*Turning the boring hotdog into va va voommmmmmm dowg*
I really admire Mamas that can be openly honest about the fact they *DO* feed their children the food groups that make the pro-raw-no sugar-no fats-no flavour-taste like cardboard foodie Mamas jump straight into their early graves.
I do not feed my children ‘junk food’ on a daily basis however I do factor in ‘treat foods’ because I’m a firm believer that forbidden fruit will drive you to your limits to taste them. So rather than eliminating things from my children’s diet I operate a ‘food within moderation’ system.
My girls love Hotdogs. I am personally not a fan of the humble dog however give me a pimped up dowg and I’m more likely to bite your hand off for a bite of yours.
Standard hotdogs boiled/warmed up make me heave. However marinating them will take them into a realm of their own. I’ve included THREE marinade recipes for you to enjoy. I have it on good authority that these dowgs are the bomb. Okay enough embarrassing street talk let’s get down to business.
These Hotdowgs will literally take your next BBQ up another level without loads of prep work. Trust me on this. Once you marinate dogs you ain’t.never.going.back.
You will need:
6 Standard Hotdogs (I use a beef and chicken mix ones as I follow a Halal diet)
6 Hotdog buns (Brioche Buns are cool for adults….or keep it standard if you wish).
Fried onions
To prepare the dogs:
Remove from the packaging and wash thoroughly.
Now is the fun bit. You want to get flavour into the dogs (not just on the outside). I’ve tried two methods. I pricked the dogs and marinated them and it failed. So I recommend you make small cuts at side of the dogs (basically the dogs will look like they have fins). This method works super well and I got compliments on the dogs so we know it works.
Repeat for all the hotdogs.
Recipe one: the party favourite.
Ingredients:
6 TBSP tomato ketchup (you can use a cheap version however if you do want to be flashy it won’t hurt)
4 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
3 cloves of garlic-crushed!
1/2 TSP crushed chili/chili seeds
1) mix all the ingredients together in a ziploc bag and add the hotdogs. Seal the bag and ‘massage the dogs’ to cover the in sauce. Leave them in the fridge for at least 4 hours (up to 24).
2) Remove from the marinade and cook. You can fry these bad boys or BBQ them (so bookmark this recipe NOW or when summer rolls up…).
3) Serve in the buns with fried onions (optional). You don’t really need any additional sauce.
Recipe two: Sweet and sour dowgs
This recipe is a favourite amongst children that like a bit of sweet and savoury. Adults will love it too…but kids will love these.
Ingredients:
3 TBSP sweet chili sauce
1 TBSP honey
Juice of 1/2 lime
2 TBSP tomato ketchup
Optional: 1/2 tsp chili flakes
Repeat method as above.
Recipe three: Sweet BBQ Chili
Some like is smoky; I love it hot. Here’s a crowd pleasing marinade for the hotdogs.
Ingredients:
2 TBSP BBQ sauce
2 TBSP Sweet chili sauce
1/2 TBSP honey
2 clove garlic-crushed
Optional: liquid smoke (follow instructions on how much to use on the bottle).
Repeat as above.
Top tip: these marinades also work for mini sausages so if you need to spice up your buffet for a party look no further.
Versatile decorations for Eid, Ramadan and beyond.
Don’t you just love it when Christmas decorations land in shops in July. No really. I’m being sincere. But why would a Muslim be excited about the decorations that spill out of every single shop on the High Street?
Because we’re living in an era where most decorations can be used across religions, cultures and beyond.
How is that possible I hear you cry. Well firstly the decorations market is becoming more and more competetive as social media sites such as Instagram show us how ‘the other half lives’ and well we all want to buy decorations that truly are awesome, unique and non standard in the traditional sense.
When I was a kid I remember tinsel, tinsel, more tinsel and red and white decorations. Gold was also a feature colour. But that was the colour palettes the general consumer worked with unless they became creative and produced their own decorations (in an era before Pinterest trust me this was very very difficult).
I love decorating my home for Eid, Ramadan and Birthdays. I just love bringing in magical vibes for the girls to get lost in. So I’ve created a list of my top 10 decorations that are fit for a variety of celebrations.
