IKEA Breakfast

This is the most economical meal you will find around the city.

For 4AED (45 Pesos) only, you get baked beans, chicken/beef sausage, scrambled eggs, and hash brown.
 The bottomless cappuccino costs 5AED.

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Pecan Pie

Eeer...we're still snacking on holiday desserts! ((^_^))

Mini Pecan Pie to go with sweet fruity Cockburn's Port wine

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Home-Made Tiramisu

I recently learned how to make Tiramisu, thank you to the kindness of Julie who shared her recipe. Hubby was impressed and kept praising how good it tastes. Last week, he was so stressed from the week-long arbitration I decided he needs pampering once he arrives home for the whole week. So I made another batch of Tiramisu. Hubby's appetite for the dessert never wavered. He will have it for breakfast and after dinner dessert. I swear he even closes his eyes savoring the taste lol!

My first Tiramisu creation.

Tiramisu is one of the latest additions to “traditional” Italian cooking. Unknown until about fifteen years ago, it is believed to have been invented in the town of Treviso in northern Italy. In merely a decade it has become a world-renowned dessert, extremely popular from the United States to Japan.


It is considered a semifreddo (a dessert served cold, but not frozen). This dessert has many variations, with the only constant ingredient, the mascarpone cheese. My home made version uses 500ml thick cream blended in 240ml cheese spread and two teaspoons of brandy. For amaretto, I use  300ml Ali Cafe Black Coffee. It's probably the reason why rumors persist that Tiramisu is invented in an Italian brothel to provide energy to exhausted customers lol!

Tiramisu’ can be prepared in advance and kept in the freezer. Remember to remove it from the freezer enough time in advance to serve it cold at refrigerated temperature, but not frozen. Sprinkle it with more cocoa powder before serving. If you happen to ran out of a baking cocoa, fret not because the powdered Cadbury Buon Vita will work just fine. It maybe coarser but taste and goodness does not differ.

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Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream

I had this lovely creamy ice-cream with pistachio bits to perk me up while stopping by Shakespeare & Co. at the Dubai Mall.

"Ice-cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal." ~ Voltaire

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Health Benefits of Date Palm Fruit

On a recent longing for smooth, dark melt-in-your-mouth chocolate, I tried to satisfy myself with dates. They are everywhere especially in the month of Ramadan when they are offered for free. I was fascinated that my craving was satisfied. And so bought a whole pack while on a grocery trip much to Hubby's amusement.

This prompted me to read what goodness it does for the body. Emiratis consume dates as part of their staple diet. So there must be something more aside from being a rich-in-fibre fruit.

Accordingly, health and benefits of eating fruit of the Date Palm includes:

 Dates are sweet dry fruits loaded with vitamins and minerals.

1. Since dates get digested very easily, they are used for supplying quick energy and repairing waste.  

2. Milk, when boiled with dates, become a very nutritious and invigorating drink for children and adults, especially during convalescence. 

3. The nicotinic content in dates makes them an excellent cure for intestinal disturbances. 

4. Regular consumption of dates has been found to check the growth of pathological organisms and help in the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines. 

5. Being a laxative food, dates have been found to be beneficial for those suffering from constipation. 

6. For alcoholic intoxication, drinking water in which fresh dates have been rubbed or soaked, is said to be quite effective. 

7. Studies have shown that consumption of dates, soaked overnight and crushed, is good for those who have a weak heart. 

8. It has been seen that dates serve as a tonic for improving sex stamina as well as sterility due to functional disorders. 

9. Researches have revealed that dates are effective in preventing abdominal cancer. 

10. Dates have a tonic effect and thus, hold value as medicines.