Diabetic-Friendly & Gluten Free Arn il Ghazelle (Traditional Moroccan Cookies)

Click here for this recipe in Arabic

November is almost over! In fact the whole year is almost over! Can't believe how fast this year went! Well, time does fly, but while its running, it's ours to decide what to do with. Since it is almost the end of the year, and most are working out their resolutions, and since, lately, I have been talking lots about health and food related health issues; I am hoping that incorporating home cooked food and hence a healthy eating lifestyle, a little more active life and regular check ups are going to make it to your New Year's Resolutions. 

This November I wanted you to raise your awareness to diabetes, to learn more about it, how to prevent it and even how to cook for it. This month, I have dedicated all my cooking classes, demonstrations, school presentations, and even this blog, the healthy eating discussion, to include food related health issues and focus on Diabetes. I hope that the objective from this initiative has been achieved. And that you guys are inspired to get back on track with leading a healthy lifestyle. All anyone can do for you is to bring all of this to your attention, but then it is yours to work with. 

To conclude I am posting this delicious traditional Moroccan cookies recipe 'Arn Il Ghazelle'. Every one likes a piece of dessert with tea, and these sesame crusted almond cookies are nutty, sweet, aromatic and simply irresistible healthy cookies (provided you are not allergic to nuts). They are very easy to make, and fast too, so if you do not have lots of time to spend in the kitchen, these cookies are your best friend. Pack some for a snack at the office, have them with tea: a delight anytime! 

Serve these cookies with Moroccan green tea, and you will be serving a traditional Moroccan tea service. An excellent way to end a Moroccan themed dinner too :)) 

Here is how they are made....

Moroccan Arn El Ghazelle Cookies Makes 10

You Need 75g almonds with skin 

125g blanched almonds
1 tsp groundnut oil 

2 tsp orange blossom water
2 tsp icing sugar or sugar substitutes for diabetic patients

1 tsp dark honey or molasses
¼ tsp ground cinnamon

 ¼ tsp ground ginger
Small pinch ground cloves 

 small pinch Black pepper
1 egg white 

4 heaped tbsp sesame seeds, lightly toasted 

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with baking paper and set aside.

Place all the almonds in a food processor and process to a smooth consistency. Turn into a bowl; add the oil, orange blossom water, pepper, icing sugar, honey, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Knead to incorporate thoroughly. If the mixture remains too thick and not malleable enough, add a little water.


Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces, roll each into a small sausage and shape into a crescent. Beat the egg white slightly. Roll each piece in the egg white, then roll it in the sesame seeds and then place it on the lined baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from heat and leave to cool. Serve at room temperature. You can place some extra honey in a jug next to the cookies for those who wish to dip :)

Hope you like this recipe and will give it a try, I know you will love it once you've tried it. Do leave me a comment before you, I love nothing more than hearing from you :)

Enjoy the Long Weekend Everyone!

5 Turkey Sides with Pumpkin/Squash & Happy Thanksgiving :)

It is Thanksgiving, so let me start by saying Happy Thanksgiving to you all :) Are you all ready and turkeys ready for the oven? Well then, you can always add a delicious side to turkey and how about the orange pumpkins and squash for the side? Pumpkins and the varieties of Winter Squash are all in season right now, so why not make the best of these fabulous tasting vegetables?


Here are 5 very simple and easy ways that work very well with pumpkin and squash:



1. Gruyere & Pumpkin bake  Peel and deseed the pumpkin, cut it into wedges and place in baking dish. Pour over enough cooking cream to bearly cover the wedges. Season well with salt, black pepper and a pinch of nutmeg. Cover with foil and cook in 450F oven until a knife can easily go through the pumpkin wedges, about 12-15 minutes. Remove from the oven, remove the foil and top with with a generous layer of grated Gruyere cheese and bake in preheated oven until golden and bubbly.

2. Butternut Squash Risotto Roast cubes of butternut, sprinkled with olive oil, seasoned with salt and black pepper until softened. While the cubes are roasting, make a simple risotto. When the rice is just cooked, stir in the roasted squash cubes and sprinkle with chopped sage and grated Parmesan Cheese. Serve hot.

