Classic Beef Burgers

I photographed these burgers in February. I had my fuzzy grey socks on with a hole where my little toe sticks out. Maryam likes to play 'this little piggy' with it when I wear it. It was just overcast enough to naturally diffuse the sunlight but I had to work fast to race against the dying light though. All it wanted to do was play peekaboo with the clouds. 

That evening, we had an early dinner in the garden. The kids ate their burgers whilst digging for diamonds in the sandpit. Hassan buried his lettuce in the sand and I'm guessing we probably had an apple crumble for dessert- still sat in the garden of course. 

I made these again last week in honour of them appearing in the May issue of Spinneys Food magazine for which I contribute their suppers ideas each month. We ate them in totally different circumstances though. The French doors to the garden were bolted shut and we sat on the dining table, ruefully watching the sheer curtains dance against the air conditioning drone. Hassan had no choice but to eat his lettuce this time. 

Summer is finally here in Dubai! One thing remained the same though. These burgers still tasted just as good as they did in February.....anytime burgers really. 

Recipes for Chicken Satay, Green Fish, Herbed Omelette and Asparagus Pea and Tomato Tart with Parmesan can be found in the May issue of Spinneys Food or online soon. 

Breakfast Pizza

This post centres around my recipe for a basic pizza dough. 

Or......it could also be about what to make when you feel down. Last September, when Hassan was only nine months old, we moved from a two bedroom flat to our current house. With an extra 2 bedrooms and an office as a bonus, it didn't take long to get comfortable. Very comfortable. 

We quickly grew into the place. Day by day, the backyard grew greener. Our petunias sprouted and Hassan grew accustomed to his morning rounds in the park. Maryam made grand plans to paint her room......pink, of course. 

I kept telling her 'we will, we will.' But sadly, that won't be happening as we will be moving again soon. Our landlord had decided he is renovating the whole compound and our contract won't be renewed. I won't lie- I was quite devastated. Moving has to be one of the most difficult things I've done (I've done it nine times!). Add two children to the equation and it makes it doubly hard. 

Plus I love this house, So many memories we have made in nine months. So many firsts for Hassan and already two birthdays celebrated in the house. I made this pizza whilst I was feeling down in the dumps. This breakfast pizza to be exact. Complete with eggs and sausages. Oh yes. Lemony arugula and parmesan to top it off.

And you know what? It did the trick. Yup. It certainly made me feel better, more positive. Our bellies full and hearts content. So much so, that we have already found a lovely villa to move into next month. It will be just before I go to London for a week when I'll be attending Food Blogger Connect. 

So much happening. I'll keep you updated on our move. Excited. 

Note: I'm looking to update my blog design as well as creating a new web portfolio. If you know of someone, please leave their details in comments? Thanks!

Watercress and Pea Falafels

It's been a few days since we returned from Morocco. We are still jet lagged. Signs of our epic holiday show from the tans on our faces to the piles of laundry waiting to be done.

We had a wonderful time touring Marrakech, Essaouira and Casablanca, mesmerised by the saturated blues and oranges on display. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen a few pictures of the sites that we discovered.

Morocco has beautiful old buildings with terracotta walls. And oh the doors. Morocco has some of the most beautiful doors with every inch telling a story of its history. I cannot wait to share the photos of our trip and some Moroccan inspired recipes I know you'll love. How does crispy fried sardines with herbed couscous sound? I knew you'd approve. 

But our holiday did end on a slight sour note when my little Hassoon brought back an unwanted souvenir from Casablanca. He has just learnt to walk and slipped in the bathroom, cutting his finger on a broken tile. Five hours later and with five stitches on his tiny finger, we were back in the hotel. 

Eight hours on the plane with a one year old in pain and a tired but hyper four year old was.......let's just say trying. And tiring. So I was relieved to find some of these herby watercress and pea falafels in the freezer that I had made before I left. 

If you read my last post, you may remember me mentioning how hard it can get for children to try different leafy vegetables. Falafels are the perfect vehicles for them. I have experimented with various flavours ranging form spinach to broccoli. But this version is my favourite. Perfect for spring. 

