If being in quarantine has sparked your baking curiosity, you might be looking for the best place to start when it comes to whipping up some sweet treats in the kitchen.
And if you want to keep things simple to begin with, there are plenty of delicious options that need only a handful of ingredients and little preparation.
From cakes made from only two basic household items, to guilt-free cookies, here are some fool proofrecipes to get you started.
Two-ingredient Nutella cake
It really is as simple as it sounds. All you need is eight eggs and a jar of Nutella.
Start by preheating the oven to 180° Celsius and making sure your Nutella has been left at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
Beat the eggs, preferably with an electric whisk, until they make a nice white foam. Gently fold in half a jar of Nutella – roughly 240 grams – and stir the mixture into a smooth batter.
Pour into a greased baking tray and bake for 40 minutes. Once it’s done, it should still be nice and gooey in the middle. Let it cool and, if you have it, sprinkle with icing sugar to serve.
Almond and banana cookies
Another two-ingredient win, shared on Instagram by The Petite Cook – and this one is guilt-free, too. All you need is some ripe bananas and ground almonds. Pop the two ingredients together in a blender and mix until they are well combined.
Once mixed, shape the mixture into balls and place on a lined baking tray. Bake in the oven for between 20 and 30 minutes at 180°C, depending on how you like the consistency of your cookies, and enjoy.
This one is dairy-free and gluten-free, too!
Banana pancakes
If you have overdone banana bread, but have some ripe bananas lying around, these flourless pancakes are a great one to try. Mash one ripe banana in a bowl and mix in two eggs. Beat the mixture until it has combined, and add a quarter of a teaspoon of baking soda. You can sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon into the mix for flavour if required.
Melt coconut oil or butter in frying pan on medium heat, and pour the mixture into even-sized circles. Cook each side for about three minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with a drizzle of honey.
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The President's Cake
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Rating: 4/5
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Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Name: Yousef Al Bahar
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Final:
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
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“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Iran has sent five planeloads of food to Qatar, which is suffering shortages amid a regional blockade.
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The land border with Saudi Arabia, through which 40% of Qatar's food comes, has been closed.
Meanwhile, mediators Kuwait said that Qatar was ready to listen to the "qualms" of its neighbours.
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