Tag Archives: marmite et ponpon

chocolicious hershey’s pudding popsicles

Posted on July 30, 2014 | Leave a comment

The ultimate combo; popsicles, chocolate and kids, couldn’t be more joyable. A day spent with the chocoholic cousins, joe-marc (my lovely god son) and the exceptional elie-antoine!

In this scenario, impatience is the key for fun! Can you imagine a 6 year old waiting for the pudding to be done or getting frozen? Infinite of whys, hows and whens will shower your head.

To prepare the hershey’s pudding for 8 popsicles, you need:

2 cups water
2 cups whole milk
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour (all purpose)
1/4 cup hersehy’s cocoa powder

Whisk all over a medium heat until it thickens. Let it cool a bit then pour in molds and freeze for overnight, for a better result.

To remove the popsicles from the molds, run under warm water until they are easily released.

A finger lickn’ pudding! If you like chocolate pudding, you can double the quantity and pour the remaining mix in cups. Let it cool in the fridge (2-3 hours) and attack it!

Chocolate for kids is perceived as a reward. Give to your child a healthy homemade one with no regrets! I wish i can offer it daily to my most loved cousins. We missed the beautiful elder sister rita-maria that day, but we promised to leave her some! I love the three of you so much (je vous aime beaucoup).

sail away with paper boats

Posted on July 26, 2014 | Leave a comment

Sail into summer with fun paper boats. Such a fun water activity, sailing boats into water streams played magic on me when i was a kid.

Since we arrived to lebanon, i wanted to take Nady to this specific place where i used to play when i was his age or even bigger.

The sound of water flowing increases the energy and causes great eagerness! With less than a dollar you can make 20 colored boats to launch in this cool water.

Here is a detailed tutorial paper boat craft:

Fold an A4 paper in half. Again fold from both sides to the middle two side triangles to make like the roof of a house.

Fold up the rectangular part under the triangle from both sides. Fold the edges to the inside to make hat shape.

Fold the hat exactly in the middle, then fold up the edges (triangles) from both sides. Again if you open it it looks like a hat.

Open the hat sideways, et voila the beautiful paper boat!

The multi colored boats and the green on the sides of the water stream created a charming frame! If you don’t have natural water streams nearby, you can play by the sides of a pool or even in the bathtub to make the shower more fun.

We could stay forever playing, sensory water activities are endless, as i always say it’s one of the most exciting things to explore! Even when all the boats sailed away, Nady found another game to stay by the stream. Throwing stones in the water! Yes splash, slosh and slop! He was so excited he just wanted to soak his hands in the cold water…

Imagine how exciting and fun playing with water!

Tomates – cerises (cherry tomato) salad

Posted on July 21, 2014 | 1 comment

As promised, here is an adaptation of the tomates cerises salad that i first tasted at la maison de la foret in “tawlet bkassine” restaurant www.tawletbkassine.com

So delicious, couldn’t get enough of it. We need:

300g cherry tomato cut in halves
two small shallot or white onion cut a la julienne. For more information of which type of onion to use click onion guide
handful of mint leaves
handful of basil leaves
handful pine seeds roasted
handful dried raisin soaked in water for 15 mns at least

Mix all with a dash of salt and olive oil drizzle. If you are a fan of lemon you can add one tbsp as well.

As i always say, a healthy salad doesn’t mean a boring salad! Enjoy health on your plate!

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Posted in appetizers & salads

Tagged blog, cherry tomato, dried raisin, jaymmy, la maison de la foret, marmite et ponpon, pine seeds, recipe, salad, tawlet bkassine, tomates cerises

La maison de la foret – Bkassine (south Jezzine) – South Lebanon

Posted on July 19, 2014 | Leave a comment

” It’s easy to stand in the crowd but it takes courage to stand alone” – Gandhi

This famous quote came to my mind after crossing more than 70 km from Beirut to reach Bkassine, this beautiful charming village south of jezzine (south Lebanon). Thinking to my self there should be something really fascinating about this eco-touristic piece of heaven “la maison de la forêt” to be far from the crowd and yet succeeding.

Few are the places that captures my heart and am not an easy to please person. I admit i fell in love with this jewel nestled in the heart of the largest pine forest in Bkassine.

“A home with nature”.

Absolutely true. A lovely team greeted us with a warm welcome, made us feel at a fresher home. If it wasn’t our last days of vacation, we would have stayed and slept in one of their beautiful bungalows or tents in this evergreen escape… If it is up to me i can spend a night “a la belle etoile” enjoying the enchanting mesmerizing nature.

“Tawlet”, their amazing authentic lebanese restaurant, where i can use all the culinary lexicon to describe how succulent and delish the food is. Couldn’t get enough of their “tomates – cerises” salad and “rose water” drink. I promise to post the “tomates – cerises” recipe soon.

If you wish to escape from the routine of life and indulge in an unforgettable experience, visit “la maison de la foret” where nature tickles your soul.

Finally, hats off to Gilbert, you made this experience memorable. You are far more than professional, you represent the hospitality and generosity of the south. Thanks to your team, Maher, Georges, Raafat, Dani and to the beautiful Eliana, Myriam and Viviane. Until we meet again… Love always

salade au chèvre chaud (salad with hot goat cheese)

Posted on July 14, 2014 | 1 comment

Chèvre is a young, mild and creamy cheese, “Pur Chèvre” from France is made entirely from goat’s milk. I love cheese! i can pair cheese with anything! Nothing gives me this feeling of satisfaction like cheese.

This salad is very simple and served on your table in less than 15 minutes. Only 4 ingredients make this great salad:

lettuce (i mixed 3 types: red oak, green oak and boston)
cherry tomato
toast
chèvre cheese (goat cheese)

Spread on the toast a 5mm layer of chèvre, if you like the melting cheese, preferably use the aged goat cheese which is coated with white edible rind (similar to the rind of Camembert). Inside it is firmer and drier than Camembert, but once you heat it, it becomes completely soft and melting.

Personally i like the fresh, rindless goat cheese and i sprinkle a bit of bread crumbs on top to add some crispy texture before heating in the microwave for one minute.

Serve this salad with vinaigrette or lemon mayo dressing. Additions are always most welcome with cheese. Some people add walnuts, pine nuts or even dried figs.

No wonder why photographers use the word cheese to make you smile! Say cheeeese it’s my brother in law (Hani) birthday! Wishing you a beautiful year ahead and a prosperous life!