Super easy recipe: Hasselback potatoes

Ok, we forgot to add the onions…

Jacket potatoes are yummy. We recently heard about this new way of eating potatoes, and we quickly found an easy recipe that works for us.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of olive oil
A pinch of table salt and pepper
2 potatoes (big ones)
80g butter
150g of hard cheese of your choice (Cheddar or Gouda or similar)
1 can of baked beans
1 large onion

– Preheat the oven at 180 C.
– After washing the potatoes carefully, dry them and rub them in oil, salt and pepper.
– Cut the potatoes almost to the bottom, but not completely, in slices roughly 1cm apart.
– Cut the cheese and the butter in thin slices.
– Insert each slice inside the potatoes, alternating butter and cheese.
– Place them on a tray covered in baking paper or aluminium foil.
– Cook them in the oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
– In the meantime, chop the onion and fry it in a pan with a bit of oil.
– Warm up the baked beans in a pot.
– Once the potatoes are ready, eat them immediately with a side of onions and beans.

These potatoes are super easy to make and taste great!

Adding the butter…

Out of the oven!

Where to buy buttermilk in Abu Dhabi.

Yay! Whoopie pies for everyone!

I know, I know: this is an awfully specific blog post!!
But I do love to cook whoopie pies, and I thought other people might do too!

I was slightly worried when I realised that buttermilk is not exactly a common item in the local supermarkets.
I had hoped that the many British chains that have stores over here would sell it, but for some reason I never managed to find it there.
Great news though: the LuLu hypermarket inside Khalidiyah Mall has saved me from trying to make my own buttermilk (which I am sure would have resulted in a zombie outbreak).

They always have a good stock, but once I bought the last two, so if you don’t see it there, probably it is my fault. Sorry. I am sure they will restock it soon!

Click HERE to read more about Expat info & tips and HERE to read about food shopping.

Quick Recipe: Oreo Smoothie

INGREDIENTS (for 2 people):

WHAT TO DO:

• Pour the milk into the blender.
• Break the Oreo cookies in pieces and add them to the milk.
• Add the ice cream.
• Add the whipped cream.
• Blend at the lowest setting for 1-2 minutes.
• Pour into glasses and decorate with more whipped cream.
• Enjoy!

Super quick and delicious!

Quick Recipe: Spicy Mac And Cheese

INGREDIENTS: (for 2 people)

WHAT TO DO:

• Start pre-heating the oven at 200°C.
• In a saucepan of salted, boiling water, cook the pasta. Make sure to cook it a couple of minutes less than the suggested time on its packet, so that it won’t overcook later in the oven.
• In another saucepan, prepare the cheese sauce:
  – Melt the butter.
  – Add the flour. Keep stirring until the mixture is golden and smooth. (Approx 2-3 min).
  – Gradually add the milk, stirring continuously.
  – Cook for 8-10 minutes until your sauce is thick and smooth.
  – Add the blue cheese and half of the grated cheddar cheese, plus a generous pinch of chili flakes. When smooth, take the saucepan off the hob.
• Add your cooked pasta to the sauce, stirring well.
• Transfer the mixture to a ceramic dish, or similar ovenproof dish.
• Cover with the remaining cheddar, more chilli flakes and grated Parmesan.
  

  Almost ready…

• Place in the oven until golden. (it might take from 5 to 10 minutes, it is up to you to decide when it is crunchy enough for your taste!).
• Enjoy!
  

  So yummy!