Chilli Mango Chicken

Will this weather ever cooperate with me? When I want to cook something hot, it's too hot outside and when I want to cook something cold, it's too cold outside. I just can't seem to win. I swear it's a curse when you want to cook something according to the weather.

I mentioned on my personal blog that I'll be visiting Pakistan this summer. The last time I went there with my dad, we made a stop in Dubai for 12 hours. After walking around the city for a bit, we decided to pig out and be adventurous and try eating something different. 

I can't remember the name of the restaurant now but the menu seemed so tropical. I can't remember what my dad had but I ordered mango chicken. Fruits and meat? As a person who eats mainly Pakistani food, this combination seemed so foreign to me.

Chicken Pho

Sometimes, it's just not fair being a muslim living in Canada. It's so hard to come by halal food that isn't catered to Arabs, Pakistanis, Indians, and basically, half of the middle eastern population. Finding a halal chinese place alone is a feat in itself. Growing up in this environment, I've been exposed to so many different variety of foods but that doesn't mean I get to eat any of it, so yes, I'm a little bitter.

One of the things I've always wanted to try but never can have in restaurants is pho. I even made it a point to try to find some in Pakistan the last time I was there but it seems like vietnamese food isn't that popular there. There were lots and lots of chinese places though. You probably get more westernized chinese food in Pakistan than you would in Canada so I guess I had to much hopes for vietnamese food. A girl can dream right? 

Spicy Hummus

I'm trying to get my mom to eat more vegetables, isn't it suppose to be the other way around?! Whenever I ask her if she's eaten her veggies, her response is always "but they're so boring and you never let me eat them with dip." I swear, sometimes I feel like I'm put into this world to mother my mother.

After a bit of fighting, I told her that I'd make her some spicy hummus if she promised not to eat her veggies with dip and she nodded and sent me on my way. Just tell my mother something is spicy and she'll eat it. I definitely take after her in that way.  

Shakshuka

Have you ever had cravings for breakfast food later into the day? I have them all the time, I absolutely love breakfast food. Whether it is some good old fashioned buttermilk pancakes, french toast with strawberry jam, or even cereal, breakfast good is always delicious and shouldn't just be limited to breakfast time! It upsets me when restaurants stop serving breakfast food after 10:00am. It's just not fair, we need to get these rules changed.

Today, after a really busy day, I just wanted to cook something simple, fast, spicy and delicious. What could be better than a big hot pan of Shashuka, an Israeli breakfast dish, to comfort me in this horrible winter weather?

I had this dish a few years back when I was in New Jersey at an Afghanistani restaurant, which I find funny now considering how this is an Israeli dish with origins from Tunisia. It's always fun to see different cultural takes on different foods.

There are days when I'm just lazy but want to eat something out of my routine. I'm always looking for dishes that allow me to be lazy enough that I don't feel like I'm working to hard to make something while still getting a delicious outcome. I'm preparing myself early for motherhood!