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A chocolate chip cookie promise

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While shopping for our weekly grocery Vierte asked if he can buy some chocolate chip cookies. I said nope and promised him that we make some cookies together. C was teasing me that I still haven’t made the cakes that they both requested. See after making Mickey Mouse cake for Liam and watching Cake Boss every night V’s long cake request includes McQueen, Dog, Sesame Street, and Disney cake.

For now he was happy to help me make Hershey’s Chocolate Chip Cookies which is also one of the first bake goodies I made some years ago.

Chocolate Chip Cookie and Milk

Also when my Lola Mommy turned 80 years old, we (Mama, Badet and I) baked a 5 dozens of these and everyone just loved them cookies! Lola even kept a tupperware full of cookies hidden in her closet. Oh how I miss her!

ChocoChipInTheOven

 

After showing Vierte how to scoop some cookie dough, roll on chocolate chips then transfer on baking sheet he decided to use the cupcake tray. Happily he sings “scoop, put cookie, sprinkle oh-yeah! See mama Vierte makes cookie cupcake for you! “

cuppycookie

While patiently waiting for his cookie cups we played Angry Birds. Our family is totally addicted. Of course he then requested to make some angry birds cake next, plus one to the list above.

Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

As soon as his Dad arrived from work he announced that he made some cookies with Mama explaining that you have to wash and crack the eggs slowly and sprinkle chocolates on top. C’s only comment is the cookie crunch as it didn’t have the crunch commercial cookies have. Maybe substituting half of the butter required to shortening will give it that crunch? Vierte insisted that it was crunchy 🙂

Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Pre-heat oven to 375 F.

  1. Sift flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  2. On your mixer beat butter, brown sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Add 1 egg at a time and mix.
  3. Gradually add flour mixture, mix well.
  4. Scoop some dough and roll them on a bowl full of chocolate chips.
  5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly brown on the sides.

a busy DSS for V

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Ohh summer is here which only mean the start of  Dubai Summer Surprises tempting us with huge SALE banners everywhere. Aside from the shopping there is a lot of activities for kids a great bonding time with Daddy’s as the lady of the house makes a mall tour (oh happy me).

SpiderMan and LazyTown Mall shows

Vierte was excited to finally see Sportacus in person, a big boy that he is sat with the other kids waiting for the show to start and even manage to take a nap.  It was fun watching him talk to other kids and sing along to every song. Whenever he whines on finishing his share of veggies or fruits we call him Vierte Robbie Rotten which he just hates and grabs a spoonful of vegetables and  reply “No I’m Sportacus! You will lose Daddy.” Watched the show twice in 1 week.

We didn’t know about the Spiderman show at Burjuman good thing Coy had to go there to have his watch checked. They prepared chairs for kids which was nice of them as it was more organized.

Vierte with Lightning McQueen

Conversation between V and Daddy: “Would you like to see McQueen?”  “Yes! Yes! Can I drive him? Please Daddy”

Unfortunately he didn’t get a chance to drive McQueen but he was very happy to have a picture with the famous car. He love him so much that he requested to have our car painted red same as McQueen.

What have you been up to this summer?

A taste of Atlantis: The Burger Joint

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In each of our Atlantis visit I always tell Coy that they should open a less intimidating restaurant. A casual place where guests can sit down and order a familiar dish without worrying if they are wearing the right clothes. The newly opened “the burger joint” might be the answer to my wish.

the burger joint

I remember Chef Sasha saying that they wanted to bring something “American” in Atlantis which eventually led to the burger joint (tbj). Indeed a great addition to the family and nicely located near Aquaventure an area which is always crowded with guests.

inside tbj

I absolutely love tbj’s interior with beautiful black and white photos and guests can even write on the white walls.tbj team prepared mini burgers for us to try on. I wasn’t too eager to try some burger since I still had a steak hungover from Seafire (and secretly wishing that I left the meat haven with a plate of yummy steaks mmmm…) but I’m looking forward to tasting their homemade style fries.

mini burgers

I tried three kinds of burger “cheesy,” “rooster booster” and “the works” out of the five choices tbj has to offer. I find cheesy the best among the three but then we had baby burgers it would be unfair to judge them right? I have to try the adult burgers and then decide whether I’ve found the best burger in Dubai that would beat my favorite Brothers Burger back home. The fries are just yummy crispy thin on the outside and soft inside. Unlike other fries where it seems to be empty inside, tbj fries have real potato feel in every bite.

tbj definitely is the answer to my no fuss dining wish in Atlantis but it’s still not cheap with burger priced at 40dhs – 60dhs and if you want some fries (which you should) add 15dhs, which is roughly around 700 pesos.

 

Homemade Pizza

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At the end of the week I stare at my almost empty refrigerator trying to come up with a quick meal that doesn’t require a full load of dish washing. A lazy meal! What could it be?

If you’re a SAHM like me one of the challenges would be to make sure that you offer a balance meal, hopefully not having to repeat last week’s menu, and utilizing every item bought for the week. I’m a sucker for leftover, every piece of meat and vegetable left I keep and freeze till I find a dish and recreate something new to enjoy. Last bits of tomatoes, onions, cold cuts, cheese, and olives gave birth to a Thin Crust Homemade Pizza.

