Easy to make parfait !

I made this parfait a few days and it was so delicious and a perfect treat for those hot summer days. It's not the healthiest treat around but it's perfect for indulging in once in a while ;) 

You will need:

Heavy whipping cream

Vanilla extract 

Sugar

Fruits of your choice such as bananas, strawberries, mangoes etc

Angel cake or pound cake ( you can buy these at your local grocery store)

Cookies or biscuits for garnish ( I used a shortbread cookie)

Step 1: Whip the heavy whipping cream in a big bowl until stiff peaks form. I used about 2 cups of whipping cream. Add 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract and 2-3 tablespoons of sugar and fold it into the cream

Step 2: Crumble the pound cake or angel cake at the bottom of a glass ( or a small mason jar) and then start layering the whip cream, fruits followed again by cake. You can make as many layers as you like. I made about 3 layers. 

Step 3: Garnish the top with cookies, crushed nuts or whatever you like. You can even drizzle some melted chocolate on top.

DIY hair treatment !

Ever since coming back from Pakistan my hair has been super dry and brittle. With all the styling and heat  my hair was in serious need of some TLC. I have been using DIY coconut treatment for a while now and my hair is so shiny and feels a lot less dry. For this treatment you will need 3 ingredients: coconut oil, rose water, and castor oil. The benefits of coconut oil are abundant ! Coconut oil can help reduce protein loss in hair which happens with damaged hair or even undamaged hair. The oil also prevents breakage since it retains moisture very well. These are just few examples of how amazing coconut oil is for your hair. Rose water is a great moisturizer, conditioner for the hair and also promotes blood circulation. Castor oil is amazing for promoting hair growth since it has rejuvenating  properties and also acts as a protective coat on your hair resulting in smoother and shinier hair.

I used a quarter cup of coconut oil, 5 tablespoon of castor oil and 3 tablespoon of rose water. You can add as much or as little as you want. I used what I thought works for my hair. Put everything together in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer till you get a lotion like consistency. Massage into hair and leave for a few hours or over night. You must use this for a few months to see results.

I 've been using the Ogx coconut shampoo, conditioner and serum. After a few months of use I would definitely recommend this to anyone. I am especially in love with the serum. You just need a little bit and it goes a long way. 

Pulled chicken burger !

I made this burger a few weeks ago and am finally getting around to posting the recipe. I love this recipe because you can use left over chicken. 

You will need : 1 onion, left over chicken ( if you are starting from scratch use chicken breasts or tenders ), ketchup/Worcestershire sauce mixed together with a dash of salt/pepper, spices such as crushed chilli powder, cumin, coriander. 

Step 1: Fry the onions until they are caramelized. 

Step 2: Add the chicken breast or left over chicken and let it cook for 5-7 minutes.

Step 3: When the chicken is cooked use a fork and knife to shred the chicken.

Step 4: Add the ketchup sauce, spices and stir fry for a few minutes

Step 5: Pile on a bun with a slice of cheese and serve with fries ! 

Quick and easy daal recipe !

Hello everyone ! It's been a while ! I had been super busy traveling but now that I am back I am hoping to post more regularly. I learned this recipe from my mom and we used a pressure cooker for this recipe. Pressure cooker sounds scary but I was surprised at how easy it is to use. I use this pressure cooker almost everyday now and it literally cuts your cooking time in half.  I can make this daal in about 3-4 minutes ! I will leave a link below if you want to purchase this pressure cooker. You can also make this recipe in a regular pot but it might take  longer to cook.

This recipe will yield servings for 2-3 people.

You will need :

Quarter cup : Channa daal ( also known as chickpea lentils)

Quarter cup:  Quarter cup Masoor daal 

Quarter cup:  Mung daal 

You can find these at any international grocery store. Soak the lentils for about 35 minutes before cooking.

You will also need:

1 finely chopped tomato

 1 teaspoon each of : turmeric, cumin powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, crushed black pepper, and salt.

1 Tablespoon of garlic/ginger paste.

In a pressure cooker ( or regular pot ) combine the lentils, chopped tomatoes, spices and garlic/ginger paste.  Fill with about 1.5 cups of water. Close the lid securely and let cook till you hear 2-3 whistles. Turn off gas and let cook on its own. Do not open the lid of the pressure cooker until it stops letting out the steam. Once it's done cooking set aside the daal in a bowl.

In the mean time heat up 2 tablespoons of butter and fry some chopped garlic and solid zeera. When garlic is slightly golden take it off the stove and add the mixture to the daal. It will sizzle and create this delicious aroma as it mixes with the daal ! 

Garnish with garam masala and chopped coriander leaves

Hope you enjoyed this recipe. Leave a comment below on what you would like to see on this blog !

Click here to purchase pressure cooker.

Mini makeup haul !

Hello everyone ! I have been shopping for makeup like crazy for the past week as I am going to Pakistan soon for my bro's wedding ! I am beyond excited and happy to go to Pakistan for all the festivities. Ofcourse this trip called for makeup shopping so I picked up some new and some tried and tested products from various places.

I am totally in love with this spacious Victoria Secret makeup bag. I picked up two since I am taking way too much makeup.  Click here to purchase ! 

I was browsing Dollar Tree and picked up these Sally Hansen nail polish strips for a dollar ! I cant wait to test these out ! I was surprised that Dollar Tree even carried these.

I got these products from Ulta and Sephora. I swear by the Revlon Colorstay liquid eyeliner pen. It's perfect for doing a cat eye. I put the Urban Decay eyeshadow primer underneath and I am good to go !  I got Mac mineralize concealer ( the lady recommended the mineralize concealer as I tend to get dry under my eyes ). I was in the market for a high coverage foundation and the lady at Sephora recommended this Becca foundation. It has a matte finish and is super high coverage so a little goes a long way ! I usually use Mac fix plus spray for setting makeup but this time decided to try the Urban Decay make up setting spray. I got the oil control one so hopefully it will help in the humid weather ! I love the Benefit Porefessional primer. I usually put this around my t-zone area.

I don't usually wear red lipstick but I found this Rimmel matte red lipstick from the Kate Moss line. I have worn it once and love it.

I got the beauty blender since everyone raves about it and I can see why. I love using it my Becca foundation. A definite staple for everyone's beauty kit.

Last but not least I love this blingy necklace from Forever 21.  I am hoping to wear this for parties and other events in Pakistan. 

Hope you enjoyed my mini haul. 

:)

InstaNatural Argan Oil Hair Mask review !

Hello lovely readers ! Hope everyone is doing well. This winter has been especially harsh on my hair this year. It had been feeling so dull and dry. I have been trying out the InstaNatural Argan Oil Hair Mask for a few weeks and I couldn't be happier with the result. This mask is full of tons of ingredients that are good for your hair such as Argan oil, Japanese green tea, amino acid complex, coconut oil, shea butter just to name a few ! This combination packs a powerful punch and gives hydration to dry hair. The ingredients also help protect against heat damage and other environmental aggressors. The best thing about this hair mask is that you can also use it as a conditioner. I would recommend using it as a hair conditioner 3-4 times a week.  Using it as a hair mask couldn't be easier. Just apply the mask to clean damp hair, working deep into the scalp and then towards the strands. Leave on for at least 15 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. After using this mask for a few weeks I have noticed my hair is soft and shiny. This mask came to the rescue just in time for my little brother's wedding and I will definitely continue to use this.

Purchase the mask by clicking here

Check out more awesome products from InstaNatural by visiting : http://instanatural.com/

FTC: Powered by Brand Backer  !

Chicken lettuce wraps !

Hello everyone ! I made chicken lettuce wraps for my husband and I . We are so in love with these wraps. They are healthy and delicious. The lettuce adds a perfect crunch and trust me you won't miss the bread ! This is perfect for someone who is trying to eat less carbs. This recipe serves around 3 people. Hope you enjoy ! 

You will need:

1 tomato

1 onion

3-4 garlic cloves finely chopped

3 chicken breast fillets chopped into bite size chunks

Spicy sauce ( see recipe below )

Fry onions on medium heat until they are caramelized.  Once they are brown add tomatoes and fry for a bout 5 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and fry this on low heat for 2-3 minutes.

You can use store bought chilli sauce but I made my own " sauce" which consisted of 1 tablespoon ketchup, crushed red chilli peppers, 1 tsp vinegar and soy sauce. Add pepper and salt accordingly. 

Add the chicken to the wok and turn up the heat. Stir fry for 5-7 minutes. I love chicken breast because it cooks so fast. Add the sauce at the end.

Scoop the chicken into lettuce. I used iceberg lettuce because I love the taste and texture of it. Garnish with parsley ( you can also garnish with peanuts, sesame seeds, or a drizzle of hot sauce ) 

This was seriously so delicious and surprisingly filling.  This is going to be a staple in my diet now !