Make a list of what you need and when the decoration season hits fill that basket with a bargain or three of versatility.
NOTE: shops have already started slashing prices guys! So see you all on Boxing Day to get our decoration fix.
1) Beaded garlands.
Without a shadow of a doubt this is my top decoration. You can pick up beaded garland in an array of colours. We currently own a bucket of gold beaded garlands plus pink and purple. We also have some white ones (for Frozen themed parties). Now I use them: hang them up, wrap them around things, use them to hang up lanterns…get creative. Why I love them: they are so versatile. Plus they are cheap and durable. Poundland bring in a range of colours every year. That’s a quid for 8 metres. And if you are looking at topping up your collection you can pick up garlands for as cheap as 25 pence in the post Christmas sales. That’s right. How do you think I ended up with a bucket of gold beaded garlands?
2) Paper lanterns Oh my goodness. This is where my Pinterest obsession creeps in. Years ago I came across an image of a Tangled themed wedding and they used various paper lanterns to decorate the gazebo. It looked magical. The next thing you know I was ordering various lanterns in various colours and sizes. So as these lanterns are made from paper you cannot use them with candles (just thought I would point out the obvious) and due to the material they can be delicate to handle so you need to bare that in mind. However since I first started using lanterns 4 years ago I haven’t damaged a single one beyond a bit of TLC. Now to use them: assemble them (straight forward procedure so don’t panic) and hang them up. If you want to create a magical airy look use transparent thread. Why I love them: the instant pop of colour! If you need to decorate a large area you can get some pretty big lanterns and hang them in clusters (in a mixture of sizes) to create a bit of a feature. The combinations are endless if you mix them up with honeycomb balls and paper fans. Plus if you look after them you can REUSE them! My top tip: want a bit of extra bling for an outdoor event? Spray the lanterns with glitter spray. The glitter will glisten in the sunlight. I usually order mine 6/8 weeks before I need them so I can order them cheaper from China.
3) Honeycomb balls When my oldest turned one I ordered pink honeycomb balls and at the time places like Poundland didn’t stock them so I paid a silly price per ball. Anyhow 7 years in and those honeycomb balls are still being used. The honeycomb balls get their name from their pretty shape. You can buy honeycomb balls (made out of tissue paper) in a wide range of colours and sizes so there’s something to fit every budget. Why I love them: the range of colours and sizes available readily makes these babies a must for me. Plus if you fold them back up and store them carefully they WILL last (like I said I’ve had some for 7 years…). Tip: if you require larger sized honeycomb balls and want to grab some at a bargain try eBayers in China.
4) Glitter covered branches.
So if you cannot take glitter avoid these guys. But if like my family you need a bit of bling these are worth their weight in gold. Basically dried branches are painted and covered in glitter. You then take these beauties home and place them in a vase and great a centre point for your table, mantle etc. I bought a range of colours in the post Christmas sales. I drape beaded garlands on the branches to add some extra bling. You can mix and match to make a statement. Why I love them: its a big statement piece at an affordable price. I paid £1.25 for a bunch of branches from Asda post Christmas. They can be reused too. Tips: planning a mendhi? Why not get green branches and drape over gold beaded garlands as the centre piece for tables.
5) pre cut foil letter banners I love a good DIY project but I find some things are cheaper to purchase readymade and in the case of Foil/glitter card signs. If you calculate the price of card, plus the time it takes to cut the letters out etc buying pre-made is a bargain. I use Eid Mubarak glitter letter signs to create statements at Eid. I got 3 signs from eBay for £4.68 (the seller was based in China and I placed my order 2 months in advance). Why I love them: simple statement really. Affordable and reusable. Plus I like to have signs in photos incase I suffer from memory problems when I’m older.
6) Fairy lights Oh dear lord. Fairy lights! I don’t think these need much of an introduction but with such a variety there’s so much scope with them. Drape them around the home, hang them up, use outdoor ones draped over plants…the possibilities are endless. There’s colourful lights, twinkling ones, solar powered outdoor lights, flashing ones…ones you can connect up to speakers. What a time to be alive if you love fairy lights. Why I love them: just re-read the above. Tips: Superstores often have offers on around Christmas and you can actually pick up bargains before the post Christmas sales.
