I found an en-genius way to get my daily recommended fruit portion without having to think too much about it or feel horrible about eating 4 or 5 fruits everyday!
I said to myself 'why not stick everything in a blender and whizz it all up into a smooth fruit cocktail?'
The end result was a refreshing, cool and very healthy fresh cocktail!
I enjoy every sip and i get all the benefits of the fresh fruit and i get the needed portions of fresh fruit that my body needs!

I mix in any fruits i have at hand, for example:
Strawberries, an orange, a banana and half an apple!
Of course add a cup of water and a tiny bit of honey to the mixture before blending.
If you'd like it a bit sweeter, don't add honey, just add a tablespoon or two of sugar.

I've finally attempted to make the richest, most chocolaty-est chocolate cake ever!
My husband is a chocolate junky and i wanted to surprise him with a special cake that he's be more than happy to dive into!
So, i found this recipe and thought it would be perfect ... it was!
Here are the ingredients:
For the cake:
200g good quality plain chocolate, broken into pieces
175g softened butter
175g sugar
4 eggs, separated
100g ground almonds
75g self raising flour, sifted
1 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted

For the chocolate Ganache:
400ml double cream
225g good quality plain chocolate, broken into pieces

I came across this recipe in a Mexican food brochure ... How happy I am for finding it!
Three Kings Bread is the perfect thing to bake in the Holidays, but it's also a treat all year round.
I goes perfectly with a cup of coffee ... that's how I enjoy my slice; in the morning with a big mug of coffee with a splash of milk ... YUM-O !!!
The good thing about this bread, is that you cane make the dough, leave it to rest and do something else while waiting ... no hassle!
Oh! i had to learn how to braid dough for this recipe! That was fun! And the result is a master piece! You'll feel proud!

Ingredients: after the jump!

I have been in an affair with cinnamon rolls since i was 7 years old!
I used to wait for the school lunch break just so that i can get me fluffy, sticky and mouthwatering roll! I admit it now ... I'm addicted to cinnamon rolls and i can't help it!
In my many attempts to perfect the rolls at home, i came across a very easy recipe, that will make you feel like you're a professional pastry chef! The outcome is unbelievable!
Don't be afraid ... it needs a bit of work and a bit of waiting (which is the most difficult part), but it's worth it and you'll love yourself for making it!!!

Ingredients:
4 1/2 to 5 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 sachet active dry yeast
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup water
1 egg

(+ 1/2 cup sugar - 1 tsp cinnamon - 1/4 cup soft butter)

Holidays are the perfect time of year to gather you close friends and loved family around a fireplace and share funny stories and yummy food.
Yes, it's time for ham and turkey, minced pie and bread pudding, stuffing and cranberry sauce ... but it's also a good time to experiment with new recipes!
You can start with simple finger food ... easy recipes and yummy outcomes!
I tried these cheese and olive scones last night ... they were a hit!

Ingredients:
40g grated Parmesan
40g grated Cheddar
1 medium onion, diced
10 black olives, pitted and chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
175g self-raising flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
25g butter
1 large egg
3 tablespoons milk
freshly ground black pepper

I have to say this is an invention of mine! I'm not sure whether it exists anywhere else, but i came up with it as i went along!
It is perfect for a brunch and it can be changed to suit your taste!
So, here are the ingredients i used, remember that you can play around with the ingredients as you like.

Ingredients:
1/2 baguette, cut into big cubes
2 black bread rolls, cut into cubes
Sun-dried tomatoes, shredded
Italian sausages, cut into pieces and half fried
Mozzarella, sliced
3/4 cup milk
3 eggs, beaten
salt & pepper
dried oregano
Butter

Bread Pudding is the best dessert you can have in winter! It's soft, gooey, warm and filling ... Yum-O!
Well, this is such a delicious recipe that I've made it 4 times in one week! I think I'm going to make it again today!
It's so easy and yummy ... you'll get addicted!

