Birthday Cake

Birthday Cake:

Yes! Another chance to make a cake…It’s a pleasure!

This one was for a birthday party for a colleague’s Mum!

She likes….her shoes!

I was looking forward to making it but then my back started hurting… I thought I may not be able to make it… I kept praying… for my back!

We do take our abilities for granted…

We do take our good health for granted

Its good to be able to celebrate a birthday in your seventies.... being able to wear your shoes and.... dance…..

Chakchouka, Houmous, Caramelised onion and other stuff!

My daughter who is 17 and works part time wanted to invite her friends over, She has a very tight budget and I was suffering from back ache for 2 weeks… (Still feeling the pain !).

I needed to cook for 15 Young people (My kids, my daughter’s friends and me (Well I am still young!.. Besides, age is not a number…it is a feeling!...Well that’s the only way you can deal with it with pride!)

Cooking for a big number, with a very tight budget and by a woman on a stick(its my BACK not my age… I insist) seemed as an impossible mission!

But we succeeded…. In two hours, I produced a good variety.. have to say, my daughter did all the cleaning, clearing, stretching and bending… I think we formed a good working team… the girls were good at bringing in other stuff.. we had a cake, some pastries and nachos… A well enjoyed evening!

I shall write the recipe for each dish in the next new blogs... Keep following!

Khobz lahchiche ( Herbs' Bread)

I had a phone call from an old friend yesterday…Someone I haven’t

seen or spoken to for quiet a while! 

I had previously thought about phoning her… I felt I lost contact… What

would I say to her…It is such a long time… The conversation won’t be

natural!!! But then when she phoned… We spoke for ages… we had a lot to

catch up… It was easier than I thought.. Natural things come naturally…

So is my return to my blog tonight! 

It is weeks since I left it.

With a lot of struggle I published my 1st video (You can check it in

youtube as well!) . I thought that this could answer the request I had

from my sister to write in Arabic or French… but many of my friends who

follow my blog speak English only!!

So I thought about this idea!!

I won’t do it for all posts though… 

It needs time and organising to record!!

You need to clean the kitchen to perfection! (My standard of

perfection!!!)

You need to put all the ingredients in nice dishes…

And you need to measure everything… ARGGGH … I don’t.

Anyway this is my first attempt… I will do more (InshaAllah)… it is fun

seeing my hands! And hearing my voice.. and making mistakes… did you

spot any???

For this recipe, my brother says why did you call it khobz l’hchiche…

some people may think you are referring to the stuff that …the minds!

When lahchiche in Algerian only means herbs..

Yes but (With all humblness) my bread does….  the minds ( Humbleness

Faiza, Humbleness!) … Well Try it!!! 

As to the ingredients I used:
wholemeal flour
plain flour
fine semolina
salt
yeast
olive oil
black onion seeds
sesame seeds
water
flax Seed and egg yolk
as to the method , the videos explain that clearly

Wedding Cake (Cute)

Finally my computer is fixed..

I was dying to post pictures of this wedding cake..

My friends called it cute…

I was inspired by the beautiful fresh, spring, blooming flowers.

Aberdeen is a beautiful place in spring

The temperature reached 16˚ C..I was told.

I did not need my gloves..

In fact even my jacket seemed heavy..

And my clothes dull…

Colours…Yes colours..

Everyone needs colours in their life

Wedding Cake 2

This is today..

I came back very happy from the wedding party.

The cake looked good and tasted good…

That is what I was told by everybody…

It was finished!

 People loved the details..

I was Happy.

 

There is another wedding next week! and I got an order!

Wedding Cake 1

A Wedding Cake.

I Wrote this Yesterday.

A friend is organising a post-wedding party.

Recently I have been dying for an opportunity to make a wedding cake.

Since it is just a post wedding. Someone has to trust me!

Not that I have not made any Wedding-cake-like cakes.

The ones I made before were mostly for big occasions..in my own house… new babies! Eids..ect. I never took pictures.

But this time I want to take a picture and share my pride! In Algerian we call that “Ezzoukh…” hahaha.

Any way it is a three tiers cake… I have been planning it for a week and sharing and discussing the ideas with my friend and colleague at work!!!!(I mean during breaks..a way to lighten up our days).

Any way it is nearly finished now.

I made some flowers yesterday and the day before.

I baked the cakes today

I have my butter cream ready for coating the cakes… But I am now undecided on presentation

Do I stack one on the top of the other…the traditional way…

Or do I present them separate but play on stands of different heights..

(My friend gave me the idea an it is beautiful

Here is a mock set up.

I am undecided…

As we say in Algeria..

Ghedwa rabi ydeer ettaweel.

  I like both ways and I am undecided!

Good night.

Handbag Birthday Cake

Handbag Birthday Cake.

It is not unfair that people get different things. That is life. Some people live rich with little effort..others are poor even though they always work hard.

Some live with a fairly good health, others get illnesses.

What is unfair is that people do not appreciate what they get.

What is unfair is that Some people prefer to suffer when they are given the chance to live in peace with themselves..  

What is that to do with the cake?

I had an interesting discussion with my little daughter when she pointed out that she is the only one who got a “bought cake from the supermarket!” the rest of the family (including some of their friends!) I made the effort and time to make the cake for them…

I explained that it was unfortunate that her birthday was not on a week end.

But then she had a good time with her friends at the week end when she had “a lot of fun” including making the cheese cake….