Tag Archives: doha

A five minutes lazy cake bahamas

Posted on November 23, 2016 | 1 comment

This lazy cake (some call it biscuits au chocolat or gateau froid) without doubt, will be a staple in your fridge. When talking about winning combos, we shouldn’t undermine the marriage power of chocolate and banana!

A classic lazy cake is already a hit, I always wondered how it will turn out if i stir in some bananas, and here is the day i dared trying it. Trust me it’s heaven in your mouth.

All you need is:

75g butter
200g dark chocolate chopped
1/2 cup good quality cocoa powder
1 cup caster sugar
2 bananas ripe (mashed with a fork)
40 pieces biscuit marie

Heat butter and chopped chocolate until melted, you can do it in a heat prood bowl in the microwave or simply in a pot on a medium heat. Stir in cocoa powder and sugar, whisk until sugar is melted. Take off the heat then add bananas and finally crush each biscuit in 4 and toss in the chocolate banana sauce.

Fold gently so you don’t crush the biscuits in tiny pieces until all of them are well coated. Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap to put the biscuits and chocolate, this way it will have a rectangular shape, easy to cut. Depending on how thick you want your cake to be, use the convenient mold size, mine is 11¨. With the back of a spoon (or your hand) shape the mixture in the loaf pan.

Refrigerate at least for 3 hours, take it out, unwrap, cut in slices using a sharp knife and savor!

Some people like to sprinkle over icing sugar before serving, it’s not a bad idea actually, it makes it look more festive and appetizing. You can serve with roasted walnut as well, it goes well with chocolate and banana.

It’s a new recipe to add in my creations, i am sure i will revisit more often, it’s a real pleasure to the palate. When you try it, i would love to have your opinion, don’t hesitate to write for me.

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M&M wheels experience – little scientist

Posted on November 14, 2016 | Leave a comment

Experimental science, one of the favorite activities that Nady really enjoys and looks forward to! He is absolutely fascinated by science, for him it’s magic, mystery and fun. I totally understand him since we share same interest and enthusiasm, i am as passionate as him when experiencing something for the first time 🙂

It’s been a while i see on the net the M&M experience, so i decided to take it to another level and make it more interesting and fun.

Already having the M&M creating those colorful streams when melting with warm water is something, but what if we make it as the bicycle wheels to create optical illusion?!

First draw the bicycle and use two white plates as wheels. Place the M&M in circle then pour inside each circle warm water.

mm-wheel-experience-little-scientist-marmite-et-ponpon

Watch how the melting M&M start forming rays/ streams of colors inside of the wheel

Place one M&M in the center to make it look like a real wheel

Watch out not to shake the plates to keep the lines defined. Nady was so excited he moved the plates, that’s why you see the colors a bit mixed. But it’s ok, it’s not the end of fun 🙂

And here is our beautiful bicycle, that looks like moving. Isn’t it?

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

Cream cheese and fig jam cake

Posted on October 19, 2016 | Leave a comment

I am not a routine friendly person, i live daily challenges to dig out new things. I admit i easily get bored so i am in a constant search to enjoy new experiences, to reconnoiter unexplored places and indulge in new flavors.

But sometimes i find myself following a lovely routine, i call it family customs (it makes me feel better) especially when it comes to celebrations. Whatever are the circumstances, i never miss baking birthday cakes. It should be homemade, full of love and thoughts!

This year, for my husband’s birthday cake, fig was on my mind! I know fig and cream cheese will pair nicely together. Why not fig jam?! I remember when i was a kid, i used to love eating the classic cake that mom used to bake after spreading a thin layer of homemade jam. And i still do whenever i am at my parents place, mom does the best homemade jam!

The best recipe for basic white layered cake is here:

1 1/3 cup flour (sifted)
1/2 tsp baking powder
8 eggs
1 cup caster sugar
100g melted butter

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease 4 shallow baking dishes of 8″. If you’re not willing to make 4 layers cake, you can simply cut the recipe in half for 2 layers or 3/4 for 3 layers.

Mix flour and baking powder. Set aside. Place eggs and sugar in an electrical mixer and whisk on high speed for 10 minutes or until thick and triple in volume. Gently fold in the flour mixture then the butter. Do not over mix.

Bake for 15-17 minutes or until sponges are springy to the touch and come away from the sides of the baking dish. Remove and let it cool completely.

Whisk 500ml heavy cream with 300g cream cheese and 1/2 cup icing sugar until stiff peaks form.

Spread one sponge with jam and second one with cream cheese, and repeat with the other two! Top the fourth one with the cream and decorate it with flowers or simply figs.

I wanted a festive fall look. I love these tones of colors, makes me feel happy and warm. Couldn’t wait until we cut it and taste it. And we did! I got lots of compliments and yumms. I think i will be doing it more often. It became one of my favorite cakes that doesn’t have chocolate but gives you the pleasure of it!

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

Activities for your baby from 1-3 months

Posted on October 22, 2015 | Leave a comment

Most of babies spend the first month feeding and sleeping. At week 5, your baby is awake for longer period during the day, this is prime time to get acquainted with him. There are lot of things to do to support his sensory development and lay strong foundations for learning.

