Bibs' favourite muffins

More snow has come. The thing I love the most about the snow (when I can't ski...) is the quiet it brings with it. It gets cosy. Hyggeligt, we call it in Danish. That's a word that only exists in Danish. It means cosy and comfortable and something welcoming. A girlfriend a meet up can be hyggelig, a house can be hyggeligt (fireplace, candles, a nice chat and a hot cup of tea). And it probably includes something to do with food as well, like lunch or dinner with friends or a good afternoon with cake.

And this weather has got me backing. Bibs is not a cake kid. So it is always a huge surprise when she actually likes one. But I thought maybe if I made baby muffins that would work. Indeed, it did.

Apple & Carrot Muffins

Recipe.

preheat oven @ 350F (180C)

makes 48 "baby" muffins

2 carrots

1 apple 

175g flour

150g sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp babking powder

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 large eggs

120ml oil (vegetable, corn, canola oil)

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Peel and finely grate the carrots and apple. 

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

In another ball whisk eggs, oil and vanilla extract. 

Fold the egg mixture and carrots & apple into the flour mixture. Don't stir too much, just until it is mixed.  

Fill up the muffin cups half so there is space for them to "grow"

I didn't check the timing really - but it's until a toothpick (or very tiny knife) comes up clear. Maybe around 15 - 20 minutes. 

Bon Appetit!

Kids playing in the snow and building a snowman - 5th Circle 

Leaving Taj Mall today... in the middle of a snow storm

Fine white cover over Amman

This is actually the most snow I have seen in 2 years!

Schools are closed and as you can see on the picture 1 car has been on our road and it's 6:30am! It's nice and quiet outside.

Amman is at a stand still.

It is actually not quite white snow we have. Because of the sandstorm we had yesterday before the snow started to fall there is a nice yellowish layer underneath... 

That's Also Amman #73

Roadworks in Amman... after we had a hole for about 4 months! We got this.

My breakfast...

I love breakfast! Can be a croissant and coffee, the full English one with bacon and beans and sausages and mushrooms. It can be an American one with pancakes.

At home, during the week, it's not that fancy... But I need my coffee, that's for sure. Coffee is one of the more expensive things here in Amman. I get mine from the Brazilian Coffee House (there is a shop in Sweifieh mall and one in City mall). I love the smell of freshly ground coffee. A lovely full bodied and yet smooth colombian one, I buy 250g for 3JD.

So this morning I had my coffee, from my old Bodum coffee presser. For the little story, it has made many many coffees in Denmark (from before I was born), then in France and now in Amman. I enjoyed my coffee with some bread I bought yesterday and my homemade strawberry jam. I love making jams it's so easy. 60% strawberries, juice from a small lemon, a dash of grenadine sirop and 40% jam sugar and that's it! Yummy!

A good baby shop and a talk about bread

Opposite the Kuwaiti embassy, on the road from the US embassy towards Dair Ghbar there is a little stretch with some shops. I have already blogged about it, that's where you find a second cup and a cactus shop (or is it cacti?!) - well I was told there was a new bakery opened and of course I had to check it out.

But before I come to that (and the lovely cookies they make) well I have to talk about Rawhi Pharmacy. You see, I have learned to go into every single pharmacy I find on my way, just to have a look at their baby stuff selection - sometimes, like today, one can have a fab discovery.

The call themselves the "One Stop Baby Shop" and yes it probably could be. On the first floor they have a huge amount of strollers and car seats - several UK and French brands (the prices are huge as well...) but the choice is there. Then sell playpens and booster seats, high chairs and bath tubs and all kind of security things (monitors, mats for the bath, shades for the car windows... etc) and the whole collection of bébé comfort (toys, plates and cutlery, baby carriers...). You can even make a wish list for the arrival of your little one. And then the best thing of my discovery... They sell "organix" products!

Amazing!

Don't get too excited, I got the 2 last pouches (2.400 JD), but I did tell the pharmacist to get more and to get other flavours.... A part from the pouches, they have teething biscuits, cereals bars, raisins... so good stuff!

So after leaving baby shop heaven, I arrive at BreadTalk, the bakery. I got a bit disappointed as I had a "no" when I asked the shop assistant if I could take pictures (that's the first time in 2 years). It's a bakery, there is nothing so special about their concept and I just wanted a couple of pics to illustrate my blog. Shame.

So a part from the not so understanding shop assistant, it's a nice place. There is a small sitting area to enjoy coffee and cake. They have lots of salty things (garlic bread is one I remember) and then they have a few different types of toasts, biscuits... and cakes. They have an open kitchen which is a nice feature, the pastry guy was making what seemed to be a yummy cake. 

this is what you get for 12JD...

This is what I bought. A carrot toast and wholegrain toast, both are very nice. Bibs loved the wholegrain one. And then the reason why I went, their biscuits: they are freshly made by hand, no additives, only good stuff. A little sweet maybe for some, but with a good cup of coffee or a lovely cuppa tea they are perfect. It's a bit expensive - the wholegrain toast is 3JD, which double the price of the supermarkets. Biscuits are 3JD as well. 

I love days like this! It's always nice to discover new places. 

That's Also Amman #246

This has always been a big question for me... What are they doing on the roof?!

That's Also Amman #49