A Trip To Umm Al Quwain Zoo

 Trip To UAQ Zoo

A zoo is the best place for kids to learn about the environment. As the mother of three young girls, I can assure you that the lush landscape, the gorgeous animals and the reaction of the kids to that is priceless. After we returned to the UAE from Kerala, we had to stay home for a few days due to the chilling climate of the UAE compared to Kerala. We came across a few Facebook and Instagram videos of a zoo and was intrigued. Though there are a lot of zoos in the UAE, this zoo is s

pecial. A zoo where you can pet a tiger cub! A zoo where you can hold tortoise hatchling or let a snake slither over your shoulder! My second daughter, Rosu, insisted on visiting the zoo. My husband and she love petting and holding animals contrary to me and my eldest daughter, Reenu. So we decided to visit “The Zoo – Wildlife Park” in Umm Al Quwain.

We visited the zoo on a weekday. The entry fee is 25 dirhams per person. It cost 100 dirhams for the four of us. The work is not yet complete but it is open to visitors from 10 am to 6 pm. The best time to visit the zoo is at the weekends. The exhibit of snakes is open during weekends only. Then we can hold the snake and let it slither on our body. But the zoo will be crowded on weekends. Due to the pandemic, it might be safer to visit during weekdays. What I loved the most about this place is that it doesn’t feel like a zoo at all. Normally in the zoo, we can watch the animals from behind a glass only. But here all the animals are so close to us and this made all of us, especially Rosu, very happy. The main attraction of the zoo is the tigers, lions and leopards. There are snakes too. But we couldn’t see those as it was a weekday. We watched the animals for a while and enjoyed the ambience of the place. It was heart-warming to watch the smile that lit up on the kids’ face. Then we reached the main highlight of the zoo. We came across a sleeping tiger cub. The most amazing fact is that we can pet the tiger cub and hold it in our lap too. I am seeing a tiger cub very close for the first time. I haven’t touched a tiger cub before too. Even though the tiger cub was sleeping and looked very calm, we were scared by the reminder that it is still a tiger. But the staff assured us that it is safe. Reenu was scared and didn’t come close. Rosu petted the tiger cub for a while. All of us were afraid at first but we got used to it soon. Since the cub was sleeping, we left to see other animals not wanting to upset the tiger. We saw a lot of tigers here. I think there are more tigers than other animals here. The tigers are very active and fun to watch.

Please check the recipe of Pull Me Up Burger here

 There were a lot of funny and interesting moments during the visit. One of them was when we went near a majestic lion. The lion kept following Rosu. When she walks, the lion will walk with her and when she stops walking, the lion will also stop walking. It was a fascinating moment. Then we went near some tortoises. Unlike other zoos, it was an open area and we are very close to the animals. By the time we finish our visit, we will be attached to this place. We had seen some tortoise hatchlings’ photos in social media. When we asked about it to the staff, they let us hold one of the hatchlings in our hand. Mainly my husband and Rosu held it. Reenu and the baby stood far away. She is scared of all these. But Rosu was so excited that it was evident from her face. When she was holding the hatchling, there was a certain glow on her face that it warmed me very much. After watching the animals including the bear, black panther etc., we went back to the tiger cub. When we reached there, the tiger cub was awake and in a playful mood. We petted it and it started playing with my husband and Rosu. While playing, it was biting my husband’s pants. Since it was jeans, there was no harm. It is mindblowing to pet a tiger cub. Though we were assured that it was safe, we know that it is a tiger cub and it is a fact that it is a carnivore. But a few minutes into petting the cub and the cub will charm us. After some time, the cub’s mood changed. Then the staff came and took it away. I think they took it for a walk. We were told not to try to touch it or click photos with it during such times.

We walked through the zoo watching animals and birds. There were a huge tortoise shell and a stuffed deer head too. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They answered all our questions and guided us. The one thing to note is we have to take care that the kids do not put their arms inside the cages. Since the work is not complete, they haven’t arranged all the protections. It is our responsibility to take care of the kids. Rosu tried to put her arms inside some cages and the staff told us not to do that. By the end of the visit, we were very happy. The zoo has an amazing ambience. “The Zoo – Wildlife Park” is a great outing spot with family. If you are in the UAE, you should definitely visit this place.

Zoo Visit Vlog

 

INSTANT RAVA PANJI APPAM (SEMOLINA SOFT DOSA)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But what most people struggle with is in making tasty, healthy and quick recipes. Rava panji appam is the savior at such times. The unexpected guest, the fuzzy child, that rush hour before office or a lazy day; this recipe can come to your rescue without a compromise in taste. Rava panji appam is easy to make instant breakfast made from semolina. It goes well with any chutney.