3. Roasted Wedges  Cut peeled squash into wedges, place on a lined baking sheet. Mix a little bit of cinnamon powder and cumin with some sea salt and rub into the squash wedges. Drizzle with olive oil and roast in a hot oven, until tender and slightly charred.

4. Mash  Steam equal quantities of potato and pumpkin or any type squash until tender. Mash well, mix with equal quantities milk and cream, and season with salt, black pepper and a pinch of nutmeg. Fold in some halved toasted hazelnuts. Serve warm.

5. Make a curried soup  Fry a chopped onion in vegetable oil or butter until softened. Add curry paste and cubed, peeled squash and mix to coat. Pour in coconut milk and vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the squash is tender. Season to taste and blend into a smooth soup.

Relative Links:

- While you are it, why not serve a pumpkin pie for dessert too? here is a link for the recipe.

- For Low GI and Low Fat Sides to Turkey, click this link.

- If you are looking for succulent Turkey recipes, then look no more here are the best 2 recipes ever! Brined Turkey, Roasted Turkey :))

Enjoy your time and count your blessings. 

It is a fabulous feeling to always be thankful for all the blessings we have :))

Diabetic-friendly Kabseh & Spiced Garden Salad

Cooking for diabetes does not have to be boring and is not as limited as most of us think!

Keeping with the spirit of November being Diabetes Awareness month, and to complete the menu for you from the last post - having started with dessert: Diabetic-friendly Cheesecake - this post is about the main course. 

I for one, used to think that one of the first foods diabetic patients have to omit is rice. As it turned out this is a common misconception! In fact, "diabetic patients can still consume rice, provided they stick to the quantities and counts given to them by their doctors" said Dr. Wafa Helmi Ayesh, the Director of Clinical Nutrition Department / Clinical Support Services Sector – DHA, and the founder of Sweet Kidz, who is dedicated to helping patients, parents and caregivers cook for diabetes. She even developed many recipes that are tailored to diabetes, many of which are everyday foods that we all know and love.

"Diabetic patients need the different nutrients from various foods. They need to feel undeprived, and food must remain exciting. With a few adjustments to the cooking methods, and with following count, food will never be boring or limited for diabetic patients!" she continued.

Left: Wadad Aboul Khoudoud/DECIDE Diabetes Initiative
Right: Dr. Wafa Helmi/Sweet Kidz

Today's recipe is Dr. Wafa's Diabetic-friendly Kabseh with a Spiced Garden Salad, which I have cooked during the press event to launch this project. When I asked her why she decided to go for Kabseh, she said: "Kabseh is a famous traditional dish that everyone loves. Most diabetic patients and caregivers will think it is food they cannot have! I wanted to show everyone that they can still have everyday food that they love."

Kabseh is a rice-based dish that is uniquely flavoured with an assortment of spices (not necessarily hot spices) then the rise is cooked in chicken broth for a richer flavour, and then served with cooked chicken pieces or pulled grilled chicken. Kabseh is known to have originated in Saudi Arabia, however it is a very famous dish across the region.  This is a delicious concoction whose bouquet of spices lend it a unique aroma and flavour. Being so boldly flavoured it is usually paired with an as bold salad, usually spicy. Dr. Wafa had also developed a garden salad to go with the Kabseh, however, she did not make it a fiery one in case children are eating. Both recipes are below for you to enjoy. 

Remember, since we are talking about healthy eating, and incorporating all food types, these recipes are a healthier version not only for diabetic patients, but for everyone! I personally don't mind a guilt-free Kabseh :)

Diabetic-friendly Kabseh

Please note that I did not develop these recipes. These recipes are developed by Dr. Wafa Helmi specifically for diabetic patients based on her extensive research on different food types and their effects on diabetic patients. It is published on Dima Sharif blog with her permission.

Also note that in terms of portions you have to follow your daily intake as recommended by your doctor. This is not something that I can suggest for you, I am not a doctor. I can only show you how to cook the food, and how to make the eating experience interesting. 

