Category: Food

Friendsgiving Party 2017

In 2017, I hosted a Friendsgiving party. All of my besties came . We played games, ate delicious food, and had tons of fun.

I treasure all of my friends greatly and I wanted to have a party / play date with all of them. Thanksgiving was coming up soon and I wanted to do something fun with all of my friends. Then I had a great idea. Why not smash the two together and have a Friendsgiving party? I explained the idea to my mom and she agreed. I was going to host a Friendsgiving party!

My mom and I brought decorations way ahead of time. We bought some orange and silver tassel curtains, photo booth supplies, and a cute sign that read “Welcome Friends”. We decided on colors for the party would be blue and orange. I got a very fall-ish attire. A blue dress with fall leggings and a fall scarf.

We decided to do a mix of Indian and American foods. We had apple cinnamon pie poundcake bites,And muffins, mini colored idlies (an Indian food), and turkey cranberry pecan sandwiches. We had apple juice cider and apple pie punch to drink. All of the food was good and my friends and I couldn’t stop eating. Finally, we all went upstairs to play games. After about an hour, everyone’s parents came to pick them up. I’ve always remembered that day as the best day of my life.

Mint Girl Reads: Count me In By Varsha Bajaj

Count Me In is a middle grade fiction book written by Varsa Bajaj.

The protagonists in this book are 12 year old Karina and Chris who live in Houston, Texas. They’re neighbors but they don’t know each other well until Karina’s grandfather gets attacked and things start spiraling out of control. What follows is that Chris, Karina, and their friends find the true meaning of belonging in America today.

This realistic fiction book is very relevant in today’s world, as kids like me figure out where we belong in present day America. I found this book very moving and emotional. I live in a community that is welcoming and accepting and I am shocked at how people can act. I knew hate crimes existed,  but I never gave it much thought until I read this book. I was shocked at how Karina’s grandfather was treated and how cruel people can be.

If you enjoy diverse reads and middle grade fiction then you’ll definitely enjoy this book.

Mint Girl Goes to We’re Dough

We’re Dough is a popular Lebanese bakery in Houston, Texas.

As you enter the shop, the smell of sesame seeds hit you. The large neon light spelling out” How You Doughin’?”make this place a popular destination for Instagram and Social Media fans. The beautiful lights and the dark velvet chairs call your name and invite you to take a seat and linger around for long conversations.

The appetizing Shakshousa eggs were mouth-watering! The spices  came through well and I found myself wanting more.These eggs were  good on their own, but when they were with the pita bread and the juicy cucumber my mouth exploded with flavors. These are not the traditional poached eggs but they make a great weekend brunch item.

The delicious, crispy Nutella Kaak makes a great desert. The savory sesame seeds and the sweet nutella inside the bread work together perfectly. An unlikely duo, they are one of the best pairs of food I have ever tasted.

We’re Dough was a little bit crowded on the Saturday morning I went there and the service was a bit slow, but that won’t stop me from going there regularly.

We’re Dough is one of the reasons I love living in Houston. With so many diverse restaurants, I’m in a different continent for every meal.

Mint Girl Cooks: Pumpkin Cinnamon Bread

It’s that time of year again! Pumpkin spice and everything nice! Every year, I make my signature dish: Pumpkin Cinnamon Bread.

I quickly scanned the recipe.”This doesn’t seem too difficult,” I told my mom who was waiting patiently for my response.”Well then,” she said as she smiled, “We can start making the pumpkin cinnamon bread.”

I always get nervous during baking, because baking is science. The measurements have to be accurate to get the perfect deliciouso treat. I always worry that I measured too much or too little of an ingredient.

The batter was almost complete. I knew I should’ve been happy but I was actually nervous because I had no idea if I had measured everything correctly.  Regardless, I quickly mixed the dry and wet ingredients, poured it into a loaf pan, and put it in the oven. I tried to convince myself it would be good although it was hard.

Nervously I set the timer. Would it work? When I heard the oven beeping I dashed to the oven and eagerly open its door. Once my mom came, she stuck a toothpick  in the middle then called “It’s ready!”

With trembling hands I took the pan out of the oven. Slowly, I cut myself a piece. When my tastebuds got the first tiny bite of bread they started to dance around in delight. That’s when I knew I had accomplished the recipe. I knew it was one of my greatest recipes and then I would make it again.

Every year, I try to find a recipe to make during the fall.I always find myself coming back to Pumpkin Cinnamon Bread. What are your favorite fall recipes?

Mint Girl in Austin

A few weekends back, my family and I decided to head to Austin.We would be meeting my uncle and aunt there to spend some time together.I always enjoy spending time with my uncle and aunt(my uncle promised to take me to the Apple Store-I can spend hours there!)

If you want to go to a place with delicious food and a great outdoor space, go to Loro .The food is really good and the swings are really fun to play on. My favorites were the Crunchy Sweet Corn Fritters and the Chicken Karaage. We also stopped at an old time favorite-Cafe Mozart.

After we went to Cafe Mozart, we headed out to rent our own boat on Lake Travis. It was fun to ride the waves with my family. I was really scared as the front of the boat jumped up and down.The waves stung my hand and I pulled it back instantly. The wind whipped my hair into my face and I started to laugh. When I finally worked up the courage to jump of the boat, I took a deep breath, got ready to plunge into the cold water and jumped! I shivered at how cold it was, but I had a smile on my face when I emerged from the murky depths of the water.

My main purpose of the visit, though, was to visit the Lyndon Baines Johnson(LBJ) Presidential Library. I enjoy learning about the president’s life, what problems they had, and how they tried to solve them. They also help me believe that anything is possible.

So what are your favorite places to go to in Austin?