7) Paper mache pre-made letters If you have lots of shelves or a mantle that needs a bit of festive love this could be a cost effective option for you. I bought my letters off eBay and paid £1.20 per letter (with an additional 15% off for buying 10+ letters). I then painted the letters using metallic paint (purchased from Poundland-I can recommend their metallic acrylic ‘poster paints’ as I’ve used purple, gold and turquoise from the range). The project took a total of less than 2 hours and I now have a set of awesome freestanding letters than look awesome on my shelves. Why I love them: you can spell whatever you want to. And you can use any colour, use a bit of glitter…and let your imagination run free. Tip: a great crafting idea for little ones to get them in the festive mood and let them participate in the decoration of the home for any special event/festivity.
8)Painted upcycled jars (as candle holders) I love a good DIY project so this was right up my street. I collected a range of glass jars and painted them in a range of jewel coloured glass paints. I use these holders with battery powered ‘tealight’ candles so I don’t have any major fire hazards to worry about whilst celebrating. Plus I don’t have to scrape wax out of the holders (less work!). Why I love them: I can use the jars outdoors and indoors and the glistening lights look magical. Plus the colour range of paints is amazing. Tips: keep the jars in your shed/outhouse during colder months as frost will damage them. Get children involved in painting jars. If you have a steady hand try using glass outline pens to draw on patterns. The possibilities are endless.
9) Baubles The old fashioned bauble has withstood the test of time. You can pick up baubles in all colours, textures, shapes and sizes too. You can hang them up, place them in vases, stick them to a hula hoop and create a large wreath….get creative with these babies. You can also create personalised bauble countdown garlands by writing on the baubles too (e.g. 6 sleeps til Eid…. etc). Hang some baubles with ribbon and hang them in your window. Why I love them: baubles are a cheap and effective away to add colour and texture to your home and decor collection. You can get creative with them too. Pick up boxes of baubles from Superstores and DIY stores such as B&Q in the post Christmas sales.
10) Wire decorations Again I love DIY and garden wire based decorations are one of my favourite things ever. Firstly you can get really creative and let children join in. Secondly wire is really affordable (especially if you use garden wire) and thirdly you can create decorations for the garden that will last a while. My favourite things to create are cressant moons and also letters too. I wrap them with hessian string (again super affordable) and then paint them (our favourite: gold paint). Intertwine with fairy lights and create something magical.
That concludes my list of decorations I recommend for your decoration box. I delibrately left off balloons as yes they are super cheap but cannot be reused.
What is your favourite decoration? And what would you rather be without? Leave a comment below.
I admit that this is more of an instructional tutorial than recipe however if I’m completely honest with you on nights where you are more likely to reach for a fattening takeout or ready meal cheats like this are awesome.
By no means am I saying feed your family this every night however let’s be honest here. Sometimes we need a meal we can prepare whilst juggling a clingy baby, a toddler crying over toys that have somehow ended up down the toilet and a boss that wants to know when you think you’ll be returning to work FULL time.
My children love this recipe (as do I). The only effort in this recipe is the actual browning of the chicken.
Once I’ve browned the chicken it’s pretty much throw stuff into the slow cooker and forget about it until you need to prepare the rice to serve with it (I served the chicken with basmati rice).
Did I mention this meal works out at less than £0.75 per head?
So to put together this super easy meal (that serves 4/6) you will need:
6 pieces of chicken (I purchased three legs, skin on cut in half)
1 tablespoon oil
For the sauce:
60 ml dark soya sauce
3 tablespoons honey
80 ml tomato ketchup (for an extra kick you can use flavoured ketchups)
8 cloves of garlic-crushed
Juice of 2 limes
Optional: salt to your taste (remember that soya sauce is very very salty!)
Optional: 1 teaspoon chili flakes (for some heat!) OR 1 tablespoon chili sauce
To serve:
I served mine with rice. If you are on a low carb diet replace with cauliflower rice.
1) Heat the oil on a medium heat in a large pan. I use a non stick large frying pan.