Dr. Wafa's Diabetic-friendly Chicken Kabseh

Serves 4

You Need
2 cups long grain Uncle Ben's rice
1 1/2 cup chopped ripe tomato
2 cups chopped onion
1/2 cup white raisins soaked in 1/3 cup water
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup pistachios
1/2 cup pine nuts
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp ground corriander
10 cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp 7 spices
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
4 cups chicken broth
6 tbs butter
2 tbs olive oil

Pre-cooked chicken in broth 2 chicken breasts or 2 thighs and 2 drumsticks
6 cups water
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 bay leaves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp salt

In a large pot, place chicken, water, onion, bay leaves, cinnamon stick and salt and let cook covered on low heat for about 1 1/2 hour.

In a large bowl rinse rice and pour off excess water, mix in seasonings.

In another large pot add 2tbs olive oil and 1 tbs butter, then add chopped onions and chopped tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes on medium heat. Next add rice, mix and then add 4 cups of chicken broth from the cooked chicken, stir and then add 3 tbs butter. Let come to a boil and then turn down to low heat, cover and let cook for 45 minutes. In a small pan, add 2 tbs butter and stir in nuts and raisins, let cook until all are evenly brown, set aside for garnish. In the mean time, pull apart cooked chicken and remove any bones.
After 45 minutes, fluff rice with a fork and let sit another 10 minutes.

To present dish, pour out the rice into a large serving dish, place pieces of chicken on top and then put the nut and raisin mixture on top of that. Serve with yogurt or salad. 

Diabetic-friendly Spiced Garden Salad for Kabseh

Dr. Wafa's Diabetic-friendly Garden Salad to accompany Kabseh 

Serves 4

Hot Chili is an
optional Addition to the salad dressing

You Need

1 cup Lettuce, torn into pieces
1/2 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup Cucumber, cubed
5 Green olives, seeded and sliced
5 Black olives, seeded and sliced
1/2 cup Mint leaves, chopped 

1/4 cup Pomegranate seeds

For DressingJuice of 2 Lemons
1/4 cup Paprika
1 tbsp Coriander seeds
1 tbsp ground Cinnamon
1 tbsp Cumin seeds
1 tbsp ground Cloves
1 tbsp ground Nutmeg
1 tbsp Ginger powder
1 tbsp ground Cardamom

Salt & Black pepper to taste

Method for Dressing
Combine all the ingredients in a jar. Cover the jar and and shake vigorously to blend. 

Sprinkle 2 tbsp of dressing over the salad and serve.

Diabetic-friendly Menu. All recipes on this blog
Kabseh, Spiced Garden Salad & Baked Cheesecake

Thank you for dropping by and reading this post. Hope you like these diabetic-friendly recipes :) Please do leave a comment and let me know what you think and if these posts are helping you clear out some of the misconceptions, or at least inspiring you to know more about cooking for diabetes.

I would really appreciate it if you would share the link to this post and the previous one on your networks and with your friends and family, you could be doing a huge favour and helping someone out there who could use this information and recipes.

Please remember to do regular check ups, and to always follow doctors' orders. Our health is important and knowledge is the only way forward.

Relative Links:

• Diabetic-friendly Baked Cheesecake
• 5 things EVERYONE can do to support diabetes awareness
• Diabetes Type 2 Prevention
• 6 steps that help prevent type 2 diabetes
• Photos from Decide Diabetes Initiative Press Event

Diabetic-Friendly Baked Cheesecake & Tips on Healthy Eating for Diabetes

Eating healthy or for a specific dietary need does not have to be boring!

On World Diabetes Day, 

'Decide Diabetes Initiative' together with myself and Dr. Wafa Helmi, the founder of 'Sweet Kidz' got together with media representatives to kick off the 'Raising Diabetes Healthy Eating Awareness' project. The event took place at the beautiful Miele Gallery's state of the art kitchen, where we discussed diabetic health, and healthy eating for diabetic patients. We also cooked a diabetic-friendly three-course meal to showcase how with a few adjustments to cooking methods, and the proper counting of food intake enables diabetic patients to enjoy all types of food and lead a healthier life style. We focused on the fact that diabetic-friendly foods do not have to be tasteless, or even boring! Furthermore that the preparation of this food does not have to be complicated or requiring any extra work! Click here for photos of this event.

