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No Knead Bread

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This is the most basic one bowl bread recipe I have tried and made me enjoy making bread at home.

I like its taste best when left to rise in the fridge overnight but when in a hurry to enjoy homebaked loaf, I’ve also had success letting it rise in my counter (with the help of Dubai’s warm weather) for 4 hours.

You can watch a full video here,

No Knead Bread

Ingredients

4 cups Alll Purpose Flour 

2 cups Warm Water

1 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Instant Dry Yeast

Directions

Combine flour, salt and yeast. Add water and stir til its a shaggy dough. Cover with plastic wrap for 3-4 hours OR until double in size OR inside the fridge overnight (10hrs). 

Preheat oven to 200C. Place a Dutch oven into the preheated oven for 30 minutes. While Dutch oven heats, use that 30 minutes to bring dough to room temp if it came from the fridge by forming dough into a ball and let the dough sit covered.

Place the dough into heated Dutch oven carefully. Bake in covered Dutch oven for 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake for 5-10 minutes more or until brown. Enjoy! 

NOTES:

  • I would mix the dough around 10pm then bake it around 6am the following day. 
  • When I’m lazy I don’t preheat the Dutch oven pan, I just place shaped dough straight inside the pot and bake for 30-40 mins covered. 
  • I have also tried this recipe with just 3hrs rise and it has baked perfectly.

FREE: In Case of Emergency Family Poster

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Stay Prepared with Our Free Printable Emergency Poster!

Ensure your family’s safety by having crucial medical information readily available in an emergency. Our free printable emergency poster helps you organize and display important details for each family member in a clear and accessible format. Display poster in a central area preferably where the telephone is and/or in every room of your home.

Features:

  • Comprehensive Information: Easily list each family member’s name, relation, date of birth, medical conditions, medications, allergies, emergency contact numbers, and insurance information.
  • Emergency Details: Include essential contact information such as allergies, blood type, primary care doctor, nearest hospital, and any special instructions.
  • Simple Design: A clean, easy-to-read layout ensures that all information is quickly accessible when needed.

Why You Need This Poster:

  • Quick Reference: In emergencies, having all vital information in one place can save crucial time.
  • Family Safety: Ensure that anyone who may need to help in an emergency has immediate access to your family’s medical details.
  • Peace of Mind: Knowing that you’re prepared can reduce stress and help you manage unexpected situations more effectively.

You will have access to TWO pdf file:

  • a LANDSCAPE format PDF file with 5 pages – 911 hotline / 999 hotline / 5 UAE hotline numbers and 2 pages where you have the liberty to input your own emergency hotline number
  • a PORTRAIT format PDF file with 5 pages – 911 hotline / 999 hotline / 5 UAE hotline numbers and 2 pages where you have the liberty to input your own emergency hotline number

How to Use:

  1. Download & Print: Access the free poster pdf file and print it on standard paper
  2. Fill in Details: Write or type in the necessary information for each family member. Add details with any PDF reading app.
  3. Display Prominently: Place the completed poster in a visible location, such as on the refrigerator or near the front door.

Download Your Free Poster Now

Inside Out 2 – my tween / teen reaction

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It’s funny, thoughtful, and relatable even if you’re not 13 years old. As an adult, it serves as a conversation starter about mental health, anxiety, and adolescence. The movie also reminds us parents that the emotions our kids are showing and feeling are valid.I love the introduction of Riley’s system of beliefs, which was essential to the story, similar to the core memories in the first movie. Although the visuals are stunning and the colorful characters can be appealing to younger children, the storyline (puberty in a general sense) is more suited for 9-year-olds and above.

Overall, the biggest lesson we took away from Inside Out 2 was the importance of being yourself, staying true to yourself, and never changing yourself to please others.

FREE things to do at the Museum of the Future

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Do you want to explore the most beautiful building in the world – Museum of the Future?

I have a solution for you and it’s FREE or atleast budget friendly.

