Month: August 2015

Simple, Summery Fettuccine 

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Fettuccine is a pasta that is usually served in an alfredo sauce. However, today I changed things up and made some with a simple sauce using fresh ingredients such as rosemary and basil from my garden, sweet cherry tomatoes, and fragrant garlic. These ever so accessible ingredients transformed the fettuccine into a heavenly dish that is perfect for a summer time lunch! 

Ingredients:

  1. Good quality Fettuccine 
  2. About a cup of Cherry Tomatoes 
  3. 2 cloves of fresh garlic
  4. Handful of Basil
  5. 1 sprig of Rosemary 
  6. Lemon Pepper
  7. Seasoned Salt
  8. Parmeasan cheese 
  9. Olive Oil + Butter
  10. Pinch of sugar ( to offset the acidity of the tomatoes) 

Directions: 

  1. In a large pot, boil water up to the brim with some salt.
  2. Cut the cherry tomatoes lengthwise. Chop the basil and 1/2 of the rosemary. Mince the garlic. 
  3. Once the water in the pot boils, add the fettuccine noodles. I added about 1/2 of a box of fettuccine simply estimating it. No need to be precise, if you have extra pasta you can use it the next day! Cook the pasta in the salted boiling water for about 8-10 minutes of until its al dente.  
  4. While the pasta cooks, heat a tablespoon of butter and a drizzle of olive oil in a saucepan on medium high heat. Once the oil + butter begin to sizzle, add the minced garlic. Let the garlic infuse its flavor into the oil, stirring frequently to prevent it from burning . After 2 minutes, add the cherry tomatoes into the saucepan. Raise the heat to high for a few minutes and sautée the tomatoes. They should release a sauce yet hold their shape. Add the sugar. Stir well.
  5. Next, lower the heat and add the lemon pepper, seasoned salt, basil, chopped rosemary, and the 1/2 sprig leftover into the saucepan. Stir well. A sauce should develop. 
  6. Drain the fettuccine and add it into the saucepan with the tomatoes. Combine the pasta with the sauce on low heat. Add a teaspoon of butter into the pasta. Turn off heat and add some grated parmesean cheese and mix well. Remove the sprig of rosemary. Voilà, the fettuccine is ready!

   
    
    
 
Buon Appetito❤️

Xoxo,

Shiza

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August’s most adored💗

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Good evening dolls,

Today I will be sharing my monthly favorites! These products and items have me hooked this month.

Number One: Bindis ✨

So I recently went on vacation to India and over there bindis are a huge part of daily life. I am aware that the whole bindi trend might be offensive to some individuals but to me it’s a trend i would like to follow. So I went along with both, the trend of wearing it with traditional clothes and American clothes Honestly I’m so in love with them, most people think only certain people can wear them but it’s a fast growing trend which is super chic.


Number two: Mascara✨

Mascara has always been just an add on to my make up never the statement of my look. But these past hot summer days when I would contemplate what make up I should do. I often found my self leaning towards a bold mascara look with some tinted lip colors. In my opinion this is the only thing I’ve needed this whole summer it’s been my go to.

(Right to left)

-benefit they’re real

– Maybelline volume Express falsies

– pink one was a gift

– NYC showtime

– MAC false lashes extreme black
Number three: Signature scents✨
My three favorite scents this summer was J’adore by Christan Dior, Michael Kors sexy Amber, and lastly Chloè. These 3 smell Divine and go with summer and honestly all types of weather. The moment you put it on I feel like a goddess.


XOXO

Zaina 💓

Alfred’s Coffee☕️

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Who said something couldn’t beat Starbucks or Coffee Bean. Well today I went to a coffee shop on Melrose called Alfred’s Coffee. Located on 8428 Melrose Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90069. The Carmel Latté stole my heart. It was rich iced coffee with Carmel drizzled on top of it, iced coffee is an art to me getting it to taste right is the beauty of a good coffee shop. The ambiance of the place was quite chic. There’s a chocolate store inside and a designer boutique neighboring the coffee shop. It’s so modern and exciting! I definitely think it’s a perfect spot for coffee lovers to go there with friends for a nice chat! The shop has more than just coffee. They serve pressed juices, pastries, salads, and artisanal sandwiches. My favorite thing at the shop was their “but first coffee” mugs. Alfred’s Coffee is featured as one of the top 10 coffee shops in LA according to Timeout. 

  

      Caramel Latté  
      Inside the chocolate store   
        
      Waiting in the line.   
      My favs   
     

    Summer Diaries : Kolkata , India

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    This summer I visited the majestic city of Kolkata ( prev// Calcutta) . It wasnt my first time , I have visited this once british-raj capital city since I was young . However , I had more fun this summer than visits before because I got to experience the culture through the food. 

     I had an unforgettable experience sampling Calcutta’s multicultural cusine which melds Mughlai , Chinese , Bengali , and British-Raj cuisines forming a diverse food background.

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    Chai (indian tea with milk) is a must to start a Calcuttans day. This is a breakfast/afternoon staple for indians. This particular chai is served in an earthen clay pot , which adds depth to its flavor. It is also garnished with fresh kesar (saffron) which adds a floral aroma to a simply delicious chai!

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    Lunch// Rumali Roti ( thin indian flatbreads cooked on the stove ) served with the rich curry of Chicken Kassa, a Bengali speacialy. This is from the casual and famous restaurant , Shiraz.

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    Peter Cat Restaurant’s famous Chelo Kebab dish features two types of kebabs : one succulent chicken skewer with vegetables and two mutton seekh kebabs seasoned with Persian spices , the dish also comes with a side of rice and a poached egg on top. It is a classic Calcutta dish that survives the test of time! I love the blend of Persian and Indian cuisines in this dish. It is definitely a must try!

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    A classic british breakfast of beans on toast at the legendary Flurys in Park Street , Kolkata. This restaurant was founded in 1927 during the British Raj and it still retains its old world charm and offers one of the best European confections and breakfasts in the city.
    P.S: I have a blogpost on the recipe for Beans on Toast…..

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    Street side Sutha ( Thread) Kebabs are flavorful and moist kebabs with an extraordinary texture caused by it being wrapped in a thread while cooking. After cooking , the thread is opened and the kebab opens up into small pieces of meat packed with spice and garnished with lime wedges and chopped onions.

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    Thai Chicken Curry served with burnt garlic rice is a must try at the whimsical 111 year old Bengali Bungalow turned into a restaurant , The Corner Courtyard. This curry is rich in thai spices and the coconut milk in the curry adds a depth and body to it . The Corner Courtyard has become one of my favorite restaurants for global cuisine and the menu offers a wide range of Asian and Western offerings.

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    Image of The Corner Courtyard

    Xoxo,
    Shiza