This project is based on Dr. Wafa's extensive research on various food types and their effects on diabetic patients. Based on her research Dr. Wafa had developed diabetic-friendly recipes to enable parents, caregivers and patients take control of diabetes and enjoy an undeprived and delicious lifestyle.

As I have come to learn from Dr. Wafa through this event: 

• Diabetic patients can eat everything, provided they follow their proper food intake count, as recommended by their doctor.
• Diabetic-friendly cooking is everyday cooking with a few adjustments: like lower fat content, lower carb content, and using sugar substitutes. Please note that we say "lower", not fat-free, not carb-free! Even diabetic patients need to include all food types including carbohydrates. This is exactly what any of us would do when trying to eat healthier.
• Through all of this I concluded that diabetes or not, when any of us wants to eat healthy, we must eat all food types in moderation. We must focus more on fruits and vegetables for their valuable nutrients from vitamins and minerals to even their antioxidant properties, fiber content as well as lending our food their colourful and visually appealing properties. And most importantly, we must never completely omit any food type as our body tends to suffer when we do so.

We will hopefully be bringing you an array of demonstrations for you to attend in order to help you cook for diabetes. I will also be periodically bringing you tips here on the blog for diabetic-friendly eating, in hopes that it will help you in your everyday cooking, as well as add some varieties to make diabetic-friendly cooking more interesting and a tad more delicious :)

However, and with that said, you will have to get your regular check ups with your doctor, and you will have to follow your daily intake and monitor that you are following the proper quantities for your body as recommended by your doctor. This is not something that I can suggest for you, I am not a doctor. I can only show you how to cook the food, and how to make the eating experience interesting. 

Let's start with this mouth-watering and truly delicious baked cheesecake!

Dr. Wafa Helmi's Low-Carb Baked Ricotta Cheesecake 
Serves 12
Nutritional Analysis per serving
Calories 299 Fat 28g Saturated Fat 18g Carbohydrates 7g Fiber 0g Net Carbohydrates 7g

Please note that I did not develop this recipe. This recipe is developed by Dr. Wafa Helmi specifically for diabetic patients based on her extensive research on different food types and their effects on diabetic patients. It is published on Dima Sharif blog with her permission. 

I have dressed the cake with lemon zest, raspberries and some mint leaves. Dr Wafa told me that raspberries are perfect for diabetic patients as they are antioxidants that are super foods for the health of your liver. The raspberries and lemon flavours pair very well and make the cheesecake even more interesting and visually appealing.

You Need

720g cream cheese, softened
250g extra-fine whole milk ricotta cheese (to refine, process in a food processor for 1 minute)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups sugar substitute (look for the types that work for baking, not all sugar substitutes are good for baking)
1/3 cup double cream
1 tablespoon no-sugar-added vanilla extract
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 eggs
3 egg yolks
1 large packet light digestive biscuits

1 small stick of butter, melted

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Spray the springform pan with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Wrap the sides of your springform with 2 folds of aluminum foil to avoid water from leeking into the cheesecake during baking. Set aside.

Process the biscuits in a food processor until fine. Add the melted butter and mix with the processed biscuits until the mixture is slightly damp and holds shape when squeezed. Spread the biscuit mixture at the bottom of the prepared springform and press tightly with the palm of your hand. Place in the fridge to firm up until the cheese filling is ready.

In a shallow roasting pan big enough to fit the springform pan, pour about 1-inch of water and place it on the center rack of the oven to preheat. 

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat softened cream cheese, ricotta, sour cream and sugar substitute on low speed for about 1 minute until well blended. 

In a separate bowl, using a wire whisk, mix heavy cream, vanilla, lemon juice, eggs, and egg yolks until blended.

Turn the mixer on medium speed, gradually and slowly pour the egg mixture into the cream cheese mixture. Beat just until blended and then turn off; be careful not to over-whip.

Pour batter over the biscuit base in the prepared springform pan. Place pan into the heated water bath. Bake for 15 minutes, and then lower the oven temperature to 275 degrees F. 

