Date Squares

Date squares are the perfect sweet treat.  As the name implies, dates are the star of this dessert.
Dates are the fruit of the palm tree that grow in large bunches.  They are high in sugar, which makes it ideal for a dessert.  This is the recipe to make if you're trying to impress your guests or even just to satisfy your own sweet craving.  I guarantee you will love this dessert. Make sure you try it!

Date Filling

3 cups pitted dried dates, chopped
1 cup water
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Oatmeal Crust

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup butter

Directions

Filling

Place the pitted dates and water in a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the dates are soft and have absorbed most of the water - about 5-10 mins.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Let cool. It should be a fairly smooth consistency. 

Preheat oven to 350F and place rack in the centre of the oven.  Use 9inch square baking pan.  

Oatmeal Crust 

In a bowl, mix oats, flour, sugar, baking soda, and cinnamon.  Add butter and mix until it all comes together  crumbly.  Press about 2/3 of the mixture onto the base of the pan.

Spread the date mixture evenly over the oatmeal crust.
Sprinkle the remaining dough over the dates, press down gently to compact.

Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Once the squares have cooled completely, cut into squares.

Enjoy!

Let the date squares cool. 

Now you're ready to eat!

Earls Restaurant

Earls is honestly one of my favourite restaurants.  The food is the best!

My favourite dish to get is called the Hunan Kung Pao. It is wok fried noodles, made with spicy ginger soy sauce and seared vegetables topped with peanuts.  You can also customize it by adding 1-6 hunan peppers depending on how much spice you can handle. (I got 2 lol) You can get it vegetarian or you can add pan fried chicken or sauteed prawns to the dish. It is the yummiest dish ever.  I go to Earl's just to get this. You have to try it!

 

Earls is definately the restaurant to go.  They have amazing food, a fun atmosphere and nice service.

http://www.earls.ca/

Hunan Kung Pao

I ate my whole meal with chopsticks!!

Chicken Pesto Pasta

Yes.  I'm a pasta lover.  Pesto pasta is one of my all time favorites.  My mom makes amazing pasta and the other day I helped her make this one.  This pasta dish is quick, delicious and healthy. Try this recipe out, I guarantee you won't regret it!

A bowl of delicious chicken pesto pasta

Ingredients

3 chicken breasts, boneless & skinless

1 tbsp olive oil

5 cups rotini pasta

3/4 cup pesto

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/4 cup pine nuts

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/3 cup olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

Preparation

Cut chicken into pieces. Then in a skillet, oil heat over medium-high heat - cook chicken. Stir often, cook for 5 minutes so it is no longer pink inside.  Then set aside.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta for 8-10 minutes. 

To the pasta, add chicken, salt, pepper, toss to coat.  Heat through.

Pesto

In food processor, finely chop together basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, salt and pepper.  With the motor running, add oil in thin steady stream.  Stir in garlic.  (This can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze up to 6 months) 

Enjoy your pesto pasta! 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Enjoy the perfect peanut butter cookie with a glass of milk :)

This is the perfect cookie.  For all you peanut butter lovers, this is definitely the recipe you've been looking for. I can't explain how great the texture of this cookie is.  It is everything you want in a cookie, The outside is crisp while the inside stays soft and delicate.  If you love to bake, you have to try this!

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup peanut butter (I used smooth)
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Batter

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the egg, vanilla and peanut butter.
Beat it until it is smooth.  Mix in the flour, baking soda, salt.  Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 mins, or until lightly browned.




Enjoy with a big glass of milk!

Pumpkin Spice Cake

A piece of pumpkin spice cake <3

This is a delicious cake.  The warm spices paired with the pumpkin is so good!
Me and my mommy made this cake  together the other day and I loved it, I know you will too! 

Ingredients

4 eggs

1 cups granulated sugar

]1 cup cooking oil

14 oz. canned pumpkin

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).  Beat eggs in a mixing bowl until frothy.  Add sugar.  Beat until fluffy and lemony in color.

Mix in oil and pumpkin slowly.  Beat well.

Add remaining ingredients.  Stir until moistened.  Turn into greased and floured 10 inch (25 cm) angel food tube pan.  Bake in oven for about 1 hour or until an inserted wooden pick comes out clean.

Let it cool. Enjoy a nice big slice! 

There's nothing like a delicious Pakistani dinner (:

I had dinner at Gulberg's this weekend.  Gulberg's is a Pakistani Restaurant! It has amazing food. I love it!

Appetizers!

Chaat Papri - Served with boiled chickpeas,
chilies, yogurt, tamarind chutney topped with spices

Dahi Bhalle - Ground lentil balls deep fried, dipped in yogurt,
served with chutney

Maash daal - Lentils 

Daal Makhni - Lentils 

Fresh Roti

Rice

http://gulbergrestaurant.com/
509-15950 Fraser Highway, Surrey

Perfect Palak Paneer

Palak paneer is an Indian dish that combines fresh spinach with a fresh cheese called paneer in a creamy curry. It is wonderfull served with naan or basmati rice.  The key to this dish is all of the amazing spices.

Palak Paneer served with roti

Ingredients:

6 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger root
2 red chili peppers
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground turmeric
3/4 cup sour cream
3 lbs fresh spinach
1 large tomato, quartered
8 ounces of paneer
Sea salt to taste

Directions

1.  In a large saucepan heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil and saute garlic, 1/2 tablespoon of ginger, red chilies and onion until brown.  Mix in teh cumin, coriander, turmeric and sour cream (more or less to achieve desired creaminess.) Add the spinach, handfuls at a time until it is cooked down, about 15 mins in total.  Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

2. Pour spinach mixture into a blender or food processor and add the tomato, the remaining 1/2 tbsp of ginger and cilantro (more or less according to taste).  Blend for 15 to 30 seconds, or until the spinach is finely chopped.  Pour back into the saucepan and keep warm over low heat.

 

3.  In a medium frying pan heat 3 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat and fry cheese until browned; drain and add to spinach. Cook for 10 mins on low heat.  Season with salt to taste.

Enjoy on top of steamed basmati rice or fresh naan and roti! 

Aysha's Homemade Spaghetti

Spaghetti is always a delicious meal to have.  This recipe is quick and yummy.  You have to try it!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup minced onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 cup celery, minced

1 pound lean ground beef

1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 tsp chili flakes
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp lemon and herb seasoning mix
1 cup fresh chopped mushrooms

2 cups tomato sauce

1 pound spaghetti

3 tablespoons salt

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 

Sprinkle of grated cheese

Directions

1.  In a large skillet, warm olive oil over medium high heat; saute onion for 2 minutes.  Then add celery, garlic and mushrooms.

2. Then add the meat; cook until no longer pink. Add all of the seasonings. 

3.  Bring a large pot of water to a vigorous boil with salt.  Put the spaghetti into the water and cook for 7 to 8 minutes only.

5.  When ready to serve, combine pasta with meat sauce. If desired, top with fresh basil and cheese.