If you’re experiencing the sweltering Dubai heat these days, the last thing you want to be doing is standing in the kitchen, cutting veggies and chopping fruits while sweating your hair off. And that’s when the pool party is about to begin.

Most summer party dishes like salads, pasta, and BBQ grills require a lengthy prep process that leaves you unnecessarily tired to enjoy the final meal. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Even the best chefs rely on their tried-and-tested shortcuts to minimise cooking preparations and keep their dishes flavourful for longer.

Bad days are best forgotten over a hot basket of French fries.

These heavenly deep-fried potatoes are God's way of telling his chosen people to kick back and have some unapologetic FUN.

Although the origin of the fry is somewhat of a mystery (they’re definitely not French), their presence in the culinary world is a fine example of quintessential fast food. From the smallest take-outs to Michelin-star restaurants, there’s hardly any place that can survive without them.

As you can see, there is A LOT of carrots involved in this heavenly looking pudding but don’t get any wrong assumptions — this dessert is strictly not for those who’re counting their carbs. Gajar Ka Halwa (carrot pudding) is one of the most drooled-over desserts of the subcontinent. It’s not just a sweet but a tradition that instantly makes thousands of Indians and Pakistanis homesick.

Healthy eating is the buzzword of 2017; so naturally — anything that has the word diet, detox or gluten-free grabs instant attention.

But before you turn your pantry into a self-created torture cell OR jump onto any unreliable fad diet, take a moment and give your daily food intake a flashback. There must have been at least 10 instances where you could have avoided the extra calories — by simply making a healthy choice. For instance: