I know its been a while since I last wrote. I will try to share more content as frequetly as possible. So check this out…

Here is a poem that I placed in the body of a meeting invite I sent to @somethinglemon.

For 2012 I want to have as much fun as I can in everything I do. I created this poem on the fly. Just a little background about me – I used to right poems regularly and based on what I did below…I think I will go back to writing songs, poems and quick raps.

Ideation in this nation
We are suffering from brain starvation
Lets right the wrongs and ding the dongs
Of a bell that tolls in our head
I am ready to write and be read
I see a black door and want it to be red
My brain is hungry and it needs to be fed
See you at this meeting
Hoping for it to be more than fleeting
Can’t wait to chat
I’m in a cave and must escape like a bat…

A poem created on the fly by Shadi Sakr aka @yourfate – January 11, 2012

You can tell a lot about a person by the kind of dessert they like. Quite frankly, for me the world is split in two; cheesecake lovers and chocolate fanatics. There’s a large number of people who like to visit both worlds, and a small number of people that are so extreme in their love of either, that they wouldn’t dare enter the opposite realm. For marital harmony, it might be a good idea to ask your future mate, if he/she is a cheesecaker or chocolater (you read correctly, I just made up those words). The reason I mention choosing a significant other while being loyal to one’s fave dessert, is because I obviously had to marry the one person who liked to get his chocolate on and didn’t understand the beauty of cheesecake. In his words, cheesecake made no sense. In his words cheesecake might as well be accompanied with tomato sauce on top of pizza dough,(honestly, some people are just so unrefined.)

My beloved’s dessert school of thought mattered because as I explained earlier, the right dessert is an experience. An experience, I wanted to share with someone I loved. But he destroyed my dreams of that moment, of sharing that life altering bite of creamy, rich, goodness, with someone you love. We eventually found something else to share (get your mind out of the gutter please), but obviously it wasn’t as memorable as cheesecake, cause while I write about cheesecake, I dare not think of any other, lower dessert.

I refuse to give up on my beloved’s taste buds, I am convinced, as the Capulets and the Montigues, were brought together by Romeo and Juliet, my hubby and I, one day, will share that bond over cheesecake (ummm….. minus the Romeo and Juliet drama).

Here is my recipe for cheesecake, and it’s a big cheat, ’cause its no bake!

Crust
1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup melted butter

Cheese Filling
2 packs of cream cheese
1/2 cup of sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups whipped cream

Mocha Ganache
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup 35% cream
1 heaping tbsp of instant coffee

Crust
Combine the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter and press into a 9×13 inch pan, or a large pie pan.

Filling
In a large bowl, mix room temperature cream cheese and sugar till it’s well blended with an electric mixer. Add the lemon juice and mix, followed by the vanilla. When the batter is combined and smooth, fold in the 2 cups of whipped cream. Pour the mixture over the crust and refrigerate.

Ganache
in a small sauce pan add 35% cream and bring to a gentle simmer on low heat. Stir in the coffee grains not more than a minute. Have the chocolate ready in a bowl and pour the the warm cream over the chocolate. Stir gently, till the cream and chocolate become smooth and velvety. Cool the ganache and pour over the cheesecake. Refrigerate the dessert for 2 hours or overnight.

Finally…enjoy it with a loved one, and think of others less fortunate who can’t ever enjoy it with their loved ones… sigh…like me, who married a chocoholic.

In the tradition of sharing – you’re always welcome in my kitchen!

Amber

amber@fatekeep.com

1974

Yeaaaaah, that’s what I thought.

It’s been almost 3 years since I saw such a drastic change in fashion. Ever since 2008, all attires were gradually turning so loud and futuristic that you couldn’t hear ‘em anymore! So now we’re breathing in the presence, with a hint of the future but with the elegance of the past.

The bold and bohemian 70’s fashion is what’s going to be swagging my closet this fall.

I’m sure you noticed the flared pants a.k.a the elephant pants a.k.a wide leg pants. If you have not, then you better familiarize yourself cause these babies are here to stay! Yeah, we can slowly say buh-bye to them skinnies. Actually not completely cause the brothers are currently trending it TIGHT.

Basically my point is that I admire these bell bottom pants dearly. Legit Love. They’re so flowy, beautiful and perfectly modest. It’s as if they were created to add humility and grace while modestifying the female persona.

But this isn’t even the best part! These pants can almost go with anything and anywhere; Heels, flats, tucked-in tank tops, leather jackets, long blazers, tucked in chemises, school, mall, evening wear, work, bring it.

My fall adoration didn’t just begin now by the way. It is a follow up from my sweet summer love (s); Jumpsuits, skirts and maxis. These bold trends do however come with restrictions. For instance, it is best to wear jumpsuits with heels and long maxi’s with flats, whereas with the free loose pants you have the freedom to choose.

But hey! Lucky for You, these summer attire J, S and M are still rocking, grooving, and styling this fall. So mix, match and rock away!

Because remember, You’re the Trendsetter.

Sarah Kalim

Stumbled upon this awesome Star Wars video, that is rallying people to use the force against cancer.

The organization that is being backed by Star Wars is SU2C.org or
http://www.standup2cancer.org/

If you are interested in getting involved after watching this both hilarious and reminiscent video click HERE YOUNG PADAWAN!

Funky bubblegum beat rock by yourfate

But seriously I used to be a rapper back in the days. Wasn’t very good..but was able to come up with some really tight rhymes. This is not an example of that tight rhymes…I was a just Freestyling and came up with while watching a Habs playoff hockey game. I just happen to record it with my ipad and looped the acapella audio on top of a fun beat.

I produced it using garageband on my ipad. I love that app!