2) Add the chicken pieces and fry for 5 minutes per side (I find this browns and crisps the chicken nicely. Always check your chicken whilst cooking it to avoid burning it).
3) Once the chicken is browned drain on some kitchen paper and set aside.
4) Now make the sauce. Pour the dark soya sauce, honey, ketchup, garlic, lime juice and optional ingredients (if using) into your slow cooker and stir to mix. You could use a whisk if that’s more convienent.
5) Add the chicken to the sauce. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken. Cook on slow for 5 hours. If you are cooking on the high setting check your chicken after 2.5 hours. Remember that chicken on the bone cooks slower than boneless.
6) Check your chicken at half way and baste it with the sauce (your chicken is highly unlikely to dry out but we want maximum flavour).
7) Your chicken is ready to serve.
Notes: if you do wish to add salt please do so towards the end of the cooking process after tasting salt content. I find it easier to add salt that take it out if you over salt a dish.
Leftovers make great lunches the next day.
Or you can shred the chicken and make sliders (sandwiches).
I cannot be the only one that looks for ways to add the magic of Ramadan and Eid to the lives of those around us. I also cannot be the only Mama who looks for ways for her children to share this blessed and magical time with their friends and Teachers either.
As my girls get older they are noticing more and more that a lot of attention is given on a global scale to Christmas. They also notice that gift giving/baked goods and other little items are distributed a lot during the festive period.
So this year I put a bit of effort into my children’s light Dawah on the playground. That’s right; I classed this project as Dawah. Because even though there isn’t any spoken words to this we are paving the way for conversation. And we are also spreading kindness. Dawah in my book doesn’t have to be about preaching. It’s also about creating opportunities to discuss things.
So why am I posting this recipe so close to Christmas? Well I don’t see any reason why you cannot distribute these cones for Christmas too.
So to make 12 cones of pure yumminess (that took me about an hour and a half to actually do) you will need:
Ingredients:
500 grams popping corn (plan stuff available in most supermarkets and is actually quite cheap)
4 TBSP oil (sunflower works-no need to go fancy)
For the caramel:
600 grams sugar (I used a mixture of what I had in the house-which was soft light and dark brown sugars)
550 grams of butter (feel free to use salted)
Sea salt (crushed) to taste.
4 TBSP honey
4 TBSP double cream
To wrap up:
12 x cellophane cone bags (I purchased these in a set of 50 as I have other projects coming up)
12 x wire twists to fasten the cones
Stickers (optional-we bought Eid Mubarak stickers off eBay. I’ll be using personalised ones for the Christmas cones we are distributing too).
Equipment:
2 large baking sheets (or 3 smaller ones). Line with greaseproof paper. I prefer to use the sheets that are used to make tray bakes etc as they have high sides which prevents popcorn falling off.
1) You need to start by popping the corn. I popped the corn in batches. I placed 2 TBSP of oil in a large pan and heated in a large pan and add 150 grams of corn. Give it a quick shake and place the lid on. Now is the fun part. You need to listen to the corn pop. This takes around 5/6 minutes. Give the pan a shake (carefully as it will be hot!) during the 5/6 minutes to stop the popcorn burning. Once the speed of the corn literally dies down (again around 5/6 minutes in). Turn the heat off. Give the pan a shake. Do not remove the lid just yet in case you get hit by a stray popped corn.
2) Repeat step 1 until all the popcorn is popped. Remove any cernals that haven’t popped (chipped teeth are not in vogue). Place the popcorn to one side. Now make the caramel.
3) As there’s a lot of popcorn I make the caramel in TWO batches. I find this the best way to control the situation.
Heat half the butter and half the sugar in a medium pan. Stir the mixture to prevent it burning.
Cook over a medium heat until the caramel is formed. Now by this I mean you’ll literally see a sticky, brown liquid lava in the pan. Now add 2 TBSP of honey and stir in. Reduce the heat to prevent burning. Now add the double cream and stir until combined. Allow to bubble for a minute. Turn the heat off. Allow to cool for a few minutes. It will still be hot and you need to be careful not to scald yourself as hot sugar is dangerous.
