LIGHT BECHAMEL SAUCE

On May 24, 2016 By Sara ElrefaieIn Cheese, Chicken, Main Dish, Pasta, Rice, Seafood, Side Dish, VegetablesLeave a comment

The Holy month of Ramadan is 2 weeks from now & I can’t wait for my favorite 30 days to start :) The month of unbelievable spirituals, gatherings & food!

Unlucky me, I am one of those people who finishes Ramadan with 3-4 extra kilos on my waist line. I don’t know whether it’s the fasting or the amazing gatherings that make my appetite go crazy or the delicious food that makes me think of nothing but food!

But lately, I have been making some changes that proved to be working! For me, Ramadan is not the month of healthy food; I eat, I indulge & never deprive myself but with 3 new rules:

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CHOCOLATE DIRT CAKE

On April 29, 2016April 29, 2016 By Sara ElrefaieIn Fruits & Sweets, SweetsLeave a comment

Yes, I don’t like dirt cake at all. I bought it from every single store that sells it & still … I HATE it. I don’t know but I always find it too sweet & watery; mmm … not my kinda dessert.

This Easter my kids are almost 2 years old & I really want them to start enjoying all our Easter traditions but they are still too young for coloring/painting eggs (we will end up with an EGG mess … I am sure hahaha). I searched the Internet for other creative ideas that my kids can enjoy & came across hundreds of dirt cake recipes. I liked the idea a lot as my kids will love decorating those little pots because they are now very interested in learning about trees, flowers & plants.

Besides, I couldn’t believe how easy it is to prepare this stunning looking dessert. NO baking whatsoever is required, just some crushing, mixing & whipping woohooo.

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BAKED POTATO WEDGES WITH LIGHT RANCH DRESSING

On April 12, 2016April 24, 2016 By Sara ElrefaieIn Appetizer/Snacks, Party/Finger Food, Side Dish, VegetablesLeave a comment

If you have been following my blog recently, you would notice a slight shift in my cooking approach. It’s not that I am going healthy as you will never find words like “gluten free” & “vegan” on my blog but I am trying to find lighter versions of the food I love!

This doesn’t mean that you won’t find chocolate-y & creamy recipes here but I started to believe that a “balance” is always required to maintain a healthy diet & a decent jeans size :)

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VEGGIE LOADED CLASSICAL BOLOGNESE SAUCE

On April 3, 2016December 2, 2018 By Sara ElrefaieIn Beef, Main Dish, PastaLeave a comment

Believe it or not, bolognese sauce is one of the most difficult pasta sauce I have ever tried to cook. As basic as it may sound, it took me years to find the perfect recipe.

After over 10 total failures, I gave up & for the past year I never cooked bolognese sauce at home. It always came out very watery & very meat-y; you could feel the chunks of minced meat in your mouth & the sauce never stuck to the pasta! NEVER!!

Three months ago; I felt really offended! Seriously?!! Bolognese sauce!! One of the most basic pasta sauces ever!! I challenged myself & my research trip started :)

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OVEN BAKED MEATBALLS WITH BURGHUL

On March 29, 2016June 6, 2017 By Sara ElrefaieIn Appetizer/Snacks, Beef, Main Dish, Party/Finger Food, Side Dish, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I have always had a busy life but after having my kids, it became more of a circus!

I am on duty 247 even during my sleep; sometimes I just feel like screaming my lungs out but then I remember that one has to live each memory with full joy because those moments (with all their stress) will never come again!

In the middle of all this, creating some “me time” at the kitchen is a priority. Not only do I love cooking; it is also the only place where I release all my negative energy & recharge for tomorrow! Simply, my comfort zone!

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SHRIMP CEASER SALAD

On March 21, 2016March 22, 2019 By Sara ElrefaieIn Main Dish, Party/Finger Food, Salads, SeafoodLeave a comment

Happy mother’s day to myself, my mother, my grandmothers & every single mother out there trying to stay sane in the middle of this crazy thing called “motherhood”.

If you have read any of my previous posts, you would notice that I always talk about my mother’s hatred to cooking or actually anything kitchen related even if it was boiling an egg or microwaving a pre-cooked meal.

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CRISPY OVEN BAKED CHICKEN FILLET

On March 16, 2016September 5, 2018 By Sara ElrefaieIn Appetizer/Snacks, Chicken, Main Dish, Party/Finger FoodLeave a comment

I don’t know where or how to start as this recipe goes way way back! I have been working on this recipe for almost a year now, even before I started thinking about my blog! I simply love fried food & can’t deny that it is a staple in our house so I had to find a lighter/healthier alternative!

I have tested this recipe over & over; tried every single breading you can imagine; flour, corn flour, panko, nuts, corn flakes, tortillas, pretzels … etc but nothing worked & the result was always the same:

Either the chicken gets too dry until the crust takes a nice color & crunch or
The chicken is cooked perfectly & the crust is light in color + not crispy

I just couldn’t accept eating any of the above options & compared to fried chicken, they sucked big time!

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CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOM & COCONUT BROWN SAUCE

On March 6, 2016March 21, 2016 By Sara ElrefaieIn Chicken, Main DishLeave a comment

I fed my kids, put their favorite cartoon on! Made myself a cup of coffee to work on this post peacefully! Let’s say that this is how I pictured the whole situation yaaaah!

Reality: I am holding my coffee with one hand; typing with the other while my kids are running everywhere around me!

Let me try to wrap this post before I get attacked by these 2 little monkeys!

Another chicken dish on the blog! But as you know I never compromise on it being easy, quick & extremely delicious; perfect for your tight busy weekdays & also elegant for any dinner hosting.

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CREAM CHEESE PESTO PASTA WITH CHICKEN, FRESH MOZZARELLA & ROASTED TOMATO

On February 29, 2016August 9, 2018 By Sara ElrefaieIn Chicken, Main Dish, PastaLeave a comment

It’s me again with another pasta dish!

I just happen to love carbs … all kinds of carbs!

Sometimes I go for light healthy pasta recipes but most of the time, I go for creamy cheesy sauces that just melt in your mouth!

Cream Cheese, Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella & Parmesan cheese is a mixture made in cheese heaven! The different flavors & textures of the 3 cheeses complement each other so well without being too greasy or heavy. Cheese heaven, right?

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ALL PURPOSE TOMATO BEETROOT MARINARA SAUCE

On February 20, 2016March 28, 2016 By Sara ElrefaieIn Appetizer/Snacks, Breakfast/Brunch, Party/Finger Food, Pasta, Side Dish, VegetablesLeave a comment

Before having kids, I never cared about cooking certain food at home; I always believed in the idea of “why cook this when it’s available in the supermarket?”.

But with all the health raised issues about most store bought items, I started to be more inclined towards cooking almost everything at home. It’s healthier, cheaper & definitely free from all those poisonous preservatives.

I love making marinara sauce with canned tomatoes; it comes out perfectly sweet & tangy; just spot on. Trying to use less canned ingredients, I tested cooking the marinara sauce with fresh tomatoes but it was a big flop!

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