Dreaming in Dubai

One of the things that I knew I would miss the most after moving to Dubai was Fall back home. New England has one of the most beautiful Fall season's in the world. For 21 years I got to watch the leaves turn to all shades of crimson, yellow, and orange. They would line the streets as I walked and I was always on a hunt to scout out the most vibrant leaves. I would pick them up and bring them home with me, placing them on my desk to look at while I did my work. During Fall my dad would always take me on a long drive through the countryside so that we could take in the beauty together. I never realized how much I would miss this beautiful time of the year after I moved to Dubai. The months of September and October are hot here but they provide the perfect opportunity to visit the beach. Just recently I've noticed a slight breeze rippling through the trees here early in the morning when I first wake up. It's nothing close to the sweater weather we have back home though. Aside from being incredibly scenic, Fall in my opinion is one the season where you can be most stylish. If pairing cozy sweaters with jeans and boots before you have to top them off with layers of outwear isn't the best of both worlds, I don't know what is. I have a stack of sweaters here that I brought with me from America just in case it cooled down enough to wear them. I've been staring at them every time I open my closet imagining the accessories I'd pair them with if I could. For now I'll just have to hope that the winter here is cool enough for me to wear them at least once!

*Shout out to my best friend Jamie for telling me that these flowers are actually bougainvilleas and not begonias as was originally stated!

I've quickly come to learn that growing up in New England makes one spoiled for choice when it comes to produce. All my life I was accustomed to seeing the numerous local grocery stores in my town packed to the brim with fresh produce, my favorite of which were the berries. Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries among many others in the most vibrant hues of crimson red and sapphire blue lined shelf after shelf. As a child I would bring home boxes of each and devour them eagerly as soon as my mother rinsed them off for me. Every now and then I would reach for the strawberries before she had a chance to clean them to her pristine standards but her watchful eyes would quickly catch me and alas I would be left with no option but to wait.

When my mom took me to Pakistan at the age of three she was both frustrated and thrilled by the fact that I would only eat strawberries. Frustrated because a growing child couldn't possibly get the nutrients she needs from strawberries alone but thrilled because at least my picky little self was eating something. She eagerly recalls the story of how my grandmother tried the strawberries herself to see what all the fuss was about. They had just been introduced in Pakistan around the time of our visit (lucky me) and were considered quite the hot commodity. After taking her first bite she quickly scrunched her face because of the tartness and expressed her disbelief at the fact that it was these sour little things I couldn't stop eating!

Fast forward about 19 years to Dubai and strawberries, and berries in general have once again become a hot commodity. It turns out berries don't really grow that well in desert. Gone are the days of my local grocery store emptying out pints of berries practically for free. But even now I indulge my craving by picking up a carton of blueberries or strawberries on my way home from work at the Spinny's nearby.

This weekend I decided to make a berry at home for my husband and I. I wanted to make something small since large cakes end up getting wasted at our home. It's just the two of us and there's only so much cake we can eat before we start packing on the pounds. I used a recipe that I've made many times before but I cut it in half. It's perfect for two or three people. I also added strawberries instead of just blueberries and I baked in a tiny cake pan (5 inches) instead of a loaf pan. The results were fantastic. The berries in the cake taste amazing and it's sweet without being overpowering. One tip I would definitely give while making this cake is to coat the berries in a light layer of flour to keep them from sinking to the bottom. That way they'll be evenly distributed throughout the whole cake making for a prettier and tastier cake!







Recipe adapted from

1/4 cup blueberries
1/4 cup strawberries chopped into small pieces
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla 
1 egg
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease baking pan and set aside.

Mix together melted butter, egg, sugar, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl mix together flour and baking powder.

Alternately add the flour mixture and milk to the egg mixture.

Toss your berries with around a few spoonfuls of flour and fold gently into the batter.

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

If you decide to try this cake at home please let me know how it turns out for you!

I don't know about you guys but in the past few months my weekend (and most weekdays for that matter) doesn't feel complete unless I've baked something. I love the way that baking makes my house smell and the convenience of having something quick and easy in my fridge ready to eat for breakfast is an added bonus. Yesterday was Saturday, Dubai's equivalent of a Sunday, since the weekends here are Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday. My husband unexpectedly got called into work for the entire day and I was bored out of my mind. After making something for dinner I still had a few hours left before he got home. I decided to try making a pound cake. My husband had been craving pound cake for a while and I thought it would be a perfect surprise for him after spending a Saturday at the office.

I'm not sure whether it was the fact that Eid was last week or that I've been missing my relatives in Karachi a great deal but I wanted to make something that would remind me of Pakistan. Keeping that in mind I went through my pantry and looked at what I could add to my cake to make it similar to the simple cakes sold in Pakistan. I came across my bottle of rose water and packet of cardamoms and I knew that these would be the perfect addition. I added in a teaspoon of rose water along with 4 pods of crushed cardamom. They gave the cake such an incredible aroma. The whole house smelled heavenly while it was baking. The smell was so reminiscent of mithai which I love. While the cake was baking I made some doodh patti chai. For those of you who don't know doohd patti chai is tea that's been steeped in milk instead of water. It's so decadent and creamy and I honestly don't know how people can drink regular tea after having tried doodh patti because I certainly can't. 

When it was finally time to take the cake out of the oven I was nervous because it was my first attempt at a pound cake and I was worried about the rose water being too overpowering or the cake being dry. When I finally tried it I was so happy with the results. The cake had an incredibly moist crumb and the hint of rose water and cardamom definitely elevated it. It was the perfect compliment to my chai. It wasn't exactly a proper Pakistani tea time because that would require more people and some shami kebabs (spicy chicken mince cutlets fried to golden perfection). But it was just what I needed to sooth my nostalgia and pass the time until my husband got home. 

While I was very happy with the cake, the next time I make this cake I will try to beat it for a little while longer to incorporate more air into it. Other than that I wouldn't change a thing. I've shared the recipe below. If you decide to give this cake a try make sure to let me know how it turns out!




Recipe:

1.5 cups all purpose flour
1 cup of granulated sugar
1/2 cup of softened butter
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon rose water
4 pods of crushed cardamom
1/2 cup of milk

Begin by mixing together your butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and rose water. Alternate between adding your flour mixture and milk in three increments. Make sure to beat thoroughly and incorporate lots of air into the batter while beating. Because no baking soda or powder go into this cake it's important to beat if for longer because otherwise it won't rise.

Place in the oven for 30 - 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Serve hot with lots of tea and enjoy! 

(Picture courtesy of celebrations.com)

When it comes to movies, I'm not very picky. I'm one of those people who will give rave reviews to a laundry detergent commercial. I consider this to be a good quality but it does sometimes backfire on me when I friends end up hating a movie I recommended. My friends always joke that any time I finish watching a movie I automatically claim it's the best thing I've ever seen. This probably true to a certain extent considering how hard it was for me to narrow down my list to 5. It's also a pretty good thing I'm not on the Oscar committee. My criteria for a good movie is pretty simple, it has to be a generally happy movie, it has to make me laugh at some point, and it can't be an action movie (no offense to action movie lovers!). These 5 movies have stood the test of time for me. They're tried and true favorites and I've watched them to the point where I can quote them word for word. While the list may seem basic, these movies make me feel good and forget about the stress of the real world for a little while and that's more than enough for me.

1. The Parent Trap

This is slightly embarrassing to admit but I'll do it anyway. The Parent Trap is my favorite movie of all time. I'm not sure whether it's because it fills me with the sweetest sense of 90's nostalgia or whether it keeps my dream of having a secret twin sister that I haven't yet discovered alive but there's no movie I'd rather watch. When I was younger my best friend and I would pretend that I was Annie and she was Hallie and we'd act out our favorite scenes together. No matter how many times I sit down to watch it I always get teary eyed at the end when Nick and Lizzie get married again.

2. When Harry Met Sally

You're probably thinking I'm the most cliched movie watcher you've ever met but hear me out. New York City, 80's prep, and Billy Crystal's comedic timing make for a pretty great movie. What really gets me about this movie is all the elderly couples at the beginning and end who talk about their own love stories. When it comes to love stories I don't think anything can beat Harry and Sally's decades long, love hate relationship.

3. Love Actually

My holiday season isn't complete without watching Love Actually at least once. Who doesn't love the beginning with Billy Mack belting out 'Christmas is all Around'. I dare you to try watching this movie without getting that song stuck in your head. Love Actually manages to be entertaining, meaningful, and fun all at the same time.

4. Troop Beverly Hills

Like most of these movies on this list I think I find myself watching Troop Beverly Hills over and over again because of the feelings of nostalgia they evokes in me rather than the quality of the film itself. Phyllis Nefler will forever be etched into my memory as the coolest mom to grace the big screen. This film is certainly a treat for the eyes with its incredible outfits and over the top Beverly Hills homes. The catchy 80's soundtrack is another plus. Troop Beverly Hills is one of my favorite movies to watch when I'm in the need for a pick me up or missing my mom. And even through all the dribble it manages to get a message of perseverance and determination across.

5. Father of the Bride

As you can tell from this list I have a thing for Nancy Meyers films and Father of the Bride is no exception. Who can forget Martin Short's iconic performance as Frank the European wedding planner. His fake accent always leaves me in hysterics. I love seeing the dynamic between Annie and her loving but overprotective father.