan. We decided to have breakfast at the souk to make sure we reached on time- a beautiful shakshouka is what we had. A rich sauce made from roasted peppers, tomatoes and herbs, topped with poached eggs. Crusty bread to scoop it all up.

I had made a long list of fresh vegetables I wanted to buy. Strawberries and beets topped that list and I was very much disappointed to find neither. However, I then laid eyes on the most beautiful hue of purple. Rich, velvety, royal. I'm not a fan of cauliflower but the color drew me in as I picked one up with no clue as to what I'd do with this striking find.

And so on the journey home, I planned and plotted. I settled on these crisp cauliflower fritters. Lightly seasoned with cumin and chili flakes, it is only when you dip them into the garlic and coriander dressing does the flavour burst into your mouth. It was perfect over a bed of baby spinach.

And so that is how our weekend was spent- a royal breakfast followed by a royal find which eventually transformed itself into a perfect weekend lunch.

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When My Camera Found a Purple Cauliflower

Sometimes in life, things go by unnoticed. Beautiful yet simple, we miss them because we don't have the time to sit and stare. Things that are often overlooked by our eyes but not by a camera. I have never been a fan of cauliflower- it had never held my attention really. That is, until this beautiful purple hue caught the attention of my camera. Had it not been for photography, it would have passed me by. For that, I will always be grateful to my humble camera.

My mind is buzzing with recipes- a cauliflower pakora or simply roasted and tossed with greens? How do YOU like to eat yours?

Chocolate Nutella and Hazel Nut Brownie Cake

We haven't spent much time together. You see, I've been busy and she is confused. Before, my world revolved around her. She would be the first thing I set my eyes on when I woke. Or rather, when she woke me up. And the last thing I checked on before I went to bed. Just to make sure she was still tucked under her blanket.

But recently her world has been turned topsy turvy, she is in a midst of a hurricane. She doesn't quite understand why. Why I'm always in a hurry? Why we don't go to the park EVERY day? Why I don't feed her EVERY meal time? Why I don't drop her to nursery anymore?

Why do we never mange to finish the story at bed time? Why don't we have play dates anymore? Why don't we spend hours playing in the bath nowadays? Why do I have to share my toys? 'Why' has been a prominent question in our home lately. Sometimes I have an answer, a lot of the times, I evade the question.

Whilst Maryam is loving being the big sister and having a young brother to cuddle, play with and experiment on (!), she hasn't been liking the fact that I cannot spend all my time with her. There just aren't that many hours in the day anymore. But I had a plan. A surprise to make it all better again, to make ir right, to make her happy. Like old times.

The first thing she asked when I had gotten back from hospital was, 'Mummy, can we make 'loodles' and carrot cupcakes?' So I knew baking had to be involved. I told her the night before that we would make a brownie cake for Valentine's. And a card for Papa. She was excited with a twinkle in her eye. 'I'll chop the nuts. And mix.'

And that's exactly what we did for Valentine's. I measured. She chopped, whisked and mixed. And tasted of course. That is always part of the plan.  Together, we baked and for a little while, there was a pause in the WHY. That is how we spent our Valentine's. Simple. But with a decadent treat. A chocolate brownie cake with hazel nuts and Nutella. It was gooey, fudgy and the perfect end to our dinner.

Carrot Pudding

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Last week, I wrote about a cultural and religious custom where we shaved Hassan's birth hair. I had quite a few comments and curious emails asking about this practice as well as the recipe for the carrot pudding I made to celebrate and remember this day.

Both my children were born with a full mop of velvety luscious locks. Everyone from the midwife to the cashier to strangers have remarked about how much hair they have. I could never get enough of stroking their silky heads.

But alas, this never lasted long. It is a customary to shave the birth hair on the seventh day of a baby's life. Since Hassan was in hospital with jaundice, we managed to get this done only last week. In a way, it worked out perfectly to coincide with my Mom being present as well.

The ceremony is done to gather friends and family around and share the joyous occassion of a new arrival. This moment is taken as an announcement of a child's birth and a sweet treat is always made to mark an even sweeter occassion.

I decided to make this carrot pudding after my wonderful neighbor Simi sent me some. Incidentally, she had a baby boy just a few hours after me. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day with lots of laughter, photos, memories made with family around the dinner table and and sweet endings.

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Roasted Tomato and Garlic Crouton Spaghetti

It has been nearly three weeks now since Hassan graced our lives and changed our family dynamics forever. We have been busy getting to know one another and I haven't spent as much time in the kitchen as I would have liked to. Instead, I have been busy eating whoesome meals prepared by my Mom and Mother in law.

Yesterday was the first time I prepared a three course meal to celebrate shaving his hair. It is customary to shave the birth hair on the seventh day of a baby's life but since he was still in hospital recovering from jaundice, we decided to do so yesterday. I was quite sad to see his beautiful locks disappear and Maryam was quite alarmed to see his 'curlies chopped off.'

To celebrate the occassion, we ate together with close family and shared a simple meal. My Mom prepared a fragrant cumin scented pilaf with a spiced version of this mung soup. And for dessert- we had a cardamom infused carrot pudding. Lots of butter, lots of pistachios and lots of love. A complete meal with loved ones.

It felt good to be back in the kitchen and even better to be sharing it with my Mom. The best part was getting back to photographing. Doing what I love and enjoy the most- creating and eating good food and photographing it.

Today though, I want to share with you a simple pasta dish I created a few weeks ago for the third issue of House of Fifty. I've been making this version of spaghetti for about two years now, since Maryam started eating pasta actually.

It has evolved as Maryam's palate has become more sophisticated. What started off as mere spaghetti tossed in olive oil has now seen the addition herbs, roasted tomatoes and garlic croutons. When Maryam is going through her picky phases, this is one meal I know she'll relish. Who knows what it will transform into as she gets older.

Head over to House of Fifty for more images as well as a recipe for focaccia. Also, I would like to thank all of you for the lovely comments and messages you left on my last post. Me and Akber really enjoyed reading through each and every single one of them. Thank you!

Click above for printable recipe card