Mini strawberry cheesecake cups !

Hi everyone ! It's been  so long since I did a  blog post ! We were just super super busy planning our move from America to U.A.E. Now that we are finally in Dubai and settled down I thought I would start blogging again !

Today I am sharing this super easy and delicious cheesecake recipe. They look so cute and barely take any effort.

Ingredients:

1 Pack of cream cheese

White sugar

Keebler Mini Graham Cracker Crusts. These are ready made and make life so much easier. Purchase them by clicking here

Strawberry Jam

Crumbled graham crackers, cut fruits for garnishing

( I did not use specific measurements, I just kind of eye balled everything )

Direction:

1) Mix cream cheese with white sugar until it's as sweet as you like it. Fold in strawberry jam ( Melt the jam in the microwave so it's more runny thus making it easier to work with ).

2) Scoop the cream cheese mixture into the graham cups and smooth the top with a spatula.

3) Garnish on top with extra graham cracker and cut fruits like strawberries and blueberries.

Hope you enjoyed this super simple yet delicious recipe. I will be posting more content in the near future so watch out ! 

Apple puff pastry dessert !

Hey everyone ! I wasn't sure what to call this recipe ! It's like an apple pie but not in the traditional sense. I made this a couple of days ago during the crazy winter storm and it turned out so yummy ! It's a perfect warm treat for a night in or a tea party ! Hope you like it. 

P.S I forgot to use an egg wash (we ran out of eggs during the storm lol !) for the edges so the ends opened up a bit. However it was still delicious ! 

You will need cinnamon powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, white sugar and brown sugar.

Mix the above mentioned ingredients in a cup. I did not use specific measurements.

Cut up two apples. You can use more or less apples depending on how many of these you are planning on making. Two apples yielded four squares.

Mix the sugar mixture with the apples. Bake the apples on a cookie sheet for about 5-7 minutes until they soften up.

Scoop a small amount of the baked apple mixture onto the puff pastry squares

 

Fold the puff pastry over and seal the edges using egg wash (egg and a bit of water mixed) and a fork. I did not have eggs so I just used the fork to seal the edges, however, this did not seal the pastry and it opened up a bit so the egg wash is very important ! 

Bake in the oven till the pastry turns golden ! 

This literally took me 30 minutes to make. I am sure next time it will take even less time now that I know how to make it ! These also reminded me of Macdonald's apple pie ! :) 

Fall faves !

Hello ! Here are some things I've been obsessing over for fall and winter !

I love this plaid scarf from Target. It's very long and thick and perfect for layering on those cold nights ! Target has a great selection right now of cool plaid stuff from clothing to home decor. 

Purchase here

I've been obsessed with home decor lately. We moved into our beautiful 2 bedroom apartment almost 10 months ago and we still have so much to do. Progress has been slow because we've been super picky and also busy with other things. I found this cute vanity table tray from Home Goods. I am so obsessed with that store ! We always find cute unique pieces. When I saw this black/gold jewelry I knew I had to have it. It was only $7.99 ! I am waiting to get an extra storage unit for our room so I can store extra makeup, jewelry, etc and I will definitely use this there !

This beautiful Islamic plate is from Dubai I think. It was a gift for our home in Dubai. When we were about to move to America we took this plate out of the bigger frame it came in. We just had to take this plate with us as it's so beautiful and vibrant. This is currently in our study room/office area. 

Some makeup faves are this Becca under eye brightening concealer. I don't really use concealer because no matter what brand or kind of concealer I've used I always end up with really dry under eye. This concealer, however, has not dried out my under eye area. I use a very small amount and use a small concealer brush to pat it in. 

I am also loving this Elf blush palette. It's very pigmented and the colors are perfect for fall. I got this for about 7 dollars ! Another makeup fave has been Becca's shimmering skin perfector in Moonstone. It gives the most amazing glow to cheeks! Becca has been one brand I've been really impressed by. After trying out several of their products I am going to buy the full size products in the future.

Another thing I am loving for fall is actually an APP ! It's called Shop Kick and I discovered this while reading an article on apps that help you save money or give you rewards for shopping. I am not sure if this is a world wide app but highly recommend for people in America. Basically you get "kicks" for walking into stores. Kicks are like points that you rack up. You can also get kicks for scanning certain items or purchasing items. I've racked up enough for a 10 dollar gift card for places like Target, Sephora, Homegoods, etc etc. And I've used the app only 5-6 times so far.  You can redeem your kicks for higher end brands like Tory Burch but you need A LOT of points for that. Trust me when I tell you this app works ! I can't believe I racked up points so fast and it's perfect for someone who's addicted to shopping lol. If you want to know more about it go to http://www.shopkick.com/

Hope you enjoyed reading and send me a comment if you end up using anything I mentioned ! 

Spicy pasta

Hello ! It's been quiet some time since I last blogged but I am hoping to get back into the game.

I made this delicious "desi" style pasta. It was packed with flavor and very tasty. A perfect meal to throw together when you're not sure what to make! 

