Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Alhamdulillah, here we are at the end of another year.
2016 has been so much fun with of course, plenty of sad life moments too. I hope you've had a good year. Today, I'm sharing a few highlights from my year but first, the most popular savoury and sweet recipes:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Alhamdulillah, here we are at the end of another year.
The Top 10 Savoury Recipes from 2016:
10. Butter Chicken 2016 - This years take on the classic butter chicken curry has a curry butter sauce into which we toss chunks of tandoori chicken. And of course, plenty of butter!
9. Keema Pie - A homemade rough puff is what makes this summery free-form pie. The filling is a simple lamb mince with peas. My favourite!
8. Chicken Pittas with Spicy Garlic Sauce - Soft pittas are stuffed with garlic, lemon and cinnamon grilled chicken, lashings of spicy garlic sauce and plenty of salad. Including my favourite pickled peppers!
7. Keema Curry with Green Beans + Jalapenos - I love keema but am not the biggest fan of green beans. Except when they're in this curry. The addition of sliced jalapenos at the end is the best.
6. Baked Tandoori Chicken Legs - My mother's recipe for these tandoori chicken legs is a good one. Let the marinade and oven do all the work and the softest, tastiest chicken awaits.
5. The Laziest Chicken Biryani - A simple technique is all you need for those days when you have leftover curry and boiled rice in the fridge. Biryani on a weeknight? I think you just won at dinner.
8. Chicken Pittas with Spicy Garlic Sauce - Soft pittas are stuffed with garlic, lemon and cinnamon grilled chicken, lashings of spicy garlic sauce and plenty of salad. Including my favourite pickled peppers!
7. Keema Curry with Green Beans + Jalapenos - I love keema but am not the biggest fan of green beans. Except when they're in this curry. The addition of sliced jalapenos at the end is the best.
6. Baked Tandoori Chicken Legs - My mother's recipe for these tandoori chicken legs is a good one. Let the marinade and oven do all the work and the softest, tastiest chicken awaits.
4. Chicken Fajitas with Homemade Tortillas + Salsa - Basically that time I decided to make chicken fajitas and didn't regret it one bit. Spiced chicken with peppers and onions, soft flour tortillas and tomato salsa? I've got you covered.
3. Crispy Onion Bhajis - Why did it take us so long to make these? They're like pakoras but so much easier. The humble onion is the star and I've never met anyone who refused a second one.
2. Spicy Korean BBQ Chicken Pizza - My first foray into Korean food and I'm so glad you guys enjoyed it too! I kept things really simple but tasty with a wholemeal pizza base, grilled Korean chicken and all the cheese and onions on top. Yes, please!
1. Our House Pakistani Chicken Curry - I am so happy that this made it to the top spot. This curry is my Mother's chicken curry and one that none of us can get enough of. An intense masala is the key and it's what will keep you coming back for more.
The Top 10 Sweet Recipes from 2016:
10. Eid Berry Trifle - This is a dessert that screams summer and I made it to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr which took place in July this year. Layers of orange pound cake, strawberry jam, raspberry ripple custard, plenty of vanilla whipped cream and summer berries. Summer in a bowl!
9. Lemon and Ginger Flapjacks - The humble flapjack is woken up in this recipe with two additions - ground ginger and lemon zest. The two together really cut through the syrupy sweetness and are one of my father's favourites.
8. Chocolate Cheesecake Pavlova - This showstopper dessert brings together some of my favourite things: a chocolate meringue studded with dark chocolate nuggets, vanilla whipped cheesecake filling, raspberries and blueberries. Expect no leftovers.
The Top 10 Sweet Recipes from 2016:
10. Eid Berry Trifle - This is a dessert that screams summer and I made it to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr which took place in July this year. Layers of orange pound cake, strawberry jam, raspberry ripple custard, plenty of vanilla whipped cream and summer berries. Summer in a bowl!
9. Lemon and Ginger Flapjacks - The humble flapjack is woken up in this recipe with two additions - ground ginger and lemon zest. The two together really cut through the syrupy sweetness and are one of my father's favourites.
8. Chocolate Cheesecake Pavlova - This showstopper dessert brings together some of my favourite things: a chocolate meringue studded with dark chocolate nuggets, vanilla whipped cheesecake filling, raspberries and blueberries. Expect no leftovers.
6. Creamy Mango Milkshake - This milkshake is a Ramadan essential in our house when we are opening our fast. The Pakistani mangoes are the best ones to use especially when they are yellow and ripe. No other drink will do after a long fast.
5. Peanut Butter + Chocolate Stuffed Flapjacks - These 5 ingredient bars are my favourite flapjack of the year. The peanut butter and chocolate filling becomes really fudgy once the bars have cooled. So addictive!
3. Double Chocolate Brownie Cookies - Should I bake brownies or cookies? This recipe means that this dilemma is no more.
Favourites from My 2016:
lemon pavlova to beat away the January blues.
snow!
bee-sting cake.
the best view.
madinah, in the past.
the most beautiful sight.
more snow!
picking our daffodils.
march scones.
the biggest sky.
our spring dessert.
april barbecue.
up in the hills.
samosa lunch.
fish burgers for the end of may.
the first mangoes.
nachos for iftar.
strawberry cake in june.
the arrival of our favourite.
an august baby.
summer up in the hills.
eid-ul-adha biryani.
september reflections.
apple picking.
the happiest little boy.
a change.
little hands.
november snow.
winter sunrise.
keeping cosy.
winter hot chocolate.
holiday baking.
staying warm in this december chill.
Keep me in your duas please,
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
Keep me in your duas please,
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