Since Maryam is a a fan of peas, I just tell her it has peas. And it does. And so much more. Next time, I think I'm going to try and bake them to make them even healthier. Whilst she ate them as is, me and Akber wrapped ours in Arabic bread with a simple salad and tahini and yoghurt dressing. Such a good lunch. 

Of Perfection and Failure

A while back, I received a lovely email from a reader telling me how much she enjoyed reading the blog. Not condescending in any manner, she told me that whenever she read a post, she thought about what a perfect life I had. 

A husband lucky enough to have a different meal on the table at least every couple of days. A sweet note to follow every meal. Model children who ate and polished everything on their plates including foods in brights shades of green. Could I give her tips?

She imagined my house to be decorated in crisp shades of whites and beiges, not a toy out of place. Not a stain in sight, not a dish dirty. A picture perfect family, a perfect life. Perfect. As happy as I was to receive an email from an avid reader telling me she enjoyed reading the blog, the email left me feeling apprehensive and scared. Apprehensive that I would fail to live up to every reader's expectations. Scared of failure. 

Banana Chocolate and Hazelnut Loaf Cake

I can't believe it's been nearly a year and a half since I last baked a banana cake. I was six months pregnant at that time and it was a craving that led me to bake one of my favourite cakes. Since that time, many things have changed.

Our family has grown and is complete. We moved to a bigger house to accommodate this- and my growing collection of props. Maryam started school and Hassan learnt many new things. I worried for the longest time when he didn't sit till nine months. Now he tries to climb into Maryam's chair and sit, just like his big sister. He crawls and cruises and has the most headstrong personality a fifteen month old could ever have. It is highly amusing to see him throw his head back in anger and then bury it between his legs when he doesn't get his way. Terrible twos already?

I finally have a garden although it still needs some love and attention. A few more plants and flowers to add colour and perhaps even a herb garden at some point? I'm being rather optimistic I think. But one thing that hasn't changed is my love for banana cakes. Oh yes, I still have a thing for them.

Here I have taken that same cake I baked whilst pregnant and changed it to suit our current cravings (Oh and I'm definitely not pregnant). Added some chocolate and hazelnut butter and finished it with some chopped toasted hazelnuts. We devoured it together. Me, Maryam and my little Hassan as well. Good thing it makes two loaves so we could share with friends too. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding

There are times when recipes take many hours of testing, much research, abundant time in the kitchen spent trying to perfect them. Ingredients bought many times over with numerous trips to different supermarkets to get just the right brand of chocolate, that perfectly formed tomato, the crispest herbs, the best looking berries.  

Amounts and measurements jotted, crossed, halved and multiplied on journals, colouring books and even the back of your hand. Complicated mathematics to get that perfect outcome. The kitchen may look like a whirlwind of activity with a thick dusty coating of flour covering the countertops. Butter smeared on every surface. All in the name of achieving that perfect outcome. 

Then there are times when it all comes together in a flash. All the right ingredients magically lined up on the counter begging to be used together. The show goes off without a hitch and every actor in the recipe plays their part flawlessly. Like today. 

The chocolate and peanut butter play their parts effortlessly, each supporting the other and yet stars in their own right. Cream brings the show together. My family gave this dessert a standing ovation and their were calls of 'encore encore.' For sure, it will be made again. 

Orzo Salad with Lemon Mint Dressing

You may have come here expecting an enticing image with colours of bright orange mangoes paired on a creamy background of rice pudding. One where dainty tarts are carefully decorated with just the right amount of pistachio dusting. 

Instead I have for you this salad. One that was created by my sister Zainab. You see, she's been having a go at me for not posting this recipe especially since I beg her to make it every time she comes. It's not the most exciting mix of ingredients really, whatever vegetables and greens you have lying in the fridge. 

But its the dressing that's my favourite here. I have long been a fan of of the lemon and mint combination, my go to drink to order whenever we eat out. Zainab's too. Here, it's bottled in a dressing. That same cool refreshing taste atop ice cold crunchy greens. Salad in a cocktail glass?

I promise to be back with something sweet.  Whilst it may not be the rice pudding tarts with mango coulis (they disappeared before a camera came close to them), it is a promise of something sweet. And maybe even chocolatey.