Tag: cooking

Shakshuka : A Mediterranean Breakfast

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This is my signature and go to breakfast dish – Shakshuka. A Mediterranean staple, I fell in love with this in my travels to Israel and Arabia.

Shakshuka is essentially eggs that are cooked in a homemade,stewed tomato sauce.

I serve cucumbers and feta on the side. Sprinkle a little Zaa’tar (Middle Eastern dried herbs- thyme, oregano, etc.) on top for an earthy finish.

I also serve with some warm pita bread or buttered well done, English muffins.

 

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Shiza’s Shakshuka

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Step 1: sautee in olive oil

  • 1 minced onion
  • 1 minced green or red bell pepper
  • A few cloves of minced garlic

Spices:

  • Ras El Hanout, sold at World Market, healthy amount (few tablespoons) | this adds an incredible layer of warmth and fragrance
  • cumin powder (about a teaspoon)
  • red chilli powder or paprika depending on how spicy you want it to be
  • salt to taste

Step 2:

  • 1- 35 ounce can of Whole Italian Tomatoes (chop these canned whole tomatoes yourself prior to putting in the pan)
  • After adding in the spices, if the sauce tastes acidic add a little bit of sugar to offset the acidity – this depends on how it tastes after adding in the spices. You have to taste the sauce and decide for yourself.
  • Harissa – morrocan tomato paste , sold at world market ( a few tablespoons); deepens the flavor of the sauce ; can substitute tomato paste

Step 3:  in a separate ramekin, crack each egg one by one and then start placing the eggs directly into the sauce one by one. I add as many eggs as I think will fit into the sauce and the pan. Typically about 8-10 eggs are added.

  • Once all of the eggs are in the pan of sauce, sprinkle a tiny bit of salt and pepper over the eggs
  • Place the Pan of Shakshuka into the oven to cook for 30-40 minutes.
  • You know it is ready when an inserted wooden toothpick into the egg comes out clean
  • Garnish with some chopped cilantro for added freshness

 

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Fresh flowers are completely optional, but I think it makes all of the difference to the aesthetic of the table. I arranged these bouquets with flowers from our garden. All of the flowers are different and even though their sizes vary greatly, I still love the look of it together.

Bon Appetit!

XOXO,

Shiza

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Summer Salad Recipe

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Aloha ❤️Today I am sharing with you guys a mouthwatering summer salad recipe. This recipe is super healthy and flavorful. It is like eating California in a bite. With local ingredients and lovely flavors, you will forget that you are eating a salad!!

Ingredients:
– 1 Box of Spring Mix Greens
– 1 Tomato , thinly slices
– 1 Persian Cucumber, sliced
– 1 Lime
– 1 Avacado, sliced
– Handful of Blackberries
– 1 Fuji Apple , thinly sliced with a squirt of lime juice to prevent it from browning
– Handful of fresh mint and basil
– Pinch of Red Chilli Flakes
– 1 tsp. Red Chilli Powder (optional)
– Handful of Walnuts, chopped
– 1 clove of fresh Garlic, minced
– dash of lemon pepper
– dash of Italian Seasoning
– dash of Mediterranean seasoning salt
– Salt & Pepper, to taste
– drizzle of Olive Oil, for sautée
– leftover roasted/baked chicken

Directions:
Part 1: Cook Chicken
Drizzle some olive oil into a pan on medium high heat. Add minced garlic. Allow the garlic to infuse into the oil for a minute. Then, add the chicken.
Allow the chicken to warm through and get slightly browned. This adds flavor. After, add the spices ( lemon pepper, seasoned salt, chilli powder & flakes, italian seasoning) . Stir the chicken on low heat. In the end, add a handful of chopped basil ( about 1/4 cup or so). The basil adds an earthy and fragrant flavor to the chicken. Voilà , your chicken is ready! Set aside.

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Part 2:
Wash all of the fruits and vegetables needed for the salad. In two bowls add some of the spring mix. This is the base layer of the salad. Next, add the sliced avacado on both salads. Squeeze a bit of lime on the avacado so that it doesn’t go brown. Sprinkle some salt and pepper to flavor it. Next, neatly arrange the cucumbers, tomatoes, blackberries, apples, and mint on top of the salad. Afterwards, add the chopped walnuts. Lastly, place the chicken on to the salad.

Tips:
Add the same amounts of fruit/vegetables to both salads. Arrange in a pattern for a pretty presentation.

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Variation: You can leave out the chicken for a vegan salad. It will taste just as good!

Bon Appetit
Xx,
Shiza

Hey Everyone

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We wanted to have the first blog post explain a little bit about who we are and why we started this .

Hello everyone! I am Shiza. I am 15 years old and I love all things beauty, fashion, and food. I have a passion for traveling and experiencing culture through food. Also , I love baking and cooking and I am often asked by friends on what I make, so through this blog I will share my favorite recipes. In addition, I am absoulutely obsessed with fashion and may or may not be a bit of a shopholic. I currently have a kimono fashion line and I aspire to have a major clothing brand when I am older. In my opinion, fashion is an art, the first glimpse of your personality, and as Miuccia Prada said,”Fashion is an instant language”. I will share ootd , wardrobe essentials , styling tips and tricks, and other miscellaneous fashion things on this blog. Hope you enjoy! XOXO

-S

Hey guys, I am Zaina. Currently 15 years old. Fashion, Music, and trying new restraunts and cafes are among the things i love most. Also i am a bit of a coffee bean addict, all my money ends up being spent there Ooops.. My mother thinks i need coffee rehab. One of my weekend habits are going to the hidden restaurants in LA, the obscure places most wouldn’t think of. Music is also a big part of my daily life, my bose speakers are literally on blast everyday 24/7. I have been obsessed with fashion since i can remember, even as a toddler my parents always dressed me in baby couture. I can literally spend all day at the mall, being a shopaholic is genetic. Through this blog i will express my unnique style and share with you guys how i style my outfits, talk about cute DIYs, and all about my food obsession! XOXO

-Z

Hey humans (or not ;)), I’m Firdausi, but you can call me Firda. Currently 15 (16 on Feb 10), and blessed to live in a small beach town in Los Angeles. I am so in love with nature, especially the beach (so California), finding new music, reading books (the library is my 2nd home) and going on adventures around LA, whether it’s an art museum or a hiking trail. I also enjoy taking pictures, painting, and writing really bad poetry in my journal. Also I have a small obsession with space. My main goals in life are to create world peace and stop global warming. I also want to travel, like, everywhere. In sum, I’m just in love with the world. Can’t wait to share my adventures and lifestyle with you all, it’s going to be a blast.
Xx, F