Pakistani Chicken Pulao

Chicken Pulao is such a yummy dish.  It is rice cooked with chicken in it.   The aromatic spices and flavors give it the most amazing taste ever.  This is one of my all time favorite foods in the world.  No one can beat my grandma's pulao.  You have to try this dish, I guarantee you will love it!

Ingredients:

1 large chicken (skinned and cut into pieces)
2 cups of plain yogurt
1 tsp. Garlic paste
1 tsp. Ginger paste
1 large Onion (chopped)
4 Cardamom pods
1 tsp. Whole cumin seeds
1 tsp. Cloves
2-3 Green chilies (chopped)
1 tsp. Red chili powder
1/2 tsp. Turmeric powder
1 cup Tomato puree or 2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 cup Fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup Fresh coriander/cilantro leaves
2 cups Long grain rice/basmati rice
2 tbsp Clarified butter (Ghee) or oil
4 cups Water

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large pot.  When the oil is hot, add onions and whole spices.  Stir fry for a few minutes, add ginger and garlic paste.  Reduce heat and add powdered spices.  Do not burn them.

2.  Add tomatoes.  When they are well mixed, add plain yogurt and stir well.

3.  Add chicken pieces and mint leaves and stir well so that the yogurt masala coats the chicken well.
Cook for 30-40 minutes on medium heat until the chicken is cooked.

4.  Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil.

5.  Add 2 cups of rice and salt to taste.

6. Cook on low heat with the lid on until the rice is cooked.

7.  Sprinkle coriander leaves on top and lightly mix.

8.  Serve on a plate with yogurt and salad.

Enjoy!

"Love at First Bite" Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Freshly baked perfect Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

These are the yummiest, easiest and best tasting cookies you will come across in your life.
They are perfectly moist on the inside with just the perfect outer texture.
You honestly have to try them.

1 cup Butter or margarine, softened
1 cup Brown sugar, packed
1 Egg
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
1 tsp. Baking soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1 1/4 Rolled Oats
1 cup Raisins

Cream butter and sugar together.  Beat in egg and vanilla.
Add remaining ingredients.  Mix well.  Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.
Bake in 350F (180C) oven to 8 to 10 minutes.

Enjoy your perfect oatmeal raisin cookies!

Gelato in Fort Langley

Fort Langley is one of the best places when it comes to gelato.
Gelato is the Italian version of ice-cream.  It is made from milk instead of cream and is known for its real, rich and bold flavours.  It is honestly one of the best sweet desserts you will ever taste.

I was in Fort Langley to film a music video for a school project and my friends and I decided to go to Maria's Gelato.  The selection of flavours make it a hard choice to decide on a flavour.  The last few times I visited I got hazelnut gelato and pistachio gelato.  This time I tried bachio (hazelnut and chocolate)

IT WAS SO YUMMY.
If you are ever in Fort Langley, this is the place to go!

Bottom left corner - Bachio Gelato
Top corner - Strawberry Sorbetto
Bottom right corner - hazelnut Gelato 

Rice Krispy Balls!

This is a fast, easy and delicious sweet treat!
I made these with my grandma yesterday <3 You have to try this recipe. I hope you enjoy.

INGREDIENTS

50 mL 1/4 cup margarine or butter
250 g 1 pkg (about 40) regular marshmallows or 5 cups miniature
2 mL 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
1.5 L 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

PREPARATION

1. Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat.  Add marshmellows and stir until completely melted.  Remove from heat.

2.  Stir in vanilla.  Then stir in rice krispies cereal until well coated.  Using a lightly butted spatula, press into a buttered pan.

3.  Allow mixture to cool.  Cut into bars.  They taste best is served the same day.

(Instead of putting the rice krispies into a pan, we pressed them into circles.  They will cool the exact same way and both are absolutely a delight to serve)

Now you're ready to eat. Enjoy :)

Dahi Bhalle (Pakistani Appetizer)

Home made bhalle 

Ingredients

1 cup Black gram lentils (split/washed)
2 lbs. Yogurt
1 tbsp. Cumin powder (roasted)
2 tbsp. Red chili power
1 tbsp. Salt 
1 tbsp. Ginger
2 tbsps. Coriander leaves 
Tamarind chutney to taste (optional)
Chutney to taste
Vegetable Oil for frying
Potatoes/Chickpeas (Optional) 

Directions

1. Wash and soak the lentils in cold water for a few hours. Strain and grind to a smooth paste.
2. Whisk into a batter with salt (1 tsp), roasted cumin powder(2 tsp), Roasted red chili powder (1 tsp) and salt (2 tsp), mix well and keep aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan. Drop one tbsp. of batter in flat round shape into Heated oil and fry until light golden.
4. Put fried bhallas into water and let them soak until soft. 
5. Drain, squeezing out the water between the palms of your hands.
6. Mix yogurt well with salt to taste.
7. To serve, place the bhallas on a plate and cover with yogurt.  You can also add pieced of potatoes and chickpeas for an extra element. 
8. Add Mint chutney and Tamarind chutney (these are optional).
9. Sprinkle red chili powder, black salt and roasted cumin powder. Garnish with coriander leaves.  