 

Pizza Dough

  • 1 cup                     Warm water
  • 1 tbsp                    Sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp                 Dry Active Yeast
  • 2 tsp                      Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp                      Salt
  • ¼ cup                    Vinegar
  • 3-4 cups               All Purpose Flour

Mix warm water and sugar. Sprinkle yeast and let proof for 10 minutes. In a separate bowl mix oil, salt, vinegar, and 2 cups of flour until well incorporated. Add additional flour and knead until pliable and barely sticky.

Place in a bowl grease with olive oil cover and let rise for 1-2 hours until double in bulk. I usually place this inside the oven.  Once double in size punch down and divide into two portions.

Roll each piece of dough to cover a large ungreased baking sheet or pizza pan. Cover with pizza sauce and toppings, in my case a week of leftover.

Bake at 500F for 12-15 minutes until brown.

Pizza Sauce

  • 2 tbsp                    Olive Oil
  • 1 medium            Onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves                Garlic, minced
  • 5 large                   Tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 tbsp                    Oregano, dried
  • 1 tbsp                    Thyme, dried

Saute onion till soft. Add garlic, tomatoes, oregano and thyme when tomato juice starts to come out lower the heat.  Puree the sauce using a hand blender. Let sauce thicken for about a minute then turn off heat.

Any other dish you can share made from a week of leftover?

Child Seats Mandatory

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FINALLY!

I admit it was only this year that we decided to buy V a car seat, before I stay with him at the back and both of us (most of the time) not buckled up. It was Friday Magazine’s article on the importance of wearing seat belt and car seat that finally opened our eyes.

On a recent cineMama Event we met Lesley Cully founder of Buckle Up In the Back she gave a little talk on how important it is to buckle up and WE AGREE!

here’s a link to GulfNews article on the new law

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A taste of Atlantis: Seafire Steakhouse & Bar

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One Friday I found myself at Atlantis The Palm on a food safari from the steaks of Australia, burgers and fries of USA, cheese and desserts of France and finally pizza and truffles of Italia. A big THANK YOU to Sally of My Custard Pie for organizing the event.

Entering the grand lobby we were welcomed by Amanda Chong, Public Relations and Tarik Kaddoumi, Manager/Online Marketing of Atlantis, Dubai. We first proceeded to Seafire Steakhouse and Bar restaurant and we were introduced to Chef Sasha Triemer, Executive Chef of Atlantis.

I have always been intrigued on what Seafire has to offer, yes I do know it’s a steakhouse but is it like any other steakhouse?

Behind those massive wood doors a warm interior welcomed us bunch of lovely ladies.

Did you know that Atlantis have their own beef? Atlantis cattle are raised in Queensland, Australia. They don’t even marinate their steaks it’s all in the beef just a little bit of salt and pepper, a good grill temperature and viola beef loving goodness mate!

The steaks are the best I have tasted here in Dubai! mmm…

next stop the Burger Joint

****

 

Location: The Avenues – Atlantis The Palm, Dubai

Dinner: Sunday – Saturday 6pm-11:30pm

Seafire Bar: 6:00pm – 11:30pm

Teen Cake for Shiandra

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Shiandra like almost every teen I know loves Justin Bieber. I searched the www for a JB inspired cake but didn’t find any that suits my fancy then I remembered that Ate Shin loves to read book as well.

Teen Reading Cake

 

This is my first time to make a character out of fondant. I use Lorraine Mckay’s (of Extra Icing on the Cake)  tutorial on female character.

Moist Chocolate Cake

 

Underneath all that fondant is a yummy Moist Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache filling.

The day I met Martha Stewart

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Kari posted message below on our group wall: “Calling Martha Stewart Fans!!! Martha Stewart is coming to Dubai! FIA is invited to the launch and signing of her new magazine at Tavola MOE. It’s on Saturday 18th June at 14:00. Please arrive a little earlier so to purchase a magazine and form a line for the signing. Magazines will be available at the store. Who is in?”

I got excited and was the 3rd one to reply and immediately called C announcing that Martha is coming to Dubai. We checked our weekend schedule and confirmed that the children’s party that Saturday will be at 5pm. Lucky me!

We arrived at MOE around 12:30 noon headed to straight to Tavola to make sure that we arrived before the scheduled time which was 2pm. Vierte by then has been asking where his friends are and why are we at Mommy’s place. Coy suggested that we eat something first, Vierte immediately announced that he’s hungry.

patiently waiting for Martha Stewart

It was nice to see that not only women lined up to see Martha Stewart, a few men with the newly launched Food and Wedding magazine in hand waited as well. I also met some FIA members Mishti of Stovetop Dancing and Kari of Chef and Steward.

Preparing our magazines for the signing.

Martha entered the room with a big smile on her face and apologizing that we had to wait for her. I didn’t realize that she was tall maybe as tall as I am, even Coy was surprised how tall she was.

She asked if we waited to long for her and how was my day. I already felt that we had a special bond.

A big THANK YOU to Tavola for bringing Martha Stewart to Dubai.