 

Appam is a traditional South Indian breakfast recipe. It is one of the favorite breakfast dishes of most South Indians.  Appam is mouthwatering but it needs some preparation work beforehand. What makes Rava panji appam different is the ease of preparation, the soft texture and the unique taste. The added advantage is the health benefits of Rava. Rava is high in protein and fiber which helps digestion. Almost all breakfast recipes with Rava are very tasty.

 

Let us see the recipe.

Ingredients

 

Semolina – 1 cup

Grated coconut – 1/3 cup

Onion - one small slice

Curd – 1/3 cup

Water – 1 cup

Salt - As required

Baking soda – 1 / 4 teaspoon

Oil - Required for greasing pan

 

Preparation

 

Blend 1 cup of semolina, 1/3 cup of grated coconut, a small slice of onion, 1/3 cup of curd and a cup of water in a blender.

 

Blend these well and make sure the batter is thick. Don't add too much water. The consistency is very important.

 

Add salt to the batter.

 

Add 1/4 tsp baking soda to the batter and mix well. Baking soda needs something sour for the reaction. We have added curd for this purpose. Baking soda might not work if we don't add curd to it.

 

Heat the pan and then set the burner to a medium flame.

 

Grease the pan. Pour the batter into small dosas. 

When one side is cooked, flip it.

Cook both sides.

 

Our soft semolina is ready. I served it with coconut chutney.

Please watch the rava dosa video below for the detailed recipe:

 

 

 

 

HOW TO MAKE EGG KUSKA BIRYANI IN PRESSURE COOKER - Egg Biryani Recipe

Egg Khushka Biryani 

Khushka / kuska / khusqa is a popular South Indian rice recipe which is very easy and flavorful. It is actually a plain rice which is very similar to ghee rice. Kuska or this plain rice is usually served along with kebab or vegetable korma or any other non veg curries.  Here am sharing the recipe of egg biryani or egg kuska biryani recipe which is paired with crispy fried chicken. Moreover, in this video we will learn how to make biryani or rice in a pressure cooker. For making kuska rice, i used basmati rice only. But you can also use sella rice or kabsa rice instead of basmati rice. And be careful, the cooking time for basmati rice and sella rice varies. A good alternative for plain steamed rice. So kindly watch the video and drop your feedback.

Other related recipes

Chicken kuzhi mandi

Special Chicken rice

Kuttan biryani

Ingredients

Egg - 3 nos

Basmati rice - 3 cups

Onion - a small piece, sliced

Curd - 2 tbsp

Ghee - 1 tsp

Oil 

Salt

For making paste 

Onion - 1, sliced

Tomato - 1, sliced

Garlic - 5 cloves

Ginger - a small pieces, sliced

Green chilies - 5 nos

Coriander leaves chopped

Cardamom - 5 nos

Cinnamon stick - a small pieces

Cloves - 4 nos

Shahi jeera - half tsp

Cumin seed - quarter tsp

Fennel seed - quarter tsp

Chili powder - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder - half tsp

Coriander powder - 1 tsp

Salt as required

Oil

Preparation

Here is the video for Kuska biryani

• Boil the eggs in a pan and set this aside.
• Wash and Soak the rice in water for 15 minutes. Then drain it and set aside.
• Heat a pressure cooker and add oil. Saute all those ingredients given under for making paste. Once it is done, transfer it to a plate. Allow it to cool and then make a thick paste.
• Again heat the pressure cooker. Add 2 tbsp oil and 1 tsp ghee together. Saute the onion sliced. Once onion turns golden, add the ground paste. Add salt and then add the curd. Combine very well. 
• Finally add the hard boiled eggs and mix well.
• To this, pour 4.5 cups of water. That is for 1 cup of rice we are using 1.5 cups of water, if we are cooking in pressure cooker.
• Once the water starts to boil, add the drained rice and pressure it over a low flame.
• Switch off the flame just before the first whistle starts.
• Then let it set aside for 15 minutes. After that open the lid and give a nice mix.
• Egg kuska is ready. I served it along with chicken fry and condiments.