Enjoy! 

Pakistani Dinner

Looking for amazing Pakistani food to eat? Gulberg's cuisine is the place to go.

They have delicious food, great service and a lovely atmosphere.

The other day we went to Gulberg's for a late snack in the evening. 

We got dahi bhalle.  Which are ground lentil balls deep fried, dipped in yogurt and served with chutney.  

Then we indulged on the mixed tandoori platter which consists of kebabs and chicken tikka.  The meat are marinated in exotic spices and cooked in  a tandoor.  The freshly made naans hot off the tandoor with melted butter tastes amazing. 

Halwa

A bowl of hot halwa off the stove <3

Halwa is a sweet south Asian dessert perfect for satisfying you're sweet tooth. It is so delicious...

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sooji (semolina flour)
• 1/4 cup ghee (clear butter)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2cup water
• Pinch of cardamom powder
• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds for garnish

Method:

1. Boil the water with sugar, and cardamom powder in a pan over low medium heat. Bring to a boil and Set aside.
2. Melt the butter in a frying pan on medium heat.
3. Add sooji and roast to golden brown color; stirring constantly this will take about 5 to 8 minutes. Sooji will be golden brown in color and will have a light sweet aroma.
4. Add the syrup slowly, as you add the syrup to sooji water will splatter.
5. Turn down the heat to medium low and let it cook for about 2-3 minutes.
6. Sooji will absorb the water, as the Halwa cools so keep Halwa a little more softer then you want.
7. Garnish with almonds.

Perfect Pakoras

Pakoras are an all-time favorite Indian snack.  It is perfect for any occasion.
Pakoras are delicious paired with a cup of hot Indian Chai.

Pakoras are made with different vegetables, which are dipped in a spicy besan (gram flour) batter and deep-fried.

Ir is the perfect food to eat any time of the day.  This is my all time favorite snack!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup besan (gram flour)
• 1 tablespoon of coarsely ground coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 
• 2 chopped green chilies
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro 
• 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
• 3/4 cup of water
• Oil to fry
• 1 small potato, sliced thin
• 8 thin slices of cauliflower
• 1/2 small zucchini, sliced thin

Method:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together: besan, rice flour, coriander powder, and salt. 
2. Add the water slowly to make a smooth batter (consistency of pancake batter)
3. Next, add the green chilies and cilantro. Mix well.
4. Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium high heat.
5. The frying pan should have at least 11/2 inch of oil. (To check if the oil is ready, put one drop of batter in oil. The batter should come up but not change color right away).
6. Dip the vegetable slices in the batter one at a time and slowly drop in frying pan.
7. Fry the pakoras in small batches. The pakoras will take about 4 to 5 minutes to cook.
8. Turn them occasionally. Fry the pakoras until both sides are golden-brown.
9. Repeat this process. The crispy, delicious pakoras are ready to serve.

Tips:

If oil is too hot pakoras will not be crispy and or if oil is not hot enough pakoras will be greasy.

Variations:

You can use almost any vegetable when making these pakoras, such as eggplant, onion, cabbage, bell pepper, and different kinds of chilies! Experimenting with different flavors is good! 

Serving SuggestionsThe pakoras are even tastier when dipped in fresh cilantro chutney or tamarind chutney

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:

Stuffed Bell Pepper :)

5 green pepper
1 lb Ground beef
1/2 onion
1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped
2 celery stalks
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup ml rice
1/2 cup cheddar cheese or mozza cheese
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp chili flakes
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp seasoning salt

Sloppy seasoning:
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 tsp cayenne pepper/chili flakes
1 tsp herb seasoning blend
1/2 tsp salt

Method:


1)  Bring water to a boil and cook the rice.
2) Cut green pepper in half lengthwise. Discard seeds. Parcook by immersing in boiling water in a saucepan for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and place upside down on a plate.
3) Saute ground beef, onion, celery, mushrooms, garlic and all seasonings until ground beef is browned.
4) Mix together all ingredients for the sloppy seasoning.  Mix it into the beef and rice mixture.
5) Spoon into green pepper pieces and sprinkle with cheese on top.
6) Bake in the oven until the peppers are baked through and the cheese is melted.

