One thing that should always be a staple in your daily diet is fresh greens & veggies, and there are so many favorites among so many people!

If you happen to be a veggie lover and like to snack on it at night in front of a movie, do it for your kids or even as a delicious side to a dish, here’s a quick way to prepare and store your vegetables so you can use them in no time later! Also gives them that crunchy feel.

• In a bowl, split 1 kg of: fresh peas, green beans, cubed carrots and zucchini.

• Pour into sieve and wash under cold water for a few minutes.

• Boil 1 cup of water and pour on vegetables in a sieve.

• Leave for half an hour till it all has cooled down.

• Store in zip loc bags and put in freezer

• To use vegetables just defrost them and add to them to your favorite salad, stir fry or heat & season as a side dish.

Let me know how that went !

With good weather comes a great atmosphere and what better then a couple cocktails to add that finishing touch. The recipe has decided to give you something different this weekend. Enjoy the drinks and if yo are looking for something a little more virgin, well then take out the boo's and switch it up with a soda, that usually does the trick.

Bootie Call

2 oz. Milagro Tequila Blanco
1 jalapeño
1 oz. agave nectar
1 oz. lime juice
8 watermelon chunks
Garnish: watermelon slice

Muddle jalapeño and watermelon in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and remaining ingredients. Shake and strain into a highball glass. Garnish with a watermelon slice.

Something that I never seem to get fixed in my head: which fruit/vegetable is in season?

You would automatically think that since the vegetable or fruit is available at the supermarket or your local green grocer, then it’s ok.  I got to learn it’s not when I craved artichokes in January and my mother told me it’s not the season! Not only were they super expensive but they also tasted bad … so ask your mama or just Google it.

A favored fruit to a majority of people, often symbolizing everything cute, red, summery, sweet & comforting are strawberries... And guess what? This month is the month of Strawberries! So apart from all the usual recipes we know like strawberry tart, fruit salad, Pavlova cake (with meringue), muffins, pancakes, how are strawberries good for us?

Here are some quick benefits:

• Strawberries are packed with antioxidants; excellent source of Vitamin C, so they boost your immunity. Vitamin C can help keep wrinkles at bay, since the vitamin itself helps release collagen into the skin.

• Antioxidant properties boost eye health by preventing cataracts (clouding over the eye lens)

• Strawberries contain ‘flavonoids’ which help fight cholesterol or keep it at a low level, so it’s good for the heart.

• They contain phytochemicals which help minimize inflammation of the joints

• They also help with digestion as they’re very rich in fibers.

• Very good for people on a diet as they’re a low calorie fruit

• Mommies in their early stages of pregnancy should consider more strawberries in their diet as it’s a good source of Folate (Vitamin B), which is necessary for prenatal health care.

How many times have you had a cozy gathering with corks & corks of wine bottles being thrown away, after a 5 second use of just popping the bottle open?

You might have also seen people just collect them and place them in a glass bowl for decorative purposes but little do some of you know that those corks come in handy to decorate your home in numerous ways!

We are exploring today a cool Bi product which is making really cool hot plates/doilies for your special occasions be it Christmas, an anniversary, or your every day lunch! You have no idea how much heat those hot plates can take, plus it is something homemade, creative and cost efficient! You can also color the corks if you want to, but I advise to leave as is so the rustic feeling can come through. Usually the corks are not the same color, so a nice variation there too.

You will need:

25-35 corks, depending on how small or big you want the hotplate to be.

Sewing thread so you can hold each circle together tightly

Super glue to seal in the spaces

A single colored ribbon to hold it final hot plate tightly.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

How to make it

1. Cook the rice (for a total of 4 cups of cooked rice).

2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped scallions and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth, and simmer for 2 minutes. Add the shredded carrots and baby spinach and stir until the spinach has completely wilted.

3. Stir in the sugar and soy sauce. Add the chicken and simmer for 3 more minutes.

4. Pour the eggs over the chicken mixture and simmer until the eggs are cooked through, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve the mixture over the cooked rice.

WE SAID THIS: Enjoy My Take On Healthy Food With A Twist ;)

The interesting things about sorbets is not only are they refreshing on a hot summer afternoon whether you’re in the capital or at your summer home, they’re pure fruit so healthier than ice cream & gelato and definitely lighter! You can also make them with any fruit you like.

Quick history lesson before we dig into recipe. The Turks labeled this juicy delicacy here ‘sherbet’ which was a sweet lemonade (also known as Sharbat in Middle Eastern cultures for the sweet syrup you add water to), circa early 17^th century. It got incorporated into French and Italian cultures shortly after, where Italians developed their ‘Granita’; a more liquid form of the desert.

Why did I choose mangoes? Well mangoes to Egyptian summers are like butter to bread! Plus spring in Egypt is a mini summer so you can always go ahead & dig into recipe now, let’s see how it turns out!

RECIPE:

2 Ripe mangoes

2-3 cups sugar

2-3 cups water

4 tbsp. Squeezed lemon

METHOD:

· Peel and remove seeds from mangoes.

· Cut the mangoes into chunks and place in food blender with sugar, water & lemon.

· Puree mixture until completely smooth.

· Taste the mixture and adjust as necessary.

· Chill in fridge for 2 hours then store in freezer in an airtight container.

 Enjoy :)

If you are some of the few that still have not had the opportunity to celebrate Mothers Day, well we have the perfect way. Take care of the lady that has slaved over you since you can remember by cooking her a light meal, a box chocolates and flowers. You will get more brownie points to last you for the next couple months I assure you!

So this is where we are going today.. Think nice light pasta with a strawberries and cream for dessert!

Feta & Pea Pasta - Courtesy of www.taste.com.au/