Continue baking for 1 1/2 hours, or until the top is light golden brown and cake is pulling away from the sides of the pan. Turn the oven off when finished cooking and leave the cake in the oven to cool for 3 more hours. (This will keep the cake nice and tall.) Then remove the cake from the pan and refrigerate before serving.  Serve chilled.

You can dress the cheesecake with lemon zest, raspberries and mint leaves as I have done. The flavours mesh very well and the raspberries add texture to the bite, besides the beautiful look :)

Hope you enjoyed this post, and found the information useful. I trust you like the look of the cheesecake, and I really recommend you give the recipe a try, it truly is delicious, and you are going to love it. Do pass this on to your diabetic friends, and help us raise awareness, you will be doing them and many others a huge favour.

Please Remember,

Healthy Eating is key to a healthy lifestyle, and this applies to everyone, diabetic or not. Healthy eating is not about omitting food types, it is about moderation and following the general guidelines of different food types. If you must omit something, then omit the junk, and go for home-cooked-meals as much as possible.

Also always remember to do regular check ups, and follow your doctor's orders.

I would love nothing more than hearing from you, so show me some love and leave me a comment before you go :) 

Food: The Other Side of The Coin & Social Responsibility

It all starts during childhood, is cemented in teenage and is harvested during adult life

My blog is a dedicated blog to all things food. Anyone who reads this blog, who meets me through my courses or even through my social circles, knows that I am one who is very passionate about food. Like every one else, I believe that food is a basic necessity, a pleasure, and a nutrient to both our bodies and souls. I also believe that food connects us to our roots, to our community, our cultures, and is at the base of our social relations. Extending this further, I even find food to enable us to reconnect with our humanity, our collectiveness and sameness despite the peripheral differences! Long Story! Maybe another time...

I spend a lot of time telling any one who would listen to go back to the kitchen, encouraging you all to get back to home cooked meals, asking the world to go back to cooking. I talk with ample fondness about food and cooking, about the pleasures food brings into our lives, and tell you all, over and over, to allow yourselves to discover the many rewards of cooking and baking. Now while I still want you to do that, and my views about food as such will never change, I do however understand the significance of balance and social responsibility.

Live, enjoy and eat with balance

Like everything in life, even the best things will turn against you without the right balance. While food is such a pleasure, when not done right food can become the cause of many health issues. Both sides of the pole - overeating/ under-eating, dieting/letting loose, starving/binge eating, or even non-healthy/over healthy - are dangerous zones to our health; even life threatening at times! Therefore, since I am always telling you about the pleasures of food, it is only balance that I include the other side of the coin. Also since I feel very blessed, it is only balance that I give some love back to the community that embraces me. Social responsibility is another word for love. It is loving your community, the people, and extending support to the different groups and for the different needs.

Ribbon Courtesy of Lauren's Hope Blog:  5 things EVERYONE can do to support diabetes awareness

November is Diabetes Awareness Month
Diabetes is a health issue that is alarmingly increasing in rates around the world. Millions of people are lost to diabetes each year. As it happens, in the Gulf region the rate of diabetic patients is astoundingly high! 25% of the population in the UAE are diagnosed diabetics! The saddest part is that, while diabetes used to be a disease that affects the older age, it is now very common in young children! Many of the diabetic patients are, in fact, children!

While diabetes can be hereditary, and some can be born diabetics, a lot of the increasing rates are in: Type 2 diabetes, which is mainly caused by a sedentary life style and lack of exercise! It is due to bad eating habits and lifestyle choices of being inactive that type 2 diabetes is on a constant rise. Come to think of it, most children are inactively glued in front of screens gobbling down crisps and candies! In any given day these children's most activity is excitement over winning level 8 on the ipad! These same children eat fast food junk, candies, and crisps all day long, and when thirsty, they go for a soda!