BREAD SWEET SNACK/ BREAD NEYYVADA RECIPE - NEY VADA

BREAD SWEET RECIPE

Indian sweets are very easy to make but it is very tricky too as many of these sweets require different sugar syrup consistency. Now a days instead of making perfect dough, we depend on bread to whip it up more easily and quickly. Bread snacks and bread desserts are my my favorite all the time. Most of the bread recipes will be very easy to make and will be finger licking good too. Here am with yet another bread sweet or bread snack. Recently i have shared the perfect recipe for malabar neyvada in my blog and in my channel. This time am with bread neyy vada recipe which is so interesting and tempting. So here is the recipe for bread sweet or bread neyvada.

Related recipes 

Malabar Neyyvada
Paal cake recipe perfect
Rava laddoo
Instant jalebi recipe
Japanese fluffy pan cake

INGREDIENTS

Bread slices - 8 nos

Milk - 4 tbsp or more

Ghee - 2 tsp

Oil for frying

For sugar syrup

Sugar - half a cup

Water - 1 cup

Cardamom - 2 nos

Lemon juice - 1 tsp

PREPARATION

Watch video showing How to make bread neyyvada

• Discard the sides of the bread and then make it to fine pieces.

•  Add 1 tsp of ghee to this bread pieces and combine well with your hand.

• Add milk little by little and knead very well. Do not add more milk. Add the remaining 1 tsp of ghee and form a dough.

•  When done, transfer it the blender and pulse it for a second or two. This makes the dough lumps free and soft.

• Now again knead  and make small balls out of it. Flatten it and make a hole in the centre like vada.

• Then prepare the sugar syrup by boiling sugar, water, cardamom, lemon juice in a sauce pan for 6 TO 8 minutes.  No need of reaching one string consistency.

• Once done, off the flame and let it set aside.

• Heat a pan with oil for deep frying. The oil must be hot and then reduce the flame to medium low. Do not fry this sweet over a low flame or high flame which is very important.

• Do not fry for long also. When done transfer it to a plate. Immediately drop it to the hot  syrup. Soak it for 30 seconds in the syrup and transfer it to a plate. Refrigerate it for 15 mins and serve. 

• Yummy sweet bread neyyvada is ready. For watching the complete video click here Bread Neyvada sweet . 

KOEKSISTERS - SOUTH AFRICAN SWEET RECIPE

Koeksisters / Sweets recipes

Koeksisters is a very popular and common sweet or snack in South Africa. They even prepare this sweet for breakfast. Traditional koeksisters is made of Maida dough which is braided, deep-fried and soaked in cold sugar syrup. Sweet treats are everyone's favorite. Neyyvada and Paal cake are my family's all time favorite tea time snack or sweet recipe. This sweet tastes almost the same though the sugar syrup and the dough is slightly different. Most of the fried sweets recipes tastes heavenly good and this sweet is one among the same. A must try sweet recipe for all those sweet lovers. So here is the recipe for koeksisters or African sweet.

Related sweets 
Paal cake recipe
 Neyvadasweet

INGREDIENTS

For the syrup

Sugar - 1.5 cups

Water - 1 cup

Cinnamon stick - a small piece

Ginger slices - few

Lemon juice - 1 tbsp

For the dough

All purpose flour/ maida - 1.5 cups

Cornflour - half a cup

Baking powder - 2 tsp

Sugar - 2 tbsp

Salt - quarter tsp

Butter - 50 g

Egg - 1

Milk - half a cup

PREPARATION

Watch the video Koeksisters recipe

• Prepare the sugar syrup by boiling all those ingredients listed above in a pan for 8 minutes over a medium flame. 
• Strain it to a bowl and refrigerate it until it cools completely.
• Meanwhile prepare the dough. Sieve together maida, baking powder and cornflour to a large bowl.
• Add salt and sugar. Mix well.
• Add the softened butter and combine it well with the flour. To this add egg and combine again.
• Finally add the milk little by little and form a dough.
• The dough must be Kneaded very well .
• Cover it and let the dough rest for about 30 minutes.
• Once done, divide it into medium sized balls and again divide each balls into 3 equal strands.
• Cover the remaining dough.
• Roll out the small strands into long cylindrical shape.
• Place 3 rolls close to each other and tightly pinch to seal the one end.
• Then place the left strand over the middle strand, right strand over the left like so cross it over same like braided bread.
• For more idea, kindly watch the video showing How to make koeksisters
• Heat a pan with oil for deep frying. 
• Once the oil is hot, make the flame to medium and drop the koeksisters to this oil. Fry until both sides turn golden .
• Drain it to a paper towel and then immediately dip it in the cool sugar syrup for about 30 seconds. 
• Transfer it to a plate. Repeat the same. 
• Yummy melt in mouth sweet is ready. 

