February. My all-time favourite month. I wish I had the same feeling for the rest of the months too because somehow all good things happen during this month. Let me show you the best of Feb 2018 in my life in Yanbu!


Yanbu Lake Park 

Our Fridays usually start with an early morning drive. Ever since we lost Ragee, we made a tradition to visit her grave every Friday morning. Just to spend some time in nature. This place is near the Sharm Entertainment location. While coming back, I suggested that we need to find the Yanbu Lake Park that I have been hearing a lot. So that was indeed a long drive from there to the Royal Commission's Lake Park. When we drove through and parked the car, I was too quick to judge, "this is it? this is the park they all said is amazing?" I know I hate myself for being quick to judge. It was everything and more I wanted in this not so happening city. 

The Lake bug was on for the following weekend too. We had our first ever "picnic". 

Throwback to weekend #breakfastinthepark at #yanbulakepark. We picked food from our favourite Yemeni takeaway restaurant. A big #malawah bread, #shakshouka #galaba and #kibdeh 😋 Technically our first #picnic which F happily agreed to do. #couplegoals 😂 yay! I got to use that hashtag 🤪 #lifeinyanbu #yanbuhighlights

A post shared by Famidha Ashraf (@fashfaiz) on Apr 6, 2018 at 8:11am PDT

I was in the "truffles and balls making phase" and these energy bites were the best and satiating snack that I used to have for breakfast. No sugar. No oil. No flour. Pure #energyballs loaded with nutritiously tasty ingredients that keep you satiated. #naturallysweet and filling! 😍Trust me. Some lazy days, I just have two of these #energybombs and I am good until lunch... 

A post shared by Famidha Ashraf (@fashfaiz) on Feb 15, 2018 at 6:51am PST

Recipe for these dates and nuts energy balls are now on the blog.

Swedish Meatballs, yeah didn't I tell you truffles and balls phase? Lol... so very recently I got hooked to "Laura in the Kitchen" youtube channel. And her meatballs recipes are all juicy and easy! So this one too was inspired from her recipe with additional fennel seeds as my magic.

Though I made this in Feb, it got shared on IG only in April! that's how latergram I do on Instagram! 

Are #meatballs winter food? 🤔 Today I am craving for these Swedish meatballs that I made sometime ago! 🤤 The weather is so humid and dusty here! 😰 Before I make these again, I have to plan a visit to Jeddah IKEA and taste their #swedishmeatballs! 😆 How many of you vouch for it? Also, I would love to try a different meatballs recipes! So if you have any highly recommended recipes please comment or dm me! Thank you dearies!

A post shared by Famidha Ashraf (@fashfaiz) on Apr 3, 2018 at 8:55am PDT

The gals met at Rehab's place for lunch and she served the best haleem I ever had! no pics but worth a mention. :-)

Beetroot Chicken

When Shabina from Shabosphere shares a recipe it gets tried instantly by most of her followers. When she shared the beetroot chicken, I knew I will try it. And I did. Twice. There is no hard and fast rule to the recipe but the fact it has beetroot could not be overlooked!

Chestnut Truffles

A post shared by Famidha Ashraf (@fashfaiz) on Mar 27, 2018 at 8:02am PDT

Tamilnadu biryani - fourth attempt

I have no idea why I haven't been able to master making my mom's also our favourite biryani the way she does. This was the fourth attempt and the best so far. I really want to have a full-fledged post on this delicious fragrant rice recipe on my this blog. InshaAllah! It was a coincidence that I cooked the biryani on Feb 14th. Nothing to do with being romantic, foodies don't need an occasion. 

Dates and nuts can never go wrong and when it has no sugar or oil nor flour, then it ought to be the Pure energy balls! These are loaded with nutritiously tasty ingredients that keep you satiated and are naturally sweet!

DATES & NUTS ENERGY BALLS

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

1. Use a large mixie jar or food processor to grind together all of the cooled dry roasted nuts to coarse texture
2. Add the chopped pitted dates along with cocoa powder, cinnamon or cardamom powder and salt
3. Grind until the dates break down and began to blend with the nuts 
4. Add in the seeds 
5. Grind until the natural oils of the nuts bring the mixture together like a dough 
6. Add the desiccated coconut and mix with hands 
7. Make equal sized balls of 1 tablespoon each and refrigerate for an hour 
8. Transfer to airtight container and keep refrigerated 
9. Serve room temperature