As someone with a family history with diabetes, as a mother who worries about her children, and as a food enthusiast, this disease resonates with me. I have therefore decided to do something about this. I have decided to join those who are working super hard to raise awareness about this disease. There are many initiatives around the region who are really putting their heads together and getting to work in order for all of us to benefit and to prevent this awful, life changing disease from continuing to rise in rates.
One of these initiatives is the DECIDE Diabetes Initiative, with whom I have teamed up, together with Dr. Wafa Helmi Rida, who is working hard on helping diabetic patients, parents and caregivers of patients, learn how to take control of the disease. Dr. Wafa has been conducting extensive research on different foods and their effects on diabetic patients.

Through this project, we are hopefully going to bring you a series of demonstrations, about healthy, diabetic-friendly cooking. Where we will explore cooking methods, recipes and portions for diabetic patients. We will kick off this project with a press event and the first diabetic-friendly cooking demonstration this Tuesday Nov. 13th at the amazing Kitchen in Miele Gallery. After this press event we will hopefully be bringing you a series of demonstrations for you to attend, which I will announce ahead of time here on the blog.

There are many resources online about Diabetes - including Type 2 Diabetes, Prevention and taking control of diabetes - that you can check out. Education is best way forward, and the only way to take control of this disease. Please do read about it, and do help raise awareness, you will be helping and encouraging so many others take control.

No Body is Perfect
Healthy Eating & Eating Disorders Among Teens Workshop 

On another but same note, 
Since eating habits develop in childhood and are cemented during teenage, and since most eating disorders develop in teens between the age of 13-17 years of age, I have designed a workshop - as part of my Little Chefs Programme - that aims at raising awareness of Healthy Eating & Eating Disorders among teens. This workshop is geared towards schools and Groups of Teenagers. Since the majority of Eating Disorders take place among teens (13-17 years of age), it is vital that we raise awareness on this issue, and educate the teens about Healthy Eating, Body Image as well as Weight & Health management.  Diabetes is one of the many side effects of some eating disorders, along with heart disease and many other life threatening diseases. Therefore, it is very important that teens are aware of the serious health effects of bad eating habits, fad diets, and extreme weight loss/gain.

In this workshop, I get together with the students/ teenager groups and we discuss all these health issues covering healthy weight & health management, then train them in simple healthy cooking techniques (alternative cooking methods) that they can utilise in their cooking as young adults and throughout their lives. All these skills will enable them to monitor their eating habits, activity levels as well as equip them with healthy cooking skills, to ensure they lead a healthy lifestyle now and as adults.

I have kicked off this project with Greenwood International School students. This is the first group of students, and I will be holding more sessions with the school, and other schools. If your school is interested in this workshop, please get in touch with me to arrange your students’ sessions. You will be doing these teens a huge favour.




On a separate and completely different note

I will be a guest on the Dubai Eye Radio Station this Wednesday 14th, on the Siobhan Live Show 1:00 - 2:00 pm. We will be talking about Technology & Food. It should be so much fun, so make sure to tune in to the radio station. If you do not have access to the station click this link to listen online to Dubai Eye.

If you had missed the show you can listen to all 4 parts on the links below:

Part 1
listen to ‘Unwired 5, 14.11.2012’ on Audioboo

Part 2

listen to ‘Unwired 6, 14.11.2012’ on Audioboo

Part 3
listen to ‘Unwired 7, 14.11.2012’ on Audioboo


Part 4

listen to ‘Unwired 8, 14.11.2012’ on Audioboo

With all of this taking place it has been kind of hard to keep up with the blog posts. However and as always I promise you that I am still bringing you all things food from all perspectives, keeping it always a well-rounded experience. 
I hope that this post encourages you to do something about raising Diabetes Awareness during November. This is the month of Thanksgiving too, and we give thanks by counting our blessings as well as through supporting others. Even if only through inspirations! So give your thanks to all your blessings and help us spread the word.

I love nothing more than hearing from you, so do leave me a comment before you go :)

Relative Links:

• 5 things EVERYONE can do to support diabetes awareness
• Diabetes Type 2 Prevention
• 6 steps that help prevent type 2 diabetes
• Photos from Eating Disorders workshop with Greenwood International School session 1
• Read more about Eating Disorders among teens in the document entitled: “No Body Is Perfect” on this link: http://www.dimasharif.com/p/healthy-eating-for-kids-parents-guide.html
• Little Chefs Programme by Dima Sharif