It is advised to buy tickets to explore the entirety of Museum of the Future months ahead. While we wait for that chance, here are some FREE activities you can do when you decide to drop by #MOTF

🆓 Entrance to the museum is FREE

– exploring the ground floor and first floor where the foot bridge connection to the Emirates Tower and to the metro is accessible to the public

🆓 Play & interact with robodog

– #MOTF guests are greeted by the in-house museum pet – RoboDog; we stayed longer interacting with the RoboDog, he’s so cute!

Boy playing with Robodog

🆓 Witness the adorable flying robot dolphin

– the flying dolphin was one of the highlights of our visit. No strings at all! If you know how it was possible, talk to a friendly muese staff.

🆓 Learn about the Arabic calligraphy inscribed on the museum based on the words of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum


🆓 Refill your water for free from the Aquafina station located at the cafe

– are you familiar with the water stations at Expo2020? They have one at MOTF too.


🆓 Talk to any of the staff and learn some fun facts

– museum staff are friendly and enthusiastic to answer some questions. Remember though that you have to be mindful when taking photos or videos; ask permission first.


🆓 Watch the RoboBarista make coffee when someone decides to order a cup from the cafe

– this bit would cost you a few dirhams if you don’t want to wait. We ordered a cup (AED 22) to enjoy and happy to report while it’s machine made, the latte tasted good too.

WATCH our trip to MOTF ⬇️
https://youtu.be/HkFaqUjMTEQ

Flamingos in Dubai

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A sanctuary for wildlife tuck away in the middle of city lights and just beside a busy highway exist in Dubai.

We finally visited the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary and it did not disappoint. We’ve never seen so many flamingos upclose and in the ‘wild’ too.

Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary timings extend from 7:30am to 5:30pm during the winter season, and from 6am to 6pm between April to September (visitDubai.com).

We drove to the sanctuary following this directions -> https://goo.gl/maps/8Xpe1ZU3hZJEpvXo7 but it can be accessible via metro too, stop at Creek Staion then grab a cab to get to the sanctuary. Entrance is FREE, visitors are asked to not consume any food and be quiet as to not disturb the birds.

Sheet Pan Eggs

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Sheet Pan Eggs is an easy way to serve eggs to a crowd or as a make ahead lunchbox meal as it freeze well too.

Sheet Pan Egg Sandwich with blueberries, Sainsbury Chocolate Thins and NingXia Red

Eggs clearly are the star here so make sure to use fresh and good quality ones. We have been loyal Al Jazira Poultry customers because we get to have our eggs & poultry needs delivered straight from the farm to our home.

UAE friends:

Use 15% off discount code BICNC on all your Al Jazira Poultry

Sheet Pan Eggs

  • Difficulty: easy
  • Source: cuddlesandcrumbs.com
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 12 eggs, large
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • Toppings: capsicum, carrots and cheese

Directions

  1. PreHeat oven to 180C
  2. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, salt, pepper and milk
  3. Pour eggs onto a greased sheet pan and sprinkle with your chosen toppings
  4. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until eggs are firm and cooked through
  5. Allow omelette to cool for a few minutes then slice to equal size. Serve in a sandwich or with a salad.


The recipe can be jazzed up with any topping you wish, just make sure to squeezed out extra juice if using watery vegetable.

WATCH Egg Sheet Pan recipe video, below.

Chicken in Creamy Tomato Sauce

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This one pot NutriCook recipe is such a breeze to make. You can choose to enjoy this over pasta, salad greens or Chloe’s favorite jasmine rice.

Chicken in Creamy Tomato Sauce

  • Difficulty: easy
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Ingredients

  • 4 Chicken Breast
  • 2 cups pasta sauce
  • ½ cup cream
    • For seasoning chicken
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ paprika
  • ½ five spice

Directions

  1. Marinate chicken breast with seasonings for at least 10 minutes.
  2. Pour two cups of pasta sauce in the pot. For this recipe, I used Basilico Pasta Sauce by Maggi
  3. Press ‘Chicken’ mode and cook for 10 minutes.
  4. Fold dry ingredients to wet mixture, until incorporated.
  5. Once pressure is released. Turn pot to sauté mode then add cooking cream. Cook for 3 minutes.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  7. Serve over a bed of greens or pasta and top off with Parmesan cheese.

Here’s an IG reel for this recipe. Enjoy!