You will need:

Pasta of any kind  ( I used Rotini pasta)

Ground beef

Caramelized onions

Spices: tumeric, red chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, salt and pepper

Cheese

Black olives 

Pasta sauce

1) Boil pasta according to package instruction

2) In the mean time cut an onion and caramelize in oil

3) Add ground beef once onions are golden brown and add all the spices mentioned above  ( add more or less depending on how spicy you like it ). Add pasta sauce at the end and let simmer for 10 minutes.

4) Drain pasta and add 2 tablespoons of butter and let it melt into the pasta.

 

5) Add the beef mixture, olives to the pasta.

6) Add cheese ( I added mozzarella and pepper jack ) . I didn't add too much cheese but you can add more if you like ! 

Last step bake in the microwave till the cheese melts. Garnish with chopped coriander and parsley. This turned out so delicious and I loved the mixture of desi and western flavors !

Ghassoul Clay mask review !

Hello lovely readers !

Hope everyone is doing well. I am so excited to be reviewing this awesome hair product for you today. For the past month I've been testing out Zakia's Moroccan Ghassoul Clay Powder for skin and hair. Using a lot of chemicals and harsh ingredients really has done a number on both my skin and hair, so I was on the look out for an all natural product that will do what it's supposed to without breaking the bank. Keep reading to find out more about this amazing mask !

So what exactly is Ghassoul clay powder you ask? Ghassoul clay powder comes from deep within Atlas mountains in Morocco. This clay is formed naturally from volcanic and thermal activities.  The clay is extracted in large chunks but through a special process it is turned into a fine powder like form. There are many minerals that are found in Ghassoul clay which are beneficial for the skin. Many studies show that Ghassoul clay can enhance elasticity and clarity of skin. The clay also contains properties that can extract impurities such as blackheads. This should come as no surprise that this type of clay is used in many high end spas!   

In order to make a mask you just simply need to add water to clay to make a paste. Apply a thin layer all over face and neck. Wait until the mask is dry and gently wash it off. It's as simple as that and does not involve many complicated steps.I noticed that it's great for oily skin as it extracts oil and clears clogged pores. I have been using this mask once a week. However for dry skin I would recommend that you use it once every two weeks since it may dry out your skin more. Try using a ultra moisturizing lotion after if you tend to have dry skin.  I also used the clay as a hair treatment and my hair felt soft and voluminous. You can even add this as a part of your shampoo routine by adding just a small amount of clay to your regular shampoo. This will add extra shine to your hair. I noticed this while I was blow drying my hair.  

Overall I have become a big fan of this product. I love that it's natural, easy and safe to use. The benefits for your face, skin and hair are great but upon further research I found it's useful for other purposes as well.  Some people use this clay for helping in relieving arthritis pain as it creates a warm effect on sore joints, so this product is super versatile.

To purchase this for yourself please visit : http://www.zakiasmorocco.com and browse many other organic products as well ! 

Some bonus tips:

* Add some sugar and honey with the clay to make a facial and body scrub

* Use a foundation brush for a fast and even application

*Use under neck and jawline area for firmer and toner skin

*Carry a small amount of clay in a travel container to use while travelling. 

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Delicious dessert recipe !

Ingredients: 

Caramel

Fruits of your choice

Pound cake

Heavy whipping cream

Sugar

Vanilla extract

Press down the pound cake slices at the bottom of a clear dish

Mix heavy whipping with sugar until peaks form. I made about two cups worth with 5 tablespoon of sugar.

Pour some caramel over the pound cake. I found this at Wal-Mart in the baking section. Heat up the caramel for a few seconds so it's easier to work with.

Smooth out the cream mixture over the pound cake and top off with strawberries, blueberries, etc

Repeat this process ( pound cake followed by cream and then fruits ) till you are almost at the top of the dish. Garnish the top layer with fruits of your choice. I used bananas on the top layer only.

Drizzle more caramel on top. Put the dish in the fridge for an hour before serving. Enjoy ! 

Yummy chocolate chip cookies !

These chewy soft cookies are full of delicious chocolate chips and are super easy to make. I think I have finally perfected the recipe after some trial and error lol :P

This recipe yields a dozen cookies which is more than enough for my husband and I but you can increase the measurements for a larger serving.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup tightly packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1.5 cups of all purpose flour

half teaspoon of baking soda mixed with 1 teaspoon of hot water

a pinch of salt

1 cup chocolate chips ( I used semi-sweet)

In a large mixing bowl mix sugar, brown sugar, and butter till a smooth mixture forms. Beat in the egg followed by vanilla extract. Then add the baking soda mixture, salt, flour, and chocolate chips.

Make sure everything is mixed well.

Drop big dollops onto an ungreased baking dish and put in a preheated oven at 350 degrees. Bake for around 10-15 minutes. For a softer cookie take it out earlier, for crispier cookies leave in the oven till the edges are browned.