Monday 2 November 2015

Mini Afternoon Tea + Sore Throats + Neapolitan Cake: 24-30 October 2015.

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful




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how's everyone doing this fine Monday afternoon?
I hope you're well and have had a good start to the week. sorry for this post being late - as you may have gathered from the name of this post, I've been under the weather this week. this morning though, I'm feeling much better and am about to bake something that begins with pumpkin and ends with pie!


{via}the weekend began with so much rain which ultimately led to citrus drizzles, hot tea and plenty of chicken sandwiches.
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the clocks changed here on Saturday night (an hour back) so Sunday was super confusing. we spent it with plenty of family, baking brownies and eating way too much at afternoon tea.
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the next day, the sore throat arrived which meant fuzzy socks, hot chocolate and plenty of fairy lights.
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on Tuesday, we baked a few pies. they were so good - definitely a must-share recipe.
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another soggy, cloudy day on Wednesday which meant that it was time to bake - this time, a marbled Neapolitan cake.
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the rain continued to pour on Thursday which meant only one thing - pakoras!
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Friday came with the sad news about the passing away of a family member. may Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah and give patience to his family - ameen.
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here's more from my week:

 Saturday: guys, I am terrible at slicing chicken and making it look all pretty. any tips?
piled up and ready to grill.
fun fact: the rain was pounding down on the roof above as I took this photo.
zesting all the citrus for my citrus drizzle.
also, do you see the flecks of butter? that was me being lazy and not letting it soften properly before using.
alhamdulillah though, it turned out fine.
it was drenched with a citrus syrup and sprinkled with plenty of sugar.
perfect with a cup of hot tea on a gloomy October evening.
 Sunday: the morning after the clocks changed. I was so confused. my niece was over and she helped whip up a batch of these brownies.
between all the catching up, colouring and tomato picking (update: they're still growing. I don't think they got the winter memo!), the brownies disappeared pretty fast served hot with vanilla ice cream.
pastry time!
of the gluten-free variety.
and after last year's attempt, this recipe was a huge improvement. 
I used the pastry to make brownie tarts.
a brownie filling was made.
filled.
baked.
cooled.
alas, one cannot survive on brownies alone. time for something savoury. and as usual, it begins with an onion.
two types, in fact.
toasting up my vermicelli. 
adding rice and lentils.
a steam, sauce and caramelise later.
lunch is served. a take on an Egyptian comfort classic that needs a few tweaks before being ready to enter your kitchen.
with the night already drawing in, it was time for a little afternoon tea.
the cousin made the savoury mini sandwiches.
there were four fillings all together:
tuna mayo: tinned tuna + mayo + sweetcorn + bell peppers + cucumber.
chicken avocado: cooked chicken + avocado + hummus.
egg mayo: boiled egg + mayo + chopped parsley.
cheese salad: grated cheese + salad cream + olives + tomato + cucumber + onion.
the mini buns are from here and the bread is gluten-free.
that was the savoury. now, the sweet. the brownie tarts from earlier were topped with a dollop of creme fraiche.
along with raspberries and a dusting of icing sugar.
ready to eat!
also, chocolate coins + Twix + cherry slab pie bars + chocolate chip cookie slices.
ooh, and a few brown butter chocolate chip cookies that we had frozen in the freezer from Ramadan.
my two young nieces joined us and a good time was had by all. also, this clock change means less daylight hours which is an absolute nightmare for someone who tries to shoot all her photos in it. my photography isn't the best but if there's one tip I can give you? it's try your best to take your photos in natural light. you can't beat it.
 Monday: today, I woke up with a cold and sore throat.
trying to ward it off with as many of nature's bounties as possible --> figs + tangerines + grapes + persimmon + dates.
also, coming to terms with the fact that I may have to cook my pumpkins soon. :(
today was a beautiful day though.
Have you not considered how Allah presents an example, (making) a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches (high) in the sky?
{Surah Ibrahim // Verse 24}
tomato soup + garlic bread for lunch.
Tuesday: daal prep --> bashing ginger and garlic, slicing onions.
bubbling butter though.
literally liquid gold for those with sore throats - a pot of daal.
then, it was time to bake a pie.
filled with one of my favourite herbs.
oregano! I love both the fresh and dried stuff. alhamdulillah, we have it growing in the garden.
pinky onions.
homegrown tomatoes.
filling cooked and cooling.
time for the pastry.
homemade, of course.
pre-bake.
post-bake.
time to dig in!
Wednesday: the children were over today and of course, we baked. this time, our take on a marbled Neapolitan cake.
this batter - mixed and divided.
vanilla + chocolate + strawberry.
time to marble!
once marbled, the cakes went in to bake.
whilst we got on with another rainy day favourite - colouring!
once the rain calmed down, out we went.
those cherries were still as sour as ever though.
everyone loved the red leaves.
and, the changing leaves.
berries!
crab apples!
the sky threatened more rain so in we came.
by now, the cakes had baked and cooled. time to ice!
vanilla.
chocolate.
strawberry.
time for the final coat of icing.
all three!
a definite ode to one of my favourite ice creams.
sliced and ready to dig in.
this cake was a real crowd pleaser. alhamdulillah, everyone loved it!

Thursday: when the afternoon sky looks like this, only one thing will do.

pakoras! veggies were sliced.
chillies were blitzed.
and, the batter was prepared.
the big mix.
in these, we put: cauliflower + spinach + potato + peas + onion + spring onions.
frying time!
drained.
and, ready to eat.
my recipe is here!
 Friday: there was leftover pastry in the fridge. so, we rolled it.
made a simple cheese and onion filling.
and, baked cheese and onion pasties.
perfect with plenty of veg --> cauliflower + sweetcorn + carrots + Brussels sprouts + Savoy cabbage.
later, so many ingredients.
chicken doing its thing.
to make a curry!

this time one year ago:
Baked Doughnuts + Chocolate Apples + The October Garden

lately, on the blog:

Paya Curry + Stripy Pumpkins + Cookies with the Kids

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup + Smoky Cheddar Za'atar Naan Dippers
October 2015: The One Where Autumn Arrived


Keep me in your duas please, and have a lovely week,

Wasalaam!


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