Your baby’s brain expands in size during the first three months, growing about 5 centimeters. HEARING your voice, SEEING your face up close and FEELING your touch are the best learning activities!

Hearing activities: After 4 weeks, your baby can tell the difference between familiar voices and other sounds, as he becomes a better listener. Talk to him using a lot of repetition, sing your favorite lullabies, fill the house with music without limiting yourself to children songs. Describe what you see around in the room or even if you have things to do, your baby will still enjoy hearing your voice from across the room.

Despite your baby is not able to add to your conversation yet, but you will be amazed how he becomes in tune with his environment, you will notice him looking to see where certain noises are coming from. He tries to communicate with coos, arms and legs movements and a charming toothless smile that will make you forget the sleepless nights and fatigue. Don’t forget to coo back, or copy the sounds he makes, he will like it and carry on the conversation 🙂

Seeing activities: Your baby loves looking at your face and playing eyes to eyes game. Get really close to him (he sees best up close), do facial expressions, play peek-a-boo type of games, shake a toy (rattle) or move his favorite doudou to see if he follows the movement. Take advantage of the changing diaper time and the bath time to play with your baby, you will be in a position where he can see your face up close.

As you know, unlike baby’s hearing (which is fully mature by the end of his first month), the sense of sight develops gradually over 6 to 8 months. At first your baby can’t focus farther than 20-30cm away, just the distance to the person holding him. That’s why you see most babies eyes at birth are wandering randomly or even crossed sometimes. Everything looks blurry in the beginning. At one month he starts focusing and tracking a moving object. At two and three months his brain learns to distinguish colors. As a result, he can now see bright primary colors and more detailed and complicated shapes. Encourage this development by showing him pictures and toys. Now his musical is more entertaining, not just for the sounds but for the hanging toys that he starts now stretching his hands to grab. Try also the mobile projecting light, he will be amazed every time it changes color.

Touching activities: it’s gym time! Gently move your baby’s arms and legs to exercise. Raise the arms above the head then down, bend the legs up and down or gently massage the joints, using the proper words like open, close, up and down…

Wiggle your baby’s finger and toes while counting them, clap your hands while he is curling his tiny hands around your finger. Most parents love how their babies curl their hand when they give them their index. Such a beautiful grip that warms the heart!

Have you ever danced with your 3 months baby?! hold him tight, put a nice music, turn and sway to the beat and enjoy! Make sure you are supporting his neck with one hand.

Give your baby a space to stretch and move his arms and legs. These movements can help your baby strengthen and tone his developing muscles.

Tummy time is essential from day one to help your baby grow strong. Experts find that babies who don’t spend time face-down often have some delays in their development of motor skills. On his tummy, he’ll start to push off with his legs, this is the first step in getting ready to crawl. Make sure your baby isn’t hungry or tired for the tummy time and don’t place him on a full belly to avoid spit up and acid reflux. The best time is after an hour from feeding.

Some mothers do these activities naturally, following their instinct, i believe our grand mothers and great grand mothers didn’t have access to internet or didn’t attend coaching classes and it’s amazing how they raised healthy and happy babies. Always trust your motherhood instinct and follow your heart. You are a great mother by nature 🙂

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Back to school – Double chocolate chip cookies with origami paper pouch fold tutorial

Posted on September 8, 2015 | 1 comment

Back to school means summer is over. I still recall this period of time from my childhood; full of excitement and concern. But this time is different, it’s my precious boy’s first year at school. Yes, my baby love is all grown up now… I have mixed feelings; i am happy, proud and anxious.

Hopefully it will be a good new beginning to a promising future. I wish you all the luck habibi Nady.

Like all kids of his age, he is fond of chocolate. I said why not preparing together a nice chocolaty dessert for his first day at school; double chocolate chip cookies for double happiness!

To prepare these rich cookies you will need

½ cup butter (100g almost), softened
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup cocoa powder sifted
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 180°C, and prepare your baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Cream the butter and sugar. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Add the baking soda, salt, cocoa powder and flour. Mix well then dump in your chocolate chips. I am telling you it’s very simple to make it 🙂

Shape the cookies, place them on the tray and bake for 10 minutes. This quantity makes 12-14 big pieces. Let them cool before serving.

These cookies have a fudgy texture, they melt in your mouth, leaving an after taste of heaven. When you shape them, make them a bit thick to enjoy the taste.

These cookies are meant to be part of Nady’s lunchbox. So we need to wrap them in a nice way. I prepared a paper pouch for each cookie. You already know i am fan of origami.

These pouches are really easy to make. Easy like 2 minutes! trust me. Follow this step by step tutorial:

1- Cut a square paper (color and size of your choice)
2- Fold it in half diagonally
3- Fold one of the lower corners to the middle of the other side
4- Fold the other lower corner to the middle of the opposite side
5- Fold down one layer of your top corner to create your pouch
6- Now it’s ready to fill in your cookie

This type of folding is called diaper fold pouch!

You can use it not just for cookies, you can fill it with corn flakes, sandwich, pop corn or anything of your choice. Maybe just a paper with a message 🙂

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.