Ingredients:
1 baguette (sliced) or a sliced loaf of Brioche
soft butter
1 cup milk
1/2 cup cream fresh
4 eggs (beaten well)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
raisins or dried cranberries
jam of your choice

You must be wondering what 'Kushari' is ... It's a traditional Egyptian dish ... Totally Yum-O!
Kushari is an easy dish to make, but you'll need time in the kitchen to make it! Don't freak out! It's worth it!

Ingredients:
1 cup brown lentils
1 cup rice
1 cup cooked pasta -small elbow macaroni-
2 large onions, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 can chopped tomatoes
olive oil
vinegar
Salt & pepper

Lebanese cuisine is absolutely mouthwatering ... it's difficult finding a dish that isn't delicious!
One of my favorite yummy things are pastries called Sfiha or some like to call them Lahm Bi Ajin, which translates into meat with pastry!
These make a great snack or soup accompaniment!
I guarantee that if you try this, you'll fall in love with it!

Ingredients: (this amount makes a whole lot!)

Dough:
1 kg (5 cups) plain flour
1 tsp dry yeast
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
1 1/4 cups water

Filling:
1/2 kg ground meat
1 kg firm tomatoes, finely chopped
5 medium onions, finely chopped
1 tsp salt
A dash of: cayenne red pepper, cinnamon, ground allspice
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp yogurt
1 tbsp sesame paste (Tahini)
5 tbsp fried pine nuts

It’s been too long since I’ve last posted a recipe … sorry about that!
Now, it’s Ramadan and I’m back with a few yummy dishes, ones perfect for the Holy month.
I don’t know about you, but in Ramadan most of the times I crave Arabic food! I don’t go for the mashed potatoes & steak, but for the lamb & potato stew, as an example!
In the coming couple of weeks, I’ll be posting Arabic dishes and today I’ll be starting with a favorite of mine, which my dad used to make a lot; Chicken Tajine.

Tajine is a traditional Moroccan dish, literally a dish … one made of heavy clay.
The ingredients are mixed in it, covered & it is put in an oven or over a fire to cook. Thus, any recipe made in that dish is also called Tajine.

This is one of the best sandwiches I've ever tasted! It is so special, that it doesn't count as an ordinary sandwich anymore, it's a treat! If you want to indulge yourself, try it ... you won't regret it!
You just need to have just the right ingredients ... good quality wholemeal bread, good quality smoked salmon -Scottish would be great- & you're ready!

Ingredients:
4 slices wholemeal bread
8 slices smoked salmon
Creme Fraiche -cream fresh-
1 Lemon
Butter
salt & pepper

Ok, the name might give you the impression that this starter is difficult or really sophisticated! No, not at all! This recipe is as easy as pie ... Even easier! Its so good & so tasty that your guests will think it really sophisticated! Yup! The keyword here is Sophisticated!
This will take you about 10 minutes to prepare & will make a good start to any meal.

Ingredients:
3 ripe pears, peeled & thinly sliced
6 slices wheat bread
12 walnuts, coarsely chopped
Blue cheese -Roquefort- crumbled

This is not your ordinary Brownies ... This one has a crunchy crust below the chocolaty goodness! Yummy!
This recipe is easy, but it will need some patience on your side ... Because there are a few steps before the whole things is put in the oven.

Ingredients:
- Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, soft
1 1/2 cups crushed digestive cookie crumbs
A pinch fine salt

- Brownie:
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
110 grms unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
4 large cold eggs
1 cup flour

- Caramel Sauce:
30 caramels -toffee-
1/4 cup milk

Clafoutis is a baked dessert that contains a lot of fruit ... That makes it extra yummy!
It isn't a cake or a pie ... It's a sweet delight that is more like a custard & it originated in France.
In the beginning, when I first ate it, I thought it would be difficult to make, but when I searched for a recipe, I found that it's easy to make & doesn't take a lot of time.
The good things about it too, is that you can use different sorts of fruit ... Cherries, Grapes or Strawberries ... You can try other fruits & combinations, but it is best with those three.