PURI BHAJI / POORI MASALA - HOW TO MAKE POTATO MASALA

Perfect Poori Masala Recipe / Poori Bhaji

Poori masala or Puri Bhaji is a very popular Indian breakfast recipe which will be everyone's all time favorite. Recently I have shared the recipe for Perfect puri which pairs best with this potato curry or potato masala. You can also serve this yummy potato side dish with dosa , chapati etc. Making morning breakfast is really hard for most of the ladies though we love to have yummy veg side dishes like this. This potato curry is really less mess curry recipe and is very easy to whip up even in those busy days. Do try this easy vegetable curry recipe or easy potato curry and do let me know the feedback in the comment section below.  

INGREDIENTS

Potato - 2 nos, large 

Onion - 1 , big sized

Mustard seeds - -half tsp

Urad dal - 1 tsp

Dried red chilies - 2 nos

Green chilies - 2 nos

Garlic - 3 nos, chopped

Turmeric powder - 1 tsp

Curry leaves as required

Coriander leaves as required

Salt as required

Oil as required

PREPARATION

Here is the video showing How to make poori masala

• Peel and cut the potatoes into medium sized pieces and pressure cook it along with salt and 2 cups of water for 2 whistles. 
• Once the pressure completely released, heat a pan and add oil.
• Splutter mustard seed and then add urad dal, green chilies, red chilies, chopped garlic and saute for a while.
• Then add the sliced onion and saute well. 
• Once onion turns soft, add salt and turmeric powder.
• Now add the cooked potato along with its water. Reserve some water for later use .
• Mash it slightly and cook well.
• Add the reserved water little by little and cook over a medium flame until the curry turns thick and done. 
• Once done, garnish with some chopped coriander leaves. 
• Serve hot along with Soft puffy puri.

Also please watch the video of "how to make soft idli with two yummy chutnies" below:

PERFECT OIL FREE POORI RECIPE / TIPS FOR MAKING PUFFED AND SOFT POORI

How to make Perfect Oil free Puffed Poori

Oil free Puffed and soft poori is one of my  all time favorite breakfast recipes which I love to have with baaji ( thick potato curry). Moreover this poori bhaji is a very popular Indian breakfast recipe too. Like idli sambar and chutney or masala dosa , poori and bhaji will be like by most of us. For making perfect poori, few key things are to be noted and i would like to share those things along with this wheat poori recipe. Many of my viewers had requested me to share this recipe as they are facing many problems while making poori at home. Some of those problems are as follows. 

1. Poori is not puffing up while frying.

2.Poori is Absorbing more oil while frying.

3. Poori do not have a crisp texture.

Other recipes 

Quick Rawa snack

Aloo poori

Tomato chutney

Areerappam

INGREDIENTS

Wheat flour     - 2 cups

Semolina or Rawa - 2 tbsp

All purpose flour / maida - 2 tbsp

Sunflower oil     - 2 tbsp

Boiled water      - 1 cup 

Salt 

PREPARATION

Here is the video showing how to make Perfect Poori recipe

• Boil 1 cup of water in a pan and once it starts to boil, add salt.
• Combine wheat flour, semolina and maida in a bowl. Add oil to this flour mixture and combine well with your fingers.
• Then add the boiled water little by little and form a dough. The dough for poori must be tough only and do not make soft dough like chapati dough. But the dough must be Kneaded very well. Do not add more water than required even if the dough is tight. 
• Spread a teaspoon of oil over the Kneaded dough and set aside covered for 15 minutes ( do not keep it for long. Just for 15 to 30 minutes only).
• Make small balls out of this dough, grease each balls with oil and flatten it using a chapati presser or flatten it using rolling pin. Do not make too thin or too thick poori.
• Heat oil in a wok for deep frying. The oil must be very hot and then make the flame to medium. Add each flattened poori and fry until both sides turn golden.
• Transfer it to a paper towel or tissue.
• Check the oil temperature before dropping the flattened poori. Do not fry the flattened poori over high flame or low flame. 
• Serve hot along with baaji or potato curry. 

Tips for making Perfect Puffed Oil free Poori 

• Adding semolina to the poori dough makes it crisp and yet soft.
• Do not knead the dough with more water than required. The water must be very hot and you must knead the dough very well too.
• The poori dough must be a tough dough and do do not make the dough soft like a chapati dough by adding more water. If the dough is soft, the poori will absorb more oil while deep frying. 
• Do not flatten the balls too thin or too thick.
• Do not let the flattened poori dry. Keep covered.
• Adding 1 tsp of sugar to the dough adds a nice texture to the fried poori.
• Greasing the balls with oil before flattening the balls is very important.
• Checking temperature for frying poori is very important. Do not fry over high flame or low flame but the oil must be hot enough to puff the poori.