Stay-at-home Mom

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SAHM (stay-at-home mama) is a label attached to my name since we moved in the UAE, that’s more than 10 years now. The choice to be one was mine. 

Being one was certainly not a part of my 10yr plan back then. I’ve always imagined myself a career woman. When Coy left for work overseas, my Mama said ‘Go where your husband is if circumstances permit it’ and so I did. 

Ohh how I blamed her that first year away living the life of an expat SAHM. Why? I was tired with domestic life – infinite dishes to wash, endless laundry to attend too and a house that always needed cleaning. Add to that even after a days work, the effort was left unnoticed!

SAHM label often left me feel exhausted, lonely, angry, and worthless. I completely lost who I really is/was. 

I, myself no longer know me.

If you find yourself in that similar situation know that you are not alone and what you are feeling right now is VALID.

***

In a world where we are connected via social media, accomplishments are highlighted. 

Friends you once played with in the school grounds, now lawyers, doctors, accomplished in their fields; and while I am genuinely happy sending congratulatory wishes in between washing dishes…I begin to compare and question myself: What have I accomplished?

Accomplishments in the real world does not equal to an empty laundry bin or finally braiding my daughters hair.

I honestly cannot think of many. My son once asked me who I was outside of being just his mom, here. People’s eyes certainly don’t light up when I tell them I am a stay-at-home mom.

If you find yourself in that similar situation know that you are not alone and what you are feeling right now is VALID.

***

When asked the question “What are your hopes and dreams?”

My initial answers are “My dream is to see my children happy and successful in their chosen fields.” “I hope to see them build a happy family of their own.” 

But does that really answer the question? Is that really MY dream?

I have forgotten my own dreams, the ones where I would directly benefit from. One that is of my own. 

I have buried and forgotten the life I once imagined myself to be. I no longer even know how to dream for me. 

My personal dreams lost between my role as a mother and wife. Gone.

If you find yourself in that similar situation know that you are not alone and what you are feeling right now is VALID.

***

Whether you have stepped into the role of stay-at-home mom by choice or forced into it because of circumstances. You said YES to a role that is not for the faint hearted. Surviving today is already BIG accomplishment.

Know that you are capable of ditching the stigma that you are ONLY a stay-at-home mom. The TRUTH is you are capable of amazing things! 

You can focus on who you really are while giving your kids the greatest love they can ever receive. You are a woman who does not need any label because you are who you are!

I am still working on getting myself out of the stigma that I am a mere speck of sand in the vast desert. Here are some of the things I am doing that might help you too.

1.) What are you feeling right now? 

  • Acknowledge that emotion and if it is a negative one work on getting yourself out of it. I start my day, in a pause by counting backwards from 20 to 1 then I thank God for giving me another chance to work on the best version of me from yesterday (and yes sometimes you have to force yourself to even be thankful for waking up).  Starting your day with a grateful heart really makes a difference. When I am done with morning chores or just before that depending on what time I start my day, I take 5-10 minutes to sit down read or listen to daily scripture and script my day. I write down in present tense how I would like my day to be. It is simple as “I am going to finish two loads of laundry” or “I am the friend and parent my children needed me today” 

2.) What are the things that you love to do?

  • Incorporate 1 task a day that brings you so much joy. Something just for you. This can be reading few pages a day from a book you bought a few months back or even just a few minutes to daydream or draw.

3.) If you cannot find time to do the first two because you are overwhelmed with the tasks you have on hand, then do this: 

  • List three non negotiable thing you need to accomplish that day. Example, you need to pay your electric/water bill today or else the company will cut you off or you need to make the costume for your kids character day tomorrow. We need to be able to to identify this, I find that writing down things I need to do helps rather than just having them all in my head.

4.) Speak up! 

  • Let members of the family know (sit down with your husband) and tell them that you need to delegate things. No! I do not give you the permission to feel guilty, acknowledging that you need one is a strength. Superheroes work well with a partner.

I will stick with the above for now. 

All I have shared is a reminder to all of us that you can give your kids what they need and still fulfill yours by doing what you love… one day at a time. 

A small step is better than none.    

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