Spinach & Artichoke Dip ... A delicious idea for your party

Hello everyone..

It's that merry time of the year again. With less than 10 days to Christmas & a few more days afterwards to New Years' Eve, I bet you are all in the midst of working out your party plans whether you are hosting one at your house, spending it with family or friends, or celebrating out.

For me, I love spending New Years' Eve at a house whether mine or friends' because I feel it is much more personal than spending it at one of the busy restaurants or clubs on that day of the year.

So I felt it is the perfect time to post such a recipe when many of you, who like myself, are planning on having a house party and hence need lots of finger food ideas.

This Spinach & Artichoke Dip recipe will surely complement any menu you are planning with its rich & addictive taste, and despite its simplicity will give you lots of compliments from your guests! Score!!

So here it goes, my special "as light as it can get" version:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter - at room temperature
8 oz light cream cheese
16 oz  Fat Free sour cream
500 g of frozen spinach - washed and drained (with your hand)
1 can artichokes chopped up into medium chunks
2 cups parmesan cheese
2 pressed garlic cloves
slight salt and pepper - optional

For Serving:
Toasted  tranches of white or wholemeal baguette or
Plain Nacho Chips

1. Over medium heat, mix the cream cheese, sour cream,  butter & parmesan cheese. Keep stirring until it all melts together and bubbles start to form.

2. Next: Add the artichokes, spinach (make sure it is drained) , and the garlic.

3.  Add a very small pinch of salt and pepper if you wish. Stir & remove from the heat.

It is preferable if you serve it immediately. However, if not, just make sure you stir it over the heat before serving.

Some recipes call for using mayonnaise. I skipped it and it still tasted super yummy so why the extra calories :)

Enjoy it with crispy toasted bread slices :) YUMMY!

Nutella Cookies

Hi Everyone:

I know I have not posted for a while but my schedule has been so crazy. A full time job at work and a full time job at home but all so worth it when I wrap my arms around my little one and when he grabs my face with his tiny fingers!

Last weekend, I felt like having something sweet. I was tired from my permanent diet and wanted to take a few days off where I could just eat whatever I wanted without a sense of guilt! Who of us does not have these moments?!!

So I made these delicious Nutella cookies that went away soon after they got out all hot from the oven. Here you go, I am more than 100% sure that you are just going to love them! Just try to control yourself (unlike I did)! ~

Ingredients

2 cups All Purpose Flour

1 tbsp Cocoa

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla powder

1/2 cup unsalted butter (kept for a bit outside the fridge)

2 whole eggs

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup Nutella

Materials

Baking Sheet

Baking Pan (I used rectangular)

Ice cream Scooper

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius
2. Mix the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda and put aside
3. Mix the butter and the sugar with an electric mixer on low to medium speed
4. Add the Nutella, eggs and vanilla powder to the butter mixture and mix
5. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix 
6. Use the ice cream scooper and scoop the cookie mix into rounds on the baking sheet inches apart
7. Put the baking pan in the oven for about 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them. They should remain soft.
8. Let the cookies cool before you devour them!

Enjoy the cookies with a cup of tea and your favorite book or sitcom! :)

Delightfully Light Crab Salad

Hello there!

Hope you have been enjoying my recipes so far! Here is another simple recipe that a lot of people love: Delightfully Light Crab Salad !

We are all currently living in a fast paced world where we have little time to spend doing the simple joys of life.  I personally love simple and quick recipes that I can do within minutes when I come home from a long day at work, and then I can just sit and enjoy a homemade meal with an episode of my favorite show of all times:  F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

This recipe can be done for lunch or dinner as it is extremely light yet filling. The version provided here is the simplest. The more ingredients you add, the yummier! Here you go:

Ingredients

1 pack Imitation Crab (sliced by hand into very thin slices)
5 to 6 Romaine Lettuce leaves
1/2 can Corn
2 Cucumbers
2 Tomatoes

Sauce
2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 to 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard (For the non-light version, you can use mayonnaise)
1 tbsp white vinegar

Salt and Pepper to taste

• Prepare the sauce by mixing all ingredients in the bowl you want to serve in and mix with a whisk 
• Cut the lettuce into julienne (thin slices), the cucumber into half rounds, tomatoes into quarters and add to the serving bowl
• Add the thinly sliced crab gradually by mixing then adding to make sure it is spread throughout the veggies
• Drain the corn and add a sprinkle to the salad 
• Mix the ingredients well
• Decorate with cube pieces of the imitation crab

You can add more veggies or even fruits as per your liking such as shredded carrots, avocado pieces or diced green apples and strawberries. Be creative! You can do it!!