Also please watch the video of "how to make soft idli with two yummy chutnies" below:

Banana Rawa Snack / Quick Snack Recipe

Quick and easy banana snack 

Welcome to Ayesha's kitchen. Today am here with an easy and delicious evening snack recipe with banana ( ripe plantain ) and semolina / rawa. Quite easy to make but it tastes amazingly delicious with all the goodness of banana. Moreover this snack is kids favorite and so you can pack this for their snack box too. For sure they will ask for more .

Related recipes 

Pazham vilayichath
Rawa sweet snack 
Banana sponge bites / panjiapppam

INGREDIENTS

Banana / plantain - 2 now, chopped 

Sugar - 2 tbsp 

Grated coconut - 1/3 cup 

Semolina / Rawa - 1/3 cup

Oil

Grated coconut and powdered pistachios for garnishing 

PREPARATION

Here is the video showing how to make Banana rawa balls

• Heat a pan with oil. Saute the finely chopped banana along with sugar and grated coconut for a while .
• Then add the semolina along with 3/4 cup of water and cook for a minute stirring continuously.
• Mash this mixture with the spatula and form a dough.
• Once the rawa is cooked, switch off the flame and immediately make small balls out of this dough.
• Roll in grated coconut and powdered pistachio and then serve. 
• Easy Tasty banana balls are ready.

BUBBLE PUDDING / TRENDING PUDDING RECIPES - EASY BREAD DESSERT

Variety Pudding Recipes / Bubble Pudding

Puddings are my all time favorite  desserts recipes. Instead of making any desserts like cakes, pastries i love making puddings to serve for my guests. Moreover i love making variety recipes, especially sweets and desserts with bread. Puddings using bread has a special texture and flavor. Bread pudding is a very popular bread based dessert recipe which is very easy and simple to make.  We can make bread pudding in several ways. You can also check my previous videos for variety bread pudding recipes like steamed bread pudding, chocolate pudding bread, no oven no egg simple bread pudding etc. Here am sharing yet another  bread pudding recipe without oven and egg, but it tastes too good and is really an inviting pudding recipe. You can prepare this easy pudding for a party or for any special occasions as it is so simple and has an inviting texture. I named this pudding as bubble Pudding because of  the bubble decoration. So friends do not forget to try this bubble bread  pudding recipe. Do watch the video link given below and kindly share with your friends.

Related recipes

Pudding bread recipe

Easy bread pudding

Caramel bread pudding

Layali lubnan

No chinagrass no gelatin Muhallebi

Pineapple sweet

No cook mango pudding / fireless pudding

INGREDIENTS

Bread slices - 6 nos, cut into small pieces

Milk - 1.5 cups

Sweetened condensed milk - half a cup or more

Sugar - quarter a cup

Strawberry essence - 3 drops , optional, for a color

Chinagrass or agar agar - 8 gms

For bubble decoration

Compound chocolate - dark and white chocolate , grated

Thick crewam - 125 ml pack

PREPARATION

Here is video showing How to make bubble pudding

• Blend together bread slices, milk, sugar and condensed milk in a blender until smooth.
• Now melt the chinagrass or agar agar in a pan along with one cup of water until it melts to a clear liquid over a low flame.
• Once it is done, add the bread mixture and cook over a low flame for a minute. You can add the color or essence at this moment. Do not cook for more. Mix very well and remove from flame.
• Grease the pudding tray with butter. Pour the bread pudding mixture to this greased pudding  tray and allow it to set well. Once cooled, keep it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. 
• After 2 hours or once the pudding sets, prepare the chocolate mixture for decoration.
• Take the grated dark chocolate compound and grated white chocolate compound in two separate bowls.
• Heat the thick cream in a pan. Once it is hot, pour it to each chocolate bowls. Mix very well until the chocolate melts completely. Transfer it to piping bags.
• Then flip the bread pudding to a plate or you can do the decoration over the pudding without flipping. 
• Here I just flip it to a plate and then done the bubble decoration. 
• You can again refrigerate this pudding until the decoration sets well or can serve immediately.
• This pudding tastes soo good once cooled.
• So our yummy bubble Pudding is ready to serve. Slice and serve. Enjoy.