Enoy!

Nanaimo Bars

This is the treat to satisfy your sweet craving.
It is sooo yummy.  I guarantee you will love it! These are in the shape of easter eggs, which make is a unique spin on the traditional nanaimo bars.  This recipe is guaranteed to wow your guests :)

Centre (white)

Ingredients:

-250ml soft margarine

-250ml icing sugar

-25ml milk

-15ml custard powder

Method:

1) Blend the margarine, icing sugar, milk and custard powder with a woodden spoon

2) Spread carefully over the top sides of the eggs, chill in 15minutes

Base (yolk)

Ingredients:

-60ml margarine

-30ml sugar

-1 egg

-2ml vanilla

-7ml cocoa

-250ml graham cracker crumbs

-125ml unsweetened coconut

-60ml walnut pieces chopped finely

Method:

1) Put the margarine, sugar, egg, vanilla, and cocoa in the top pot of a double boiler. Then water in the bottom of the pot should be just below and not touching the bottom of the top part

2) Stir and cook over medium heat until the mixture is slightly thick, about 5minutes. Remove from heat

3) Mix the graham cracker crumbs, coconut and nuts in a bowl

4) Pour the hot mixture over the crumbs, Mix with a wooden spoon

5) Using your hands, form small egg shapes. Put an waxed paper on a cookie sheet.

chocolate topping (shell)

ingredients:

-120ml semisweet chocolate

-30ml margarine

method:

1) Melt the chocolate and margarine in the top pot of a double boiler over medium heat

2) Quickly swirl the eggs around the melted chocolate. Use 2 forks to lift each egg out of the pot

3) Spread the chocolate over any parts that did not get covered. Put the eggs back on the cookie sheet and chill again.

Day At The Beach!

There's nothing like having delicious fish n' chips at the beach.
Crispy fresh cut fries, fluffy light battered halibut and ling-cod fish, fresh cut onion rings, yummy coleslaw and a perfectly home made tartar sauce.
At the beach on a sunny spring day, it was an amazing day.  Absolutely amazing fish n' chips followed by 2 perfect scoops of ice-cream.

If your looking for a place to eat, the Fishboat is the place to go.
http://fishboat.ca/

FishBoat Restaurant

15513 Marine Drive

White Rock, BC V4B-1C9

Phone: 778 294-3474

The best ice-cream in the world is at Moomoo's
15547 Marine Dr
White Rock, BC V4B1C9
604 837-8976

Fish n 'chips @ the Fishboat Restaurant, Whiterock

Lemon Blueberry Coffeecake

My famous lemon blueberry coffeecake!

It is my mommy's birthday today and I decided to make her this absolutely amazing cake.
This is my all time favourite cake recipe.  It turns out perfect every time.  I don't have the words to describe how delicious this cake is.  You HAVE to try it!

Cake:

1 1/2 cups All-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup margarine
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 tbsp finely grated lemon rind
1 1/2 cups blueberries

Glaze:

1/2 cup icing sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp margarine

1.  In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, soda and salt.
2.  In a large bowl, with electric mixer, cream margarine and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.
3.  Stir in yogurt and lemon rind.  Stir dry ingredients into creamed mixture, just until well mixed.
4.  Remove 1 cup of batter and set aside.  Spread rest of batter in a springform pan greased on bottom only.
5.  Place rest of batter back in bowl, stir in washed and well dried blueberries.  Spread over batter in the    pan.
6.  Bake in 350F (180C) oven for 45-50 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched in the centre.
7.  Cool for 5 minutes then remove the outer ring from pan.  Cool completely.
8.  In small bowl, mix together icing sugar, lemon juice and margarine until smooth.  Drizzle from spoon over cake in this stream.

Now it is finally time to cut yourself a big piece and enjoy with a cup of tea or latte.
<3

In the mood for a cold drink?

The Starbucks green tea frappuccino is amazing.  It is one of my favorite drinks at Starbucks.
It is a refreshing blend of sweetened matcha green tea, milk and ice.  It has a distinct and unique flavor.

I love it.  Next time your near a Starbucks, this is the drink to have!
If you're a fan of green tea, I guarantee you will absolutely love it.

Green Tea Frappuccino @Starbucks

Enjoy! 

