Dalia Dogmoch's Cookbook: "Food, Love, and Life"

Last week saw the release of the much awaited cook book: "Food Love and Life" by Dalia Dogmoch, infamously known for her very own Kitsch Cupcakes and the widely read food blog: D's Kitchen.

The perfect blend of east meets west recipes, the recipe book is definitely one to keep on the kitchen shelf.

The opening and book signing, held at Bloomingdales Home at the Dubai Mall allowed fans and guests to enjoy a live cooking demonstration by Dalia herself followed by the chance to get the first few copies of the book signed by Dalia herself, in addition to enjoying bite sized foods, drinks, and taking lots of photos. I unfortunately just made it to the last half an hour of the even as I had just landed in Dubai a couple hours prior to the event. Nonetheless I made it! I had to! How could I not?

All excited, once I got home, I spent at least half an hour easily going through the book, getting even more excited thinking about trying the recipes. Although I haven't gotten down to that just yet I know I will be very soon. More so when I'm back in NYC in my own kitchen.

The book is perfectly composed with Dalia's scrumptious recipes, and Sukaina (of Sips and Spoonfuls) amazing food photography. Dalia's love for food and family are evident throughout the book.

The book contains not only great recipes and photography, but also everything a good cookbook should have. It's conveniently got measurement conversions, tips on ingredients, fruits and vegetables, and goes beyond by lending you great entertaining tips.

Now I can't reveal everything. These are just sneak peaks. Get your hands on the book to get a hold of all this useful info!! Trust me it's a good idea

The book contains a great variety of ... basically everything. Breakfast to snacks, to lunches and dinners, to dressings, sauces, desserts, and more!

Can't wait to try these recipes (as if I haven't said that enough times). And I will definitely be posting what I make..hopefully if I don't burn anything ;)

Head over to MastermindPR's facebook page and/or website to see the video from the book signing and launch event

Photos by me, please credit if used.

Valentine's Day Preppin'

There's only a few hours left before Valentine's Day!

The day dedicated to celebrating love and happiness, and 

a day to make an extra gesture. LVP has a list of posts to help

you add a little romantic gesture to your VDay this year. Still 

stuck and need some last minute ideas? Take a look at the posts

linked below and you're sure to be inspired!

Take a look at 'Last Minute Cupid' for fun last minute

ideas that wont leave you with nothing on Valentine's Day

Men can be hard to shop for, but hopefully this 'Gift Guide'

complied by LVP and the help of some men with great

taste will set you in the right direction

Here are some more ideas for last minute inspiration

and some DIY options for VDay: 'Cute & Easy Ideas'

A bunch of red roses?! Uh..no thank you. I think they

are so clichéd and overdone...and honestly, just a bouquet

of red roses doesn't look that pretty to me. But of course

everyone's entitled to their own opinion. However, I 

think it's a great idea to put together a bouquet of flowers

that say something, or a couple of things. Full of meaning.

And it changes things up a bit, making the bouquet more

unique. Take a look at our guide to 'Flowers' Meaning', a

readers' favourite, to figure out which bloom(s) best fit

your relationship!

And remember, Valentine's Day celebrates 'love'

You can celebrate love even if you're single! So

treat yourself!!

I Could Give Up Chocolate But I'm Not a Quitter!

This afternoon when I opened Pinterest, I was greeted to a stream of wonderful images of chocolate desserts. One mouth watering creation after the other. I just hate to share these divine deserts with you. I am a serious chocoholic. I have at least one piece of chocolate a day, and a maximum of one bar. I work it off in the gym, and consider it a part of my balanced diet. Because that's what it's all about. However, about a third of the chocolate I consume in a week is dark chocolate. It's healthy, and the taste just seems a little more sincere in comparison to all the sugar and milk of the milk-chocolates!

 

All images via Pinterest or tumblr.

Title Quote via here

Sunday Spotlight: Gina Zeidler Photography

With so much love in the with Valentine's Day just

around the corner, it's the perfect time to share with

you one of my favorite photographers: Gina Zeidler

I can't even describe her talent of couple and new-

born photography. They're perfect, they capture

emotion and the perfect moments. Really just look

at the pictures, and they speak for themselves. I have

a secret - well not really - personal list of vendors, and 

photographers and such for different events in my life

in the future, and Gina is definitely on there!

One of my all time fave shoots of hers is this 'bonfire'

shoot. Following it are snippets of other couple/engagement

shoots that are worth sharing with you and worth looking

at, so enjoy!

From other shoots:

 

You can follow her photography on her blog here

Drop by her Facebook page to leave some nice words

and let her know how amazing her photographs are!

Cute & Easy Gifts for Loved Ones on Valentine's Day!

Here are some cute, small, and easy gift ideas for those of you who like giving valentine gifts to friends, and family members on the special day (which I think is a great gesture), and who want something other than a rose! Or even for couples that don't take gifts to a major level, or even if you want to give multiple little gifts, even in addition to your bigger, main gift (if that make sense!)

Why not start the day off with heart shaped breakfast items such as heart shaped 

sunny-side-ups and/or heart shaped pancakes. If you do not have the heart

shaped pancake formers, you can always try and use a heart shaped cookie

cutter (which if you don't have, can be purchased for just a couple dollars)

Make a little booklet, stack of cards that read all or some of the reasons

why you love the person you're giving the gift too!

(it can be more or fewer that 52!)

A little twist: Using a check/to-do list type format, list the reasons

why that special someone is your valentine, and why you want to spend

the day with them!

Not going all out, but still want to celebrate some valentine spirit at home?

Add heart shaped beef pepperoni, or other vegetables by cutting out pieces

with a small heart shaped cookie cutter.

Celebrate the day of love with family, friends at school, and loved ones by

leaving this simple note attached to festive pencil on their desk/workplace!

Simple, quick, easy, and fun!

 

The classic Hershey's Kiss can never be a bad idea/choice! For all the chocolate

lovers out there,leave a packet full of hershey's kisses for them. 

Personalize it by bagging it in a packet other than the one you bought it in

and embellish with a cute ribbon. Why not add a note or quote like this one to 

make it extra special!

Festive sweets and baked goods are not an overrated classic. They work

every time, and is a fun activity to get the little ones involved in too and/or 

have a great and fun time with your valentine by baking these festive goodies!

(Tip: bake a simple, regular batch of brownies, and instead of cutting it

into squares, use a heart shaped cookie cutter & leave the scraps for eating

later as an indulgent snack!)

All photos via Pinterest