Feelin lazy by yourfate

Since that day and in the last 6 years, people ask me repeatedly how I pull it off – dressing modestly while balancing my diva style.

There’s always a simple answer to such a simple question.

This will sound cliché but really, “It all begins in the head”. First and foremost you have to believe you are a trendsetter. That you’re style, covering or revealing, is your style. You, out of your creative mind, make it. So, everyday when you walk towards your closet (a walk-in for some lucky people out there), your closet then becomes your chocolate factory. Depending on the mood, the occasion, the people, the time; you put together an outfit that yells out your feelings. Your clothes, in essence, are deeply rooted to the state of your heart, and vice versa. You are in fact capable of changing the state of your heart with an outfit, thus change your emotions. I’m sure all of you Ms. Scientist ( or Mister…) have experimented with fashion once or twice. You know those days when you’re all down because it’s raining outside, the sky is gray, you’re heartbroken, you stayed up all night studying, and maybe had 20 minutes worth of sleep? You magically pick a yellow or pink blouse out of your closet and put it on? Yes! That’s the feeling! It’s like you just hit the jackpot. It’s like regardless of what happens, at the end of day it’ll all be all right because you’re wearing yellow. It’s the negative feedback effect, you’re once again wearing what you are feeling.

If you haven’t experienced what I’m talking about right now, please stop right here, run to your closet ( or your bedroom floor) pick something out that makes you feel, um beautiful, and wear it.

NOW! Yeah now we’re talking.

The second essential component of pulling-an-outfit-off is to feel confident. Yes. Confident. Now picture a tom boy chick forced to walk in 6 inch heels and a tube top (Ms. Congeniality much?), What do you see? You see uncomfort and a hesitant level of confidence. Why? Her real personality and true self, are locked down behind the outfit. Hence, YOU should be wearing your clothes and not the other way around. When you put your time and effort into creating an outfit that reflects your personality and you’re empire state of mind and heart; your confidence will come as naturally as the ABC. At this moment, nada can go wrong with your ensemble.

Principally my point is, with the right mindset YOU can conquer any outfit. Because remember, you’re the trendsetter.

By Sarah Kalim

I hope you enjoyed this video as much as I did!

Here’s to the future! Here’s to the now…you can call it fate!

Shadi
shadi@fatekeep.com

But let’s get back to the ghost of my culinary past! What did we eat early in our marriage way back before I became chef extraordinaire (ego, much)? Well…we ate a lot of dried, dehydrated and sometimes frozen stuff. One of our favorite quick ready meals was Lipton butter and herb pasta sides, Betty Crocker dehydrated mashed potatoes and served with some boiled corn. If there was one thing we loved, it was our carbs.

One thing I had to contend with was that my husband and I came from two different cultures. Both of our cultures love big flavor – but one is motivated by spice and heat and the other is dominated by garlic, onions and other aromatics. Combine that with our western upbringing and fast food pallet – I had to come up with some familiar and tasty cuisine and/or comfort food. Every recipe became a mission – I felt like Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) in mission impossible except if I failed my mission  – my food would self destructed. Some missions took years to complete. One of those recipes was my version of Mac and Cheese. That one took over 7 years in the making. Check it out and try it out…I promise you that your family and friends will thank you for making it!

Amber’s Macadosciousness & cheese (over 7 years to perfect)
Ingredients:

• 600 gram bag of short pasta boiled el dente
• 3 tbsp of butter
• 3 tbsp of flour
• 3 cups of milk
• 1/2 cup of 35% cream
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup grated cheddar
• 1/2 cup  bread crumbs

Directions:

• boil the short pasta till its el dente
• strain and pour into a 9X13 glass or ceramic dish
• in a sauce pan, melt butter and add flour to it
• Cook the flour in the butter, stirring with a wooden spoon and remove all lumps
• Once the flour is incorporated, add the milk, cream, salt and pepper, and continue stirring gently
• Once the sauce has thickened to a thick creamy consistency  (by the way you just made béchamel sauce)- take it off the heat and pour over the pasta that was placed in the ceramic dish in step 2
• Next sprinkle or spread the cheddar cheese over the pasta
• Followed by sprinkling the bread crumbs on top
• Bake in the oven at 350 degrees, for 20-30 minutes or till the casserole looks golden brown

If you really want shake things up:  add your favorite steamed veggies in the casserole with the pasta – veggies like broccoli, cauliflower or asparagus.  My family also loves when I add pre-cooked ground beef in there. You would add these additional ingredients to the pasta prior to adding and mixing in the béchamel sauce.

Once again I hope you enjoyed my story and please continue to share your comments and feedback with me. Also if you have any suggestions or culinary experiments you want me to try out for you…please – just ask!

In the tradition of sharing – you’re always welcome to my kitchen!

Amber

amber@fatekeep.com

There began my love of cooking and food…and that’s how I became a foodie!

Early on realized that all you needed was an eager crowd and the willingness to try new things. So began my journey, to feed two hungry fools in love.

Here’s my 12 year old recipe from that second night of marriage.

les œufs dans l’amour by Amber Rehman

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• A few dashes of your favorite pizza spice
• A handful of cheddar cheese
• Tea spoon of oil (you can use any vegetable oil) – for scrambling the eggs
• Love and an eagerly hungry companion

Instructions:

• Whisk everything together and scramble it with the oil in a hot frying pan…and voila you’ve made your own version of what I call “les œufs dans l’amour” or in English “eggs in love”.

I hope you enjoyed my story and please share your comments and feedback with me. I hope to blog at least once a week and would love trying new things…please send your culinary suggestions to me.

In the tradition of sharing – you’re always welcome to my kitchen!

Amber

amber@fatekeep.com