4) Now comes the messy yet slightly dangerous part. You need to add half the popcorn to the caramel. Stir well to cover as much of the popcorn as possible. Now divide up the mixture onto the trays and spread evenly. Sprinkle on salt to your taste.
5) Bake in an oven at 170 for 15 minutes. Turn the oven off and allow to cool completely. Don’t worry if you peak at the popcorn whilst it’s warm and the mixture looks like it’s melted. Once its stone cold it’s set and will be yum. Hold the vision; trust the process. Always.
Now repeat the above steps to make another batch of caramel/caramel popcorn.
Once the popcorn is cold you may wish to break up the clusters to bag them up. That’s fine. Place in the bags and fasten. Add labels/stickers as you wish.
Any leftover popcorn will keep well for up to 4 days in a ziplock bag/airtight container.
Distribute with pride.
Enjoy.
Note: this popcorn is high in calories and sugar. In case you were wondering.
Sometimes we need to get dinner on the table asap and I’m no exception to that. My girls love meat. As much as I would love them to eat more lentils, pulses and vegetables red meat always wins.
I serve this awesome family favourite with basmati rice, minty yogurt and a few other trimmings.
The key to the speed of this meal is the fact the protein I am using is chicken mince. It’s healthy, quick to cook and also cheap.
To make a speedy Chicken Mince Con Carne for 4-6 you will need the following ingredients:
500 grams chicken mince
2 small onions sliced
5 cloves of garlic-crushed or 1 tsp garlic granules
2 TBSP rapeseed oil
1 400 grams tin of chopped tomatoes
1 400 grams red kidney beans rinsed and drained
Herbs & Spices:
1 TBSP oregano
1 TBSP cumin powder
1 TBSP coriander seed powder
1 heaped tsp of dried coriander leaves (feel free to use fresh if you have them as I keep dried herbs as they are easier to keep on hand).
1 TBSP salt
1/2 TSP red chili powder
1 TSP paprika
NOTE: for those looking for a real fast meal replace all the herbs and spices for half a sachet (check how much protein the recipe calls for on the packet. If it says 1 kg use half the pack. If it says 500 grams just use the whole pack) of any of the following spice mixes: Fajita/Taco/Chili Con Carne.
To serve (use what you have available this list is just a suggestion):
Cooked rice (boil the rice alongside the Chili cooking to save yourself time)
Tortilla chips
Chopped tomatoes
Sliced tomatoes
Jalepenos
Sour cream
Grated cheese
Sliced radishes
Shredded lettuce
Wedges of lime
Minty yogurt:
To make minty yogurt place 250 ml of low fat yogurt, a pinch of salt (or more if that’s what you use) juice of 1 lime and 8-10 mint leaves in a processor with a jug attachment (I use my smoothie maker as I often use it to make myself lassi-it’s about making equipment work hard not making you work harder). Whiz the ingredients and voila! Minty yogurt.
1) Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and fry for two minutes. Now add the chicken and fry for 5 minutes. Add the garlic.
2) Whilst the chicken is frying place the kidney beans on a chopping board and chop them up.
3) Add the chopped up kidney beans to the mince mixture. Fry for a minute. Add the herb and spice mix. Fry for a further one minute. If the mixture starts sticking to the pan and if that happens add 3 tablespoons of water.
4) Now add the chopped tomatoes. Stir well. Bring it to the boil and then turn the heat down.
5) After 20 minutes cooking time your chili con carne is ready.
6) Serve!
Additional notes:
Leftover mince can be served with Tacos or as filling for enchiladas.
If you like extra heat add another 1/2 spoon of red chili powder
Like a smoky flavour? Add liquid smoke to the chili
Fresh herbs can be used instead of dried. Fresh herbs are less intense in flavour so you’ll need double the amount of fresh ingredients compared to dried.
As long as you use fresh mince (and not pre-frozen) this recipe freezes well for up to 3 months.
For fussy eaters BLITZ the red kidney beans to a pulp and add them to the mince. This is a great way to get fussy eaters to eat more beans (it works on my 5 year old and if you end up reading this; Mama loves you Boo).