Starbucks Happy Hour

Caramel Frappuccino @ Starbucks

From May 4th to the 13th, Starbucks had happy hour from 3pm to 5pm everyday.
All of the frappuccino's were half price.
I had so many frapps. I got to try many new flavours so I would like to share my experience with you :)

On Sunday I had the caramel frappuccino.
It is coffee blended with caramel sauce, milk and ice.  It is topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce.   This is the perfect combination in a frappuccino.

It is a very popular drink.  The caramel gives it a very distinct buttery sweetness.  The fluffy swirl of whipped cream adds just the right touch of decandence.  It is tough to beat by far.  I enjoyed it a lot!

For all the caramel lovers out there, this is the drink to have!

California Roll Sushi

My friends and I got together on the weekend and had a cooking party.  My first time making sushi was a success! It' a perfect dish to make if you want to impress your guests.  I hope you have as much fun as I did, enjoy :)

California Sushi Rolls <3
They were so yummy!

Ingredients -

2 cups of rice
Sesame seeds

Dash of soy sauce

Seaweed sheets (nori)

bowl of imitation crab

2 tbsp mayonnaise
pinch of salt

Cucumber

Avacado

Assembling the sushi -

Have the rice boiled and the crab teared into pieces.

In a bowl, mix the crab with some salt and the mayonnaise.

In another bowl, have the rice mixed with soysauce and sesame seeds.

Next, lay out the seaweed sheet after you have cut it in half. 
Cover the sheet entirely with a layer of rice.

Then flip the seaweed sheet so that the rice is facing down. 

Then place the crab, avacado and cucumber horizontally on the seaweed.

Make sure all of the ingredients are equal in size and position, and roll. As you roll, press the ingredients inside what should look like a cylindrical shaped sushi roll. Make sure the sushi is rolled tightly.

Wipe a knife with a wet cloth before slicing sushi. Cut the sushi roll into bite-size pieces.

Dip into some soy sauce and wasabi.

Enjoy!

Heavenly Chocolate Chip Cookies



Heavenly chocolate chip cookies. 
You will fall in love with them. 



These are the worlds best chocolate chip cookies! If you are looking for  a sweet treat, there is nothing better than biting into one of these soft, chewy and delicious chocolate chip cookies.

You will need:

1 cup (250 ml) butter

1 cup (250 ml) packed brown sugar

1/2 cup (125 ml) granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla

2 cups (500 ml) all purpose flour

1 cup (250 ml) oats
1 tsp (5 ml) baking powder

1 tsp (5 ml) baking soda

2 cups (500 ml) chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C)

In bowl and using electric mixer, beat buttter and sugars unil light and fluffy. 

Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla. 

In another bowl and using a wooden spoon, stir together flour, oats, baking powder and baking soda; stir into butter mixture just until blended.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Roll dough into balls about 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) in diameter.  Place on ungreased cookie sheets, placing balls 2 inches (5 cm) apart.  

Makes about 38 cookies



One sheet at a time, bake in centre of oven for 8 - 10 minutes or just until golden. 

Let cool and then enjoy with a big glass of milk!

Aysha's Carrot Cake

A piece of Aysha's Carrot Cake

This cake was made for my sister's birthday and it was absolutely amazing.

If you feel like having something sweet, this is the dessert to make. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 eggs

180 ml (3/4 cup) vegetable oil

180 ml (3/4 cup) buttermillk

500 ml (2 cups) sugar

500 ml (2 cups) all purpose flour

10 ml (2 tsp) baking soda

10 ml (2 tsp) cinammon

2 ml (1/2 tsp) salt

250 ml (1 cup) crushed pineapple, drained

500 ml (2 cups) grated carrots

250 ml (1 cup) coarsely chopped walnuts

180 ml (3/4 cup) shredded coconut

Icing-

250g  cream cheese

60 ml (1/4 cup) softened butter

1/2 tsp (2 ml) vanilla

250 ml (1 cup) icing sugar

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, oil, buttermilk and sugar with an electric mixer until blended.

Add flour, soda, cinammon and salt. Blend.

Mix in pineapple, carrots, nuts and coconut.

Pour into greased 33 x 23 cm baking dish.  Bake at 180 C (350 F) for 55 minutes.

In a bowl, beat cream cheese with butter until smooth. Beat in vanilla.  Then beat in icing sugar one-third at a time, until smooth. Spread over top of the cake once cooled.

Now it's time to enjoy a piece of cake, I guarantee you will love it :)