A Special Birthday calls for a Special Kind of Cake

Hello again Everyone:

Every year, I plan a different kind of surprise for my hubby's birthday, and with my utmost care in hiding all evidence, thankfully it works every time!

This year, the plan was for a simple dinner at home with the family; a special dinner that included our little one for the first time.

As with all birthdays, everyone looks forward to indulging in a piece of the birthday cake. But what happens when an addictive cake is what is at stake!

I am going to share with you a very special cake recipe that whenever I have made for my guests; it turned out to be the most popular dish of the evening.

This recipe is so easy; yet the delicious result shows a lot of effort and taste. Just ensure that you've got all the ingredients and bam, you have got yourself an amazing dessert that you and your guests will fall in love with!

Oreo Semi-Icecream Cake

Ingredients

2 chocolate pound cakes (ready-made)
3 cans of cream
6 original Oreo cookies packs
1 dark chocolate Oreo cookie pack
1 Mars chocolate bar
2 whipped topping mix sachets
3 1/4 cups low fat milk

First Layer

Cut the pound cake into 14 equal pieces
Lay them in a big rectangular glass dish

Second Layer
Remove the cream stuffing from 18 original Oreo cookies and grind the biscuits well using a blender
Add 2 cans of cream, mars chocolate bar, 1 whipped topping mix sachet, and the milk and blend well
Put it evenly on the cake as a second layer
Put the dish in the freezer for half an hour

Third Layer
Mix one cream can with one whipped topping mix sachet well with a spoon
Put it evenly over the cake as a third layer
Remove the cream stuffing from one pack of original Oreos and one pack of dark Oreos
Decorate the cake with the Oreo biscuits , dark next to normal biscuit

Put the cake in the freezer for at least 10 hours. The more you keep it the yummier!!

Remove the cake from the freezer two hours before serving to make it easier for you to cut it.

... and finally once you taste it, don't forget me in your prayers ;)

Hello There! My First Super Simple Recipe

Hello everyone!

I would like to first introduce myself and my blog...

I am a typical working mom with a new born baby... My biggest hobby of all times is COOKING which I try to fit into my packed schedule.

I have always loved cooking since I was in my teenage years. I would make up new dishes and try them out on my parents and brothers and now on my husband.

The good feedback I constantly received gave me an incentive to try out new and exciting recipes more and more.

I will be using this blog to share with you recipes that were popular among my family, friends, and/or guests and which you can in turn use  to impress your family and friends.

I attempt to make my recipes as light and healthy as possible wherever I can! but it's up to you to tweak if you want a normal version.

You will find that I do mention basic cooking steps in my recipes for the benefit of beginners.

For the first blog, I wanted to ensure I share with you a very simple recipe that I personally love, so whether you want to prepare a quick dinner or a side salad for your lunch, try it out! so easy!

Light Pasta Salad

Ingredients
1 pack tri-color fusilli pasta
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup black olive slices
1 cup corn
1 cup sliced green peppers
Optional: 1 cup cooked chicken or shrimps (grilled or boiled)

Sauce
2-3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp. dijon mustard
Salt and black pepper to taste

Heat water and bring it to boil.  When the water comes to a boil add 1/2 tsp. of salt. Cook the pasta for 5 to 7 minutes (or read the pack for details). Stir it regularly to ensure it doesn't stick. To know if the pasta is ready, just taste it and ensure it is "al dente" meaning firm yet tender. Don't overcook it.

In a large bowl, mix the sauce ingredients until well blended. 

Add the carrots, olives, corn and green peppers and stir until sauce coats them well

Add the cooked chicken or shrimp (or skip this step if you want a vegetarian option). Stir Well

Lastly, add the cooked pasta gradually and stir well to ensure the sauce covers the pasta very well
Serve Fresh and enjoy the compliments!